Author's Notes:

Videomaster helped out with the edit for this one.

Snap Dragon waited anxiously for her brother to arrive. Her heart had nearly stopped when Cotton Cloud arrived with the news that her brother and the others had been in a fight, with some of them being wounded. Cotton had been light on the specific details and quickly passed on Dusty's instructions for them to set up camp for the night before quickly taking off to fly back.

Snap trotted ten paces, turned and trotted ten paces back. The ground beneath her hooves had been trampled into a line. Curse that Pegasus! Why didn't she tell them who was wounded!? And how badly? Did her brother lose his ear? His leg!? Snap gasped and came to a abrupt halt. His Head!!? She quickly shook her head and continued on. No, that would be stupid! Just as stupid as him losing all his legs. Wait. Could a pony lose all his legs? What would that be like? She couldn't help but picture Ground arriving with only his head and torso. The horror! How would he be able to give Starless foals if he couldn't!... Well... What if Starless just rolled him over and squatted herself down. If she aimed herself right, she could push herself down onto...

Snap's face flushed hot as she quickly tore her mind off of that image. Firmly clamping her tail down, she resumed her pacing. When would they have a foal? She's known that they've been intimate together for quite some time now. Shouldn't Starless be fat with foal by now? Oh, how she wanted to see their little colt or filly. To cuddle with it and look at its short little stubby horn! Oh! What adorableness! She nearly squealed out loud as she gave a happy little prance. Wait! What am I thinking!? Ponies were hurt! Now's not the time to be thinking of foals! Wait! What if Ground got stabbed... down there!? Then he and Starless would never have foals! Her pacing redoubled in speed.

Tranquil watched Snap's pacing with a bemused expression. She was amazed that the young mare wasn't flying apart!

The sun was nearing the horizon when Ground and the others finally arrived. With a cry of relief and joy, Snap threw herself into Starless and her brother, hugging them both as hard as she could, relieved that they were okay. Tied to Ground with a rope, was a surly looking stallion with a matted mane. He glared about at the ponies with undisguised hate. His mouth had been tied shut with a rope around his muzzle to keep him from talking.

Flint Heart, with both his forehooves draped over Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny's shoulders, was being half carried between them as they entered the camp. His stab wound on his shoulder was oozing blood that dripped down onto Blue Swirl's back and along her sides, staining her coat red.

Rushing over to Dusty, Tranquil exclaimed in horror at the slice that ran across his muzzle and started fussing over him. Far Treader looked tired as he shuffled in. He had several gashes on his body from spear slashes, but thankfully none were very serious. Perched on his back was a litter with a donkey mare laid out on it. The sight of her sent exclamations throughout the gathered packers. Her face was swollen from a severe beating and her back was covered with viscous gashes that had the gathered ponies gasping in horror. Her long ears were drooping down as she wearily looked around at the crowd.
Last came Wild Bolt as he brought up the rear of the mare's litter. Snap's eyes widened when she saw him. An ugly gash ran down from his brow to the side of his muzzle. His face was unreadable as he carried the mare into the camp. His eyes looked cold and distant as Jennet was taken off the litter and placed into one of the shelters to rest. Once his burden was lifted, Wild moved off, passing by Snap to sit by one of the campfires. Not once did he look at her.

Oddly, Snap thought she'd be happy when he left her alone, but seeing him now, it just felt hollow. Letting out a sigh, she couldn't believe what she was about to do. Walking over to him she stopped a few steps away. "Wild?" He didn't respond and continued to stare blankly into the fire. She stepped closer, "Wild?"

Wild Bolt blinked and glanced up at her. "Oh, hi," he greeted her, a smile coming to his face. "I didn't notice you walk up."

"I was just wondering how you were doing?" Snap felt a strange sense of worry for the young stallion. He wasn’t his normal self.

He blinked at her for a moment. "Oh. I'm fine. Just tired that's all," he assured her.

"Well... Okay then." Snap said, far from convinced. "Just make sure you get something to eat while it's still hot, okay?" she nodded to the potatoes that were being held over the fire on the end of shaved sticks.

