Riverland Mountain Herd -Private rp with tenebria-

[tenebria]

Twilight nuzzled her "Thank you sis, you always know what I need when I need it" she said lovingly, hugging her.

[Abbster]

Midnight smiled. “Of course!” She said. “I’ll see you soon, I wanted to see Specks any ways” she nuzzled her big sister and then stood up, and trotted over to her mate, laying beside him. “There’s my black mare” Specks said. Midnight blushed and snuggled against him. “How are you feeling my speckled stallion?” Midnight asked. “Better now that you’re here.” Specks said with love in his eyes.

[tenebria]

Twilight smiled, returning her nuzzle, made sure their mother was watching the foals, then trotted off to go find her mate. She found him grazing not far off, and nuzzled him. He looked over in surprise, then nuzzled her again with a smile. "There you are" he nickered lovingly. She gazed into his eyes then nuzzled him again, leaning into him, loving the feel of his warm coat against hers. "Mid is spending time with Specks, and the foals are being watch by my mother" she explained. He nodded, nuzzling her forelock gently. "And what's troubling you?" He asked softly. She looked into his eyes again, then sighed, closing them and pressing against him. "I'm worried, about Nutmeg... and Echo" she said quietly. He let out a thoughtful slow breath. "It is a tricky situation. The poor colt, he has so much to work through right now... I just wish Nutmeg didn't feel like she had to be the one to take it all for him" he agreed, knowing how damaging it could be if she was being an outlet for sadness, and not able to let it out to anyone else. "Perhaps... perhaps I could try and speak to Echo, and you and Nutmeg could talk?" he suggested.

[Abbster]

“How’s Beauty?” Specks asked. Midnight shrugged. “Ok now that you and Dust are better, but you know her relationship with Buttermilk is so strong. She’s really worried about him.” Midnight said as she gazed at her daughter. “I’m just glad she didn’t get sick” Specks said. Midnight nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean. If she had, we could’ve lost her to.” Midnight muttered. “Hey.” Specks said nudging her. “We didn’t. Because she didn’t get sick.” He said. “Dust is almost back to normal, just sleeping off a little bit of the sickness, I’m fine now too. Soon everyone will be better.” Specks assured her. Midnight tried to smile. “I hope so” she whispered as Apollo suddenly came whirling up. “Mama!” He said. Midnight smiled. “Hi there my adorable colt” Midnight said as Apollo squeezed between his mother and father. “I missed you dada” Apollo added. Specks nuzzled his colt. “I’m here now” specks promised

[tenebria]

Twilight paused, then slowly nodded "I don't know how much Echo will open up, but if you're willing to try, I would really love that" she said with a small smile. Rusty smiled back and nuzzled her. "Then that's what we'll do" he sad, hugging her. "Now let's go find those two" he said cheerfully, moving off. She swiftly followed.

[Abbster]

Apollo some how fell asleep nestled between his mother and father. “How is he comfortable?” Midnight asked Specks. Specks just shrugged. “Foals can sleep anywhere with their parents I guess” specks said.

[tenebria]

It didn't take long for Rusty and Twilight to make their way to the edge of the herd, where they found the group of yearlings quietly grazing. Nutmeg and Echo were a ways off from the others, not talking, but standing close to each other. Twilight took the lead and trotted up, making sure they were making enough noise to not startle the two. "Nutmeg!" she called out softly.

Nutmeg lifted her head in surprise as she heard her mother, shocking her out of her deep thoughts for a moment. She smiled slightly, then glanced back to Echo, who had just lifted his head with a slightly dazed expression.

[Abbster]

Harvest looked up from grazing as well. He’d tried everything to get Echo feeling better again, but it just wasn’t working. Even as his best friend there seemed there was nothing Harvest could do for him. He sighed and went back to his grazing.

Midnight nuzzled her mate sweetly and then gazed down at Apollo. “I seriously wonder where he got that color” Midnight said. Specks chuckled. “I don’t know” he said.

[tenebria]

"Mom!" Nutmeg said, surprised at the relief she felt as she moved to her mother, nuzzling her, not realizing how much she'd needed her mother in this hard time. "I'm here sweetie" Twilight whispered to her, then nodded to Rusty. "Echo, we seem to have a shortage of helpful hooves, and I need to get out on patrol, could you possibly join me?" he asked in a conversational confiding tone. Echo paused, blinking slightly as if the words were slowly getting through to him. He gave a short nod. "If you need me" he said in an unusually quiet tone, turning and beginning to walk off towards the path, without even a look at Nutmeg. Her eyes filled with tears at his cold motions, and she buried her head in her mother's side. Rusty looked over, his eyes pained. "Go. You will know how to handle it, I know you will" Twilight said softly. He nodded and trotted after the young stallion, staying silent as he caught up and they moved off down the path. "Come on sweetie, let's find some place to talk" Twilight said, focusing her attention on her daughter, and letting her stay close as they moved into the forest.

