Give a Little More (Kirious)

[Hudsdale]

The Rum Tum Tugger did not start out the day with his usual run. It felt odd, to say the least. The liver chestnut stallion was oftentimes the first creature to wake up in the morning hours, save for those who never fell asleep. To wake up and not work his legs out... Why did it seem like this morning was not the time?

No worries, he thought with a hint of disdain. Perhaps that meant something big was to happen today - hopefully not something as off-kilter as he felt this morning.

What did he normally do after a morning run? Ah, breakfast! He lowered his powerful neck until his velvety nose touched the tips of the grass. A bit tickled, he snorted and tried again. Chewing the green clumps took a while, but no horse complained. There was nothing better than lush summer grass in the morning to make the sleep go away. Growing full, Tugger began to hum a simply ditty. He was no master of music, but he could keep a tune. It was a happy song - a nursery rhyme. Slowly the need for food dissolved and he was taken with his tune.

No, nothing bad was to happen today.

Biding his time as he waited for nothing in particular, Tugger began to wander. The lust he'd once felt that drove him almost to insanity as a juvenile had quieted down. He wasn't forced to seek out the nearest female anymore, though he'd never say no to a pretty face. Instead, Tugger spent a lot of his time getting to know others for different reasons than breeding - for friendship.

Kirious was a good friend of Tugger's. He was very young, but the liver chestnut had no reason to hold that against him during his reign over two lands, and he didn't. They'd always gotten along well... Maybe it was time for a visit amongst friends?

It didn't take long to find the King. Tugger had always been an okay tracker when it came to scents. Upon seeing the black stallion, Tugger called out, his voice deep and bright: "Majesty! How would you like a little company on this fine morning?"

[Snowfrost]

KIRIOUS.

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It was refreshing, waking up to the dew laden leaves and shrubs under a slightly foggy morning. The sun was filtering through the trees softly, warming his skin and energizing him for the day ahead. Kirious took that time to walk around Winril, enjoying Nature and Her beauty. He grazed, loitered, met some of the members of his herd... it was a peaceful start, really. Honestly, the young King needed today. After the last winter claimed so many, and after he had been thrown into the roll of King at such a young age -- all the responsibilities were his now, and his alone. Well, with all that circling around his mind, a peaceful day like this was more than welcomed.

The split-faced stallion lumbered through the growing, damp grasses with bright eyes and a smile playing at his face. The breezes toyed with the hair along his face, pulling his small 'beard' with it and causing the young horse to chuckle lightly. The birds danced between the trees, jumping from branch to branch and engaging in a game of tag with one another. He could hear squirrels chattering (for once they weren't after him -- oh the memories of his foal hood, they simply made him shudder sometimes when he seen squirrels), small animals scuttling around -- and the black stallion even encountered a couple of does in the open areas. His nostrils flared lightly as he greeted them with a flick of his tail before going on his way along his morning stroll.

Though he did enjoy the silent walk he was taking, Kirious could not deny that when he heard a familiar call from behind him that his spirits lifted even more. The smile crossed his lips as the young King turned around to greet the dark stallion approaching him. Chuckling with a playful scorn and happiness, Kiri called back to his good friend. "Tugger!" As he neared, the black stallion ducked quickly to nip the older horse lightly on the neck, his smile widening more. "How many times have I told you that you don't need to be so formal with me all of the time?" The stallion snorted lightly, chuckling again before dipping his head lightly in a more proper greeting. This was exactly what he needed today: a wonderful morning, little stress, and his good friend to share the wondrous walk with. Seems perfect,

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[Hudsdale]

Tugger completely disagreed, though he did so with a smirk and a nod. Of course he had to be formal - he was addressing his king.

The Rum Tum Tugger had not always had the respect for royalty as he did now. In fact, he didn't quite care for authority at all as a younger stallion. He had been just like all stallions at that age - lustful and uncontrollable. He'd been a walking sperm bank ready and willing with every passing mare.