"Oh. Right. I will." Wild smiled at her and nodded.

As Snap walked away, she noticed that his smile never reached his eyes. What happened to him out there?

She joined her brother and Starless as they discussed what they had learned from Jennet. Arrayed out before them were the things they had collected from the slavers.

Reaching out her hoof, Snap nudged a coil of line made from something she didn't recognize. "What is this?"

"It's the straps they used to..." Starless hesitated, as she looked unsure to continue. "Used to tie up Jennet and her companions."

"What is it made out of?" Snap asked, sniffing at it. "It doesn't look woven or spun."

"Skin." Ground answered, his voice filled with distaste. "The Minotaur's strip the hide off of donkeys, ponies, and any other unfortunates, to process them into what Jennet called, leather." He reached out and touched a long thick coiled line. "They also used leather to make this. It's what was used to whip Jennet's back."

"As well as Wild's Bolt's face and shoulder," Starless finished.

Snap felt sick. This is what did that!? "Why would they do that to her?" Snap asked, looking back at the shelter the donkey mare was sleeping in.

"She didn't go into that with much detail," Starless said with a sad shake of her head. "From what we understand. She and others were slaves that rose up and escaped. She and her two companions were separated from the others and wandered to the west until slave hunters finally tracked them down. They mistakenly thought that Jennet and her companions knew where the other slaves were and hurt them to try and get them to tell them were they were, but no matter how much they told them they didn't know, they just hurt them worse.

Snap felt her stomach turn and she had to hold her hoof over her mouth as she fought the urge to throw up. How could they have been so cruel to them!?

Ground reached out and tapped one of the caps, making a tinging sound. "This, Brightstar will be very interested in. She said the Minotaurs use it for many of their tools and weapons."

Starless picked up a flattened sheet that had a large dent in the middle. "It's quite resistant to magical force too."

Dusty examined one of the spear-points. "Jennet called it, copper." he murmured, the new word coming to his mouth awkwardly. "I'll send Cotton Cloud back with some of this to show Meadowlark and Dark. They'll need to hear about what has happened."

"Also have her ask for Dove to come and see to Jennet's back. She needs better skills at healing than mine." Starless said. "And make sure Cotton Cloud tells her not to bring Aurora when she comes."

Snap wondered why she didn't want Aurora to come. Wouldn't she want her to see other Unicorns?

Starless sat back with a tired sigh. "That's enough of this tonight. Lets get something to eat. Perhaps somepony would grace us with a song tonight at the fire?" she added with a grin, nudging Ground.

Snap had never heard her brother sing. Ever. She leaned forward as she waited for his answer.

"Nope." Ground shook his head.

Radiant Sunset walked through the woods with Sweet Blush close beside her with a basket perched on her back. The sun light flickered through the forest's canopy and cast slanting rays across the leaf strewn ground. Coming around an old oak, they arrived at their destination.

Sitting before them was an old apple tree. It's branches stretching out over them as they walked under it. Emblazoned on its trunk was a rune marking the tree as the Matriarch Astral's family claim.

Walking up to the tree, Radiant nodded at Sweet Blush. "Set your horn onto the tree."

Walking up to it, Sweet Blush did as she was told, setting her horn to the soft bark.

Radiant then set her horn to the rune and cast the proper admission glamour to allow the spells set into the tree to recognize Sweet Blush and allow her to take the fruit. Claimed fruit trees were oftentimes trapped with spells to keep others from stealing from them. The bark touching Sweet Blush's horn glowed for a moment, then it was done. Finished, Sweet Blush could now safely collect the fruit. Together they filled the basket with what they needed and left, heading back to the common stables.

"You look nervous." Radiant observed, glancing at the young mare next to her.

Sweet Blush gave a little jump, then flushed. "I am sorry Mistress. It's just that... I'll be meeting him again."

"The stallion you bred with?"

Sweet Blush nodded. "I don't even know his name."

"Is that important?" Radiant asked curiously.

Sweet Blush gave a light chuckle and shook her head. "I guess not. It's just that... I thought it would be nice to know his name."

