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Description
|Word Count: 1,609|

|WARNING: This part of the story from here will contain mild instances of child abuse and other elements that may trigger people whom may be affected by this.|

(Years later)

"Come on Angel!" Called Ryo from somewhere up ahead, "Ryo... we're not allowed out here!" She said.
The dark bay colt appeared in front of her, the forest loomed over them, every rustle of the bush or whisper of the wind had chills stinging her spine.
"Only the hunters are supposed to be out here," she said. Lowering her head.
Ryo snorted shoving her on, "hey!",
"Come on we'll be fine. I am a hunter!" He said his spear in teeth.

Angel felt pins and needles all throughout her body her fears took control of her pushing her forward.

"Ryo, Stop it!" She yelled fury brewing that she was using his Empathy against her.

"I said sto—" she stumbled to a stop at the edge of the forest, the sun rained down washing the sparkling lake in a bath of gold the trees provided greens.

Ryo nudged her holding his head up high, "see? Not so bad is it?" He mused. He stabbed his spear down into the ground.

Angel sighed, "we're still not supposed to be out here—your dad is gonna be mad if he catches us".
Ryo grew nervous, he already had a cut on his cheek from his father's punishments.
Angel offered to treat it but Ryo liked acting tough for her.

"I miss Isaiah.." he admitted she knew he regretted bringing him up. But she wasn't the only one close to him. Ryo was too, Dad would stick up for the colt against his own father.
"Me too" she said, "he used to bring me here with the hunters," she added.
They walked along the rocky beach watching ducks glide across the surface in smoothe grace.

"Look at the ducks Angel!" Her father once said, a mother with six in tow had waddled into the morning lake. Each quaking up the chatter.

Angel couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, "Ryo—I think we should leave," she said.

Ryo turned to her annoyed "stop worrying so much, we're fin—BEAR!" She whipped around to see an enormous bundle of oak brown fur tower over them.

The smell from it was terrible, the grizzly growled, "run!" Ryo and Angel took off down the beach their hooves thundered against the stoned ground.

The grizzly charged after them, a roar escaped it's lips. Ryo regretted placing his spear down suddenly, but he was a hunter.

"Don't follow me" he told Angel, the colt veered left while Angel kept going straight, she tossed her head back to see the bear go after Ryo instead of her.
He made a sharp u-turn and headed for his spear.

He made it in time and aimed his spear at the bear, Angel faltered forward when the bear raised it's massive paw and came smashing down on Ryo breaking his spear like a stick.
He fell on his back to the found,

"Ryo!" Angel raced forward, she was cut off by a dark-almost black stallion dressed in red thunder shaped paint. Three others followed a fourth stopped Angel. She watched the hunters fight off the bear, their battle cries piercing the air.
The bear growled it's last breath and fell to the earth lifeless. Angel could see it's spirits departing quietly from its brown stiff body.

"What were you thinking being out here?" Scalded the leader of the hunt—Quen Ryo's father.

Ryo flinched away from his harsh tone, "we-we just wanted to see the lake" he stammered.
Quen snorted, "what you want is stupid—no matter what I do you become more stubborn like your mother, you even managed to get your spear broken" he scowled.

Angel saw Ryo tense his muscles stiffen, anger boiled in his violet eyes.
"I'll be like ma and so much more than you!" He raced off in a fury.
Quen watched him go on with no sense of care, Angel started to go after him but he stopped her, "no, get back to camp." He snapped.

Angel was too scared of him to protest so she did what she was told.
Angel grabbed the broken halves of Ryo's spear she decided she was going to try and fix it for him.

He spent hours painting his favorite animal upon the thick oak wood stick. An owl red in paint mimicked the lights of First Snow.

The hunters gathered the bear, she was sure they'd use it's fur for bedding and maybe the meat for a special occasion. No part of it would be wasted.

The camp was quiet this midday, smoke billowed into the blue sky from small fires.
Mares decorated their huts with deer antlers and fur skins.
Angel's own hut was decorated with wood carvings of birds she's learned to make.