Not anymore though. Age had treated the once-womanizing Tugger quite well. Not only had his body yielded excellent physical results by now, but he was a respectable stallion with only the best intentions for everyone he knew at heart. He could control his masculinity and his temper.

Kirious had such a way to him. The black horse was kind and gentle, also with the power to lead. In fact, he called two lands his own. Tugger could only imagine that that was quite the burden to bear.

"Apparently not enough, sir," he said with his smirk across his face. He threw his head back to rid his line of sight of his blasted overgrown forelock. Unfortunately, with his greeting bow, the creamy mane fell right back over his face.

"How goes the busy life of a new King?"

OOC: GRR. I WROTE A WONDERFUL POST AND IT DELETED ITSELF. >8|

[Snowfrost]

KIRIOUS.

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Oh Tugger, Kirious chuckled lightly at his friend, smiling widely and beginning to continue his walk around his home. A simple nod told his friend that he wished him to follow. That stallion; even though he was older than the King himself, it seemed that Tugger would never outgrow his childish ways and humor. It wasn't a bad thing -- and who was he to talk, anyway?! Even Kiri knew that he wasn't exactly the smoothest, calmest, most refined King around there; age or not being the factor. To be honest, it's draining. So draining. But he couldn't tell him that, friend or not. He was the King, and like it or not he had to hold an air about him of something others could hold hope onto. If he showed weakness, it wouldn't look good on his part. What kind of King tells his members about how draining it is to own two lands? Not a good one. Kirious wanted to prove he was a good King.

"It's... interesting. I definitely didn't expect to own both lands, but y'know.. stuff happens." The stallion shrugged it off like it was nothing, but in truth it was much more than that. He could only barely remember the change in lands. He was given the lands by the herd when their stallion died mysteriously. Instead of taking on a new King, they wanted him. Him. Kirious, the half-white-half-black-faced, clumsy, young King of Winril. Why, he'd never know, but there had to be a reason. And who was he to deny them such a request? So naturally, the split-faced stallion accepted the task. It wasn't like the land there was much different from his home, anyway -- a lot wetter, and mushier, but not much different. Still, Kirious preferred his home. Right now, all of the herd (both from Tjos and Winril) were living on the River King's initial land. It was just so much simpler that way. However, he did move the herd back and forth at times (so others would know that the land was claimed), but it just.. wasn't the same. Honestly, it wasn't. Sighing lightly, Kiri smirked before knocking his head into Tugger's chest and chuckling lightly.

"How about you, Tugger? How's the life of a stallion upon a land teeming with mares who are unrelated to you?" His eyes were sly, his smirk growing as he joked. Kirious wasn't one for breeding to all of his mares right now -- in fact, he was still a virgin. The stallion believed that he was too young still to be a good father to his mare's foals. Instead, he just... left it to Tugger. It seemed he left a lot to Tugger anymore. Tugger's older, and a good stallion, he reminded himself. But the thought still lingered, eating at his spirit: you're a horrible King, and you don't deserve Winril, much less Tjos. The stallion couldn't help the sigh that followed (along with the light lowering of his head, and the drooping of his ears). He, however, quickly shot himself back into a happy place in order to not seem like he was bothered by something. Sure, Tugger was a very good friend of his... but still, Kirious wanted to try to keep the facade going that he was the best possible decision for a King of Winril. He wanted to believe it, wanted to make it so -- more than anything, really, he wanted it to be true.

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[Hudsdale]

Tugger could understand Kirious' pressure.

Well, maybe he couldn't. Tugger had never been the king of anything. He'd once been a king's second, but that was only for a short time and was a long time past. He knew Kirious was in at least a little bit of a stressful place though. All Tugger could do was imagine.

The liver chestnut stallion could boast that he had had plenty of experiences that one would think of in their favor while ascending to the throne. He'd loved, he'd had children, he'd challenged... Never had he done any of it right, though. his love was gone, his children never knew him, and his challenge had been in vain. Tugger saw it all as a life well-lived, however unsuccessful it seemed.