Breaking out of the trees, the Black Mountain loomed over them. Crossing over the the valley to the south, they arrived at the common stables. The air reeked of stallion musk. Sweet Blush started prancing as her tail swished in excitement. Her body eager for what was about to happen. Finding a Keeper, Radiant spoke with her and arranged for the same stallion. Passing over the basket of apples. She and Sweet Blush were led down into the stables and left to wait along the side, away from the commotion.

"Mistress. What... what if this doesn't work?" Sweet Blush asked, shifting from hoof to hoof.

"Worry about what if it does." Radiant said. "It will be hard work being a mother and my milknurse."

A few moments later, the Keeper arrived trailing a dark brown stallion. Sweet Blush suddenly inhaled and let out a light nicker of eagerness as she stepped forward a few paces.

The stallion's ears were pinned up as he nickered a greeting to her. "Hello again."

Sweet Blush nervously dropped her gaze. "Hi."

Radiant nearly rolled her eyes and hoped that she wasn't this awkward when it comes her time next spring. The two exchanged more pleasantries until the Keeper started to grow impatient and urged them to hurry it along.

"Oh, right!" Sweet Blush flushed as she turned herself about to present her rear to the stallion.

Before approaching Sweet Blush, the stallion looked over at her and waited. Radiant wondered what he was waiting for when she saw that the keeper was looking at her too. Suddenly it hit her that she was Sweet Blush's matriarch. She needed to give her permission. "You may proceed and breed her."

At her words, the stallion started forward eagerly. His muzzle shoved under Sweet Blush's raised tail to take in her rich fertile scent. Stamping his hooves, the stallion's let out a eager whinny. His stallionhood quickly slipped out of his sheath as it stiffened to its full length.

Sweet Blush was looking back over her shoulder as her love fluids began to drip from her marehood. With a wild shake of his head, the stallion reared up and mounted her back, his stallionhood humping forward as he sought her entrance.

Radiant felt her own heart start to race as she watched.

The stallion was experienced and quickly found what he sought as his shaft pressed up into Sweet Blush's winking marehood and pushed in. With a practiced ease, the stallion flexed his hips and buried himself all the way into Sweet Blush's body and quickly began to eagerly thrust himself into her, his hips slapping against her rump as he bottomed himself with each thrust. Fluids dribbled down from his slick shaft as it plunged in and out of her sodden tunnel. His breath started to come out as grunts as his pace became more frantic until he suddenly slammed himself in as deep as he could and let out a strained moan. Radiant could see his dangling stones draw up as his shaft started throbbed rhythmically as he pumped his seed deep into the mare.

Sweet Blush's mouth hung open as she felt her womb being filled with the stallion's warm essence. It was soon over, and the stallion relaxed down on Sweet Blush's back. Normally, a stallion would just dismount and pull himself out, but he didn't do that. Instead he remained in place as he whispered in Sweet Blush's ear. Radiant couldn't hear what the stallion said, but whatever he said made Sweet Blush smile.

When the stallion had removed himself from her, he was led away by the keeper.

"Come. Let's go soak in the hot springs before it starts to dry on your fur." Radiant said, turning to lead Sweet Blush back out of the stables. "What did he say to you? You know, at the end."

"He asked that I bring my foal to him once, so that he could hold it" Sweet Blush said. "He'd said that he'd always wanted to meet one of his foals."

Radiant felt her cheeks flush. "That's actually kind of sweet."

Sweet Blush giggled. "Isn't it!?" She smiled as she gazed forward. Suddenly she gasped and skidded to a stop. "Oh! I totally forgot to get his name!"

Radiant stopped to look back at the horrified mare in amusement. "It's Plum Notion."

Sweet Blush blinked at her. "Huh!?"

"His name is Plum Notion. I got his name from the Keeper earlier." Radiant explained, feeling like laughing from the expression Sweet Blush was shooting her.

Heading deep into the old volcano, Radiant took her to her family hot spring. The deep part of the mountain contained hundreds of chambers of steaming and boiling water that Unicorns used to relax in. Entering one, Radiant cast her magic into the glow gems, lighting up the room with their soft light. Filling the chamber was a large steaming pool. Dipping her hoof into the water she slowly began to walk herself out. Reaching her favorite spot, Radiant lowered herself into the water with a sigh. Her family had claim on several chambers, with this one being used by Radiant and her sisters. Their mother always used her private one alone.

