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Description
Percy nickered over his shoulder into the early morning air, urging his herd forward. Signs of a storm were rolling in with the promise of rain and it was time for the herd to leave the lake and move on. It had been nice at times to meet with different herds that gathered around the water, but it was also stressful having so many stallions and mares in one place. Percy was glad to finally be moving on now that the summer was coming to a close.

Steadily the herd moved up the slope as the sun began to rise in the east above the mountains. Jason kept up the rear and urged on any sleepy-eyed stragglers. Perseus felt bad waking everyone up so early, but he wanted to get in some good distance before the heat of the day set in. That, and those storm clouds gathering in the distance looked more than a little ominous.

They had to keep the pace slower than he would have liked, but some of the mares were ill or injured themselves. In addition to that, some of them were also significantly pregnant, their bellies swaying below them as they huffed up the hill. Merlin, Crane, and Vireo were having the hardest time, but Shrike and Quail were also struggling. Perseus couldn’t help but be excited. Soon there would be more foals than the herd would know what to do with. It made him almost giddy thinking of their awkward limbs and high-pitched whinnies. Though he hid it better, Percy knew Jason was just as excited to be welcoming new foals into the herd and suspected that Quail was heavy with his own.

The herd plodded on, occasionally stopping to graze, until the sun was high in the sky. Or, they suspected it was. The storm-heavy clouds had rolled in and were shadowing much of the sun’s rays. Thunder began to rumble through the sky as Percy looked up into the clouds and made a decision.

”We’ll take cover from the storm over in that copse of trees.” he called over his shoulder to the mares.

The mares replied with affirmative nods and mutters as they all hurried to the meager cover of the trees just as the first drops of rain began to fall. Luckily, they all made it under the trees before there was a complete deluge. Despite the thick leaves on the trees, it wasn’t long before every member was soaked to the bone. The mares gathered together to keep warm as Percy and Jason kept watch.

”What do you suppose this is?” Jason called out from the distance.

Curious, Percy trotted over to see what Jason was looking at. It was a small, domed thing made out of a water-resistant material. There appeared to be a flap in the center for something smaller than a horse to enter and exit. Percy thought for a moment before the word came to him.

”It’s a tent. Humans use them as makeshift caves.” Percy explained, recalling a lesson from his father, Breigo.

Jason sniffed at the tent and snorted. ”Well, it’s been long abandoned. I don’t smell any human on it at all.”

”We should probably be getting back--”

Just as Percy was speaking, the loudest roar of thunder crashed down from the sky, spooking both stallions and causing some of the mares to cry out in fright. Heart pounding, Percy came back to his senses in time to hear the mares continue to cry out. Confused, he and Jason rushed back to them.

”What was that?” yelled Dove.

”I’ve never heard thunder so loud!” cried Pigeon, shaking where she stood.

”Someone shoved me!” Lark snorted as she pushed her weight around.

”Well someone bit me!” growled Sparrow.

”Wait, where’s Anhinga?” came Nightingale’s frantic shout.

All of the mares stopped squabbling and began to look around, becoming panicked when it became clear the reserved mare was clearly missing. They began to shout out her name, but their cries were overpowered by the continued thunder.

”There was someone else here! I saw him!” Heron shouted as she ran up to Percy and Jason. ”He had a flaxen mane and tail. He was so fast, he ran in and took her before anyone knew what was happening!”

Percy’s eyes narrowed as he peered deeper into the trees. ”Jason, you stay here and keep everyone together. I’m going after them.” he commanded as he leapt forward.

”Wait, I’m coming with you!” Denna called as she ran to catch up.

”Me, too!” Nightingale insisted. ”She’s my best friend, I can’t just leave her out there!”

Percy wanted to disagree with them, but he didn’t want any more time wasted. The more time that passed, the further the stallion who took Anhinga got away.

”Don’t worry, we’re going to get her back!” Percy said with steely determination as the three horses set out into the storm.

