It took a very long time before he could even think about her…let alone try to face her. His first tormentor, his beloved horrible mother. He only knew true affection from his sister, though he wondered if their childhood bond was only so strong due to the trauma they shared. He resented Shadowmere for a long time after she herself abandoned them, all he could remember was her babbling about their elder sister and her slipping into the night, never to be seen again. Once old enough, he had set out on his own. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had seen Falljoy either. His past was a blur for one so young, just coming into his 7th year. He had grown into a fine stallion, lean and fit, and his horns no longer stubby bumps above his brow. There were times he saw himself in his reflection in ponds and streams that he could see his resemblance to his mother that had him cringe, but it was only recently that he recalled some of her babbling. Realizing there was a reason for her ways, and that she was only a misguided and tormented product of tragedy.

It took days to track her as an equine, but only a few hours after bending his form into that of a hound. His droopy face glued to the ground, sniffing any trace of Shadowmere's scent left behind. He had a feeling he knew where she was headed, remembering her stories of the old pine forests of the prior Chamber as the trees changed from winter bare oaks and maples to dark and lush pines. He tracked her lingering scent, that of blood and elderberry, through the pines and stopped at the edge of a clearing, his deep brown eyes scanning the moorland slopes beyond. His heartbeat skipped when he saw her unmistakable angular form silhouetted against the pink glow of sunrise. His bones strained as he shifted back into his true form, and drew himself up. He knew he needed to approach with confidence, after having her berate him over being weak throughout his childhood. He was no meek child anymore, and he was finally ready to face her.

He paced forward through the snow with his head held high, and let out a low whinny that carried through the air in a coiling wisp of steam. He knew she would know his call, and he didn't move closer to her. He was standing square, his body braced in case she bore down upon him like the hellbeasts that tore apart her family as a filly. It felt like he was trying to approach a wild cat, one sudden movement could spell death. If she would allow him to speak, he would find it in his heart to forgive her for all she had done, all she had put him and his siblings through, but he would not allow her to strike him down in cold blood either. He was not sure of her mental state after all these years, knowing how twisted she had been when he was young. The moments seemed to drag on and the young bay stallion wasn't sure what to expect from this encounter, but he hoped it to be civil. .

He expected as much, and when she spat her venomous words at him like daggers that pierced his aching heart, he tried his hardest to hold his position. Her fury was tangible, but he could hear the pain laced in her shrill shrieks of confused anger. She was just that, confused. When her teeth snapped a breaths length from his muzzle he furrowed his brow and snapped back in frustration. "I left you!? You left US, Mother! Do you truly not remember? You left Falljoy and I to fend for ourselves without you while you went off to find Naga! It was always about Naga, and you continue to project her onto all of us!! You want Naga!? You want to see a so called traitor? HERE!”, he bellowed in her face and his body began to contort. His features shifting and molding into perfection. His mane turned to black with sun burnt tips that burned orange like the setting sun, his coat turning to a sunbleached black, and those eyes that Shadowmere knew all too well burned into her own like gleaming emeralds. He could hear her sharp inhale, a partial squeak in surprise as she reared back from him. HERE IS YOUR TRAITOR, MOTHER! NOT ME, NOT FALLJOY!”, he stalked forward, forcing Shadowmere to step back her eyes wide and maw gaping.

He felt powerful in this moment, and realized just how small his mother really was. She was thin, her hip bones jutting out against her thin skin, her neck was like that of a swan. Though she was manipulative and most definitely not to be underestimated, she looked fragile. He used to be so terrified of her, but standing up to her like this? It made the tower he held her on in his mind begin to crumble. This mare was broken and corrupted, yet through his fear of her he held a twisted version of love for this horrid creature. He let his features shift back into his true self once more and he looked to his mother with pleading eyes. His voice softened as he spoke. ”Mother, I never left you…and I am here now. Please understand…”, he pleaded with her. He wanted to understand her, to be at her side, to soothe her demons and listen to her woes. He didn't want to see her falling deeper into her downward spiral alone. While he did not plan on staying here, he felt he needed to. For her...