- Are you thinking of me when you love him? -

Wolfbane only knows her name, can only recall the familiar pattern of her coat and how she’d stood there - broken wing at her side - while the entire world around her changed.

It seems unfair. If he were to put himself in her shoes, (and he does this with as much sincerity as he can muster) it wouldn’t be a difficult thing for him to do exactly as Despayr had done: turn tail and just freaking leave. In fact he actually did do just that once he’d come of age; spread his literal wings and flown as far away from Tephra as he could manage, and right now he seemed all the better for it. So he doesn’t begrudge one mare’s departure, only finds himself curiously seeking out the other who’d decided to stay when, really, it seemed she had nothing to stay for.

Or maybe he just didn’t fully understand.

Bane wants to try, at least. “Lepis, a moment.” He calls out to her, moving away from the paltry gathering of his coronation once it came to an end, “I hope you don’t mind me being so forward but … how did that come about?” The blue-striped male asks, tilting a knowing eye to her shattered appendage. 

Be it brief or long, he wants to know. If he was meant to guide this land into a future, it would have to start by amending old wrongdoings and proving to those who followed him that his word was as good as stone, and he doesn’t see a better opportunity for planting the first seed of trust in anyone else. Arthas had already given every ounce of his to the new heir and leader, now he just needs to see that same hopeful glint of light in Lepis’ stormy eyes.

WOLFBANE

- Are you thinking of me when you love him? -

Everything has meaning. The sharp flicker of Lepis’ eyes as a first response to his question tugs a warm smile from somewhere inside of Bane. She doesn’t trust his intrusion but she won’t deny him a direct answer, either. The palomino takes it as a good sign; he can build from nothing and this mare (this cream-colored, navy-tinged, rather austere woman) is willing enough to let him try.

“The next time,” He answers her shortly, the bright points of his blue face darkening to take on a serious edge, “I’ll be with you.”

Then, the storm disturbing his once smooth and angular face all but disappears and in the next moment, Wolfbane ruffles his own wings for comfort before continuing on. “I’d actually like to be with you often, if that’s something you can stomach.” He chuckles, with a sea-worn voice as rough as stone and warm like forged iron, “Loess still needs a diplomat and I … well I need someone to watch my mouth for me.” The blue-barred stallion explains.

He doesn’t hesitate to let his hazel eyes find her own - there was boldness in his character and blood; Lepis would come to understand - and he sees in her a bit of flint yet to spark. It intrigues him, so much so that he finds himself asking, “Would you take on the role as Cleric here and be my confidant, Lepis?”

WOLFBANE

- Are you thinking of me when you love him? -

Despite his best efforts, Wolfbane can see himself failing. Was it natural to find this sort of resistance in his own residents? Had Lepis come to expect solitude and anger from her previous workings in this place? Reluctantly, the striped Loessian stallion admits to himself that he’s frustrated - he’d thought perhaps she might be more intrigued by the idea, (and for a moment, intrigued in him) but all the same he locks these emotions away and clears his face of any disappointment, only asking her a simple, “What is it that you want?”

Tersely, his jaw tilts until the palomino finds himself staring to the outward expanse of rocky hills, all beautiful and unique in the tandem of this land, every one of them without purpose and yet existing for the thrill of being pleasantly viewed by someone else. “I won’t cage you here. Think on it if you like - you know now that I want you.” he offers instead, “The ball’s in your court.”

Again his eyes find hers but this time, they seem reserved and mannerly, as if her own hesitation has seeped through his skin. “If you know for sure that you’re up for it, or even if you’d like to get to know me more, just call for me.” The winged man says, willing to let her go as she’d wished before he’d stopped her, “I’ll be waiting for you.” Bane cements, nodding once in her direction before bypassing Lepis altogether to take a more favourable route towards the ocean.

She could follow if she liked or be alone with her thoughts; for now Bane was content to let her come to terms with what he proposed.

