Author's Notes:

Not a particularly eventful chapter, but a few things happen.

Sweet Blush cautiously made her way through the forest, the small light of her horn cutting weakly through the night. She had never been this deep inside the forest before. The smell of damp earth and old leaves filled her nose as she passed quaking aspens and red alders that added their own unique scents to the air.

Ether because of the chill of the autumn night air or because she was creeping through a dark forest, Sweet Blush shivered as she made her way. Ahead of her she spotted a dim light coming from around a bend. Moving cautiously closer, Sweet Blush peeked around the trunk of an old maple tree and let out a sigh of relief when she saw her Grandmare waiting for her.

"Oh, thank the Great Mother," Sweet Blush said in relief, glad she wasn’t going to be wondering in the forest for the rest of the night.

"Hello dear," her grandmare said, embracing her in a welcoming hug. "I'm so glad you found your way."

"I don't understand why you wanted me to meet you all they way out here," Sweet said. "Whatever would be here that you would want me for?"

"Come with me," her grandmare said. "You will soon understand."

Her grandmare led her down a narrow deer path through the trees, descending even deeper into the forest. After a short time they broke into a small glade bathed in the soft light of glow crystals suspended down from the the surrounding trees. High above, a half moon added its own soft luminescence to the group of mares already gathered there.

With an assuring nod of her head to her, her grandmare led her down to join the other mares. Looking out across the gathering, Sweet Blush noticed that most of them were common bloods with a few low bloods clustered off to one side. What were they all doing here and why did her grandmare bring her here? She was about to ask when she heard a hush suddenly sweep across the glade.

Stepping out of the trees, a new group of ponies appeared. In the lead was a mare with a golden necklett around her neck, denoting her as a Caster. Worried murmurs ran through the gathered mares as some began to move towards the trees, but stopped when they found their escape barred with a spell wall.

Large stallions and mares with spears filed in behind the Caster. Sweet Blush was surprised to see that many of them were mere dirt ponies and was even more surprised to see that all of them had destiny marks! One was an olive colored stallion with a mark of three green stars, followed after by a honey golden stallion with three wheat stocks on his flanks. Moving around the other way was a bright pink mare with a cherry blossom mark and an almond colored mare with a dragonfly mark.

The gathered mares drew closer together as fear rippled through their ranks. Sweet Blush pushed up against her grandmare's side. Who where these strange ponies? What were they going to do to them!? The spear bearing ponies circled around and took up positions along the treeline. Their spears held at attention. Taking up a position behind them, was a sea blue stallion with a skull mark.

"Grandmother?" Sweet Blush murmured in fear, but was quickly shushed by her.

Next to come in was a small group of nondescript mares, remarkable only for how unremarkable they appeared. Their horns glowed with magic. Where they the ones warding the glen? They didn't look like Casters. In fact, they appeared to be nothing more than normal Common Blood ponies.

Suddenly, all eyes were drawn to a new figure that stepped into the glen. A stallion. No. Not a stallion. A monster! He was massive! All the stallions arrayed around the clearing were large and powerful looking, but this one was a mountain compared to them. Sweet Blush felt her cheeks warm as she watched him step forward with his heavy hooves. She was surprised at how handsome the stallion was for being a dirt pony.

Stepping to the side, he revealed a wispy colored mare gliding in from behind him. She was lengthy with fine bone structure and well toned muscles that emphasized the elegantly smoothed curves of her figure. Not a single sign of hunger marred her beautiful body. She practically floated across the ground as she gracefully climbed up onto a large stump. Set over her face was a white mask with strange mystical markings etched onto its surface, a long horn thrust up through a hole. Standing prominently on each her flanks was an eclipsed sun with fiery rays arrayed around it's edges.

Sweet Blush quailed in sudden terror at the sight of her. The Enchantress! A stir of sudden fear ran through the gathered mares and one even collapsed to the ground in a dead faint. "Grandmother!" Sweet gasped out at her. "We must escape! That's the Enchantress! She'll curse us with horrible boils and make our hooves fall off!"

