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Description
It was a blisteringly hot day. Waves of heat could be seen lazily convulsing across the horizon as Faramir and Breigo pushed their herd forward. Many of their usual watering holes had dried up, leaving nothing but dust in their wake. So now they marched toward the largest source of water in the valley. Their numerous hooves kicked up dry dirt and the herd was engulfed in a dirty cloud. Many of the mares walked with eyes half shut, relying on their other senses to lead them on.

”Mommy, how much further?” little Raphtalia whined.

Aloine sighed and tried to peer over the backs of her herd sisters. ”Hopefully not much, my love. Be strong.” she encouraged, giving her daughter a nuzzle.

”I’m soo thirsty.” Ariadne piped in dramatically, hanging her head in sorrow as she walked.

”Complaining won’t get you to water faster, dear one.” Sabriel said in a clipped tone, making Ariadne’s ears flatten.

”It’s not much further, everyone. We’re almost there.” came Breigo’s shout from the front.

All of the mares’ ears perked up at this and they picked up the pace, some even beginning to trot. And sure enough, just as they reached the top of the rise, they could look down and see shimmering blue.

And many, many other horses.

Numerous herds and countless individuals milled around and in the lake. Foals could be heard squealing and splashing around their mothers. Lead stallions and their Lieutenants paced around their herds, eyeing each other suspiciously.

Faramir glanced at Breigo, who nodded encouragingly. He was the lead now, it was his decision.

”Alright everyone. Just stay close.” he said, his voice a little uncertain.

With that, they all began to make their way down the rocky embankment. Ariadne and Raphtalia shouted with joy as they leapt into the cool shallows, quickly getting caught up in a game with the other foals. Most of the mares stayed in a close-knit group as they waded into the water and bent their necks, drinking deeply. Faramir, Breigo, and Firefoot patrolled around them, snorting at other stallions who got too close. In all the comotion, no one noticed when Rhea and Saoirse snuck off.

To Faramir’s surprise, some of the other stallions came over to introduce themselves. They shared polite conversation with a black overo stallion named Marco and a silver buckskin called Claudio. They discussed the intense heat of the summer and mulled over possible watering solutions. Eventually the stallions bid their farewells and Faramir and Breigo were able to finally drink.

The sun eventually began to climb down from its zenith and the relentless heat began to dissipate. Faramir lifted his head and nickered loudly, calling the mares back to him. He noticed that it took much longer for Rhea and Saoirse to return, both looking rather pleased with themselves. The two fillies returned to their mothers’ sides, fighting down yawns as the said goodbye to their new friends.

The herd traveled away from the lake, heading back to their usual territory, when Sif called out that she had spotted a cave. They all eagerly made their away to the coolness of the cave, some of the mares sighing happily as their laid down on the smooth rock. Faramir kept close to the mouth of the cave, staring out across the outside with amber eyes.

”Come inside and rest.” Breigo said with a smile. ”I’ll keep watch for a while.”

Faramir smiled thankfully and retreated into the relative darkness. Lyra and Robin moved over to make more room for him and he murmured a quiet thanks.

Birdsong slowly died away as the sun went down over the mountains and a hush filled the valley in its absence. The mares laughed and talked as Ariadne and Raphtalia drifted off to sleep, curled around one another. Faramir conversed with Lyra, who seemed to be in a better mood than usual. Soon his eyelids became very heavy and he could feel sleep nipping at his heels. With one last glance at Breigo guarding the entrance, he laid his head down and let himself succumb. All was well.

Description
It was a blisteringly hot day. Waves of heat could be seen lazily convulsing across the horizon as Faramir and Breigo pushed their herd forward. Many of their usual watering holes had dried up, leaving nothing but dust in their wake. So now they marched toward the largest source of water in the valley. Their numerous hooves kicked up dry dirt and the herd was engulfed in a dirty cloud. Many of the mares walked with eyes half shut, relying on their other senses to lead them on.

”Mommy, how much further?” little Raphtalia whined.

Aloine sighed and tried to peer over the backs of her herd sisters. ”Hopefully not much, my love. Be strong.” she encouraged, giving her daughter a nuzzle.

”I’m soo thirsty.” Ariadne piped in dramatically, hanging her head in sorrow as she walked.

”Complaining won’t get you to water faster, dear one.” Sabriel said in a clipped tone, making Ariadne’s ears flatten.

”It’s not much further, everyone. We’re almost there.” came Breigo’s shout from the front.

All of the mares’ ears perked up at this and they picked up the pace, some even beginning to trot. And sure enough, just as they reached the top of the rise, they could look down and see shimmering blue.

And many, many other horses.

Numerous herds and countless individuals milled around and in the lake. Foals could be heard squealing and splashing around their mothers. Lead stallions and their Lieutenants paced around their herds, eyeing each other suspiciously.

Faramir glanced at Breigo, who nodded encouragingly. He was the lead now, it was his decision.

”Alright everyone. Just stay close.” he said, his voice a little uncertain.

With that, they all began to make their way down the rocky embankment. Ariadne and Raphtalia shouted with joy as they leapt into the cool shallows, quickly getting caught up in a game with the other foals. Most of the mares stayed in a close-knit group as they waded into the water and bent their necks, drinking deeply. Faramir, Breigo, and Firefoot patrolled around them, snorting at other stallions who got too close. In all the comotion, no one noticed when Rhea and Saoirse snuck off.

To Faramir’s surprise, some of the other stallions came over to introduce themselves. They shared polite conversation with a black overo stallion named Marco and a silver buckskin called Claudio. They discussed the intense heat of the summer and mulled over possible watering solutions. Eventually the stallions bid their farewells and Faramir and Breigo were able to finally drink.

The sun eventually began to climb down from its zenith and the relentless heat began to dissipate. Faramir lifted his head and nickered loudly, calling the mares back to him. He noticed that it took much longer for Rhea and Saoirse to return, both looking rather pleased with themselves. The two fillies returned to their mothers’ sides, fighting down yawns as the said goodbye to their new friends.

The herd traveled away from the lake, heading back to their usual territory, when Sif called out that she had spotted a cave. They all eagerly made their away to the coolness of the cave, some of the mares sighing happily as their laid down on the smooth rock. Faramir kept close to the mouth of the cave, staring out across the outside with amber eyes.

”Come inside and rest.” Breigo said with a smile. ”I’ll keep watch for a while.”

Faramir smiled thankfully and retreated into the relative darkness. Lyra and Robin moved over to make more room for him and he murmured a quiet thanks.

Birdsong slowly died away as the sun went down over the mountains and a hush filled the valley in its absence. The mares laughed and talked as Ariadne and Raphtalia drifted off to sleep, curled around one another. Faramir conversed with Lyra, who seemed to be in a better mood than usual. Soon his eyelids became very heavy and he could feel sleep nipping at his heels. With one last glance at Breigo guarding the entrance, he laid his head down and let himself succumb. All was well.