Chapter 5
4 months later
Ashfrost and Cinderfrost woke up earlier than usual, the sun just peeking over the hill. Today they were officially yearlings. For once, Frostwing hadn't already disappeared and was snoring quietly in the corner. The twins looked at each other and sighed.
In the past moons, things between the small family had become less tense. Frostwing was actually able to have a full decent conversation with them. But Ashfrost in particular still resented his sire. Mostly because the overstallion, while he kept his distance, was very controlling with everything the twins did.
That's why Cinderfrost and her brother relished their visits with Smokemoon and Summerdew. Ashfrost saw the pair every other day, sometimes going to each other's territory, or meeting each other at the center. Cinderfrost was only able to visit half as often. That was another thing. Frostwing had become attached to the grey filly, and she had obviously become his favorite. This did not improve Ashfrost's opinion of him.
The Ice Herd leader had taken it upon himself to train Cinderfrost to become the next leader.
It wouldn't have been so bad had he not shown such love to her, all the while ignoring his colt for the most part. The 2 months after Ashsong's death, he shunned both. Now, it was only one. Ashfrost's heart spun in a whirlwind of emotions every time he thought about it.
Cinderfrost leaned in close to her twin. "Are you ready?"
"For the torturous morning he has planned? No."
"Well…neither am I but we just have to reach noon. Then…" she grinned at him.
He finished her sentence. "We get to get our crystals!" He smiled. "With Smokemoon."
"Too bad Summerdew has to leave…"
"Tomorrow. We have the day." Summerdew was leaving again to monitor the Earth's activities. It was rumored that the humans were rising. One organization in particular, the Society of Supernatural Investigation and Inquiry seemed to be gaining knowledge of the pegasus' existence.
Frostwing rolled over and sleepily opened one eye. When he saw the twins awake and talking he stood up and put on a wide smile. Both yearlings cringed inwardly.
"You guys are up! Today, you become yearlings. One step closer to becoming full-fledged pegasi! And you, my dear," he looked fondly at Cinderfrost. "Becoming leader of Ice Herd. Oh, if only your mother could see you."
"Thanks dad," the filly answered. "What's for breakfast?"
"Well, since it is a special day, I planned for us to fly out to the far edge of our territory to graze on the blackberries." He grinned. The twins grimaced.
"Sounds…delicious!" Cinderfrost tried to assure him. Ashfrost merely stared outside. He wasn't on very good speaking terms with his sire.
"Well, let's head off!" The white stallion lifted into the air. Ashfrost gave Cinderfrost a look and followed.
"Hey," Cinder nickered quietly. "Just until this afternoon."
"This afternoon." Her brother repeated. His mind was already thinking ahead. They had planned on meeting Smokemoon and his family at the medicine mare cove to get their crystals. After, his parents would fly them all back to their Water Herd home for the rest of the afternoon. Frostwing had business to attend to.
Besides the fact that it would get him away from his sire, Ashfrost looked forward to being with his friend. They understood each other. Smokemoon had been feeling restless, and wasn't on solid terms with his adopted parents.
The large meadow glistened with fresh snow. As the 3 landed, the uninterrupted landscape was dotted with their hoofprints. "Here are the berries!" Frostwing chuffed, motioning to the ice tipped bushes.
Ashfrost wasted no time in taking a bite. Before he could help himself, he grinned. "These are amazing." They had just the right balance of sweet juice and crunch. Cinderfrost trotted to her own bush and the next 10 minutes or so were filled with contented chomping. Frostwing looked at Cinderfrost. "Don't eat any more," he warned. "They can become poisonous." She immediately stopped and backed away.
"Why would you let us eat them then?"
"They are amazing and I figured you would want a special birthday treat." He shrugged his wings. Ashfrost glared at him. "Still. I would rather not get sick. Thanks a lot." He stomped his hoof and the ice twisted up his leg, a nervous habit.
"I'm sure you'll be fine Ashfrost," his sire dismissed. His son turned and trotted a good distance away to lay down in the snow. Cinderfrost shot an annoyed look at her sire and joined him. "I can't believe him," she stated to her twin.
"Believe it. I don't know why I'm surprised anymore by anything he does."
"Yeah…but think. After we get our crystals…we can go to Earth!"
"An escape from dear old dad. I can't wait."
"Yeah…" they stayed sitting for a while. Frostwing tried to come close to apologize, but everytime he got nearer, an angry tail flick from Ashfrost would send him away.
Then the stomach cramps set in. Apparently, those berries were pretty poisonous, and you didn't need to ingest many for the effects to set in. The twins groaned as they stumbled to their feet. Their sire ran to their side. "Oh this is all my fault I never should have suggested it!"
"No really." Ashfrost replied sarcastically. "We need to get to the medicine cove before this gets too serious."
They lifted into the air, wincing in pain. Frostwing followed at a distance. It was a good 15 minutes flight from the edge of Ice Herd to the center, but to the twins it felt longer. Ashfrost’s belly felt like it was on fire. A freezing cold fire that took his breath away and crept through his nerves. He coughed and pushed to fly harder.
Eventually, they made it, stumbling to the front opening. Opalmist came out as they landed. The dark palomino’s feathers glistened with all colors of the rainbow in the sunlight. “You aren’t due for another couple hours to get your crystals…What happened?” She immediately left into action, ushering them to her mats on the floor.
“Berries…” Ashfrost managed, collapsing in a heap.
