A Trios Journey (private rp with wingfeather and tenebria)

[Abbster]

"I don't know" Sugar said, as she watched her friend leave. "do you need ginger?" she asked. "it will help with the pain" she said.

Gus looked confused, but he placed his hoof in the ground hard. He pulled it out...he knew he wasn't supposed to to speak, but he did anyway. "Can I go back to my sister?" he asked. "she almost died because of the wolf"

[tenebria]

Galmúr unquestioningly stepped forward and pressed his hoof into the ground before stepping back once again, looking down the line as all the apprentices followed suit. A young female apprentice was on his left, and she met his gaze as he looked over, a curious questioning look in her eyes as well. He shrugged slightly, then looked further down as he heard Gus's voice, disobeying his leaders.

Lorcán frowned as he heard one of the apprentices speak, glaring slightly at Gus, until he remembered. Gus hadn't been in the hunt. He'd been back with his sister. "Seeing as you were not among us during the hunt, you may return" he allowed, then spoke to the others. "Step back and remain still until we speak to you" he said sternly, motioning for Treth to follow him as he stepped forward, starting at the right side of the line, unable to start with his own apprentice. Surely a hoofprint would match before then. First in line were the scouts, and first was the spot where Gus had been. He glanced at the hoofprint, immediately noticing that the frog was not the correct size, and moving on to the female scout, examining the hoofprint. Too small. He moved on to the next, the male scout.

[wingfeather]

Treth followed Lorcán examining each hoof print in its turn. He observed Gus, Myth, then Raider, none of them, thankfully, matching with the print. He noticed Stormflash's print, he realized that the print would match, then continued, wordlessly, with the rest of the warrior apprentices, lastly looking at Galmúr. The print matched almost exactly with Stormflash's.

Artemis shook her head and let out a slightly raspy laugh, ''I hate the taste of ginger.''

[Abbster]

Sugar laughed. “I know, but I can give you a ball of moss soaked water after you have some” sugar said. “I promise, if you drink water afterwards” she said, standing up and trotting to get some ginger. She nosed it to Artemis.

[tenebria]

Galmúr watched silently as the two moved down the line, frowning slightly in confusion as he saw his own mentor stop with a strange expression on his face in front of Stormflash, who stiffened and glared in suspicion.

Lorcán's eyes widened slightly as he saw Stormflash's print, and he released the slightest breath of relief. It wasn't his apprentice. No need to look further. He glanced up as Treth continued walking down the line, then he moved to stand in front of the apprentices, motioning for Treth to come over as he began dismissing the apprentices not needed. "Myth, Raider, Sabine, Charger, and Galmúr, you may return to your duties" he said commandingly.

[wingfeather]

Artemis ate a little of the vile tasting medicine, making a face as she swallowed it down. 

Treth trotted to Lorcán, ''Warrior Lorcán,'' he stopped, willing himself to go on, ''the hooves of your apprentice are the same size as Stormflash's,'' he whispered.

[Abbster]

Sugar smiled, and nosed the water towards her. “This will make the taste go away” she said.

[tenebria]

Lorcán froze. Of course. Of course they were the same. They were cousins, it only made sense. He did not turn his head to look at the Scout, not wanting to show the weakness in his eyes. "Galmúr" he called as his apprentice began to walk away. "Remain with Stormflash" he said, his heart heavy, but knowing it was necessary. "Now each of you, tell how many kills you got, and detail each hit" he said solemnly. Stormflash swiftly stepped forward, sure this was some sort of honor. "I had two kills" he said proudly "The first I hit on the back then the head. The second I hit on the back and the side" he said, looking over to the golden buckskin beside him with a scornful look. Galmúr glanced at him with an unimpressed look, then spoke quietly. "I had three kills. One in the side twice and the head thrice. The second in the head thrice. The third on the head." he said, dipping his head and waiting for the two stallions, who turned to seemingly converse.

Lorcán listened, his brow furrowed slightly. A feeling of pride did strike him as he heard that his apprentice had taken and destroyed three. But the matter was not over. Swiftly,he turned to Treth. "Did the wolf have any head hits?" he asked in a low voice.

