Vernal Sun and Vibrant Blossoms

[Snappin' Turtle]

The cremello mare snuggled the roan to her side, running her silken muzzle down her neck soothingly. They'd both calmed down, and Charisma looked about for a moment, eyes roving over the small leaves on the apple trees. She lowered her head to the grass, ignoring her yearling daughter for the moment.

Chinook took full advantage of her mother's lapse of attention and wandered over to a small path through the trees, eyes wide. She'd essentially been by her mother's side her whole life, and she was going to make the most of the time she ahd to explore. A giggle escapes the filly as a large monarch butterfly appeared and she chased after it merrily.

[Saz]

The greying roan filly shook her head gently and sighed deeply, turning her head and resting it against his neck. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up Dad, I know how you feel about him..." She mumbled before swishing her tail indecisively, "I don't know. I guess soon I'll probably leave here, everything's just so... unchanging. The same trees blossom each year, the same grass grows, the same river flows. There's only every something different if we get a new herd member, whether a foal or another mare. And usually they're boring or don't stick around long. I suggested to Shadowfax that we leave at some point soon, but he was against that until he had Charisma, he's fixated on her." She shook her head and pulled away from Savage, stepping into the river and allowing it to flow over her front hooves. "Maybe I should just leave, it's what everyone does, right? I mean Charm's siblings aren't with her or Lilac, so why should I stay here?" She spoke softly, her tone and bottom lip quivering with unshed tears.

She and Shadowfax had always been close, practically twins, they went everywhere together, but now it felt as though she had been replaced and no one cared any more. And she knew, just as Savage did, that if Shadowfax attempted to steal Charisma, then Kahuna would not only kick the buckskin colt out, but Savage would also be chased out. Blinking away her tears, the filly smiled ruefully as she stared down at her reflection, "I need to find my place in the world... And it's not here. So... I'll go say bye to mom and Serena, and be on my way, I guess." She shrugged, turning and smiling tearfully at her brother and the black mare. "Stay safe, Savage. I love you." She nickered sweetly, nuzzling his neck for a brief moment before pulling away and nodding to Charm, "Take care of him." She spoke to the friesian cross before she turned and loped away into the trees.

--

Halo paused as Kahuna spoke before nodding, "Royale... Faust's son? The young stallion that used to live on the boundaries. Mm, I'll make sure to speak with Serena about that. We don't need any more drama." She hummed, glancing over to the buckskin mare before glancing back at Kahuna. She was taken aback by Kahuna's next question and sighed minutely, at this point she was glad she had suggested he and Charm go and find Serenity. The grey mare shrugged slightly, "I saw him about an hour or two ago, he went to go see if he could find Serenity and calm her down a bit, I think she'd gotten into an argument with Shadowfax about something, which I figure was probably about Charisma. Other than going into the woods, I don't know where they went." She spoke smoothly, neglecting to tell Kahuna about Charm accompanying Savage. She was sure that it would only inflame the situation.

Before the blue roan could ask any more questions, she glanced to where Serena was now grazing, having finished comforting Charisma and snorted softly. "I'll go speak to Serena about Royale now. Otherwise I'll forget, and it's best she knows sooner rather than later." She excused herself with a small smile to Kahuna before trotting toward the lead mare of the herd. "Serena, we need to talk. Apparently when Kahuna was on his way back to the herd, he met Royale, as in Faust's son. Supposedly he's off his rocker and made a few threats toward the herd. So we'll need to keep everyone close, just in case he does come back, though Kahuna chased him off. Also... I have an inkling that Kahuna is going to chase Savage out, based on how Shadowfax acted, I think it's given Kahuna the reasoning for him to justify no longer having Savage around." She spoke smoothly and in a soft tone, making sure no one could eavesdrop unless they were within two or three feet.

[Swede]

Savage tilted his head, watching Serenity with a sympathetic expression. He did not necessarily like her decision, but he could understand her feelings, and it didn't feel right to try to talk her into staying if she was unhappy. "I'll miss you, kiddo," he said, nipping her neck affectionately. "Be careful, all right? Don't get into trouble." The young roan took a step back, watching as his sister vanished among the trees. Was this the last time he saw her, he wondered? Maybe. Maybe not. Life was short, they said, but still plenty long enough for anything to happen. He was quiet and pensive for a few moments, but then glanced at Charm awkwardly. "I guess I, uh, well Serenity said Shadowfax was thinking about causing some trouble, so I might go check up on things..." He too began to move off, at a slower pace than Serenity had, hoping despite himself that Charm would come along. It had been nice, spending a little time with the herd, and he wouldn't mind snatching another few moments of it. Especially if Shadowfax was snooping around, then it was probably in his own best interest to try and keep his brother out of trouble.

~

Kahuna cocked an ear in the direction of the trees, his attention rather distracted while Halo spoke. "Mhmm, I don't think he's as big a threat as he claims to be, but doesn't hurt to be careful. Serena will want to know, anyway." He made no attempt to hinder Halo as she excused herself; he enjoyed talking to his mares, but at the moment his mind was occupied with other matters. The roan stallion briskly turned in the opposite direction and strode off into the trees again. He was master of his territory, and knew every nook and cranny; if there was trouble afoot, and his instincts were adamantly telling him there was, then he would find it.

~

Serena glanced up as Halo approached, her expression tensing slightly upon hearing what she had to say. "Right, make sure nobody strays too far. Royale will be an issue if he's on the warpath; Kahuna can handle him, but he's got some unstable relations on his mother's side that could be problematic if he gets them on board, so avoid any strangers you see until Kahuna's sorted them out." The dun mare paused, glancing at the rest of the herd. Then she shook her head, her voice taking on a steel edge. "Kahuna has chased out many colts, as has every stallion in our homeland, and many in these lands as well. If it's Savage's time to leave, then it is. I just..." She sighed. I just hope he survives the process. If Kahuna was in a mood, and still felt as bitter as he had in the past (quite likely, that stubborn idiot never changed his mind about anything) then a false move on Savage's part could be thoroughly dangerous.