Mangofrost roared angrily and snatched up a huge stone, hurdling it at a tree. She narrowly missed Featherbrook's head, and the stone slammed into a the tree with a huge wham, before bouncing off and smacking into one of the steed's legs.

The steed didn't react, but only lowered his head and fluttered his dark green feathers.

"Mangofrost... darling... calm down," Berrycloud soothed, rubbing her wing against Mangofrost's shoulder.

Mangofrost pushed away, blinking rapidly. "Are you just going to EXCEPT that Star KILLED Snakewing? That can only mean one thing! He's the Destroyer, Mama!" Mangofrost inhaled sharply and pushed past the steeds.

***

"Who are you?" Mangofrost gasped out, as she bumped into group of stallions. There were thirty of them, all pale and... huge.

The steeds didn't answer, their blue and brown eyes blinking at Mangofrost.

"Wait, you're Snow Herd steeds!" Mangofrost gasped out in realization.

"We are," a dark silver stallion nickered, dipping his huge, meaty head. "I am Icewing, young, Jungle Herd filly."

Mangofrost took a shaky step back.

"No need to be scared, young one. We come in peace. But, we plan on attacking Sun Herd today. Bring your warrior stallions to Mountain Herd territory."

"What are you talking about!?" Mangofrost whinnied in shock.

"Have you not heard? Snakewing didn't tell you? Sun Herd deserves to be destroyed, and me and Rockwing organized an army," Icewing said, fanning his feathers as if he was announcing something obvious. "Snakewing has been training his best warriors to join the battle, and so have I, and Sandwing. I would like Snakewing to send his warriors over to Mountain Herd," Icewing said, looking distracted as he looked around.

Mangofrost flattened his ears and looked at the steeds in disgust. "Snakewing is dead. We don't have an over-stallion," Mangofrost whispered.

Startled, Icewing looked at Mangofrost in alarm. "But-"

"Oh, yes we do," Smokefire nickered, trotting into view and fanning his white and brown feathers.

Mangofrost gaped at Smokefire. This was all... too confusing. "What are you talking about, Smokefire!?" Mangofrost nickered.

"Smokewing," he corrected slyly, and shook out his wing to Icewing. "Snakewing told me about what you planned to do before he left to hunt for Star. I know everything. And I, gladly, will help." Smokewing said, his face smug.

"But-" Mangofrost frowned, chewing her lip.

Icewing blinked in surprise, "A-Alright. So I'm guessing you'll be coming along, than?" Icewing said, stretching out his wing and shaking Smokewing's.

"Yes, gladly." Smokewing folded his wings and flattened his feathers against his back. "First, though, I would like to make an announcement to Jungle Herd. You are welcome to come along, Icewing. Watch out for the snakes," Smokewing nickered, trotting away and casually stepping over garter snake.

Mangofrost watched Smokewing leave, and she blinked rapidly, before looking at Icewing. His face was pinched, and he was staring at the garter snake in alarm.

Mangofrost sighed and was about to explain to him about Snakewing's death, when Icewing fanned his wings and his party trotted after Smokewing, thundering through the jungle.

Mangofrost watched them go, one of them ramming into her shoulder as they passed, and she couldn't help but feel pure annoyance and disgust... but also... dread. Mangofrost watched as Icewing and his warriors stormed through the jungle, snapping branches and stepping over leaves and bushes, smashing everything with their huge hooves. A flower was stomped on by Icewing himself as he slowly disappeared from view, his gleaming silver hide standing out in the green, bright jungle.

Mangofrost felt a tingle in her heart that something would go terribly wrong.

***

Mangofrost watched as her dam pranced anxiously, fidgeting with her wings and tossing her mane.

Berrycloud was watching as Smokewing climbed up the small cliff, his dark mane flowing back and his brown and white feathers shimmering.

"Steeds of Jungle Herd," Smokewing neighed, his voice rumbling through the jungle.

Mangofrost was just about ready to drown herself in Crystal Lake.

Berrycloud shifted next to her, and Mangofrost's quivering wing brushed against her dam's shoulder. The beautiful buckskin pinto mare's green eyes were dull as they shifted across the small valley, watching as her once calm, peaceful Herd tensed, and erupted into whispers and confused nickers.

Mangofrost pulled her head away from Berrycloud, bringing her attention back to Smokewing. She watched as he folded his wings and dipped his head, nickering gently to Jungle Herd as they whinnied questions, asking "What's happening?" or "Where's Snakewing?" and "Is he back from his hunt for the black foal?"

"Snakewing has been killed by Star himself," Smokewing nickered, his voice rumbling across the valley, hurting Mangofrost's ears. Her eyes welled up with tears and she looked down at her sharpened hooves, tempted to fly right up and kick Smokewing in the head.

Jungle Herd gasped as one, and some put their wings over their muzzles in shock. Mangofrost flicked her ears, her heart beating rapidly. She heard the soft wails of some of Snakewing's closest friends, while others stood frozen, blinking their eyes and hiding there emotions dully as they stared up at Smokewing.

