lupei

What the truth is, I can't say anymore

He’d thought about her since the moment he awoke. Covered in ash and head throbbing from a roaring headache, Lupei had gazed around him at the fog of his homeland and listened to the still of the air. The war was quiet for now. He roused himself, shook his black dog coat free of what was once another horse, and slowly began to make his way out of the Chamber. Shocked as he was that he hadn’t been completely killed by the impact, it didn’t seem unlikely that a healer had come to his aid. He reasoned though, with the soreness that had sunk deep into his bones, that he’d need a visit to the Falls for a little rest and relaxation anyways. But first thing was first - he needed to find Zojja and make sure that she was still, well, here.

When they’d last seen each other Lupei had left her with something a little more notorious than a heartfelt goodbye, and for the first time in his entire life he actually cared enough to check up on what unfinished business he’d left behind. Zojja was expressedly more important to him than any other horse in this godforsaken place and though he was glad he hadn’t seen hide or hair of her since the outbreak of the kingdoms, it still caused a shiver of worry to clench his spine. He’d be a little more than peeved if she’d gotten into trouble - even less happy if she’d decided to disappear altogether.

The wolf sighs, looks up to the sun, and continues his journey. By the time he reaches the outskirts of the common grounds he’s loosened up. Nothing like the smoothness he was used to, but still better than when he’d first opened his eyes. He raises his nose to warm, summer wind and hopes to find some trace of her there. “Hidden well.” He thinks, finding nothing of her. There isn’t anything to do now but wander and hope to come across her, and Lupei can only hope that he won’t be here long.

lupei

What the truth is, I can't say anymore

For the first time that he can ever recall, Lupei feels nervous. It’s not really an emotion he likes to dwell on too much - sets him up for failure before he’s even begun the task - but he can’t help feeling it settle between his shoulders like some nameless weight. Child rearing wasn’t really in his nature; Lupei never stayed around for long once the initial fun was had. But (as was the case with pretty much everything involving Zojja) he couldn’t find it within himself to abandon her like the others. She’d taken too much without even having to ask, stolen bits of him that he’d been all too eager to leave unguarded. Zojja is the only mare in his existance that’s made him realize he even has a heart. So, when the dun wolf yips a greeting from behind, causing the black behemoth to swing his head around with an elated, toothy grin, he can’t help but feel the sensation grow to a crushing size in the center of his chest.

She was as striking as he had remembered, bold and unchanged by motherhood as he would have otherwise thought. Her nose against his fur elicits a rumble of pleasure from the beast, and he turns about to nudge her with the full force of his broad skull. “Nowhere near as much fun as you’ve been having, I’m sure.” He retorts, chuckling in the easy pleasure of her company. He’d forgotten how much the quip of her voice had pleased his ears. He, unlike her, has changed quite a bit. Perhaps not so visible in his form just now (although the blue scar of a lion still shows proudly against his shoulder) it would soon become obvious to Zojja that the once dashingly handsome stallion was, well, bald. He braces, trying to tell her - but he’s cut short.

There’s a high cry that erupts from the underbrush, and it breaks their concentration, causing Lupei’s head to turn in order to peer behind his mates back. A pair (A PAIR) of colts tumble forward, and in that single moment, Zojja is forgotten. All of Lupei’s fears, his incessant worrying, they vanish. He’s a father. Truly. His mind sharpens, and he knows now why Astri sacrificed so much of herself for him. His eyes dart back to Zojja, watching silently as she turns away to push the younger, finer colt forward into his gaze. Wyrm. Kudu. His … sons. Without a thought, the wolf shifts, twisting in upon himself before springing outward like a dying star, growing, multiplying until he becomes horse again, wholly. He peers over them now, casting his shadow and smiling in wonder. A hairless wonder.

“Lupei.” He replies to them, marveling at their curious stares. “I’m your father.” The teal and azure stallion states, raising his head to smile at Zojja. His sleek neck and tailbone ignite, sprouting blue-white flame in place of hair, flickering against his skin but never scalding. “I’m not the only one to blame for mischief in our genetic pool.” He scorns playfully. He turns his attention back to them, curious stare returned before asking them, “Are either of you gifted?” Wyrm needs no prompting, taking to the task as if to show off by transforming into an exact replica of Lupei’s wolf form, imitating only the shape of his scar by changing the color of his coat hair where the scar would otherwise be. Lupei is speechless, eyes roaming slowly away from the once emerald green colt to his smaller counterpart. “And you?” He questions, waiting for a silent moment before his son grins mischievously and ignites upon himself to become a living, breathing body of flame.

