Ulrani:

She thought for a moment. I don't know, dear. It all depends on what you like to do. If you like to draw, bring a pencil and a notebook."

Rayla: "Ulrani, what can I do to pass the time until the council meeting?"

Could i has some recommentos)

Valentina:

She tilted her head and grinned. "Yep."

Kelly:

She swallowed and looked up, watching as he winced from the pain in his leg.

At his words, Kelly felt soothed. She smiled softly, "True."

Kelly leaned against Merrick and exhaled.

(ACKKKKK)

Fig: He shrugged. “It’s just a way of thinking. It comes from

life. You and I have lived it.”

Merrick:

He tried to ignore his mother’s face staring at him and seeming to judge him through the paper. He felt Kelly flick her gaze to him and his jaw tightened, a muscle in his brow twitching. Unlike Kelly’s mother, Zeepa’s eyes were not bright. If anything, they looked cold. Merrick couldn’t tell if that was from the worn out colors of the painting or if she actually looked that way, but he figured it was the former considering his dam’s eyes constantly looked cold. Aaron spoke through the silence. “Of course, lass. Nothing could ever make death less terrible.” He paused to lay down again, groaning softly with a wince as he lowered. He continued, “Even though Angel isn’t here with you, she’s never really gone. Her love lives inside you, and you’ll see her again one day. In the meantime, you have others who love you and will listen when you‘re ready to talk.”

Valentina:

She giggled. "Huh, that's smart," she grinned.

Fig: He smiled, almost fondly. ”Once, back when I was a soldier, we had to march through hilly countryside. In the winter, I’d be happy, and my comrades would ask me why, ‘cuz they were freezing. I’d remind them of the lice and mosquitoes the summer brings. And in the summer, I would cheer them by reminding them of the absence of that bitter cold.”

Valentina:

She nodded. "It makes working there a LOT more bearable. It's MUCH better then the bar," Valentina said.

Fig: He cringed, knowing full well that one of those drunk centaurs could have been him. “Its good that you are at the bakery now.“

Valentina:

She tilted her head. "I think so. I've only ever worked for him, along with... well... being a dish washer and sweeper at a bar. But that job was much worse then the bakery, well, not that the bakery is bad!" Valentina straightened, and shook her head. "Working at a bar was a nightmare, especially when it got closer to night time. The customers would get drunk all night. I remember sweeping the floor, and one drunk man spilled his entire drink on my head." Valentina brushed back her red hair, her eyes wide.

Emberdream: She sighed and shook her head at Bladesky. "C'mon, you know if we leave the meadow Mom will be livid!" She said, trying to persuade her brother that they shouldn't leave. Bladesky scoffed and grinned. "No way! I'm going." He stated.

Valentina:

She straightened. (Idk what to do wit her)

Kelly:

She swallowed and took the painting, quickly wiping her eyes with her hand.

She shifted slightly and leaned closer to see her mother better. At Aaron's words, Kelly's head shot up.

Her lips tugged into a small smile. "I suppose. B-but that doesn't make her death any less... terrible." Kelly exhaled and looked back down at the painting.

She gently brushed her hand over her mother on the painting, but Zeepa caught Kelly's eye.

She guess that this was Merrick's mother after seeing how Aaron had his arm draped over her shoulder, and that she ever so slightly looked like Merrick.

Kelly swallowed but didn't say anything.

Exhaling, Kelly pressed her lips together, her blue eyes searching the painting.

Merrick:

He stroked her hair again and tenderly kissed her forehead. Merrick glanced at his father, who still didn’t speak, his eyes solemn. Merrick answered for him. “It’s alright. You’re alright. Don‘t worry.“ Aaron suddenly heaved himself to his hooves with a stifled grunt.

Without a word, he moved to his dresser and opened the very bottom drawer. He ruffled through it for a moment before pulling out a long, landscape painting. He moved back to the couple and handed the painting to Kelly. It was an old picture of 2 rows of centaurs-the captains and generals in the back with the explorers and recruits in the front. They were all standing shoulder to shoulder. There was at least 50 recruits and 50 generals.

Below the standing centaurs hooves, there were names beneath each one. Aaron reached out and pointed to a specific centauress. Merrick looked closer to see an older version of Kelly. Below her hooves, the name ‘Angel Nakoa’ was written. Aaron then pointed to 2 centaurs that stood next to her. It was a younger Aaron and Merrick’s mother, Zeepa. Aaron didnt have scars and his front leg wasn‘t lame, and his arm was wrapped around Zeepa. Merrick focused back to Angel, who looked very similar to Kelly. Angel‘s eyes were bright, even in the old, dull painting, and a corner of her lips were turned upward in a smirk. “Your mother was in the same squad as me. Her death brings me sadness. But, I‘m glad it also brought you to us.“

Kelly:

She inhaled softly but didn't pull away from Merrick. Kelly squeezed her eyes shut, before opening them and looking at Aaron.

She could see the shock and sadness in his eyes, which made her feel worse.

Kelly swallowed. "I'm so sorry," she said quietly.

(SRY I LEFT, STUPID SCHOOOOLLLLL)

Rayla:

"What can I do to pass the time until the council meeting?"

Merrick:

His ears sagged and his heart sank. He hated seeing her so sad and hated seeing her blame herself for something she couldn’t control. Neither of the stallions said anything for several seconds as the weight of her words pressed down on them.

Merrick was the first to move as he reached out to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and the other around her waist, then pulled her against his chest.

“Kelly...” He started, then faded out. He wasn’t sure what to say to comfort her, so he didn’t speak and simply held her close, stroking her hair and wiping her tears. He spared a glance to look up at his father, who was too stunned and saddened by the news to speak. Merrick‘s eyes returned to Kelly and he pulled her closer against him. (AAAAAIIIIIIIIIIII I LOVE THEM)