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    “So, what’s the plan?” asked Ellis, looking at Val expectantly.

    Caspian blinked in confusion, surprised by the question, “Wait, plan? What plan? I thought we were gonna spar?” He looked across the faces of the three young stallions as knowing looks were being exchanged between them.

    “The plan to leave...” Enzo admitted quietly, looking a bit guilty.

    “Leave? What do you mean you’re leaving? It's not spring yet!” Caspian exclaimed, but was shushed by the others. He glanced back at the nearest horse, which was Keira, but she was still a good ways away. He didn’t understand why they were so worried about being overheard.

    “Listen Cas, you know it's only a matter of time before Fletcher chases us off. He might wait for spring, but he might not either. We’d rather go now while the weather is okay.” Ellis explained gently.

    “Fletcher won't do that, he knows winters are dangerous! Besides, my sisters will make sure he won't do that.” Caspian argued back. Ziva and Chloe had been constant figures in his life since his mother left, trying to fill in the hole that was created. They’d told him stories about his father, and he was already enamored. He wanted to see him again some day, now that he knew the truth and was old enough to speak for himself.

    Val sighed in agitation, “Yeah, that might be the case for you, but not us.” Shaking his head, Val turned to his brothers, saying pointedly, “See, this is why I didn’t want to bring him into this, he doesn’t understand.”

    The red paint snorted, flattening his ears and stomping his hoof, “Hey, I’m right here! I’m trying to understand but I just don’t get why you’d rather risk a winter alone than st-”

    “Because of her, Cas!” Val snapped, nodding sharply in a direction.

    Cas followed his gaze to see him looking at Keira, the mare’s back facing them as she grazed. “Because of Keira? Why? What does she have to do with anything?” Caspian questioned.

    The three brothers grew quiet, once again sharing glances and communicating in that silent way they did. Ellis was the one to speak up, “Keira… is carrying that stallion’s foal. She doesn’t trust Fletcher in general, let alone with a foal that shares blood with the stallion that gave him his scar.”

    “Fletcher wouldn’t hurt a foal! He never hurt me or you three, so he won't hurt Keira’s baby. It would be more dangerous for her to leave the herd and have her baby all alone.” Cas argued back. He couldn’t even imagine Fletcher doing such a thing, especially to a newborn.

    “That’s why we're gonna go with her to protect her until she finds a herd she feels safe in. After that, we might try to find our family.” Val explained, though the last part came out a bit softer.

    Caspian got quiet for a moment. He’d almost forgotten what had happened that caused the brothers and Keira to be separated from their family’s herd. He hadn’t considered how the three had felt, growing up away from their family. Their last memories of their family had been terrifying as two stallions tore their family apart. Of course they would be worried about their mothers. All this time not knowing… “I want to help you find them.”

    This announcement caught the brothers off guard, the three looking at Caspian in surprise. When they’d brought him in on this discussion, it was mainly to let their friend know that they were leaving and maybe get him to keep Fletcher busy. Now he was planning to go with them. “What happened to leaving in spring?” Val asked seriously, flicking an ear back.

    “Val! Don’t be an ass!” Ellis snorted, nipping his brother in the shoulder.

    “No, it's a fair question.” Cas said quickly, calming the situation. He thought for a moment about what he wanted to say, glancing back at the large group of the herd as he pondered, and finally said, “I guess… I guess I hadn’t been thinking about how it felt not knowing what happened to your family. And, while I don’t think Fletcher will hurt Keira’s foal, if she isn’t comfortable here then it's better if she finds another herd to have her foal in.”

    “But why do you want to help? You could just stay.” The red bay stallion asked, looking Cas straight in the eye. It wasn’t an aggressive action, Val just wanted to be sure Cas was serious about this.

    “Safety in numbers. We're still young, if a bigger, older stallion challenged us we’d be in trouble. At least with more of us, there is a better chance for us to win or at least keep him busy long enough to get Keira away.” Caspian explained carefully. He knew that if Val didn’t agree with him, then he wouldn’t be going with them. “Listen, we already agreed that we should leave together. I wanted to stay to see my sister’s foals, but I’d rather go with you guys. I can just come visit later anyways.” He said with a sad smile, knowing it may not be that easy. Fletcher’s herd was always on the move, never really staying in one place, so finding them again might be difficult.

    Val seemed to consider his words for a while before replying, “Alright then. Honestly, I’m glad you are coming. You’re a good fighter and we’ll need that out there.”

