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Megaera hadn't gone father from home than Kamiki's teepee since her encounter with Azure. She had been feeling strange since then. Moodier than normal, hungry, and generally feeling off. He had been a strange stallion, and she still felt strange when she thought about him since then. But that wasn't the end of it. As the days stretched into weeks, she began to gain weight. It became more difficult to fly for long periods of time, and she felt even more strangely.

Today, she had made a trip to visit her sister Tisiphone. She always enjoyed being around her sisters, and was always in a better mood for it. Things made more sense. She didn't need to think about as much on her own.

She landed heavily as she arrived, grumbling to herself. "Tisiphone? Tisiphone, where are you?" She whined, nosing around the teepee.


Tisi peered from around Kamiki's teepee, eyes narrowing at her sister. There was definately something off about her, she could tell already. "What?" she asked, coming out and flipping her tail behind her. "What's the matter with you, you look awful?"

She looked her over more closely, her buldging belly and generally haggard appearance.

"I feel awful." Megaera snorted. "I feel bloated. Sick. But hungry all the same time. And it's not like I have been eating anything unusual. Rabbits, the occasional deer." She flicked her firey tail and shook her head. "You look well at least. Or at least as well as you ever do." She tried to make a joke, but it kind of fell flat.

Tisiphone let the joke slide, a concerned look coming over her face. She came near and nuzzled Megeara's cheek in a sisterly way, taking a deep inquisitive breath. "You smell strange," she said, pulling back a bit and circling her. "When did this start?"

Megaera scowled, an expression that had found its way to her face quite frequently recently. "A couple weeks ago, I guess. It's just been getting worse, though." She grunted.

"... why?" She asked with narrowed eyes.


Tisi opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. She shook her mane out and looked back over her. She thought to herself... I'm just thinking this because I'm around it so much... its all Kamiki talks about....

But she couldn't shake the thought. "You been around any stallions recently, sis?" she asked cautiously.

"Stallions..?" Megaera asked warily. A frown pulled at her mouth and her expression darkened. "Sort of. I... I got turned around during a flight once. I needed to get out. I hadn't gone exploring much past our home range. There was this little.... bug stallion. He was weird." Her ear flicked back.

Tisi shifted her weight on her fiery hooves. "A Bug?" She shook her again, that was also something not to dwell on at the moment. "Were you two... close, ya know?"

"Close?" She asked quickly, defensively. "I.... I don't know what you mean. I didn't like him if that's what you're asking. He was weird. Said strange things. He was... touchy."

Now Tisi's ears pressed hard back against her skull. "How 'touchy'?" She gave Meg her best 'i'm-serious-so-don't-beat-around-the-bush' look.

Megaera shrugged. She didn't like talking about this. She didn't even particularly like thinkin about it, really. It had felt so weird. Not bad.... but.... not really good either. "Real touchy." She paused for a moment. "Why??"

Tisiphone's expression softened a bit, but stayed just as worried. Now, it was worried a bit sympathetic. "I think... I mean..."

She paused. She had to be sure. "Did he like... get real close? Like..." she winced, the thought of what she was implying not something she had ever personally seen the appeal in, much less something she wanted to picture her sister doing, "inside close?"

Both ears lay back against her head now. How did she know that?? "Why?!" She demanded, a bit of fear slipping into her voice. "What makes you ask that? What does that have to do with me being sick now? Was he sick or something?"
She snorted a bit defensively... couldn't she tell she was trying to help? "Well... maybe," she said honestly, taking a step back. "But more likely... I think you might be pregnant."

Megaera froze. She blinked. She opened her mouth. Nothing came out. She started the process again then. Finally, the words came. "Wh.... WHAT?! No.... that isn't funny, Tis. Not funny at all. Pregnant?! I can't be pregnant!" She shook her head then, movement suddenly coming back to her limbs in spades. She began to pace, tail lashing behind her, cutting into the snow drifts collected near the teepee.

