Quiet is the young mare that stands alone; her body completely still aside from the movement of her flank for each breath, and the swaying of her tail by the wind. It was early in the morning she had begun to feel the change, to know the time had come. But before she could even say anything, she had watched Ironclad splash into the surf and head for the Crossing. Though he had tended to her so well when his brother had left, it almost felt to the emotional mare that he no longer cared. What of his child? Did he not want to be the first to meet them? So Lace did not seek out anyone, even as the contractions through her body got worse as the day progressed. She remained alone, unmoving like the mountains surrounding her. If she remained as strong as them, perhaps then she could survive this.


When Lace’s legs finally gave out from beneath her as the birth began, she crumpled right there where she had stood the entire time. The pain increased, a cry escaping her lips accompanied by moans and grunts of effort as her body worked to bring the new life into this world. Thankfully the struggle did not last long. Despite being her first child, and at a young age, her body seemed well equipped for child bearing. She had carried easy throughout the months, and now when the moments were crucial, the child escaped her womb especially easy. It was over quickly, before Lace even had the chance to become too exhausted. Rising, she turned and began to clean away the birth, pleased with the son she had given birth too.


Before the colt had a chance to rise, a heart stopping sound filled her ears. A wolf’s howl rose to the sky not too far away. Chills raced up Lace’s spine and she nudged at the colt to try and help him rise faster. It wasn’t for his lack of trying, but his wobbly legs were rushed, and Lace’s nudges were not helping him as she was trying to do. Lace did not want to cry out and alert the wolves to where they were, but they would find them sooner or later. The smell of birth clearly getting their attention. So Lace screamed, her lungs forcing the sound of fear and need from the herd in a way she had never done before. The sound echoed back to her from the mountain side, almost like it was mocking her.


Movement caught her attention and Lace turned, watching the lanky creature still skinny from winter prowl from the shadows. There would be more, she knew, but the new mother held her ground with pinned ears while her son struggled to learn his legs.