All 9 pegasi, Wispiflower, Horizonfire, Starbrook, Stormpebble, Rainblaze, Echomoon, Thundertail and Riverbreeze, quickly flew silently back to Tear Herd's camp. "Mother! Father!" Riverbreeze called out to them. Instantly, Fallwing and Mooncloud appeared. All of the, landed, wings folded, on the ground. Instantly, the 9 yearlings broke into chatter. Everyone talked over each other, but Fallwing and Mooncloud couldn't hear any words. Fallwing held up his wing to silence them, and immediately, everyone stopped, eyes on him. "What is the matter?" He asked. Wispiflower stepped forward. "Please, sir, we just overheard Stormwing talking to his captains and mate," she said. The over stallion and lead mare gasped. "Riverbreeze," Fallwing turned to his filly. "You and your friends travelled to Night Herd's territory?" He asked, his voice shaking with anger. "No! That isn't what happened," Stormpebble burst out. "They were on our territory. We heard Stormwing say that he was going to attack us, at midnight, when the moon is next full!"

The pegasi had become away that the whole herd was around them now, but they noticed when they heard the thousand gasps.

"Attack us at midnight?"

"Stormwing's the one who betrayed US!"

"What will we do?"

"This is outragous!"

"How dare he!"

"Who wants to take him out? Assemble near the Hypnosis Tree when this discussion is over!"

"Count me in!"

It was an uproar. All of Tear Herd spoke over one another, arguing.

"Oh no," Starbrook whispered.

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone turned to Fallwing.

"I know you are all angry, and that you want to deal with Stormwing all in your own ways, but this is what he wants! He wants us to fight each other, to break ourselves apart! If we want to defeat him, and avoid his attack, then we all must work together!" Fallsing announced. His speech caused murmors to ripple in the Herd, everyone whispering their agreement.

Rainblaze stepped forward. "What's the plan?" The filly asked.

Fallwing closed his eyes as he exhaled. "We will discuss that matter now," he answered. He trumpeted the over-stallion's call quietly, for he was cautious due to his newfound knowledge of Stormwing being in the area. "Council Meeting!"

<~ ⚜️ ~>

"So, what's the plan?" Mooncloud asked, once everyone was settled into the cave. The Council consisted of the 9 yearlings, the medicine mare, a red roan mare with a chestnut mane and tail and yellow wings called Opalroot, the over stallion and lead mare, Fallwing and Mooncloud, of course, and the Herd's top Captain, a blue roan steed with black mane and tail and emerald feathers dipped in navy blue called Stormfire. They were all in a large cave, nicknamed "the Council Cave", which had a strange glowing plant to light up. "That plant is called a Myst Ocoba, a special plant that only grows in Anok," Opalroot had explained when curious foals had asked.

Fallwing rattled his wings. "The plan is that we wait out the ambush so that when the party come looking for us, we won't be there," he explained. "Then, when they're confused, we attack."

"So, we ambush the ambush that's trying to ambush us?" Thundertail asked without enthusiasm. "Exactly," Fallwing nodded. "Sounds good to us," Horizonfire nodded, speaking for all her friends. Fallwing turned to Stormfire. "Stormfire, go assemble your greatest captains. We only have a few days to the next full moon," he said. "The strongest go at the front of your platoon. The weakest will go last, with the second strongest defending them. Train them as best as you can. I know you will not dissapoint me." He turned to his mate. "Mooncloud, assemble all the dams of the Herd that are not battle mares or spies. Their motherly insticts will make it easier for them to protect the newborns, foals, or weanlings with Opalroot. And Opalroot," he finally turned to the medicine mare. "You will tend to the fallen. We need as many pegasi we have out there," he informed. "Got it," she nodded. "I'll be back," Stormfire said, winking at Horizonfire, who rolled her eyes but blushed. Stormfire turned tail and rushed out of the cave, heading in the direction of the captains. "What about us?" Iceblaze asked. Falleing nickered. "You nine?" He asked.

The yearlings all nodded.

He nodded back.

"Well, you nine are going to become warriors. Go and find your mentors; we only have a few days until midnight, the next full moon."

The yearlings left the cave in a hurry, all nickering exitedly, but Riverbreeze stayed back. "Father?" she asked quiestly, staring at him directly in the eyes. "Will everyone be okay?"

The mighty over stallion shook his head and dipped it, looking down.

"I don't know."