Onok & Others

Over an hour after they'd left to rescue the foals, Onok returned to the meadow with neither in tow. Chunks of now dried mud clung to his brown and white coat from his mad dash through the ravine, and Brennik shivered at the sight. There was no despair in the stallion's steely gaze though, and despite their obvious failure at rescuing Savannah and Coltrane, the big draft mix moved with purpose. He headed straight for Harthrou.

"Where is he?" The smaller stallion demanded with some hesitancy, first shooting a look to Onok, and then a softer gaze to Darkia.

"Your former human took him and Savannah. Darkia thinks they may yet be alive, so I need to know everything you can tell me about that creature and how we can get our children back." Onok explained in a voice deepened by anger. And though that fire wasn't directed at Harth, the elder stallion cowed back a little at the intensity of it.

Callaquioa stood with Brennik nestled at her side, a look of pure fear written into her blue sights. She whickered for Thor, making sure both of her colts were near at hoof.

Xena

She just followed in silence her ears back. She whickered for Loki who came to his mother at her call. He looked around for his sister but when she wasn't there his ears went back

Darkia moved to harth side and just rested her head on his back

Thor joined his mother and brother

Onok & Others

Harth gently swept his muzzle against Darkia's neck and leaned into her presence. He'd looked away from Onok for a few long moments, then finally turned back to him with brows pinched in concern, all while staying tucked close to his mate, "The mutts he has, they aren't ordinary dogs. They're vicious." The stallion started, eyes darting from the lead as his mind danced with various memories of the King Hounds at Ethan's disposal. "But it's not just them, he has boomsticks and sleeping thorns, and he can hit us with those before we ever get close to him. We got lucky when we escaped."

Onok frowned at hearing this. He didn't know what 'sleeping thorns' were, but they didn't sound good. He looked between Harth and Darkia now, seeking both of their opinions, "We know his strengths then, but what about his weaknesses? Surely the two-legger has a flaw that we can exploit."

A quiet voice rose from the sidelines, "What about allies? Surely the human has enemies in the Valley that would want him taken out?" Callaquioa offered, though she had no idea if this was true or not.

Darkia

Darkia listened** the only ones I know that would attack him are the haunters but I'm unsure of how they'd take me being alive and not with them**

Xena listened

Onok & Others

Onok's expression quickly darkened, and Calla's was taken by fright when Darkia mentioned the Haunters. "No." She all but whispered, ears back and eyes going wide, "They're the monsters that captured Daga and I, and killed my dad. We can't-" The mare turned her skylit eyes to Onok, "We can't go to them."

Harthrou snorted decisively, "I don't trust them any more than I do Ethan and his hounds. Bastards attacked me a few years ago." Awkwardly enough, it was because he and Ethan had captured Darkia and wanted to free her, but the stallion didn't mention that part to Onok.

The lead took their near unanimous response to heart and nodded, "I don't know much of the Haunters aside from what Night has told me, but I know he also fears for his life if they catch him." Catching Callaquioa's gaze, Onok affirmed, "We won't seek them out." And while that seemed to settle Calla and Harth's concern, that still left them no further in rescuing the two foals. Onok sighed, wracking his brain for any idea, and finally shook his dial, "If an all-out attack on Ethan won't work, we might have to wait for him to slip up."

Brennik dipped his head down, ears back and tail hanging listlessly behind him. He wondered if maybe he should have stayed and fought, or talked the group out of going deeper in the ravine. It didn't matter now of course, and the little colt fretted about whether he'd ever see his sister again or not.

Darkia

Darkia sighed at Harth they attacked ethan and them to free meSHe said calmly. Her tail flicked to the side.

Xena snorted we don't have the time to wait for him to slip upSHe snorted. Savannah will die without me She said with a snort. Savannah only nibbled grass and was mostly still drinking from her. No she had all the intentions of going for her daughter even if she had to slip away.

Onok & Others

Onok dug a hoof into the ground, his desperation mounting as tried to balance the herd's safety with the need to rescue two of their own. Xena's understandable frustration only added to that urgency, as he couldn't dismiss her urgency to get Savannah back. "You're right Xena, but we also can't rush in after a human who has boomsticks and hounds." And with the Shadow Haunters clearly off the table, that left Onok very little to work with.

Harthrou had gone quiet now. He was use to taking orders, not offering advice and leading others. All the stallion could manage to right now was stand protective beside Darkia, and look to his lead for answers.

Onok turned abruptly, gazing in the northern direction the vile two-legger had gone. His tail lashed twice behind him before he spoke again, "I'll talk to the stags, and see if they can't distract the hounds tonight after dusk. Darkia, you and I can then rescue the children while they're out. We'll have to pray to Imre that the human is sleeping at that point." This was the best he could come up with, having no clue that Ethan had the foals locked up in a metal corral that would defy even the sturdiest of their kicks. After the last raid that saw Darkia broken out, and another that had one of his kennel's smashed, Ethan had shored up his defenses.

Darkia

Xena snorted She needs milkShe said her voice much more quiet then normal. Her ears were back.

Darkia would love to kick that human in the head. Coltrane she loved him but Xena was right Savannah needed her. Worse case scenerio they get Savannah tonight and go back for Coltrane, Coltrane was weaned so he didn't need milk. alright

Onok & Others

"Harth, I want you to keep Xena, Calla, and the foals in your sight at all times." Onok considered taking Harth, but the older stallion was so flighty, Onok wasn't sure he could trust him around Ethan. Darkia was a far better and far more stable choice for the mission, and knew he could rely on her for information.

The marwari nodded distractedly. Unsure of what else to do, Harth lipped at a bit of greenery near his hooves.

Callaquioa took to grooming her two children, vowing to let neither out of her sight for the foreseeable future.

Brennik had half a mind to join his father on this mission, but knew without asking that Onok would never allow it. The colt stayed near Thor while their mother groomed them, and decided the next best thing he could do was at least try to keep an eye out for danger while his father was away. Onok stepped closer to Xena, touching his muzzle to her forehead, "We will get her back, Xena. Darkia and her family escaped from him, so will our daughter."

Xena

Xena was trying to keep it together for the herd but knowing her little daughter who struggled with everything was in the hands of a two legger. Her ears flicked as Onok touched her forehead and spoke and she wanted to say she knew he would she couldn't bring herself to respond for once. No longer the snappy critizing mare he knew currently.

Darkia would get the little filly back. Coltrane would be alright but the little filly need Xena.