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Maion had just dismissed the other protectors under his command, with foals now roaming around the type of protection needed was different. The Miakoda herd didn't like to stop the freedom of their foals -mainly because thet would have an affect on their development, and that was a risk Maion was not willing to take.

He looked to his son Drashi who was still hanging around; "Everything ok?" He asked, often Drashi would stay behind after their meetings to talk... in many ways Maion felt sorry for the lad. When they had first met poor Drashi had been cold and near death himself as he clung to the dead body of his sister. Then more recently Arianna, the mare Drashi loved with all his heart left him taking one of his sons with him. Yes, both insidents had left scars on Drashi's heart. Scars that Maion hoped would one day heal....he would do anything to see his son happy again.

Smiling softly Maion looked around the lake, everyone way busy doing their own things. The foals played, running around their mother who appeared to be attempting to groom them. The mares sat around soaking their hooves and gossiping. His protectors where working, even those off duty where observing.

A few months earlier two skinwalkers had attacked, harming the very core of the herd but finally the effects seemed to be nothing more than a whisper. Maion hoped that the herd could enjoy peace and tranquility for a while. Just heal.

Yes, healing was needed now.

Maion could feel the pain and anger building in his son, it was like an angry snaking locking its hold on him tighter and tighter and that was something Maion wasn't willing to simply accept! He moved closer to his son, let him feel the warmth of him and see his size and strength so he could ground himself by Maions presence. "Drashi..... he is your son, I know it will hurt to lose him, but it will hurt more to ignore this opportunity. Maybe you should take some time off. No one would hold it against you!" Quite the opposite actually, he had been trying to get his son to take a break for months now, ever since Arianna left all Drashi had done was bury himself into his work, hide behind a shroad of darkness and pain and it was time that ended. Taking some time off and forming a relationship with his son may seem like the hardest thing he could do but the truth was it wasn't. In fact if Drashi and Xanthus became close Maion was sure that Xanthus would come back, it was in Xanthus's nature to crave freedom and exploration but if he knew he could return here Maion was sure he would.

Taking a deep breath he looked at his son, the sadness that lingered behind his eyes echoed the pain Maion felt in his own chest for his son. If he could take the pain away he would. If he could remove all doubt he would. But how to show him that? "Drashi... do you remember the day I found you?"

Sometimes Maion wished that his horn could heal the problems of the heart... but his healing powers had never been that good. Still, Maion felt his sons pain as his own and knew he had to try something.

He closed the gap between them, wrapping his head around his sons and using his chin to pull Drashi closer into an embrace. For a moment he simply stood there, waiting and listening to his son cry. Each tear hurt him. Reminded him that he wasn't invincible, he couldn't protect his herd and children from everything although he really wanted to. He was a mortal after all, one day there would be nothing left of Maion but ash and memories.... still, he would do the best he could for them while he was here. "Shhhhhh....." He cooed. Hoping to gently stir his son from his pain long enough to talk to him. "....no one said he was going to let you lose him did they?" From the brief contact Maion had had with Xanthus he got the impression that the boy had a good strong heart, and had seen his fathers pain for his own eyes..... Maion didn't think Xanthus would willingly do that again, even if he did go he would visit. "That boy of yours is as stubborn as you Drashi! You know for a fact he will do what he wants... and right now he wants his father."

"He won't." Maion said, using all the conviction he could muster to his voice. If he had to he would talk to Xanthus himself about the issue, but from the brief conversation they had already shared it was clear the boy respected his father deeply -that was the whole point for him being here asking for his help.

Kiss his son on the back of the head he smiled, thinking of how much Xanthus reminded Maion of Drashi.... too much perhaps, they where very alike... maybe Drashi couldn't even see it. "It took a lot for him to come and find you Drashi, but he did..... you can repay his effort by helping him and trusting him. It won't be easy, nor will happen over night but soon things will start to heal and look brighter I promise."

He could hear the tears drying up now and so took it as an opportunity to pull back, but just enough so he could see his sons face. "You know..." he started, and already he could feel the dread building at the words that where about to follow, "...you could always go with him next time." There he said it... the hardest thing for Maion was the thought of losing a children, but the fact was that beyond his selfish need to have them close and safe he wanted them happy, and it was clear Drashi wasn't happy. Maion would do anything for his children's happiness.... including lose them. The difference was Maion would have so many happy memories of Drashi that he would never truely be gone, he would live on forever in his heart.

"Drashi," He said in a slightly chastising voice, "This is about you and your happiness... not about keeping an old man happy. You know I love you son, but seriously.... if the best thing for you was to send you away I would. Last time you didn't..." Maion paused, he knew what he was about to say would open up a wound across Drashi's heart.... he didn't want to hurt his son more but needed him to know the truth. Everyone had to stop skirting around the subject and talk about it... even Arashi, Drashi's golden son skirted around the topic. No more. "....make any efforts to follow, she told you to stay so you stayed and we supported you through it. But this time.... if going is best then you go, whether you were asked to stay behind or not." He looked at his son, on this Maion wouldn't be moved. He would make sure his son cared for himself, just like all those times he placed food in his bedding area because he knew Drashi wouldn't bother to eat.... and when he followed him on his duty for a little bit just to check he was ok. Yes, Maion would do this for anyone in his herd... but Drashi was his son, which meant Maion's concern was built into his very DNA.