Smokewing shifted on his hooves, waiting for Jungle Herd to calm down. "The news has hurt me dearly, for Snakewing was one of my closest friends." Smokewing paused and shifted on his hooves again. "He was more then that. Snakewing was like a sire to me. And hearing that Star, this century's black foal, has murdered this mighty stallion... causes me to think for a moment." Smokewing curled his lip back as a rush of quiet whinnies and whispers burst out from the lips of the Jungle Herd's steeds, their feathers rattling.

"Is Star REALLY going to be a Healer?" Smokewing snorted. "Is Anok even SAFE? I think not. But I am here to protect Jungle Herd," Smokewing paused dramatically, "For I announce myself the new over-stallion of this Herd."

Startled, some of the Jungle Herd pegasi reared on theirs hind hooves, their eyes ablaze with anger and disagreement.

"No! You can't be our new over-stallion!"

"This can't be happening! I believed in Star!"

"Is Snakewing really dead!? He can't be! Star MUST be the Destroyer!"

"Gosh, no one believes this nonsense, do they? Smokefire must've been planning this!"

"Dear Ancestors, are you kidding!? Smokefire would be a MUCH better over-stallion then Snakewing!"

"TRAITOR!"

"Smokewing! Smokewing! Smokewing!"

"All hail Smokewing!"

"NO! I don't believe this! Star!? Killed an over-stallion!? I've heard that the wimpy black foal's as weak as a dying horse!"

"RUDE!"

Mangofrost covered her ears and pressed into her mother's side, watching as the Jungle Herd steeds whinnied in outrage, their wings flared.

"Calm down, Jungle Herd," Smokewing growled, fanning his wing and pointing it at a few of the steeds that were still prancing and barring their teeth. They snapped there jaws angrily but calmed ever so slightly, there wings were still flared and stretched upwards in agony.

"I vow to protect Jungle Herd with my soul... my life," Smokewing promised, his voice booming across the jungle, and as if on cue, a flock of parrots lifted off gracefully and flapped over the Herd, their shimmering feathers fluttering down at Jungle Herd's hooves.

More steeds relaxed, but their eyes were still anxious and dull with the loss of their over-stallion.

"You shall now call me Smokewing, the over-stallion of Jungle Herd. For I am your new over-stallion. Respect me as your respected Snakewing, and I will protect you," Smokewing said.

Mangofrost blinked rapidly and shifted on her hooves, tempted to neigh at Smokewing that he could never be as great and wonderful as Snakewing. But she kept her mouth shut.

"Berrycloud will still be the lead mare of Jungle Herd. She cares about you all as much as Snakewing did, and I will honor that. I announce Berrycloud my new mate."

Mangofrost watched as Berrycloud arched her neck, barring her teeth slightly. Her nostrils were flaring, but she just barely managed to dip her head in Smokewing's direction.

Smokewing nodded, and continued speaking about how he would protect Jungle Herd, and some changes he would like to make, all that nonsense that Mangofrost couldn't bear to listen to.

Berrycloud was backing away, flicking her white tail anxiously and looked just about ready to bolt.

"Mama?" Mangofrost frowned, but she understood. A stallion deciding that a mare could just forgive instantly and except a new mate? What was Smokewing THINKING? That feather-brain, Mangofrost thought.

"I'm sorry. This is all just... too..." Berrycloud sputtered and fluttered her pale feathers.

Smokewing interrupted as he raised his voice, "Once again, I will say, I believe Star is the Destroyer. How could Thunderwing let this dangerous foal out loose? He could be plotting something. But... we must strike first. With a little help, of course." Smokewing arched his neck and barred his teeth, flaring his wings out wide, and as if on cue, a large group of pegasi emerged from the bushes to Mangofrost's left. They flared their huge, pale wings, and Jungle Herd errupted into whinnies and screams.

Sorry this took me so long to get out! I've really busy lately, and things have just been crazy lately with school and all XD Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Sorry about the sort of cliffhanger XD

Jungle Herd:

Smokewing- Successor over-stallion. Bay appaloosa with brown-and-white-spotted feathers, black mane and tail, snip on nose.

Snakewing- Over-stallion. Bay with forest-green feathers, black mane and tail, one white sock. Deceased. Berrycloud- Lead mare. Buckskin pinto with pale orange feathers at the mantel that fade to white, white mane and tail, wide white blaze, green eyes. Featherbrook- Warrior. Light bay appaloosa stallion with sapphire-tipped pale yellow feathers, wide white blaze, two hind white socks. Mangofrost- Yearling. Liver chestnut paint yearling filly with aqua-tipped rich yellow feathers fading to white, white mane and tail, warm, dark amber eyes. Grassflurry- Yearling. Bay roan yearling colt with bronze-tipped pale green feathers, black mane and tail, thin white blaze, ice-blue eyes.