HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!!! So, SO SORRY that this took...*Looks at Calendar and does Quick Math* TWO MONTHS to get out! YIKES! I just got super busy! I am NOT abandoning this story! (Same with "A Star's Fire", in FACT, I'm hoping to release a new part of THAT either today, tomorrow, or the day after!). So, without further ado, let's get to the story!

Skysun awoke with a jolt, her breathing and heart racing, her feathers ruffled in fear. That dream had set her on edge…and she was sure it meant something. She was still breathing heavily when a voice shocked her out of her thoughts.

“You’re awake!”

Looking around wildly, Skysun saw a pearl chestnut mare, her pinto markings standing out like clouds on the sand. Her sun yellow feathers were stained at the tips, probably from all the berries and roots that she had to handle over the years.

“Oasisroot?” Skysun asked, grimacing as a fresh way of pain washed over her, “Where…am I? I thought…” The chestnut filly suddenly grew quiet, her mind drawing a blank.

The Medicine Mare looked at Skysun, her eyes narrowing, “You’re at home…” She said, tilting her head, her features twisting into a worried expression. Stepping forward she rubbed her wings gently along the filly’s side. Muttering to herself, she pressed her muzzle to Skysun’s forehead. “Nope…” She said, stepping back, “You’re not feverish…and your wounds aren’t abnormally warm…” SHe sighed, “You seem fine…you must’ve just had a bad dream.” She said with a satisfied nod, turning back to her herb stores.

Skysun blinked in confusion, “Wha…what!?” She stuttered.

“You seemed to not understand where you were…” Oasisroot replied without turning from the herb stores, “And stormy skies you’ve seen me and my cave quite enough times to know where you would be.”

The chestnut filly chuckled, “I suppose I would…” She said with a slight grimace.

Looking behind her, Oasisroot glanced at Skysun, “You need to stop with those dangerous excursions of yours.” She said, “Your parents were worried sick when they didn’t find you in the family cave…in fact…your mother was so scared that she couldn’t even lead her Sky Herders on the search properly. Your grandfather had to order her to stay home and keep an eye out for you here while he and his Captains lead search parties to look for you.” She grunted, her eyes softening, “You need to be more careful…what if something had happened to you?”

Skysun grunted, looking at the cave wall, “Nothing would’ve happened…” She muttered, “I’m too fast.”

The Medicine Mare’s eyes darkened, and, fast as a striking adder, she rapped her on the nose with her wing, “No, you’re not.” She said seriously, “You may be faster than other foals, but you're sure as the sun is hot not faster than any full grown steed.” She sighed, muttering to herself, “What if there was a Raiding Party? Or a hunting coyote pack?” She asked, “What would you have done then? Especially after you were injured! You’d have been easy pickings for a Raiding Herd or a hungry coyote, and what would your parents have done then? You could’ve been captured, or worse.”

Skysun looked away, slightly ashamed, but also indignant, she’d have been able to outrun any old coyote, and she could’ve just hid in the cactus patch if there was a raiding party, “I don’t know…” She muttered.

Oasisroot sighed, “If you were captured, Skysun…that would induce a war…do you want that?” She asked.

Skysun sighed, the Medicine Mare had a point, “No…” She muttered.

The pearl chestnut nodded, “Exactly,” She said, “Maybe try to stay away from unnecessarily dangerous excursions from now on?”

The chestnut filly nodded, lying her head down and staring at the wall.

Taking that as an agreement, the Medicine Mare turned back to the herbs, muttering to herself as she sorted them. Skysun watched her curiously, having nothing else to do.

Suddenly, the sound of chaos emanated from outside the cave as steeds leapt out of the way of something, calling angrily at whatever it was that disturbed the peace.

“WHERE IS SHE!?” Called out a female voice, echoing down the canyon.

Oasisroot sighed, muttering to herself. Galloping to the cave entrance, she poked her head out, “She’s in here Amberfeather!” She called out, her ears pinned back in irritation, “Try not to throw steeds off the cliff face, will you!? I don’t need even more sprained legs or broken wings!”

A moment later, a frantic palomino mare burst into the cave, her eyes wild and worried as she crashed next to Skysun, pulling into an embrace with her wings, “You’re alright!” She whinnied, nuzzling her daughter.

“Mooooooooooom!” Skysun said with a laugh, “That hurts!” She grimaced.

Amberfeather leapt away with a squeak of shock, “I’m sorry!” She said, shaking out her pelt, wings, and mane in an attempt to calm down, “I was just so worried…when they carried you in…you were unconscious.”

Oasisroot stepped up beside Amberfeather, her sister, and placed a wing over her back, “You didn’t look too good…” She admitted with a nod, “I had to force your mother here out of the way so I could get you in here.” She said, smirking at the mare beside her, “I didn’t exactly want her to know what cave you were in until you were awake.”

The palomino mare pushed her sister away, “Wouldn’t you be worried if your foal was brought in unconscious and bleeding?” She demanded indignantly.

Oasisroot shrugged, “I suppose…but I don’t have a foal.” She said, turning around and walking back to her herbs, looking behind her and sticking her tongue out playfully at her sister.

