Chapter 5: A History Lesson
Skysun trudged out of the Medicine Mare’s cave, her golden feathers still stained green from the herbs Lotusroot used to keep at bay any infection that may have set in otherwise. She blinked as she stepped out into the bright sunshine. The harsh heat was hot on her hide, but it felt oh so good. Limping down the short trail due to a leg injury, Skysun approached a group of weanlings who had gathered around the elders, hoping they would tell a story. Her father had left earlier that day with a large portion of the Desert Herd Army to help Mountain Herd take back Cragwing’s foal from Snow Herd. She missed him, but she knew he’d come back as soon as possible. As she approached, a young colt spotted her and scoffed.
“Hey, look!” He nickered with a smirk, “It’s the walker, Skysun!”
Breezeheart glared at the colt and smacked him with a wing, “Quiet, Sandfeather!” She hissed.
The palomino colt spun around to face Breezeheart, “Make me!” He hissed.
Skysun put herself between Sandfeather and Breezeheart, glaring at the young colt. “Your fight is with me, not with her!” She whinnied. Sand sprayed up from Sandfeather’s hoof as he pawed at the ground, flaring his light yellow wings.
“Oh, I’m in for that, you…”
“ENOUGH!” Commanded Specklefeather, her yellow feather’s speckled with gold rattling. Skysun and Sandfeather stopped, staring at the usually calm, elderly mare. “You should be ashamed!” She snorted, “You are herdmates, not squabbling Leaders!”
The two weanlings lowered their heads, “Sorry, Specklefeather…” They murmured.
Specklefeather sighed, calming visibly, “You’re forgiven…” She said calmly, “Now, can we all settle down? I have a good story to tell today.”
A ripple of excitement rippled through the group of weanlings as they settled down, facing the young foals. Specklefeather cleared her throat.
“A long, long time ago…LONG before all of you were born, the four herds were one,” She started, “Peace was the song on the wind, and all the herds enjoyed each other’s company, and no wars broke out. The only blight on this peace was the other Herd in the north, Wind Herd. And they sowed discord within River Herd, and, especially after Starwing’s and Morningscloud’s deaths, had been able to slowly split the herd in two. The two groups were this, one group thought that the one herd was fine, and that they shouldn’t change, the other, however, believed that their one herd wasn’t working, and that they should split back into the four original herds. The two groups argued frequently, and even the River Herd Council was split on this matter. One day, about a thousand years ago, the tension between the two groups grew to a breaking point, and finally snapped, causing war between a single herd. Thus began The Great War, which lasted for moons upon moons. After Jaywing, the leader of the Dividers, defeated Nightfeather, the leader of the Defenders, came The Great Split. This is the point in history when the one great herd, River Herd, split into four, and enacted Herd Law again, implementing Over-Stallions, Lead Mares, Veins, and many other things. For a while, chaos was reigning across Anok as stallions attempted to claim Leadership of their herds. It took almost eight seasons before the herds were back to normal, and peace in the herds was back, Over-Stallions ruling over their herds…”
Skysun raised her non-injured wing. “What happened to Wind Herd and River Herd?” She asked curiously.
“River Herd became Sun Herd through peaceful means," She stated, "Wind Herd, however, was swallowed up by Snow Herd.” She said, “Their plan had backfired tremendously. They had hoped to split the herd into four, so they could easily destroy each one. They were, however, destroyed and conquered by Snow Herd not long after The Great Split.”
Skysun nodded, settling down once again.
“As I was saying, the…” Specklefeather stopped abruptly, her ears perked.
“Specklefeather?” Skysun asked, “What’s going on…”
“Shh!” Commanded the elder, “I’m trying to listen.”
The weanlings all perked their ears. Then, they all tensed when they heard a panicked whinny coming from the Red Rock Mountains.
So here it is! PART 5!! I had fun writing this part, and can't wait for you to see what is gonna happen next!! Trust me when I say the next few parts are going to be good!! as always, constructive criticism is welcome! I hope you enjoyed the story!!
IS SANDFEATHER SKYSUN'S FUTURE MATE!??!?!?!?!?
but I LOVE that story!!!
This is great!
But who was whinny did they hear..... hmmmmmmmmmm
Appearances:
Adderfire: A chestnut stallion with golden wings
Amberfeather: A light chestnut mare with amber colored wings four white socks and a wide white blaze
Skysun: Chestnut filly with golden feathers that fade to a darker gold at the tips, four white socks, and a wide white blaze
Breezeheart: A chestnut filly with pale yellow wings
Sandfeather: Palomino colt with light yellow wings
Camelwing: Old chestnut stallion with golden wings and four white socks
Galecloud: Palomino mare with rust red wings
Oh dear! Comment: how can you have weanlings AND nursing foals at the same time?
Also, I really like: "Peace was the song on the wind"