The guard captain blinked a few times as Tempest corrected him. For a moment, he allowed a smile as he shrugged apologetically. ”I am truly sorry for the confusion. There are quite a few of you….I am still getting familiar with names.” Damon could not underestimate the size of the family that was Rosenites. The conversation that Echo and he had earlier was in pale comparison of what explanation was really needed to cover all of them. He had never seen such a complex combination of bloodlines, or as extensive. ”I do remember the rat,” he commented in return.

A slight nod was given in response to her drawing up a bow design. ”I look forward to it.” Damon glanced at Echo as she finished up her review before they were to set out. He followed silently along with the Head Mage as they made it to the Yellow Court. Few times had he set out to this district. He always found himself wherever Astrid deemed to go. That left little time for him to stray to explore the rest of the city.

Brow lifted at the many nickers and neighs of horses from behind the smaller mansion. The sight of flaming manes made him smile slightly to himself. To be surrounded by creatures born of the Flame called the flame that rested in his chest. Now beckoning was necessary for the phoenix to follow Echo, but he did as instructed. This day was taking a different turn from earlier for certain.

Looking inside the gated area, he could see that this location was not for holding typical nightmares. His blue eyes watched Echo closely as she easily climbed over the fence to the pasture. A smirk crossed his lips as he hoisted himself up and over with ease to join her. From the looks of it, there was a purpose to where the Head Mage was going. For this, Damon remained in place to wait for further instructions.

Phoenix stood still as he was swarmed by a dozen nightmare foals. Each seemed to want to taste his clothing, which he felt was not too tasty for them to try. Damon let out a rare laugh while finding himself petting their manes and necks where he could reach. They were full of new energy that few would be able to contend with. One in particular allowed him to scratch beneath her chin before attempting to nip his fingers.

”I can see that,” he responded while taking a bucket. Watching Echo, Damon followed suit with offering his feed bucket to the foals. Eagerly they pushed one another to get their muzzles into the bucket for their portion of food. ”How many do you house in this stable? I can see that they are not normal Nightmares. A different breed it appears….and feels. Their flames are different.” Damon instinctively pushed one of the foal’s faces out from under his arm before it could nip at his side.

Echo was fully engrossed in seeing her little ones at play. They brought her great joy and even though they knew which mares were their mothers they also regarded Echo as their mother and master. All of the foals were checking out the new man. Their little flame manes and tails excitedly moving almost in sync with each other. This got a laugh from Echo as she watched.

The half Rosenite had to think about it as she helped feed the little ones. “At any time we have at least thirty… but this time of the year we get our babies and the numbers can sometimes double. We send them off to the military if we don’t want to keep them for breeding the new generation. Our military, your Toya especially, treats them very well. You could say they are one of the sacred animals in Sularia.”

She thought about the best way she could describe it and made a face. “These are a lot tamer than regular nightmares, however, you will find if push came to shove they are just as wild. They are just raised by us so they are used to our touch. Respect breeds respect after all.” Echo found herself enjoying the small talk with Damien before a scream alarmed her and startled the foal around her. She squinted a bit as a wild stallion came barreling through. She threw the bucket as the stallion threw off the woman riding it.

The bucket being thrown spooked the babies behind Damien as Echo launched herself up onto the stallion. She pulled at the flames and winced as they burned. “Don’t think that will hurt me much!” She yelled as she began to fight the male. “OBEY,” she jerked the flames, saddle, and reigns effortlessly. Within ten minutes of fighting as the stallion slammed Echo and himself into the gates of the corral, the stallion stopped its fight. Echo spurred its sides with her feet as he obediently went the way she wanted. “Was that so hard?” She bent over and looked into the stallion’s wide eyes. “I’m not trying to hurt you and neither was your trainer.”

She slipped off and scooped up some of the loose grain as she held it up to him. “See?” The stallion took it from her and she looked over to its trainer. “Try not to do that again while the babies are out. If you hurt them I will hurt you.” Echo scolded as she handed the reigns back. Once they knew it was safe the babies bounded for the loose grain on the ground and Echo sighed.

“They are going to get so fat.” She put her hands on her hips but she had burns on her fingers and palm along with bruises on her arms and god knew where else. “Sorry about that. Every once in awhile accidents do happen.”