Spark circled above the Red Rock Mountains, noticing the unnatural quietness of the pegasi. He started to descend and landed next to the oasis, looking around. Brightsky spotted him and trotted over, her eyes wide with worry and astonishment. “Spark! Why aren’t you — Mountain Herd — What are you doing here?”

Spark flared his wings, worried. “Why is everyone so quiet?”

Brightsky shuddered. “Dustcloud is having her foal late, and it’s not going well. Cobrawing is frantic, but Palmroot has forbidden him from entering their cave. She says she does NOT need him watching her every move.”

Spark reared. “I can help her! Brightsky, take me to her!”

Brightsky whirled and leaped into the sky, darting toward one of the highest caves in the mountain. Spark dashed after her, his heart pounding in his chest.

They landed just outside the cave, where Brightsky flung up a wing to tell Spark to wait and slipped inside. A moment late she returned and beckoned Spark inside. “She’s dying,” she whispered, then pressed herself to the rock wall next to the entrance, eyes wide.

Palmroot knelt at the back of the cave next to Dustcloud, who was lying on her side and breathing heavily. Next to them was a tiny colt, his legs over-long, blinking blearily at the reddish cave around him.

Spark crossed quickly to the lead mare, calling up his golden starfire. Palmroot moved aside quickly, her gold dun hide gleaming dully. Dustcloud’s eyes were closed, and her breaths were coming farther and farther apart and shallower and shallower. Spark didn’t waste any time. He opened his mouth and poured golden starfire over her, lifting her and twirling her slowly in the deluge. Her eyes flicked open and she relaxed completely, her wings flopping. The tiny foal watched, the gold reflecting in his wide brown eyes.

Finally Spark let her down on her hooves and she stumbled before Palmroot steadied her. Dustcloud looked for her foal and collapsed beside him, nuzzling him. He was a buttermilk buckskin with turquoise feathers, and an uneven blaze that started straight then took a left and covered the left side of his muzzle. His black mane and tail were starting to fluff, and he gazed around with puzzled brown eyes. Dustcloud whispered, “Tumbleweed,” and the name seemed to fit.

He was adorable.

Three weeks later, Ember was ready to go. The Mountain Herd medicine stallion looked at him with wonder. “You’re the fastest-recovering pegasus I’ve ever seen! Most other pegasi would need at least two months to regain their strength.”

Cedarwing nodded at the stallion. “Thank you, Rockroot.”

He grinned. “No problem! My pleasure.” Rockroot walked away as Ember flapped his wings.

“Ready to go?” he asked Starpebble and Summersong. Rainshine had left on her own in the night, longing to return home and not be slowed by goodbyes. They started shaking out their wings and stamping their hooves. Ember turned toward. Cedarwing and Stormsun, who stood close by, watching.

“Thank you,” he said. Cedarwing arched his neck.

“If you ever need anything, we’ll be here to help,” he promised. Stormsun smiled, and Cedarwing glanced at her, also smiling. They had been growing closer over the past three weeks, and Ember had no doubt Stormsun would become Stormcloud soon enough.

They spread their wings and lifted off.

Hope you all enjoyed! PLEASE inform me of ANY MISTAKES OR INCONSISTANCIES be they a missing period or a plot hole or a weird ti e or ANYTHING! Thank you!

Mountain Herd:

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

Sprucefeather~ (widowed mare) bay mare with green feathers, black mane and tail

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, silky white mane and tail

Stormsun~ (single mare) chestnut mare with turquoise feathers, curly black mane and tail fading to light brown, four white socks, blaze

Rockroot~ (medicine stallion) smoky-gray stallion with deep pink feathers, black mane and tail, white snip on nose

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

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

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

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

Spark~ (black foal, yearling) 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

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

Palmroot~ (medicine mare) gold dun mare with amethyst feathers, black mane and tail, black points

Tumbleweed~ (nursing foal) buttermilk buckskin with turquoise feathers, black mane and tail, uneven blaze