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Description
The growing herd had stayed at the river for a few more days. No one went out looking for the missing mare, not even Whiskey. Seemed like him knowing the general area she was in had given the stallion some much needed hope. It also let him focus on the others and make sure they got better. Not to mention keep an eye on Cascade since he still wasn’t sure about the mare yet.

Though the stallion was getting a drink from the river. He was still worried about Syria, but the search had to be put on a pause. Though he was mainly concerned if she had delivered the foal by now. He wouldn’t be surprised if she had due to how close she was to delivering, and the fact that it had almost been two weeks since the pair last saw each other.

Whiskey did look up once he realized Starling had come over, “How are you doing? Cyril?” he asked as he looked at her while she too had gotten a drink. Though Whiskey had started to really like her. He didn’t know what he would have done if they didn’t cross paths. If she hadn’t offered to help, or even to stay. Though he was a little conflicted. Was he betraying Syria?

Starling had first gotten a drink before she looked at the stallion, “Better. Just a little off here and there, but those herbs you’ve been finding have helped tons.” she said with a faint smile before she looked back at the colts, “He’s still a little under the weather, but he’ll be fine in a day or two.” she said before she turned back to look at Whiskey, “What about you? You found her tracks, but what’s next?” she asked knowing he was always worrying about the missing mare.

He only nodded glad the two of them were doing better. Though he only looked down a bit before he sighed, “I’m worried….it’s been almost two weeks since I last saw her. W-what if she had the foal already? A-alone…” he said lowering his ears some as he looked at Star.

She only sighed as she lowered her ears and gently nuzzled the stallion, “From what you’ve told me, she is strong Whiskey. Even if she did have the foal already, then that makes you a father. We will find her…you will find her. If it’s been this long, then maybe she’s trapped somewhere in that area..if she was out and about we would have found her by now.” she said not wanting to worry the stallion more, but it needed to be said.

Whiskey just listened before he looked up seeming like he remembered something, “I think I might know where she is….I-I don’t know why I never thought about it..” he said as he looked at Starling who seemed greatly confused.

She only looked at him, “What do you mean? Where could she be?” she asked. Though she was confused why he seemed to now figure out where she could have been.

“There’s a cave…not too far from the meadow we stayed at before the fire. I went past it a couple times when I went out. I-I think that’s where she is..” he said seeming to be getting his hopes up.

Starling was still a little unsure about this, but she did her best to keep him from running off, “Okay…I guess it won’t hurt to check it out…” she said before she looked at the colts who seemed to be playing, “Are you sure that’s where she is? I just don’t want you getting your hopes up and just guessing where she could be.” she said worried about him, “If you’re sure, then I guess we can go and look later today.”

“I’m sure of it. I know I am. It’s like you said, we would have found her already if she wasn’t trapped. That’s the only spot that could keep her trapped. There’s all sorts of tunnels in that cave, and from what I know there’s only one entrance.” Whiskey said sure of it.

“Okay…then I guess we’ll go tell the others..” Starling said a little unsure about it, but it was worth it to go investigate this cave. Though the mare and stallion had turned around and made their way back to the three colts and Cascade.

Cornelian had seemed to come out of his shell quite a bit once he got to know Altan a bit. The two young colts seemed to have always been playing nonstop since then. Cyril though just watched them a short distance away. Especially since he was still recovering from whatever illness him and Starling had. Though he was also much older than the other two colts, so he didn’t care much to be a part in their games.

Cascade watched the two colts run around and tackle each other. A faint smile was on her face seeing the change in her son. She hated seeing him upset due to not being able to play with others. Though she still wasn’t fond of this herd. Especially with how broken it seemed. Well mainly the stallion. Was he capable of protecting a herd let alone her son? Even though he convinced her enough to stay for a short while, what about the long run?

Though the two colts had been running around before Cornelian had tackled Altan as the two of them tumbled before getting right back up on their hooves, but they noticed Whiskey and Starling coming back over as they stopped playing. Whiskey then stopped as he looked at Starling then the others, “We’re going to be moving here shortly.” he announced, but before he could explain Cascade had interrupted.

