Chapter 3!

The ceremonial burial that was held whenever a leader was killed or died happened the next day. Ashfrost didn't really want to go. Neither did Cinderfrost. But they trailed behind their father without complaint.

Frostwing was immediately different, as soon as his mate's final feather drifted to the ground. He barely looked at Cinderfrost. Ashfrost didn't blame him. Whenever he did talk to his twin, he was reminded of Ashsong. She was the spitting image. Frostwing didn't say anything to his foals as they lifted off to the center of Anok. Ashfrost stayed close to Cinder. The flight took only about 10 minutes, but every second dragged on. Every wingbeat took forever.

When they finally did arrive, most of the other herd leaders had already arrived. Some other onlookers had joined from each herd. Ashfrost saw a few other foals about his age with their parents. His heart broke all over again. He glanced at his father, but Frostwing wouldn't look back at him. Ashfrost sighed.

The head medicine mare stood and called for attention. "We are here to remember the former overmare of Fire Herd. The loving dam of Cinderfrost and Ashfrost and mate to Frostwing, overstallion of Ice Herd." The palomino's eyes met each pegasus as he mentioned then. "Ashsong is dead, and as grieved as we are, it is time to introduce the new leader of Fire. Sundance!"

Ashfrost rattled his feathers, a mix of anger and sadness. His dam deserved so much more. She was so much more. Shouldn't they have a chance to tell them? To honor her memory properly? He couldn't take it. He turned and wove through the gathering of pegasi to the far edge, where a large tree stood.

The grey colt collapsed, huffing loudly. His throat burned from unshed tears. But he felt like he had cried his soul out, and no more could fall. Ashfrost looked back where his sire stood regally, just making out his icey blue feathers that were pressed tight against his body. Cinderfrost leaned against him, it looked like she was crying. He sat in silence, feeling the emotionless void sucking him in.

A shaking of the branch above him had him launching to his feet. "W-Who's there?" He asked, spreading his fading white wings. A sleek black colt jumped from the tree, flapping his dark blue feathers. "Me," he replied simply.

"Who are you?"

"Smokemoon. You?"

"I'm Ashfrost." This pegasus wasn't big on conversation apparently. He had an oddly shaped circle on his forehead that reminded Ashfrost of the moon.

"Oh, so you're the Ashfrost whose mother was the Fire Herd leader." Ashfrost nodded and Smokemoon lowered his head respectively. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thanks…" Ashfrost wanted to change the subject. "How old are you?"

"Oh, by now I think about 8 moons."

"Same!" He managed a small smile. He hadn't really had any friends before. And this colt was growing on him. "Why aren't you with your family, where they are introducing the Fire Herd mare?" A twinge of bitterness crept into his voice as he mentioned his dam's murderer.

"My family is dead." Smokemoon replied simply, without any emotion. "A different family took me in, but I prefer the solitude and darkness of the tree." He motioned with a wing to the one he had just been in. “Besides. It’s crowded over there.”

"Oh. I'm really sorry to hear that. How did they die?"

The other colt sighed, seemingly annoyed that Ashfrost was hung up on that tiny detail. He replied slowly. "My sire was murdered shortly after I was born, trying to save my dam and I from a Fire Herd scout. Obviously it didn't work. So another family took me in. They're okay."

Ashfrost looked at the ground. He wasn't sure what to say. Smokemoon seemed completely fine with whatever he was saying. It was a bit unnerving. The black colt seemed to sense this, however, and his tone softened. "How did your mom die?"

"Murdered. By the new Fire Herd leader."

"I suppose we have that in common." Smokemoon smiled and ruffled his blue feathers. "Now. Your herd…If your sire is Frostwing, you have to be a hybrid. Fire and Ice."

Ashfrost nodded, grinning. "Yup. Those hybrids are popping up all over Anok now. What about you?"

Smokemoon looked down. "Uhh…well I…it's kinda hard to say. My mom was in Storm, and we think that's where my powers come from. My adopted parents, that is. They’re from Water herd, like my father." He shrugged. Ashfrost opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a beautiful buckskin tovero with teal feathers landing beside them. Ashfrost felt his jaw drop.

"Smokemoon, mom says you can't wander off like that! Especially not here." She seemed to notice Ashfrost for the first time. "Oh, hello."

"H-hi" he replied dreamily, then realized he was smiling like a goof and quickly tried to regain his poise. Smokemoon snickered. "My name is Ashfrost…" he coughed.

"Hello! I'm Summerdew," she smiled. "I'm his adopted sister." She motioned with her wing to the black colt. Her teal feathers seemed to sparkle. She took another look at him and gasped. “Oh, I’m so sorry about your dam! That’s really terrible.” Her eyes widened with pity. Ashfrost decided right then and there he didn’t like pity, so he stood straighter. “It’s fine. But thanks.” He smiled. A sorrel tovero neighed to them, and Summerdew turned to look at her. Smokemoon glanced at Ashfrost apologetically. “That’s our mom, Rainstar. Sorry we have to go. But I’d…like to see you again sometime.”