Angel went inside her hut, her caretaker Anna she was tidying up the hut for her.
"Good day Angel dear—have fun wondering off?" She asked.
"No.." she sighed laying down in her soft bed. Her father has been gone a whole year,
"A bear almost ate Ryo, the hunters showed up luckily," She said.
"A bear? Y'all are very lucky winter is almost upon us this time of year—they're out getting as much food as possible," Anna said.
Her white—brown splashed body was dressed in pink paint.

"What are you doing?" She asked. Noting the brush in her mouth.
"I am dressing myself for first snow, it's sure to be in a few days" she beamed a smile.
"Can I dress myself this year?" Angel asked excited.
She gazed down at Ryo's spear trying to wove it back together with strong rope and vines.

"You sure can! Dress yourself in whatever you'd like!" Anna said presenting her with an array of colors she's made out of clay, berries, flowers and even tree bark that she's forged from leftovers from the other members of the tribe.

Anna was an amazing paint maker, the color was always bright—with life as if she'd taken the materials from the sky lights and crushed them into the clay pots.

Angel took some of the blue paint forming an idea for Ryo and painted over the zigzagging like where his spear broke in two.
She made dots along the wiggly line making them look like flowers, she took yellow and red to do the same. Then she dove into her chest of charms and placed a hanging antler piece, a tiger tooth her father gave her. And a quill feather.

"Angel that's amazing, I'm sure Ryo will love it, he likes everything you make," Anna praised.
Angel blushed, she spent hours on crafty stuff just to get away from thinking about how long it's been since her father has been away.

'eleven, it's been eleven First Snows…' she was only three when he left. Now she was fourteen.
She lowered her gaze as the sadness washed over her.
"He's not coming back is he?" She said quietly.
Anna set down her brush,

"I'd dare say yes, but the spirits haven't given us a sign that he's gone yet dear. I'm sure he's alive—maybe he's just lost.." she said gently.

"But he never gets lost," she protested.
"What if the demon has killed him? Just like mother?" The nightmare played in her mind over and over each night.

"He's a strong stallion Angel, the strongest I've come to know, he'll be back you'll see," Anna said a fire in her eyes.
Angel held onto that hoping she was right and that he'd be back sooner than later.

Angel watched the sun cast down below the black mountains—she sighed as the chill of the air danced across her hide.

She had painted herself up in blues and greens. She was disappointed that Ryo hadn't returned yet to see his repaired spear. Or her new look.

Angel went to his hut but it was vaccant of Ryo or his father, a sick feeling twisted her stomach, where was her friend? And why wasn't his father here helping with the evening hunt?
'Help me' it was so faint Angel thought she imagined it, she whipped around to see a spirit of a fallen mare standing before her.

Fear constricted her heart, 'help me please' she repeated a little louder and more desperate.
"W-Who are you?" She asked settling a bit. There was something calming about the spirit mare.

The moon was bright this night in full bloom. 'I am Rose, the mother of Ryo your friend' she said.
Angel gapped at her but dared not ask any questions.

Then it hit her, "where is Ryo? Is he in danger?"

'Ryo is in danger, his father will be his downfall as he was of mine' she said.
Angel flicked her ears back knowing her words to be true, "did he..murder you?" She asked.
Angel heard the tale of Rose disappearing in the forest, while most blame When for her death when her body was found. Others suspected something much worse.

'In a way—no, my Empathic ways were too much which caused me to disappear after Ryo was born, I've wondered these parts all of the days since, watching my strong boy grow.' Rose seemed to smile.

Angel didn't understand, what did she mean by disappear?
'I don't want Ryo to end up disappearing to, he is young and has so much to grow for—please don't let him disappear. Help him get away from his father, I know it's a big task I ask of, but will you do this for me Angel?'

Angel nodded, "I-I will...try but what do you mean by disappear?"
The mare didn't speak anymore, she merely touched Angel's muzzle grateful for her help.

