Last comment from part 32:
Mistcloud-
"Bears sleep during the winter, so that's one less threat." said Mistcloud, after listing to the others state their arguments, "And wile I think we can all agree we should honor our fallen steeds, we have far to many bodies lying around this valley. I think it may be our best course of action to berry as many steeds as possible as best we can, then leave a detail of a few steeds to guard them. During the winter, if wolves carry a few away, then so be it. They can't take that many away anyways. Also, I may not be an expert on the decomposition process, but I do know that at least wile the ground is frozen it wont take in any nurturance, so it will most likely be well into next years summer before we see any change."
Breezecloud nodded. "That's true, bears' hibernation should be starting in a moon or so. But haven't we buried most, if not all, of the bodies already? I think we have. Also, the ground isn't frozen yet. That should happen within the next moon, by which time we should be south."
Mistcloud-
Mistcloud lashed out with her front hoof, and it struck the ground slicing a clump in moss in apart. Revealing streaks of white in the dirt. "The ground isn't frozen yet." she said, partially agreeing with Breezecloud "But thanks to that frost we had last night, it's getting pretty close."
Breezecloud nodded. "My point exactly." She reshuffled her violet wings, deciding it was time to move on. When she spoke, her voice had a note of closure to it. "I say we all migrate on hoof, to keep with the steeds who can't fly, as soon as possible. It's the last half-moon coming up, by the time the moon is dark we should begin the migration. Those steeds who have leg injuries can fly when they are well enough to do so, but they should match the walkers' pace so that we don't get separated too much from each other. The migration should take a moon or two. We'll settle in Dawn Herd's old territory and prepare to invade one of the neighboring Sun Herd splitoffs. When winter is over, we migrate back north, in two groups, fliers and walkers, because we'll be healed by then."
Mistcloud-
The council mare was not very thrilled at the idea of having the whole herd walk, but other then that she agreed with Breezecloud, "Okay, that sounds good."
Breezecloud nodded in satisfaction, then looked to the other council members. "Who else agrees? And if you don't what do you propose?"
Shadowfire raised his wing in agreement of the plan.
Robincloud-
The mare raised her tattered and old wing, along with her mate. Though he still thought there could be a better way, he wasn't going to argue with the commands and closure in Breezecloud's and Mistcloud's voices.
Starsummer raised a wing, followed by Maplewing, who still looked hesitant, but knew he wouldn't be able to persuade the others. Crystalcloud was one of the only one's still without her wing raised. She caught Starsummer's gaze and snapped, "I just don't like the idea of splitting up. Why are we splitting up to guard a wretched place that has brought nothing but pain and suffering to the herd for the last few days?!" She said, meaning how everyone in the war lost someone they knew and why would they protect something that inflicting horrible memories.
Starsummer contradicted Crystalcloud's sneering face with her own patient look. "Crystalcloud, you're outnumbered. And this valley didn't just bring pain. Many newborn foals were born in this valley a couple months ago. You can't say we suffered." she said, lowering her wing, hoping they could move on to the next topic.
Crystalcloud's hard face softened, little by little, until she gave up and raised her wing.
Starsummer nodded, pleased. "Alright. What's next?" she said, feeling her eyes get heavier and heavier with every passing minute.
Shadowfire thought for several seconds. "Those were the two main things that we needed, I think. Guards for the dead and the migration. But what will we do when we've reached Dawn Herd's territory. It isn't large enough to support a herd of this size, and we don't know if it's still open. It's entirely possible that Sun Herd or another of its split-off herds has annexed the territory for their use. We aren't strong enough for a siege, and we certainly won't be after two moons of hoof travel. How do we know that we will have somewhere to migrate to?"
(This is getting interesting
(And You're righr Flame, I'm gonna take down my Pewd post and btw, I'm not from sweden
Maplewing answered the question quickly. "Send a battalion. Send a battalion to scout our course. If they see that Dawn herd's territory is taken, they can find another open patch of land. If Dawn herd's territory isn't taken, then bang, it's ours." He said, almost like he rehearsed it.
Shadowfire nodded. "Not a bad idea, but what other area would we use for the winter? The Veins created since the collapse of Sun Herd are so small that I, standing in Dawn Meadow, could almost talk to a steed in Sun Herd. That isn't enough room for a herd of this size."
