"You seem a bit depressed today." Axel observed as he led Roxas on a slow walk. "Something the matter?"

I am depressed. Roxas sighed heavily, lowering his head. He wasn't surprised the redhead had noticed. Axel was getting better and better at reading him with his talent. Would he eventually realize the palomino wasn't a horse at all? And if he did, so what? There were no wizards anywhere near who could break the spell. That wasn't the cause of his depression though. Life as a horse meant Roxas had far too much time on his hands, even with Axel working him regularly. So he'd had plenty of time to think about Terra's words.

Roxas had been born in the slums of Invari, a beautiful city far to the East. Beautiful for those who had at least a smidge of money and influence, anyway. The slums were pestilent and Roxas couldn't remember his father. He could just barely remember his mother, if he tried hard. She'd drunk herself to death when he was only a small child. After that he'd begged on the streets for a while before getting swept up in a guard purge and sent to a manufactory. Little hands were useful making ribbons, never mind how many got mangled in the machinery… It hadn't taken the blonde long to decide it was all a joke. It had taken a bit of seduction and treachery, but he'd knifed the overseer and run away. After that he'd tried his hand at thievery for a while, and had been rather good at it for a self-taught boy. Rather good wasn't good enough when he picked the wrong pocket. The knife had come out then but fortunately, the woman he'd tried to rob was an assassin on the lookout for an apprentice. She'd approved of his pretty face and his viciousness, and had taken him under her wing.

With that history, Roxas had always felt that honest work was for fools. His mother had worked making cheap plates, and what had that gotten her? Nothing but a failing liver. The children laboured on the ribbons for pennies and ended up with crippled hands, wasted and used up. Putting cash into the pockets of the slumlords. He'd decided as a child that there was no point in going straight and nothing he'd seen in his life as an assassin had shaken that conviction. Naturally enough, he tended to see the worst side of people.

Living in a peaceful, productive place was a new and almost distressing experience. This business was built with hard labour, to be sure, but it wasn't very dangerous. Terra worked harder than anyone else on his ranch and his employees were all paid a percentage of the years' profits. Roxas had heard Axel discussing it with Demyx, so he knew the big payout would be after the fall horse fair. Most of them still had their money from last year and planned to spend it there.

Terra took care of his people. He provided them with food, lodgings, clothes and equipment from the profits of the ranch. He kept on anyone who was willing to work, even if they couldn't do much any longer. Roxas had seen his father-in-law. The old man had a pronounced limp from an old broken leg and couldn't really ride much anymore, but Terra treated him with respect. He wasn't the only person on the farm in semi-retirement. They were like a big family, and something inside Roxas ached to be part of that. Another part of him screamed that he was a fool. But Terra's words knawed at him like rats. He'd never concerned himself with whether or not his victims deserved to die. Someone had been willing to pay for it, was all he knew or cared. What could he say he had built, when his time was done? Much less than Terra could…

Ow! Roxas blinked as Axel gave him a light pop with his reins. He gave the redhead a reproachful look. What had that been for? Axel grinned at him.

"Are you listening to a word I'm saying?" He asked teasingly and Roxas laid his ears back. "I said, since you're so laid back today, maybe it's time for Demyx to ride you!"

What? No! Roxas snorted and blew at the redhead, making him laugh and pet his nose.

"Or maybe we can go work on the cattle." Axel mused and Roxas looked towards the pastures with a sinking feeling. It hadn't rained for a while so the poo would be solid, but the horrible dust would combine with his sweat and form sticky, itching trails on his skin. "I bet that would wake you up in no time. What do you think?"

Oh stop it! Roxas snorted and stamped. I know how to cut the cattle, I don't need to keep practicing. That probably wasn't true but he was getting good at it. Axel chuckled and petted him again.

"Or we could just go on a ride down to one of the canals and you can take a swim. How about that?" Axel said invitingly and Roxas gave him a horse smile, pulling his upper lip off his teeth. "You're such a smart horse. The canal it is." Roxas smiled to himself as Axel started getting him tacked up. His depression had suddenly given way, smothered but Axel's sunny personality.

It wouldn't last, but for now he'd forget about the past and future. It was time for the present.

"Demyx, this is a bad idea." Gemma said warningly as Roxas eyed Demyx thoughtfully. The girl was holding his lead. She'd been the one to fetch him out of the stallion pasture and he'd assumed she wanted him for Axel, or maybe to ride herself. He'd been with the ranch for maybe a month and a half now… Roxas had trouble keeping track of time… and Axel had allowed Gemma on his back a few times. She was an excellent horsewoman and Roxas was pleased enough to have her there. "You're not as good with the horses as Axel." That was absolutely true and also completely the wrong thing to say. Roxas could see it from the scowl on Demyx's face.

