Digging roots was harder than Wintertail expected that afternoon. The ground was more frozen than usual, even with spring just around the corner. She had been working on the same root all afternoon.

Wintertail heard a whiny from the sky, a whiny sounding much like Thunderflight’s. She gazed up into the darkening sky. There he was, with his battle stallions behind him carrying what seemed like a limp animal.

Thunderflight flew there like a hero awaiting a prize.

Snowwing climbed into the sky, the noble stallion was growing older and more fragile. His Son would soon take his place.

Snowwing greeted Thunderflight with a nod of a head.

They exchanged words, but Wintertail was too far away to tune in. Snowwing and his son both made they’re way to the stallions carrying the limp creature. Tealfire, a captain with dark teal wings nudged the animal. As Snowwing approached the animal, he took one glance and jumped back in surprise and

shock.

Wintertail had to figure out what was going on! Snowwing and Thunderflight led the group to the ravine where Pebbleroot kept her supples.

The sun had fully set now and all Wintertail could see was the silhouette of the leader and the steeds.

Wintertail took this chance to secretly sneak to the ravine. She lifted her wings off of her glossy coat and quietly glided to the ravine. Making sure she was being as quiet as possible, she crept up behind the muscular warriors.

In the quiet valley, it was easy to listen in on the conversation between Snowwing and the medicine mare. All around her, she was sure the rest of the herd was secretly listening and edging closer to the shady ravine.

————————

“What happened!?” Pebbleroot asked, worry seeping through her.

”We found a colt.” Snowwing started. ”and he’s in bad condition. He was born only hours before the partol got there.”

”alright, we can find him a foster dam and-” she was interupted by Thunderflight.

”It’s the black foal!” He said it so fast for a second Pebbleroot didn’t understand him. It was so dark outside she couldn’t even see the light color of a white marking. but the next bit of news shocked her even more. ”and his mother was a horse. when we found him his mother was dead. Probably died from giving birth. The foal fell unconscious as we lifted him back to the herd.” he finished, his eyes looking panicked.

Pebbleroot stood, surprisingly calm. Sure she was shocked and nervous, but the main goal was to find the colt a mother, black foal or not. Even from the darkness, she could tell he was thin, unnaturally thin. The colt started bleating halfway through the conversation. They needed to act fast.