Tugger nodded quickly and with care at Kirious' words. "You were an excellent choice, Majesty. Your reign is both extensive and well-cared for by your herd." That much Tugger made sure of. A young King can do wonders for a land - he would be with a territory for a long time. A young King could also be the downfall of a land because of inexperience. Kirious was good at heart and Tugger planned to do all he could to lend a hoof.

At the mention of the mares, the stallion shook his head with a smirk. He knew Kirious knew very little about the opposite sex when it came down to it. In his younger years, Tugger was a force to be reckoned with when the subject came up. Now he was a controlled, calm, and collected male with all the best intentions. Every once in a while, his past reared its ugly head... Not often enough to cause a stallion of his age and morals to do anything rash, though.

"Rather uneventful, really. I've managed to keep away well enough," Tugger said, smirk obvious. He lifted a hoof and placed it back down slowly as he spoke, his voice not exactly sarcastic, but also not quite genuine. He wasn't hiding anything - they were Kirious' mares and he respected that. Tugger figured a little bit of humor might lighten up his King's mood.

[Snowfrost]

KIRIOUS.

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The split-faced stallion eyed Tugger quickly before scoffing and decking him a swift kick to the gut with his front right. "'Majesty', again? C'mon Tugger, I'm not just your King y'know," Kiri chuckled lightly, smiling all the while before looking to the dark stallion with thankful eyes. Though Kiri tried to maintain a pride about himself, he was always so thankful that Tugger really understood him... perhaps better than any of the other horses in his herd. Tugger's words soothed him, regardless, and the King of Winril picked up his pace in a light trot as he threw back his head and inhaled deeply the scents of the wondrous morning.

"S'Tug, if you've not been after the ladies, what have you been up to?" Kirious shot the words back in good humor over his shoulder, not lessening his pace and not willing to wait up for his friend. He knew Tugger was taller, stronger, and better-built than he was... he could catch up. You'd make a better King than I, the words rang in his ears, for they were truth. Kiri was just... a young King, thrust into everything before he even knew the ropes. He was quite possibly the youngest King in the Lands, and that wasn't always a good thing. Should a challenge arise one day... he'd have to defend his home, he couldn't let just anyone take it. But even then, somehow Kirious knew that Tugger would be there to help him should he ever really need it... or rather, he prayed he would. The black stallion picked up his legs, looking up to the clouds and inhaling deeply again. Winril was beautiful, but so was Wailns -- in a different light, more or less, but still they both held beauty. Kirious didn't hate his other land, it was just that it was too overwhelming for someone as unexperienced as he was. It just wasn't feasible that he could handle them both wonderfully.

"Perhaps you've found yourself a special lady then, if you've not taken for the others?" Again he joked as he kept going, trying to let his mind wander to something else before the time of the day came where he'd need to return to his herd and slip back into the duty of being their King. Right now though, he would thoroughly enjoy poking fun and being around his good friend. He sure did miss times like these, when he and Tugger used to play around and act like loons. Sure, even then Tugger was older and Kiri mainly followed around more than anything else, but it was still so much fun... back then, too, Tugger was all about the ladies. Kirious chuckled inwardly in the thoughts of his memories, before speaking again, "So Tugger, any reason wh--" Oof!

A large thud echoed through the trees and blades of grass as the black stallion's chest crashed into the ground, his body rolling over himself before Kiri ended up landing in the Earth's embrace with his legs reaching for the sky. Coughing, the stallion wiggled some before rolling to his side and coughing some more, one eye shut while the other was weakly-opened. His breathing was a bit labored, but the young King didn't take long before rising back to his feet. A feeble smile creaked around his lips before both eyes opened and he spread his legs for balance. He was rather winded, one could say.

"Darn log," Sure enough, that was what caused it. While he wasn't paying too much attention to his steps, Kiri tripped over the end of a jutting log and tumbled into the grasses to land where he was now. Shaking his body after a bit of paused time, Kirious lifted his head and heaved again before sighing lightly and looking at his now-muddied pelt. Well, some King you make.