All he can do is shake his head. “Incredible.” He murmurs, eyes locking with Zojja’s. “Simply incredible.”

lupei

What the truth is, I can't say anymore

Though her quip about a lonesome pregnancy is meant to be taken lightly, it strikes like flint against his steely heart. If he had known … But that was a cop out. He should’ve been there, Should’ve helped her when she struggled the most. A shocking realization snaps with clarity into his mind as her nose brushes near to where the lion roars - Zojja could have died. He assumes this is her first (a little presumptuous, but Zojja does not seem to be a mare who spreads her affections so carelessly as he) and the first time for any challenge is never easy, nor straightforward. While he’d been out recklessly ruining a quarter of Beqanna, she’d been privately waging her own battle. He sees her anew now, blue eyes widening with a respect he’s never given. Zojja was as powerful as they came.

And out of all the suitable matches she could have made, she’d chosen him.

Her eyes flicker warily to the ground and Lupei notices that without even trying, almost on reflex, she’s made her own adjustments too. Having to keep up with these two certainly didn’t seem like an easy task, much less on one’s own. There’s a moment of unabashed humility, Lupei’s own pride diminished by his selfish absence. His mate shifts also, completing the change as effortlessly as breathing. The boys are rambunctious, and her divided attention is understood. Yet, it doesn’t keep her from trying to make up for lost time. Her nose traces small paths against his skin, the flame bending to his will and away from her without much effort on his part.

“You think so?” He murmurs, eyes wagging roguishly. Her compliment eases the initial hesitation he’d had about showing her, causing the brightly-colored male to lean slightly into the pressure of her touch. It’s only in this moment that her words waft gently up to his waiting ears. A half-smile pulls at his lips, head turning to the side so that he can bump her gently against the cheek. “I’ve missed you more.” He states, bold in his affection. There was no sense in trying to cover up what they were both well-aware of. Zojja deserved that, at least. He settles then, happy to enjoy the general moment of solitude between the four of them. The boys have grown tired of the two cooing doves, straying away to pick at each other and any other living thing that was dumb enough to allow them to wander close.

“I’ve been thinking.” Lupei begins, after the moment has passed. “Not a very safe thing for me to do, I know, but I’ve been thinking all the same.” He chuckles, letting the sound vibrate through his chest. “I don’t see enough of you as it is, and with our sons in tow something tells me you’ll need another pair of eyes to keep them in check as they grow.” He sees so much of them between the two colts. Wyrm would be a handful at the least, and Kudu would need someone as clever and adept as his mother, not reckless like himself. “I want us to have some semblance of home. Somewhere that we know is ours. I don’t care if it’s the Chamber - if the kingdom life makes you uncomfortable, I won’t push you. We could have a herdland, there’s plenty that have gone untouched for years now.” He rambles, his ideas running away with him.

But he breathes, deeply, gauging her face for any sort of negative reaction. Perhaps she’d enjoyed the solidarity, maybe she could only handle him in small doses. But for Lupei, only seeing her on occasion was almost never enough to satisfy him. He smirks, ears turning aside from one another in a ridiculous fashion. “Who knows? If you please me enough I could be persuaded into making you lead mare.” The blue-green brute laughs. Of course, he’d never tell her, but she probably already knew the conclusion that he’d come to himself some time ago. His bachelor days were through. It was hard to even think of another creature that could come close to the one that stood before him now.

lupei

What the truth is, I can't say anymore

He takes her initial silence well, keeping an eye on her while he mumbles on. Zojja’s not exactly ever been close to him, or for all he knows anyone. They get along, it’s true - she’s the only creature he could tolerate for long periods of time. He also supposes that if she’d never really been all that interested in his company, she probably wouldn’t have come to find him here in the Forest anyways. So silence is better than an outright reaction. Of course, it was an idea after all, nothing in the way of assuming she’d immediately agree with round eyes and thankful tears of joy.

But as her silence lingers on into a long moment, Lupei begins to worry he might’ve acted too much on impulse and somehow ended up with his hoof in his mouth. His tongue is poised between his teeth, ready to rescind the foolish thought but he’s interrupted. She’s moved, eyes locking on to their kin faster than he could’ve imagined. The instinct in her is simultaneously terrifying and amazing to watch. In a brief second his eyes follow too, taking in the scene of the elder colt in his attempt to leap on his brother. His head shakes, mind beginning to wrap around the enormity of handling such reckless little beasts.

Zojja’s speaking though, so the stallion lends an ear while keeping his eyes on the boys. Her? In the Chamber? He likes the sound of it almost too much. He’d laugh, but her teeth are pinching a fold of his skin and he snakes his head around to snap the empty air at her cheek playfully. “I wouldn’t want to scratch up that pretty face.” He retorts, knowing full and well that even with his gifts he’d be no match for her. A smug grin has him turning back to the boys, trying on her duties for a size. “I’m glad you don’t object, because I’ve already found a place.” He tells her, quite pleased with himself. “It’s Volcanic Village, if you’re wondering.”

He’s being a petulant bugger, but he just can’t help himself. Her question about his flame lingers in his mind, and a long-forgotten flash of gold sparks through his memories. Lupei blinks, sweeping the thought away and settling for a grin instead. “I tangled with a magician for the marking and the new look, but the flame was a stolen gift.” He reports. “And you’re right, it happened long before Kudu.”