Her grandmare shook her head. "Don't be foalish. She'll do no such thing."

"How do you know!?" Sweet Blush asked, on the verge of panic.

"Because this isn't the first time I've come to listen to her," her grandmare explained. "Now hush. She's about to start."

The Enchantress gazed out over them, her head held up high. "Peace be with you, good mares," she said, her clear voice echoing across the chamber. "Steady thy hearts and have no fear for I have not come to harm any of you. I am a simple guide with the hopes of leading the Unicorns back to what has been lost for far too long."

Something about the Enchantress' voice tickled at an old memory in Sweet Blush. Something from her foalhood days. She strained to remember, but couldn't quite place it.

"Long, long ago, in a time lost to all but memory, there lived a small tribe of ponies called Unicorns," the Enchantress began."Life then was savage and wild, every day filled with struggle. Monsters and Beasts of the land, hunted the Unicorns for food and drove them from their hiding places. Living during this time was a young mare named Fata Morgana. She was a fierce warrior who valiantly fought with teeth, hoof and horn to protect her tribe, facing down any foe that threatened them. The Great Spirits saw the young mare's indomitable heart and was moved by her struggles. They came to her and offered her a blessing, taking her away, they brought her to their home in the Elysium Fields to live among them for a year and a day, learning from them the deeper secrets of magic. Returning with this new knowledge, she became the first Matriarch of the Unicorns and led them into a new age of magic."

Sweet Blush felt her eyes mist up. Her mother used to tell her this story when she was a young filly. She had almost forgotten it.

The Enchantress' horn flashed and the glen was filled with light. "No longer would Unicorns be hunted," she declared, her voice booming across the gathered ponies, casting shadows into the surrounding woods. "Under the First Matriarch's leadership, they drove off their tormentors, sending them to hide in the dark places."

The gathered mares no longer stood timidly as their heads raised higher with forgotten pride. A few even stomped their hooves.

"With the dawning of the new age, also brought even greater challenge, and sacrifice." the Enchantress continued, her voice becoming mournful. "A dark spirit, filled with greed, set to claim the sun and moon for herself. The Great Spirits saw this and rose up to stop her. Their battle was dreadful, and it nearly shattered the heavens in it ferocity. The Great Spirits eventually triumphed and they cast Greed down, sealing her into a prison of crystal."

Many of the gathered mares forgot themselves and let out cheers as they stamped their hooves. Sweet Blush smiled as she joined her hooves with the other mares.

The Enchantress paused to wait, her eyes unreadable as she looked over the crowd. "The victory was great," she proceeded once they had grown silent again. "But the damage was greater. The pattern of the heavens had been thrown into disarray. The sun and moon had been flung from their cycles and now wandered without guidance nor care. If nothing was done, the heavens would be torn asunder and all would be lost to darkness."

The gathered mares let out murmurs of dismay.

"The Great Spirits, filled with remorse and sadness for the harm they had done, were forced to depart this world, least their presence harm it even further, leaving their only student behind to heal the wounds they had caused." The Enchantress' voice carried over the clearing. "Fata Morgana gathered her most talented Unicorns under her will and reached out with their collective power to touch the stars. The strain of their task was enormous, and many died in the effort. With her horn cracked open and her heart failing, Fata Morgana held strong and persevered beyond her mortal limits. With the last of her waning power she restored the heavens to their proper places."

Spellbound, the mares all gazed up at the Enchantress with wide eyes. It was likely that this was the first time most of them ever heard this story in its entirety. Most tellings of it had fallen into disuse over the years or had been forgotten altogether. Starless was told it many times as a filly by her grandmare before going to sleep. She remembered imagining herself as Fata Morgana. She wanted to be as brave and powerful as her someday and save the Unicorns from their enemies. Starless' eyes drifted over to Ground. Fate could be so cruel sometimes.

