What, Where, When, How?

[Illu]

Burnum’s ears darted in Crayola’s direction when she nickered at him. He dimly recognised her as the mare that had been so nice to him the night before, and slowed down. The chase was basically over now that Kimba was gone anyway, so he absently started wandering over to her. Remembering Binda, he looked over and saw her talking to the red headed Gang Gang, eyes wide in surprise, so he chose to leave her to it.

As he got closer, he spotted something dark on the ground and sped up just as he smelt a very strong smell that he was about to learn was that of new foal. Dropping his head down, he started sniffing the little colt excitedly, even nipping the newborns mane once a little too enthusiastically. Haha, he was spotty!

[tingara]

Birubi stopped playing as Kimba and Burnum left. Her eyes fell on what Burnum was investigating. Yet another foal! She liked this never ending supply of playmates. Birubi trotted to the black and white spotted colt and began to sniff his ears.

---

Tingara reared with excitement, the fact that the bush may have chosen him as the new king was pushed from his mind. He cantered joyously to Crayola and checked to see how she fared. When he was happy with how she was, he investigated his new child.
"Another colt," he whispered happily, "hello little one." He nudged Birubi and Burnum gently out of the way so he could get a better look.

---

Prisma woke with a start from the attention of Burnum. He whinnied with fright but then began to sniff at the other colt, even nipping him playfully. Soon more horses came to have a look and Prisma pushed himself closer to his mother. He hid in her mane until a great black stallion came quietly over and began to gently sniff at him. Prisma instantly recognized the stallion as his father and whinnied a loud and happy greeting.

[Valatone]

Cobalt turned around as Kimba ran back to her mother, then he saw the new foal, his only sibling, his only brother in blood. For some reason he just sensed it, this foal shared his blood. He nickered to Birubi and Burnum, "Theres a new foal!" he yelped, dashing down to meet him. What would he be like, this new brother? He sniffed him curiously, and wondered what he would do.

Valatone again noticed the birds singing of the new king, the black king that could only be Tingara. Her ears twitched at this news, she and her son belonged to a king now! It still felt strange with Aleo's disapearence, and she hoped that would never happen to Tingara. "I guess that makes Cobalt and Crayola's colt princes," she said, proudly to her stallion. She didn't mean to tease the mares of Aleo, but she didn't realise.

[Tiggs]

Crayola proudly nuzzled her little black colt, grooming the little white spots so they stood out starkly like stars in the night sky. She too nudged Burnum out of the way as Tingara came for a closer look, but she turned him around and nudged him toward her abdomen. Prisma had already drunk his fill, and he other son looked hungry.

Fira had been minding her own business, telling Kimba how special she was and how her father would return soon and ignoring the chattering birds spreading false rumours when she heard Valatone tell of her foal's new greatness. Roaring like an enraged stallion, the chestnut ran toward the horribly white mare. "How dare you, you insolent fool! Your excuse for a stallion will never be King! Aleo is King and when he returns, he'll reject you all as you have so readily forgotten him in favour of this black buffoon!" She reared and struck out at Valatone, fully intending to beat the mare stupid.

A dog on a mission, Ammi found her self suddenly surrounded by chaos. A little chestnut filly spotted her first, and let out a pathetic squeal as she scrambled to get away. She looked around for this 'Black King'. Seeing him on the far side of the herd, she ran over. She barked to get his attention, but the chestnut mare yelling at the white was stealing the stage at the moment. Luckily, it seemed the little chestnut filly she had scared was hers, and so the chestnut mare swerved before she struck the white mare and returned to her filly.

Ammi hurriedly ran over to Tingara. "I mean no harm, please, I have information." The golden dingo peered at the chestnut mare as she looked over her foal for injury. She'd come thundering this way next, and an angry mother stampeding toward you was a fatal thing.

[tingara]

"Hang on Ammi, Fira no!" Tingara already knew the dingo, she was a friend of Aleo so she could be trusted, but he had other thing to deal with right now. This time Tingara had lost his patience with the chestnut mare.
"You are not worthy of Aleo's foal!" he shouted, "What would he say if he came back and saw you attacking other mares!?" He snapped his teeth and reared in warning.
"Tend to your foal and think about what kind of influence you are to her," he spat, Tingara was willing to give the mare another chance, that was if she wanted one. Tingara rubbed Valatone and then turned his attention on the dingo.
"I'm sorry about that Ammi, what news do you have for me?"

[Illu]

Burnum was once again horribly confused. Binda was his mother right? Right? After being nudged around twice, he looked at the blue’s direction again to see her staring agape at Fira. So, he turned back to Crayola to fulfil his hunger instead. Bickering mares meant little to him unless they came in his direction.

