Welcome to Gaia! ::

The black stallion made his way up to the ridge that he often stood upon to think. From up here he could see nearly every bit of the territory he commanded. It was large and soon it would be larger - or at least that was what he hoped. Actually now that he thought about it he had been hoping for that for quite some time now. Something obviously wasn't working or else his herd would have already swept across all the lands claiming it as their own and killing any who stood in their way. Letting out a sigh Thanos' eyes swept over the land as he tried to figure out why his plan wasn't working. There had to be something missing.

As the stallion came to a stop at the top of the ridge Peace climbed up his mane until he came to rest atop his head. He knew something was troubling Thanos and was certain he knew what but the rat also knew that often times the stallion liked to try to work things out himself before consulting him and his sister.

War was pissed. Ever since Thanos sent Thorn away the stallion just wasn't himself. She could clearly see the problem but every time she said something about it he refused to listen. Sitting upon his back War looked off in the direction Thanos was. "Would you hurry up and figure it out." She chirped at him, gaining an annoyed look from her brother.

Thanos snorted but that was his only response to War's comment. He could feel it, the whole thing was in the back of his mind, if only he could grab hold of it then he would know what was wrong, what was missing and what needed to be fixed. The stallion stomped his foot in frustration. His eyes roamed over the land and he spotted some of the newest members of the herd. And there was a brief moment he felt like he had the answer, but before he opened his mouth to say something it slipped away and became unobtainable once more.

What could possibly be missing? Regret was still around, often seen in her favorite little spot amongst the trees or wandering about aimlessly. His daughters were still about and growing well. Rowan was ever present and spent much of his time training his daughters and the new recruits. So what the Hell? Why was he feeling so lost. He couldn't ask the others for they likely wouldn't know or would see him as weak. So he stood alone, his only companions being War and Peace for the moment and tried to sort out his thoughts.

The sound of approaching hooves broke his concentration and Thanos threw an annoyed look at towards whoever was approaching.It wasn't until then that he became aware that it was Thorn. Of course it would be him, the rest of the herd knew better than to interrupt Thanos while he was on the ridge, it was his thinking spot and none dared to come to him when he was here. The only exception being Regret, he would overlook her interruptions of course. Letting out a snort Thanos turned his gaze back to the lands before him. "Thinking." That was his explanation to Thorn and the chestnut stallion had best stay quiet while he did so.

Thanos had been interrupted once, he would not allow a second such occurrence to happen in one day. The smell of Hell wafted off of Thorn as the stallion stood beside him. Thanos liked the smell, it seemed to be one of the few things left in this life that he enjoyed. These lands greatly lacked such a smell. Here everything was flowery and soft and... well it was disgusting that's what it was. What this land needed was more decay, more suffering and the stench that could only be found in the bowels of eternal torment. However that wasn't the thing he had come up here to retrieve from his broken memories and thoughts. No, that still eluded him. Perhaps he might have come to an answer already had somebody not sauntered up here as if he were invited.

An acrid smell reached the rats nose and Peace swiveled around from his perch atop Thanos to see. Oh no, it was Thorn. Hopefully Thanos would be in a forgiving mood today. Peace wrapped some of Thanos mane about his paws, a precautionary measure should the decayed stallion suddenly make a move against his former friend.

War didn't have to look to know it was Thorn approaching, they could see all the other herd member from where they stood. She watched the large stallion come up beside Thanos, her tail bump into the black stallions back a couple times to get his attention. "It's Thorn, it's Thorn!" She squeaked in a rare show of happiness. One of her front paws lifted up and she held it out towards the stallion, pawing the air slightly in a vain attempt to touch him over the great distance. If she wasn't paranoid about leaving Thanos then she might have very well jumped across the gap to the other stallion.

