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Description
The herd of Summer Stars was on the move. They’d grazed clean their usual area of the valley and were in search of greener pastures. Fawkes lead the herd at a steady pace despite her swinging stomach. Faramir thought she was due any day now and worried she was pushing herself too hard. But she shrugged off his concerns and continued her duties as Lead Mare. Aloine walked beside her with an equally heavy stomach, the two mares chatting as they traveled. Loki was somewhere in the middle of the herd, making sure foals stayed with mothers and everyone kept together. Faramir was bringing up the rear, keeping an eye out for any stragglers or potential threats. Both Lyra and Gypsy lagged back with him, each mare feeling worse for wear. Faramir nudged them along and they both sighed, trying to pick up the pace.

They continued on their way for some time, stopping now and again for a quick snack as they found grass under the melting snow. It was a relatively warm and sunny day, making finding food easy for the first time in a what felt like a long time.

Suddenly, the wind changed directions and Faramir’s ears perked up. He lifted his nose and took a deep breath to confirm his suspicions. They were getting very close to what smelled like a human ranch. Faramir trotted to the front of the herd to let Fawkes know. But, of course, she’d scented it too.

”We’ll head further east.” she said as he slowed to a stop next to her. ”Avoid the humans entirely.”

Faramir nodded with a smile. Of course she already had a plan. He loved her so much.

”Faramir, I’d like to go check out the ranch.” Loki asked as he trotted forward.

Faramir thought about it a moment, trying to push aside his own worries about the humans. Loki was a strong, fast stallion. He’d be fine. Faramir nodded and Loki took off at a lope.

After Loki left, the rest of the herd continued east until nightfall. As the sky grew darker, the herd gathered closer together, keeping the foals in the middle of the group. Uiken, especially, as he was the youngest. He tried to protest, but soon fell asleep after the long journey. It seemed as though the night would pass without incident when Faramir awoke to shouting--he hadn’t even realized he’d dozed off. Faramir leapt toward the shouting to see a large, strange stallion racing through the middle of the herd. In a flash, he’d separated Seraph from the others and was running off with her. Faramir shouted out angrily and jumped to the chase. He didn’t know how long he followed them, but the other stallion was fast and relentless in driving Seraph. Soon he lost sight of them.

Faramir tried tracking them by scent, nose alternating to the ground and in the air. As he stepped forward, his hoof suddenly slid out from under him. He nickered in surprise as he went skidding down a small hill. Thankfully he kept his footing and came to a stop at the bottom. His heart was pounding in his chest and his eyes were wild with fear as his chest worked like a bellows to suck in air. All he could think of was the mudslide that had killed Breigo. Without a second thought for Seraph or the strange stallion, he galloped back to herd blindly. As he reached them, the mares scattered out of his way.

”Fawkes!” he cried out, sliding to a stop and nearly falling over in his haste.

His mate came charging forward and snuffled him all over, looking for any injuries. Finding none, she merely made calming noises as he threw his head over her neck and panted. Though he said nothing, Fawkes could assume what had happened based on his behavior and the mud covering his lower legs. She continued to shush and coddle him, promising everything was ok. Faramir slowly came back to himself, squeezing his eyes as tightly shut as he could to force himself back into the present. Finally, he heaved a huge sigh and moved to look Fawkes in the eyes.

”I’m sorry…” he murmured.

Fawkes gave a small smile and licked him across the muzzle lovingly. ”Never apologize for this, my love.” she said softly.

Faramir looked up in the cloudless sky and looked for the brightest star that he knew to be Breigo. Finding it, he instantly felt calmer and was able to stop shaking. He looked at Fawkes again and smiled weakly.

”As soon as Loki returns, I will go searching for Seraph.” he said firmly.

Fawkes nodded and beckoned him over as she walked away. ”Come rest for now. Our worries can sleep with us until morning.”

Faramir obeyed without any opposition. He leaned against the fiery mare and let his eyes droop shut.

Tomorrow could wait until morning.

