"Shards! Shards shards shards shards shards shards SHELLS!"
The last yell had an effect other than the one Marko intended. Instead of simply making him feel better for swearing, the word summoned a green firelizard large enough to pass for a peculiarly-coloured blue, who landed on Marko's shoulder, curled her tail around his neck, and immediately started trying to preen his hair. Considering the fact that Marko was currently chasing an errant runnerbeast down the unfenced field surrounding their pasture land, this was neither comforting nor useful.
"Not now, Shells!" he snapped, flailing his arms and moving again toward the large chestnut gelding that had escaped his grasp and was now trotting excitedly up the slope. Sunshine didn't have a spunky streak in his body, or so Marko thought, but he had been given the taste of freedom and was NOT going to be caught by a stupid man whose idea of catching him involved walking after him and flailing his arms.
Picking up speed, the runner kicked up his hind feet in a happy buck and set off cantering, with every intent of bothering the other runners in their paddocks. This, of course, sent Marko half-jogging after the animal and wondering absently if runner meat was edible, and if so, whether or not it tasted good. He considered the outcry he would probably get for eating his Harper Hall-supplied companion, and then decided that it would be worth it.
"Somebody help me," he said despondently, not particularly surprised that his monotone words garnered no aid from the empty space around him. "Please."
Again, no answer. Marko groaned and continued his trek up the slope and after an animal he had never wanted to begin with.
