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Description
Summer had come to an end. Autumn was here and Alaric's herd was on the move. The herd trotted at a brisk pace. Blake was at the front, leading. The sabino's head was held high, and you had to look twice before realizing he was only the lieutenant stallion. Marik was trotting behind the large herd, sweat dripping down his coat. Alaric noticed this and called the herd to a halt. They allowed down and stopped to take a break, grazing silently. Marik walked up to Al, panting.
"Thank you. I was starting to get dizzy."
"It's not a problem," Alaric smiled. "Next time, let me know when you're being pushed too hard."
"Yes, sir." Marik replied and walked away to graze.
Alaric did a head count and sighed nervously as he realized he was missing some mares. Domino, Rayne, Temara, Peony, and Mesa Lou. "Blake!" Alaric called.
The lieutenant lifted his head up from behind Sadia, mouth full of dry grass. He swallowed and quickly trotted over, ignoring Sadia's warning kick as he passed by the agitated mare. She had been quite nippy since her pregnancy started.
"Yes, Al?" He asked when he approached his lead.
"Round everybody up. We're moving into the treeline. Keep an eye out for stragglers. Mesa is missing, so is Domino and Rayne and a few others. We're going to find them."
Blake flicked his ears back. "Oh. About them… They kept going when we stopped. I don't think they want to come back, Al."
Alaric sighed as anxiety welled inside him. Most of the mares were carrying his foals. All those mares had left. He desperately hoped they would be okay, he was not going to force them to stay.
"Alright. Then let's go find a place to rest." Just as Al said that, Marik came running up to them.
"There's a bachelor nearby, watching us. There is also a scent of a herd close by as well."
Alaric nodded and called Ross over.
As the gelding came over Al spoke.
"Marik, you and Ross make sure that the bachelor doesn't try anything. Blake, keep the herd together as I lead us to the forest. Stay safe."
The males all nodded and got to work herding everyone together. As they began to move, Yumiko and Rua came up next to Alaric.
"Is something wrong, love?" The lead mare asked.
"No, Rua. I'm just trying to find a safe place to stay for a bit. I'm fine."
"I'm sure the mares that left are fine. They probably already found herds, Al. You're worrying over nothing." Yumiko responded.
Alaric glanced at her, then continued to follow the sweet scent of berries.
"I'm just nervous about the foals, Yumi." He brushed his side against her swollen belly, warmth filling his heart as he felt the life growing inside her.
As the herd approached a berry patch, Alaric stopped and announced that the herd would stay here for the night, as it was getting dark.
As the mares lay down, Robin came up to Blake.
"Dad, it's time."
Blake sighed and nodded. He had been anticipating this day for the past few weeks. Robin was leaving. He knew his son was going to leave as soon as Magic and Belle had announced they were leaving. He had seen the look of longing as the young mares galloped away that the yearling had on his face. He embraced his son and touched noses with him one last time.
"It has been an honor watching you grow up into the fine stallion you are, my son. I love you. I'm very proud of you."
A single tear fell from Robin's eye as he pulled back from his father and he smiled.
"And I love you. Goodbye Dad." And with that Robin walked further into the forest, disappearing into the brush.
Alaric lay with Rua and Storm on either side of him. Storm watched her son fade into the trees. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Serenity get up and move closer to her mate, Havaros. Her pregnancy was just starting to show. Storm pondered how Ross would feel about having the biological father of his foal be in the same herd as his unborn child. Unknown to her, was the discussion Ross and Blake had soon after the pregnancy was announced that Blake willingly promised Ross that he would not be involved in the foals' upbringing. He would not be involved in the foal's life as a father, but rather as a distant uncle that happened to be in the same herd as it.
Storm's gaze drifted to the young couple that rested the closest to her. Cleo and Ceto were having their second foal together. Only this time, it was Cleo who was carrying it. Cleo had her legs tucked underneath herself and Ceto rested her head on her mate's back. They were awfully cute together, Storm thought to herself. She looked up at Alaric, who gazed longingly into the trees, in the opposite direction Robin had gone. She looked at Rua, who was observing Jessi as she scratched her back on the grass, swollen belly exposed. Rua glanced at Storm and they exchanged looks, then she spoke softly.
