The soft swishing of the willow tree above, its long whip-like branches
gently brushed Autumn Skye's face as she woke with a start. The gray light
of dawn was just opening into a mural of pink, orange, and purple, the cold
air stung a bit and she shivered as a small cloud of steam traveled out
with her breath. "Miss, miss? Its time to wake. Matriarch requests that you
be ready to go by five o' clock this morning, she is most impatient to
leave." A quaint looking purple stallion was shaking her shoulder. Autumn
Skye just nodded. "Follow me then, Matriarch requests that we make you all
ready for the journey." Autumn Skye supposed that "Matriarch" was Draven.
She followed the purple stallion amiably, noting that the others were
already up and gone.
"Have all the others gotten ready?" She asked him. He nodded, she frowned, "Mind telling me your name?" it came out harsher than she had intended, but the stallion appeared not to notice.
"My name is Clever Clover, I would prefer you call my clover however." It was Autumn Skye's turn to nod, obviously she wasn't going to get a very entertaining conversation out of this guy. She glanced around at the different quarters and exotic looking plants until they reached their destination, the maypole clearing.
Obviously the guess that it had been a meeting place was not far off. It was the center of activity today. Draven was in the middle of it all. Her clean whit coat was already nearly brown with the dust kicked up by the shuffling of hooves as the ponies did their duties. "You! Pack the blankets! Not the vittles!" She spotted Autumn Skye and gave an exasperated smile, a shrug, and ran off after a pony who was apparently packing the vittles wrong.
"Miss? You will receive you supplies in that quarter over there." Clover gestured toward a doorway next to Draven's. Autumn Skye nodded and trotted through the doorway. Rainbow Dash was looking at his tail with some distaste.
"My eyes already look girly, did they have to add a tail ribbon?" He said with scorn, swishing his tail, the base of which was wrapped in a tight, stiff, blue material that held it erect so that it just barely brushed the ground. He bugged his eyes to show his rainbow colored iris for effect.
Autumn chuckled at her brother's dramatic reaction and stood still while the hair dresser tied her hair up like his. Then she braided the hair into many tiny strands, like dread locks. "This'll keep the hair for tangling on bushes and the like." the hair dresser informed her. "Heres your supplies." the hair dresser made an attempt to pull out a bundle, which Autumn toted like a feather on her back, after relieving the hair dresser of the burden. "Thank you." the hair dresser panted, for the Easterns, despite their speed, were not an especially strong breed. "Now, go out and find Night Star, she will assign you to your group."
Following Rainbow she stepped back out into the clearing. A pony waiting by the door quickly stepped out. "Follow me." The blue-ish pony led them out of the gardens and before them was an incredible sight.
Silthor was at their head. He was commanding the eastern foot army in their exercises. Their flanks shining with sweat and their faces set with concentration they moved themselves into a trot. Silthor shouted another command and all the ponies stood rigid and unmoving. He trotted in front of them. His eyes observing each fault. He shouted another command and they dispersed to get their supplies.
"How many are there?" Autumn Skye asked Night Star.
"Over four hundred in ranks. Others have volunteered to come as well."
"I'd hate to be these the grundles."
Night Star nodded. "They will suffer for the pain they have caused our kin. You will join the rest of your herd just over that hill, our journey begins as soon as the army gets their supplies." Autumn Skye just gulped and headed toward the hill. She didn't trust herself to speak without shouting for the rising feeling she felt in her chest. The feeling she had come to identify as happiness.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For once the Celebration Herd was tired. The Easterns, due to their speed, had set a fast pace, Majesty and the other Westerns were already asleep. They hybrids and Easterns were sitting around the fire chatting however. Stories were about to be told and Draven had promised to tell the proud Eastern history. She finally came forward, Silthor at her side. Autumn Skye was quick to guess that Silthor was making a strong attempt to court the beautiful white pony. Judging from the fact that he nuzzled her cheek before joining the others he probably already had. Draven blushed faintly and nodded toward the group. "Shall we commence with my tale? Or shall I say our tale?" She sat down and began her story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the beginnings we were wild. We ran the desert like wind given body and had a spirit like contained fire. We lived in great herds, crossing the heated sands with ease. There were few stallions therefore at that time they owned harems and fought for other mares. Our population flourished.
We were a strong race, as I said, but we had a large shortcoming. We were highly superstitious, black colts, like for instance, Silthor, were abandoned. They were considered cursed and evil. For every herd had a protector. A unicorn, born to every generation, and at the same time they had a "twin". The twin was always male, and it was always pure black like the night. They were killed at once for the belief that they were the evil taken from the protector as it entered the world.
Eventually times became harsh. Food and oasis became near impossible to find. Our sorrow was great, for our children were dying as were we ourselves, our race was perishing like water spilled on the sand.
Finally, a stallion called us together, a great feat, as we were spread across the desert. He mad ea suggestion. We were dying here, why shouldn't we take the risk of traveling over the mountains, maybe the land on the other side would be better.
At first it was scoffed at, leave our home? But eventually the toles on our population became to great. We traveled over the mountains. At first it was brutal. The cold winds tore at our short coats, to accustomed to warm weather. It was soon found that darker colors offered more protection to the cold. So we began letting them live. More because we were afraid for our race than anything, the more alive the better.
When we finally caught our first view, we were enchanted, this place was heaven. Full of food. Full of shelter, everything we needed. So we settled in. Grew our great civilization here, the Gardens.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Draven finished her story with a yawn. "Time for sleep, the armies meet tomorrow and we must be awake." Maybe Draven didn't know it, but more than just her people caught onto the hidden message there. They were afraid of the Westens. Their army was much larger, if they decided they wanted to get rid of the Easterns...