"Not if you didn't mate with him you can't be..." Tisiphone watched her sister pace, giving a heavy sigh. "But if you did/i] you've got all the systoms. You're balooning like a overripe melon, you're tired, your ... " she tilted her head, "hair is looking shinier and fiery than ever. Been having mood swings? Have been physically ill"

Megaera swallowed. "Yes... yes, yes YES!" She wheeled, upset, and apparently perfectly characteristic of the mood swings that Tisiphone had just described. Her eyes shone brightly - whether with brimming tears, anger.... or both - wasn't readily apparent. Even when she screamed, "I'm going to KILL him!"

Tisiphone shook her head. "With a Bug Soquili? really Meg...." She made a little gasp at a realization. "You're going to have to tell Father..." The expression on her face clearly indicated that she was happy she was not in Megeara's hooves right now.

Megaera snarled at her sister. Even bad situations had never caused her to snap at one of her two sisters before, but she did not appreciate the scandal in her sister's voice. "I'm going to take care of it." She seethed as her wings spread, not looking forward to that impending conversation.

Wherever that flighty little bug-soquili was, she was going to find him. And she was going to make him pay.

Reserved

Megaera had been in a sour mood ever since she had found out about her pregnancy. Even her confrontation with the father, while it had taken a bit of the edge off of her temper, had never exactly put her in good spirits. She continued to gain weight, and even little things set her anger off.

Taraxippus, during her pregnancy, with the exception of one hunt that took him longer than normal where he returned with a smile but no food to share, had been quite kind towards her. He brought her food when she didn't feel up to hunting. He would encourage her that the foal she kept would find a good home in their little herd. However, he seemed slightly disappointed that she only intended on keeping one of them, but eventually consented to understanding. She WAS a young mother, after all. Megaera never noticed any subtext to his kindness. In her mind, he had always been a wonderful big brother. Even though, to Taraxippus, most of the kindness he showed was only to place himself in a position where Megaera felt dependent on him. He knew that she wasn't as intelligent as most other soquili, and was more than willing to step in and help her figure things out.

Her sisters were of course also often about, and they understood her better than even her adopted family. It was strange, to be the one of them that would wind up a mother first. And it was not exactly something that she had planned. And at least at this point, she would certainly have done things differently if she knew how it was going to end up.

Anju was distant as usual. He would often come and go. It had taken some nerve to confront him and tell him that she was pregnant. However, his reaction wasn't quite as anticipated. It was a strange look in his six eyes. A pointed look at her swollen belly, and then an inquiry about the stallion. Only when she told him about the blue-winged bug soquili did he get a look of distaste, and shot a furtive glance towards his daughter, Arcana. She had herd him mutter something about hoping that the mother's blood ran strong, and then he had wandered off again for a while.

Sabin was, as usual, enthusiastic. Along with Taraxippus, he looked after her, grooming her and bringing her things that were easier for him to procure than Taraxippus: pitchers of clear, cold water, and of course, when it came time for her to birth her foals, he fetched the shaman, Kamiki.

That was an experience that she would have loved to forget. It was hours of pain. No one had told her about THAT part of pregnancy. Taraxippus paced nervously nearby. Anju was strategically absent. And arcana watched on with wide eyes. At the end of the grueling process, she was left with THREE tiny foals. It was difficult to make out features on the tiny, almost colorless creatures before the shaman expertly sealed them into their protective baskets. Over the next couple days, as she lay recovering, the baskets began to develop vivid colors. It was a strange, fascinating process.

It was around then that the violet alicorn arrived as promised. There was a brief conversation. And Megaera was surprised - after how much pain that they had caused her - at her attachment. When she had first spoken with the mare, she had almost wanted to tell her to just take them all away from her and leave her as she had been before. But now, even not knowing what she was doing... she wanted one. It was hers... it would be her daughter. She knew it. Something about the middle child spoke to her - the one whose basket had taken on a brilliant blue. At first it had reminded her almost too much of the flashing blue of Azure's wings.... but something about it... So with her blessing, the mare took away with her the two darker baskets, and left her the promise that she could visit them as often as she liked. That they would not live very far away.