Description
Percy nickered over his shoulder into the early morning air, urging his herd forward. Signs of a storm were rolling in with the promise of rain and it was time for the herd to leave the lake and move on. It had been nice at times to meet with different herds that gathered around the water, but it was also stressful having so many stallions and mares in one place. Percy was glad to finally be moving on now that the summer was coming to a close.

Steadily the herd moved up the slope as the sun began to rise in the east above the mountains. Jason kept up the rear and urged on any sleepy-eyed stragglers. Perseus felt bad waking everyone up so early, but he wanted to get in some good distance before the heat of the day set in. That, and those storm clouds gathering in the distance looked more than a little ominous.

They had to keep the pace slower than he would have liked, but some of the mares were ill or injured themselves. In addition to that, some of them were also significantly pregnant, their bellies swaying below them as they huffed up the hill. Merlin, Crane, and Vireo were having the hardest time, but Shrike and Quail were also struggling. Perseus couldn’t help but be excited. Soon there would be more foals than the herd would know what to do with. It made him almost giddy thinking of their awkward limbs and high-pitched whinnies. Though he hid it better, Percy knew Jason was just as excited to be welcoming new foals into the herd and suspected that Quail was heavy with his own.

The herd plodded on, occasionally stopping to graze, until the sun was high in the sky. Or, they suspected it was. The storm-heavy clouds had rolled in and were shadowing much of the sun’s rays. Thunder began to rumble through the sky as Percy looked up into the clouds and made a decision.

”We’ll take cover from the storm over in that copse of trees.” he called over his shoulder to the mares.

The mares replied with affirmative nods and mutters as they all hurried to the meager cover of the trees just as the first drops of rain began to fall. Luckily, they all made it under the trees before there was a complete deluge. Despite the thick leaves on the trees, it wasn’t long before every member was soaked to the bone. The mares gathered together to keep warm as Percy and Jason kept watch.

”What do you suppose this is?” Jason called out from the distance.

Curious, Percy trotted over to see what Jason was looking at. It was a small, domed thing made out of a water-resistant material. There appeared to be a flap in the center for something smaller than a horse to enter and exit. Percy thought for a moment before the word came to him.

”It’s a tent. Humans use them as makeshift caves.” Percy explained, recalling a lesson from his father, Breigo.

Jason sniffed at the tent and snorted. ”Well, it’s been long abandoned. I don’t smell any human on it at all.”

”We should probably be getting back--”

Just as Percy was speaking, the loudest roar of thunder crashed down from the sky, spooking both stallions and causing some of the mares to cry out in fright. Heart pounding, Percy came back to his senses in time to hear the mares continue to cry out. Confused, he and Jason rushed back to them.

”What was that?” yelled Dove.

”I’ve never heard thunder so loud!” cried Pigeon, shaking where she stood.

”Someone shoved me!” Lark snorted as she pushed her weight around.

”Well someone bit me!” growled Sparrow.

”Wait, where’s Anhinga?” came Nightingale’s frantic shout.

All of the mares stopped squabbling and began to look around, becoming panicked when it became clear the reserved mare was clearly missing. They began to shout out her name, but their cries were overpowered by the continued thunder.

”There was someone else here! I saw him!” Heron shouted as she ran up to Percy and Jason. ”He had a flaxen mane and tail. He was so fast, he ran in and took her before anyone knew what was happening!”

Percy’s eyes narrowed as he peered deeper into the trees. ”Jason, you stay here and keep everyone together. I’m going after them.” he commanded as he leapt forward.

”Wait, I’m coming with you!” Denna called as she ran to catch up.

”Me, too!” Nightingale insisted. ”She’s my best friend, I can’t just leave her out there!”

Percy wanted to disagree with them, but he didn’t want any more time wasted. The more time that passed, the further the stallion who took Anhinga got away.

”Don’t worry, we’re going to get her back!” Percy said with steely determination as the three horses set out into the storm.