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Banzai lounged lazily in the sun not too far off from Acacia. It was a day or two after they had emerged from the swamp and they still hadn't really talked about what had happened. Perhaps it was because neither of them wanted to remember that night, or maybe it was just easier not to talk about it. Whatever it was, it was time to talk about it. They at least needed to talk about Acacia's sister and where they might look next.

The stallion watched the mare intently and lovingly. To think that such a sweet thing had managed to tame him! He wasn't sure what it was about him that put all other mares out of mind, but when he was near her he felt like he could stay with her forever. Thank goodness the old days of flitting from mare to mare were over. Who knows what kind of trouble that could have gotten him into?

Banzai was close to dozing off himself when he noticed Acacia begin to stir. Slowly, the stallion stood up and stretched all of his muscles out letting the blood flow through his body. With one last stretch, he stood up straight and made his way over to the mare, greeting her with a little a nicker and a gentle nuzzle.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked her lazily as he settled himself down beside her. It was much nicer being closer to her warm body. He would have napped along with her before if he hadn't needed to think a few things over by himself while she slept.

Banzai's heart lurched a little at the expression on her face. She really did love him didn't she? "I just needed to think." He started off slowly. He knew that he needed to talk to her about that night, but, how could he? She had looked so peaceful and he truly didn't want to break that peace that she had found. That night had been a nightmare for the both of them and he knew it had been hard on her. Especially since they never did find her sister. She had been so hopeful then, and well, he was pretty sure she had been crushed though she may not have shown it.

"I know we really haven't talked about the other night, but, well. What are you going to do about your sister?" He hated bringing it up, he really did, but it couldn't be helped.

Banzai inwardly sighed. He had hoped to keep this from her, had never really wanted her to know. How could he tell her? Would she be angry with him? Would she even believe him? No matter what she thought, he knew he had to tell her and he knew that he should have told her long ago. As soon as he had realized who she was he should have told her.

"Of course your sister is real, she is as real as the fire." He paused to take a deep breath before he continued on. "She's as real as I am. As real as the stallion who saved you." He didn't wait for her to have any sort of reaction, instead he continued on again. "I... I had never wanted to tell you, but I only found you and your parents. I found them first. They were beyond my help but there was something that made me continue searching and then I came upon you. I don't know where your sister was, but I'm positive that she had to have made it out alive." He did pause then. Waiting for her to say something, anything.

Banzai faltered and got to his feet as Acacia did. This was why he had been afraid to tell her in the first place. What was he supposed to say? How could he make things right?

"Well..." He stammered, searching for the right words and cursing himself for not knowing them. "I guess I was afraid to tell you. I didn't know what it would really matter. I didn't want you to think differently of me. I wanted you to get to know me for me. Not for the mysterious hero that you thought I might be or was." He talked quickly, hoping that he could somehow make amends for what he had kept from her. "I should have told you sooner, but I hadn't been entirely sure at first and I didn't really know how to bring it up. 'Oh by the way I kinda saved your life at one point.' It just didn't seem right." He stopped then, afraid that he might only be making the situation worse.

Banzai was grateful that Acacia seemed to have calmed down a bit. At least for now. Her question, though, did bother him and it puzzled him some too. He wasn't entirely sure when he had allowed her to think that her sister was dead, even just now he had finally told her the truth so that she wouldn't worry. Then again, he may have slipped up at one point and not noticed. Mares were so hard to please sometimes.

"If I did I hadn't meant to and I'm sorry for that. I have no real way of knowing for sure, but I do believe that she is fine and that she's out there looking for you. We will find her one day and we can only look ahead." He hoped that what he was saying was actually helpful. The stallion was so overwhelmed that he was afraid he might be butchering things and just messing up his newly calm life. Or was that just him? Perhaps with the life style he had been living for so long, chaos was just natural to him. Well, he was going to change that. He had Acacia now and she was his new life.

He relaxed as she seemed to be forgiving him. He knew he wasn't completely off the hook, but at least he wasn't in any danger of losing her. Although the thought of her knowing everything about him did panic him a little bit. He hadn't exactly lived the most reserved life since his mother had passed away, but they could start with the less then discriminating stuff.

"I love you too and I always will." He told her. "And I promise I won't keep anything from you any more. Especially anything important." He smiled warmly at her. "Did I ever tell you I have a brother? I haven't seen him in a while, not since my mom died really." Perhaps now would be a good time to catch up on what she ought to know about him.