At first, even through his fear, Castillon was relieved to see his sister when he did. Then, horror fixed her features as she looked back behind him and one word came crying from her lips: Run!
Castillon surged forward, not bothering to take a glance first at what had frightened his sister enough into bellowing the command. As he collected his dark legs under him and charged forward with her, Castillon turned his head back so he could see, and his hooves stuttered choppily in their step, almost throwing him back down to the ground. He caught himself, just barely, and started to run again, feeling the panic swell higher inside him. Others, through the sheets of rain and pelting ice, were shouting and running for safety, too. Castillon just made out the flash of Micah’s familiar painted form, then of one of his younger sister’s, Hael.
There were still so many that he hadn’t yet seen. So many he was still worried about. Castillon wanted so badly to circle back, even as the dark funnel of clouds stretched garishly downward, just to be absolutely certain no one was stranded back there in it’s path. His gait started to pull up, fighting within himself, but at that moment from the sheet of downpouring rain before him his father surged forward. That same relief Castillon had felt at seeing Claret initially struck Zevulun’s features to see his children were okay. “Keep going!” He demanded Castillon, seeing his hesitation, “I’ll get the rest!”
Without a chance to argue, Zevulun surged past Castillon - he wouldn’t go as far as to risk himself, but far enough that he could try and call out for anyone else still stuck behind. Zevulun knew every hidden gulley the Prairie boasted and where others - even visitors - could have been stranded. His small golden son, Jasper, soon joined him.
Castillon watched them disappear into the storm and snorted the water from his nostrils, turning back forward and collecting his limbs underneath him, he ran with Claret for safety, where he could watch over everyone who’d gathered and wait for everything to be safe enough for the herd to reunite.
If it would be… trepidation whispered through his mind and he felt a shiver of dread strike his gut.
No, he couldn’t let himself think that way… he had to believe everyone was safe. Everyone was going to be okay.
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