Amberfeather rolled her eyes, lying next to her daughter and beginning to gently preen her daughter’s feathers for her, “You worried me, Skysun…” She murmured, looking at her chestnut daughter, “I woke up this morning to find you gone…I had half a mind to go to each of the herds and demand you back.”

Skysun laughed, “You did?!” She asked.

Amberfeather tugged on her daughter’s mane playfully, “Of course I did!” She said, “You’re my daughter…I’d do anything to get you back. So would your father.”

The chestnut filly’s ears drooped, her gaze drifting downward, “I made him really angry at me…” She said softly.

The palomino mare looked at her daughter curiously, “You think he’s angry at you?” She asked softly.

She nodded in reply, “I know why he’s not here with you…” She muttered, “He doesn’t want to see me…”

Amberfeather tugged her daughter in for a gentle hug, “He’s not mad at you, Skysun…” She murmured.

“But…why isn’t he here?” She asked.

“He’s the Head Captain, Skysun…” The palomino replied, “He’s busy…he’ll be here…”

“He seemed mad when he found me.”

“Because he was mad with worry.” Her mother replied, nuzzling her softly, “We were both very frightened for you…you were missing. We knew you could be in danger. Sure, he may be disappointed, but he is not angry with you…” She said, “In fact…he’s angry with himself.”

“Why?!” Skysun asked in shock, “He didn’t do anything wrong…”

“He feels responsible for not noticing you leaving…” She said, “If he had been awake, or had woken up, he would’ve noticed you leaving and stopped you sooner.”

“It’s not his fault…” She said, “It’s mine.”

Amberfeather nodded, “That’s why you should apologize to those you hurt…” She said, “And try to do better in the future.”

Skysun nods, nuzzling her mother, “I’m sorry for worrying you, Mama…” She said softly.

“It’s ok, Skysun…” The palomino mare replied with a small smile, wrapping her daughter in her wings, “I’m glad you apologized…”

“But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences for your actions.” Said a voice from the cave entrance. Turning to gaze at the entrance, Skysun spotted the large chestnut figure of her father, Adderfire, and the slimmer palomino figure of her sister, Lighthoof. Trotting into the cave, Adderfire and Lighthoof nuzzled Skysun.

“We were so worried…” Said Lighthoof, her voice full of emotion.

“I know…and I’m sorry guys…” She said.

“I know, Skysun.” Adderfire said, lifting his head and gazing at his daughter, “However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences…what you did didn’t just put you in danger…but Flamebreeze.” He said.

Skysun’s head drooped, “I know…” She said.

Her father nodded, “I’m glad you understand that…” He said, “With that said, you won’t be able to leave the Red Rock Mountains for a moons time.”

“Not even with you?” Skysun asked in shock.

He shook his head, “No, you cannot leave the Red Rock Mountains, unless you are going to get a drink with your mother, myself, or the rest of the Herd. Otherwise, you are not allowed to leave.”

Skysun wanted to argue, to get out of this sentence, but she realized that her father was right, “Alright, Papa…” She said softly.

He sighed, looking at his daughter, “I don’t like doing this, Sky…” He said, nuzzling her, “But you can’t just leave and do something so reckless like that…” He said, “There needs to be consequences for something like that.”

Skysun nodded, not saying a word.

Adderfire looked at his mate, who nodded slowly. Looking back at his daughter, he smiled, “I think I heard that Cactusbreeze was going to tell stories to you foals down in the canyon below the Over-Stallion’s Rock.” He said with a tilt of his head, “I suppose you could go listen…if Oasisroot is ok with it.”

Oasisroot looked at the family, and rolled her eyes playfully when she saw Skysun’s wide, pleading eyes, “Your legs weren’t so badly injured…” She said, “And I suppose there is a path to and from my cave that leads down to the canyon…sooooo…I suppose it’s alright.”

Skysun smiled widely, getting to her hooves slowly, wobbling slightly as she found her footing. Her mother helped steady her, and Skysun nodded gratefully.

Lighthoof then stepped up beside her sister, “Let’s go together!” She said, smiling widely, “I may be almost two years old, but I love hearing Cactusbreeze’s stories…” She placed a wing over her sister’s shoulder, “Besides, if you get tired walking up or down the path, you can always lean on me.”

Skysun nuzzled her sister affectionately, “Thanks, Sis…” She said softly.

Lighthoof chuckled, “You’re welcome…now let’s go!” She said, starting down the path to the Canyon below, Skysun following behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HERD ALLEGIANCES

ASH HERD:

Over-Stallion: Camelwing, a dun stallion with a black mane and tail, black points, two white front socks, two white hind stockings, a slim white blaze, and sandy yellow feathers

Lead Mare: Galecloud, an older chestnut mare with a chestnut mane and tail, pale yellow feathers, four white socks, and a wide white blaze

Medicine Mare: Oasisroot, a pearl chestnut pinto mare with a slightly darker mane and tail, and sun yellow feathers stained at the tips from the herbs and roots she works with

Captains:

Adderfire: A magnificent chestnut stallion with a chestnut mane and tail, two white hind stockings, and golden feathers tipped in a sandy yellow

