Alone

[Whitewhisker]

It was hard coming here, being alone. Craigen had traveled a solitude life before but this time was different. He had had a family, friends, children and all of it....it was simply gone. The tall bay had taken to the higher ground, climbing and climbing until the snow became to deep. Here he has stayed, calling it his home in hopes of it claiming him as he has done it. Life just doesn't seem the same and it had wore on the burly stud. He is not so forgiving, not so loving or understanding. Instead he has become a brute, much to the same way his father had behaved. Solitude would do that though to one's mind, especially here surrounded by nothing but snow and ice.

The latter amount of food that he was used too had caused him to become much leaner though his structure kept him stocky. With a toss of his head, causing his tangled mane to dance across his thick bay neck his long legs carried him out in a stiff walk. The snow constantly pulling upon his legs had made the muscles in his body much stronger along with age. He was a fully mature stallion now, much into his prime. It definitely showed in his build but in his mind he wasn't too sure.

Coming to a stop along the edge of a cliff, Craigen looked out onto his land. The strong winds that howled in his forward ears carried no sound of life and nothing seemed to move below him in that white wasteland. A heavy sigh escape him causing a billow of smoke to escape his nostrils. Would he forever stay this way? Alone?

[silverday]

"Come on! I can smell him!" Luna cried, the chestnut filly galloping up the icy slope, much to Ashira's horror.

"Slow down, Luna! NOW!" She barked, her tone held a viciousness that only Luna knew meant trouble.

Immediately, did the yearling skid to a stop, looking back with wide eyes. This dainty and wild filly was Craigen's daughter and she was a bit more than Ashira expected. The beauty of her mother was contained in this form, and the usual silence of her father. Until she got excited of course.

"Sorry.." Luna mumbled, looking sheepish as Ashira walked slowly up to her foal. The ice was unnerving for the mare who was so used to the ground. It'd take a while for her to get used to it again.

"Hmm-hmm...Go on. Go see your dad." The buckskin mare allowed her daughter to rush off, where Craigen's form was in the distance.

"DAD!" Luna yelled, rushing up to the familiar face of her sire. "Hey! How are you?" She giggled.

[Whitewhisker]

As Craigen looked out he was unaware of the two approaching from behind. Their scent was carried away from him instead of towards him and so he had quite the shock when Luna's voice filled his ears. Spinning around he watched as his daughter rushed up to jim, shocked at how much she had grown. "Luna?"her he questioned, reaching out his muzzle to take in her scent as he'd never forget the scent of one of his children.

Her question struck him as odd, as if they had only been apart a day instead of a year. "Im fine" he answered before his eyes traveled back to Ashira. They both seemed fine as well but in truth he had expected them to be in another herd by now. "What are you doing in this wasteland?"

[silverday]

Ashira trotted up to beside the father and daughter and laughed. "We came for you, of course. Where you go, we go."

Luna's head nodded up and down fervently, almost bobbing.

"Luna! Calm down." The mare chuckled at her daughter's excitement. Luna had been waiting so long to see her sire again. But no, the chestnut filly was determined....Determined to stay a family. That's what had compelled Ashira to agree to go with her headstrong daughter in search of their missing family member who, by Luna's definition was missing after only being gone a day.

"I can't calm down, momma!" Luna squealed, trotting in place before getting tired of that and bounded over to the other side of Craigen. "Dad!" The yearling nipped his broad shoulders playfully, her tail held high. Boy, oh boy was Luna a ball of energy today...

"You see what your daughter has been doing all day?" Ashira mocked, making Luna snicker.

"I've been good at least." Luna pointed out.

"For now." The buckskin remarked with a grin.

"True, true..." The younger agreed, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

[Whitewhisker]

A sigh escaped the stallion upon their reasoning of being here. This was a dangerous place and they had no business here despite thier claims. He said nothing though, only watching as Luna acted silly, nipping and prancing around. "This is no place for play" he said, ears pinning back against his poll at his daughter. "Stop the foolishness" his words were harsh but if she did not.calm down she would hurt herself upon the ice. "This is no place for a family Ashira. You shouldnt have came here"

[silverday]

Ashira made a 'heh' sound. "Oh quit it, you sour puss. We used to live in the Arctic Arch and Lily had her own foal. We'll be just safe here, thank you." The buckskin said with a satisfied nod. "Besides, I know you. You don't deserve to be alone." Her voice was like the wind, piercing yet it was true.

Luna, at Craigen's harsh voice, calmed down and was silent, walking to her mother's side. Her head was hung low and her eyes watered. It hurt her to be yelled at and even more so having her play be called foolishness.

She was a yearling! Of course she wanted to play...Ashira nudged Luna's sad form with a gentle smile.

