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91 Diamonds [ Main Quest +10 | Full Body +20 | Colored +5 | Shaded +5 | Detailed BG +15 | Herd Fullbody +30 | 600 Word Story +6 ] pls let me know if any of this is wrong!

◄ PREVIOUS: Followup Claim Attempt 16 | NEXT: ►

[Main Quest]
You flee away from the vicious pack of wild dogs, they weren’t far behind you but you managed to disappear down into the tree line. Slowing to a walk to catch your breath, you hear rushing water and head towards it. Coming out to a running river you;

► A. Follow the river upstream
B. Cross the river to hide your scent

In the span of a few days, Viggo had gone from an old bachelor who’d lost his herd, to having three other mouths to feed and watch over. The shift felt…strange. It was a lot for him to take in at first. Although he’d only found the mares less than a week ago, there was hardly a quiet moment. When the still moments did come, it was often with the grullo mare, Aradani. She was contemplative, much like he was. Observant. Shy, even. Her counterpart, the buckskin who was called Edeline, or Edie for short, was more outgoing and got along well with Casimir. She was energetic and talkative- oh, so talkative. She reminded Viggo of his first daughter; she was curious and lively, always had a smile on her face. It made his heart ache again. Before he had time to dwell on that feeling, he was pulled out of his brooding by the colt and the buckskin bounding up to him after having been frolicking in the leftover snow.

“Having fun?” Viggo chuckled. The sight of them smiling warmed the ache in his heart and he chose to focus on that.

“Yeah! I love snow!” Casimir laughed. “But it’s so cold.” He shivered a little.

“Hm. It’s probably time to move on, then.” The pinto stallion flicked his ears. The two protested, but when Viggo began to move away, they followed him. Aradani pulled up the rear, reluctantly following. As they walked, the buckskin trotted up beside Viggo.

“I just have to say- your son is so cute!” Edeline gushed. Viggo cleared his throat, glancing back at Casimir. The colt’s expression twisted, his smile dropping and his brows squishing together.

“He has his charms.” Viggo responded after a brief pause. Casimir nearly tripped over himself in surprise. He couldn’t believe that Viggo didn’t correct her! Did that mean…?

“Whatever happened to his mother?” Edeline asked gently. Viggo pursed his lips and Casimir’s expression twisted again. “I’m no expert, but he seems a bit young to be away from her.”

“That’s because she abandoned me.” The pinto colt said coldly. “Viggo found me.” Edeline gasped and slowed her pace to match Casimir’s again. She nuzzled his head, which made his expression soften.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Edeline exclaimed. “How could anyone abandon such a sweet little colt like you? Shame on her!” Casimir smiled at that, and they continued on.

“Well, he won’t have to worry about that from now on.” Viggo voiced. He turned to look over his shoulder at the mares. “And that goes for you two, as well.” Edeline smiled brightly at that. The old stallion caught Aradani’s gaze but she quickly looked away. He knew it would take time for her to heal. But he’d be there to watch over her while she did.

Guilt and shame plagued the old stallion suddenly. Could he start over just like that? Could he give up on his family so easily? Even if he tried to find them- which he had before -how was he supposed to find them? Their scents were long gone by now. Even as they trekked back to the same paths he took with his first herd, the deja vu was overwhelming. The feeling of familiarity, the way his body moved without thinking, the laughter of a foal and the sweet voice of a mare behind him. As Viggo brought the small troupe alongside a river, actually very near the same place he had found Casimir, almost two weeks ago, a war waged within him.

He had failed to protect his last herd. And then, he’d failed to find them. He’d failed his family in so many ways, disgraced the good name he’d worked so hard to build up. And yet, inside, his empty heart was beginning to fill again, something he never thought would happen again. But was it right for him to feel this way?