“Why will we be moving? This place seems fine to me, and isn’t it a bit sudden?” she spoke as she pinned her ears slightly. Altan just looked at his mother then Whiskey before he lowered his head and stepped over to his mom even before she had asked him to knowing that she was about to ask him to come over, “Where will we even be going?” she snorted.

Whiskey just let out a small quiet sigh before he pinned his ears, “Where we are going does not concern you, but it is not far. You don’t have to join us, but think about why you’re still with us here today.” he spoke in a firm manner not in the mood to deal with the mare.

Cascade only snorted and flicked her tail, but she fell silent. Cornelian on the other hand just stepped over to Whiskey, “Where are we going…?” he asked nervously as the little orange colt still missed Syria just as much as Whiskey did.

The stallion just eyed the brumby mare before he looked down at the colt, “I think I know where Syria is…but I may be wrong..” he spoke softly not wanting to get the colt’s hopes up too much.

“Really!?” Cornelian spoke as he just about jumped up. Whiskey just nodded before nuzzling the colt. He was glad Cornelian was starting to get back to his usual self though.

“Best we get moving before it starts to get too late.” Whiskey spoke before the small herd had begun moving. At first Cascade just stayed put before she looked down at Altan and let out a small sigh. Whiskey was right. There was a reason she was still there. Altan. Hesitantly, the mare just caught up with the others while staying in the back. Altan though happily caught up with Cornelian as the two colts walked beside each other even messing around with one another.

It only took about an hour to get to the location the cave was at as the entrance was alongside a tree line of the woods. Though there was a clearing, but Whiskey stopped before anyone entered the clearing, “Everyone wait here.” he spoke as the area was clearly affected by the fire, but something seemed off to him.

“The fire took so much….this place used to be so beautiful..” a girl’s voice spoke as she looked around what was left from the destructive fire. It almost pained her to ride through the area, “Do you know what the cause of it was, grandpa?” the girl asked as she looked at a older man.

The man just sighed as he looked around, “No. Rangers are still trying to figure it out since quite a large area was affected by it.” he had spoke before looking around some more, “I do know there was a small herd around the area before the fire had took place, but there’s been no sign of any of them.” he spoke once more, “That’s why we’re out here.”

Though the two then reached a clearing as they brought their horses to a stop, “Looks like some tracks up ahead..should we check them out?” the girl asked, “Maybe they’ll bring us to the herd.” she suggested.

“Might as well, but we still have to be careful.” the man spoke as they urged their horses closer to the tracks, “Hmm…looks like one of them got separated..could have been the stallion, or even the mare..” the man said before they started following the faint tracks.

Didn’t take long for the cave to come into sight, but there was something wrong about the entrance to the cave. It was blocked off and the tracks seemed to have led to it. “Oh dear…seems a tree has fallen at the entrance…do you think that horse is still in there? Trapped possibly?” the girl asked once they brought their horses to a stop a short distance from the cave.

The older man didn’t respond as he unmounted his horse, and slowly walked over to the entrance of the cave. “I’m afraid so…unfortunately there isn’t much we can do for right now. This tree is too large for us or even our horses to move out of the way until we can get help.” the man spoke before he got back up on his horse, “Come best we get back. Keep an eye out for the rest of the herd. I sure hope they are close…” the man said unsure of what to do in the situation.

The two were silent, but it didn’t take long before the girl halted her horse and looked out in the distance, “Grandpa, look…” she spoke quietly as she pointed towards the other side of the clearing next to the tree line. The man brought his horse to a stop before he looked in the direction his granddaughter had pointed to see a stallion, “Is that him?” she asked, “The stallion?”

He merely just nodded, “There’s that fellow.” he said quietly as he turned his horse around and grabbed his lasso, “Stay here.” he said quietly.

“Grandpa…? What are you doing?” the girl asked as she saw him grab his lasso from the horn of the saddle.

The man only signed, “I don’t want to do this, but I need to at least check on at least one of these horses. It’s for their safety and health. It’s just a health check that’s all. Okay?” the man spoke not liking it anymore then his granddaughter did, but what else could he have done? The girl only gave a small nod as she stayed put while she watched her grandfather attempt to capture the stallion in the distance.

