The Balinor Chronicles: The Celestial Herd
Chapter Fifty-Two: The Dice are Rolled
The Cheese stands alone; the Cheese stands alone; Hi-Ho! The dairy-o; the Cheese stands alone.
-Farmer in the Dell, Child's Nursery Rhyme
Mulciber looked at the limp, bedraggled body of Eternitus. "No great loss there," he snorted derisively. He turned his attention to the rest of the carnage. It seemed the avalanche had caught at least three, maybe four Twilights. There didn't appear to be any Celestials other than Eternitus. Mulciber was almost glad to be rid of the green Celestial, one too many coincidences had occurred in his presence.
He returned his gaze to the mountain. Just what had been the cause of it. That was the question that needed answering. If only one of the Celestials had been there to see it.
Arioch killed the Twilight. The creature had been frantic, beyond reasoning, a threat to itself and others. Especially if the Twilight had told others what he knew…. The Twilight had surrendered its last thoughts to the Shifter, and now Arioch was trying to sort them all out. The other Twilights kept back. Even Moloth waited outside of the Shifter's reach. They were not fools; they could tell when their master was of a foul mood. At long last, Arioch stirred. He did not speak a word of what he had learned to any of his generals, but rather continued as if nothing had happened.
His thoughts, though, lingered on the actions of the day. Yes, he would be very interested in the black unicorn who could control the mountains.
It was several days before Raiden staggered back into the meadow where the Herd lived. Most hadn't noticed his absence, but a select few had grown very concerned, and were even more concerned when he arrived in the state he arrived in.
One was Solaris. Already mistrusting of the dark-coloreds of his Herd, he became even more suspicious when the darkest disappeared.
The second was Lorn, the cranberry-red mare who was Raiden's mate. Her sides were already swollen with their first born. It was Lorn who swept to Raiden's side; it was Lorn who consoled the shaken stallion. It was Lorn who truly cared.
The third was Gaheris. They were brothers, after all.
The fourth who grew concerned cut the deepest of all. Mulciber. Lord of Fire. Not only was the Elemental the only father that Raiden knew, but he was also the one whom the stallion had idolized as a colt. Mulciber was his hero, and Mulciber was the most suspicious.
It is interesting how the fates of the worlds can be decided by the wishes of so few.
A picture of Raiden may be found here: http/ www. Deviantart .com/ deviation/ 33477360/. Copy and paste, then remove the spaces. Forgive me for my lack of artistic talent. Image copyright of Asmodeus1389.