“Definitely. Maybe tomorrow, at about noon, we can meet back here. Hang out. And I can bring my twin, Cinderfrost.” The two siblings nodded, grinning. Summerdew stretched her wings, preparing to jump into the air. “We’ll see you then!” She flapped off, leaving the two colts.

Smokemoon smiled at Ashfrost. "Can't wait! I haven't really had any friends before now…"

"Great! Neither have I!" He laughed. "See you." The dark colt lifted off and soon disappeared. Ashfrost sighed contentedly and turned back to where his father was talking with another stallion. Cinderfrost stood beside.

Ashfrost trotted slowly back to his family, feeling the sadness creeping back. He took a deep breath before coming close enough to nuzzle his sister. She looked at him with her big brown eyes, so filled with sorrow and grief. His heart broke all over again.

Frostwing turned from his conversation as the other pegasus walked away. "Let's go home," he said hoarsely. He talked to the side of them, not bearing to look directly at the twins. 'Is this how things are going to be?' Ashfrost thought. 'Like we lost two parents last night…'

He looked at Cinderfrost as they kicked off. He could tell she was thinking the same thing. nking the same. They flew in silence, their father leading. The twins glanced at each other every now and again, both trying to work out ways that they could heal. Together. They wouldn’t make it otherwise. The tension seemed to break as they came in view of their Ice cave at the top of the hill in Ice Herd territory. They stayed as far as possible from their usual sleeping spot at the border between Fire and Ice. They weren’t ready to confront it. Not yet.

A warm breeze swept through the area, a sure sign that summer was coming. Usually, the only spring weather you could see was grass that shot out of the layers of snow in the valley. The family landed and Frostwing immediately went to the small outcropping overlooking the basin. Several pegasi had already gathered and were impatiently talking. Ashfrost and Cinderfrost shared a look and quickly headed to the far back of the cave. “He doesn’t like us anymore.” The colt stated bitterly.

“I’m sure it’s not that,” his sister tried to console him, resting her wing over his back. “He’s…broken. Mom meant a lot to him. I guess he sees too much of her in us.”

“Yeah. So much he can’t stand to be around us. I think we should prepare ourselves for fending on our own. He doesn’t want us, so why should we want him.” The anger in his voice surprised Ashfrost, but he kept his gaze hard.

Cinderfrost sighed. “It’s not only hard on him, you know.” Her brother looked up and forgot about his father. He moved closer to his sis.

“We have to be here for each other. No matter what.” He held out his blue wing that faded to white, almost mesmerized by the blending of colors. Cinderfrost did the same, and Ashfrost marveled at the contrast between the two. Her red wings faded to a dark black. She was darker, he was lighter. He wished he had taken after his mother more.

The two stood with their wings held over the other, talking about all their favorite memories of their late dam. What they loved most about her and their family. They cried, staying together until the sun had set. Frostwing entered, only sparing them a small glance, before curling up against the far side of the cave. The twins moved to keep each other company as they drifted into an exhausted rest.

Ice Herd

Frostwing - Overstallion of Ice Herd, Sire to Ashfrost and Cinderfrost, Mate to Ashsong of Fire Herd; White stallion with almost transparent blue feathers

Ashfrost - Twin to Cinderfrost; Grey sabino overo with feathered legs and a thick grey mane. Icey blue feathers that fade to white. Half bald face and 4 streaky socks.

Cinderfrost - Twin to Ashfrost; Steel Grey Tobiano with light red feathers that fade to white.

Fire Herd

Ashsong (Deceased) - Previous Overmare of Fire Herd, Dam to Ashfrost and Cinderfrost, Mate to Frostwing of Ice Herd; Dark grey pinto with dark red feathers that fade to black.

Sundance - Reigning Overmare of Fire Herd and Ashsong’s murderer; Red dun with interrupted stripe and dark red wings that are edged in black and streaked with orange.

Storm Herd

Echomoon (Deceased) - Mate to Rockstream, dam to Smokemoon, older sister to Wintersun; Light grey pintaloosa with purple feathers and star.

Wintersun - Younger sister to Echomoon. Buckskin pintaloosa with harvest orange feathers frosted in blue/white.

Smokemoon - Adopted brother to Summerdew; Dark black colt with an undertone of grey. 4 stockings, a waning moon star on his forehead, and blue feathers.

Water Herd

Rockstream (Deceased) - Mate to Echomoon; Dark grey with blue feathers and 4 stockings.

Rainstar - Mate to Spiritwind, dam to Summerdew and Smokemoon (adopted);

Spiritwind - Mate to Rainstar, sire to Summerdew and Smokemoon (adopted); Buckskin with white feathers tipped in black.

Summerdew - Adopted sister to Smokemoon; Buckskin tovero with black mane and tail, teal feathers.

Earth Herd

Opalmist - Medicine Mare; Dark palomino with misty colored wings made of blue, grey, green, and brown that shimmer in the sunlight, hind stockings

Summerbreeze - Head Medicine Mare, dam to Opalmist; Palomino, bald face, 2 white hind stockings. Cloudy blue and white feathers

Hope you enjoyed! As always, thoughts and comments are appreciated :)