[wingfeather]

Artemis sucked at the moss gratefully, already feeling the ginger take effect, ''thanks Sugar, I am starting to feel better.''

Treth remembered exactly what the wolf looked like, as this was a trait of a good scout. He answered immediately, ''no, there were none.''

[Abbster]

Sugar smiled and nodded. "I'm glad" she said. "the ginger will also help you sleep, so you will get a bit sleepy" she said, nuzzling her friend lovingly. "if you need anymore moss, let me know" she added

[tenebria]

Galmúr shifted slightly as the two stallions turned to converse with each other, glancing over at Stormflash who was glaring angrily at him. The silver roan opened his mouth to speak, but swiftly shut it as the gray stallion turned towards them again.

Lorcán paused for a moment, then his eyes showed relief. "So we know who it was then" he said quietly, waiting to be sure they were in agreement before turning to the two apprentices. "Stormflash, Galmúr, this is why you have been singled out. During our sweep of the forest, a wolf slipped through the blockade. It made it all the way to the herd, and the warrior Creampuff only just managed to eliminate it before it reached the young filly, Hazel." he said as he stared stonily at them both. Galmúr's eyes widened. Oh it made so much sense now. One of them must have let it slip by. But... how could they know who it was? His mentor answered that thought in a moment. "On the wolf's side were some very clear hoofprints, those of a yearling" he said solemnly. Galmúr drew in a sharp breath, his mind swiftly cycling back to the battle. Could there have been any way it could have been one of his wolves? His eyes narrowed in concentration as he thought. But he couldn't imagine any of the wolves getting up from where they had fallen, he had been sure to hit them in the vital spot, the head. At this realization, he looked over to Stormflash reflexively, to see the young yearling looking rather enraged, covering up his fear. Out of turn, feeling the gaze of all three resting on him, he blurted out in an almost high pitched tone "Well it wasn't me! I stopped and made sure each of my kills was dead, I made sure to stomp on them extra after I killed them. It must have been Galmúr, he got sloppy after getting so many!" he said defensively. Galmúr glared in anger at the yearling. He was really trying to pin it on him? Wait... could he actually do that? he was the Lead Mare's son... unsure, he looked to his mentor, who's expression was that of a thundercloud.

Lorcán's eyes flashed with annoyance as the silver roan swiftly spoke up, all too eager to throw his fellow apprentice under the mentor's hooves. "STORMFLASH" he thundered suddenly, causing the silver roan to flinch back, his ears flattening. "We have already examined the hoofprints and heard your testimonies. It is certain that it was your wolf that slipped through. You were careless in your attack, and you left one to live, almost causing the death of an innocent young filly. And not only that, but realizing this, you attempt to betray your fellow apprentice! And your cousin!" he said, his voice growing more thunderous with each word. The silver roan's eyes were wide and panicked now, his ears flat against his head, and he opened his mouth to attempt to worm his way out of it, but the stallion's sharp neigh made him snap it closed again. "DO not speak again. You will accompany Head Scout Treth and I to your mother. Only then shall we find a punishment fit for such immature and heedless actions" he said with another glare, then glanced over to his own apprentice who was watching the proceedings with a mixture of relief and guilt. "Galmúr, you may return to your friends" he said shortly, but his tone and eyes softened as he spoke. As the young buckskin dipped his head deeply to them both, then spun off and raced away swiftly, the silver roan stepped forward with a sudden defiant look. "Perhaps you may not believe my words, but my mother shall certainly. You will see that you were wrong" he said, although it was obviously simply a bluff. The gray stallion simply snorted, having had enough of the pompous young colt. "We shall see" he muttered, glancing to Treth and motioning for them to make their way over to their Lead Mare.

[wingfeather]

Artemis nodded and laid her head back down, '' when do you think Galmúr will return,'' she asked sleepily.

Treth was glad he was not the one having to interrogate the yearlings, but he knew it was nessecary and respected Lorcán's sense of duty. He swiftly fell into place just behind the warrior as they marched toward the lead mare.