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[Hudsdale]

Tugger inhaled quickly with a bit of an 'oof' as the other stallion socked him right in the gut. The liver chestnut subject cleared his throat with a hearty laugh, impressed by the young king's response. It took strength to throw one as solid as Tugger off kilter.

Kirious would grow into a fine king. He'd be gracious, dependable, loyal... Everything a rightful king was to be. He had every right intention to be so, too. Tugger couldn't imagine a better candidate. "Kirious, I can't imagine you'll hear much of your given name anymore. Not as a king, anyway! You should get used to others pledging their allegiance through their formalities!" Tugger's advice was given with a smile on his dark mouth and a proud glint in his eye.

Not after the ladies? What a strange thought... Suddenly the smallest glimmer of his juvenile lust began to show in his mind. Oh, what it was like to get any girl he wanted... A female's lovely, soft coo; her curved silhouette against the moonlight... It wasn't long before the thought shook from his mind. He was done with that. Some never found the perfect one. Perhaps he was destined not to.

"General lounging, I suppose. One must take time to vegetate every once in a while. It raises one's morale!" His voice crescendo-ed with a grin and a chuckle. "A lady? Nah, I haven't." In truth, the idea of meeting up with a female frightened him a bit. Would he be able to control himself? It had been so long... His eyes did not linger as he thought. His smiling facade continued as he witnessed his king trip.

Poor foal. Still losing coordination every so often. Tugger couldn't stifle his burst of laughter at his companion's misfortune. He himself hadn't grown out of his juvenile clumsiness until he was nigh four years old. The stallion's head threw itself to the side to hide his gleeful expression at the sight of one so powerful upside down upon the ground. "Kiri, you will certainly be perfect for these lands!" Tugger said between breaths. "It was about time someone got more closely acquainted with Winril's true nature." Tugger smiled and reached over to brush off some of the larger mud collections from Kirious' hide with his teeth.

[Snowfrost]

KIRIOUS.

[/size]

Well, wasn't that wonderful? The stallion groaned lightly as he stretched his muscles in the effort of ridding himself of the earth that clung to his coat. Sure, Tugger's help was indeed such, but it wasn't the point: a King should never fall before his subjects!

Kirious tensed lightly, ears slapping to his skull briefly. Goodness, you're sounding like Tugger now! Snorting harshly and giving his body a good shake as he steadied himself, the River King eyed his friend quickly with a look of thanks and humor. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing to think like him. After all, if one thought like another couldn't one follow the same influences and characteristics? But Kirious wasn't Tugger. He knew that better than anyone. The black-and-white-split-faced horse could never be what the large liver chestnut was. In some ways it was a sad realization, but in others it was welcomed. Welcomed, because it was nothing but the truth. If he couldn't be a King like Tugger could be, then he'd have to be a King like he would be. And maybe that was the realization of today. Perhaps that was why everything was happening as it was.

Something struck the stallion, though, for a moment. King Tugger, -- it had a nice ring. While he couldn't be the King of Winril, the stallion pondered the prospect of him being a King of anything. He'd certainly make a fine one, even though he wasn't really old enough to make that call justly. But that's not the point, he reminded himself sharply. He was given power, so he would use it as he would anything else. Kirious had the right and power to make any decision he wanted -- and he'd live with whatever consequences followed suit as the aftermath. Perhaps the fall had cleared his head, for once. He wasn't thinking as he was earlier.

Looking back to his good friend with a new glimmer in his eye, he quickly assessed the stallion. Kirious already knew the insides of Tugger -- and the outside of him was nothing to mess with. He had all of the qualifications, especially so since he found himself comparing between them both on the qualities a King needed -- and Tugger was usually the one to win the battles for characteristics. He wasn't deeming himself a bad horse, nor a bad potential King -- oh Mother, no. He seen potential in himself, but he never boasted about it. Tugger just.. well, it seemed like he was born to do this. And maybe that was because of his age, that he'd lived the years Kiri had yet to enter -- perhaps he too was born to be a King. It was something still to be discovered.

