absence ringing in my ears [kildare]

[kildare]

Maybe if Malachi had succeeded in finding a place for his family, Kildare wouldn’t have wondered about the horizons he saw at the top of the Pass. Maybe if he had grown up in Paraiso or Murmuring Rivers or Culloden, he would have been contented with what he had been given and the black colt would have grown up to be a stallion like his sire and grandsire before him: committed to serving the needs of others, dedicated to family, being brave and noble in the face of darkness and the evils of the world.

Tarian was the one who was wrapped up in duty. Liam had shirked his as easily as a fledgling sheds their downy wings. Kildare had been somewhere in the middle – he would have stayed if there had been no other option. He would have stayed if he felt that his family needed him.

But they had Malachi and they had Tarian. His silver father, perhaps not wishing to make the same mistakes he did with his eldest sons, had given Kildare his blessing to roam the world with the promise that he was always able to return to his family. That he would carry their love with him no matter where he went.

He carries that love and should the day come that he finds he wants to leave Beqanna, he will honor that promise. Kildare will return to his family.

Kildare, however, doesn’t want to be defined by them. While he adores his father, Malachi had the mold in his mind of what a Legacy should be. It was fitting into that cookie-cutter description that seemed to fray his relationship with his sons. Another Legacy son trying to live up the unsurmountable legacy of the father that came before. Kildare, having grown up with the arguments of his elder brothers and their sire, had decided that it was far easier to be himself than struggle to fit that mold.

As much distance that he puts between himself and his family, they still manage to come out in the words, the actions, the mannerisms that the dark colt carries.

”Taller?” His brows rise in mock surprise. And then with an exaggerated exhale, the young stallion manages to look away from Astana. His green eyes fix on some unknown thought. Kildare turns his gaze back to her. ”My lady,” he says, the words laced with sarcasm. ”You wound me. And here I thought I was alone in your affections.” The expression on his face could almost be taken for a pout if it wasn’t for the laughter that echoes in his green eyes, making them seem impossibly brighter and greener.

She giggles and her next words release the grin that comes lop-sided. ”Well at least I have that going for me.” Astana continues to speak about Heartfire. She really is great. While Kildare doesn’t doubt that the diamond girl finds her so, the ebony colt has to wonder what a queen is doing with a little bird like Astana. He could leave the thought there and he tries - but it nags incessantly at him, warning him that there could be something.. less than ideal about his traveling companion’s new living situation.

The girl talks on about oceans and sandcastles, in a way that reminds him of his younger sisters. More babysitting. But he nods, his mind already calculating how long the journey to Nerine will take him before he can continue down the coast. ”We’ll make a day of it. Sandcastles and swimming. I’ll tag along to make sure you don’t become some delicious snack for a sea creature.” He winks at her then, pleased with his reply.

Her next statement makes him shake his head softly, understanding Astana’s reasoning but also knowing that it isn’t a lifestyle for most. It can be a hard one to comprehend for those poor earthbound souls.

Kildare contemplates her question, his face becoming serious in his thoughts. Regret? Did he regret leaving them? Another moment and his lips press in concentration, sorting through the thoughts and decisions that lead him to Beqanna. ”No,” and then he finally looks back to Astana. ”And my Glam used to say there are no regrets, only lessons.” The pursing lines break into a smile and Kildare grins at her again, ”What about you, chickadee? Have you learned any lessons from this whole ordeal?”

@[Astana]