(gtg sry)
(Thought this might help:
btw, the Flame Herd, Desert Herd, Beach Herd, Sand Herd, and Lake Herd territories are now part of Glacier Herd)
Shadowfire thought for several moments, eyes closed, reviewing his memories of flying alone through the Veins in his captain training. He snapped his eyes open again as he thought of something. "We can use the Vein northeast of Jungle Herd!" he said in a rush. "Combined with Dawn Meadow and Valley Field from Cave Herd's territory, that should be enough space for all of us, as long as we're willing to squeeze a bit. But the same applies to Cave Herd's land as it does to Dawn Herd: it might have been taken over by a neighbor."
-meanwhile, back in the meadow-
Everything was quiet and peaceful back in the meadow. The triplets, who got tired of playing in the snow, were now huddled closely to the twins. They were chattering about something Darkstone couldn't tell.
"Yearlings." He scoffed. "They're so hyper." He thought. He was chewing on the dead grass that peeked through the snow covered ground. It was tasteless and chewy, but he was hungry, so what else could he do.
A flash of light blue caught his eye. He turned his head toward the Medicine mare den and he spotted Whiteshadow, still sorting through roots and tending to injured steeds. As he watched her, he sighed longingly. "I can't wait to see her in 2 days....wait....2 days is...TONIGHT!!!!!! I GO TO THE BEACH WITH WHITESHADOW....TONIGHT!!!!!"
Darkstone's head snapped up as a million things whirled around in his head.
"I haven't even begun to think about what I would say to her! I was going to ask her to be my mate, now that the war's over, but what if she rejects me?! Then I'll just be awkwardly standing on the beach! Even if I did ask her to be my mate, is it too early? I've only known her for a year or two and we're both still young! She is busy with medicine mare duties! She doesn't need a mate right now! She's too busy! That's not fair to her......But I love her!!! I have to tell her!!!"
He paused, then he freaked out and had a total meltdown.
"But how do I tell her!!?? I have no experience talking with mares!! How in all ANOK will I ask her to be my mate when I can't even tell her 'I love you' without stuttering!!??"
He groaned in frustration and started prancing. An idea suddenly popped into his head and he stopped prancing and stood deathly still.
"Experience! Thats what I need! I need a stallion to teach me how to talk to mares! Or at least tell me how to tell Whiteshadow "I love you." Okay...I need a stallion who preferably already has a mate...Brightwing! No, he's in the Council meeting...Elmshade! No he doesn't have a mate....Snowfrost! No!!! He doesn't have a mate either!!! Who the heck in this herd has a mate, but isn't in the Council meeting?!"
The triplet's suddenly saw their uncle looking suddenly frazzled and panicked. "We'll be right back." They said and approached their Uncle with concerned and confused expressions. "Uncle Darkstone?" Magicpetal called, breaking him from his thoughts.
Darkstone turned around to see his nieces and nephew and relief washed over his face. "Oh! Good! I need your help. All of you." He said, his face pleading.
Goldenstream stifled a nicker. "Is this about Whiteshadow?"
Darkstone nodded and lowered his voice so only the triplets could hear him. "Of course it's about Whiteshadow! Okay, I need a stallion's opinion. I was going to ask Whiteshadow to be my mate, but I have no idea how r even if it's the right time. Do you three know anyone who's got a mate but isn't in the Council Meeting?"
They were silent for a few seconds, then Magicpetal's face brightened. "Horizongold's parents!! They aren't in the meeting! You can talk to them!"
Darkstone smiled broadly. "Great! One problem: I have no idea where Horizongold's parents are located or even who they are." He said, frowning, but Magicpetal only giggled. "Oh Uncle Darkstone! You're so overdramatic! Just tell them you're Starsummer's younger brother and Magicpetal's Uncle. They'll know who you are. And they sleep over there." she said, pointing all the way across the valley. As if reading his mind, Magicpetal answered. "Horizonfire is the father. Oceangold is the mother. Now get going!"
(Shadowfire, actually. And he's part of the council meeting after Bronzewing's death.)
Darkstone lifted off and flew towards where Magicpetal was pointing. "Okay. You got this." he said to himself as he neared the couple's home.
(WOW!!! Those were long...sorry about that)