***

Days stretched into weeks, and Megaera often found herself lying by the colorful basket. She could feel life inside. She warmed it with her firey body. She actually felt like a mother.

Even Anju would come by from time to time, sniff at the basket, and smile to her. It was so uncommon that the shadowy creature showed any kind of overt affection or parted a kind word that she took these treasures for what they were.

Then, at one point, after another extended absence, Taraxippus returned with a surprise: a basket of his own! What followed was a lengthy conversation - Anju was obviously surprised, and Taraxippus proud. He spoke of a metallic kalona mare, a fierce huntress and truly a powerful creature. He spoke of currying her favor, and her company. The basket was odd - like Taraxippus. Like Anju. Almost like it wasn't there at all. But Anju beamed a toothy grin, and Taraxippus was bursting with pride. Their herd was growing. She and Taraxippus spent even more time together, then. They had things to talk about. Taraxippus spoke occasionally of the future - of Great Things. A lot of it Megaera didn't follow, but she did understand that Taraxippus was her big brother, and was looking out for her and her daughter. That their children would grow up alongside each other. That they would all be herdmates.

***

Then, one day... it happened. The basket was positively bursting with life, and there was movement inside! Megaera found herself fixated on the preceedings. Taraxippus, Anju, and even Arcana drew around as slowly, the basket began to bulge. There was a kick.... and then - something sharp protruded through the slats... and finally, a filly as bright blue as the basket tumbled out onto the ground. She was... perfect. Megaera swelled with pride. This was her daughter! It was an uncanny connection. She knew it was hers. Even if she had never cared for the basket. Even if she had met her after never seeing her before she would know that she was hers.

Megaera was surprised to see two horns jutting from the filly's forehead - like her sister Alecto's - and something that must have come from her real father. A soft blue-white mane and tail and cloven hooves framed the little girl. And then, two rolled up protrusions on the filly's shoulders then unfurled into... buttefly wings. But - they were odd. Strangely shaped, and bearing a few vestigial feathers like Megaera's at the base... and then, a moment later, they began to burn a cool blue. She leaned down to nuzzle her, nickering softly. Suddenly, the anger at Azure was truly gone. She hated him for what he had done to her - for tricking her. But for this.... she almost wanted to thank him.

She didn't see the amber eyes of Taraxippus light up in surprise and approval at the new arrival. At the calculating smile as he looked her over before returning to his basket with a swish of his leonine tail.

She didn't see Anju's critical look as soon as the butterfly wings unfurled. She didn't see the skepticism and distaste dissipate as soon as the wings caught fire, replaced with a margin of acceptance. And she didn't hear his comment, "It's like an improved Arcana" before he wandered off with a bemused snort.

And she didn't see the weight of the world crash down on Arcana. Arcana DID hear Anju's comment, left with so much disinterest in Arcana's feelings that he didn't even bother to wait until she was out of hearing range. Arcana had put up with so much from Anju. So many cold shoulders or scathing criticism. She wanted so desperately for him to love her like he loved her brother. When Anju had adopted Megaera and Alecto, even those adopted daughters earned more favor in the six eyes of her father than she - his real daughter! And then, the approval as Taraxippus and Megaera in turn bore foals themselves. But this, this approval of a soquili so similar, and yet dissimilar at once. His outright proclamation of a nagging worry that had already been in the back of her mind. It was too much. She choked on the lump in her throat and spun quickly.

No one noticed as Arcana fled from the homeground of their herd for the first time, tears streaming from her eyes.

Arcana didn't know where she was going, only that she wanted to get away. She could hardly see more than a blurry landscape through the salty tears that filled her eyes. Her butterfly wings flitted through the chill February air; the high altitude only made the temperature worse, but she didn't care. If anything, it reminded her that she was still there, that her discomfort was real, and that at least was something.

Eventually, her muscles began to cramp. She knew better than to fly in such cold weather without first giving her wings a warmup, but she didn't care about that right now either. She was exhausted and she didn't know where she was. Good.