Autumn Skye shook her head, Majesty wouldn't allow it anyway. They needed the Eastern's help. Besides, Majesty had already commented that she hoped this led to a peace treaty, but Draven had to be aware. Autumn Skye closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her.
"Have all the others gotten ready?" She asked him. He nodded, she frowned, "Mind telling me your name?" it came out harsher than she had intended, but the stallion appeared not to notice.
"My name is Clever Clover, I would prefer you call my clover however." It was Autumn Skye's turn to nod, obviously she wasn't going to get a very entertaining conversation out of this guy. She glanced around at the different quarters and exotic looking plants until they reached their destination, the maypole clearing.
Obviously the guess that it had been a meeting place was not far off. It was the center of activity today. Draven was in the middle of it all. Her clean whit coat was already nearly brown with the dust kicked up by the shuffling of hooves as the ponies did their duties. "You! Pack the blankets! Not the vittles!" She spotted Autumn Skye and gave an exasperated smile, a shrug, and ran off after a pony who was apparently packing the vittles wrong.
"Miss? You will receive you supplies in that quarter over there." Clover gestured toward a doorway next to Draven's. Autumn Skye nodded and trotted through the doorway. Rainbow Dash was looking at his tail with some distaste.
"My eyes already look girly, did they have to add a tail ribbon?" He said with scorn, swishing his tail, the base of which was wrapped in a tight, stiff, blue material that held it erect so that it just barely brushed the ground. He bugged his eyes to show his rainbow colored iris for effect.
Autumn chuckled at her brother's dramatic reaction and stood still while the hair dresser tied her hair up like his. Then she braided the hair into many tiny strands, like dread locks. "This'll keep the hair for tangling on bushes and the like." the hair dresser informed her. "Heres your supplies." the hair dresser made an attempt to pull out a bundle, which Autumn toted like a feather on her back, after relieving the hair dresser of the burden. "Thank you." the hair dresser panted, for the Easterns, despite their speed, were not an especially strong breed. "Now, go out and find Night Star, she will assign you to your group."
Following Rainbow she stepped back out into the clearing. A pony waiting by the door quickly stepped out. "Follow me." The blue-ish pony led them out of the gardens and before them was an incredible sight.
Silthor was at their head. He was commanding the eastern foot army in their exercises. Their flanks shining with sweat and their faces set with concentration they moved themselves into a trot. Silthor shouted another command and all the ponies stood rigid and unmoving. He trotted in front of them. His eyes observing each fault. He shouted another command and they dispersed to get their supplies.
"How many are there?" Autumn Skye asked Night Star.
"Over four hundred in ranks. Others have volunteered to come as well."
"I'd hate to be these the grundles."
Night Star nodded. "They will suffer for the pain they have caused our kin. You will join the rest of your herd just over that hill, our journey begins as soon as the army gets their supplies." Autumn Skye just gulped and headed toward the hill. She didn't trust herself to speak without shouting for the rising feeling she felt in her chest. The feeling she had come to identify as happiness.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For once the Celebration Herd was tired. The Easterns, due to their speed, had set a fast pace, Majesty and the other Westerns were already asleep. They hybrids and Easterns were sitting around the fire chatting however. Stories were about to be told and Draven had promised to tell the proud Eastern history. She finally came forward, Silthor at her side. Autumn Skye was quick to guess that Silthor was making a strong attempt to court the beautiful white pony. Judging from the fact that he nuzzled her cheek before joining the others he probably already had. Draven blushed faintly and nodded toward the group. "Shall we commence with my tale? Or shall I say our tale?" She sat down and began her story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the beginnings we were wild. We ran the desert like wind given body and had a spirit like contained fire. We lived in great herds, crossing the heated sands with ease. There were few stallions therefore at that time they owned harems and fought for other mares. Our population flourished.
We were a strong race, as I said, but we had a large shortcoming. We were highly superstitious, black colts, like for instance, Silthor, were abandoned. They were considered cursed and evil. For every herd had a protector. A unicorn, born to every generation, and at the same time they had a "twin". The twin was always male, and it was always pure black like the night. They were killed at once for the belief that they were the evil taken from the protector as it entered the world.
Eventually times became harsh. Food and oasis became near impossible to find. Our sorrow was great, for our children were dying as were we ourselves, our race was perishing like water spilled on the sand.
Finally, a stallion called us together, a great feat, as we were spread across the desert. He mad ea suggestion. We were dying here, why shouldn't we take the risk of traveling over the mountains, maybe the land on the other side would be better.
At first it was scoffed at, leave our home? But eventually the toles on our population became to great. We traveled over the mountains. At first it was brutal. The cold winds tore at our short coats, to accustomed to warm weather. It was soon found that darker colors offered more protection to the cold. So we began letting them live. More because we were afraid for our race than anything, the more alive the better.
When we finally caught our first view, we were enchanted, this place was heaven. Full of food. Full of shelter, everything we needed. So we settled in. Grew our great civilization here, the Gardens.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Draven finished her story with a yawn. "Time for sleep, the armies meet tomorrow and we must be awake." Maybe Draven didn't know it, but more than just her people caught onto the hidden message there. They were afraid of the Westens. Their army was much larger, if they decided they wanted to get rid of the Easterns...
Autumn Skye shook her head, Majesty wouldn't allow it anyway. They needed the Eastern's help. Besides, Majesty had already commented that she hoped this led to a peace treaty, but Draven had to be aware. Autumn Skye closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her.