[Abbster]

"Where did your sister get off to?" Specks asked. "She's talking with Nutmeg." Midnight said. Specks dipped his head. "Yes, I heard about Zephyr....its so heartbreaking" Specks said as he gazed at his mate. "I couldn't imagine it being you" Midnight muttered. Specks nudged her. "Hey." He said easily. "It wasn't, I'm still here." He said, nuzzling her forelock lovingly. "I'm not going anywhere" he promised her.

[tenebria]

Rusty glanced over at the young stallion moving mechanically beside him. His eyes were staring straight ahead... and he just looked... empty. "Shouldn't be much of a hard patrol, just keeping an eye out for coyotes and such, making sure they don't stray too near" he said, glancing about. Echo gave a nod in reply. Rusty frowned slightly. This would be harder than he had thought. And then another thought came to him. The trail passed right by... Zephyr's resting place. How would the young stallion react to that? He flicked an ear uncertainly, then moved forward at a faster pace. Best to find out quickly.

Twilight led Nutmeg through the forest to the beautiful clearing surrounded by wild apple trees, and the little pond. Laying down on the soft grass, she motioned for Nutmeg to follow her. The filly flopped down, and was suddenly sobbing. "Oh Mama" she said through her sobs. Twilight pulled her close, hugging her and nuzzling her neck comfortingly. "I'm so sorry my dear, i'm so sorry, I should have come sooner. It was too much for you" she said, tears coming to her own eyes at the obvious heartbreak and pain running through her daughter.

[Abbster]

Midnight managed a soft smile before she bent her head to munch on grass for a while. When she was full, she gazed up at the sun. "I should wake Apollo and feed him soon, its almost time for his bed time" Midnight said, noticing that the day was almost over. Specks chuckled and nodded. "yes, if you don't he'll be up all night, and neither of us want that" He said, as he nuzzled his colt gently.

[tenebria]

Nutmeg pressed against her mother, slowing her breaths and trying to gather her thoughts. "I just don't understand why it had to happen. And what will happen. And how to help at all." she said, trying not to lose it again. Twilight took a deep breath, nuzzling her. "It's something none of your siblings have had to go through yet, not to this level, so it is hard. But time will be the greatest help, for both you and Echo. You might have to give him some time alone, let him think. I know you don't want to, but it might be best for both of you" she said softly. Nutmeg looked at her, the one fear blazing bright in her eyes. What if Echo didn't want her anymore? Twilight hugged her. "And I promise you he will come back to you. I promise" she said, fervently praying to Epona that she would be able to keep that promise for her daughter.

Echo felt coldness. Hardly even that. He just felt... nothing. It was like the world was in black and white, just shades of darkness. Words sounded like they came from underwater. His legs moved mechanically, his mind just tired of trying to think. And then he heard Rusty's steps falter, slow, felt his gaze. With an effort he lifted his head, his dull eyes glancing at the stallion, then to where the stallion was now looking. A breath hitched in his throat, and his eyes shut tightly, pain flashing through him. His mother's grave.

[Abbster]

Specks nudged his mate when he realized she was gazing off in the direction Twilight had gone. "Hey" He said. Midnight looked up at him. "Yea?" She asked. "I know you don't want to hear this, but it needs to be said" Specks said. Midnight tilted her head confused. "Mid....Nutmeg needs her more than you do right now." Specks said. Midnight looked at him, surprised he would think that she was so oblivious. "I know that" She said. "Then why are you staring in the direction she went?" Specks finally asked. Midnight couldn't think, she didn't know what to say. "I...I don't know." She admitted. "I just...." her eyes went towards the ground. Specks nudged her. "hey" he said. "what?" he asked. Midnight gazed at him. "I don't know! I don't know why I keep looking that way! Its almost as if I accept her to come back now. But I know she won't because you're right, Nutmeg needs her, and I have you." Midnight added. "I don't need her right now, I'm happy being with you again." Midnight said. "You know, there was a time when I thought I was going to loose you." She admitted. "Right after Zephyr died....I just kept thinking you were next." Midnight said. "I know...but I wasn't and I'm still here" Specks said gently. Midnight smiled brightly. "Yes you are." she said, as she nuzzled him sweetly.

[tenebria]

Nutmeg took a shaky breath, looking up at her mother. "But HOW do you know?" she queried, hope begin to alight in her eyes. Twilight thought carefully, then nuzzled her filly comfortingly. "It is true, i don't know everything for certain, but I know that everything will happen as it is meant to happen. You will see, even if it doesn't seem like it now. Just give him time. You cannot always be there for him at this stage, you must take time to learn and grow yourself, just as he needs time to mature as well" she said softly. Nutmeg sniffed. "I just want it to be the way it was before..." she trailed off, sniffing again. Twilight nuzzled her. "It will be, not the same, but better, i promise." Nutmeg sighed and nuzzled her again, settling into her mother's warm reddish coat and letting out a deep breath.

Echo froze. His eyes remained shut. It was too painful. Rusty stood silently beside him. "She was a wonderful mare, strong and brave and gentle to all." he said softly, as if to himself. Echo suddenly found tears in his throat. He felt one run down his cheek. "And the perfect mother" he got out in a raspy voice, barely able to be heard. Rusty glanced down, flicking an ear of surprise as he heard the soft wisper. The colt was finding a release for his emotion.