Darkness was all Blaze saw. His ears listened to the sounds of waves crashing on land and the sound of seagulls squawking overhead. He felt soft, damp sand underneath his body, and the cold water from the sea crawling onto shore and retreating back into the water. He felt his shallow breath from the tightened rope leave and suck back into his body.

He doesn't remember much after he flew through the storm, it was all a haze to him. He just remembered seeing land covered with black, and crashing from exhaustion. Yes, he could've stopped to rest during the long flight, but the dark water below him forced him to go on.

He wished it was all a dream, he wanted to be in his warm stall eating sweet grain. Waking up to Aniya's voice saying-.

“By the light of the ancestors! What is that?!” A high pitch voice said, interfering with Blaze's thoughts.

Blaze flinched, wanting to open his eyes, but he was too tired. His eyelids were like heavy rocks he was trying to lift.

He suddenly felt the sensation of two ‘big something's’ coming close to him. The sound of hooves was followed by them, giving Blaze a clue that the creatures were either Kihlari, or horses.

“Oh my gosh! It's a pegasus!” The voice exclaimed.

“Is it dead? It looks dead…” a deep voice replied.

There was silence for a moment.

“No, he's alive! See! His nostrils are moving. Oh my gosh, what is that on his muzzle?! Quick! Get it off him!”.

Blaze suddenly felt pressure on his muzzle where the rope was, and felt a wave of fear wash over him. He struggled to open his eyes, his eyelids feeling like heavy rocks weighing down and keeping them closed.

The rope around Blaze’s muzzle suddenly snapped, allowing him to take the deep breath he had been longing for. He took several deep breaths before his eyes finally peeked open slightly.

He saw two blurry figures. They were both a bay color, but one had white shoulders covered with spots and….was that, a purple color he saw?

Blaze groaned and blinked several times, glancing back at the creatures. The blur let up a bit and he made out the look of feathers on the creature's back’s. That's when Blaze knew that these weren't horses, they were Kihlari.

The appaloosa had light purple feathers lined with aqua, and the plain bay had solid sea green. A little star could be seen on the appaloosa’s muzzle, and her mane was silky and black. The bay had short black mane and a few scars on his body, along with four white socks.

“What’s your name?” The appaloosa asked softly. She stepped forward slightly, but the bay held out his wing and cut her off, “Lakefeather, we don’t know where this stallion came from, he could be dangerous”.

‘What kind of name is Lakefeather?’ Blaze thought as hea stared up at the two Kihlari.

The mare by the name of Lakefeather scowled at the bay, “Does he look dangerous? Look at him! He skinny to the bone, his fur has lost its gloss, and his feathers are ripped up and worn! He needs our help Oakheart!” She nearly yelled. Lakefeather looked back at Blaze and stepped closer. She then laid down by him, “Now, what is your name?”.

“B-Bl..aze” Blaze rasped, coughing after he spoke.

“Blaze? What kind of a name is-OW!” Oakheart was saying, but Lakeheart threw a rock at his shoulder and shot him a warning glare. She then looked back at Blaze, “Ok, Blaze, you’ll be alright. Me and my brother are going to take you back to camp where our medicine mare can help you”.

“We are?” Oakheart said with a snort.

Lakefeather stood, holding her head haughtily at her brother, “Yes, we are, now help me grab his wings”.

Blaze could hear the grummbling of the stallion as he watched him walk over to his left wing. He winced as he felt his wing be grabbed and lifted off the ground, they were so incredibly sore from days of nonstop flying.

He felt his other wings be lifted by Lakefeather, and a few moments later, he felt his body leave the ground.

His head hung low as he felt the rushing wind against him. He was too tired to lift his head and see where he was, but by the looks of the trees under him, it definitely wasn't his clan.

‘Where is this camp anyway?’ Blaze thought as he watched the black sand below him turn to dirt and grass. Which then turned to cotton tree forests.

The winds howled as they traveled through this unknown land, and they began to push against Blaze's body, causing him him to rock slightly.

After the first hour of flight, Blaze felt his eyes grow heavy. He wanted to stay awake, for he didn't know these Kihlari, and he didn't know where they were taking him, just like Revenge and that other stallion that dropped him in the sea.

He fought to stay awake during the flight, not trusting these Kihlari enough to keep him safe while sleeping.

Many hours passed before Blaze could see open plains covered with lush green grass. A small group of colorful wings scattered across the plains, whinnying to one another and gathering in small groups.

Blaze tried to count how many there were, but his mind wasn't functioning correctly from exhaustion. His eyes shut every few seconds before they flew open again.

Blaze felt his heart leap when Lakefeather and Oakheart dove down at the other Kihlari, the wind roaring in his ears.