"Shut up." Demyx ordered her. Roxas blinked a bit at the tone and saw Gemma bite her lower lip. He wondered what her position was here. Whatever it was, she didn't seem willing to stand up to Demyx and he seemed to feel he was in charge. "Just hold him." Gemma sighed and held him as Demyx tacked him up. "If Axel can do this, I can." He muttered to himself and Roxas immediately began plotting mayhem. He'd wait until the blonde was in the saddle though. There was plenty he could do when Demyx was in the saddle…

Better not kill him though. Roxas made a mental note not to step on him or anything likely to be fatal. A horse could be forgiven for a fatal accident, but when the spell wore off everyone might be a lot less forgiving. Roxas noticed Gemma watching him nervously and tried to look innocent. Maybe he should "smile"? No, she'd know he was plotting something then. At first Roxas' walked demurely, heeding all of Demyx's cues. He wanted to lull the blonde a bit. Sooner or later he'd ask for something a bit more adventurous. Gemma seemed to be relaxing. But then, just as Roxas had thought, Demyx decided to ask for more.

"I'm going to jump him!" Roxas followed Demyx's pointing finger to see a small bush. It would be easy for him to jump over. That made Gemma tense again.

"Axel hasn't done much jumping on him." She warned the blonde but he wasn't in the mood to listen. Roxas winced at the energetic tug on his reins. Demyx had a much heavier hand with them than Axel, and he didn't appreciate it in the least. But he started moving obediently.

Roxas timed it perfectly. He waited until the very last second, pretended he was going to jump and then stopped dead. Not only that, he rolled his shoulders forward. It was a classic 'dirty stop' and had the expected effect… Demyx flew off his back, headfirst into the bush.

And it looks like it had thorns! Roxas could hear Demyx starting to wail as he cantered off, kicking up his heels mockingly. There was a commotion starting as Gemma called for help. Had Demyx broken an arm? Or more likely, his collarbone? It would serve him right. Terra came out in the field to catch him, and with the aid of a few peppermints, Roxas submitted to being caught.

"Little idiot." Terra muttered as he began unsaddling the palomino stallion. "If Axel shouldn't be riding a horse smarter than him, that goes twice for Dem." Because he's twice as dense? Roxas snickered to himself and gave Terra a horse smile. Terra snorted and gently smacked him. "Nasty horse." Then Axel came up, looking infuriated and unhappy. Roxas lowered his head and chewed on a bit of hay, but paid careful attention as they spoke. "How is our minstrel? Didn't break anything, did he?"

"No. It looks like he's dislocated his shoulder though. You should hear the whining." Axel shook his head in disgust and Terra chuckled softly. "He's already worrying about not being about to play at the fall fair. I tried to tell him that you could put an earth magic patch on, but he's not listening." Terra sighed.

"I'm going to kill Gemma for letting him do this." He grumbled. "She should have had more sense." Axel shook his head though.

"She said she didn't feel right about stopping him, since she's only been here for half a year." That made Roxas wonder what had happened. Gemma would have come to this place in the winter, never the favourite time for travelling. "I told her not to hesitate next time." Terra nodded as he finished getting the tack put away. Axel led Roxas back to his pasture and he eagerly went into it, feeling better than he had in weeks. If Demyx whined enough, perhaps Axel would start to rethink his relationship.

Life was looking up.

Roxas stood by the fence, looking at the house. It was night and he was one of only two horses awake. Instincts insisted that a guard be kept and for now, that was Roxas and the black stallion. The stallion was standing quietly, looking around as the others slept. He clearly hadn't noticed anything wrong. But he was a horse, and not as clever as Roxas. Even with equine eyesight, which was very poor in the dark, Roxas could see someone moving around near the barn. But they were being very quiet. Roxas considered what to do.

He had to do something. There was more than one of them and they absolutely did not belong at the ranch. Someone from inside the house would have brought out a lamp and wouldn't have skulked. The way these men were moving had 'skulking' written all over it. To an assassin it was almost laughable, but with a sleeping household it would be effective.

Roxas finally went to the gate and examined it. He'd already figured out a way to unlock it but hadn't used it yet. He'd been keeping it in reserve, in case they decided to geld him. And while he could open it with his lips and some clever nudges, he couldn't reclose it. All the horses would get out. Right now, that seemed like a minor consideration. He carefully worked on the gate until it creaked open, then began quietly trotting towards the barn. He wanted to see what they were up to before he took action. The men were engrossed in their work and Roxas knew how to move quietly, even as a horse. Then he saw a flicker of light and froze for a moment.

