Racewind: -prepares to charge-

Windwing: -folds wings and prepares-

Mintbreeze: -slowly lowers wing-

Racewind: -watches like everything is in slow motion and starts to regret accepting the challenge-

Windwing: -pins ears-

Mintbreeze: -drops wing and whinnies-

Windwing: -charges and rams into Racewind immediately-

Racewind: -faltered but leaped into the air and pelted his opponent with kicks on the back-

Windwing: -ducks and bolts forward, opening large wings and lifts into the air- -faces Racewind and bares teeth, diving for his throat-

Mapleglade: -shuffles hooves back and forth across his legs wanting to help-

Racewind: -dodges and lands back on the ground- -rears and pelts Windwing’s belly with kicks-

Windwing: -feels a slight pain but ignores it and lands hooves on Racewind’s back, dragging front hoof across it, slicing it open-

Racewind: -winces but drags Windwing to the ground by his mane-

Windwing: -rips mane out of Racewind’s muzzle and bites Racewind’s cheek-

Windwing: -lands and whirls around, sending back hooves towards Racewind’s chest- (I love that move)

Crimsonwind: -trots up next to his mother and sees the two stallions fighting- Whats going on?

Racewind: -falls to the ground but quickly regains footing- -glares-

Mintbreeze: If your sire wins, Windwing and the rest of his useless group is ours. If Windwing wins, their set free.

Crimsonwind: -widens eyes- What?! That’s ridiculous! -starts to gallop down the hill towards the stallions-

Wispifrost: -gets to hooves- Sorry auntie Junetree, I need to stop this! -races down the hill not waiting for permission-

Junetree: HEY!! WAIT!! -wing palm- Why me? Why?

Crimsonwind: -purposely crashes into his sire- Stop!

Wispifrost: -does the same to her sire at exactly the same time- -gapes at Crimsonwind-

Windwing: -stops- Wispifrost get out of here!

Crimsonwind: Father what’s the point of this?

Wispifrost: -shakes head- I won’t. Don’t fight this dumb guy! He might hurt you!

Windwing: I already hurt him. That inexperienced stallion doesnt stand a chance.

Wispifrost: Daddy, fighting him IS dumb. Don’t continue, please.

Windwing: -paws ground, knowing she is right-

Wispifrost: So are you going to stop fighting him or not?

Windwing: -doesn’t answer-

Wispifrost: Daddy... please don’t.

Windwing: -pins ears at Racewind- Surrender.

Racewind: -pins ears at Windwing- No, you surrender

Windwing: -bares teeth- I’d like to see you try to make me surrender. Just give it up Racewind. You were losing anyways.

Racewind: -bares teeth- Fine. But next time, we will fight to the death. -gallops away in agony of losing what chance he had of taking Wispiflower-

Windwing: -nods pleasingly-

Wispifrost: -looks at Crimsonwind sympathetically- I’m sorry your sire is such a coward.

Crimsonwind: -droops ears- I dont understand him. Or my mother.

Windwing: -snorts and walks over to Wispiflower-

Wispiflower: -came out as soon as Racewind was out of sight- -pale as a white dove- What were you thinking agreeing to something that Mintbreeze suggested?! She could have had a trap set so that Racewind could win! Then you would have been ki... I... -pauses- -tears roll down cheeks- Just never do that again. -puts wing on his shoulder- Like someone great said; never fight on their terms.

Windwing: -widens eyes-

Wispiflower: -takes deep breath and lets it out- Sorry, I kind of exploded.

Windwing: Its okay, I just realized how stupid this has been.

Wispiflower: -laughs quietly- Yeah it was pretty stupid.

Wispiflower: -wipes eyes- Hey, Whitefrost and Wispifrost will be yearlings tomorrow

Windwing: Whoa. Thats right

Wispiflower: I can’t believe it’s been a whole year.

Windwing: Me neither.. -looks at Wispifrost and Whitefrost- They’ve gotten so big and tall.

Wispiflower: -nods sadly- Yes, they have. In a few years they will be old enough to have their own foals. -takes him by the shoulders and shakes him violently- WHYYY?!?!?!

Windwing: -tries to stay balanced- Thatsss justtt the wayyy offff lifeee

Wispiflower: But WHYYY!?!?!

Windwing: I don’t know why

Whitefrost: -trots up to his parents- -perks ears and stops- Uh mother why are you shaking father like that?

Wispiflower: -decides to stop shaking him- Um, no reason....

Windwing: -shakes head, body, and wings to get the dirt off-

-changes subject- You excited to be a year old tomorrow?

Crimsonwind: -looks at Wispifrost- How old are you?

Wispifrost: A yearling tomorrow. Why?

Crimsonwind: Just wondering. I’ll be a yearling in exactly a week

Wispifrost: -brightens- Cool! I can’t wait to be a yearling because then I can start sky herder training!

Crimsonwind: -perks ears- I want to be a captain

Wispifrost: -nods approvingly after looking him up and down- You look like you will be the right size for a captain. -tomato- Not that I was ummm...

Crimsonwind: -nickers softly- I could see you being a sky herder. It’ll suit you.

Wispifrost: Thanks. Daddy doesn’t want me to get included in it or any kind of battle ranking, but I still feel it is my place, you know?

Crimsonwind: -perks ears- Your sire is an over-stallion, but he doesn’t want you in any battle ranking?

Wispifrost: -shakes head- Nope. I think he just wants to protect me, but...

Crimsonwind: I bet he’ll want you to be a sky herder.

Wispifrost: -shakes head- You don’t know him, he won’t let me. He is afraid I would get killed. Me and Whitefrost are his biggest weaknesses next to our mother

Crimsonwind: I’m sure he’ll change his mind soon.