Slowly, she settled down on a clear patch of snow near the shores of an icy lake. Hanging her head and breathing out puffs of steamy breath, eventually her thoughts caught up to her again. No matter how far or fast she flew, she couldn't escape them.

She didn't understand what she had done wrong. It wasn't fair. How could her father love her adopted sister more than she? Her adopted sister's daughter more. And even Taraxippus, who always had their father's eye had just done him proud again. She had tried. She had tried to hunt with her brother, or for her own food, but it never felt quite right. She didn't like the taste of meat. She liked the sweet delicate grasses. But every time she ate that, her father gave her this disparaging look. The meat sometimes made her stomach turn. She really was a disappointment.

Dyson’s heavy form trod over the thawing ground, his misshapen hooves plowing up dirt as he went. He was hungry, the game was scarce, and even the grass hasn’t gotten its spring vitality back. The ground was sodden and cold from melting snow, all vegetation was a sickly shade of yellow or brown, and the rabbits and squirrels were all tucked away in their burrows somewhere. On top of it all, he was bored. And he was loving every minute of it.

Though his new place wasn’t perfect, and his meals were a bit lean, he loved being here. He towered over most of the other Soquili, with rippling muscles and deadly spurs and horns. He could be a God here if he tried. But see…that was the beauty of it. He didn’t have to try. He didn’t have to worry about power struggles or swindles. He could just relax, bide his time until spring, and learn to take anything he wanted, with no strings attached. That was true kingdom… that was true freedom.

As he half-heartedly clawed at the hollow stump of a tree hoping to stir a sleeping chipmunk or quail, a flurry of color caught his eyes. A small, delicate fluttercorn landed not too far away, obviously distressed. Dyson shrugged and continued to rut around in the trunk, but the nagging in the back of his mind got the better of him. It was in his nature after all… and besides… playing with just one simpleton fluttercorn was a far cry from an intricate web of deceit and politics.

He turned and headed in her direction, looking casual. The snow was thicker here, causing a satisfying crunch sound under his hooves. He wandered into her field of vision, not making eye contact, taking more attention to the lake as if looking for a spot to drink, watching the flutter out of the corner of his eye.

Arcana started as she suddenly realized that she wasn't as along as she thought she was. There was another soquili here, and she began to wonder how she had overlooked him, despite her distress. Despite his mostly natural coloration, he was absolutely massive, carrying with him a foreboding presence. She could see his rippling muscles through his short fur even as he casually walked up to the lake.

However, for as menacing as he looked, Arcana didn't run. She didn't even look particularly frightened of suddenly finding herself sharing a clearing with a Kalona. Surprised, certainly, and more than a little intimidated by his size, but not his demonic blend of features. Bitterly, she thought to herself that here was another soquili that her father would probably prefer in his herd over her, but she tried to quell it. This was obviously an independent stallion.

She took a long, shaking breath, trying to clear her eyes of the tears. Then, with a waver to her voice that she couldn't suppress, she called out a nervous "H...hello?"

Dyson had just manage to break through the thinning ice by the shore with his sharp hooves when he heard the voice of the fluttercorn. He raised an eyebrow curiously, unable to hide a bit of surprise that the little mare had spoken to him first. He lowered his head and took a few pulls of the frigid water before lifting his head again and making eye contact with the mare. “Hello,” he said, his tone neutral enough but his voice was deep and rumbling from his massive chest. He continued to look at her expectantly with burning eyes.

Arcana's voice caught in her throat now. She had his attention, now what? She heaved another self-depreciating sigh and rustled her tail. Suddenly, despite being near this powerful stallion, she felt very alone, and very small. She'd never been this far from home before. She'd never taken this step, despite the cold shoulder that she got from her father and the derision from her brother. She knew there were other soquili out there - but she had never gotten the courage to leave her home and everything she knew.