"With all of her strength used up, Fata Morgan fell to the earth. Her daughters quickly rushed to their stricken mother's side but there was nothing they could do. As her heart beat its final few moments, all the Unicorns gathered around and pledged to her that they would continue to watch over and care for the heavens she so dearly gave her life for. To keep the cycle in its proper course for the benefit of all. Looking up at her beloved Unicorns with a smile on her lips, Fata Morgana passed on, taking up her honored place among the stars."

Tears fell as mares openly wept across the clearing.

"Weep. Weep for the fallen. Weep for the great sacrifice made. Weep for those who have been forgotten. Weep for the vow that has been broken," the Enchantress mourned. "The Unicorns have become lost. The once proud blood of our race now reeks like rot. Astral has forsaken the great pledge! She has led the Unicorns astray and corrupts the cycle. She treats the heavens as hers to do as she pleases and threatens to hold back the sun if she fails to receive her tributes.”

“This is wrong! This goes against everything Fata Morgana taught. She gave everything of herself freely, teaching magic to all Unicorns without divide of Blood or sex. Stallions and mares all gave their oath to her on that day, pledging their lives and magic to honor the teaching of the one they so loved. Remember the Pledge given! Remember the sacrifice made! Remember Fata Morgana! Honor the oath."

A light blue mare with a hooked muzzle and slightly slanted eyes that made her look like a hawk, suddenly called out. "You're asking us to oppose Matriarch Astral and the High Bloods!? We'll be sealed to the stones until our skin rots from our bones if we did that!"

"That's right! We're just common bloods," another mare added. "How can we stand against the power of the High Bloods!"

"With courage," the Enchantress answered simply, her tone neither sharp nor condemning of their questions. "Courage is a power that surpasses all magic. The Oathbreaker Astral can threaten you, hurt you, kill you, or even burn you to ash. But no matter how much magic she casts down upon you, she can never destroy a pony’s courage. Hope is a light that shines in the dark, courage is a weapon that cuts from the heart."

The hawk faced mare shook her head with an uncertain look. "What if we don't have any courage?"

The Enchantress stepped down from her stump and approached the hawk nosed mare. Reaching her hoof up she set it onto the mare's chest. "Courage dwells in us all. It comes not from muscle or magic, but from the strength of one's heart. You have but to look inside and you will find the power to face down any foe that stands before you."

The hawk faced mare blinked up at the Enchantress, her expression dubious. Sweet Blush touched her hoof to her own chest as she thought about what the Enchantress had just said.

"Why should we believe you?" the mare asked, her voice quaking slightly. "You come to us and tell us to risk our lives and the lives of our foals to stand against the Bloods, when we have no reason to trust you!"

The Enchantress lowered her hoof and studied the mare for a time. "You are right. Trust is not easy. It cannot be forced or coerced, only earned. And I have not earned yours yet." She turned and looked out over the other mares. "I know I am asking much of you, but I have faith in the strength I know each of you have inside. Matriarch Astral and the Bloods that support her have forsaken Fata Morgana. They have forgotten her sacrifice in their selfish desires and petty games. They crush down those they see as their lowers with fear and despair. The time of the Bloods needs to come to an end." The Enchantress turned and returned to her place at the the head of the clearing. "Anypony who wishes to join with us, come forward and you will be welcomed," she said, looking out over the gathering. "For those who refuse this offer, you will be given food and led safely back to your chosen home."

Sweet Blush felt her grandmare push at her. "Come along," she said, urging her forward.

"Where are we going?" Sweet Blush asked, looking back at her grandmare.

"We're joining with them," she said, nudging her onward.

Sweet Blush dug in her hooves. "No. I can't! I gave my oath to Radiant!"

"She's one of those Pure Bloods!" her grandmare snapped. "She doesn't care for you. She only cares about how much she can use you!"

