AN: Thanks to Lunara the ara and Skysong Angel for being my only two reveiwers! Please reveiw and ill give you a cookie! Noom noom
I dont own any things from Warriors sadly.
Whipping around, Nightflower bared her teeth. "Don't touch my foals!"
The voice from the shadows said loud and clear, "Don't worry, I won't harm them." Stepping out of the shadows was a big, grey stallion, his muscles rippling under his gleaming coat.
"Who are you?" Nightflower demanded, shifting in between the newcomer and her foals.
He gazed up to the roof and muttered, "It's Ranger."
Puzzled, she asked, "Are you a Ranch horse?"
"Never!" he snapped. Nightflower flinched away, which Ranger noticed and apologized for. He turned his gaze to the foals and asked, "Who are these precious things?"
"That's Ebonyfoal," Nightflower informed, swishing her tail to the small black colt with the brown stripe down his back, "And that's Stonefoal," swishing her tail in the other direction to the timid, dark grey filly.
With his eyes fixed on the foals Ranger muttered something unintelligible then said aloud, "You're welcome to stay here if you like, there is a cave over there and a grazing spot over there," he delineated, flicking his tail in each respective direction.
"Thank you for your offer, Ranger," Nighttlower whinnied gratefully.
He met her gaze and commented "I don't believe I caught your name."
For some strange reason, Nightflower felt safe... like no harm would come to her or her foals by his side.
"It's Nightflower," she replied calmly. He grunted in acknowledgement and walked away, calling behind him a good day. She herded her foals to the cave Ranger pointed at and fell into a deep sleep surounding her foals.
She was woken by a small hoof proding at her belly. She picked her head up to see Ebonyfoal within inches of her face.
"Mother, may we go with Ranger to get a drink from the lake?" he asked.
Nightflower paused for a second to think of an answer before she said, "You may, but be careful and listen to Ranger."
Stonefoal and Ebony foal nickered with excitement and raced out of the cave. She settled back down to her sleep, but this time she had a dream.
When she woke she was at Four Stones, and in the middle of the clearing stood her mother, Rosetail, who died of blackcough.
"I have a prophecy for you, Nightflower," her mother neighed. " A grey mist will rise again after ash falls, and the mist will light the herd's path."
Confused, Nightflower looked up to question her mother, but she had faded away. Nightflower woke up to see it was sunhigh. As she sat there in the brightness of the open cave she had many questions, like who the gray mist meant, and why StarHerd had given this prophecy to her.
Over the next few days Nightflower wondered about the prophecy. She and her foals remained in the cavern with Ranger.
One night, as she stood outside the cave gazing up at Silvercoat, Ranger walked up to stand beside her and followed her gaze.
"You're one of those Herd horses?"
Nightflower slowly turned her gaze from the stars and looked at him deeply. "Yes, from Desert Herd," she replied.
"I've seen groups of horses walk into that cave," he said, flicking his ears tward a tall, narrow cave up the mountain.
"Yes, that is our Moon Cave."
"Interesting." Conversation dwindled until he then inquired, "How is Thunder Herd?"
"Last I heard they were at war with River Herd. A long time ago Thunder Herd used to be a noble and proud herd, but ever since that leader of theirs went missing they went down-hill."
"Who was the leader?" he asked quickly, taking in the whole conversation word by word.
"Graystar... I think" she reapplied. Sensing that the conversation was over she walked back into the cave. It was obvious that Ranger wasn't a ordinary loner.
Who was he and why did he want to know so much
about Thunder Herd?
AN: Hmm Why is Ranger so interested in ThunderHerd Stay tunned in for more! *Gives cookies to reveiwers*
