It was Aries' bold and fiery gaze that gave him pause. Yes, Khloros recognized that expression. And the last time he'd seen it, the ram had thrown himself face-first into his own near-death--and quite literally off a cliff. Khloros hadn't even done that to him; he'd done it to himself.

"Yes--but we must use caution," was all the horse replied to Aries' invitation. And then, on a slightly different topic, he added--"Thank you, for your willingness to work with me. I am grateful." It was simply-said.

Khloros hadn't ever really thought about what he'd done in the past as bad. He had caused a great deal of suffering and death in Lessers, and sickened some actual Gembound; and though he didn't think he'd actually killed anybody (I suppose my methods were not as effective as I'd hoped... he thought, wryly), he felt he'd been doing what needed to be done. He still felt as though he'd been sent here for a purpose.

If Death sent me; if I carry Death; then is not the gentle being lying beyond Life, who has sent me back to complete my task-... Is that not Death itself? It had to be.

He paused, in his thoughts. And backed up, a little. He'd been thinking about morality, hadn't he? What did he do, if he'd been causing such pain unnecessarily? And did it matter..?

He did not know.

He did know that Aries, embodying the best and fiercest of fire itself, was liable to leap straight for the enemy in an attempt to burn it down. If that hadn't worked on Khloros, then he doubted very much that it would work on Astraea. "We will need to work together," the horse murmured abruptly, his thoughts bubbling to the surface. "Perhaps find many more to aid." He wasn't sure if the Children of Rot could be counted on to fight; they were certainly suspicious of the Masters, and had given him shelter here, but... their goal was to survive. They'd have to find allies somewhere, though; and what, then, was their plan?

Deeply thoughtful, the black horse followed Aries through the swamp. His legs became slick with mud, his tangled mane and tail hanging wet as he sloshed along behind.