As the ground grew closer, Blaze's eyes grew heavier. He fought with the last amount of his strength to keep them open, so these Kihlari wouldn't probably kill him while he slept. But the moment their hooves touched the ground, Blaze collapsed into the soft grass.

His vision blurred, his breath grew slow, darkness began crowding around his vision. The last thing he heard was Lakefather’s voice yelling at the approaching group of Kihlari, before his world went dark.

The sound of singing birds filled his ears as Blaze began to stir, the feeling of soft grass mingled with his fur, and the scent of sweet grass filled his nostrils.

Blaze slowly opened his eyes, wincing when light poured into his eyes. His vision was blurry for a moment before the scape around him cleared, revealing a small cottonwood grove with bushes scattered around it.

Warm sunlight shone through the trees, dappling the ground with sunlit stars, and small animals scurried along the ground.

Blaze flicked his ears, slightly confused. ‘Where am I now? Am I these Kihlari’s prisoner!?’. He looked around for anything that might seem like he was being watched, but that only eyes he saw were that of the birds.

The bushes in front of Blaze suddenly rustled, making him jump and yelp. His ears flattened to the back of his head when he saw a Kihlari enter the grove.

The Kihlari looked to be a young mare, her coat was a golden pinto with striking golden eyes. Her wings were a soft shimmering shade of pink, and her mane looked to be as soft as silk.

The mare was gazing at the ground when she entered, not looking up at Blaze. But when she did, she gasped and jumped back slightly, “You're awake, we thought you'd never wake up” She said as she walked forward.

Blaze rose quickly but shakily to his hooves and staggered back, his eyes around with fear. But the corners of his vision went dark slightly, and he began to feel dizzy.

The mare stopped and stepped back a bit, “It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to know how you're feeling”.

Blaze pricked his ears, relaxing slightly, but his legs still shook, struggling to keep him up, his body swayed slightly.

Seeming to notice, the mare stepped forward cautiously, “You should lay back down, you're still weak, malnourished, and dehydrated. I don't want you hurting yourself”.

Blaze hesitated, glancing from the mare to the grass bed. After a moment, he did what he was told and laid back down on it. Looking satisfied, the mare walked over to the corner of the grove.

Blaze watched her for a moment, flicking his ears. He then opened his mouth, “Where-”. Before he could finish, he broke out into a fit of coughs, his voice cracking from the lack of water. His eyes began to water from the strain, and he couldn't catch his breath.

He suddenly felt a wing around his shoulder, “Shh, don't try to speak. Here, have some water”. Blaze opened his eyes, seeing what looked like a curved log full of water.

Watching the refreshing liquid swish around in the log made his mouth long for it. But in the back of his mind, he had dark thoughts on what this water may have had in it. Poison? Brainwashing plants? Anything that might kill him?

The tickle at the back of his throat increased, giving him no choice. It also looked tempting, as if it was calling his name.

He plunged his muzzle into the water and drank, the feeling of the cool liquid rushing down his throat. Sweet relief washed over him as he felt the liquid hit his empty stomach.

Satisfied, Blaze lifted his head, catching his breath from drinking. He then looked back at the mare, and once again, tried to speak, “Where...Am I?”.

The mare tucked her wing neatly onto her back, her eyes glittering, “You don't know?”.

“No, I've never see this place before” Blaze said, flattening his ears.

The mare blinked a few times, as if shocked. She then stood and walked over to another log at the corner of the den. She walked back over to Blaze with the log that was full of food, such as grass, berries, and other plants, “Here, eat this while”.

Blaze cocked his head at the log for a moment before he began to eat, the sweet grass was unlike anything he had ever tasted before.

“Well, before I tell you, may I ask where you’re from?” The mare asked, flicking her ears. Blaze looked up at her, his mouth full of food. He swallowed before he spoke, “Umm, Mavelyn”. He flattened his ears when regret welled up in his chest.

The mare’s jaw suddenly dropped with shock, her golden eyes round and wide, “You’re from across the Dark Water then?”.

Blaze hesitated, not liking how the mare reacted to his answer, ‘That can’t be true, I couldn’t have crossed the Dark Water, could I?’.

Remembering that the mare was awaiting an answer, he slowly nodded his head, “Is that a bad thing?”.

“No, you’re just, very far from where you live”.

Blaze’s eyes widened slightly at her answer, his heart began skipping, “Please, tell me, where am I?” He asked, desperation rang in his tone.

The mare flattened her ears, as if bracing herself for what came next, “You’re….In Anok now”.

(Thank you guys for reading :D I’m sorry it took so long, we’re moving out of the house we’re living in so it’s a bit chaotic. Chapter 4 will come soon :] )