"I can see that it is Thorn!" He snapped at the rat upon his back. Damn War, she always did like Thorn better. It was a miracle she didn't just jump ship and become Thorns pet instead of his. Really, did she think he was blind not seeing him? Had he not acknowledged Thorns arrival? Stupid rodent. See this is why he could never get any good thinking done! Too many interruptions, maybe he should just kill them and be done with it. So what if they held on his memories for him, he needed quiet every now and then.

It was several more minute before he spoke again. He had searched the recesses of his mind but the answer was still unclear to him. He knew it was in there, had seen it for a split second before it had slipped away once more. "Something isn't right." He finally began, vague as it was, even Thanos wasn't sure what was amiss just yet. His eyes remained on his lands below, but he affording Thorn one momentary glance out the corner of his eye. He was still surprised Thorn even bothered to come back, yes he had brought more recruits but when Thanos had told him to go back to Hell he had meant on a permanent basis. Thorn had balls, that's for sure, no other horse would have interpreted Thanos' words the way he had.

Thanos huffed a bit but was otherwise grateful for Thorns continued silence. He needed that silence to think on his next words. Part of him knew what he had to say and do, however the other part of him didn't like that idea and so made it difficult for him to form those thoughts into words. He couldn't just blurt it out in one poorly thought out sentence, no, this needed a certain feel to it. Thanos needed to convey not just his thoughts on this, but his feelings as well, much as he hated his feelings of course.

Peace had to roll his eyes at his sister. Look at her acting so gleeful just because Thorn was here. "Get a hold of yourself." He chirped at her. Really for the hate filled rat she normally was this kind of behavior was just...pathetic.

Ah! He looked right at her! War let out another chorus of chirps and squeaks before falling over onto Thanos' back. Even if he did dismiss her a second later there had been no denying the fact that he had made direct eye contact with her. Oh how she wished to see that well muscled body of his in action.

"Look at it." Thanos finally said after a long pause, motioning with his muzzle towards the lands below. The grass around the mountain where his herd called home had slowly wilted since their arrival. The once lush green grass was now almost permanently brown. The effects of having the walking dead concentrating in one area for so long. Yet beyond the herds territory the world was as it had been. Fields of green grass swayed in the breeze, flowers bloomed, birds sang, trees grew tall and strong. That was the problem right there. If his herd were to claim more land than that land could be turned into the wasteland like that of his own.

"That is the problem." His eyes were on the border, where brown gave way to green. "That land out there, it's green, and flowery and lush...and..." How the hell else could he describe it? "...well you can see it!" Thanos finally said a bit frustratedly. Clearly Thorn would see the distinguishing features that Thanos was pointing out. "Look how the grass here struggles, the trees sag...it's...beautiful." To his eyes it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen outside of Hell itself. Perhaps one day this land would look like Hell and then the purpose of his herd would be complete. But this, what little had been done so far, was but the first stepping stone of that journey. A journey that needed to be finally put in motion.

"The herd needs to move, to spread the decay. The weak must be wiped out." Now for the first time since Thorn had arrived Thanos gazed upon the stallion, his once brother. "I have tried, told them where to go, they do not listen. I have well thought out plans but they need someone of force to put their hooves into motion. I am not that horse." Truth be told there was only one horse who could truly get the herd moving. Thanos may have all the thinking under control but the brute strength and force needed to see those plan through had been missing. That was how they had come to their original partnership. Thorn didn't think, but he acted; whereas Thanos didn't act but he thought well. With Thanos' guidance and Thorns action all would be well again. He needed his brother back, and he needed him now. "Be that horse Thorn. It is why we came together. I can tell you what to do and you will see it done." Slowly his gaze returned to his land...their land should Thorn accept. "Be my brother once more, and we shall finally conquer this world as we have intended so long ago."

Thanos gave his head a nod. It was far more than infuriating, but yes that word sounded good, likely the one he had been searching for earlier. Curses thoughts and memories, when would they be sorted out. Likely never, decay had this lovely irreversible trait to it. He would forever be half a horse, more corpse than living animal. Yet, this new form served him quite well. Now he practically invisible. In time, however, the lands would show the same decay and scarring that he and his herd carried with them. No more would they have to suffer the presence of lush green grass, or smell the sickeningly sweet smell of flowers or listen to the happy laughter of those healthy perfect living horses. That day would be a glorious day indeed.

