A/N: This takes place around when Talia first comes to the Palace to be a trainee. And it is mostly about a character I made up.

8 Years Ago…

A little scruff of a boy with a sandy colored mop of hair atop his head peered over the stall door. He was almost too short to see over it, being a boy of four years. His bright blue, almost Companion-like eyes, took in all that was going in inside the stall.

A Companion mare, strong, elegant, beautiful, strained to push out the tiny foal. The Heralds and Herald-trainees on foal watch were by her side, helping her, encouraging her. She hadn't Chosen yet, so there was no special Herald sitting by her head, worried as if they were the one doing the work.

Toby was unable to tear his eyes away from the scene. It was late out, well past midnight and a boy of his age should have been in bed. But, Toby was an orphan, and he was helping out as a stable hand, and he slept in the Stable itself, in a small room above the stalls. His room happened to be above this particular stall, and as he couldn't sleep he came down to see what was making all the noise.

Plus, he was being very quiet, and a thing Toby knew how to do well was to be unseen, and hidden. Besides, no one was paying attention to the stall door right now. They were too busy taking care of the mare.

His sparkling eyes widened as two wet, white legs and hooves came out, a quickly following a little pink nose. A childish smile took his lips as he saw the Companion come into being. After its head the rest of the body slid right on out, and everyone inside the stall breathed a sigh of relief that the foal, and the mare, had made it through the foaling, for Companions don't foal as easily as horses. Toby was too entranced. He didn't know that the mare had been down here for hours already, taking turns pacing and lying down. He didn't know that the little foal might not have made it.

The foal, and now they knew it was a colt, lifted his head, looking too big for his body, and let out a little nicker. The Heralds laughed, and Toby almost did so too, but the fact that he didn't want to be seen stopped him. He just took in the glistening, shiny white coat of the colt, the deep blue eyes, so like his own, and the way he lifted his head with spirit and looked at his mother and the Heralds all looking back at him.

Toby's was grinning now, and his heart lifted. Suddenly, the colt turned his head and looked right at Toby. Their eyes met. A little jolt ran through the boy and he quickly ducked down. He did not want to be seen. Crouching down, he leaned against the back of the stall, breathing heavily, a little nervous, afraid he'd be caught and punished for intruding.

Suddenly the door slid open and a kind face peered out, looking around. The Herald's eyes landed on Toby. She smiled and kneeled down. Toby looked up at her, scared.

"S-sorry," he stammered, "I go back to my room."

"No, that's okay. You're Toby, right?" she asked and took Toby's hand. Toby nodded and stood up.

"If you're to be a stable hand, you'll probably see this happen more then once as you grow older. It's aloud for you to be here," she said and led him into the stall.

Toby followed her in, stepping on the soft straw bedding of the stall. The other Herald and the Herald-Trainee looked at him and smiled. Toby smiled a shaky smile back. He looked at the mare. She was breathing heavily, but she looked happy, as she turned her head and nosed the foal, whose head was wobbling as he kept looking around.

"The mare is Leiko," the woman said, "This is her first foal."

"Leiko," Toby said, testing the word. He stepped forward to stroke the mare, but then stopped and glanced at the Herald.

She nodded and he walked over to the mare and rubbed her head in the places she couldn't usually reach. She looked up at him, sighing, and tilted her head sideways. Even though she couldn't speak to Toby, he knew what she was saying. Thank you.

Then he looked at the colt. The other Herald had disappeared and now reappeared with some towels. He handed one to everyone, including Toby, who took it with surprise.

"Rub the foal down, so he won't catch a chill," the Herald he met first said.

He started to step forward but then the mare, Leiko, stood up and turned to face the foal. She started nosing him and licking him all over. The foal, in response to the treatment, started trying to stand up. He pushed his front legs out in front of him and tried to get his hind ones beneath him. Leiko then licked his face, and sent him toppling over from his inch high stance.

Toby smiled and walked over to the foal and starting helping Leiko rub him down. The colt snorted and shook his head, and struggled to stand again. After five or six tries and about twenty minutes later he was standing. Suddenly, in words everyone heard, but not said aloud, Leiko spoke.

Hello little one. I welcome you to this world, and I name thee Ryu, she said and the colt, now dubbed Ryu nickered loudly.

Ryu, Toby thought with a smile, as he rubbed the colt behind the ears.

For another hour they all sat in the stall with Leiko as Ryu nursed and then collapsed on the straw and fell asleep. They made sure Leiko was alright, and checked over the foal, before leaving. Toby, actually, had fallen asleep and they carried him back to his room and tucked him into bed.