Description
The herd of Summer Stars was on the move. They’d grazed clean their usual area of the valley and were in search of greener pastures. Fawkes lead the herd at a steady pace despite her swinging stomach. Faramir thought she was due any day now and worried she was pushing herself too hard. But she shrugged off his concerns and continued her duties as Lead Mare. Aloine walked beside her with an equally heavy stomach, the two mares chatting as they traveled. Loki was somewhere in the middle of the herd, making sure foals stayed with mothers and everyone kept together. Faramir was bringing up the rear, keeping an eye out for any stragglers or potential threats. Both Lyra and Gypsy lagged back with him, each mare feeling worse for wear. Faramir nudged them along and they both sighed, trying to pick up the pace.

They continued on their way for some time, stopping now and again for a quick snack as they found grass under the melting snow. It was a relatively warm and sunny day, making finding food easy for the first time in a what felt like a long time.

Suddenly, the wind changed directions and Faramir’s ears perked up. He lifted his nose and took a deep breath to confirm his suspicions. They were getting very close to what smelled like a human ranch. Faramir trotted to the front of the herd to let Fawkes know. But, of course, she’d scented it too.

”We’ll head further east.” she said as he slowed to a stop next to her. ”Avoid the humans entirely.”

Faramir nodded with a smile. Of course she already had a plan. He loved her so much.

”Faramir, I’d like to go check out the ranch.” Loki asked as he trotted forward.

Faramir thought about it a moment, trying to push aside his own worries about the humans. Loki was a strong, fast stallion. He’d be fine. Faramir nodded and Loki took off at a lope.

After Loki left, the rest of the herd continued east until nightfall. As the sky grew darker, the herd gathered closer together, keeping the foals in the middle of the group. Uiken, especially, as he was the youngest. He tried to protest, but soon fell asleep after the long journey. It seemed as though the night would pass without incident when Faramir awoke to shouting--he hadn’t even realized he’d dozed off. Faramir leapt toward the shouting to see a large, strange stallion racing through the middle of the herd. In a flash, he’d separated Seraph from the others and was running off with her. Faramir shouted out angrily and jumped to the chase. He didn’t know how long he followed them, but the other stallion was fast and relentless in driving Seraph. Soon he lost sight of them.

Faramir tried tracking them by scent, nose alternating to the ground and in the air. As he stepped forward, his hoof suddenly slid out from under him. He nickered in surprise as he went skidding down a small hill. Thankfully he kept his footing and came to a stop at the bottom. His heart was pounding in his chest and his eyes were wild with fear as his chest worked like a bellows to suck in air. All he could think of was the mudslide that had killed Breigo. Without a second thought for Seraph or the strange stallion, he galloped back to herd blindly. As he reached them, the mares scattered out of his way.

”Fawkes!” he cried out, sliding to a stop and nearly falling over in his haste.

His mate came charging forward and snuffled him all over, looking for any injuries. Finding none, she merely made calming noises as he threw his head over her neck and panted. Though he said nothing, Fawkes could assume what had happened based on his behavior and the mud covering his lower legs. She continued to shush and coddle him, promising everything was ok. Faramir slowly came back to himself, squeezing his eyes as tightly shut as he could to force himself back into the present. Finally, he heaved a huge sigh and moved to look Fawkes in the eyes.

”I’m sorry…” he murmured.

Fawkes gave a small smile and licked him across the muzzle lovingly. ”Never apologize for this, my love.” she said softly.

Faramir looked up in the cloudless sky and looked for the brightest star that he knew to be Breigo. Finding it, he instantly felt calmer and was able to stop shaking. He looked at Fawkes again and smiled weakly.

”As soon as Loki returns, I will go searching for Seraph.” he said firmly.

Fawkes nodded and beckoned him over as she walked away. ”Come rest for now. Our worries can sleep with us until morning.”

Faramir obeyed without any opposition. He leaned against the fiery mare and let his eyes droop shut.

Tomorrow could wait until morning.