But right now, all in all, Arcana felt desperate for company. Someone different, and some consolation. So she put one hoof in front of the other and walked slowly over to the kalona. "I... hope I'm not being a bother." She said looking down at the icy lake. That's all she seemed to be recently. Silly little Arcana. Now there was an "improved" version of herself at the herdlands even. "I just... well... I don't even know." She snorted and shook her head. Here she was bothering strangers now, even. Her father would probably be even more disappointed in her. He had always said that first impressions were vital - to be intimidating. This stallion certainly seemed to have that down, and he had barely said a word. She had never been good at that, though, and she didn't even really like it. Not to mention that the idea of scaring such a huge stallion was laughable.

“Not yet,” he rumbled back, with a just enough of a smirk to display a long, curved fang tucked under his lip. Perhaps this could be an interesting quarry to hunt, she seemed enough an enigma just from first impressions. He had never come across a horned flutter before, but flutters he had and in his experience they were nothing but vapid with an embarrassingly slow startle point. Obviously this mare was approaching him instead of fleeing, which meant she was either intriguing, or completely daft. Good thing he wasn’t a skinwalker, or she would be dead already. A rumble in his stomach made for a moment of temptation himself.

He stepped back from his place, giving an almost imperceptible nod towards the water, inviting her to take a drink. “Was there something you needed?”

Well, she wasn't bothering him at least. She gave him a small, sheepish smile. "Thank you." She murmured. Now closer, it was obvious that her eyes were bloodshot from crying, and her muscles looked fatigued, many of them twitching from over exertion. She bent down and sipped at the cold water from where he had broken through the ice. After several long pulls, she lifted her head back up to look him over more closely.

She gave a small shrug at his inquiry. She was being stupid again, but right now, she didn't care. He had asked, he seemed niec enough, and concerned about her problems. That was... different. Her smile turned a little more genuine, but she wasn't used to such attention. "I'm just... I know it's not your problem or anything... and my father would be so disappointed in me for just talking like this with another soquili... not that that is anything new." Her lip quivered. "I'm such a disappointment to him. To all my family." She couldn't quite get herself to look the stallion in the eyes. "I'm so odd! I'm not scary at all like Dad or Tara... or even my stepsisters. I'm bad at hunting - I don't like killing animals - and I don't even like rabbit!" It seemed like once she opened her mouth it all just spilled out in some unstoppable turrent of words. "And ... and... he always is just so dissappointed in me. He even loves my stepsisters more than me! And now Taraxippus has a basket and Dad was so proud... and even Megaera had foals - and and and even SHE is better than me. He even SAID so!" The tears started to come again, and finally the words trickled to a series of sniffles. "I'm sorry.." Her ears flattened to the sides and she swallowed at the lump in her throat. "I know.... I know you probably don't care."


Dyson raised a cautious eyebrow. "Your father finds it surprising you don't like rabit?" He snorted as if he was amused. As she continued, he listened carefully, picking up clues as to what she was talking about. "Sounds your father has very high expectations for his lineage. Why was there a little flutter like you in there in the first place?"

"Wh... what are you talking about?" She asked, brows knitting together in an almost cute frustration. "I... well... I never knew my mother." She responded hesitantly. "But.... he always did seem disappointed about my bug-wings." She said, usin the only term that her family used. This 'flutter' word that the kalona used, however, sounded a little better in her ears.

"If one choses to lay with a flutter then it seems odd that he would be dissapointed in the outcome. Perhaps your father does not want to admit to a weak moment of passion with a siren such as your mother? "

Arcana shrugged with a bit of a scowl. Anju never did talk about her and Taraxippus's mother. Even when she had askied once, Anju had just given her a baleful look and a snort, saying that it was inconsequential.

"Maybe." She responded quietly. "My brother.. well.. he doesn't have wings like me. Just the horn. He looks a lot more like dad."

"He's probably more dissapointed in himself than in you." He paused to drink again. "Besides, everyone knows flutters can't eat flesh."