Curling his neck around quickly, the stallion's eyes sharpened as a grin emerged from his lips. Snapping quickly at his friend with a chuckle, the stallion shook himself once more and circled Tugger. "Yeah, well why don't you join the nature's embrace too?! Look, there's already an open patch. I broke the skin, go soak in the juices!" Half rearing as he pranced around, trying to hide the sore muscles that were groaning at him, Kiri playfully pushed at his friend with coltish chuckles a few times before skidding to the side of him and cocking his head in a diagonal fashion.

"Tell me, then, Tugger. Why don't you have a lady? You certainly have the means and reputation to flash to them. There are many mares here who don't share blood with you. Besides, we have to have some of your linage in Winril -- you're practically part of the history!" A genuine smile, a full heart, and pure intentions. He was a pure soul, one with a young personality and a fire that would never be tainted. Both he and Tugger seemed to share that. There were many times, in fact, where the King considered his friend to be more like a brother than anything else. It was as though they shared blood, like he was the rightful King just as much as he was to something -- and that's what got him thinking more.

Snorting lightly, smiling wholly, the stallion extended his muzzle to lightly brush against his friend's. Kirious truly didn't know where he'd be without Tugger in his life.

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[Hudsdale]

Kingly his companion might not have been yet, but he was sure destined for greatness.

Tugger even admired the young horse. As Kiri rounded him, Tugger shook his head with a smirk. He was spirited, to say the least. The liver chestnut caught himself from falling from the playful push of his King. "Now now Kirious! That's no way to treat your elders!" His low voice rang out as he picked himself back up into his stance, his head raising higher and his ears falling back. It was a common joke that he poked at Kirious. He fancied himself an advisor to the King - an elder of sorts. He pranced in place for a moment, a smile on his face. "Nature shall have me when she's good and ready!"

At the mention of the female sex, Tugger found himself shaking his head with a sigh, his playful mood a bit interrupted. He supposed a true answer was required in this instance. "I haven't found one that's piqued my interest, I suppose. The girls here are lovely-" he said, lowering his gaze to the ground below, his forelock falling in his face. Raising back up to face Kirious, he finished: "just not what I'm looking for."

It was the truth. The ladies were wonderful to watch as they passed by. He wanted one of beauty, of substance, and most importantly, of interest. Tugger simply couldn't stand an uninteresting female, though he would always be polite no matter what his inward feelings told him. As he'd told Kirious, the girl he sought was not in Winril. The idea that he'd never find her did not scare him. He'd had plenty of mares and his time for love was so far away from him now that he truly didn't often give it a second thought. No, he was content now being alone.

Tugger smiled at his friend's touch. The young stallion was one of his closest friends. He could see Kirious becoming a perfect leader. He had compassion, strength, bravery, spunk... Everything a prospective leader needed. He truly needed not to worry about Tugger's love life, though it was certainly kind of him to ask. Kirious clearly wanted his friend to be happy, and Tugger was grateful for the thought.

OOC: LATE. FORGIVE MEEEEEEE D:

[Snowfrost]

KIRIOUS.

[/size]

The stallion smiled to his friend, extending his right fore before he lowered his muzzle to lightly relieve an itch. Snorting harshly as he rose, the split-faced King cocked his head lightly and studied Tugger for a moment.

"So the ladies here don't fit your taste, huh?" With a soft chuckle, he began walking off, a light limp in his step. Calling back to him, Kirious continued on without a care. Tugger would follow.

How could he bring up the thoughts he had swirling in his head? Tugger would make a wonderful King, that was for sure. He was strong, wise, fit, compassionate. He had many traits that Kirious wished would show up more in himself, even. Tugger at least deserved something for being the stallion he was. It was only fair, after all, in his mind.