Sunfire: A dun stallion with a black mane and tail, black points, four white socks, and golden feathers that fade to a pale yellow

Under-Stallions:

Jetflight: A golden buckskin stallion with a black mane and tail, black points, two white hind stockings, and cream yellow wings tipped in white

Redhawk: A red roan stallion with brownish yellow wings tipped in white

Summerfeather: Palomino stallion with a white mane and tail, and sunny yellow wings

Mares:

Amberfeather: A palomino mare with a white mane and tail, a wide white blaze, two white hind socks, and amber feathers tipped in coppery red

Cactusbreeze: A golden buckskin mare with a black mane and tail, black points, four white socks, and yellow feathers fading to a pale yellowy green

Lighthoof: A young palomino mare with a white mane and tail, a white front sock with a peachy hoof, a thin white blaze, and coppery red wings fading to gold

Hopeflight: Dun mare with a black mane and tail, black points, and bright yellow feathers

Brightsand: A slim palomino pinto mare with a white mane and tail, and sand yellow wings

Foals:

Skysun: A chestnut filly with a slightly darker chestnut mane and tail, four white socks, a wide white blaze, and gold wings tipped in a darker gold

Flamebreeze: Buckskin filly with a black mane and tail, black points, thin white jagged stripe on face, one right front sock and one left hind sock, and desert yellow wings tipped in ocher

Sandhoof: A dunskin colt with a black mane and tail, black points, two white front socks, and bright yellow wings tipped in a sandy yellow

MOON HERD

Over-Stallion: Sleetwing, a light gray stallion with a darker gray mane and tail, an interrupted white blaze, and pale blue wings

Lead Mare: Ashcloud, a sooty gray mare with a black mane and tail, four white socks, and pale green wings fading to a light gray

Captains:

Icefire: A blue roan mare with a black mane and tail, two white front socks and a hind left sock, and with silvery gray wings fading to a pale blue

Under-Stallion:

Tigerfeather: A light gray appaloosa stallion with a light gray mane and tail, four white socks, and pale yellow feathers fading to a pale orange

Mares:

Starlight: A white mare with a white mane and tail, and pale pink wings

Palefrost: A pearl mare with white wings fading to an icy blue

Foals:

Snowsong: A silver appaloosa filly with a white mane and tail, two white hind socks, and light purple wings that fade to white

Jaggedstone: A dark gray colt with one white right front sock, a jagged white stripe on his face, and pale silver wings fading to a pale blue

RIVER HERD:

Council Members:

Ravenfrost: A black mare with a black mane and tail, four white socks, a wide white blaze, and pale blue wings, Mare Representative to the Council

Hawklight: A light bay stallion with a black mane and tail, black points, four white socks, dark brown wings fading to black, the Stallion Representative to the Council

Harefire: Lead Captain of River Herd, a dark chestnut pinto stallion with a dark chestnut mane and a white tail, four white socks, a wide white blaze, and white wings fading to ocher, Captain Representative to the Council

Petalroot: Medicine Mare of River Herd, a silver pinto mare with a silver mane and tail, four white socks, and pink wings fading to green, Medicine Mare Representative of River Herd

Foals:

Nightmoon: A grullo sabino filly with four white socks, a wide white blaze, and dark blue wing that fade to black

GRASS HERD

Over-Stallion: Lightwing, a palomino stallion with a white mane and tail, four white socks, a large snip on his nose, and pale yellow wings fading to a light blue

Lead Mare: Rosecloud, a dark bay pinto mare, a black mane and tail, black points, two white hind socks, and a bald face marking, and deep red wings

Foals:

Darkfeather: A bay colt with a black mane and tail, black points, four white socks, and wings that go from a pale purple at the front to dark purple at the flight feathers

CRAG HERD:

Over-Stallion: Stonewing, a dark gray stallion with a black mane and tail, two white hind socks, and dark blue wings

Lead Mare: Pinecloud, a light gray stallion with a dark gray mane and tail, four white socks, and pine green wings

Foals:

Speckledice: A gray leopard appaloosa colt with a white mane and tail, and baby blue wings fading to white

WIND HERD:

Over-Stallion: Hailwing, A silver dapple stallion with four white socks, a large star on his face, and slate gray wings

Lead Mare: Softcloud, a cream pearl mare with pale pink wings that fade to a darker pink

Foals:

Woodflake: A dark bay colt with a black mane and tail, black points, four white socks, and pale brown wings

CAVERN HERD

Over-Stallion: Viperwing, a dark bay stallion with a black mane and tail, black points, two white front socks, and dark green wings

Lead Mare: Leafcloud, a dark brown snowcap appaloosa mare with a dark brown mane and tail, four white socks, and pale green wings fading to a dark green

Foals:

Emeraldheart: A bay filly with a black mane and tail, black points, two white hind socks, and emerald green wings

Brownfeather: A dark brown colt with a dark brown mane and tail, one white front sock, and dark green wings fading to a pale green

MORE CHARACTERS WILL BE ADDED AS THEY INTRODUCED IN THE STORY!!!!

Again, I hope you enjoyed this latest part of 'Beyond the Sands'! As always, thoughts, theories, and constructive criticism is ALWAYS welcomed!