Stormsong fell into the soothing black hole of sleep. She breathed deep and closed her eyes. As she opened them she realized she was in a dream. Everything around her was white and hazy.

”Hello?” Her voice echoed through the void.

In the far away distance she heard the faint click-clack of hoofbeats. She heard snorts and whinies echoing through the cavern. Her heart began to race as the hoofbeats drew closer.

”Who’s t-there?” She stuttered.

Through the haze, she saw what looked like a pegasus. She, Stormsong guessed, was a brown fading into white down at her legs. Her mane and tail, curly and wild, was a darker brown.

”Greetings.” The pegasus said softly.

As she drew nearer to Stormsong, she noticed the pegasus did not bare colorful wings on her back.

”You’re a horse!” Stormsong whispered.

”Indeed.” The Mare said in almost a ghostly way. ”My name is Riptide.”

”Oh, sorry for calling that out. I’ve never been this close to a horse before.” She exclaimed in amazement. ”I am Stormsong, resident of Skyherd. Why am I here? If I may ask?”

”I have come to deliver a message to your son.” Riptide exclaimed.

”Actual-“ She stopped as the realization dawned on her. ”your-“

”Yes.” Riptide said sadly.

Tears welled up in Stormsong’s eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek.

”I’m so sorry.” Stormsong choked.

”My message.” She continued. ” Tell him on his first birthday, who his mother really is. Promise me you’ll tell him.”

”I will.” Stormsong replied.

”Tell him that his mother loved him.” Tears started rolling down Riptides cheeks. She cried uncontrollably.

”And that she still does. She will forever.”

Behind her the void had been growing darker. Riptide looked behind her anxiously. Her flank and tail were slowly fading away with the darkness. In Riptide’s eyes Stormsong saw fear and anxiety.

”I’m running out of time!” Riptide cried. ”Please tell him!!!” She screamed.

Stormsong couldn’t breath. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. it was like Someone was choking her and holding her back.

Riptide was being dragged back into the darkness. Stormsong tried to reach out to her with her wings, but she still couldn’t move.

Riptide ran and tried to escape the darkness, but she was dragged all the way back in.

Riptides final words echoed all around the void.

”Promise me!!!!!” The mother vanished.

_________________

Stormsong gasped for air in the cold night. Snowberry and Moonfall sleeping quietly beside her, their chests rising and falling softly.

Stormsong was haunted by the words that Riptide had

spoken.

Tears rolled down Stormsongs gray cheeks as she quietly watched the moon sink into the sky, and dawn approach.