Alone

[silverday]

Luna smiled, wide. Her smile was that like of her own sire's. Her own eyes were identical to her father's as well. What was the only difference was that she was a female and she behaved a bit like her mother. But the identical brown was like her father's of course.

"I'm happy. I missed you, dad. But since we're here, you can practice talking. Don't you talk to the birds, the wind or the sky?" The yearling asked, oblivious to her question that made Ashira gap at the sheer innocence this filly had. It was heart warming that Luna was so innocent but it was sad because she didn't understand WHY her sire was so silent. Ashira did though.

The buckskin sighed softly, staying a distance away from them both, but close enough that she could nip Luna if needed.

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen didn't really know how to handle Luna's innocence or how he should reply. He did not wish to break that connection she had with the other animals by telling her it was just her imagination that made her think they replied. It was not in his place when one day she would realize it herself. Until then, he would let her talk to the other animals, wind and sky. "They no longer speak to me Luna. Only the young do they trust" he answered with the kindest answer he could come up with. He passed a glance to Ashira to show that he had tried whether it was the right answer or not, at least he had not told her the truth of her imagination.

[silverday]

Ashira smiled, nodding in approval. He had done well. He told her the truth, but yet did not break that part of Luna. Not yet at least.

"That's awful.."Luna mumbled. "Maybe it's because you're old and grumpy?"She giggled as Ashira chuckled.

"Or perhaps your father is much to busy and you have too much time!" Ashira pointed out with a smirk.

That shut the chestnut filly up for a few moments. "Maybe that is true..." Luna wondered outloud.

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen rolled his eyes at the two and shook his head. They had now reached the lower expanse that the bay stallion had been looking over from the cliff side when the two had found him. "Luna, this is why you must conserve your energy instead of playing" Craigen said with a glance back at her. "It is time to travel at a much quicker pace. We have plenty of open ground to cover and we don't want anyone catching us out there" He said, hoping the filly was open to learning because one day it might very well save her life. "Lets go" Without another word Craigen surged forward into a canter. His sturdy frame broke through the knee high snow, creating a path behind him for his family to travel more easy. His long legs allowed a higher reach, allowing him to reach up over the snow to bring them back down and push himself forwards.

[silverday]

Luna nodded, saying nothing but watched her sire. The little yearling followed in front of her dam who was well used to the snow by now and easily took the knee high snow with the ease of a seasoned mare. Luna, however was still a little unsteady, having a bit difficulty with her hooves getting trapped by the snow in some places that Craigen hadn't fully demolished of it's icy tendrils yet.

However, the yearling said nothing, a determined glint was in her eye. Yes, this filly was like her mother. Determined not to give up and determined to prove herself. Luna's legs were wet, and her skin was a bit steaming after a long time of them all galloping for many hours on and off but she still smiled warmly at her parents and said nothing. Truth was, Luna was beginning to get tired, but her childish energy what was keeping her going.

Ashira, during a break, licked clean her daughter's legs that had snow clinging to her wet coat. The ice would be painful after a while.

"Hold still!" Ashira huffed, stomping her foot in fustration.

"I CAN'T." Luna shot back, bobbing her head up and down with her ears back. She couldn't. Her legs were shivering.

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen was restless. He needed to move, to run to get his family to safety. He knew that Luna needed rest, to at least catch her breath but it was dangerous. They needed to get out of this open land. Flanks and neck damp, though they had traveled hard Craigen didnt seem very fazed by it. He allowed his body to rest, keeping still with his hind hoof resting. His head was high though, ears and eyes alart. He had not said what danger it was lurking out in this open wasteland but by his actions it wasnt very friendly.

[silverday]

Ashira, soon enough had coaxed Luna who didn't complain or even mention her condition of a bloody icicle stuck in her hoove and smiled at her parents and continued on. The mother although was smart enough to notice something was odd about her daughter at the moment but said nothing as they travelled on.

More hours passed before the next break and with that one, the chestnut filly could barely stand but the scents in the air already said they were well past the Glacier territory and already into the boarders of the neighboring one. But Ashira whinnied gently, whining to her offspring who tried still to stand.

"Lay down!" The buckskin grunted angrilly, her own body sore and she couldn't imagine what Luna must have been feeling.

The weary filly shook her head, standing again. "I'm fine." She said simply, knowing if her sire could do it, so could she.

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen seemed a bit more at ease but not much. Were they being followed? He didnt know since his scent was being blow away from him rather than bringing scents to him. He looked to his filly upon Ashira's angry words and sighed heavily as he saw the stubborn look upon her face that he normally wore.

"Lay down Luna" he said, ears flicking back in warning that it was not a discussion but an order.

[silverday]

The yearling looked to her mother and sire with her own ears back, not in anger, but fear of making them hurt, or angry.

Slowly, she laid down as Ashira inspected the filly as thoroughly as she could, being the mother she was and seemed to be a bit harsh at nudging Luna to lean from side to side to look over the chestnut.

"AHA!" Ashira declared, finding the source of the blood and licked at the wound. The icicle was almost fully melted. If Luna didn't move, the water from it would actually help clean the wound and soothe it. "So this is what you were hiding...Luna. You should have said something! A icicle that big could have seriously hurt you. Thank heavens it looks like it merely froze part of your hoof to the point where you bled when the skin cracked from the cold."

She sighed, looking at Craigen. "We're going to have to stay for perhaps a few hours to let it melt and give her some time to rest, Craigen. Are you alright with that?" The buckskin asked gently, still angry at her daughter.

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen stayed silent as his dark chocolate eyes watched them. His ears were still slightly tilted back in anger but not completely pinned to his poll anymore. When Ashira discovered the bloody icicle the stallion was not surprised or upset, rather annoyed at his daughter instead. Ashira's soft words reached him yet it took a few moments for him to reply, but it was not to the buckskin mare. No, instead it was to the young filly. "Your foolish Luna" he said, ears folding back to lay against his poll as he stepped forward to lean over her, his angry eyes now level with her's. "Don't you realize what you have done? If you had only spoken sooner this would not have happened. You must wish for death because now our running has been for nothing. You are leading them straight towards us"

With a snort, Craigen raised his head to look at Ashira. "Yes we will stay and rest. Keep your eyes open. Don't let a sound go unnoticed" With that said he simply walked away. The bay stallion needed time to think, time to listen to what his mind had to turn within. How could he throw them off now? There was no way to trick them. to lead them astray. They would know and the only way left would be to fight. Yes, he would have to fight and defend his family even if that meant death.

[silverday]

Luna winced, tears welling up. She only wanted to help. It was only the heart of an innocent child that Luna tried to do what she had done. How could he do that?

Ashira huffed. "Ignore him, Luna. He's a grouch. Now, go rest and eat, after you eat, you better get some sleep. I'll keep watch." She nodded.

Luna sighed, eating what grass around her she could, but her tears wet her face and the grass around her. It hurt her...Why was her sire so mean?

[Whitewhisker]

Craigen had known he was a bit harsh on his daughter. Okay, he was too harsh on his daughter. She needed to learn though and as stubborn as she was it seemed it was the only way to get through to her. If she hated him, despite how much that pained his ice covered heart, it wouldn't matter just so long as she would learn. Standing alone now, he was surprised Ashira hadn't joined him. She would be mad at him, probably hate him just as well. Maybe then she would stay with the stallion he was taking his daughter too and he wouldn't have to disappoint them anymore. He half expected to feel her teeth upon his hindquarters, to hear her sharp words but instead he could hear her speak softly to Luna. Shaking his head he let out a heavy sigh. What was he to do now?