The way the stallion foundered for words, the way confidence lacked in his voice, it gave the defensive mother a bit of pause. If he had meant harm, he would have pushed his way further into her space. Would have met her with pinned ears and gnashing teeth seeking destruction. Hirka was just about to tell him to leave her alone, that all she wanted was privacy with her daughter and that they were fine, when the dark form of Zurok arrived. Rather than awash with comfort and security, Hirka was further thrust into the drowning of her protective instincts.


Rather than answer with words, Hirka spun around and lashed out with blood-stained hind legs. She kicked blindly, not caring if she struck one, both or none of the stallions. Whether they were a threat or not, the painted mother didn’t want them there. Not given time to recover, not given support during the birth; they could both jump off a cliff as far as she was concerned. All the while, she kept the filly safely near her chest as her front hooves remained solid and unmoving while her hind did all the work. When Hirka finally stopped kicking, she lifted her head and peered over her back at them.


“Get away from us! Both of you!” She snapped at them. “I’m not going to some frigid hell hole on Tinuvel, and I won’t allow this time with my daughter to be encroached upon any longer! Mares seek to be alone for a reason, quite the disrespectful lot of you!”

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mare | 15.3hhs | Ee aa nCh nT nSb| Homeless

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