"Mistress. Are you sure I'm allowed here?" Sweet Blush asked nervously, looking around.

"Of course you can. You are my milknurse." Radiant said.

Gingerly, she slowly began to enter the water. Sinking herself up to her neck, Sweet Blush let out a long sigh as she drifted out into the water. "This feels wonderful."

Radiant watched as Sweet Blush basked in the warm waters. "Sweet Blush? What is it like to be taken by a stallion?"

"Mistress!?" Sweet Blush opened her eyes to look at her.

Despite the hot water, Radiant felt her face heating up. "It's just... I've never... well... with a stallion."

Sweet Blush slowly nodded her understanding. "It's both easy and hard to describe," she said, drifting closer to her. "It's like a fullness I've never felt before. When he moves, there is a wondrous sensation of pleasure that builds deep within me until it suddenly bursts into starlight that shoots through my body and leaves me trembling. And then, when the stallion pushes in for the last time, a part deep within me blooms into an incredible warmth as he fills me with his seed." She smiled and looked down into the water at her belly. "It's wondrous to think that right now, a foal may be quickening within my womb."

Radiant breathed out as she gazed across at the young mare. Her hoof going to her own belly. Oddly, her thoughts turned to Frost Conjure. Perhaps she should do what her brother asked and spend time with him. It wouldn't hurt and he wasn't such a bad colt. In fact, he was kind of cute.

Letting out a sigh, Radiant leaned her head back against the rock behind her and closed her eyes. It wouldn't be so bad to have him as her mate.

"Tonight's the full moon and the tributes will be arriving." Radiant said. "As the first daughter of the Matriarch and as a Caster, my duties required me to be there. Would you please stay with my sisters during the night. They get anxious when they're left alone."

"Yes Mistress." Sweet Blush said, bowing her head. "It will be my joy to do so. I'll sing them songs until they're slumbering like little foals."

"Brilliant used to sing to us to sleep," Radiant murmured wistfully. "I miss her."

That night, Radiant joined her mother's side on a raised dais by the tribute stone. The moon cast its soft light onto the land as Pegasi from the numerous flocks deposited their tributes on the altar and prostrate themselves to her mother, in the hopes of appeasing her. The blood red gem at her throat flickered dully as she frowned upon the pitiful offerings of the groveling Pegasi.

As the night wore on, the small collection on the altar slowly grew as more Pegasi arrived, but nowhere near what was needed to feed them for a month. The time was approaching for the raising of the sun, but her mother didn't move. Her gaze had grown furious as she looked upon the tribute. Many of the gathered Casters began to worriedly murmured among each other.

Suddenly they heard wings approaching. A lot of them. Flapping low over the trees, a large collection of pegasi appeared, each one laden with packs.

Descending down, they hovered over the altar and each emptied their packs over it. Apples, pears, lettuce, cabbages, tomatoes carrots, strawberries, melons, and even bundles of hay, all rained down onto the altar and spilled over the sides.

A large stallion dropped to the ground and stepped forward to her mother. Casters stepped out and blocked his way, their horns flashing in warning.

The Pegasus stallion paused before the Casters, oddly, he didn't look frightened of them, and looked over their heads at the Unicorns Great Matriarch. With a flourish of his hoof, he set it over his chest as he bowed his head down to her. "We beseech you oh great Sunbringer, please accept out dutiful offerings and grant us another month of your sun's glorious light."

Radiant saw her mother smile down at the stallion, and the sight of it sent chills down her spine.

"I am well pleased with you, Stratus Streak," her mother said to the stallion. "Once again, you have outdone yourself." She then held out her hoof. "You may approach so I may bestow upon you my blessing."

The two Casters stepped apart and allowed the stallion to pass. Approaching the dais, the stallion stopped before her mother and dropped to his knee. Astral held her hoof out to him.

The stallion leaned forward and kissed it.

