Welcome to Gaia! ::

Flame, ever the gentleman, did not comment when he noticed her faltering air of composure.... he could understand after all, and really it was going to be a pleasure for him to show her that she could relax among the Elderwillow Islagiatt herd members.

To start, he gracelessly sank to his belly on the ground, arranging himself to be as small as possible.. conscious of his bulk and the marking of the God on his leg... he was always careful of that.. as he viewed it as important as the tattoo beneath his eye. Signs, both of them, of what he was and where he had been.

To his right, Amarinne opened her eyes briefly to smile at them both, wordlessly welcoming the new mare in the unicorn's usual manner... as open hearted and beautiful as her mate was taciturn and suspicious. As for Crousader, he had actually started to doze, having had a long day of scouting... and the times were starting to wear on the stallion of air... Flame knew his joints had been bothering him recently.

Blais, his duty discharged, had started to speak briefly with his daughter, but the dark filly was obviously not going to hear any of it, for she abruptly stalked off, as silent in sound and loud in mind as she ever was... a brooding shadow that really didn't surprise anyone. At least, none that knew her father before Crousader had found him... or ran afoul of the filly's grandsire. Flame chuckled lightly, amused at Bonfire's headstrong ways, and was gifted a very obvious glare from his son across the fire... which he ignored. He had long earned the right to chuckle at the antics of the young.

Toujours was, thankfully, still asleep. While Flame did not have any issues with the black unicorn, he doubted anyone ever really understood TJ's logic... and he didn't want to subject Princess to that just yet. Again, a wry smile twisted its way across his jaw line, and he followed the fire full circle back to Princess, waiting.

"Aye, it is the adolescent's way. They all must carve their own paths... with hell to be paid to any who stand in their way.... even those who would like to protect them a little longer from the cold world." He replied, though he didn't sound as sad as he might have. It was a simple fact of life that he had accepted, and grown to trust. His own son was proof that even lostlings can come home.

Leaning back a little, he sighed gustily. "It never fails to amuse me though, how life repeats itself with each generation." He continued after a moment, closing his eyes. "Though I do wish somewhere along the line a lesson is learned without the suffering experience usually entails." There, that was as close as he would come to admitting his own personal crusade so soon. Of all the members that made the Elderwillow Camp, Flame's singular resolve to protect the innocent and right the wrongs of previous generations was the most pervasive. Since devoting the remainder of his life to the God, and the Great Spirits... he had come to realize what the visions had been plaguing him for all this time. He had the power to change things, too make the world a little brighter for those around him... teach responsibility and caring to the new generations... all of which would then be spread... like forest fire set by lightning to stir up new growth in an ancient forest. He was only one stallion, but if others joined him, then perhaps there really could be a time when no foal was ever left abandoned.

Most importantly... that no herds were left that would judge others so harshly as to ostracize, nor left too corrupt even the basic values any soquili possess.

As his eyes were closed, Flame missed any expressions she might have had, and while he idly debated reopening them, he opted to remain as he was. He was comfortable like this, and he hoped that by not prying.. she might feel comfortable too.


"But wouldn't it be worth it too try? Even if there are failures.. as long as there are the little victories...." He asked, sighing deeply, reminiscing over the victory that was Tai... and Blais. And through them their children and grandchildren...

Now he did open his eyes, if only to glance over at the bay mare briefly.

"Do you take such little stock in your existence that you would dismiss your impact on the world so readily?" he asked, more wondering, since he had.. as long as he could remember, always known that somehow, in someway.. his life was worth it... and that someone up high somewhere had decided that he could exist.. thus he should make the most of it.

Really, Princess had a more ways to confuse him then there were stars in the sky.. one second she was strong and full of vitality, the next she almost diminished in his eyes with such a simple response as that.

Suitably reassured, Flame relaxed and closed his eyes again. "Indeed, that is good to hear." He concluded, feeling suddenly very tired... especially as the night gathered and the humans stopped their singing and gradually began putting their instruments away. Crousader had, at some point, settled down next to Amarinne, his head curved over her back, resting against her neck, while Blais stood silent vigil across the fire, carefully studying to shadows around them.

Tai and Killian had also returned, with the younger colt groggily coming over to Flame, completely unaware of present company, to flop down next to him and curl up at his side.. just like he had as a foal. The elder stallion found this amusing, so made no move to dissuade the youngster, though Tai quirked a brow at him curiously before wandering off towards Celei's teepee where he often slept.

Eventually,

"If you prefer it, you are welcome to bed down at the base of the willow tree over there." he said quietly (careful not to awaken Killian,) gesturing with his nose towards the sentinel tree at the center of the encampment, behind the fire circle. Naturally he would prefer it if she stayed with him, but he hadn't lost all sense of propriety... yet.