Whiskey hesitantly stepped out from the tree line as he looked around, “Something’s not right. Keep the colts hidden in the trees.” he said as he looked at the two mares. Cascade was about to protest, but decided not to knowing this was about keeping the colts- her son safe. Though Whiskey hesitantly stepped out some more looking around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The man must have been hiding in the trees and the shadows until he was able to attempt capturing the stallion.

That was when something suddenly started charging towards him not giving him enough time to react until something wrapped around his neck and soon a second. It was the girl. After thinking about it, her grandfather was right. It was best for the stallion to check on his health from the recent fire. Though what about the rest of the herd, there had been no sign of any other horses.

As for Whiskey he reared and bucked once the lassos had wrapped around his neck before tightening. The stallion did what he could to get free by constant bucking and rearing, but it did nothing. Whiskey couldn’t even form a single thought other than to get free. He needed to find Syria. He was so close. After all this time and he was right there. The cave just barely in sight. What about the rest of the herd? The colts? Starling? What was he going to do? Everything was falling apart just when things were starting to get better.

Though Starling and the others watched in horror as Whiskey was being captured. Starling didn’t know what to think but she kept the foals and herself hidden in the trees. “Whiskey….no…w-were so close!” she said unsure of what was going to happen now. Especially with Cascade due to how the mare could be. What was her deal anyway? It didn’t take long before Whiskey was forcefully taken away out of sight as Starling hesitantly stepped out unsure of what to think about what had just happened.

“What are we going to do now?” Cascade spoke as she looked at Starling. Though the two mares just looked at each other before looking at the three colts.

Starling just sighed as she looked around before she spent a few minutes thinking over things, “We do what we came here to do. Find Syria. It’s what he would want us to do. There’s nothing we can do to help him now…I only hope he can escape…” she sighed as they all just stood there silently.

__________________________________________

Stallion ID: #29 Whiskey
In Response to: E-Human, Captured (1/3)
Art Features: Whiskey
Story Features: (7) Whiskey , Starling , Syria , Cascade , Cyril , Cornelian , Altan
Word Count: 2,338
Aging: Altan (1/3)
Healing: Cyril (2/2)
Pregnancy: n/a

Roles: Event

Refs: Rearing

Description
The growing herd had stayed at the river for a few more days. No one went out looking for the missing mare, not even Whiskey. Seemed like him knowing the general area she was in had given the stallion some much needed hope. It also let him focus on the others and make sure they got better. Not to mention keep an eye on Cascade since he still wasn’t sure about the mare yet.

Though the stallion was getting a drink from the river. He was still worried about Syria, but the search had to be put on a pause. Though he was mainly concerned if she had delivered the foal by now. He wouldn’t be surprised if she had due to how close she was to delivering, and the fact that it had almost been two weeks since the pair last saw each other.

Whiskey did look up once he realized Starling had come over, “How are you doing? Cyril?” he asked as he looked at her while she too had gotten a drink. Though Whiskey had started to really like her. He didn’t know what he would have done if they didn’t cross paths. If she hadn’t offered to help, or even to stay. Though he was a little conflicted. Was he betraying Syria?

Starling had first gotten a drink before she looked at the stallion, “Better. Just a little off here and there, but those herbs you’ve been finding have helped tons.” she said with a faint smile before she looked back at the colts, “He’s still a little under the weather, but he’ll be fine in a day or two.” she said before she turned back to look at Whiskey, “What about you? You found her tracks, but what’s next?” she asked knowing he was always worrying about the missing mare.

He only nodded glad the two of them were doing better. Though he only looked down a bit before he sighed, “I’m worried….it’s been almost two weeks since I last saw her. W-what if she had the foal already? A-alone…” he said lowering his ears some as he looked at Star.

She only sighed as she lowered her ears and gently nuzzled the stallion, “From what you’ve told me, she is strong Whiskey. Even if she did have the foal already, then that makes you a father. We will find her…you will find her. If it’s been this long, then maybe she’s trapped somewhere in that area..if she was out and about we would have found her by now.” she said not wanting to worry the stallion more, but it needed to be said.

Whiskey just listened before he looked up seeming like he remembered something, “I think I might know where she is….I-I don’t know why I never thought about it..” he said as he looked at Starling who seemed greatly confused.