"I am pleased and bless you with my light," she said, looking down at the stallion.

Rising, he retreated and rejoined the other prostrated Pegasi.

Turning, her mother looked up to the Pillar of the Heavens, the giant ziggurat built for the raising and setting ceremonies. With a flash, she transported herself to the top.

The gathered Pegasi wailed in adulation at the demonstration of her mother's power. All but the ones that had come with the stallion Stratus Streak, who merely stood watching. They were strange, Radiant thought. All the other Pegasi feared and worshiped her mother, but those ones merely went through the motions. Doing just enough to please her mother's ego. And all that food? Where did they get it all? Every month they arrived bearing food, and never once explaining where it came from. Most of the Casters just figured they had stolen it from somewhere, but Radiant felt that there was more behind them. The Enchantress?

Could they be in league with the mysterious Enchantress? For the last year, the Enchantress had been appearing to Unicorns, sharing with them about the First Oath. Soon after ponies began to vanish during the night. It was feared by many that she was entrancing ponies and luring them out to their deaths in the woods, but the Caster knew the truth. They caught some trying to slip off to join the Enchantress, claiming that she had food for every Unicorn that served the First Oath.

The First Oath. The oath given by the Unicorns to be caretakers of the heavens. The broken oath. They called her mother, The Night Mare. Her mother actually laughed when she first heard that name and actually fancied it.

Atop of the Pillar of the Heavens, the waiting Patreons linked their power through their focus and sent it to her mother. The Great Matriarch, Astral, reached out her power to the heavens and slowly set the moon in the west, making room for the sun as she then raised it in the east. Morning had come. The prostrated Pegasi cried out their praise for the new day gifted to them.

Radiant watched as Stratus Streak and the Pegasi with him turn and fly off without a word. Unicorns moved in and began gathering the offerings into baskets. Much of it would be divided among her mother and the Patreons, with the final portion going to the Casters. The Common Bloods would have to earn their portion by giving their services to the higher bloods. Much like Sweet Blush serving as her milknurse and the Keepers that cared for the stallions.

With her duties now over, Radiant started to turn to head back home for her morning meal when a frantic mare came galloping into the yard. "Help! Help! She's taken them!"

Stepping down from the dais, Radiant recognized the mare as the Keeper from the previous morning during Sweet Blush's breeding with Plum Notion. "What is it?"

The mare skidded to a stop, gasping for breath. "The stallions! She's taken the stallions!"

Radiant was confused as she struggled to make sense of the frantic mares words. "What do you mean, she's taken the stallion? Who's taken the stallions?"

"The Enchantress!" the mare cried out. "She's beguiled the Keepers with her spells and stole the stallions!"

Radiant's heart suddenly leapt up as she broke into a run. Other Casters followed with her as they made their way to the Common Stables.

When she arrived she found the place in a shambles. Keepers were running around yelling orders that didn't make sense. It took a while to get one of the Keepers to finally give her the story of what had happened.

Two mares wearing Caster rings around their necks, arrived before sunrise and spelled the Keepers on watch to sleep. When the morning Keepers arrived to wake the stable, it was discovered that some of the unclaimed stallions were gone. Including, as Radiant learned, Plum Notion. Emblazoned on the cliff wall above the stable, was the image of a black sun with fiery tendrils around it. The symbol of the Enchantress. When Starburst arrived and saw it, she cast a dispel and slashed the emblem to pieces in a rage and stormed off shouting orders.

Watching the last of the emblem float down as motes of light, Radiant recalled seeing two mares wearing Caster rings on their necks two days before when she and Nova were here on watch. Was one of them the Enchantress!?

The sun was just rising by the time they set off. They had to reorganize their packs to accommodate the wounded. Far Treader and Wild Bolt both had half filled packs on while also bearing Flint Heart on a litter. Ground kept their prisoner at the back with two other packers with spears. Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny carried Jennet near the front with Dusty, Tranquil, Starless, and Snap, who walked alongside Jennet's litter telling her stories about them. She told of how they started as a herd and how they met Starless and Tranquil by rescuing them from a hydra. When she started telling her about the spiders, Jennet suddenly let out a frightened scream and hid her head.