"What are you looking at, Al?" She asked.
He glanced at her briefly.
"A mare's scent is coming from that direction." He replied.
"Go." Rua said.
Alaric didn't need to be told twice. He got up and rushed in the direction that the scent was coming from.
He trotted quickly, nearly running into a mare.
"Oh! Hello, miss!" He said, smiling politely.
She trotted around him, studying his body. Satisfied with him, she gave him a flirtatious smirk. She flagged her tail and walked a few steps away before turning back to him and lifting a single brow.
"Interested, handsome?" She asked, her voice like silk.
How could he resist such an offer? He followed her, entranced by her beauty and charm.

The mare had disappeared shortly after they had their fun with each other. He offered her a place within his herd, but she refused claiming to already have a herd. He wasn't surprised. He suspected there was a catch to this beauty. She planted a kiss on his cheek and walked away without a word. What was he doing beforehand? Searching for something? For someone? It hit him like a falling tree. He had completely forgotten about the other mare! He was an idiot! Damn these hormones!
He quickly sniffed the air a few times, catching a mare's scent once more, and followed it. Soon he heard mares voices.
"You need to calm down. I'm sure you'll be fine."
He heard a loud sob before hearing a different voice on the other side of a thick bush.
"I shouldn't have wandered so far away. I can't believe they forgot me and moved on!" He was about to go around the bush, when a raccoon appeared out of nowhere and hissed at him, spooking him.
He reared and let out a startled whinny.
"Hey! Get away from there!" A feminine voice said from behind him. As he turned, a small body smacked into him before tumbling to the ground. He saw a young, stunned filly, shaking her head to rid herself of dizziness.
She looked at him angrily, then stomped her hoof. "You have no business being here, stallion! Go away!"
It took him a minute to process the filly's words. As he was about to respond an angrier mare came from the other side of the bush and snapped her teeth at his face.
"Get away from my baby!" She spat.
He took a few surprised steps backwards.
"Hello? Who's there?"
A pregnant champagne mare came from behind the bush and her face lit up at the sight of Alaric.
"Oh! A stallion! Please, take me with you! I don't care where you're going or who you're with! I just want to be protected when I have this foal." She begged.
Al was taken aback, surprised by the sudden request. He looked at the other mare, she glared at him and said, "Don't look at me. I'm fine on my own. All I need is my daughter."
He looked back at the pregnant mare, who had a pleading look on her face.
"U-uh, okay…....what's your name?"
She grinned and immediately was stuck to his side.
"It's Aurella. You have a herd don't you?" She said.
"Yeah. How did you know?" He asked. Walking back to the berry patch.
"You smell of your mares. And your scars tell many stories." She said.
========
Herd ID: 38
In response to: E-Bachelor 143, E-Herd 8, Find Mares ×2, Find Foal, E-Raccoon, Berry Patch, Herd Mixup-Herd 2
Art Features: Alaric, Aurella
Story Features: Alaric, Blake, Marik, Havaros, Jessi, Serenity, Mesa Lou, Rua, Storm, Robin, Magic, Domino, Rayne, Ceto, Cleopatra, Belle, Bachelor 143, Penny, Mare 623, Mare 623 Foal, Sadia, Yumiko, Aurella (24)
Word Count 1437
Aging: Robin 3/3, Magic 3/3, Belle 3/3
Healing: n/a
Pregnancy: Yumiko 1|3, Serenity 1|3, Aurella 1|3, Cleopatra 2|3, Sadia 2|3, Jessi 2|3
Captured: n/a
Destination of Bachelor: Unclaimed Folder
Items Used: Fernwood ×1 on Alaric
Members that Own Outside Horses:
Penny (TheEndlessHourglass #2)
Peony (Sparkle-Photography #78-2)
Temara (AberrantKapro #93)
Mesa Lou (DragonWolfDream #142)
Rolls: Normal
Other: Robin, Belle, and Magic are NOT being released into Unclaimed, they are being aged then traded. Thanks!

