Well there it was. Staring at her with deep brown eyes Adelheid could not fathom had come from her. Still, the creature looked up at her with an expectation that needed no words. At first, Adelheid merely glared down at the newborn, who seemed to glare back. Both unblinking until at last a high pitched protest had the splashed mare snorting. Okay, FINE! she snapped, finally stepping forward to clean off her child. The entire time, her black ears were flattened hard against her skull as her tongue busily worked. The filly looked ungodly pleased with herself and lipped at her mother’s face, tossing her head, and in general getting in the way of Adelheid’s task. Stop. The mother growled when at one point the foal completely flailed around and almost landed a hoof in Adelheid’s face. For a second, the filly stopped her flailing, but nipped in response when Adelheid resumed.

Finally, Adelheid managed to clean everything off her spawn. Without any assistance at all, not like she would get it, the filly immediately started to struggle to her feet. You can stay down, it’s fine.Adelheid drawled at it. The words only seemed to make the filly more determined to get to her own four hooves. Trial after trial, and some ending in fantastic displays of newborn awkwardness, Adelheid finally caved stepped in to help the child to stand. She even moved close to her and do her motherly duties so she didn’t fall and they would have to start the process of standing all over again. As the baby feasted, Adelheid unconsciously continued to bathe her, teaching her breath and her scent to the impressionable mind. With each pass the mother noted her child. Whereas Adelheid’s pelt was a pitch black, white merely on her lips and hooves; this child was pale in comparison. In places she was dark, the black shined like tarnished silver along her neck and shoulders fading away only to gleam through worn spots in a white blanket that covered her back and body. When she looked back up to her mother a white blaze flared down her face to cover her nose and lips. Light blue eyes met dark sapphire and Adelheid protested the twinge in her chest.

Nothing good can come from this. The Codebreaker grumbled under her breath. Come on, I’m sure someone will be excited about you. Gently nudging the filly, Adelheid led the way from a secluded clearing surrounded by tall blue pines. The sheltering rocks high above them had been a place her mother before her had sought refuge and brought others to be protected. From here the path was well worn and easy for young feet. Even so, the Friesian blooded mother stayed close to the child, encouraging her to lead on, only guiding her with her nose if she went too far down the wrong turns.

The sun had only started to truly rise into the sky when at last they stepped into the emerald lower hills of the mountains. The filly blinked in surprise at the expanse before her and glanced up at her mom before her attention was once again captured by the literal world of possibilities. She snorted and peeled herself away from Adelheid’s solid body, stepping boldly into the open. Adelheid watched her with an ear quirked back, curious about what this...thing...was going to make of the world. Absolutely nothing good. she muttered again as the filly continued her trek to who knew where. With a flick of her tail, Adelheid once more stepped forward and started to lead the child in the direction of the creeks and streams. If she were lucky, Adelheid figured the child could be distracted by other children, or frogs, or leaves, or… fairies. Her lips fell and she glanced at the curious creature prancing beside her. There were so many who would have instantly loved this little soul. So many who would have known how to teach this child how to dream. But no, this soul was now cursed to be shattered by her.

Adelheid snorted. Her steps became harder, more determined. This filly was going to grow to know wonder and magic. Her dreams were going to run as wild as she did, even if Adelheid had to break herself to make it happen.

The world still stirring awake around them, the pair came to one of the usual gathering spots along the creek. Adelheid knew many mares had become mothers this spring and had stayed closer to the shallower hills and common grazing spots for ease of extra eyes and less dangers than the steep cliffs above. Ignoring her own absence, Adelheid mulishly began to graze with an exaggerated vengeance, as if there wasn’t a random child poking at rocks and ping-ponging back and forth between Adelheid and whatever caught her interest in a seven foot radius around them.