Re: The Gathering
They had agreed on a game of treasure hunt, when all had last gathered. They'd scattered and soon excited calls had rung out across the field, cries of discovery and surprise.
And then Kri', their Thunder Horse friend, had been recalled.
Someone new had come to their realm, a presence that required attention. When she didn't return after a few minutes Breeze had gone to check on things; only to discover that time had been compressed back home. In those few hours, their realm had gone through several weeks.
They'd broken their Gathering when he got back with the news, each of them returning home to see this newcomer and check on the welfare of the realm. Most of them had been abandoned before and kept an active eye on their homes now. Having been homeless, they had no wish to ignore potential harm and repeat the experience, even with a bonded to help.
That newcomer had led to another. Then another and again another, the last with young twins. Through all the adjustments and growth in their family and realm, time continued to compress. Within weeks, years passed.
Now, Kri' was pregnant, time had stabilized, and they'd all lent support when the world shuddered through a glancing blow. There had been a battle, mild by the standard of what some had already lived through, but enough to change the original newcomer. He was less innocent after.
Now that they were again returning, Eternal reflected that balancing years into weeks had changed some here, as well. Frolic seemed calmer; the tense, ready energy between her and Caustic had settled into an easy respect. Darroch seemed to have mellowed as well, in that he was less explosive in his energies. Even Breeze seemed to have grown in some way; he had always looked at Nova with affection, yet now his gaze was tempered with a quiet strength. "You are mine," this look said, "and I will keep and cherish you." He had a strength and solidity beyond wanting to be enough for the mare; life was more than an easy game. Seeing the Thunder Horse pregnant, watching as that untouchable figure adjusted along with her stallion suitor had impacted him most of all.
It had impacted her as well. She was firmly established as ruling mare among them and had again grown comfortable with her followers. That was how she thought of it, as it was her duty to keep her bondmates safe while their bonded was absent. The adjustment period had passed; the rogue was returned to her full glory.
She'd done it before, been the leader, the strong one, the magical warrior. Few, if any, could hope to match her. Fewer still would compare for all she had seen. They didn't get old, her kind, but they marked passing years. They knew the changes of time and how easily they could be left behind if they didn't adapt fast enough.
Now they came before her, all passed occupations abandoned; those she presided over. It was a severe sense of deja'vu that settled over her shoulders. For a moment it all pressed close, the stress of living years within weeks straining her perception. So many years, so many changes, so much power setting her apart, placing her as lead mare. And so much that never seemed to change, until the faces blurred together.
Taking a breath, she carefully looked into each face. Caustic. Flint. Path. Nova. Hybrid. Darroch. BlackIce. Caelum. Frolic. Sparkle. Tribe. Thyme. Breeze. Sign. Thorn. Shiro. Each looked back at her. Her gaze lingered overlong on Thorn, the stallion that was least reliable. Shiro was a follower; he knew how to take orders. But Thorn, he was kept to the fringes of the herd by his own choices. He suffered from chronic apathy and held a hard edge of anger even in his joy. He'd take care of none but himself. Everythin was to be challenged or spurned.
This, however, wasn't something he struggled with. He kept the world at a distance, including his bondherd. It was just his way. The lack of loyalty and ignorance to his own potential discomforted her.
She would protect and support the others, but she would watch Thorn.
For now, however, she declaired that they would due best to rest. Before any bonding events were resumed they had to settle themselves; a few still hummed with tension from their strenuous activities.
Together, they curled on the grass, closed their eyes and took comfort from the presence of one another.
Eternal remained on the boulder, keeping watch over them. Nothing would surprise them while she kept guard; she gave them the peace needed to relax.
She would wait until later.