"But she's not like that!" Sweet Blush argued."She's nice. I can't break my oath with her! If I did, I wouldn't be any better than the oathbreaking High Bloods!"

Her grandmare stopped pushing at her and let out a sigh. "Yes, your right of course. You need to keep your oath with her."

"Thank you." Sweet said, turning back to her grandmare. "But Just because I have to stay, doesn't mean you have to."

Her grandmare shook her head. "No. If you stay. Then I am staying."

Sweet felt a sense of relief that her grandmare was staying with her and she threw her hooves around her neck. "Oh, you're the best, grandmare!"

Her grandmare smiled and patted her back. "Yes, yes. No need to blubber over it."

Starless watched as ponies came forward to receive the food that had been brought out. Some of them still looked at her in fear, but came forward anyways. She could see ribs standing prominently on many of their sides, and their cheeks looked hollow and drawn back from long hunger.

A mare, her steps hesitant, slowly approached her, her deep set eyes downcast with trepidation. Casting out her magic, Starless took a large red apple from one of the baskets and glided forward to the mare. "Here. You look hungry. Please take this," Starless said, offering the mare the fruit.

The mare stared down at the apple. It was obvious she wanted to take it, but she hesitated. Her eyes flicked up to look at her for a moment, then dropped back down. "My... my... pardon, g-great mistress," she said, bobbing her head. "but I heard... stories. I have a colt... well, he's near a stallion now." The mare shifted nervously as she spoke. "I try to be a good mother. I swear I do, but times are hard, and food is getting harder to come by. He's always been so sickly and I fear I cannot continue to feed him for much longer. Eventually, I will have to give him over to the Keepers or see him starve to death." The mare suddenly threw herself at Starless' hooves. "He's a good colt, my colt is. I knows it! I do! But, with him being so weak and sickly, no mare will want him. The Keepers will have him gelded for sure when they see this!"

Starless suddenly understood what the distraught mare's plight was. Turning, she waved over Dipsy Daze who had been acting as her attendant during this trip. "What is your name, little sister." Starless asked the mare.

"Hazy Day, G-great Mistress."

"Is it your wish for your son to come with us?"

Hazy Day looked up and nodded. "Yes! Oh please, I beg you. I'll give anything I have! I'll swear my life to you, just as long as my sweet little colt can travel back to your Eternal Garden!"

Starless blinked down at the mare. Eternal Garden? Where did that name come from? "This is Dipsy," she said, nodding to the young mare. "She'll accompany you back to collect your son. He's welcome to come back with us."

Hazy Day suddenly began kissing Starless' hooves with tears in her eyes. "Oh, thank you! Thank you!"

"Excuse me," a elderly mare said, walking closer. "I couldn't help but overhear. It would look rather odd and draw attention if he's seen being brought out this late. Hazy's living chamber is not far from my own, and I believe it would be safer to do it tomorrow during the daylight instead of during the night."

Starless felt her heart leap up to her throat. She knew that mare! She had been her foalhood friend's grandmare! If she was here. Glancing behind her, Starless spotted Sweet Blush standing a few strides behind her grandmare. It had been years since she had last seen her. Not since her mother began her magic training. Did they recognize her behind her Enchantress mask? Surely not. She had cast a spell on her mask to alter her color and voice so that wouldn't happen. Starless quickly calmed herself and smiled. "Yes. That would be very prudent. Thank you for your thoughtful advice."

"You honor me." The elder mare respectfully lowered her head to her. "If you would allow us. Tomorrow, my grandfoal, Sweet, and I can help escort Hazy and her young stallion out for you. With Sweet Blush there, it would look like we were taking the two out for a private breeding in the woods."

"Are you sure?" Starless asked with concern. "You could be punished quite severely if you are caught taking a stallion out to us."

Sweet Blush's grandmare waved her hoof dismissively. "Pah! Getting him out will be no problem. There's no rule that says you can't take a stallion outside for a little walk around."