Description
Summer had come to an end. Autumn was here and Alaric's herd was on the move. The herd trotted at a brisk pace. Blake was at the front, leading. The sabino's head was held high, and you had to look twice before realizing he was only the lieutenant stallion. Marik was trotting behind the large herd, sweat dripping down his coat. Alaric noticed this and called the herd to a halt. They allowed down and stopped to take a break, grazing silently. Marik walked up to Al, panting.
"Thank you. I was starting to get dizzy."
"It's not a problem," Alaric smiled. "Next time, let me know when you're being pushed too hard."
"Yes, sir." Marik replied and walked away to graze.
Alaric did a head count and sighed nervously as he realized he was missing some mares. Domino, Rayne, Temara, Peony, and Mesa Lou. "Blake!" Alaric called.
The lieutenant lifted his head up from behind Sadia, mouth full of dry grass. He swallowed and quickly trotted over, ignoring Sadia's warning kick as he passed by the agitated mare. She had been quite nippy since her pregnancy started.
"Yes, Al?" He asked when he approached his lead.
"Round everybody up. We're moving into the treeline. Keep an eye out for stragglers. Mesa is missing, so is Domino and Rayne and a few others. We're going to find them."
Blake flicked his ears back. "Oh. About them… They kept going when we stopped. I don't think they want to come back, Al."
Alaric sighed as anxiety welled inside him. Most of the mares were carrying his foals. All those mares had left. He desperately hoped they would be okay, he was not going to force them to stay.
"Alright. Then let's go find a place to rest." Just as Al said that, Marik came running up to them.
"There's a bachelor nearby, watching us. There is also a scent of a herd close by as well."
Alaric nodded and called Ross over.
As the gelding came over Al spoke.
"Marik, you and Ross make sure that the bachelor doesn't try anything. Blake, keep the herd together as I lead us to the forest. Stay safe."
The males all nodded and got to work herding everyone together. As they began to move, Yumiko and Rua came up next to Alaric.
"Is something wrong, love?" The lead mare asked.
"No, Rua. I'm just trying to find a safe place to stay for a bit. I'm fine."
"I'm sure the mares that left are fine. They probably already found herds, Al. You're worrying over nothing." Yumiko responded.
Alaric glanced at her, then continued to follow the sweet scent of berries.
"I'm just nervous about the foals, Yumi." He brushed his side against her swollen belly, warmth filling his heart as he felt the life growing inside her.
As the herd approached a berry patch, Alaric stopped and announced that the herd would stay here for the night, as it was getting dark.
As the mares lay down, Robin came up to Blake.
"Dad, it's time."
Blake sighed and nodded. He had been anticipating this day for the past few weeks. Robin was leaving. He knew his son was going to leave as soon as Magic and Belle had announced they were leaving. He had seen the look of longing as the young mares galloped away that the yearling had on his face. He embraced his son and touched noses with him one last time.
"It has been an honor watching you grow up into the fine stallion you are, my son. I love you. I'm very proud of you."
A single tear fell from Robin's eye as he pulled back from his father and he smiled.
"And I love you. Goodbye Dad." And with that Robin walked further into the forest, disappearing into the brush.
Alaric lay with Rua and Storm on either side of him. Storm watched her son fade into the trees. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Serenity get up and move closer to her mate, Havaros. Her pregnancy was just starting to show. Storm pondered how Ross would feel about having the biological father of his foal be in the same herd as his unborn child. Unknown to her, was the discussion Ross and Blake had soon after the pregnancy was announced that Blake willingly promised Ross that he would not be involved in the foals' upbringing. He would not be involved in the foal's life as a father, but rather as a distant uncle that happened to be in the same herd as it.
Storm's gaze drifted to the young couple that rested the closest to her. Cleo and Ceto were having their second foal together. Only this time, it was Cleo who was carrying it. Cleo had her legs tucked underneath herself and Ceto rested her head on her mate's back. They were awfully cute together, Storm thought to herself. She looked up at Alaric, who gazed longingly into the trees, in the opposite direction Robin had gone. She looked at Rua, who was observing Jessi as she scratched her back on the grass, swollen belly exposed. Rua glanced at Storm and they exchanged looks, then she spoke softly.
