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Without thinking about it, Killian moved again, slowly at first. His action was animated, bespeaking the underlying energy that had been his trademark as a youth. His pace would quicken soon, but the conscience part of his mind wasn't in any hurry to part company with Ichigo.

"The truth has always had this effect on me, and ... if I may be frank... there is a love for everyone.. even those who think they aren't worthy or don't have the time." He replied with a kickback grin. Bonfire was a lot like this fellow in a few small ways... she always tried to put herself down in some way, claiming unworthiness or blaming her stubborn streak.

But it was her stubborn pride that he loved so much.

"Y'know.. for the longest time I wasn't even sure what love was, let alone what it was worth." he paused, observing for the first time that the bandages adorning his new found friend weren't holding wounds together. Puzzeled, he thought about asking about i, but decided the subject at hand was more important. There would be time for random talk later right?

"But.. over time.. especially in the first month after she said yes... I realized that love was a foundation. It would be there if I found my own strength faltering, yet it was also the most fragile set of butterfly wings. " He stopped to look at Ichigo seriously, debating in his mind how much he could say that would be appropriate. "I think it is definitely worth it, even now when I find myself doubting the love I have found for myself, since I know that love exists. My family has a strong support system based on familial love that holds us all up.. even when the love we may find outside of blood chills and fractures. No matter what may happen with Bonfire, my parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings will still be there for me."

Looking very much like a cat who just ate the canary, Killian glanced back over his shoulder at Ichigo, a mischievous smile writ clear across his muzzle. He was satisfied with Ichigo's promise to 'keep his eyes open,' but the grin was for something a little deeper. Love was all well and good, but there was something else in the world Killian loved quite a bit and enjoyed introducing to others.

"Selfish huh?" He chortled lightly and looked ahead again, though in truth his full attention was on his friend, and not necessarily the path before him.

"Yet if you find someone that needs saving, you do it? Am I right?" He asked, the question was obviously a leading one, but Killian kept the rest of his piece behind his teeth until Ichigo responded.

Again with the canary look.. really Ichigo made this toooo easy.

Killian loved people, and he loved dealing with people, but truth be told he had few friends outside of his herd group for a very important reason. He had a tendency to do whatever it took to assure himself of their safety and happiness... for selfish reasons. When his friends were safe and healthy, he was able to enjoy their company and sacrificing himself a little to assure that future companionship was well worth the expense. At least for Killian.

However, on that same token, he couldn't be constantly running around the countryside saving his friends... so he kept to himself and his closeknit family group. Expansive as it now was... and just kept the smiles going.

But there was room for change, and above all else Killian enjoyed talking to kindred spirits like Ichigo... it was invigorating and kept his mind off of problems like the one he was having with Bonfire.


In any case... "Right, you like mares over stallions, but you don't like mares in THAT way?" He grinned back and swished his tail in a mock attempt to swat the other brightly hued stallion. "I'll buy that when the sun rises in the West!" He proclaimed, tossing his head before settling into a cheerful, but conversational tone. "But tell me, how would you define evil?"

Killian grinned some more, and looked heavenward... quite dramatically if he had any say...

"Well, I won't refute your refusal to acknowledge my own personal experience with mares.. but oh the stories my uncles have told..." he trailed off, though he was watching Ichigo's expression out of the corner of his eye with glee. "Alas I was smitten quite suddenly, and have only a few stories myself..." he added whimsically, and was at that point surprised to note the usual painful hitch in his side was absent.

"In any case, I'm sure training bouts take up more then enough of your time.. lord knows it takes an inordinate amount of time for my Uncle and his students." He continued, still grinning. Ichigo seemed a nice sort to Killian, kind of like a male version of Seresai... who was hellbent on the notion that girls could kick a boy's butt any day.

"Y'know.. what of those who commit heinous acts without knowing any better? Or those whose very natures cause them to inflict pain on others?" He hadn't intentionally been referencing Kalonas.. but now that he thought about it... they definitely fit the bill.

His expression sobered, though not in disagreement with Ichigo. Actually he agreed one hundred percent... but Killian had heard stories of skinwalker curses... and for the sake of the innocent bitten.. he privately hoped they could.. somehow... be redeemed.

He was diverted to another topic close to his heart though, and with it, Killian's smile broadened even further... nearly splitting his face. Though he was not the fighting sort, he took great pride in the martial members of his herd, and enjoyed talking about them to others. They were protection for ones such as him, and he appreciated their bravado!

"Oh Uncle Crous lives and breathes fighting! Every morning he is up before the rest and does his patrol, then when he comes back Uncle Blais is usually up along with Seresai." His grin turned rueful then, since the trio were pretty loud... and once ALL of them were going at it.. it became quite difficult for anyone ELSE to sleep in. Namely... Killian.

"They can get kinda rowdy, so the rest of us either get up too or wander away to sleep somewhere else." He continued, chuckling at a pleasant memory... he'd never seen bedhead so BAD as when Blais had crashed into Flame's tree and woke the elder unexpectedly.

Killian gentle rolled his shoulders in a shrug as he considered how to answer. He really hadn't much reason to fight, what with family like Crousader and Blais constantly running about in his general vicinity looking for it. SO he was about to answer with a typically glib reply.. when it hit him.

What if Bonfire and he weren't near his family? Would he fight then?

He took a moment to consider this, walking on in silence, figuring Ichigo wouldn't mind overly much if he took his time replying.

He knew how to fight, his own father and eldest brother were quite accomplished fighters, and though he had grown up far from them, their inherent affinity for war games ran through his veins as well, even if he hadn't honed it to the art form they had. Then there was the environment he had grown up in. Tai was no fighter, but like every other member of the herd, he at least knew the rudimentary moves and had passed them on to Killian.

Which left whether he would use those skills...

At length he finally reached his own internal conclusion.

"I wouldn't start a fight, but I would certainly finish one if my loved ones were threatened." He replied with all due seriousness the topic deserved. He had no aversion to Crous, Blais, and Seresai's play war games, but where Killian was concerned, he would only battle if there was no other way...

.. and he sure hoped there never came a day where one such as he had to raise his hooves in aggression to another.

Perhaps it was because he had been dwelling in the negative of the situation for so long... or perhaps it was the brute honesty with which Ichigo appeared to view the world. Whatever the case, Killian found that he did indeed feel a renewed sense of purpose, a full throttle drive to seek out his estranged lifemate and bring her to her senses.... and do this forever thing he had (up until this year) taken only at face value.

Still, he didn't want to just run off, even with Ichigo's apparent blessing.

"... you kicking me off then Ichigo?" He replied cheerfully, flicking his tail as his body subconsciously exhibited the signs of readiness. " 'Cause I've only been keeping YOU company." He added, half rearing playfully.