Head swiveled about to glance upon Thorn. Finally he had his right hand man again. Together they would push forward the herd into action and sweep across the lands. Those who disobeyed would not be sent back to hell to suffer eternal torment. But those who proved themselves and did as their alpha's bid would be greatly rewarded. "It is good to have you at my side once more brother." Finally there was a horse on his side, well another one at least. Rowan had always been loyal and worthy to serve the herd. Regret in her own way had served him well producing three children, one who was now proving herself to him and hopefully the other two would come along shortly - they would need to with Thorn back now.

"They shall all serve or be crushed." War chirped, having returned to her regular state of mind no longer too distracted by Thorn's presence to think properly.
"It is good to finally see things back to the way they should be." Peace commented idly, both referring to the herd and War.

"Good, I look forward to seeing you whip them into shape. It has been far too long since they last listened to me." There was not a doubt in his fragmented mind that Thorn would succeed in this endeavor. Finally they would strike fear into the weak blooded horses, and perhaps even recruit one or two worthy horses. Surely there were those out there who would serve him, even if they did so only temporarily, they would serve him. "There are a few who have served me well in your absence. Our beta Rowan has shown himself to be loyal to the herd time and again. He will serve you as he has served me in this time." Rowan would certainly not falter now, when such an important task was set before him. "Ruin has also come into her own lately. She too will serve us well, Brother." Unfortunately having only two worthy beasts, besides Thorn, meant the upcoming war would be wrought with one big headache after another. Thorn however would surely fix this, beat the others into submission and get them moving and serve the herd at last. "The others..." He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "...they will just need to be reminded of their place."

Thanos looked at his brother, a glint of pride in his eyes. See this was why he and Thorn had come together in the first place, because Thorn could do things that Thanos could not, and it worked the other way as well. All those months of struggling to get the herd moving would now be but a faint memory. Ah it would be a glorious day indeed as he and Thorn would lead the herd out of their current range and finally, finally bring destruction and chaos to the world. The others would serve them as they had pledged to do while still in the bowels of Hell or be sent back there to suffer for all eternity. They would not be given another chance, they had already shown themselves to be soft and it was time to choose how the rest of their lives would be played out.

Giving his head a bob Thanos spoke. "Yes Rowan is the palomino...the one with the ropes about him." By some miracle he had remembered those details. It probably had something to do with the fact that Rowan had always been there doing as Thanos bid of him, and so Thanos had done his best to remember the details about the younger stallion who was obviously his loyal servant. Of course Thorn mentioning now knowing who Ruin was nearly made the stallion snap in anger. Eyes went from a dark blood red to near white as he tossed his head.

"Oh dear, I think I spoke too soon." Peace grabbed hold of Thanos' mane and prepared for whatever the stallion would do next.
War simply cackled madly on Thanos' back, she could sense a fight coming and was hopeful to see Thorn in action.

"Are you stupid brother?" Thanos began, his anger lacing his words like poison. See, now he was reminded once again at why he hadn't allowed Thorn to come back in the herd after he had returned from his trip gallivanting around this new green world. He should damn well know who Ruin was, he should know every single damned member old and new. But be damned if he was going to let Thorn bugger off again, they had just formed a plan, a plan that could only work if they were both around, and Thanos would not let that slip away once more. "How can you now know who Ruin is? She is my progeny!" How he knew that word was a mystery, but it seemed like the right one to use. "Even as a foal she showed more promise than the rest of the herd combined. I have made her beta to replace that worthless weasel of a stallion Vengeance. And I promise you brother, she will serve us well." His other daughters still had not shown themselves to be great horses, but they were also not complete disappointments either, yet in the end they would need to serve as well. Thorn would whip them all into shape along with the rest of the herd.