[private] Seasons change but people don't

[bolder]

Bolder has never much adhered to the rules of borders, because why would he?

It was easy to slip into territories unnoticed. He had done it several times over the years, taking to the sky as a hawk or an owl that perched on the branches of the Taigan trees. If his father ever noticed the return of his middle son, Nashua never acknowledged him. There were other animals that also helped him escape notice: the vulpine shape of a fox or the quiet prowl of a panther.

Cursing inwardly when the flames suddenly appeared, Bolder knew that was the approach he should have taken. Despite his familiarity with the Pangean leader, it didn’t mean that her residents would know the gold-striped pegasus striding into their territory. He could almost appreciate that, even perhaps even understand the overzealous approach, given his affection for her. The winged horse stopped and glanced sharply, searching through the smoke for the firestarter.

”I think trespassing is rather a strong word,” Bolder calls back, finally making eye-contact with the other stallion. The edges of his auburn wings begin to turn to shadow, unable to stand the flickering light that surrounds him. He allows it to consume him, becoming entirely shadow until a golden hawk with gold-tipped wings soars over the fires. But the rising heat makes it hard to continually soar so when he lands, Bolder is careful to conceal himself with smoke and shadow.

Recalling the lizards in Tephra that lived near the lava flows, the shapeshifter emerges as a reptile with thick scales and long claws able to navigate over the scalding stone. Settling on a rock not far from @Fyr, he bobs his spiked head once, then twice. His tongue flicks out before Bolder grins as best as an iguana can.