"Very well," Starless said with a satisfied nod. "Would you like anything in return for your help?"

The older mare shook her head. "Nay. Hearing thy telling of her story was gift enough. It saddens me how many have forgotten her tale." She then turned back to Hazy to plan out the next day.

Seeing Dizzy Spin fly out of the trees and settle down next to Ground to whisper to him, Starless excused herself and hurried over. "Everything okay?" she asked.

Dizzy stiffened and stood at attention. "Everything is going just as you planned. A few of those Casters got curious about what was going on and started snooping around in the woods just as you thought they would." She then smiled and tapped a shrouded glow crystal strapped about her neck. "Your idea to use these worked great. We could probably keep them running in circles until morning if we wanted to," she said with a giggle.

Starless had given three of their most stealthy pegasi glow crystals to sneakily lead any Casters that came into the forest safely away from their gathering. She was pleased that they had worked so well. "Excellent job, Dizzy," Starless said, pleased. "Please give the other pegasi my appreciation for their hard work."

Dizzy fluffed up her wings as her smile broadened. She then launched herself up into the air and vanished back into the forest to join the others.

The mares were eating and talking together with some of the Unicorns that were helping. Looking out over the gathering, Starless felt Ground move to stand by her side. "Do you see it?"

"I do," he said, seeing hope in many of the faces around them. "I'm proud of you my love."

Starless allowed a small smile to come to her as she gazed over the assembly.

Luna started awake.

Slumbering around her were all the other foals from the settlement and their families. Several more foals had vanished out of their homes over the last few nights and she and all the other foals had been gathered into the longhouse to be guarded. Luna had no doubt that the strange mysterious mare she had seen in her dream, that was responsible for taking Celestia and the others. She had tried to tell the adults about the Shadowmare, but they dismissed it, telling her that she was just having a dream.

Why did adults think that dreams weren't real? It was like saying that rainbows didn't hold the sky up. Adults were so frustrating! Always telling you things that were obviously wrong. She hoped she'd never become one.

Rubbing her eyes, Luna sat up and looked around for what had awaken her. Sleeping alongside her was her mother, with Strawberry Zest flanking her other side. The next pallet over, Aurora slept snuggled up against Bell with Applebuck. Sitting beside them, Strongbuck watched over them with his spear leaned up against his shoulder. Sitting close to the fire pit with her little filly, Peach Kiss, asleep on her lap, Mustard watched over the room as her mate, Morning stood sentry outside with a dozen other ponies. Not so much as a mouse could creep up to the longhouse without somepony seeing.

Despite the strong security something was there, Luna could feel it hiding somewhere in the darkness. Turning her searching gaze upward to the beams, she spotted two yellow eyes gazing back down at her. The Shadowmare! As it drifted closer, it began emitting a strange crooning melody, it's misty body flowing across the beam like smoke.

Jumping to her hooves, Luna stomped her little hoof. "Where Tia!?" she demanded, glaring up at those eyes.

Luna felt a heaviness settle over her and she wavered in place, struggling to resist the strange force pressing down on her mind. Deep within her something awoke and rose up, pushing the heaviness away and clearing her mind. Luna snorted and scuffed her tiny hooves across the ground as she scowled up at the approaching Shadowmare. "I tell you, where Tia!?" Luna ordered again, but it ignored her as it continued to slink closer. Luna turned and rushed over to Mustard and pushed at her leg. "Want help! Shadowmare here! Looki, see!"

Something was wrong! Mustard was staring dully across the room, not seeming to know that Luna was calling to her nor that anything was wrong! Strongbuck and all the other sentries were the same as their eyes stared vacantly forward. Rushing to her mother, Luna called and pushed at her to wake her up. Nothing. What was she supposed to do!? She wished that her papa and foster brother was there.