"What's wrong!?" Snap asked in concern.

"Spiders! I hate spiders!" Jennet shouted out from under her hooves. "Those hairy legs and those eyes! I can't stand them!"

"Oh!" Snap exclaimed in understanding and relief. "Well then, how about I change them into something else?"

Jennet slowly raised her head. "Change them? What do you mean?"

"Well if you don't like them as spiders," Snap explained. "Then how about I say that they're something else, like... ah... bears."

Jennet thought about it and seemed to like it. "Oh... well... that'll be okay," she agreed.

So Snap told the story of how the bears attacked the settlement and Celestia, Journey, and her harrowing adventure through the bear infested forest at night.

Throughout the day, Jennet told a little about herself. She had been born a slave and had grown up in the Minotaur copper mines. Her mother had died when she had been very young, when she had broken her leg and the Minotaurs decided she wasn't worth keeping. She never knew her father, but that wasn't uncommon among the slaves. The other two donkeys with her, Benny and Abelle, had been her friends in the copper mine. They took care of each other and helped each other out since they were fillies. That was as far as she made it before she broke into tears.

The Unicorn encampment was located deep within a steep walled canyon. Following the stream from the lowlands, they wound their way up. Reaching into her pack, Starless pulled out her Enchantress mask and slipped it on.

"Why is she wearing that?" Jennet asked, looking over at Starless.

"That's who she is here," Snap answered. "With us, she just Starless, but here among the Unicorns, she's the Enchantress, a fearsome caster of virtue."

"A fearsome caster of virtue!?" Starless exclaimed, looking over at her.

"What?" Snap shrugged at her with a grin. "Isn't that what you are?"

Starless sighed and shook her head. "Never mind."

The valley broadened into gentle hills of grass and groves of trees. A clear stream wove its way down its center. Homes were appearing now with Unicorns working around them. Small gardens had been planted, but nothing very extensive. Despite the Earth Ponies effort to teach them, Unicorns had a low talent in farm craft, instead they showed a remarkable skill in weaving and crafting. When Tranquil showed some of the Unicorns her woven mantles, they quickly grew interested and started testing out new weaves and materials.

When they came around a hill, a mare appeared as she walked towards them. Seeing her Tranquil gasped and dashed to her to inspect her shawl she had draped over her shoulder. Lifting up its edge, Tranquil practically giggled as she rubbed her cheek against it. It's so soft!" She then held it up to look at it "And its red!" She suddenly grabbed the mare's head and shoved her nose into the mares nose "You must tell me how you did this! I must know!"

Blinking at her in alarm, the mare quickly pointed back the way she came.

"Tranquil. Please leave that poor mare alone." Dusty called out.

"But!... But!..." Tranquil sputtered.

"You can play with her later. We need to get going." Dusty said firmly.

With her lip jutting out in a pout, Tranquil slowly returned to him.

As they continued on, the mare bowed her head down to Starless. Further on, they encountered more Unicorns and each one stopped to bow to Starless as she passed. Once, a mare even held her foal out to her. Pausing, Starless touched her horn to the cooing filly before, leaving the happy mother and child behind. Snap could feel the respect the ponies here had for Starless.

Gazing up at the high walls of the canyon, Snap wondered about something. "Star? If there's only one way into this valley, aren't you worried that you could get trapped if the Unicorns attack?"

Starless shook her head and gestured up at the high craggy ledges above them. "There are ponies watching from above. They've known we've been here since the moment we stepped into the valley and have likely passed that on ahead of us. No force would be able to close on us here without us knowing. Also, this isn't the only way in, or out of here. There is a small path that can be used to evacuate if necessary. So, unless the Unicorns have a pegasi helping them, they won't be able to follow, and it would be fatally foolish of them to try. There are paths up there that will easily kill any pony who doesn't know the proper way."

"Oh." Snap said, blinking up at the heights above them. She was impressed that anypony was willing to go up there. The thought of ever doing so herself, quailed her heart.