"You hear me Drashi?" He smiled, softening his expersion. "I need you to be happy. You have been sad for far to long.... and I think Xanthus will help unlock your happiness." Truth.

Maion could see Drashi's tatics... and usually he would have allowed them to slide but this was too important to simply brush under the carpet, he feared his sons happiness might be at stake. "Good try Drashi, but... I will agree.... but only if you promise to think about, and I mean truely think about it first."

He smiled at his son, intreguied by the thoughts that must have been going on in his head to skip from his problems with Xanthus and the past to the duties of other protectors. It was certainly a path he was unsure his own mind would take. Honour had once been at the forefront of Maions's mind; yet after meeting the mare he had once called mother he wondered what other things his had taken from her and used to the extreme. She had tried to teach him that Angeni were creatures that desired purity, that showed respect to nature and upheld the honour of the universe. Yet... she hadn't be entirely right. Maion was an Angeni through and through yet he wanted nothing to do with the purity of his race but instead for the love of his mate Sengdroma and that of his herd. It mattered now what breed they came from; as long as they had a slice of goodness in their hearts they would always be welcomed with open arms into his protection. Those very people he would once have looked down upon for not being of his breed, were also the very people that rose to the herds defence when the skinwalkers attack. Brave men and woman with hearts of gold and electric skills. He would be without any of them.

The fact that together, the mixture of breeds won out over the evil of two pure skinwalkers spoke more to Maion that anything else ever could have. They where free because of their strength, and it was a strength brought by thought togetherness, family, love and hope. Sengdroma was a loving alpha, she cared for every member as if they where her child. He loved watching her quiet nature speak more than words ever could, the expersions hidden in her eyes, the sparkle of her laugh, the kindess of her actions.... that was Sengdroma. Strong and realiable Sengdroma. He was forever doing his best simply so he could stand near her on her pedastle in the sky.

Still, he had business. "We don't need the land... so no need to expand. The only reason I would consider it was if our numbers increased drastically overnight." The fact was Maion wasn't greedy, the herdlands where still open to others to use and travel through. They didn't need more land to protect when their numbers fit happily in what they already had, so it was better for them to remain commonlands for anyone to use as they wish. It also meant less land to protect, their resources would be used more accuratly rather than stretching too thin to cover the vast areas. "We will reshow him the lands... it is likely he just gets distracted, it is difficult to go from a wanderer to a herd protector." Or in Maion's case, a wanderer to a protector. The day he had gone to 'collect' Sengdroma from her training he had never expected to find her with three children -his children. It was an experience that had taken his breath away and changed his life. He would protect his children, and their children, and their children's children until he had no more breath in his body with which to fight. That had been the starting of the herd..... but now it was open to anyone who need company or protection, and steadily the numbers where growing. Already three foals had arrived, and according to Chandra Alice was expected to have three as well. Six foals.... it was a happy season indeed.

Maion nodded his acceptance of their agreement as he tried to think.

Of the three foals two were males, and although the herd didn't reject or accept their protectors based on genders no female had ever considered taking up such a role before.... if Eden wished to she would be more than welcome, but that would be an issue to be considered if she showed an interest. So far she hadn't. However, the boy called Crown seemed to be more than interested in everything to do with the protectors, taking him for a walk would certainly have an impact and he could already see the young colt growing up to be quite the strong stallion indeed. "We shall watch them, I think Crown will definatly be interested in joining our ranks... I am still undecided on Paris or Eden for that matter so observation will be best." He paused to think.

Considering all the options and angles was Maion's job, especially with foals running around and Alice still pregnant. They were the most vunderable of the herd and so needed the added protection. When both sets of foals were grown -and there weren't others expected- the protection detail would be able to slacken a little, plus there would likely be at least one or two new protectors to aid the course giving them more options for the future. Still, even if the foals were not to become protectors one day they needed to be able to protect themselves, the herd didn't stop its members from wandering -in fact it was often encouraged to aid development and to find mates, but not everything that passed through these lands was friendly. Aside from Skinwalkers there was also the threat of demons and kalonas; monsters who pretended to be your friend only to steal from you.... yes the world could be a cold dark place and the foals would need to defend against such things. "We need to set up some basic training schedules. More than what Chandra deemed acceptable... I swear... daughter or not she is hot headed sometimes!" His daughter Chandra had picked a life of peace, a fine choice in Maions opinion but she had also refused to learn much combat skills beyond very basic self defence trying to claim that in her line of work -she was a midwife- she would be more than safe. Maion was still unconvinced by that point.

"So...." He started, summing up the information they had gathered so far, "Aether needs to be shown the borders again... we may as well show the foals while we are at it. We need to set up several defense classes for them, and anyone else who wishes to attend. Oh and... prepare to send for a messanger to fetch Scythes healer if Alice's condition worsens. Aether may be best since it is his father's herd." He paused, running everything he had been thinking and all that had been spoken through his mind one more time. "After that Drashi... take some time off." It was no longer a request but an order, a happy Drashi was a more productive Drashi. An a happy Drashi made for a happier Maion.