.Twinge.

Twinge never really imagined herself as much more than a companion to Bacardi. Even from youth, she had always sworn off motherhood. Hormones and passion had proven that fact to be wrong but still, she always felt herself inferior to other mothers in small mannerisms. She was not a doting mother, she had never even had that herself. She was protective sure, but there were instances in which she gave her children room to roam where others might have held them close. This instance being just that. Auburn ears remain buried beneath the thick tendrils of her silken mane as the red and white mare hurried her sulking son on ahead of her. Anger and fear were at war with frustration and feelings of inadequacy. If she were just a better mother… if she were just a better lead mare..

Burn slows his plodding gait and Twinge rewards him with a repremanding nip. ”Keep moving mister! You WILL face your father for this.” she snarls, flicking her red and white tail against the supple curve of her hip as she shoulders past him and into the clearing where Bacardi could usually be found enjoying a few moments of peacful grazing. As usual the excitement of her feral-eyed mate is enough to quicken the beat of her heart. The healthy sheen of his summer coat dappled by sunlight trickling through the broad leaves above. For a moment, she almost forgets what it is that she is here for as the enticement to taunt him into a familiar game of cat and mouse swells within her. Almost.

Burn exhales a breath and shuffles his striped hooves beneath him, causing her to jerk her finely dished head up as though she might be able to pull herself from the rising waters of attraction. Twinge turns to offer Burn a hard glare before prancing towards Bacardi with purposeful steps. ”OUR son…” she begins, her dark eyes lingering heavily on the golden eyes of her lover, amusement and mischief hidden from the two year old’s view. ”Decided it was a good idea to torment the old badger that dug itself a den beneath the old beech tree near the border today…” she begins again, pausing a moment to extend her own ashen muzzle to inhale the familiar, calming essence that poured from Bacardi’s scent. Small russet ears perk forward now as she blinks into those golden eyes of his, eyes that should scream danger but to her, have always screamed adventure and intrigue. A single brow arches as she cast her gaze back towards the young stallion as closed the gap between his parents with shoulders hunched in embarrassment. It was one thing to be repremanded by mother, another altogther when she got father involved. Seeing the disppointment in his eyes was much a much harder branch to swallow.

Twinge glances back up at Bacardi. ”He told me he was going to play at the river with his sisters… not pester the old sore-tailed creature into a fit.” she huffs again, doing her best to calm to rising frustration as once again it resurfaced in the stiff stomp of her hoof. ”I had to chase the thing clear across the stream and into the Prairie! It was so furious no amount of placaiting seemed to work.” she finishes, her ears once more tilting back amid the silken mantle of her mane as she lifts her small muzzle. ”I told HIM…” she begins, cutting a quick glance at the painted bay stallion waiting silently beside her, ”That I would let YOU explain to him his error.” she continues on. ”And I think it wise that we at least warn the residents of the Prairie. I do not see the beast calming itself anytime soon.” she finishes, leaning her slender frame into the warmth of Bacardi’s muscular shoulder. The last suggestion was something she had only just come up with but felt without a doubt was the smartest move. It was Burn afterall that had enraged the creature and her own hooves and teeth that chased it beyond the Prairie borders. It was only right that others be warned so as not to find themselves or their families victim to the sharp teeth and claws of the black and gray creature.

If she were being truly honest with herself, Twinge would admit that the idea was mainly a distraction of sorts. For too long they have kept themselves hidden behind the safe walls of the hardwood forest and were still utterly ignorant (at least she was) to the ongoings of the islands and herds beyond. This step, small as it was, was the first beyond their borders. If it went well…. Maybe more would come in the future? Maybe again she and Bacardi would find security in the safety of their herd to travel farther and explore more. If it went well…

But that part was not up to her. She swore to follow Bacardi’s lead and by the gods above, she would continue to do just that. Glancing up at him now, with small ears forward and attentive, she cannot help but to hope that he too would see the potential in her idea as well.

Burn does not dare speak in this moment. It is not often that mother seeks out father for disciplinary actions but when she does, he has learned it’s best to remain silent. He wanted to shrug it off. Wanted to promise never to do it again but even he knew that there was a chance of that happening. The scraggly toothed creature and it’s spitting fury had been the excitement of his week! He did not dare admit that most of the times he promised to go and play with his sisters were usually spent exploring the forest on his own or chasing the fleet footed deer through the trees. Twinge seemed far more frazzled than usual as it was. Instead, he merely kept his dark eyes downcast, picking at a stone buried in the sand at his hooves and waiting.