Onok & Others

Brennik rose to his hooves when he saw the silhouette of his father moving through the lower meadow the herd was resting in. "Momma, dad's back!" He said with excitement, nudging Calla's leg.

Callaquoia's head came up and the excitement that rose in her heart suddenly faltered and withered away. Before she could open her mouth to answer her son or call out to Onok, a soft breeze had brought the scent of blood and hounds to her delicate nares. What's more, there were no foals trotting along with him, nor was there any sign of Darkia.

Harthrou was painful aware of this too. His throat tightened as he watched Nightshade and Daga emerge from the woods next, sans his mate and son. "What happened?!" The marwari demanded, driving a flint into the ground. "Where is my family?" If looks could kill, Onok would be dead right now.

"Captured." Came Onok's defeated answer, "The hounds were too smart for us, and the human to quick. Darkia wounded him, but he still captured her beyond the metal fence. Your son is alive and-"

"And you left them?!" Harthrou bellowed, daring to get into Onok's face.

To his credit, Onok stood firm, taking Harth's ire without a word of reprimand. "To stay would have been certain death for me, and that would do nothing to help your mate and child." The draft's breaths were still coming in heavily, and the blood that Calla had scented was clearly visible in the bright light of the moon, marring Onok's legs and sides. "Take solace in the fact that all three are alive and appear unharmed, so we know the human isn't keen on eating them. We have time to plan their rescue, we just have to be smarter about it."

Darkia

Xena looked up at Onok return but her face fell as she noted he was alone and hurt. That was a bad idea she should of told them not to go. It was so stupid to let them go alone.. She began to groom her son who barely stirred.

Thor was sleeping by his mom.

Onok & Others

"You don't know the cruelty of that man!" Harthrou raged. The stallion reared back and threw his hooves at Onok, lashing out in his anger at the one he'd put his trust in to keep his mate safe.

Onok reared as well, shoving his front end up off the ground and striking back with controlled force, "Harthrou!" The mauling he'd took at the human's cabin did little to impact his strength, and a few hearty strikes forced Harth to back off. "You and Xena have every right to be upset, I know." The stallion reasoned, ears forced forward, "But I'm not the enemy, he is. And I'm going to need you and your knowledge of the two-legged to get them back."

Harthrou's savage glare didn't lighten, and his folded ears remained pressed back against his dark skull. But he ceased his attacks and listened banefully to the younger male. "So what, then? We leave them at Ethan's mercy until I come up with a plan?"

Onok sighed, "For tonight, we rest. I want you to spend that time thinking of every weakness that creature has, and we'll reconvene in the morning." The stallion looked to Xena, giving her a small, solemn nod, "If anyone else comes up with an idea, let me know."

Xena

Xena was silent in the turmoil which was unbekomenst of her but she didn't know what to say or do. She'd just lost her daughter to a human. She just snorted.