This is a very sad one!

Springsky walked to her brother. “Please get well soon, big brother, we all miss you! If you see the Ancestors, tell them that we need you!”

Summercloud's tears streamed down her face, her grief-stricken eyes reflecting the beaten black foal. "I just wanted to protect them,” she whispered through her cries. The wind gently blew the lead mare's soft light cream mane as it whispered her sorrows.

Dustroot looked at her leader and nodded to her, "I'm doing the best I can for him, but I won’t sugarcoat what is happening." she commented, her voice inviting yet serious as she worked busily. Springsky hugged Summercloud, her legs trembling.

“Is that what your herd will do to me?” Springsky whispered in terror.

“No, not as long as I'm lead mare. I'll protect you, Shadowleaf, Thunderfrost, and Nightshade.” she answered, her sad eyes determined. “I promise that,”

A few moons later, the black foals are now weanlings. Summercloud watched them flying around, still remembering Shadowleaf. Tears stung her eyes as she remembered what had happened to him. His death had broken her and the foals. She galloped to the same blanket Appaloosa stallion who had caused this. “You killed my son,” she started, her eyes seeming to glow.

The stallion snorted. “And?” Summercloud reared, towering over him. She coiled back her sharp hooves. “You murdered my son!” she roared, and then she sent her hooves crashing down on the stallion’s skull, breaking it.

The stallion fell to the ground, gasping for air. Summercloud backed away from the stallion, her body twitching. You deserve this, fool. She thought as she walked away. She picked up to a trot and lifted off, flying toward a cliff. I’ll be with you soon, my son. She thought.

Summercloud looked down. The cliff was one hundred winglenths tall, at least. She walked off the edge and dropped toward land. Nightshade barreled past her siblings. “Mama!” she screamed, trying to reach her.

Summercloud’s body crashed onto the ground, broken. Nightshade and the other black foals stared at their mom. “M-Mama?” asked Nightshade. “Are you alright?” she put her wingtips on the mare’s chest. It was still. Summercloud had died.

“Mom is dead,” said Thunderfrost, feeling like his heart had been ripped in half. Nightshade stood there, numb. “I failed. I failed her and this herd!” she said, more to herself than her siblings. “I couldn’t be fast enough, strong enough.” she shook violently, sadness rolling over her like a thick fog.

The black foals walked back to the herd, all crying. They found a chestnut mare with auburn-colored wings. "M-miss?" asked Springsky, still crying. The mare turned to look at the foals. "Yes?"

"Our mom...sh-she... she committed suicide!" squealed Springsky. The mare's eyes widened. "Oh no! Do you need anything?" she asked.

"Yes, a new lead mare," Nightshade said.