*2 MoNthS LaTer* HEY!!! It's BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK after TWO MONTHS!!! So, SO SORRY that this took two months. I wanted to get it out SOONER, but that obviously didn't happen. I'm hoping, HOPING, that the next parts won't take NEARLY as long.
Like 'Beyond the Sands', I'll link the previous parts in case you need or want a refresher, or just want to re-read the previous parts!
Prologue: A Star's Fire: Prologue | theguardianherd
Part 1: A Star's Fire: Part 1 | theguardianherd
Part 2: A Star's Fire: Part 2 | theguardianherd
Part 3: A Star's Fire: Part 3 | theguardianherd
And now, after 2 months of wait, here is...'A Star's Fire: Part 4'!!
Starshine trudged back into the Herd’s clearing, Firleaf at her side, and Windcloud leading the way. She sighed, lowering her head sadly, she was almost certain that Leopardwing knew that she was with foal…why else would he have wanted to talk to Windcloud? Especially after looking at her. She looked at her sister, who’s face showed the anger she was trying to keep under the surface.
“That Leopardwing…” Firleaf muttered, “I have half a mind to…”
“Firleaf!” Hissed Starshine quietly, “Don’t say things you’ll regret…”
“I’ll regret nothing…” The bay appaloosa replied.
“But Windcloud’s right…”
“Right there?” Firleaf interrupted, indicating to the Lead Mare with a toss of her head, “So what? She can hear what I say for all I care! Leopardwing is…”
“Firleaf!” Starshine snapped, “I love you, but you can’t be talking like this around her.”
The bay appaloosa sighed, looking at her gray appaloosa sister, “Fine…” She muttered to Starshine.
The gray appaloosa nodded appreciatively.
“Windcloud!” Called an obviously irritated voice. Looking up, Starshine saw a sooty golden furred stallion, his dark red rings rattling in anger. Following behind the golden stallion was a white stallion, his eyes wide with shock.
Windcloud snorted, watching as the two stallions approached, “Eaglefeather, Cloudmane, come to get your mares have you?” She snapped.
Skidding to a halt, Eaglefeather drew himself up to his full height, towering over the Lead Mare, “What are you doing with Starshine?” He growled.
The Lead Mare rolled her eyes, “Bringing them back to the Herd,” She snapped, “Now…I’d suggest you step aside before Leopardwing sees…you wouldn’t want to look like you’re harassing the Lead Mare of Mountain Herd…would you?”
The golden stallion’s wings ruffled with rage, his eyes bright and angry. Without a word, Eaglefeather took a step to the side, his ears pinned back, and glaring in the direction of the Lead Mare.
Windcloud smirked, “Keep a better eye on your mates next time.” She said, “Now, if you’ll excuse me…I must go speak to Leopardwing.” She walked past the golden stallion, using her tail to whip him in the face as she passed.
Eaglefeather sputtered, looking like he was about to turn on the mare and attack her, Lead Mare or not, but, somehow, Starshine noticed he kept his cool.
When the Lead Mare was out of ear shot, the two stallions surged forward, nuzzling their mates.
“I was so worried…” Cloudmane nickered to Firleaf, “When I realized you were missing…I…I thought…”
“That what?” Firleaf asked, a glimmer of humor in her gaze, “That I was carried away by a coyote?” “W…well…not a coyote per se, they’re…not…oh…that was a joke.” The white stallion replied, looking at the ground and shuffling his hooves in embarrassment.
Firleaf chuckled, “Yes, it was.” She said, tapping him on the nose with a wing, “Now come on, I heard there’s some juicy grazing over by the Lightning Tree.”
Cloudmane chuckled, trotting after Firleaf as she trotted away.
Eaglefeather watched them go for a moment before turning his attention back to his mate, “I was worried too you know…” He said, “Not that an animal got to you…but that Leopardwing had gotten to you somehow.”
Starshine sighed, leaning into her mate, “No…Firleaf and I just went to snack on some berries.” She replied.
“And that’s where Windcloud found you?”
Starshine nodded, “Yes, and so did Leopardwing…”
Eaglefeather balked, “So he did get to you!?” He asked.
“Well…yes…but…”
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?!”
“No, he didn’t.” Starshine said, wrapping her wing over her mate’s back, “He didn’t touch me or Firleaf.”
“Good…” The golden stallion snorted, “If he did, nothing could stop me from giving him a piece of my mind.”
“But then…”
Eaglefeather placed his wing on his mate’s muzzle, successfully quieting her worries, “He wouldn’t kill me…” He said, “Oh, he would try, but he wouldn’t be able to touch me.”
Starshine sighed, relief in her gaze.
“Is that it?”
“What?” Starshine asked in surprise.
“Is that what you were worrying about these last few days?” Eaglefeather asked, “That Leopardwing would kill me?”
“Well…no…”
“Then what is it? I mean…you’ve had something on your mind for days. I could see it was worrying you. I’ve stayed quiet this long because I wanted you to come to me, but I hate seeing you worrying like you have. Please, let me help.” He said, wrapping her in his wings.
Starshine leaned into his chest, “Oh, Eaglefeather…I…” She was about to say that she couldn’t tell him, but then, she realized that she could tell him, “Ok…” She murmured.
Eaglefeather sighed in relief. He hated seeing his mate in so much stress, and he was hoping he could help her.
“Eaglefeather…” She said, stepping back, looking her mate in the eyes. Before she could lose her courage, she spit it out, “I’m going to to have a foal…”
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Mountain Herd
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
Under-Stallions:
Eaglefeather: A sooty golden furred stallion with a black mane and tail, black points, dark red wings, and four white socks
Cloudmane: A majestic white stallion with a white mane and tail, and pale blue wings
Mares:
Starshine: Gray Appaloosa Mare with dark blue wings and a wide white blaze
Firleaf: Bay appaloosa mare with pale yellow wings, black mane and tail, black points, a snip on her nose, and four white socks
Looks amazing so far!
I love it!!
Yes! I’m glad that Starshine finally told Eaglefeather! One small typo that I saw, in this paragraph you said ‘maes‘ instead of ‘mates’
“Windcloud smirked, “Keep a better eye on your maes next time.” She said, “Now, if you’ll excuse me…I must go speak to Leopardwing.” She walked past the golden stallion, using her tail to whip him in the face as she passed.”