The stars had long since disappeared, but that fact did not stop a gray appaloosa mare from attempting to see the fabled Hundred Year Star. Sighing, Starshine gave up her search, for even she knew that it was too early to see the star during the day. It wasn’t bright enough yet…but it was still there. And that was all the reminder she needed that this season was going to be interesting. She knew that the fabled black foal of Anok would be born this year…but to which herd…and which mare…remained a mystery. She sighed, shaking out her mane, perhaps she was overthinking things…maybe Mountain Herd wouldn't be this year’s Guardian Herd…but it still could be, and that's what terrified her.
She looked at her mate, Eaglefeather, who was sleeping next to her. Starshine sighed, he had no idea that the black foal was to be born that year…and she wasn’t going to tell him, not yet. Maybe she should tell him…but…she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. What would she even tell him?! That she thought she was pregnant with the black foal!? No…she couldn’t just thrust that on him, besides, how would that conversation go!? Wrenroot had just told her the evening before that she was with foal, and she couldn’t have been any happier to tell Eaglefeather the news…but then…she spotted the Hundred Year Star…and she grew terrified. Was the foal inside her the black foal, or not?
“What am I going to do?” Starshine whispered to herself. In all honesty, she knew that she’d love her foal…whether it was the black foal or not…but…would she survive? If it was the black foal, the legends say that many mothers of the black foals die, as well as the foal. What would that do to her mate? Who was already abandoned by his birth herd?
Eaglefeather wasn’t born to Mountain Herd, but to Desert Herd. When her father, Tatteredfire, lead back a raiding party from Desert Herd carrying weanlings, she immediately struck up a friendship with a young, terrified buckskin colt…Eaglefeather. They became fast friends, playing together any chance they could, and growing up together within the Herd. They laughed together, played together, and cried together. There were many nights when she and Eaglefeather would just sit under the stars and talk for hours…including about how Eaglefeather felt abandoned and unloved. He felt that his herd didn’t love him, nor want him, anymore, and Starshine helped him feel welcomed and loved within the Herd. In fact, When Desert Herd’s new Over-Stallion, Firewing, came back for the Yearlings that were stolen from his herd seasons ago, including his son, Eaglefeather had stayed behind, not wanting to leave his new home…or his friend. Everyone was shocked by this, the colt had an opportunity to go home, and he didn’t take it, but they weren’t all that surprised either…after all…Starshine was in Mountain Herd. It wasn’t long after their third birthdays that they became mates, and no one in the herd was surprised, after all, they never kept any secrets from each other, and stuck by each other no matter what.
But now she was keeping the biggest secret of her life from her mate…and best friend. How would he take that? Would he be mad at her? Or would he accept that his mate might be the mother of the black foal? Starshine knew in her heart that her mate would most likely be supportive of her…but her fear wouldn’t let her risk it. She loved her mate, and didn’t want to jeopardize anything that they built together.
She was just about to put her worrying aside and graze for a bit when a flurry of wingbeats caught her attention. Looking up, Starshine caught sight of the silver form of Windcloud descending towards her, her features cool and unreadable. Starshine couldn’t help but tense when the Lead Mare landed in front of her, shaking out her wings to try and shake out some of the stiffness.
“Greetings, Starshine.” The Lead Mare greeted coolly with a dip of her head.
“Hello, Windcloud.” Starshine greeted, her voice cracking a bit as she dipped her own head.
“Leopardwing has sent me to inform all the mares that the Hundred Year Star has been spotted in the sky, and that…”
“And that the black foal of Anok will be born this season, I…I know.” She nickered softly, only slightly aware that she had interrupted Windcloud.
If the interruption had bothered the Lead Mare, she showed no signs of it as she continued, “Yes…” She nickered, her eyes narrowing in silent contemplation, “And I believe Wrenroot told me you were with foal this season?” She asked coolly.