"What are you looking at, Al?" She asked.
He glanced at her briefly.
"A mare's scent is coming from that direction." He replied.
"Go." Rua said.
Alaric didn't need to be told twice. He got up and rushed in the direction that the scent was coming from.
He trotted quickly, nearly running into a mare.
"Oh! Hello, miss!" He said, smiling politely.
She trotted around him, studying his body. Satisfied with him, she gave him a flirtatious smirk. She flagged her tail and walked a few steps away before turning back to him and lifting a single brow.
"Interested, handsome?" She asked, her voice like silk.
How could he resist such an offer? He followed her, entranced by her beauty and charm.

The mare had disappeared shortly after they had their fun with each other. He offered her a place within his herd, but she refused claiming to already have a herd. He wasn't surprised. He suspected there was a catch to this beauty. She planted a kiss on his cheek and walked away without a word. What was he doing beforehand? Searching for something? For someone? It hit him like a falling tree. He had completely forgotten about the other mare! He was an idiot! Damn these hormones!
He quickly sniffed the air a few times, catching a mare's scent once more, and followed it. Soon he heard mares voices.
"You need to calm down. I'm sure you'll be fine."
He heard a loud sob before hearing a different voice on the other side of a thick bush.
"I shouldn't have wandered so far away. I can't believe they forgot me and moved on!" He was about to go around the bush, when a raccoon appeared out of nowhere and hissed at him, spooking him.
He reared and let out a startled whinny.
"Hey! Get away from there!" A feminine voice said from behind him. As he turned, a small body smacked into him before tumbling to the ground. He saw a young, stunned filly, shaking her head to rid herself of dizziness.
She looked at him angrily, then stomped her hoof. "You have no business being here, stallion! Go away!"
It took him a minute to process the filly's words. As he was about to respond an angrier mare came from the other side of the bush and snapped her teeth at his face.
"Get away from my baby!" She spat.
He took a few surprised steps backwards.
"Hello? Who's there?"
A pregnant champagne mare came from behind the bush and her face lit up at the sight of Alaric.
"Oh! A stallion! Please, take me with you! I don't care where you're going or who you're with! I just want to be protected when I have this foal." She begged.
Al was taken aback, surprised by the sudden request. He looked at the other mare, she glared at him and said, "Don't look at me. I'm fine on my own. All I need is my daughter."
He looked back at the pregnant mare, who had a pleading look on her face.
"U-uh, okay…....what's your name?"
She grinned and immediately was stuck to his side.
"It's Aurella. You have a herd don't you?" She said.
"Yeah. How did you know?" He asked. Walking back to the berry patch.
"You smell of your mares. And your scars tell many stories." She said.
========
Herd ID: 38
In response to: E-Bachelor 143, E-Herd 8, Find Mares ×2, Find Foal, E-Raccoon, Berry Patch, Herd Mixup-Herd 2
Art Features: Alaric, Aurella
Story Features: Alaric, Blake, Marik, Havaros, Jessi, Serenity, Mesa Lou, Rua, Storm, Robin, Magic, Domino, Rayne, Ceto, Cleopatra, Belle, Bachelor 143, Penny, Mare 623, Mare 623 Foal, Sadia, Yumiko, Aurella (24)
Word Count 1437
Aging: Robin 3/3, Magic 3/3, Belle 3/3
Healing: n/a
Pregnancy: Yumiko 1|3, Serenity 1|3, Aurella 1|3, Cleopatra 2|3, Sadia 2|3, Jessi 2|3
Captured: n/a
Destination of Bachelor: Unclaimed Folder
Items Used: Fernwood ×1 on Alaric
Members that Own Outside Horses:
Penny (TheEndlessHourglass #2)
Peony (Sparkle-Photography #78-2)
Temara (AberrantKapro #93)
Mesa Lou (DragonWolfDream #142)
Rolls: Normal
Other: Robin, Belle, and Magic are NOT being released into Unclaimed, they are being aged then traded. Thanks!