"Oh Luna..." Ashira sighed, licking the foal. "He said that because if you're not careful, you can get hurt on the ice. Be careful and watch what you are doing." The buckskin nodded gently. Craigen still had a lot to learn about rearing foals.

Luna nodded, perking up a little bit at least, her ears pinned back, but at least the chestnut's head was held higher.

[Whitewhisker]

"I was fstupid of me to have us live in the Arch" he said with a shake of his head. "Luckily none of us died. But I wont repeat my mistakes. Luna I'm taking you to Akilles till you get older."her the bay said. Ashira was welcome to stay as she was a seasoned mare and more than capable of taking care of herself here. Luna on the other hand he wasnt so sure. "Im sure you will enjoy his daughter's company"

[silverday]

Luna pinned her ears back. She wasn't happy about leaving her mother's side.

Ashira wasn't too fond of the idea either, but the buckskin knew that eventually...Luna would have to leave home sometimes!

"I don't want to go, Dad!" Luna said in a quiet voice, looking even more hurt if it was even possible.

Ashira glanced up at Craigen. Was this really the best thing to do? "You are a year and a half, Luna. It's time you start acting like so. I'm sorry but if your dad saids so, then maybe it'd be best." She tried to sound unaffected, but failed drastically.

[Whitewhisker]

"It is only till your older." Craigen said, blocking out any feelings upon his decision. "At least you have spent this long with your mother....." there was something there, something hurt within him. Though he had no tone change and his expression was still stern it would be obvious to anyone who might know him. "But it is a few days travel from here so you'll still have then"

[silverday]

As much as she could tell Craigen was trying to stay unemotionful in this decision, Ashira caught a glimpse of what his past held. It was like an open diary that someone usually kept locked, but this time was left ajar and no one was in the room to see her look at it.

Luna nodded silent still. Perhaps she was hurt more than Ashira originally thought.

The buckskin smiled at them both. "Oh cheer up you two! At least we'll still be together for visits and for small celebrations." She winked at Craigen and nudged Luna playfully, making the sad chestnut suddenly smile but very weakly.

"You're right! I'll do my best and I'll try to be very brave." Luna at last declared loudly and with the sense of gusto she usually had. And the mother knew her daughter just right.

[Whitewhisker]

With a swish of his tail the stallion said no more. His judgement had not been questioned by Ashira in which he was surprised about but nonetheless he wouldn't have tolerated arguing. Turning away he began leading the way down a imaginary trail that he had taken several times though was covered by snow so that it was no longer visible. Sometimes the snow would melt just enough in the summer that the ground was visible in places but never completely would the snow vanish. Food was a blessing when found which made it a harder life. If only Luna could understand that was not what he wanted for her. But as it seemed she wouldn't until someday when she was older and possibly had a child of her own. The thought made him feel old and a sigh escaped his nostrils, blowing out another puff of smoke into the crisp air.

[silverday]

With a scolding glance at Luna for not following Craigen immediately, Ashira shoved the chestnut's side a bit harshly to get her to know that misbehaving would not be tolerated. Not one bit of course.

But this time Luna got the picture and snorted, her trot was high stepping, a substitute for her usual playfulness of running around as she stuck next to her dam who was very careful in making sure herself and foal stepped only where Craigen did. The mare knew if there was only one wrong move, it could spell disaster.

[Whitewhisker]

For better or worse, Craigen had definitely changed since Ashira had left the lost islands. His tolerance was harsher, his temper shorter and his caring....well there was hardly any left of it. At least he hadn't just run the two away when they had arrived. Instead he was taking his daughter where she wouldn't have as strongly a chance of being hurt. Ashira he wished would stay with Luna but Luna needed to grow up and Ashira he couldn't rightly make such decisions like that for her. Nor did he want too. No longer was he a herd stallion so things had changed. He cast a glance back at the two following, stepping only where he stepped. It showed that they did not belong here, having to be his shadow for safety.

[silverday]

Ashira, after a while piped up. "Craigen...How are you feeling? You've been unusually quiet." She remarked, wondering if Luna was thinking the same. But the chestnut filly was already ahead of the buckskin mare, following beside her sire. Much to the mare's demise, she trotted to keep up and finally nipped the filly on her tail angrily.

"And I thought you were going to behave." Ashira huffed.

Luna grinned. "I am. Just wanted to stick close to dad for a bit. I missed him. You hear that dad?" She asked, looking at him quickly and nudged his neck gently.

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen had only briefly glanced at Luna when she had caught up to walk beside him but hadn't said anything. Ashira's question though wasn't surprising as he had been quiet, but what did she expect? He had been alone for so long it was hard really to even hold a conversation. "I'm not used to talking anymore" he answered her before she came up to nip at Luna. He said no more, not until Luna nudged his neck. His chocolate brown eyes again drifted over to her and he gave a faint nod as a reply.