Description
|Word Count: 1,609|

|WARNING: This part of the story from here will contain mild instances of child abuse and other elements that may trigger people whom may be affected by this.|

(Years later)

"Come on Angel!" Called Ryo from somewhere up ahead, "Ryo... we're not allowed out here!" She said.
The dark bay colt appeared in front of her, the forest loomed over them, every rustle of the bush or whisper of the wind had chills stinging her spine.
"Only the hunters are supposed to be out here," she said. Lowering her head.
Ryo snorted shoving her on, "hey!",
"Come on we'll be fine. I am a hunter!" He said his spear in teeth.

Angel felt pins and needles all throughout her body her fears took control of her pushing her forward.

"Ryo, Stop it!" She yelled fury brewing that she was using his Empathy against her.

"I said sto—" she stumbled to a stop at the edge of the forest, the sun rained down washing the sparkling lake in a bath of gold the trees provided greens.

Ryo nudged her holding his head up high, "see? Not so bad is it?" He mused. He stabbed his spear down into the ground.

Angel sighed, "we're still not supposed to be out here—your dad is gonna be mad if he catches us".
Ryo grew nervous, he already had a cut on his cheek from his father's punishments.
Angel offered to treat it but Ryo liked acting tough for her.

"I miss Isaiah.." he admitted she knew he regretted bringing him up. But she wasn't the only one close to him. Ryo was too, Dad would stick up for the colt against his own father.
"Me too" she said, "he used to bring me here with the hunters," she added.
They walked along the rocky beach watching ducks glide across the surface in smoothe grace.

"Look at the ducks Angel!" Her father once said, a mother with six in tow had waddled into the morning lake. Each quaking up the chatter.

Angel couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, "Ryo—I think we should leave," she said.

Ryo turned to her annoyed "stop worrying so much, we're fin—BEAR!" She whipped around to see an enormous bundle of oak brown fur tower over them.

The smell from it was terrible, the grizzly growled, "run!" Ryo and Angel took off down the beach their hooves thundered against the stoned ground.

The grizzly charged after them, a roar escaped it's lips. Ryo regretted placing his spear down suddenly, but he was a hunter.

"Don't follow me" he told Angel, the colt veered left while Angel kept going straight, she tossed her head back to see the bear go after Ryo instead of her.
He made a sharp u-turn and headed for his spear.

He made it in time and aimed his spear at the bear, Angel faltered forward when the bear raised it's massive paw and came smashing down on Ryo breaking his spear like a stick.
He fell on his back to the found,

"Ryo!" Angel raced forward, she was cut off by a dark-almost black stallion dressed in red thunder shaped paint. Three others followed a fourth stopped Angel. She watched the hunters fight off the bear, their battle cries piercing the air.
The bear growled it's last breath and fell to the earth lifeless. Angel could see it's spirits departing quietly from its brown stiff body.

"What were you thinking being out here?" Scalded the leader of the hunt—Quen Ryo's father.

Ryo flinched away from his harsh tone, "we-we just wanted to see the lake" he stammered.
Quen snorted, "what you want is stupid—no matter what I do you become more stubborn like your mother, you even managed to get your spear broken" he scowled.

Angel saw Ryo tense his muscles stiffen, anger boiled in his violet eyes.
"I'll be like ma and so much more than you!" He raced off in a fury.
Quen watched him go on with no sense of care, Angel started to go after him but he stopped her, "no, get back to camp." He snapped.

Angel was too scared of him to protest so she did what she was told.
Angel grabbed the broken halves of Ryo's spear she decided she was going to try and fix it for him.

He spent hours painting his favorite animal upon the thick oak wood stick. An owl red in paint mimicked the lights of First Snow.

The hunters gathered the bear, she was sure they'd use it's fur for bedding and maybe the meat for a special occasion. No part of it would be wasted.

The camp was quiet this midday, smoke billowed into the blue sky from small fires.
Mares decorated their huts with deer antlers and fur skins.
Angel's own hut was decorated with wood carvings of birds she's learned to make.