Pausing briefly, Kirious looked over his shoulder back at his friend and lashed his tail lightly across his haunches. "So then, what land do you think holds the ladies you desire?" He tossed the words around like they weren't really meant to be answered, like an answer would not stop his continued words. "Would you say a mare from Kuylin would suit your interests? Or one from the Hills, in Tjos?" Kiri rounded back, eying his friend curiously. "A mare from Shahir, maybe? They're finely-boned and quick on their feet, and many have a temper that could keep a stallion entertained for hours I've heard."

There was a bounce in his step as he circled his friend, looking off to the skies and occasionally back to him. "A mare from Nebuul, perhaps? They're crafty creatures, I hear, but they have pure hearts." Kirious rolled the words off of his tongue in a thoughtful manner, thinking to himself but still asking his friend. There had to be some way to bring up the Kingship issue. Perhaps...

The King halted lightly, turning to face Tugger with the same thoughtful look upon his face. "What about Wailns? I know that we gain mares here and there from my other land. They come from all over the place, so you never know what you'll end up with." With a smile on his face, he continued, convincing himself. "Yes, look at some of the newcomers here! Wailns does not truly have any Natives, unlike Winril." Kirious turned around again, walking slowly away. "One of them would probably be perfect for you."

Would he take the bait? Would he question the land? Kiri tried keeping the same tone completely when talking about the other land, but there was still the thoughts that strained his mind. Another land was exhausting, but he wasn't ungrateful to have two to watch over. He just.. felt he wasn't a King who needed two lands to rule over. And his "brother", Tugger, was more than capable of ruling a land. And if he could give him something, especially something like that, then the River King felt he'd at least offer it to his friend and see what he said. But of course, coming straight forward about it wasn't the way he was comfortable going. Perhaps it was the way he should have done it, but Kirious knew the words were already out there.

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[Hudsdale]

Tugger stood solidly, content not to sway from his place. His weight no doubt leaving prints in the ground beneath his hooves, Tugger preferred to stay put as he listened to his young friend.

It seemed to be a dating game for Kirious. Was his greatest desire of the moment to get his friend Tugger a mate? The coldblood supposed such a subject was not to be avoided when dealing with one of his King's age. Young Tugger had been quite possibly the worst of them all, spreading his seed anywhere and everywhere he could. It was never nonconsensual - Tugger's charm worked nearly every time. His young adulthood was quite successful in that regard and he could not have asked for a better outcome. The more recent Tugger looked back on those days with a smirk and shake of his head. How silly he should think them...

Thrown back into reality as his eyes focused back on his dark friend, Tugger smiled at the thought of choosing a mate based on where she lived. Even he'd never thought of the ethnic differences of mares because of their origins. Returning to his juvenile days, he could think of those he'd had in each of the lands.

With a sigh and a grin, he readied himself to assess each land for Kirious' sake. He asked for it... "Girls from the mountains think themselves above all the rest, which I suppose would only be natural since they are, technically-speaking." Demeter. Tugger had been a lowly selection by her standards - only chosen for a single night of fun. "Tjos? Ah, now there's a better choice, though not without its own faults. They're soft and sweet, and yet they still manage to be dense and stolid." Yes, that was kind Victoria - grand beauty on the outside, but most certainly nothing going on beneath that flaxen forelock. Tugger glanced up as he thought, as if attempting to remember something that was so distant in his mind. ”You’d be right about the desert mares. I’ve known three from Shahir and they were three of the moodiest creatures I’ve ever set eyes on. No doubt results of scorching heat hardening their hearts as well as their dispositions.” Electra, Persephone, and Marisol, the latter two of which were sisters. ”Nebuul is a different matter altogether. They are the most work to woo because of their moralistic traditions. The old forest ways make it hard for an outsider to prove himself worthy of a woodland girl, to be sure.” He’d only claimed one from Nebuul – Natalia. He’d spent nearly an entire season gaining her trust and in doing so, won her heart. When she told him how she felt, it pained him to say that he did not return her feelings. Of all of his childhood ‘endeavors’, Natalia had been the hardest to say goodbye to.