She cocked her head with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean? I've eated rabbit before...." She made a bit of a disgusted face, then, whispered conspiratorily, "I just don't like it. My family thinks I'm weird and weak for nibbling the grasses and clover."
Dyson tossed his mane. "Perhaps your father's blood helps you digest it then. But you obviously don't like it. Its not healthy for one to go againt its nature." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Why have you failed in his eyes so much?"
Samantha Blaire direct connection is closed.

"Maybe." She responded. She didn't mention that her belly often ached after she ate more than a few mouthfulls of it. "Well... I'm not very good at hunting... or scaring other Soquili. Or much of anything really." She sighed. "He says my wings are silly looking, and that I should be more like my brother. Even Megaera - one of the foals that he adopted - she's got wings kinda like yours - she had foals and one of them looked a little like me - blue with the bug-wings... but ... but he said that even she's better than me. She's got horns kinda like yours and is kind of firey like her mom. I just... I just don't fit in." She sighed. "But they're family."

Dyson shook his head. "Sounds like an off family. I've never seen a flutter try to be scarey. You say your adpoted sister is a flutter with horns? How strange. Obviously your father doesn't suscribe to the theory that bloodlines should be reamin pure."

He lazily pawed at the snow. "What could you do to make him proud? You can't very well... remove your wings or anything." He paused as if comptemplating. "Well, you could try. I imagine it wouldn't be pretty."

Arcana's eyes widened "Remove my wings?" The breath caught in her throat and she tossed her head with a whinny.

"I don't think that would help." She edged as her wings flittered. "At least with my wings I can fly." She responded.

"Fly obviously doesn't impress him much." Dyson flexed his wings as he looked down on her, the muscles in his shouldern't gleaming in the sunlight.

Arcana's eyes lingered on Dyson's powerful bat-like wings, rippling with muscles. Her ears drooped. She felt very small again, especially so close to this massive stallion.

"I guess not.."

"You could take down a nice kill." He looked her over again. "Somehow."

Her insides squirmed at the thought. Not only did she not care for the taste of it - which she was sure she'd be expected to partake in - but she felt bad about killing animals. Their fear-striken look, the screams. Taraxippus and her father seemed to delight in it. Not to mention she WAS bad at hunting.

Her expression spoke volumes to just what she thought about that idea. "Maybe." She said quietly.

"You don't look like you've ever had a problem like this."
"Not exactly," he answered, surprisingly quickly.

But then he called and lifted his nose to the wind, sniffing. "You could always... emply someone to take a kill, and let you have the credit."
Her tail swished and she looked cautiously up to the big kalona. "Employ?" She queried. "But... I don't exactly have much to offer..."

Dyson nodded sagely. "Payment is obviously required. Nothing is for free after all." He stepped closer to her, letting his haunches get close enough to brush lightly against her flank. "I smell a small family of deer nearby. Healthy ones...big ones. Obviously have been through several winters. They are probably in the thicket over there," he nodded off towards the trees across the lake.

"Deer would be so delicious after a lean winter. I'm getting rather sick of rabbits and quail myself."

Arcana somehow managed to feel even smaller. Even if he were to kill a deer for her... how would she get it all the way back home? And what sort of payment exactly was he implying? She looked down at the silvery bracelets that circled her front hooves. They were really the only things that she owned. Her eyes strayed back up to the stallion's face. she could hear his powerful lungs with each breath, the steam that hit the air as he exhaled into the wintery air.

"Well... I mean... I am sure that he'd be surprised if I managed to brin one of those home... "

He gave a nod, his wings flapping as if itching to take off. He looked back down at her expectantly, letting his eyes linger over her small frame. "'I'm sure he'd be impressed. Sneaking up a sleep dear and slitting its throat with your hooves... no easy talk in the middle of winter."

Her eyes widened at the task. A large deer was nearly as big as Arcana was. Her frame was always slight, especially compared to the others in her herd. She looked down at her dainty cloven hooves, pristine and silvery. She was feeling less and less comfortable with this.

"No... that is no easy task..."