The Shadowmare drifted down from the beam, its body shifted to pony form as it glided across the room on silent hoofsteps, it strange song drifting over the sleeping foals. Mighty Oak rose and fell in behind her, his open eyes vacant and unaware of what he was doing.

"No! You no take!" Luna rushed forward and leapt into the Shadowmare, passing right through her and tumbling back to the ground. With tears in her eyes. Luna rose and threw herself at Mighty Oak, throwing her little hooves around his neck. "No go with! Bad pony, no listen her!" Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears for all the effect it did.

The Shadowmare stepped up into the air, her hooves seemly walking on nothing as the enthralled colt followed behind her, drawn up in her dark magic. Luna clung as hard as she could to Mighty Oak as he climbed higher towards the ceiling above. Ahead of them, the Shadowmare came to the thatched roof and vanished into one of the shadows. Luna kicked and cried at Mighty Oak, trying to rouse him as he continued to on towards the shadows. Luna's weakening grip suddenly slipped free and let out a terrified scream as she plummeted down towards the ground below. As she fell, Luna watched helplessly as Mighty Oak vanished into the shadows.

At first, nopony noticed that anything was wrong until Meadowlark woke and found Luna was missing. She frantically began searching around the room, calling out for her missing daughter. A hurried head count also showed that Mighty Oak was missing as well. After an extensive search, Luna was found curled up in the bottom of a hay bin. Meadowlark quickly scooped her daughter up with a relieved cry and clutched her tightly to her chest.

Luna's eyes were red and puffy from crying and she refused to respond to any of their questions as she kept her face buried against her mothers chest, saying only that the Shadowmare had come.

"What are you going to do to protect our foals!?" A anxious mare named Petal Plush asked, her daughter tucked close between her legs.

Meadowlark, with the now sleeping Luna still held in her hooves, looked over the gathering of frightened mothers who had come to her. "I have already sent a messenger pegasus to summon Dark back home, but it will take time. We need to stay strong and do the best we can."

"And in the meantime, we continue to just let our foals disappear!?" another mare asked. "Something needs to be done!"

The other mares all nodded in agreement. Meadowlark understood their concern. She was struggling to keep her own fear for Celestia from overwhelming her as it was.

"I say that we leave," another mare said, stepping forward. "We can go to the lakeside settlement! I've heard that this curse has not befallen them there."

"Yes" Another mare agreed. "I'm with her!"

"No!" Mustard shouted, holding Peach Kiss close. "We don't know what's happening or why! We could end up just bringing this down on them too!"

"Then let's go find a new land to live in," Sharp Gaze suggested. "A safe place away from this unknown evil."

"And leave our lost foals behind!?" Melodious said in outrage. "I'm not going anywhere without my foals!" Standing beside her, Sage Brush nodded with a firm look.

"That's right," Birch Bark added. "I'm not giving up my colt! Mighty Oak and the others are out there somewhere, I know it, and he needs our help!"

The room suddenly erupted in a pandemonium of conflicting voices, all shouting over each other. Meadowlark called out, trying to be heard over the melee, but it took Strongbuck bucking into an alarm-board to finally quiet the room down. There was so much they didn't know about what was happening. She needed answers. "Bring every pony that was awake during the night to me," she ordered. "Every pony, no matter where they were. I don't care if they were relieving themselves in a bush or snuggling with a special somepony. I am going to get every last detail of this night from every eye, ear, and nose. Even if I have to squeeze it out of their bones!" She then pointed to Strongbuck. "Come with me. I'm going to start with you."

Strongbuck suddenly swallowed and stepped closer to Bell with a worried look on his face.

Wild sighed as he looked up from his work, wiping his hoof across his brow. Tiger had browbeat him into sweeping out the entire hut while Journey beat out the sleeping mats outside. Snap and Jennet were off washing their blankets in the nearby stream. Sweeping the last of the tracked in leaves and forest litter out the door, Wild collected a basket and wooden scoop to clean out the fire pit.

