(So Windfeather let me switch chapters with her. Just warning you, a LOT of stuff happens in this chapter)

Echofrost regretted her decision right away. She hated the way Hazelwind had just tossed her to the side. It wasn’t only the stallion’s fight.

After all, she was the one who had brought Storm Herd to this place. Surely she should fight by their side?

But she did as Hazelwind commanded, and looked for the foals.

~

The screams had not prepared Hazelwind for what he saw now. Storm Herd was completely unorganized, and already, several pegasi had fallen.

He attacked the drooler that was attacking Shea and Redfire, and sent the beast hurting to the ground after a few well aimed kicks.

Hazelwind scanned the battle. Storm Herd was vastly out numbered. Both grass and wings were singed. They had to retreat, and quickly.

~

The foals trembled as the fight continued. Smoke filled the sky, and the scent of blood and burning feathers was thick in the air.

Thornblaze shook his feathers. “They need our help!” He protested.

“But we were told to stay here!” Windheart shot back, but her resolve was fading.

Valen began to scream, seeing a horrible sight as some smoke cleared.

He pointed his wing towards the ground. The foals began to sob.

~

Far away from the thick of the fighting, a massive drooler named Sylvan paced.

Sylvan’s belly was round with unborn young, and she needed somewhere safe to raise them. The land that Storm Herd had chosen was perfect. No where had quite as much grass, shade, and water. No where was as pretty.

The droolers and burners needed the land, fore their own area was stricken with drought.

Sylvan watched the battle, commanding her army forward.

“Attack!” She hissed. “The future of our kingdom is at stake!”

~

Hazelwind was as quick as lightning, but he could not help his herd. He bellowed the call of an Overstallion.

“Retreat!” He cried.

Storm Herd got behind Hazelwind, as they backed away.

Hazelwind scanned the herd for Echofrost and the foals, but he couldn’t see them anywhere.

A loud sob shook him from his thoughts.

A young mother in Storm Herd, Lilyheart, sobbed, her tears flowing to the burned ground.

“T-they have her!” She wailed.

Hazelwind flew over. “They have who?” She tried to comfort the sobbing mare.

“They have Cloverberry!” Lilyheart sobbed.

~

Echofrost found the foals. “I’m here!” She burst from the bushes.

Instead of smiles, Echofrost was greeted by sobs.

“What’s wrong?!?” She asked frantically.

“Mommy...” Thornblaze whimpered, pointing with a shaky wing through the bushes.

There, Dewberry lay. Her emerald wings were burnt to the roots, and her chest barely moved with each breath.

~

Sylvan looked at what her army had brought back to her. A young pegasus with feathers the color of grass, who lay unconscious.

Fondly, Sylvan stroked her wing over the young filly, already deciding on a name for her.

“Your name will be Sweetgrass, promised one.”

Cloverberry opened her eyes, and screamed.

Storm Herd:

Echofrost-

Silver mare with a mix of dark and light purple feathers, white mane and tail, one white sock.

Hazelwind-

Buckskin stallion with jade green feathers, black mane and tail, big white blaze, two white hind socks.

Redfire-

Tall copper chestnut stallion with dark gold feathers, dark red mane and tail, white star on forehead

Graystone-

White stallion with pale yellow feathers each with a silver center, blue eyes, silver mane and tail.

Shysong-

Blue roan mare with dusty blue feathers edged in black, ice-blue eyes, black mane and tail, jagged blaze, two hind socks.

Dewberry-

Bay pinto mare with emerald feathers, black mane and tail, thin blaze on forehead, two hind white anklets

Windheart-

Chestnut pinto filly with emerald feathers at the mantel that fade to white at the tips, chestnut mane and tail, thin blaze, four white socks.

Thornblaze-

Gray pinto colt with white feathers edged in blue, black mane and tail.

Shea-

Very light grey mare with a white mane and tail streaked with silver, light dusty blue feathers tipped in silver.

Valen-

Silver appaloosa colt with dark gold feathers, blue eyes, white mane and tail, wide white blaze.

Heartflare-

Rose dappled mare with dark grey mane and tail, black socks, and bright teal feathers

Lilyheart-

Young white mare with green eyes, silver mane and tail, and light pink feathers tipped in green.

Cloverberry-

Small white filly with minty green feathers tipped in raspberry pink, cream colored mane and tail. Light green eyes.

Droolers and Burners:

Queen Sylvan-

Pregnant dark gray dragon with silver scales and gold eyes.

List of peeps writing Happily Ever After:

• @Stormsun (Chapter 1)

• @Hazey (Chapter 2)

• @Morningmist (Chapter 3)

• @Riverglade (Chapter 4)

• @Aspenray (Chapter 5)

• @Starstreak (Chapter 6)

• @Windfeather (Chapter 7)

• @kittycatburmise (Chapter 8)

• @Firesong (Chapter 9)

What a chapter! And so many cliffhangers too!