It hurt.


Lace took one stumbling step after another, her legs wobbly like a new born foal’s while her eyes were puffy and red. Her beautiful spotted face was soaked in tears and her vision blurred as more streamed out. Why? She had thought he loved her, had thought he cared about her; why had he left her behind? She knew grief was a terrible thing, but she had wanted to comfort him through it.Wanted to reassure him that he wasn’t alone. Instead, he had left her utterly alone. Why? Had she done something wrong?


Not knowing what to do with herself, she left the Cove and sought Ironclad. Lace knew he would be suffering. His father, mother and brother all gone. Maybe it was selfish to think he would offer her comfort. But he was not alone despite everything. The young stallion still had his own small family. She had seen them from afar and they looked so caring. Lace wanted that. She needed that, as her heart bleed where it had broken into a million pieces.


With another stumbling step, Lace wasn’t able to catch herself this time. Instead, she fell to her knees and instantly felt the bite of rock and the tang of blood. It hurt, but even as she pushed herself back up to stand, the scraps still didn’t hurt as bad as her chest. Not thinking she could take another step alone, Lace called out to anyone near enough to hear. The heartache and loss filled her lonely call, and as her voice died away, she hung her head and cried.