The Arch had been quiet and peaceful for many months now. Life was dull and boring. Papillon could just about tolerate life in the slow lane but what she couldn’t tolerate was the absence of both Zion and Drakon. Their scents had grown stale over the winter months and the painted red mare began to question whether either of them were still around. She was starting to suspect that the Arch was no longer safe. That any moment now a band of bachelor stallions would take advantage of the unguarded herd. Although she had detected the presence of a few mares still lingering about that might come to her aid in a crisis, it was not the same as being protected by a stallion. And with a foal due in a matter of weeks she could not afford to take many chances.

Blue eyes stared at the point on the horizon where she had watched Caine swim away at the begining of winter. The ice was breaking up now but there were still massive chunks floating in the choppy waters. Papillon wasn’t a strong swimmer so leaving the island and looking for her friend Rebel wasn’t a sensible option. Her only choice was to travel by land to one of the neighbouring herds. She didn’t want to be considered a traitor but Zion was no longer here to take care of her. Picking a direction at random, Papillion ambled along, her rounded abdomen swaying awkwardly beneath her. She wasn’t well versed on the herd politics but she just hoped that whoever she ended up with would let her come back if Zion returned.

Maintaining a straight course due south Papillion crossed the boundary line of the Bay a few hours after dusk. Now walking in the dark her pace was even slower over the frozen ground. Using her nose she was searching for the sea, surely she would bump into a herd member before she found the shoreline. But there didn’t seem to be many signs of life. With a brave smile she pressed on until she felt a pain shot up her spine. She gasped and stumbled. "Please hang on my baby, just a little further," she begged and weezed through the pain.