Ha-ha, Fira was being told off again. It was as ever glorious to see that happen. Where was Burnum? Binda spotted his legs near Crayola, so he was still fine. Motherly duty fulfilled for this 10 minute interval.

Leaving the Gang Gangs, she tossed her head to try and look as nice as possible for Tingara’s benefit, then started walking over to Valtone. If they where right and Tingara was now King, she couldn’t risk being dumped. Mummy and baby needed a daddy, even if he technically wasn’t the father. There was no point interrupting Ammi, so instead the roan put herself in a very prominent position next to Valatone where Tingara was certain to see her, ears pricked and tail high.

”Are you alright?” she asked worriedly, snuffing Valatone’s back to make sure she was alright. This time it wasn’t fully a farce, Binda was actually genuinely concerned, but she knew full well that it would look good to Tingara too. ”Did she get you?”

[Valatone]

Unfortunately, Valatone didn't see Fira's attack coming and was hit on the neck. No blood, but she was shaken and there would be bruises under her mane. She whinnied in fear and in pain, then snorted, "Maybe Aleo left because he knew you'd be too much trouble in the coming years, and then you're daughter will become another pain to the colt she runs with!" she snapped back, straight in the mare's face but not touching a hair. Older, bigger, maybe not wiser, she thought it was a bad idea to keep the fight going.
Valatone nuzzled Tingara back. Ofcourse he was a worthy king. He was a friend of Aleo's anyway. Then she turned to Binda, "Yeah, she got my neck, but it's just a bruise," she said. "I'm sorry, I don't believe i've met you properly before, i'm Valatone,"
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Cobalt had been sniffing Prisma when he heard Fira's roaring. He slowly lifted his head, then his eyes enlarged when he saw his mother being beaten on the neck. With a whinny of sadness, Cobalt dashed over, his spindly legs almost falling under him. "Mummy, what happenened?" he asked , pushing between her and Binda to get a drink. "Nothing dear, don't worry," came her familiar, sweet voice as he finished and looked up at her, licked his lips then ran off to play again.

[Tiggs]

Fira heard Valatone's retort as she was just snuffing over Kimba's mane. Of course there was no damage, but she had to be sure. Tingara was sorting out the dingo, so it left Fira free to retaliate. The comment was possibly the worst thing the white mare could have come up with. Fira pinned her ears back tight to the nape of her neck. Her eyes showed their whites, bloodshot and furious.

Squealing, she charged again. Aiming a warning kick at Binda with her rear legs, she lunged at Valatone, aiming for a grip on her withers. Insulting her, insulting her beautiful Kimba, and insinuating that Aleo had left because of her!? She'd show her. The horribly white mare would wear her scars for the rest of her life!

Meanwhile, Ammi had been pacing nervously in front of Tingara. "It's about Aleo..." The chestnut squealed again, and Ammi was already running when she realised it was the white mare she was after, and not herself. She stopped and ducked behind a rock, watching with a mix of trepidation and amusement.

[tingara]

"FIRA!" Tingara roared. He darted between the mares, rearing and threatening to strike out at Fira. Tingara was absolutely furious with the chestnut.
"How dare you attack these mares! If you have a problem with another mare, bring me in! Valatone you should have stopped when Fira walked away," he looked at the mares in front of him and then shot at Fira, "but you shouldn't have retaliated at something that didn't involve you in the first place!" He was yelling and he hated it but Fira needed to be told. Tingara calmed himself and then said quietly, but menacingly to Fira, "Would you think Aleo would like to see his favourite mare acting like this? Look at the example you're setting for Kimba. If you can't control yourself, well I don't want it to come to that."
Tingara snorted and walked slowly away from Fira, always keeping an eye on her though.
"Ammi it's ok. You can come out now," he nickered gently to the dingo. He positioned himself so that he could watch the mares and talk to the dingo.

[Valatone]

Valatone had learnt from her last attack and dodged the lunging Fira, then bit her on the back. She took care not to do it too hard, sort of like a warning, but it was probably useless. Then Tingara stepped in, and she felt a bit embarrased. He was right, she should of stopped, but that last comment she made she thought might have been the truth.
Now that the fight was probably over, when Tingara stepped back she dropped to her knees. At last, some time off to eat and rest. Valatone was well aware that Fira should be left alone, and perhaps her filly too. Everyone had lessons to learn, and today she had well learnt that one. Before she could think anymore, she fell into a hasty sleep on the grass.
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"Wasur name?" Cobalt asked Prisma. Just the thought of a brother was good enough for him to be happy. They weren't identical, but they both had the black coat of their father, and they both had white markings. They weren't much different. "I'ma Cobalt!" he squealed, jumping up and down in front of Prisma.