Wispifrost: -shrugs- Maybe. -doesn’t really believe it

Wispiflower: -walks over to her filly- Wispifrost- Oh hello Crimsonwind. Do you mind if I borrow Wispifrost for a sec?

Crimsonwind: -nods- I’m gonna go talk to Whitefrost anyways

-turns and trots over to the colt-

Whitefrost: -perks ears and lifts head up from grazing- Hey, what are you doing here?

Crimsonwind: -snorts- I live here.

Whitefrost: Oh, right. What’s wrong?

Crimsonwind: -shrugs- Nothing, I just need someone to talk to other than my parents.

Whitefrost: -nods- I understand.

Wispifrost: What is it mother?

Wispiflower: It May be a little silly, but I want to hug you one last time before you become a yearling.

Wispifrost: -smiles brightly- That’s not silly at all Mommy

-goes in for a hug-

Wispiflower: -squeezes her filly tight- You’re getting so big. -tears up-

Wispifrost: I know. -looks up hopefully- Can you make Daddy let me be a sky herder?!

Wispiflower: -looks at her accusingly but smiles a tiny bit- Maybe. -let’s go- Okay, you can keep talking to.. -still doesn’t completely trust the colt- Crimsonwind.

Windwing: -trots up to the mare and filly-

-nods head proudly- I’m proud of you. And dont worry, we may have been captured by enemies for a few moons, but it hasnt been bad. We’ll be out before you start training.

Windwing: -perks ears- But are you sure you want to do something thats tricky and dangerous? You have to prove your brave and strong enough for that.

Wispifrost: -gasps- You Mean I CAN BE A SKY HERDER?!?!

Wispifrost: -digests the last of what he said- Oh right. I think I can do it...

Windwing: -keeps an emotion-less face and nods- Once we’re free, I’ll get you a spot in the yearling sky herding training group. -narrows eyes- Be careful.

-opens large wings and leaps into the sky to find Whitefrost-

Windwing: -quickly finds him with Crimsonwind and lands next to them- What’s going on here?

Whitefrost: Crimsonwind just wants to talk.

Windwing: -perks ears- About what?

Crimsonwind: -paws ground- Mother and father dont even love each other. Mother only became mates with my father to have me, and to try to fool you Windwing. It’s ridiculous. Their ridiculous.

Wispifrost: -squeals excitedly- I get to be a sky herder!!

-corrects self- In training anyway. A sky herder in training.

Wispifrost: Bye Mommy! I want to go tell brothy! -dashes off not waiting for a reply-

Wispiflower: Oh well. -shrugs and grazes-

Wispifrost: -crashes into her brother- I GET TO BE A SKY HERDER!!!! BROTHY I

GET TO BE A SKY HERDER!!!! -spots Crimsonwind- -jumps up and down excitedly and hugs Crimsonwind with hooves still dancing- I GET TO BE A SKY HERDER!!!!

Windwing: -nickers as he watches his filly dance in excitement-

-tenses a bit as she hugs Crimsonwind-

Whitefrost: Good for you!

Crimsonwind: -staggers back in shock and tenses, then looks at Windwing, afraid he would be mad-

Wispifrost: -gets the same thought and let’s go abruptly, slightly paled-

Crimsonwind: -sighs in relief and perks ears- That’s good

Windwing: -nods in agreement and looks at Crimsonwind, gesturing him to follow- -walks over to a big tree a quarter of a mile away-

Crimsonwind: -widens eyes and tenses again, but follows-

Whitefrost: -watches them leave- I wonder what that’s about..

Windwing: -arrives at the tree-

Crimsonwind: -breaks into a loop to catch up- -slows to a trot and stops in front of Windwing- What.. do you want me here for?

Windwing: -studies the colt- What do you think about your parents behavior? -narrows eyes- Be honest.

Crimsonwind: -lowers head- I- I dont know. I used to love it when they wanted to capture all of you guys, but now I’ve met you, and we’ve been here for moons. I dont like what they do, I hate it.

Junetree: -was listening to the whole conversation so far-

-steps out of hiding- May I join you?

Windwing: -sighs- Sure.

Junetree: Yay. You won’t even know I am here. Continue!

Windwing: -nods and looks at Crimsonwind-

Crimsonwind: -paws ground- Mother and father dont even love each other. They hate each other.

Junetree: Wow, that’s sad.

Crimsonwind: -nods sadly-

Junetree: Oops, I spoke. -zips lips- -muffled voice without opening mouth- Please confinue

Junetree: -un-zips lips- Forget it. I am probably going to talk.

Windwing: -nickers-

Junetree: -claps wings as if to say “back to business!”- Okay, continue pegasi.

Junetree: Ahem, continue your conversation please.

Junetree: -looks at them oddly- Did you turn to statues?

Windwing: -stares off into the distance, thinking-

Crimsonwind: -looks at the ground, silent in fear-

Windwing: -sighs and turns to Crimsonwind- Can we trust you?

Junetree: Ooh! We’re telling him rebel secrets?!

Junetree: Er... You know what I meant.

Windwing: -looks at Junetree with head cocked to the side a bit, confused-

Junetree: -sigh in frustration- Never mind.

Crimsonwind: -lowers neck, eyes looking at the ground, and exhales through nose-

Windwing: -eyes widen, knowing Crimsonwind just surrendered-

Junetree: -stands there in shocked silence- Wooooooowwww...

Windwing: -nods proudly, still in a bit of shock- -lowers muzzle and exchanges breath with the colt-

Crimsonwind: -perks ears and does the same-

Windwing: -backs up, opens wings, and flies off back to Wispiflower-

Junetree: Wooooow

Crimsonwind: -narrows eyes- Mother and father are my enemies now.

-stomps hoof-