Was he allowed to be…happy?

word count: 660

Story Features: Viggo & Casimir & Edaline & Aradani

Art Features: Viggo & Casimir & Edaline & Aradani

Story and Character(s) © MatrixPotato

Description

91 Diamonds [ Main Quest +10 | Full Body +20 | Colored +5 | Shaded +5 | Detailed BG +15 | Herd Fullbody +30 | 600 Word Story +6 ] pls let me know if any of this is wrong!

◄ PREVIOUS: Followup Claim Attempt 16 | NEXT: ►

[Main Quest]
You flee away from the vicious pack of wild dogs, they weren’t far behind you but you managed to disappear down into the tree line. Slowing to a walk to catch your breath, you hear rushing water and head towards it. Coming out to a running river you;

► A. Follow the river upstream
B. Cross the river to hide your scent

In the span of a few days, Viggo had gone from an old bachelor who’d lost his herd, to having three other mouths to feed and watch over. The shift felt…strange. It was a lot for him to take in at first. Although he’d only found the mares less than a week ago, there was hardly a quiet moment. When the still moments did come, it was often with the grullo mare, Aradani. She was contemplative, much like he was. Observant. Shy, even. Her counterpart, the buckskin who was called Edeline, or Edie for short, was more outgoing and got along well with Casimir. She was energetic and talkative- oh, so talkative. She reminded Viggo of his first daughter; she was curious and lively, always had a smile on her face. It made his heart ache again. Before he had time to dwell on that feeling, he was pulled out of his brooding by the colt and the buckskin bounding up to him after having been frolicking in the leftover snow.

“Having fun?” Viggo chuckled. The sight of them smiling warmed the ache in his heart and he chose to focus on that.

“Yeah! I love snow!” Casimir laughed. “But it’s so cold.” He shivered a little.

“Hm. It’s probably time to move on, then.” The pinto stallion flicked his ears. The two protested, but when Viggo began to move away, they followed him. Aradani pulled up the rear, reluctantly following. As they walked, the buckskin trotted up beside Viggo.

“I just have to say- your son is so cute!” Edeline gushed. Viggo cleared his throat, glancing back at Casimir. The colt’s expression twisted, his smile dropping and his brows squishing together.

“He has his charms.” Viggo responded after a brief pause. Casimir nearly tripped over himself in surprise. He couldn’t believe that Viggo didn’t correct her! Did that mean…?

“Whatever happened to his mother?” Edeline asked gently. Viggo pursed his lips and Casimir’s expression twisted again. “I’m no expert, but he seems a bit young to be away from her.”

“That’s because she abandoned me.” The pinto colt said coldly. “Viggo found me.” Edeline gasped and slowed her pace to match Casimir’s again. She nuzzled his head, which made his expression soften.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Edeline exclaimed. “How could anyone abandon such a sweet little colt like you? Shame on her!” Casimir smiled at that, and they continued on.

“Well, he won’t have to worry about that from now on.” Viggo voiced. He turned to look over his shoulder at the mares. “And that goes for you two, as well.” Edeline smiled brightly at that. The old stallion caught Aradani’s gaze but she quickly looked away. He knew it would take time for her to heal. But he’d be there to watch over her while she did.

Guilt and shame plagued the old stallion suddenly. Could he start over just like that? Could he give up on his family so easily? Even if he tried to find them- which he had before -how was he supposed to find them? Their scents were long gone by now. Even as they trekked back to the same paths he took with his first herd, the deja vu was overwhelming. The feeling of familiarity, the way his body moved without thinking, the laughter of a foal and the sweet voice of a mare behind him. As Viggo brought the small troupe alongside a river, actually very near the same place he had found Casimir, almost two weeks ago, a war waged within him.

He had failed to protect his last herd. And then, he’d failed to find them. He’d failed his family in so many ways, disgraced the good name he’d worked so hard to build up. And yet, inside, his empty heart was beginning to fill again, something he never thought would happen again. But was it right for him to feel this way?

Was he allowed to be…happy?

word count: 660

Story Features: Viggo & Casimir & Edaline & Aradani

Art Features: Viggo & Casimir & Edaline & Aradani

Story and Character(s) © MatrixPotato