    It wasn’t often that Val gave compliments, so hearing those words made Caspian’s chest swell with pride. “Thanks, that means a lot. And hey, you three are like brothers to me. I just hope we can find your family.” Caspian smiled, nudging Val.

    The boys discussed their plans in more detail now that all were on board. After a bit, they went to speak with Keira about it. The mare had been aware of their plans and appreciated their want to assist her. She suggested that the sooner they go, the better their chances. It wouldn’t be much longer before the weather began to turn and by then it would be too late.

    The next day, the five of them approached Fletcher and explained their plan to escort Keira to a new herd and find their old one. Fletcher was resistant at first, seemingly annoyed the mare was leaving, but Keira made it clear that she would not be staying either way. Ziva declared that it was fine and that the mare would be safe with the boys. At that, Fletcher just told them to be careful. Caspian spent a while speaking with his sisters, and all the boys took the time to say goodbye to the herd. Aside from Fletcher’s cold shoulder, the rest of the goodbyes went well and as the sun was high overhead in the newly formed herd headed out into the unknown.

Stallion: Fletcher (#82-2)
|<< Previous | Next >>|

In response to: n/a

Art features(4): Caspian , Valentino , Ellis , Enzo
Story features(7): Caspian , Valentino , Ellis , Enzo , Keira , Ziva , Chloe ,
Word Count: 1146

Aging: Caspian, Valentino, Ellis, Enzo 3/3
Healing: Fletcher 2/3
Pregnancy: Keira 2/3

Items Used: Maple Wood x1
Companion Animals:
Caring – Vader the Western Fence Lizard
Helping – Josie the Marten
Protecting – Aluna the Ocelot

Rolls: Normal

Other notes:
PPJ: Camilla, Tansy, Iris, Chloe, Munira, Keira, Seliana, Gypsy, Frankie, Delilah, Artemis, Astera, Mihr (None available)

Caspian, Valentino, Ellis, Enzo, Keira will be traded/roped soon, please don't roll anything on them.

Artist Notes:
Been trying to get better at using a variety of foliage in the background, this one came together pretty nicely. Mountains and clouds are meh. Anyways, its time for these boys (and this gal) to leave the herd. Finally gonna be getting into winter and from there spring time. You know what that means .3. babbins. Maybe some sooner than you'd expect.

Refs: Link
Art (c) DaSassy

Description

    “So, what’s the plan?” asked Ellis, looking at Val expectantly.

    Caspian blinked in confusion, surprised by the question, “Wait, plan? What plan? I thought we were gonna spar?” He looked across the faces of the three young stallions as knowing looks were being exchanged between them.

    “The plan to leave...” Enzo admitted quietly, looking a bit guilty.

    “Leave? What do you mean you’re leaving? It's not spring yet!” Caspian exclaimed, but was shushed by the others. He glanced back at the nearest horse, which was Keira, but she was still a good ways away. He didn’t understand why they were so worried about being overheard.

    “Listen Cas, you know it's only a matter of time before Fletcher chases us off. He might wait for spring, but he might not either. We’d rather go now while the weather is okay.” Ellis explained gently.

    “Fletcher won't do that, he knows winters are dangerous! Besides, my sisters will make sure he won't do that.” Caspian argued back. Ziva and Chloe had been constant figures in his life since his mother left, trying to fill in the hole that was created. They’d told him stories about his father, and he was already enamored. He wanted to see him again some day, now that he knew the truth and was old enough to speak for himself.

    Val sighed in agitation, “Yeah, that might be the case for you, but not us.” Shaking his head, Val turned to his brothers, saying pointedly, “See, this is why I didn’t want to bring him into this, he doesn’t understand.”

    The red paint snorted, flattening his ears and stomping his hoof, “Hey, I’m right here! I’m trying to understand but I just don’t get why you’d rather risk a winter alone than st-”

    “Because of her, Cas!” Val snapped, nodding sharply in a direction.

    Cas followed his gaze to see him looking at Keira, the mare’s back facing them as she grazed. “Because of Keira? Why? What does she have to do with anything?” Caspian questioned.

    The three brothers grew quiet, once again sharing glances and communicating in that silent way they did. Ellis was the one to speak up, “Keira… is carrying that stallion’s foal. She doesn’t trust Fletcher in general, let alone with a foal that shares blood with the stallion that gave him his scar.”

    “Fletcher wouldn’t hurt a foal! He never hurt me or you three, so he won't hurt Keira’s baby. It would be more dangerous for her to leave the herd and have her baby all alone.” Cas argued back. He couldn’t even imagine Fletcher doing such a thing, especially to a newborn.

