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A low sound was beginning to drone over the horizon, like muted thunderclaps that signaled the arrival of a very large, very irritable storm. Nemesis sailed overhead while peering at the earth below with sharp, sanguine eyes. He'd already eaten well that morning but boredom and brooding had driven him into a state of snarling unrest. Though he had spoken to Malice about the situation with Toku and felt as though he had made some headway, the entirety of the situation still bothered him. He didn't like change. A flash of cool-colored movement caught his gaze and the stallion angled his glittering wings to gracefully sweep into a landing, blackened lips twitching and his tail slashing at the ground in angry sweeps. His mind had leapt to the immediate conclusion that it was a lesser seeking cover, and he already relished the thought of physically venting his anger by tearing the unfortunate victim apart with tooth and hoof.

The last thing he'd expected to see was a Kalona mare...and a pregnant one, at that! Her bulging belly instantly made the stallion stop in his tracks, nostrils flaring with the first signs of his rage until they had slowed as well. This was... awkward. With a grunting growl, the beast rustled his wings and folded them tightly against his sides, twisting his head slightly to look away in his version of settling down. The taciturn creature wasn't quite sure what to say. He'd invaded her territory and had fully planned on attacking her--until her race and condition made itself known to him.

"...Greetings." The stallion eventually rumbled, his baneful stare flickering again over the mare. That was a start. With any luck, he could back out of this without too much conversation--but then again, when had he last seen a Kalona female outside of his family? Far too long ago, and even then, they hadn't been anyone worthy of respect. Perhaps this would be different? He somehow doubted it.

The chilling gaze of the female soaked through him, nearly making his nostrils flare with irritation. Aggressive, wasn't she? Her disdain, however, was practically pitiful--he valued his own family higher than any other Kalona, be they of pure blood or not. The ones who held his same views, of course, held more merit. Her muttered words snagged his attention, forcing the big, black stallion to focus with a newly jolted surge of curiosity. "When blood dilutes itself into something filthy, that's what happens." Came the gruff reply, baleful gaze glittering as he watched her approach.

If she wanted the truth, he would give it to her, plain and simple. "I didn't realize this was your territory. From the skies at a glance, you looked no different than a lesser, and I'll admit that I wasn't looking too closely." In a nutshell, he'd meant to kill her. "It was my mistake." Nemesis finally said after a pause, managing to grate the words through sharp teeth. Mistakes--another thing he abhorred with great passion.

Her swollen belly also brought the nasty reminder of his sister, and the predicament she'd landed herself into with Toku. It made him wonder whether or not this mare's foals would be pureblood--and if the stallion was worthy of the name Kalona in nature, as well as heritage.

"Do I look like one?" Came the growl, filled with menace as the beast gave himself a rueful shake. "No. Are you impregnated by one?" He shot back, idly swiveling an ear to listen to the lamentations of the tree. It was also hard to miss the cloud of anger that sprawled across her features; the thought of his sister being this moody made his skin crawl. Females, honestly. He'd met few outside his family, and none worthy of praise.

It was only a bit of tact that stilled his tongue and saved him from replying with something like 'round'. A brow arched as her scathing tone cut off, then ghosted forth once more as though in agony. He rolled his eyes before eyeing her belly once more, not honestly knowing how she managed to put up with it. "Far along?" He inquired.

Valarauco? His crimson gaze widened for a moment before it narrowed with thought. A wicked storm, and the fiery stallion with the streaming mane of magma... It was her words that earned a low, grating rasp of laughter from the beast, wings rustling absently against his sides. "We met." Came the brief, almost lazy statement. They'd discussed, yes, discovered they held similar ideals, and parted on rather agreeable terms. So she was carrying his spawn? Hm. Fitting, yes. Nemesis knew it was none of his business, and approved anyway.

"I will never understand how you females manage it." He rumbled lowly, almost to himself before he gave his head another shake. "That is an obstacle I will never have to face, and I cannot say I'm sorry that I'll miss out on the experience." Blackened lips curled back, offering her a flash of his fangs in what was apparently a grin.

Something unplanned... how he wished he could say the same for his sister; it'd give him ample reason to rip out that b*****d's sleek throat. Pushing aside his own bristling emotions, Nemesis offered a soft snort to her words, but did not deny them. It was true that his mother led as the alpha of the herd, and he knew all too well that gender had little to do with strength or wit. "In some aspects. Woe to the fool who stumbles across the path of a mother on a warpath." The subtle easing of tension from her body was enough to calm him as well, satisfied that she wouldn't attack him. "...Are you able to tell how many?" The stallion inquired after a moment, his words made gruff by awkwardness. Well, if this was what Malice would have to go through, he supposed it wouldn't hurt to have an idea...

He couldn't quite explain his sudden shift in mood, but felt no need to do so. She'd calmed, and so had he--he'd rarely encountered others outside of his family that he could accept, especially females. It was almost soothing to know that the Kalona bloodline wasn't suffering as badly as he feared. A grimace pulled at his face at her mention of poking appendages, giving his head another shake. "I can only imagine." The stallion said dryly before he offered a nod of approval at her words. "It's a start."

Sanguine eyes carefully watched as she pulled herself off her support and glanced to face him again. Her proposal was considered as well--particularly when she mentioned the rain. Messy, sickening stuff. "I will accompany you until the storm passes." He agreed before heavy hooves lifted to smoothly set him at her side. He would hold back, of course, to let her lead, but kept it subtle. "...Or sooner, should your time come even sooner than expected." Came the mutter.

He grunted slightly at her words, satisfied that he wouldn't be caught unaware and forced to witness something that quite honestly made his skin crawl with disgust. Hell, he wouldn't even care how stupid he looked trying to get out and take to the skies, rain or not. Speaking of rain, whatever dam had it penned up in the clouds finally broke, and the cool drops pattered gently against his shimmering hide, soaking his ragged mane. He had to be careful not to step on it now, steam rasping past his bared teeth as he followed after the mare.

Nemesis kept his own footing decently enough, unhindered by extra weight and noting where she seemed to have difficulty on certain patches of muddy earth. He could have easily used a shoulder to support her, but only watched and kept pace. He was no gentleman--and she was no damsel in distress.

Leathery wings were shaken out and flapped idly to rid themselves of excess moisture before they again nestled against his broad sides, and the stallion stepped under the rocky overhang to get out of the rain. "With any luck." Came the rumble, and he twisted his head to peer deeper into the darkness of the cave. Bah, he'd never be able to live in a place like this--the walls of stone seemed too confining, too cramped for his tastes.