When he was done, Wild took the filled basket outside and set it just outside the door for one of the Unicorns to collect. A short ways off, little West Wind cooed happily from his place on Tiger's back as she hummed over her work, taking a freshly washed shawl out of a basket she hung it onto a line suspended between two posts to dry alongside their other garments, including his own green cloak, that fluttered in the light breeze.

Journey glanced over at his mother to see if she was watching and made his way over to him. "Where did you put it?" he asked, keeping his voice down.

Wild nodded out in the nearby field. "I buried it."

It had been fortunate that it had been Journey who had gone out first that morning. Sitting outside their doorway, he discovered a half gnawed goat leg. A gift left there by Ardor. The morning before, it had been Snap and Jennet who had had found a large trout laying on the ground. Luckily, they thought that it had been accidentally dropped from a passing eagle.

Wild didn't know what to do about Ardor. The Manticore seemed completely harmless now. At least to ponies. He needed to tell Tiger Lily. He needed to somehow convince her that the monster was now friendly. All he needed was the right time and the right approach and she'd know that it was the truth.

Looking at Tiger, Wild let out a breath as he gathered his courage. Perhaps now was right time. He took a step.

"Wild Bolt!" Snap's sudden shout, halted his hooves. "Did you think we wouldn't find out!?" With Jennet by her side, Snap was marching towards him with fury in her eyes. Passing by Tiger, Jennet paused a moment to set a basket of laundry down before rejoining with Snap.

"We met Tranquil by the steam when Jennet and I were washing the blankets," Snap said. " We were talking and she told us that now that everypony has healed from their wounds, they were going back home. She also said that you were going with them. Is this true!?"

Wild groaned. With everything that had been going on, he'd forgotten about that. "Yes. It is."

Suddenly, he felt a sting of pain in his cheek as Jennet's hoof slapped him with a crack. Blinking his eyes in surprise, Wild watched as Jennet turned and hurried away with tears in her eyes. She had always been so gentle and sweet. It was quite the shock to see her so angry.

"I'm sorry. I meant to tell you," Wild called after her. "It just slipped my mind."

"Slipped your mind!?" Snap burst out. "You were going to leave and you forgot to tell us! I thought we were friends! Did our feelings not matter enough to concern yourself over!?" Snap leaned in close and jabbed her hoof into his chest. "You made Jennet cry and I'll never forgive you for that." She then turned and followed after Jennet.

Tiger took a a yellow and red trimmed blanket from the basket and hung it onto the line to dry. "You really like to make things difficult, don't you?" she said, bending down to take up another.

"I really didn't mean to forget." Wild sighed and shook his head. "As much as I want to, I can't stay. My father only allowed me to come with the caravan because he thought it would be a good experience for me." Wild scuffed at the dirt with his hoof. "With nine daughters, I'm his only son, and he expects me to follow him as the chieftain of our herd."

"Hmm," Tiger said, nodding as she worked. "Is that what you want?"

Wild opened his mouth, then closed it when he didn't know how to answer her.

"It's difficult sometimes to follow your own path," Tiger said. "Sometimes it's easier to just to let the wind take you along where it goes."

"I don't have a choice," Wild said, shaking his head. "My father is the chieftain. As was his father, and his father before that. As long back as memory, my sires have led our herd."

"I see," Tiger said, hanging a blanket up. "Quite the heavy responsibilities to bear on your back."

Wild let out a breath and nodded. "It was what I was born to be."

"Perhaps," Tiger said. Taking little west into her hooves she walked over to him. "But then, perhaps there room to be something... more."

"What do you mean?" Wild asked.

Instead of answering, Tiger Lily deposited little West into his hooves. "Here, young chieftain, watch him for me." She then started to walk away.

"Wait!" Wild called after her, awkwardly holding the colt. "Where are you going?"

"To have a talk with Snap and Jennet and hopefully keep them from stuffing a porcupine into your bed during the night," she answered before trotting off.