    “That’s why we're gonna go with her to protect her until she finds a herd she feels safe in. After that, we might try to find our family.” Val explained, though the last part came out a bit softer.

    Caspian got quiet for a moment. He’d almost forgotten what had happened that caused the brothers and Keira to be separated from their family’s herd. He hadn’t considered how the three had felt, growing up away from their family. Their last memories of their family had been terrifying as two stallions tore their family apart. Of course they would be worried about their mothers. All this time not knowing… “I want to help you find them.”

    This announcement caught the brothers off guard, the three looking at Caspian in surprise. When they’d brought him in on this discussion, it was mainly to let their friend know that they were leaving and maybe get him to keep Fletcher busy. Now he was planning to go with them. “What happened to leaving in spring?” Val asked seriously, flicking an ear back.

    “Val! Don’t be an ass!” Ellis snorted, nipping his brother in the shoulder.

    “No, it's a fair question.” Cas said quickly, calming the situation. He thought for a moment about what he wanted to say, glancing back at the large group of the herd as he pondered, and finally said, “I guess… I guess I hadn’t been thinking about how it felt not knowing what happened to your family. And, while I don’t think Fletcher will hurt Keira’s foal, if she isn’t comfortable here then it's better if she finds another herd to have her foal in.”

    “But why do you want to help? You could just stay.” The red bay stallion asked, looking Cas straight in the eye. It wasn’t an aggressive action, Val just wanted to be sure Cas was serious about this.

    “Safety in numbers. We're still young, if a bigger, older stallion challenged us we’d be in trouble. At least with more of us, there is a better chance for us to win or at least keep him busy long enough to get Keira away.” Caspian explained carefully. He knew that if Val didn’t agree with him, then he wouldn’t be going with them. “Listen, we already agreed that we should leave together. I wanted to stay to see my sister’s foals, but I’d rather go with you guys. I can just come visit later anyways.” He said with a sad smile, knowing it may not be that easy. Fletcher’s herd was always on the move, never really staying in one place, so finding them again might be difficult.

    Val seemed to consider his words for a while before replying, “Alright then. Honestly, I’m glad you are coming. You’re a good fighter and we’ll need that out there.”

    It wasn’t often that Val gave compliments, so hearing those words made Caspian’s chest swell with pride. “Thanks, that means a lot. And hey, you three are like brothers to me. I just hope we can find your family.” Caspian smiled, nudging Val.

    The boys discussed their plans in more detail now that all were on board. After a bit, they went to speak with Keira about it. The mare had been aware of their plans and appreciated their want to assist her. She suggested that the sooner they go, the better their chances. It wouldn’t be much longer before the weather began to turn and by then it would be too late.

    The next day, the five of them approached Fletcher and explained their plan to escort Keira to a new herd and find their old one. Fletcher was resistant at first, seemingly annoyed the mare was leaving, but Keira made it clear that she would not be staying either way. Ziva declared that it was fine and that the mare would be safe with the boys. At that, Fletcher just told them to be careful. Caspian spent a while speaking with his sisters, and all the boys took the time to say goodbye to the herd. Aside from Fletcher’s cold shoulder, the rest of the goodbyes went well and as the sun was high overhead in the newly formed herd headed out into the unknown.

Stallion: Fletcher (#82-2)
|<< Previous | Next >>|

In response to: n/a

Art features(4): Caspian , Valentino , Ellis , Enzo
Story features(7): Caspian , Valentino , Ellis , Enzo , Keira , Ziva , Chloe ,
Word Count: 1146

Aging: Caspian, Valentino, Ellis, Enzo 3/3
Healing: Fletcher 2/3
Pregnancy: Keira 2/3

Items Used: Maple Wood x1
Companion Animals:
Caring – Vader the Western Fence Lizard
Helping – Josie the Marten
Protecting – Aluna the Ocelot

Rolls: Normal

Other notes:
PPJ: Camilla, Tansy, Iris, Chloe, Munira, Keira, Seliana, Gypsy, Frankie, Delilah, Artemis, Astera, Mihr (None available)

Caspian, Valentino, Ellis, Enzo, Keira will be traded/roped soon, please don't roll anything on them.

Artist Notes:
Been trying to get better at using a variety of foliage in the background, this one came together pretty nicely. Mountains and clouds are meh. Anyways, its time for these boys (and this gal) to leave the herd. Finally gonna be getting into winter and from there spring time. You know what that means .3. babbins. Maybe some sooner than you'd expect.

Refs: Link
Art (c) DaSassy