Just in Case

[Valatone]

Valatone was happy to see that Binda had her foal safely. She nuzzled the other mare in a friendly way. "Not much, but I think Nevada's asking Tingara something," she said. The white mare didn't really care about what they were discussing at the moment, she was just glad to be with her friends again. Then he heard the sound of horse hooves through the snow, and looked around to see her foster son. She was happy to receive a little nuzzle from him, then she got up and shook the snow of herself. Reaching over, she gave him a cheeky nip on her neck.

At the moment, Valatone found that keeping her news quiet was best. It would cause a bit of a stir amongst the mares, and perhaps both her real and foster sons. They didn't need to know, atleast not now.

---

Cobalt had been with the yearlings too, when Baree went down into the Valley. He pondered about this, and looked down the hill to see the white shape of his mother. Of course! She'd had her foal! Although he couldn't see any near her, the black colt herdled down the hill and galloped 'till he reached her. She looked different since he'd last seen her- her creamy mane was a little droopy, and even though she seemed happy, there was a rather gloomy aura in her eyes.

He gave her a quick nuzzle, then looked up at her. "Hey Mum, where's the new foal?"

[tingara]

"Of course you can leave your mares here. You have my word that they will be safe," Tingara said seriously. He'd known Nevada wouldn't let Garrong get away with the sneak attack but he'd never seen this coming.
'I guess he has no one else,' Tingara reasoned with himself. Being asked to look after his rival's mares, even have them if he didn't return had caught Tingara off guard.

---

Behind Binda a little clone pranced. The little filly was the same vivid blue roan as her mother and had the same confident fire. Aroona whinnied at her mother for food, she was hungry like she was every other hour.

[yaruka]

Jannali flicked her ears anxiously as she watched the serious conversation of the stallions. Though she tried not to eavesdrop, she could guess what they were talking about from the low tone of both stallions. It seemed Nevada would go back to fight the black, as she'd known he would, but would he leave them here? Perhaps he was right to, that way they would not be a distraction to him as he fought. And they'd be safe if the worse should happen, came the thought, unbidden in her mind. She hated to contemplate the logistics of Nevada losing, but she had a feeling that he was leaving them here so that if the worse should happen, they would not be left to be claimed by the black brute. A noble gesture, for sure, but Jannali couldn't stand the thought of being left behind without anyway of knowing how the fight was going for her beloved grey stallion.
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Taworri stood beside Yarran and Jannali, trying her best to act relaxed for the benefit of the colt and the new mare. What was going on? She, like Jannali, had already guessed Nevada's motives, and although she believed in the fighting strength of her stallion she knew anything could happen in battle, and she couldn't help but worry for Nevada's sake. There was something else too. Something deep inside of her told her that any day now, her foal would come. She hoped Nevada would be back to claim them before then, giving birth nearby a strange herd would be most unwelcome. And deep down, she couldn't help but pray that her foal would not grow up sireless.

[yaruka]

That night, as she slept fitfully beside the remnants of Nevada's herd, Taworri suddenly woke with a sharp pain in her side. Gazing around in shock, she felt another pain, like a kick in the gut. Gasping , Taworri stumbled off to the side. This must be it, there was no stopping it to wait for Nevada. Her foal was coming. She looked around anxiously, would Tingara let her go? She moved off in the night, the moon full in the sky to paint her beautiful goat with its silver glow. And silver indeed were her mane and tail as she struggled across the hillside to the shelter of her woods. Her dark coat was dappled with moonlight, so that she trulely glowed with the light of the moon, despite her internal strife.
Finally, she reached a place that she felt was a decent distance from the rest of the herd. She would have liked to have gone farther, but it was not possible. She lay down, panting and waited.
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Jannali awoke with a start as she felt Taworri's fitful movements beside her. She peered beneath half-closed eyelids at her friend, she had a feeling it was Taworri's time to give birth and she did not want to disturb the Moon Filly. She watched the silver-dappled mare as she struggled away from the herd, keeping one ear trained on the whereabouts of Tingara. There seemed to be no trouble. She wished her friend the best of luck, then sighing, fell back into a light sleep, awaiting Taworri's, and hopefully, Kala's return. Kala, she knew, must have given birth a few days or nights ago. However, the red roan mare had yet to return to the herd, Jannali knew she was probably waiting for her foal to gain some strength. She could smell her and knew she was not far, but she also knew it was best to wait and let Kala and the foal return on their own time. She hoped everything was alright, and that she would get a chance to meet her 1/2 nephew or niece before it was time for her to leave once again with Nevada. At the thought of Nevada she again felt troubled, she hoped everything was alright with him too. A soft sigh escaped her again, fluttering through her nostrils. Things were just so complicated at the moment. She felt the stirring of life in her own belly, and smiled inwardly at the thought of her own foal to come. But that would not be for another couple of weeks, hopefully not until after Nevada returned for them and brought them back to his own territory.