What Are You Doing Here? | Private

A bitterness had arisen within Snake the day he had lost the competitive spar with Brutus. Not at his partner, per say, as it wasn't exactly his fault they had been paired. No, it was Cain's. Of course he must have known Snake would lose, therefore securing his guard dog's place in the coming battle. Snake had wanted to join in the fray with a desperate drive to escape the mundane days of peace.
He'd flirt, he'd scavenge, he'd sleep. Repeat.
The war presented a chance for him to earn glory and respect! And Cain had squandered his chances of even witnessing the battle by pairing him with a partner of impossibly superior strength. However, after the battle was said and done and the wounded trailed wearily back to the center of their homeland to regroup and recuperate Snake began to question his initial fiery intentions to join in the fray. Some had lost their lives. Many returned with a haunted look looming behind their eyes and often separated themselves from the herd in a depressed stupor. What had really happened out there? His anger at losing the spar and his chance to prove himself morphed into fear. Maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to join the fight. He might loose more than just a little blood.
At any rate, his herd mates had returned and tension was thick. Snake had managed to find himself plenty of trouble...err...entertainment to make up for his lack of participation with the battle. But now it was vital he partake in the survival of the returned herd.
Up early as usual, he began his scavenging duties and kept a sharp eye out for any Olde spies that might be lurking within the Bachelor's territory.
He scented the air and studied the hoof prints in the iron red soil, discerning old from new. From his position he assumed he was somewhere between the fallen city and the great pine. A sparse cover of conifers dotted the rolling hillsides and the scent of sap and small mammals filled his nose. As he trod alongside a spindly creek a faint outline amid the trees caught his attention. He squinted, narrowing his dandelion yellow eyes as the figure moved with swift precision, almost as if he knew the navigation of these lands well, but Snake couldn't be sure whether is was a fellow bachelor or not. Ears flat against his skull in suspicion, he skulked along behind the equine, keeping a safe distance between them. The sun was beginning to breach the horizon as he neared the shoreline, still stalking the suspicious character. He didn't seem to be carrying out any obvious scavenging duties, just walking, so who was he? The ocean breeze frisked off the salty water and brought the opposing equines scent to Snake's nose. He was a stallion for sure and something seemed irritatingly familiar about him...but the musky smell of fish and seaweed obscured it too much to be sure.
The stallion didn't seem to notice Snake's presence as he stared off into the skyline and he took the opportunity to further his approach.
The glinting red and orange of dawn glittered on the ocean's waters and reflected against the horse's coat, blazing against his mostly white fur. Snake squinted against the glare and in doing so his mouth dropped slacked with shock. Unusual dark stripes intermitted his snowy pelt.
Could it possibly be?
He'd disappeared for...what? two- maybe three years now? Just when he had begun to fade from Snake's memory-
With a furious snort Snake charged at the trespasser, roaring at the top of his lungs to be heard against the crash of the ocean waves. "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"
A most unusual practice for the normally soft voice of the appaloosa stallion.
His rage-filled glare broke into a grin as he neared his old friend.


(He was still known as Ze'ev when they were friends and didn't take on the nickname Snake until about a year ago-his time- )