Bramblewind raced across the dew-beaded grass. "Can't catch me!" he shouted over his shoulder. He leapt a wing-length into the air, soaring just above the grass. He flapped his wings hard, shooting forward. "Can't catch me!" he shouted again.

"No fair!" Thunderlake skidded to a stop. "You shouldn't be able to fly! It's against the rules!" He stomped a hoof on the ground. "Unfair!"

Bramblewind rolled his eyes, but landed. "Fine," he groused. "We won't fly." At the same time, he was furious with the other colt, especially when he looked horribly satisfied because he'd given in. He sighed. "Can we keep on going?" However, Bramblewind knew that in a couple minutes, Thunderlake would stop again with the complaint that something was unfair.

Thunderlake was what Echoleaf called a whiny, sniveling colt. Luckily, she chose that moment to come cantering down the grass, flaxen mane and tail whipping in the breeze. "Hi, Thunderlake," she said breezily. "How's it going?"

As usual, Thunderlake was tongue-tied. While he fumbled for words to say, Bramblewind slipped away, feeling the normal surge of relief that came from getting away from Thunderlake.

Echofrost, after sighing at Thunderlake, joined him. "Worse than usual?" she questioned.

He nodded. "It's just that I don't get him. He has so much and yet he thinks everything is unfair! Like today. I lifted off, and he could have just lifted off, but nooooo, he has to say that it's unfair." he ranted.

Echoleaf chuckled. "He sounds like a terror. But don't you think that he's sad? I mean, maybe he thinks you owe him something."

Bramblewind stared at his sister, amazed. "What do you mean, owe him something! I don't!" Echoleaf sighed. "Bramblewind, think!"

Suddenly, he felt sick to his stomach. When all three of them were new-born, Star and his most loyal followers had gone to confront the pegasi of the Silver Forest. It was supposed to be a peace talk, but the overstallion of the herd had suddenly launched an overstallion's deathblow at Star. Brackentail, Thunderlake's sire, had taken the blow on himself, sacrificing himself so his friend might live. And he had. It had been a bloody battle, but Star had survived and the pegasi of the Silver Forest had been beaten back. "Maybe Thunderlake's right," Bramblewind said softly. "Maybe I do owe him something."

Echoleaf shook her head. "I don't think so. What I think is that all you need to do is be nice."

"I think I owe him something," he repeated stubbornly.

She sighed. "No you-" she studied her brother's face. "Just think about it, okay?"

She wasn't going to stop until he agreed, Bramblewind realized. He nodded. "All right. I'll think about it."

River Herd:

Star-black stallion with black feathers, black mane and tail, white star on forehead.

Flamesky-red roan mare with dark emerald and gold feathers.

Brackentail-brown stallion with orange feathers, brown mane and tail, two hind white socks, golden eyes.

Morningleaf-chestnut mare with bright-aqua feathers, flaxen mane and tail, four white socks, amber eyes, wide blaze.

Bramblewind-bay colt with midnight blue wings at the mantle fading to white at the ends, black mane and tail, gold eyes, white star on forehead.

Echoleaf-chestnut filly with mint green feathers, flaxen mane and tail, gold eyes, white star on forehead.

Thunderlake-silver colt with dull orange feathers, brown mane and tail, wide blaze.

Hope you enjoyed! Please notify me of any spelling issues, please! Thank you!