Wailns? Tugger had never had a swamp girl… The idea of returning to his homeland had always scared him off. Young Tugger never felt the urge to return to the bayou in search of partners – it hit too close to home. In fact, it was home. Now that he’d grown up, the prospect did not seem as distasteful. The marshlands were full of surprises. Was it possible that she was there? Could it be that Kirious was right? “Now that I think about Wailns, I can’t recall any knowledge of what they’re like there. As you say, they’re all unique since there’s no native population… You’ve definitely got a point, Your Maj- I mean, Kirious.” Tugger caught himself with a smile as he glanced back to his king. “Tell me though. Why is it that you care so much about whether or not I have a mate? I can assure you that I’ve not been deprived of such pleasures. Why aren’t you scoping out the mares of Wailns for your Queen?”

Tugger stepped foot out of his hoofprints and trotted to Kirious’ side once more, nipping at the king’s ear with his last loaded inquiry. With a whinny, he awaited the answer, sure that some embarrassment would arise from such a question.

[Snowfrost]

KIRIOUS.

[/right][/size]

Well, he certainly hadn't expected things to take the turn they had. The stallion felt his hooves gain weight the more his friend spoke of the varied mares in The Lands, his stomach rumbling as he listened. He couldn't pinpoint how, but the River King knew what was coming -- and he wasn't as surprised when it hit. Though, it still.. hit. Kirious felt a lump swell in his throat, his heart dropping quickly, a shiver racing through his spine. Stopping in his tracks at the sight of his expectant 'brother', Kiri flicked his ears back in embarrassment, glancing down at the ground and Tugger from time to time. Shifting his weight, the black stallion's sight shot alongside the chestnut's side, looking past him to the trees and faint purr of the waters beyond them.

Kirious allowed the question to sink in. He could really do nothing more. Thoughts drifted off to the land of the unknown, his other reigning territory. The mares there? Mares, in general? Kiri swallowed hard, looking at his hooves as he found the words, fighting with his mind in order to find a way to turn everything around and back onto the path he'd originally set it along. "Well," The stallion shuffled his front hooves a bit, before extending his front right and stepping around his friend in a large, slow circular fashion. "As a King, I feel I don't need to have a Queen alongside me," Kirious remembered the hotheaded words of Kings past, his last-ditch effort to steer his friend from his real reasons for not having or hunting for a Queen. After all, they just.." The split-faced stallion paused, looking to his friend with a tilted head. "make things.. difficult. It's difficult enough leading one land -- much less two. And add a Queen to that?" There you go. The stallion snorted softly, looking away from Tugger with a soft smirk playing at the ends of his lips. Walking away, somewhat, while still circling around, Kirious continued: "Well, a stallion can only handle so much. Why go seeking what takes so much time and energy to build and establish, as well as maintain? I have mares here, in the herd, that I can fully be a King to and perform all the Kingly duties for and with. If word came out that I needed a Queen," Kirious huffed lightly, pausing again to look at his friend. "..there'd be chaos, mares turning on one another for some "power" that supposedly came with being the Queen of both lands."

The logic seemed right, but somehow Kirious doubted his friend would go along with it. Still, he had to try. Pondering a moment on how to change the subject in an ever-so subtle way, the River King shook his neck out softly and looked again to Tugger. "In a way, I think it's far.. easier for a stallion without land to protect to find a mate. It's.. freer, less of a burden, in the sense. And do I wish that it could be easier for me to pursue someone, should it come up?" Again he cast a glance to his friend, but then to the sky. It felt strange -- he felt like he was speaking the words of a King older than himself, but they were truth at the same time. Sure, there was the beginning of a lie, the words of another -- but, his own feelings mingled in his response. "Sure I do. I can't imagine any King wouldn't want the same. But, it can't be done. We have our duties, our land -- my case, lands -- to protect. We have our members, family some of them, to care for. The perfect mare.. has to find us." Perhaps his friend would push things off, speak of the other land? Time would truly be the one to tell, but Kirious hoped his explanation was enough for his large friend.

ooc; ..Almost two months later :'D

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