Fire! Fire was the worst nightmare of any stable. Hay was highly flammable, the wood was flammable, everything was flammable. Terra would toss out anyone who dared bring a lit pipe in the barn. On the few occasions Axel smoked, he carefully put it out before he took so much as a step inside. And these men were setting fire to the barn with the mares and foals inside…

Roxas screamed as loud as he could, a sawing sound of rage before he charged. It was dangerous but the men weren't expecting it and he caught one on the scalp with a front hoof. There was a scream and the others scattered to avoid being trampled as Roxas beat out the flames with his hooves. Lights were coming on in the ranch house but it was taking too long –

Ah! Roxas gasped at the lance of pain in his left hind leg and jerked away, stumbling. One of them had stabbed him, fortunately missing the tendons since he could still stand on the leg. He kicked without thinking and while the pain was agonizing, the solid thunk as both his hind hooves hit something was satisfying. There was a dog baying and Roxas groaned to himself as he saw the puppy rush out of the house. Fortunately though it went for one of them men first, snapping but not connecting as the pup tried to drive them away.

Gemma, no! Roxas tried to call to her but all that came out was a hopeless whinny. The girl was the first one out of the house, holding a lit oil lamp. She couldn't have made a more perfect target if she'd tried. There was the low whum of a crossbow bolt and Roxas watched in horror as she dropped like a stone. Then the strangers were running, and Roxas saw that they'd tied up their horses near the river. Where were they going? There were fords in the river now that the spring runoff had abated, and that would make them very hard to track.

I can't think about it anymore. Roxas stood trembling, his head down and eyes closed. His leg hurt like fire and he tried to keep his weight off it. Horses weren't meant to be three legged, though, and that was hurting too. He considering lying down then rejected the idea. That would hurt too.

"Roxas!" Axel. Roxas raised his head and tried to whimper. "Did they hurt you?" Roxas turned so Axel could see he was favouring one leg. "Damn. Demyx! I need some light over here." The blond hurried over. One arm was in a sling but he was holding a lantern with the other. Roxas noticed he looked pale and shaken. "Someone cut him with a knife. They missed the tendons…" Axel muttered as he rested his hands on Roxas' butt, eyes half-closed with concentration. He was using his talent to explore the injuries. "It's not too deep, not close to the bone. A flesh wound really but it must hurt like hell."

Yes, it really does. That was a relief to hear. With Terra's skill with earth powers, Roxas was confident he'd be fine. Axel seemed to feel the same way as he began cleaning the cut out with a powder that stung almost as much as getting the wound. Roxas gritted his teeth and endured. He knew that powder from more injuries than he cared to count, and it was a good proof against infection. Axel gently patted him after he was done, then began to bandage the wound.

"Is he alright?" Terra. The brunette looked almost satanic, carrying an oil lamp so it illuminated his face from below. Axel looked up from his work and nodded.

"He's going to be fine. Is Gemma…" Axel broke off at Terra's grim expression and headshake. "Those bastards. What were they trying to do?"

"Set the barn on fire." Terra replied shortly as Demyx gaped and Axel swallowed hard. "It would have gone up like a candle. They piled hay treated with rock oil around it. It's a miracle Roxas managed to stop the first sparks, but they hadn't gotten it into the tinder before he charged them, from what we can see."

"That's crazy." Axel whispered. "Who would do that? Why would they do that?"

"Because times are hard and getting harder. It's the water, you know that." Roxas felt a bit confused at that. Water? What was the problem with water? The river had gone down quite a bit but there was still ample. "I have plenty with the river, but they want me to put in pipes to reach the rest of the range."

"But that would drain the river dry." Axel protested. "The Broken Oak ranch would have a fit! And they're your kin, too. Why would someone single us out this way? Why not River Bend?"

"How do we know they haven't?" Terra asked and Roxas tilted his head as the man smiled grimly. "We didn't mention the cattle rustling to anyone. If they've lost cattle or had other problems, they wouldn't tell us. Not 'till they had proof. As for why someone would set fire to the barn… they're escalating from the thefts. I'm not very well liked and we're prosperous."

"That's a big escalation from theft." Demyx ventured, sounding almost ready to cry. "Gemma's dead." Terra's lips tightened as he looked towards the ranch.

"That wasn't meant to happen. Likely we wouldn't have been able to figure out the fire was set, if their plan had gone off properly. Just a bad mischance, some wet hay catching fire, that's what we'd have figured." Roxas tried to puzzle that out but couldn't. Wet hay caught fire? Wouldn't it go out? "But we can't take this lying down. I'm going to do some work, figure out who's got suspicious injuries. Then it will be time for payback." There was a dark eagerness to Terra's voice and Roxas was reminded of what he'd said about the earth. The inherently corrupt nature of that element. He had no doubt that Terra was capable of cruelties every bit as great as the late Baron, when he was aroused.

And so what? Roxas looked towards the house again. He couldn't see the bloodstains in the dark, but he knew they would be there. They deserve it. Whoever had done this would regret crossing a retired crusader. He wouldn't have wanted an enemy like that, as an assassin. Perhaps these ranchers didn't understand what Terra truly was?

If so, they'd find out the hard way.