“I…I…” Starshine was taken aback by this blatant question, did she suspect too?! And if she did, did that mean she WAS pregnant with the black foal.
“I believe…” Said a voice behind her, “That if my mate were with foal, she would’ve told me.”
Looking beside her, she noticed that Eaglefeather had woken up, and had taken a protective position beside her, glaring at the Lead Mare.
Obviously flustered, the Lead Mare took a step back, “I…I see.” She said, shaking out her mane, “Well then…either Wrenroot has her information mixed up…or I am not recalling the right information.” She said, fluffing out her feathers.
Eaglefeather snorted, “Well then, you should make sure your facts are right before you make cloud headed accusations!” He nickered, pinning his ears back, “In fact, why don’t you go get those facts straightened out? Now.” He said lowly.
Windcloud took a step back, spreading her wings, “Why, Eaglefeather.” She nickered, taking on a silky tone, “Are you arguing with your Lead Mare?” She asked, tilting her head.
“Arguing? No.” Eaglefeather nickered, “Asking you to leave? Yes. However, it doesn’t seem like you’ve gotten that quite yet. Was I too subtle for you?”
Windcloud’s wings fluffed up in rage, “Why you…Leopardwing will hear of this!” She snarled, pawing the ground.
Eaglefeather just shrugged, “Fine, then I’ll tell him how you came here and just made wild presumptions about my mate.”
The Lead Mare pinned her ears back, stamping the hoof one more time, “Why…I never…” She hissed, winging her way into the sky, but not before sending one last glare the two’s way.
Once the cost was clear, Starshine turned to her mate, “You…you could get into trouble you know.” She nickered, looking at her hooves.
Eaglefeather looked at her, his eyes softening, “I know…” He whispered, “I just couldn’t stand by. You looked terrified.” He looked at her, a questioning look in his eyes, “Are you…ok?” He asked.
She nodded, “Yeah, I’m fine. Still just…in shock, I suppose.” She said, shaking out her mane.
Her mate looked at her for a moment more before sighing, “Alright…” He muttered, “If you want to talk to me…about anything, just remember you can, ok?” He asked, opening his wing to her.
Leaning into her mate’s embrace, Starshine sighed, “I know…” She whispered, ‘But I can’t tell you…’ She thought, ‘Not right now.’
HERE'S PART ONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Trust me! This story is going to get a whole lot better as the story progresses! As always, feedback, theories, thoughts, and constructive criticism are always welcome!!! What do you think'll happen next? Is Starshine the mother of the black foal? Is someone else? Will it even be born in Mountain Herd? Let me know what you think!
As always, have a great night, and may the wind remain strong beneath your wings,
Skysun
I love this! I read the first draft you didn't complete, and I always wanted to see how that turned out.
I love this so much! Excited to see how this story pans out ^^
I love it!!! I do have some thoughts though!
You use CAPS a LOT to make your POINT. This is GREAT in SMALL quantities. OTHERWISE it breaks up the FLOW of your story and JARRS the reader's concentration. Try italics or just leaving it out :)
The over-stallion of Desert Herd is Firewing? That would make his captain name what, Firefire?
Other than that, LOVE it!
Hm...her name is Starshine, but I'm not so sure that she will be the mother to the black foal. If you introduce the character of the sister again, I think that it would be her instead of Starshine. I love the character of Eaglefeather! You really have gotten the chance to develop him more in your redo!
Over-Stallion: Leopardwing, a gray leopard appaloosa stallion with a black and white mane and tail, amber eyes, and slate gray wings fading to a light blue
Lead Mare: Windcloud, silver mare with a light gray mane and tail, two white hind stockings, and leaf green wings
Captains:
Tatteredfire: And older gray appaloosa stallion with silver wings tipped in yellow and four white socks and a thin blaze
Stallions:
Eaglefeather: A golden furred stallion with dark red wings and four white socks
Mares:
Starshine: Gray appaloosa mare with dark blue wings and a wide white blaze