05-19-2017, 01:08 AM
Aten wordlessly watched the father-daughter duo as they talked, his facade staying calm even though his emotions turned inside. Jinju's posture changed so quickly Aten almost didn't notice it. In a flash she was baring her teeth at the stallion, Ruan appearing to say something in response to calm her down. The filly's temper cooled like it had water thrown on it, and she moved closer to Ruan, saying something to him while she reached out.
In an instant, Aten knew what she was looking for. He never thought Jinju would so openly show it, so for that to be the case now, there had to be something very troubling going on. Almost troubling enough to make Aten want to show himself. But the stallion controlled his urge, remaining hidden in the trees as Ruan moved closer to Jinju to give her what she sought.
And then, suddenly, Ruan's attention was focused in Aten's direction. Even before the stallion said anything, the champagne knew he'd been busted. With a sheepish gaze in his eyes, but his posture held confident, Aten strode out of cover, obeying Ruan's command to join him and Jinju.
As he got closer, he could make out bits and pieces of what the older stallion was telling Jinju, though he'd missed the crucial part at the beginning. By the time he could hear them clearly enough, Ruan was requesting that Jinju join him on a trip to the Tephra kingdom, then down to Nerine, with Aten himself as her companion. The stallion almost stopped short, surprised by this.
Why would Ruan trust him with such an important task? Not only to visit another kingdom on behalf of Taiga, but to protect his daughter. Did the stallion really have that much blind faith in him, or was this some sort of test to see how capable Aten was?
Aten didn't fail to notice Ruan's glance, and he picked up its meaning immediately. He gave the older stallion a look of his own, its meaning also quite clear. With my life. he promised. It was a promise he would make for any fellow resident of the Taiga, as well as for his family and friends. Aten was a loyal beast, a trait he'd inherited from both his sire and dam.
Ruan then asked if both Jinju and Aten would take this responsibility on. Though he could tell it was moreso directed at the filly, the stallion still took a step forward and nodded his head, keeping it low to show Ruan his respect, "I would be honored to take on this task for you Ruan. I will make sure to be a good representative for the kingdom. I will not let you down."
In an instant, Aten knew what she was looking for. He never thought Jinju would so openly show it, so for that to be the case now, there had to be something very troubling going on. Almost troubling enough to make Aten want to show himself. But the stallion controlled his urge, remaining hidden in the trees as Ruan moved closer to Jinju to give her what she sought.
And then, suddenly, Ruan's attention was focused in Aten's direction. Even before the stallion said anything, the champagne knew he'd been busted. With a sheepish gaze in his eyes, but his posture held confident, Aten strode out of cover, obeying Ruan's command to join him and Jinju.
As he got closer, he could make out bits and pieces of what the older stallion was telling Jinju, though he'd missed the crucial part at the beginning. By the time he could hear them clearly enough, Ruan was requesting that Jinju join him on a trip to the Tephra kingdom, then down to Nerine, with Aten himself as her companion. The stallion almost stopped short, surprised by this.
Why would Ruan trust him with such an important task? Not only to visit another kingdom on behalf of Taiga, but to protect his daughter. Did the stallion really have that much blind faith in him, or was this some sort of test to see how capable Aten was?
Aten didn't fail to notice Ruan's glance, and he picked up its meaning immediately. He gave the older stallion a look of his own, its meaning also quite clear. With my life. he promised. It was a promise he would make for any fellow resident of the Taiga, as well as for his family and friends. Aten was a loyal beast, a trait he'd inherited from both his sire and dam.
Ruan then asked if both Jinju and Aten would take this responsibility on. Though he could tell it was moreso directed at the filly, the stallion still took a step forward and nodded his head, keeping it low to show Ruan his respect, "I would be honored to take on this task for you Ruan. I will make sure to be a good representative for the kingdom. I will not let you down."