Angel went inside her hut, her caretaker Anna she was tidying up the hut for her.
"Good day Angel dear—have fun wondering off?" She asked.
"No.." she sighed laying down in her soft bed. Her father has been gone a whole year,
"A bear almost ate Ryo, the hunters showed up luckily," She said.
"A bear? Y'all are very lucky winter is almost upon us this time of year—they're out getting as much food as possible," Anna said.
Her white—brown splashed body was dressed in pink paint.

"What are you doing?" She asked. Noting the brush in her mouth.
"I am dressing myself for first snow, it's sure to be in a few days" she beamed a smile.
"Can I dress myself this year?" Angel asked excited.
She gazed down at Ryo's spear trying to wove it back together with strong rope and vines.

"You sure can! Dress yourself in whatever you'd like!" Anna said presenting her with an array of colors she's made out of clay, berries, flowers and even tree bark that she's forged from leftovers from the other members of the tribe.

Anna was an amazing paint maker, the color was always bright—with life as if she'd taken the materials from the sky lights and crushed them into the clay pots.

Angel took some of the blue paint forming an idea for Ryo and painted over the zigzagging like where his spear broke in two.
She made dots along the wiggly line making them look like flowers, she took yellow and red to do the same. Then she dove into her chest of charms and placed a hanging antler piece, a tiger tooth her father gave her. And a quill feather.

"Angel that's amazing, I'm sure Ryo will love it, he likes everything you make," Anna praised.
Angel blushed, she spent hours on crafty stuff just to get away from thinking about how long it's been since her father has been away.

'eleven, it's been eleven First Snows…' she was only three when he left. Now she was fourteen.
She lowered her gaze as the sadness washed over her.
"He's not coming back is he?" She said quietly.
Anna set down her brush,

"I'd dare say yes, but the spirits haven't given us a sign that he's gone yet dear. I'm sure he's alive—maybe he's just lost.." she said gently.

"But he never gets lost," she protested.
"What if the demon has killed him? Just like mother?" The nightmare played in her mind over and over each night.

"He's a strong stallion Angel, the strongest I've come to know, he'll be back you'll see," Anna said a fire in her eyes.
Angel held onto that hoping she was right and that he'd be back sooner than later.

Angel watched the sun cast down below the black mountains—she sighed as the chill of the air danced across her hide.

She had painted herself up in blues and greens. She was disappointed that Ryo hadn't returned yet to see his repaired spear. Or her new look.

Angel went to his hut but it was vaccant of Ryo or his father, a sick feeling twisted her stomach, where was her friend? And why wasn't his father here helping with the evening hunt?
'Help me' it was so faint Angel thought she imagined it, she whipped around to see a spirit of a fallen mare standing before her.

Fear constricted her heart, 'help me please' she repeated a little louder and more desperate.
"W-Who are you?" She asked settling a bit. There was something calming about the spirit mare.

The moon was bright this night in full bloom. 'I am Rose, the mother of Ryo your friend' she said.
Angel gapped at her but dared not ask any questions.

Then it hit her, "where is Ryo? Is he in danger?"

'Ryo is in danger, his father will be his downfall as he was of mine' she said.
Angel flicked her ears back knowing her words to be true, "did he..murder you?" She asked.
Angel heard the tale of Rose disappearing in the forest, while most blame When for her death when her body was found. Others suspected something much worse.

'In a way—no, my Empathic ways were too much which caused me to disappear after Ryo was born, I've wondered these parts all of the days since, watching my strong boy grow.' Rose seemed to smile.

Angel didn't understand, what did she mean by disappear?
'I don't want Ryo to end up disappearing to, he is young and has so much to grow for—please don't let him disappear. Help him get away from his father, I know it's a big task I ask of, but will you do this for me Angel?'

Angel nodded, "I-I will...try but what do you mean by disappear?"
The mare didn't speak anymore, she merely touched Angel's muzzle grateful for her help.