[Abbster]

"I'm not sure" Sugar admitted. "but I'm sure he'll be back soon" Sugar said. She did wish she could've been apart of the wolf hunt, but realizing how much she was valued when it came to herbs...made her see things differently now.

[tenebria]

Galmúr let out another relieved sigh as he slowed to a trot. He knew for a certain fact that each of those wolves he'd been attacked by were dead. He could remember precisely where he'd hit each, and there was no way any of those wolves would have made it as far as the herd in that short amount of time if they had managed to live. Shaking away his thoughts, he smiled as he realized he was almost at the healers. A few moments later he trotted up to this two friends and flopped down beside Artemis. "Well... that was something" he said with another sigh. What a tiring, yet thrilling, day.

Stormflash kept his head held high as he trotted between both stallions, moving forward slightly so as to give the appearance that he was leading them, instead of him being marched to trial. Finally he spotted his mother a little ways off from Gus's family, and he sped up, ignoring the snort from the gray stallion behind him. Reaching his mother he nickered and nuzzled her. "Mother, they're trying to blame me for the wolf slipping through, even though Galmúr's hoofprints match exactly, and I know I killed both the wolves I encountered!" he said, flattening his ears slightly and pressing against her side. Now Swan was one of the best lead mares, if not the best, the herd had ever seen... but everyone knew she had a blind spot. Her son. Lorcán knew this and sighed as he approached, hearing the yearling's exaggerated and twisted words. "Is this true, Lorcán?" Swan asked, turning her slightly angered gaze his direction. He dipped his head "I cannot help what truth reveals" he said quietly. "Yes, my apprentice's hooves matched as well, but after hearing them both tell us in their own words of their kills, we are convinced he is not the one to blame in this matter. Your son described a "kill" that matched the wolf perfectly. His hoofprints also match the prints on the wolf. These facts cannot be undone" he said quietly. Swan's gaze wavered slightly, and she looked down to her son in uncertainty. "My son... what have you to say to this? Was it truly you?" she questioned sadly. Stormflash glared at the gray stallion, but at his mother's look he swiftly blinked innocently "Mother, I tell you it was not me. Somehow, somehow that yearling knew it was about that wolf, and he lied about it and said it got kicked in the head, to make him safe." he said quickly. Swan sighed, then a look of pain flashed through her eyes, and she looked down at her son with a gaze of cold quiet sadness. "Stormflash, if it wasn't your wolf, how did you know it didn't get kicked in the head?" she questioned. His eyes widened, realizing his mistake. "Well I guessed, I mean he said all his got kicked in the head, and just because I had one that I didn't kick in the head didn't mean it wasn't dead!" he said, his words fumbling. But Swan had her answer. "Son, I wish I could believe you... but your own words have told me the truth" she said with a sad shake of her head. She was not sad as much because of the act, but more of the fact he had attempted to lie to her. Turning her head to the Head Warrior and Head Scout, she dipped it slightly "I trust you two to deal with aquiring an adequate punishment, I want to hear no more of this" she said, turning and walking off, leaving her son with the two stallions. Stormflash gulped, then a flash of hatred ran through him. It was all because of Lorcán and his pet apprentice.

Lorcán sighed and nodded, bowing after his Lead Mare then frowning as he caught the angered look from the yearling as he turned his head to Treth. "You are more versed in the young ones, what do you perceive to be punishment enough?" he questioned in a low voice.

[wingfeather]

Artemis opened her eyes when she heard Galmúr approach, ''what was that all about?'' she asked, maneuvering her legs more comfortably.

Treth lowered his gaze when the lead mare spoke to her son, he could not believe what he was hearing, Stormflash was actually attempting to lie to his mother, of all the cowardly and pride filled horses...... He looked up and saw the sadness and betrayal in the lead mare's gaze as she walked away. ''you could take him off his apprentice duties and send him with the foragers or help the healer collect herbs,'' that is what he normally did with any disobedient apprentices.