I led my party out of the darkness of the caverns, and a small smile spread across my face at how much Cal relaxed immediately. Helix and Umbra, who had both done exceptionally well for it being their first trip underground, were also showing visible signs of relief at getting back to the surface for the night.
We started strolling back to our campsite, enjoying the feel of the grass under our hooves. I was enjoying listening to the other three talking about our adventure today, when I heard something. We had specifically made camp in the most abandoned place we could find, a place where we knew for a fact that we wouldn't be disturbed. So why could I hear strange Coursers? And what sounded like strange Coursers rummaging through things?
My anger began to rise, and I strode forward with purpose. The other three must have realised something was going on because Cal trotted up to match my pace and stand beside me, and the other two caught up and stayed right behind us. We were only a corner away from the clearing where we had set up camp, and as I turned that corner I saw that I hadn't been imagining things - there were strange Coursers in our campsite. There were two of them, but I paid attention to the one who was clearly in charge. He was tall, at least as tall as Cal, but where Cal is lanky and slim, this Courser was muscled and filled out. He was a Heraldic, and he was one of the most striking coursers I had ever seen. He was a deep, deep purple-grey, with purple hooves and white markings that lay across his back as though someone had laid the most extravagant cloak over him. He shifted his weight slightly as he took us in, and with that shift I could see that his markings weren't white - they were opal. Opal ringed with delicate gold, gold that matched the colour of his eyes. He looked like someone had carved a statue devoted to strength and beauty, and bought it to life. And he was stood in my campsite, going through my things as though he owned them. Cal was frozen next to me as I drew my sword and prepared to charge over to this stranger. A small part of my brain commented that it was odd, Cal usually ran, rather than froze. But nevertheless, my sword was free, and I rocked back to get power under my hind legs as I prepared to sprint for- "NO" Cal shouted, and jumped infront of me.
I blinked in astonishment. Cal, getting in between me and danger? What was going on?
The strange horse wandered over without a care in the world, a cruel smirk marring his beautiful face.
Cal was speaking urgently to me, in a voice little more than a whisper "Ti, you can't fight him. Promise me that you won't."
Cal had such distress on his face that I nodded.
"Well well." The stranger had reached us now and I saw that my first measurement was right - he was exactly the same height as Cal, just a lot broader. "So this must be your little plaything". As he said this he looked me over, and seemingly decided that I wasn't worth his attention. He was laser focused on Cal, and the blatant threat I could sense made me want to step infront of him.
Cal had said nothing to this stranger, but had stepped closer to me, desperately seeking the safety and comfort that I knew he found in me.
"Aren't you going to introduce us, Callisto?"
The stranger smiled, knowing how much discomfort he was causing Cal right now.
Cal cleared his throat and turned to look at me, though he wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Wulfe, meet Tiber. Ti, meet Wulfe. My brother."