Ember’s eyes were closed, but his ears were open. Tired as he was, he could still hear his friends scattered around the clearing, talking quietly, giving him a chance to rest. Flintwing’s body had been removed to a different clearing.

By the Ancestors, he was exhausted. His burst of starfire had drained him completely — the only thing he could do was lie there, totally limp. His starfire was rejuvenating him, but slowly.

“Hey.” It was Summersong.

Ember flicked his ear — it was the only response he could manage — and listened to her settle beside him, rearranging his wing, which was flopped uncomfortably out to the side.

Thanks.

He didn’t even have the strength to speak.

He cracked open an eye and watched her. She stared into the sky, a strange look on her face.

“I wish my father were here.”

He blinked. His eyelids fluttered shut, but his ears pricked.

Summersong continued softly. “My father died when I was two months old. It was an accident. He was swimming, and some plant under the water caught him and held him down. He drowned.”

Ember shivered. He couldn’t imagine a worse way to die, unless by torture. Water, squeezing into the mouth, lungs burning….

“That left me with my mother.” Summersong’s tone grew bitter, and he had to look to see if it was the same pegasus sitting beside him. Summersong was never bitter. “She hated me; she had wanted a son. A big, strong colt to call her own, to help rise to the top, to become over-stallion. My sire had loved me though, his tiny filly.

“As soon as I was weaned, my mother left Desert Herd, heading east toward the Interior. I never saw her again.

“So I joined a group of weanlings and slept by myself in a lonely cave… until Starpebble came, and I collected my courage and asked if I could be your friend. Lucky for me I did.”

She sighed and fluttered her feathers, watching Spark and Starpebble talk across the clearing. Rainshine was standing near, looking distinctly uncomfortable and lost.

Summersong looked up at the sky. Ember was listening. Just listening, and that was wonderful. Her first friend, a dun filly named Shrikeleaf, had listened and then told all of the weanlings. So Summersong had broken apart from Shrikeleaf and joined a small group of sympathetic colts and fillies, who never questioned her, but never made her feel like part of a group either.

But then Ember had come along and she had laughed and been happy for the first time in forever and felt comfortable.

Rainshine, across the clearing, trotted over and sat down. “Hi.”

“Hi,” said Summersong. “ She felt a pang of sympathy for the stolen yearling.

Thanks for reading! Mild criticism welcome, PLEASE inform me of ANY mistakes, including spelling and inconsistencies.

Mountain Herd:

Flintwing~ (over-stallion) dark gray stallion with slate-blue feathers, black mane and tail. Deceased

Cedarwing~ (over-stallion) agile bay stallion with blue feathers, black mane and tail, thin white blaze

Snowstone~ (under-stallion) white stallion with mint feathers, white mane and tail. Deceased

Stormrain~ (yearling) dark gray filly with dark green feathers, black mane and tail

Hoperiver~ (single/widowed mare) pure white mare with sparkling blue feathers flecked with amber, white mane and tail

Snow Herd:

Mistwing~ (over-stallion) white stallion with misty blue and white feathers, silver mane and tail

Ashcloud~ (lead mare) smoky gray mare with smoky purple feathers, black mane and tail, large diamond-shaped star on forehead

Frostroot~ (medicine mare) light gray appaloosa mare with pale yellow feathers, light gray mane and tail

Fogfire~ (captain) gray stallion with navy feathers, black mane and tail. Deceased

Moonfrost~ (mated mare) dark silver mare with dark purple feathers, black mane and tail, Deceased

Echoflower~ (single/widowed mare, elder) white mare with pink feathers, white mane and tail

Rainshine~ (weanling) dark silver dapple filly with silver feathers, black mane and tail

Desert Herd:

Cobrawing~ (over-stallion) bay pinto stallion with green feathers, mixed brown-and-white mane and tail

Dustcloud~ (lead mare) palomino mare with pale green feathers, white mane and tail, wide white blaze

Sunfire~ (captain) gold dun stallion with violet feathers, gold mane and tail, thin white blaze

Starpebble~ (weanling) silver filly with pale blue feathers, white mane and tail, deep blue eyes

Ember~ (black foal) solid black colt with black feathers, black mane and tail

Spark~ (black foal) solid black colt with black feathers, black mane and tail, four white socks

Brightsky~ (mated mare) bright palomino mare with mixed blue and purple feathers, white mane and tail

Sunlight~ (single/widowed mare) palomino pinto mare with pink feathers, white mane and tail. Ember and Spark’s dam. Deceased

Summersong~ (weanling) brownish-gold filly with pale pink feathers, light brown mane and tail