Screams suddenly echoed amongst the trees causing the mare to jerk up her head and open her eyes. Turning her gaze the direction the sound had come from it was then that the light colored body of Lyden emerged. Muscles tensing, Skylar waited for something to be life threatening but nothing ever showed. Instead she stallion moved to be next to her, offering his nose as he drank in her scent. Had his fear been placed upon something else such as her disappearance? Or was there a weakness in him when a storm like this was about? Regardless Skylar didn’t pursue the thought as the stallion was here now and seemed a bit calmer.


“I’m just tired” she said quietly but still loud enough to be heard over the rain that slapped against the leaves above them. Lowering her head the mare placed it beneath his, her face pressing against his chest so that she could have some sort of shelter from the rain. Though it was not much it was better than nothing and the painted woman knew that with his warmth and protection she would weather out this storm now where before she had been uncertain.


Hours passed and finally the rain began to let up. Although it still sprinkled down it was no longer with a vengeance and the lightening had moved off into the distance. Raising her head, Skylar peered out at the soaked land. It would give it a nurturing touch when the heat of summer pressed in upon them, keeping it green longer than usual. Despite the bad timing, the rain had been a blessing and neither her nor Lyden had been hurt.


But during their time together, huddled in against the rain, Skylar had started to feel the ripple of contractions begin. She had not wanted to say anything to upset her stallion with the rain upon them but now she did not have a choice. The contractions were much harder now and she could feel her breath coming faster. Soon her knees would buckle and the process of birth would begin but not in the mud. Skylar refused to allow her child such a horrible entrance into this world.


Without saying a word, Skylar ventured forth and made her way towards higher ground. Several times she slipped and slide, going down to her knees as she climbed a slick hill that left deep scrapes but the mother knew she would have time to worry about that later. Though the ground was wet there was no water standing, no mud to collect where all the rain had simple washed off the hill when Skylar had made it to the top. Sun now shown through the treetops, casting its warming rays upon the place she had picked to have her child. Only now does she buckle her knees and lay her body down, a grunt escaping her lips as she rolls over onto her side and closes her eyes.


The birth was painful but not as it was last time and was much quicker. The painted child came into the world easy and the mother was quick to find it was a colt. A smile crossed her tired face as she cleaned him up but as he tries to stand Skylar still lays, not finding the strength to stand despite her knowledge of needing too. The travel had taken up most of her energy and bringing this boy into the world had taken the rest.