WOLFBANE

- Are you thinking of me when you love him? -

Inevitably, the cupids bow of Longclaw’s blue-stained lips turns itself into a smile as Lepis calls for him to wait. Victory in any form feels good to him, and her acceptance certainly feels like a victory, but this particular case means Loess will remain intact and assuredly better off than it was before. Bane finds there’s little to doubt when it comes to her loyalty for their shared, hilly kingdom. The measure of her scars is more than the accumulation of her failings: it reads to him like a badge of honor.

Turning with a face newly schooled and curiously surprised, the stallion pauses in order for Lepis to catch up. “From here on out you’re my Cleric then.” He responds, head tilted towards the mingle of her navy and white forelock, “As for Beqanna, you’ll see it soon enough.” Bane hums deeply, a shadowy smirk teasing the edges of his mouth where a fang glints.

“I mean, I do intend to sell our combined powers to the highest bidder ...” The winged male laughs softly, before jerking once more into an easy-gaited walk towards the distant craigs and sea. For a moment he marvels at his strange kiddishness; what he’s said is pretty alarming. Nonetheless, Bane feels some sort of residual wave overtake him as he ambles alongside Lepis. He feels good. “They’ll probably be interested in making sure we’re worth it.”

Clarity snaps him to his senses, once again her companion turns his face towards her saying, “Those who want their gifts put to auction, of course.” And then he can’t help but laugh. Loess stretches before them, untamed but bearing the tell-tale signs of passage from animals long gone and Wolfbane doesn’t mind, for once, that he’s not flying. The earth around them smells of creosote and pine, while his barred skin grows damp where the humidity settles. “Something you might be interested in?’ He asks in a neutral tone.

WOLFBANE

- Are you thinking of me when you love him? -

Lepis is kind enough to humor Wolfbane in his eccentric habits, accepting the strange title and giving him food for thought in return. He wishes he could match the sincere good will the pegasus mare has for him, that one word Queen resting heavy on his thoughts as they meander, so it makes the striped pegasus feel all the more correct for having wanted to appoint her.

His equally as colorful advisor seems to agree, catching the tilt of Bane’s gaze when she speaks and more often than not the appreciative narrow of his eyes or a quick smile. For her earlier hesitance Lepis is full of surprises, turning a shade serious enough that the fanged male slows his eager steps and finds his neck angling towards her, ears perked. When she mentions her mother and the shackles of restraint he wants to smile himself, to match her easy grin but instead his heart disappears from his chest.

The world around him grows dull.

Wolfbane staggers into her fear blinkingly, swept away by the roar of change her power brings and suddenly he’s aware of her “capabilities”. Lepis is doing this to him, grinding her intentions and the clarity of her words - whatever Loess needs - into every dark corner of his mind. Futilely, Bane tries to reject the emotions but they slaughter his self-will, the once quiet mare beside him as stoic and nonchalant as ever when he turns to look at her, eyes wide.

The moment of pain passes; Wolfbane exhales, realizing all along he’s been shaking. “Yea?” Is all he can manage as Lepis’ mouth brushes over his shoulder, meanwhile he’s struggling to piece together whatever confidence he was wearing before. He feels damn confused. “I’m glad we feel the same way, then.” He chuckles slowly, after a hesitant pause. The new Lord thinks he’s beginning to understand her.

“I need a break, I think. Coming?” Bane mutters, a burst of a smile appearing every now and then as he twists aside from her to follow a trail downhill. Freshwater cuts through the basin of a few buttes not far from where they are, shaded by a twist of natural and unnatural flora along the banks. Where the scrub grassland fades and the red rock spires begin feels the most homey to Wolfbane, he enjoys the way crimson-orange dust settles over his wings with every step that stirs it loose.

“You were Queen here, yes?” The pegasus male asks her, stopping to rest weary hooves at the lapping edge of the clear water. The bow of his neck straightens, bringing his head down to plunge into the crisp flow and he drinks, giving a pause. “What was that like?” He wants to know when he rises again, mouth glistening. Despite their interesting conversation thus far he hasn’t forgotten that quip of information and truly, he’s curious to know. With the soft turn of his cheek he admires her - the hidden strength, the fragile existence - and waits patiently for her answer.

WOLFBANE