She only looked at him, “What do you mean? Where could she be?” she asked. Though she was confused why he seemed to now figure out where she could have been.

“There’s a cave…not too far from the meadow we stayed at before the fire. I went past it a couple times when I went out. I-I think that’s where she is..” he said seeming to be getting his hopes up.

Starling was still a little unsure about this, but she did her best to keep him from running off, “Okay…I guess it won’t hurt to check it out…” she said before she looked at the colts who seemed to be playing, “Are you sure that’s where she is? I just don’t want you getting your hopes up and just guessing where she could be.” she said worried about him, “If you’re sure, then I guess we can go and look later today.”

“I’m sure of it. I know I am. It’s like you said, we would have found her already if she wasn’t trapped. That’s the only spot that could keep her trapped. There’s all sorts of tunnels in that cave, and from what I know there’s only one entrance.” Whiskey said sure of it.

“Okay…then I guess we’ll go tell the others..” Starling said a little unsure about it, but it was worth it to go investigate this cave. Though the mare and stallion had turned around and made their way back to the three colts and Cascade.

Cornelian had seemed to come out of his shell quite a bit once he got to know Altan a bit. The two young colts seemed to have always been playing nonstop since then. Cyril though just watched them a short distance away. Especially since he was still recovering from whatever illness him and Starling had. Though he was also much older than the other two colts, so he didn’t care much to be a part in their games.

Cascade watched the two colts run around and tackle each other. A faint smile was on her face seeing the change in her son. She hated seeing him upset due to not being able to play with others. Though she still wasn’t fond of this herd. Especially with how broken it seemed. Well mainly the stallion. Was he capable of protecting a herd let alone her son? Even though he convinced her enough to stay for a short while, what about the long run?

Though the two colts had been running around before Cornelian had tackled Altan as the two of them tumbled before getting right back up on their hooves, but they noticed Whiskey and Starling coming back over as they stopped playing. Whiskey then stopped as he looked at Starling then the others, “We’re going to be moving here shortly.” he announced, but before he could explain Cascade had interrupted.

“Why will we be moving? This place seems fine to me, and isn’t it a bit sudden?” she spoke as she pinned her ears slightly. Altan just looked at his mother then Whiskey before he lowered his head and stepped over to his mom even before she had asked him to knowing that she was about to ask him to come over, “Where will we even be going?” she snorted.

Whiskey just let out a small quiet sigh before he pinned his ears, “Where we are going does not concern you, but it is not far. You don’t have to join us, but think about why you’re still with us here today.” he spoke in a firm manner not in the mood to deal with the mare.

Cascade only snorted and flicked her tail, but she fell silent. Cornelian on the other hand just stepped over to Whiskey, “Where are we going…?” he asked nervously as the little orange colt still missed Syria just as much as Whiskey did.

The stallion just eyed the brumby mare before he looked down at the colt, “I think I know where Syria is…but I may be wrong..” he spoke softly not wanting to get the colt’s hopes up too much.

“Really!?” Cornelian spoke as he just about jumped up. Whiskey just nodded before nuzzling the colt. He was glad Cornelian was starting to get back to his usual self though.

“Best we get moving before it starts to get too late.” Whiskey spoke before the small herd had begun moving. At first Cascade just stayed put before she looked down at Altan and let out a small sigh. Whiskey was right. There was a reason she was still there. Altan. Hesitantly, the mare just caught up with the others while staying in the back. Altan though happily caught up with Cornelian as the two colts walked beside each other even messing around with one another.

It only took about an hour to get to the location the cave was at as the entrance was alongside a tree line of the woods. Though there was a clearing, but Whiskey stopped before anyone entered the clearing, “Everyone wait here.” he spoke as the area was clearly affected by the fire, but something seemed off to him.

“The fire took so much….this place used to be so beautiful..” a girl’s voice spoke as she looked around what was left from the destructive fire. It almost pained her to ride through the area, “Do you know what the cause of it was, grandpa?” the girl asked as she looked at a older man.

The man just sighed as he looked around, “No. Rangers are still trying to figure it out since quite a large area was affected by it.” he had spoke before looking around some more, “I do know there was a small herd around the area before the fire had took place, but there’s been no sign of any of them.” he spoke once more, “That’s why we’re out here.”

