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 3: Snowflare ; Irisblaze

“I’m Icefall,” Snowflare’s sister introduced herself. Snowflare gaped at the Desert Herd filly, entranced by her odd features. He had never seen a Desert Herd steed up close before, and he knew they were different, but never this different. Irisblaze was built more like a wasp than a pegasus, and he couldn’t help but stare. Snowflare vaguely heard Springshade introduce herself, but it didn't fully register. Irisblaze’s wide white blaze, tall hind stockings, and her white mane and tail seemed to almost glow with the sunlight hitting them.

Irisblaze turned her head to look at Snowflare and rattled her light purple feathers. “It’s rude to stare, you know.” She told him, her gaze challenging and defiant. Her eyes held a bit of humor in them though. Snowflare found himself lost in her dark brown eyes, still not registering the fact that his sister and Springshade were giggling at him.

Icefall smacked Snowflare -pretty hard- with her wing, jerking him out of his trance. “You good?” She asked him.

Snowflare shook his head. “What? Y-yeah, why?”

Springshade giggled. “You were staring at her for a long time,”

“I-I was?” Snowflare feigned innocence, knowing full well he was caught red-winged.

Icefall shook her mane. “Don’t act stupid, you know what you were doing.”

Snowflare ignored his sister and turned to Irisblaze. “So, you’re from Desert Herd?”

Irisblaze snorted. “No, I’m from Mountain Herd.” She said sarcastically. “Of course I’m from Desert Herd, how else would I look like this?” She fanned out her waxy wings, the sunlight reflecting off of them.

Springshade snorted and Icefall looked like she wanted to kick Snowflare. What is with these fillies? SNowflare wondered, confused.

Icefall hit her head with her wing. “Snowflare, you dummy,” SHe scolded her brother. “You haven’t introduced yourself yet!”

I didn’t?! Oh, shoot. Snowflare looked at Irisblaze and Springshade for confirmation, knowing that Icefall would sometimes lie about this to prank him. The two fillies nodded. Well, that’s embarrassing. “I’m Snowflare,” He told Irisblaze.

“Cool name,” Irisblaze told him.

“Hate to interrupt whatever is going on between you two, but uh….” Icefall turned to Irisblaze. “Do you know how to ride the jet streams?”

“So just because I’m from Desert Herd that automatically means I can ride jet streams?” Irisblaze said. Her voice sounded annoyed but her expression was amused. What a strange filly. Snowflare thought.

Icefall’s expression fell. “I-uh….” She stumbled for the right words, caught off guard.

Irisblaze nickered. “I’m kidding! “ She smirked. “We don’t learn how to ride the jet streams until we’re yearlings and in flight school. Our wings aren’t strong enough to handle them when you’re under the age of a yearling.” She explained.

Icefall visibly relaxed, her relief evident in her face.

Snowflare snorted. “Was that you’re cruel idea of a joke?” He had to admit it was pretty funny, he just didn’t like that it was on his sister.

Irisblaze’s gaze met his. “Yeah, you got a problem with that?” Her eyes narrowed and her voice was a bit harder.

Snowflare gulped. “No?” He didn’t know what the right answer was. This filly was intimidating!

Irisblaze snorted. “That’s what I thought.”

Snowflare, Icefall, and Springshade exchanged wide-eyes glances, surprised by Irisblaze.

The tall golden palomino filly in question studied the other three weanlings. “I assume you two are from Snow Herd,” She said to Icefall and Snowflare. Snowflare was taken aback. How did she know? “And you’re from Jungle Herd?” She asked Springshade.

Springshade's eyes widened. "H-how did you-?"

"My father taught me how to recognize the different steeds of each herd." Irisblaze explained. She looked at Icefall and Snowflare. "You two have the thick coats and stocky build of Snow Herd," she turned to Springshade. "And you have the soft hooves, coloring, and light build of a Jungle Herd steed."

Snowflare struck his hoof on the ground, kinda annoyed. "Are you saying I'm FUZZY?!" he whinnied.

Icefall burst out laughing. "HA! You ARE fuzzy!" Irisblaze and Springshade cracked up.

Snowflare was irritated. "Oh, shut up, she was referring to YOU too!" His light-silver feathers rattled. That got his sister quiet.

Irisblaze looked at him, still laughing. She wiped some tears from her eyes from laughing so hard. "Is there something wrong with being short and fuzzy?" She snorted and cracked up again.

He stomped his hoof. "Short?!"

Springshade held her wings a tiny bit apart, exaggerating how small she thought he was. “Miniscule! Absolutely TINY!!” She squealed, laughing hysterically.

SNowflare glared at them, his ears low in annoyance. “If you all are going to make fun of me, then I’m going to leave.” He walked away from the laughing fillies, and over to a small pond. He was thirsty and wanted a drink of water.

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.