“What kind of berries? What did they look like? Where did you find them?”
Cinderfrost coughed. “They were round and a dark blue-purplish color at the edge of Ice Herd territory.”
Opalmist shook her head angrily. “Why would you eat those? They are called Shivering Thistlethorn. Some call it Killer Frost since it’s like a paralyzing frost that breaks down your digestive system, then the rest of your body.” She sighed and rummaged around in her ‘pantry’ of medicines. “Thankfully it’s a simple fix if you get it in time. The Fireweed.”
She gave the twins a small bunch of red tall grass shoots to eat. “Though I warn you, it doesn’t taste pleasant.”
Ashfrost shook his head as his wings seized and swallowed the weeds. “I don’t care, it's better than this.” He winced when the flames shot down his throat. “Okay I take that back…”
Cinderfrost ate it slower, grimacing. They were still ingesting the last of their medicine when Frostwing swooped in. He arched his head at the medicine mare. “Where’s Summerbreeze?”
“She is off serving an emergency in another territory.” Summerbreeze was the head medicine mare and Opalmist’s dam. Her filly had followed in her mother’s hoofsteps and was a fantastical doctor, but Frostwing looked like he didn’t trust her.
“Your foals are going to be fine!” She added happily. Frostwing nodded and forced a smile. Ashfrost felt the Fireweed coming back up. He couldn’t resist adding sourly to Opalmist, “we would already be fine if it weren’t for him.”
The mare looked at the Ice Herd leader suspiciously. “Is this true?”
“I swear it was an accident! If I had known they were dangerous then I never would have brought them,” he replied defensively.
Ashfrost rose to his feet unsteadily to glare angrily at his sire. “You knew they were poisonous. You knew what we were getting into!” His voice rose to a near yell. “You just didn’t care…”
His whole body was shaking now, he could barely stay upright. All he could think about was the unbridled rage that he had toward his father. The stallion who had rejected him, favored his sister over him. Opalmist leaned close to him and tried to get him to lay back down, but he barely heard her.
"Ever since mom died you've been like this. You don't care about me. You only care about yourself and your 'precious leadership position'. I could fall to earth and you would. Not. Care." He snarled. The more he talked the more sick he felt. He swayed heavily, his hooves stamping against the pine needle below him.
"How about if I died…huh? Care…then?" His vision went fuzzy as he toppled to the ground. Cinderfrost jumped to his side and was yelling at him, but he didn't know what. Everything was fuzzy. He couldn't feel anything either. It was kinda nice, in a way.
He closed his eyes, feeling warm feathers by his side, urging him to get up. It was fine. He felt fine. Everything faded into darkness.
Pegasi
As mentioned in the story
Ice Herd
Frostwing - Overstallion of Ice Herd, Sire to Ashfrost and Cinderfrost, Mate to Ashsong of Fire Herd; White stallion with almost transparent blue feathers
Ashfrost - Twin to Cinderfrost; Grey sabino overo with feathered legs and a thick grey mane. Icey blue feathers that fade to white. Half bald face and 4 streaky socks.
Cinderfrost - Twin to Ashfrost; Steel Grey Tobiano with light red feathers that fade to white.
Fire Herd
Ashsong (Deceased) - Previous Overmare of Fire Herd, Dam to Ashfrost and Cinderfrost, Mate to Frostwing of Ice Herd; Dark grey pinto with dark red feathers that fade to black.
Sundance - Reigning Overmare of Fire Herd and Ashsong’s murderer; Red dun with interrupted stripe and dark red wings that are edged in black and streaked with orange.
Storm Herd
Echomoon (Deceased) - Mate to Rockstream, dam to Smokemoon, older sister to Wintersun; Light grey pintaloosa with purple feathers and star.
Wintersun - Younger sister to Echomoon. Buckskin pintaloosa with harvest orange feathers frosted in blue/white.
Smokemoon - Adopted brother to Summerdew; Dark black colt with an undertone of grey. 4 stockings, a waning moon star on his forehead, and blue feathers.
Water Herd
Rockstream (Deceased) - Mate to Echomoon; Dark grey with blue feathers and 4 stockings.
Rainstar - Mate to Spiritwind, dam to Summerdew and Smokemoon (adopted);
Spiritwind - Mate to Rainstar, sire to Summerdew and Smokemoon (adopted); Buckskin with white feathers tipped in black.
Summerdew - Adopted sister to Smokemoon; Buckskin tovero with black mane and tail, teal feathers.
Earth Herd
Opalmist - Medicine Mare; Dark palomino with misty colored wings made of blue, grey, green, and brown that shimmer in the sunlight, hind stockings
Summerbreeze - Head Medicine Mare, dam to Opalmist; Palomino, bald face, 2 white hind stockings. Cloudy blue and white feathers
Shadow Herd
Darkfire - Filly; Dark brown blanket Appaloosa with dark brown mane streaked with lighter brown. Silver feathers tipped in black.
Duskheart (Deceased) - Mate to Shadowstone, dam to Darkfire; Grey blanket appaloosa mare with pitch-black feathers.
Shadowstone (Deceased) - Mate to Duskheart, sire to Darkfire; Dark brown stallion with bald face and dark grey wings that fade to white.
Starstorm - Aunt to Darkfire, sister to Duskheart; Rose grey mare with pale yellow feathers and two front socks.
❤️ this!
I think one of the reasons I like this kind of thing so much is that I can see where every character is coming from, this is great!