NOTE: There are going to be spoilers for Landfall and WIndborn, and possibly Stormbound. If you haven't read those and you don't want to be spoiled, then I'm afraid this fanfic ain't for you :( sorry.

Chapter 2: Icefall ; The Blue Mountains

It had been two weeks since Nightwing attacked Snow Herd, and NIghtwing had taken all the mares with foals to the Blue Mountains to begin his herd. Icefall was so, so tired. EVery time she closed her eyes, images of that day played over and over again in her head, never letting her get rest. She was lucky if she got even an hour of sleep most days.

The image and scene that she saw the most was when she found out her and SNowflare’s father had been killed. It was after Petalcloud has accepted the pack, and the survivors of the attack were searching for their loved ones. One of the captains, Lakefire, had led SNowflare, Icefall, and their mother Poppysun to the pile of ashes that once was their father. It still had a slight silver tint to it, from SLeetfire’s feathers. Poppysun broke down crying, while SNowflare and Icefall just stared in shock. Icefall couldn’t believe it. Their father couldn’t be… dead. He just couldn’t be. And yet he was.

Icefall considered herself to be the braver one between her and SNowflare (something Snowflare would strongly disagree with), but that day, those scenes...they were horrifying.

After that, Petalcloud picked out who she wanted to form her Ice Warriors, and Nightwing took those who didn’t make the cut, weanlings, and nursing foals to the Blue Mountains in Mountain Herd’s territory. It took about a week to get there, and Icefall was miserable the entire time. WHen they got there, they found a large amount of pegasi already there from the herds that didn’t go to the Trap to hide with Star.

They were from all the herds. Desert Herd, Jungle Herd, Mountain Herd, there wasn’t any Sun Herd, though. The mares were separated from the foals that were weaned, and from the stallions. The weanlings and yearlings were separated from each other, so n one could be with their family unless they had a twin or a cousin the same age as them.

The medicine mares often had to give the foals and yearlings calming herbs to help them sleep and deal with being away from their family. But they didn’t seem to help Icefall. SHe had nightmares every time she managed to fall asleep, and SNowflare has to wake her up.

Snowflare…. He was being burnt alive by the starfire, she had to get to him! Icefall galloped for ages, trying to get to her brother, but it seemed like she was just running in place. Large storm clouds suddenly surrounded her, blocking her vision. She felt like she was being swallowed alive. SHe kicked and thrashed trying to get free, but it was no use. SHe felt a gentle shake, and kicked where it came from. The shaking persisted. Icefall continued kicking. SHe had to get out, to help SNowflare!

“ACK!” Someone cried. “Icefall, wake up!” It was SNowflare. But he was being burnt alive by the starfire, wasn’t he? Icefall opened her eyes in shock. SNowflare was staring at her, a concerned expression on his face.

Icefall gathered her legs underneath her, as she was sprawled out on her side. “What… what happened? I-I thought you were over there, getting b-burnt-”

SNowflare shook his head. “You had another nightmare.”

Icefall trembled. Her twin brother looked at her, his eyes wide in concern. “Do you want me to get the medicine mare?” He asked.

Icefall shook her head. The weanlings were only allowed to leave their assigned area and get the medicine mare if it were an absolute life-threatening emergency. SHe doubted the guards would allow it for a simple nightmare.

The twins pressed against each other, each trembling in the cold night air.

Many nights were like this one, and it seemed that neither twin got enough sleep, as Icefall had her nightmares, and SNowflare felt obligated to stay awake in case she got one.

***

“Hey!” Icefall and SNowflare’s friend, Springshade, galloped over to them. The dark bay filly was from Jungle Herd, and Icefall had befriended her shortly after they had arrived at the Blue Mountains. Her parents were in Frostfire’s Black Army. Springshade skidded to a halt in front of them, and her lime green feathers fluttered. “Did you hear?” SHe asked Icefall and SNowflare.

“No, what happened? Did Nightwing attack someone again?” SNowflare asked.

Springshade shook her head. “STar’s friend Morningleaf has been spotted in Desert Herd’s territory!”

Icefall cocked her head, confused. “Why is that important?”

“Star’s body is with her, so Nightwing is happy about that.” Springshade said. “Maybe we’ll get a break from him killing anyone.”

“I hope so, I don’t know how much more ash I can take.” SNowflare snorted.

Icefall nodded. The ash and smoke has been giving her constant on and off headaches, which didn’t help with her being tired and sleep deprived. It certainly helped her nightmares be more realistic, unfortunately.

A few days later, they had gotten news that Morningleaf was spotted again in Jungle Herd territory.

“How?” Icefall wondered. “She was just in Desert Herd’s territory four days ago!”

“Maybe she took the jet streams?” Springshade suggested.

“But she’s not from Desert Herd, how could she have survived?” SNowflare countered.

“There are Desert Herd steeds in the Trap, maybe she was curious and they told her?” Icefall said.

“No one from Desert Herd would ever tell a foreign pegasus the jet stream secrets,” A tall, dark golden palomino filly trotted over to them. You could tell she was from Jungle Herd just by looking at her. She had the large lungs, small waist, and chiseled muzzle of a Desert Herd pegasus. Her light purple feathers were moist and waxy, and her eyes were wide-set.

Icefall, SNowflare, and Springshade startled, having not noticed her before. “And how would you know?” SNowflare challenged the filly. Icefall noticed he was gaping at her a little bit, and made a mental note to tease him about it later.

The golden palomino swished her white tail. “I’m from Desert Herd. It would be considered betrayal if we shared the secrets to outsiders. I’m Irisblaze, by the way.”

Characters:

~Snow Herd~

Twistwing- overstallion. Red dun stallion with olive-green feathers, black mane and tail.

Petalcloud- lead mare. Power-seeking gray mare with violet feathers, silver mane and tail, one white sock, wide blaze on face.

Sleetfire- captain. Grullo stallion with silver feathers, ice-blue eyes, white-streaked black mane and tail, thin blaze on face.

Poppysun- buttermilk buckskin mare with pale-yellow feathers, amber eyes, black points, black mane and tail, four small socks.

Snowflare- light grullo colt with light-silver feathers, black mane and tail streaked with white, dark brown eyes.

Icefall- light grulla filly with pale-yellow feathers tipped in dark-silver, black mane and tail streaked with white, black points, bald face, ice-blue eyes, two hind stockings.

~Jungle Herd~

Nightwing- black foal. Ancient stallion, solid-black with black feathers. Born to Jungle Herd. Known as the Destroyer. Immortal.

Springshade- dark bay filly with lime green feathers, black points, black mane and tail, thin blaze, four small socks.

~Desert Herd~

Irisblaze- tall, dark golden palomino filly with light-purple feathers, wide white blaze, two hind stockings, white mane and tail, dark brown eyes.