After her meeting with Lyden, Skylar had rested and then made her way back to the Peak. The heavy mare had gone slowly, more clumsy going up than she had been going down. It was the fatigue eating at her but she refused to show it. Instead she had taken her time so that she could pay closer attention to the rocks that threatened to rush out from under her hooves and send her toppling over the edge. Halfway up the climb that Skylar realized she would not make it to the top where Impa and Mouse were. She was too heavy and too close to birth. So the soon to be mother scouted for a spot that would conceal her and the foal enough that they would be safe from any danger on this mountain side.


After some time wandering the painted mare found herself to be in the same spot that Mouse had birthed Osprey. She could remember that day vividly and as she glanced around at the trees that had grown over the span of time since then, she wondered if this birth would go just as smoothly. With a sigh she pawed away some of the snow to grab what pathetic bites she could, trying to eat and keep her strength for the battle that lay ahead of her in the next few days.


~ * ~ * ~


When the time came at last Skylar was more than ready. The aching she had felt for the last week had grown considerable as the foal shifted back as it prepared for the birth. Pacing restlessly around the small area, Skylar had walked and pawed away what snow was left upon the ground so that the foal would be safe from its cold clutches. With a groan the mare lowered herself onto the ground when the contractions began and started to push as both instinct and experience taught her.


Skylar had not been lying upon the ground long when she felt the foal slip free and raised her head to peer back at the new child as she began to clean the birth away from its delicate flesh. Another palomino painted child that would grow to be such a pretty thing. Skylar was joyful on how well this birth had gone and did not feel the pain in her chest as she had with the last two births. Though it was there, it was not overwhelmingly so.


“Moonshine” she breathed as the foal raised its head, opening its beautiful blue eyes to peer out at the world. Just as the new mother was beginning to relax another contraction hit and with its expectance Skylar cried out in pain. The sound startled the new child and she flinched, letting out a pathetic sound in reply. Lying back over onto her side as the contractions grew stronger once more; Skylar felt panic flare through her. What was happening? What was wrong with her? But she pushed just as she had before but as exhaustion set in so did an enormous amount of pain in her chest.


The birth was lasting longer than it should and already Moonshine was beginning to stand. Her wobbly legs had collapsed under her body twice before she had kept her balance and let out another sad noise as she looked to her mother for food. Skylar raised her head to reassure her daughter but the sweat drenched mare could barely keep her head up before it flopped back over onto the ground. The strength in her pushes was fading and she had nearly given up hope when the second foal came. For a few moments Skylar could only lay there, too exhausted to even lift herself up to the second life she had brought for this day. But the third sad sound from Moonshine force the mare to find the strength and reached back to clean her second child off.


Twins


Skylar could not believe that she had the strength to carry and give birth to twins. After the difficulty of her last two it seemed a miracle they had somehow survived. But it was not without suffering as Skylar was finding it hard to breath with the constricting pain in her chest. Nares flared she drew in each sawing breath until finally it began to loosen its grip upon her chest just enough to allow the mare some air.


Slowly she drew her legs under her and stood, reaching out to each child to try and get them to her flank so that they may suckle. Moonshine did so without hesitancy, reaching under her mother to suck greedily. All the while Skylar closed her eyes and fought to stay standing and not collapse back down to the ground.