Though the two then reached a clearing as they brought their horses to a stop, “Looks like some tracks up ahead..should we check them out?” the girl asked, “Maybe they’ll bring us to the herd.” she suggested.

“Might as well, but we still have to be careful.” the man spoke as they urged their horses closer to the tracks, “Hmm…looks like one of them got separated..could have been the stallion, or even the mare..” the man said before they started following the faint tracks.

Didn’t take long for the cave to come into sight, but there was something wrong about the entrance to the cave. It was blocked off and the tracks seemed to have led to it. “Oh dear…seems a tree has fallen at the entrance…do you think that horse is still in there? Trapped possibly?” the girl asked once they brought their horses to a stop a short distance from the cave.

The older man didn’t respond as he unmounted his horse, and slowly walked over to the entrance of the cave. “I’m afraid so…unfortunately there isn’t much we can do for right now. This tree is too large for us or even our horses to move out of the way until we can get help.” the man spoke before he got back up on his horse, “Come best we get back. Keep an eye out for the rest of the herd. I sure hope they are close…” the man said unsure of what to do in the situation.

The two were silent, but it didn’t take long before the girl halted her horse and looked out in the distance, “Grandpa, look…” she spoke quietly as she pointed towards the other side of the clearing next to the tree line. The man brought his horse to a stop before he looked in the direction his granddaughter had pointed to see a stallion, “Is that him?” she asked, “The stallion?”

He merely just nodded, “There’s that fellow.” he said quietly as he turned his horse around and grabbed his lasso, “Stay here.” he said quietly.

“Grandpa…? What are you doing?” the girl asked as she saw him grab his lasso from the horn of the saddle.

The man only signed, “I don’t want to do this, but I need to at least check on at least one of these horses. It’s for their safety and health. It’s just a health check that’s all. Okay?” the man spoke not liking it anymore then his granddaughter did, but what else could he have done? The girl only gave a small nod as she stayed put while she watched her grandfather attempt to capture the stallion in the distance.

Whiskey hesitantly stepped out from the tree line as he looked around, “Something’s not right. Keep the colts hidden in the trees.” he said as he looked at the two mares. Cascade was about to protest, but decided not to knowing this was about keeping the colts- her son safe. Though Whiskey hesitantly stepped out some more looking around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The man must have been hiding in the trees and the shadows until he was able to attempt capturing the stallion.

That was when something suddenly started charging towards him not giving him enough time to react until something wrapped around his neck and soon a second. It was the girl. After thinking about it, her grandfather was right. It was best for the stallion to check on his health from the recent fire. Though what about the rest of the herd, there had been no sign of any other horses.

As for Whiskey he reared and bucked once the lassos had wrapped around his neck before tightening. The stallion did what he could to get free by constant bucking and rearing, but it did nothing. Whiskey couldn’t even form a single thought other than to get free. He needed to find Syria. He was so close. After all this time and he was right there. The cave just barely in sight. What about the rest of the herd? The colts? Starling? What was he going to do? Everything was falling apart just when things were starting to get better.

Though Starling and the others watched in horror as Whiskey was being captured. Starling didn’t know what to think but she kept the foals and herself hidden in the trees. “Whiskey….no…w-were so close!” she said unsure of what was going to happen now. Especially with Cascade due to how the mare could be. What was her deal anyway? It didn’t take long before Whiskey was forcefully taken away out of sight as Starling hesitantly stepped out unsure of what to think about what had just happened.

“What are we going to do now?” Cascade spoke as she looked at Starling. Though the two mares just looked at each other before looking at the three colts.

Starling just sighed as she looked around before she spent a few minutes thinking over things, “We do what we came here to do. Find Syria. It’s what he would want us to do. There’s nothing we can do to help him now…I only hope he can escape…” she sighed as they all just stood there silently.

__________________________________________

Stallion ID: #29 Whiskey
In Response to: E-Human, Captured (1/3)
Art Features: Whiskey
Story Features: (7) Whiskey , Starling , Syria , Cascade , Cyril , Cornelian , Altan
Word Count: 2,338
Aging: Altan (1/3)
Healing: Cyril (2/2)
Pregnancy: n/a

Roles: Event

Refs: Rearing