Soon after, the end of the canyon finally came into view. A long waterfall cascaded down into a small lake that fed into the valley's stream, flowing down the long gentle sloping valley, into the forest lands below. Nestled along the stream where it left the lake was the Unicorn’s hidden settlement. With the help of the Earth Ponies, sturdy homes had been constructed along its banks with golden straw-thatched roofs. Smoke drifted up from fires as ponies went about their day.

Coming out to meet them was the welcoming sight of her mother, holding a foal in the crook of her leg. Snap let out an excited cry and rushed over to hug her. Reaching around the foal in her mother's hoof, Snap managed to embrace her mother. "Mama! I've missed you so much!"

"Snap dear!?" Tiger Lily exclaimed in confused joy. "What are you doing here!?"

"I came to see you!" Snap answered, leaning back to look down at the little colt her mother held. "Who is this little guy!?" The Unicorn colt looked less than a week old, and Snap nearly squealed when she saw his tiny nub horn poking out of his forehead. "He's so adorable!"

"Oh! This is West Wind," her mother said, smiling down at the little colt. "Tragically, his mother didn't survive his foaling, so I've been taking care of him."

"But mother... you don't have any milk," Snap pointed out.

"There are other mothers here who are happy to lend a teat whenever he's hungry." Tiger Lily answered, walking over to Starless to hug her. She then, much to Starless' surprise, deposited the colt into her hoof. "Here. Hold him."

Starless stood awkwardly as she held the infant against her chest, looking unsure of what she was doing. "Where's Moonglow and Dizzy Spin? I need to talk to them."

"They left a few days ago with a group of mares without sharing what they were up too or even how long they were going to be,” Tiger answered. “Now. Let me see our new guest." Tiger Lily approached Jennet's litter, and because of her smaller size, she reared up to lean on it, looking the mare over. "Hmm... when Cotton Cloud told us what had happened, I truly had trouble believing ponies could do something this cruel." She then smiled warmly to Jennet. "Hello dear. My name is Tiger Lily."

"Umm... Hello." Jennet greeted her back. "My name... is Jennet."

Dropping back to her hooves, Tiger Lily turned to look around. "Cotton Cloud told us you captured one of them that did this?"

Tranquil nodded. "Yes. Ground has him in the back."

"Good," Tiger Lily said, nodding. "We prepared a secure place to hold him. It's a crevice up on a ledge with only one path leading to it. Hoof Strike worked on it all night securing posts over the opening." She then turned to Blue Swirl and Kindwhinny. "Please take Jennet to my home. She'll stay with us there."

Turning, Tiger Lily suddenly paused when she sniffed the air. "Oh! Your time of the season has started! Are you and Ground finally going to stop playing around the bush this time, and have that foal!?"

Starless blinked at her through her mask and silently shook her head and turned to look at Snap.

Tiger Lily turned to her daughter and gaped at her in horror. "Oh, I am so sorry dear! I wasn't there for you when it happened!" Tiger rushed to her daughter to hug her again, this time in both happiness and apology. "My little filly is growing up! I feel horrible for not being there to help you along!"

"It wasn't so bad, mama. Starless and Tranquil was there for me"

Suddenly Tiger Lily pulled back. "You didn't let a stallion get at you, did you!?"

Snap felt her face flush as she thought how close she got with Wild. "No mama."

"There was a close call with one of the colts." Starless added. "But it was handled in time."

Tiger suddenly crushed her daughter against herself again. "Oh! I can't believe it! My little filly is becoming a mare!" After an embarrassingly long time, Snap was finally released to start breathing again. Tiger looked back at Dusty. "Dusty dear. Would you track down my wayward mate and have him show you and Ground were to take that... prisoner, please." She then turned to lead them into the rebel settlement. "Come. You all must be tired. There's food and cool drinks waiting for you."

"Wait!" Starless exclaimed. "Don't you want to take him back!?" she asked, nodding down to the colt in her hooves.

"You can go ahead and keep him." Tiger said, walking ahead with Snap.

Starless blinked and shot a quick look down at the sleeping colt in her hooves. "Wait... What do you mean by keep him?" She looked after Tiger. "Tiger? Tiger!? You're going to take him back, right!?... Tiger!?"