Dyson sensed her hesitation and rolled his shoulders, turning to head the other way. "Perhaps you're right... too unbelievable for you."

Her ears pressed back, her lips pressin tightly against each other. Even this stranger thought her weak! Well... maybe she deserved. it. The lips quivered and she fought back more tears.

"I don't know what to do!" She exasperated, voice quivering.

Dyson looked back over her shoulder. "What makes him proud besides the hunt?" he asked, turning away and taking a few steps further. "Didn't you say you liked your stepsister? The special flutter with..."

He paused for a second, hiding the smile that played on his face. "Horns like mine, didn't you say?"
Arcana nodded. "Yes" She sniffed. "She said she was... she was an "improved" version of me. And with Megaera and Taraxippus bringing home baskets to make him proud.... it's just made things even worse. "

Dyson turned back to her with his eyebrows raised again, nodding and her expectantly, seeing if she could connect the dots.

She shied back a little at the domineering presence. Arcana was quite nieve, but implications were beginign to sink in, and she was feelin distinctly uncomfortable. "I... uhm... what... what exactly are you implying?"

"I'm just trying to help," he countered, circling slowly around her. "How deseprate are you to make your father love you, little Bug?"

Her eyes were glued to the snowy ground. She felt so alone. She wanted so badly for her father to love her like her brother. Her shoulders quivered. "Is it so much to ask for him to pay attention to me...?""

"Obviously he wants something worth paying attention to. Do you think merely existing entitles you to anything? Only the strongest survive, you know. Perhaps he thinks this is a lesson you have not learned, and therefore do not get the advantages of."

Dyson's words seemed to ring true in her ears, but they did nothing to better her spirits. If anything, she just felt a greater weight pressing down on her shoulders.
"You're right." She whispered dejectedly.

"So its in your hands whether or not you want to do anything about it, eh?"

"I do!" She raised her head again, with protest. "Of course I do!" She steeled herself.

"Do you?" He towered close to her. "Seems to me you're mostly just talking about it."

"Of... of course I'm not." her voice faltered and she stepped up to him again, raising her head high. "I want to make him proud of me. I want him to pay attention to me!"

Dyson lowered his head so he was looking her eye to eye. "Then do something about it. Don't talk about doing it, but do it. He would not be impressed by this indecision. I think." He raised his head back up and shrugged. "But perhaps I am wrong, little Bug."

She swallowed and kept her head even with his. She knew deep in her chest what he was waiting to hear. It made her feel squirmy and uneasy, but he was right. Her father wouldn't respect that either. If she wanted to make him proud, earn his respect... then she needed to suck it up. How bad could it be anyway? She'd muscled through plenty of uncomfortable things before for her family.

"I.. I should make him proud... with baskets of my own...?" She ventured. "Something to make him proud..?"

A smile spread across Dyon's face, revealing his fangs again. "Now you're thinking. And you don't even have to fake it like with the deer, my dear."

Arcana nodded with a suppressed gulp. She really felt like she was falling in over her head... but really, he was right. What other choice did she have? He was helping her... she just needed to think of it like that...

Dyson gave her an aproving nod, and turned towards the thickets, trodding heavily over the ground, and looking back over her shoulder to see if the flutter was following.

After only a moment's hesitation, Arcana followed in Dyson's heavy footsteps towards the clearing, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

Arcana was in no hurry to return home after.... that. She was battered. She was sore, and she felt so dirty. But she had just gotten what she had asked for, right?

She didn't know how long she had wandered in a vaguely home-like direction. She was lost before she had started. She hadn't paid attention to where she was running when she had left home. Back then, she didn't care. Back then, she just wanted to put as much distance between herself and her father, hoping that with distance came alleviation of the pain that came from his harsh words and rejection.

Now, lost, Arcana felt even more rejected and hurt than before she left home and before she had found the company of the massive Kalona, Dyson. She just wanted to be home again. It was better than being out in the cold by herself, starting at every twig snap. While her home was far from perfect, at least there she had felt safe. She wanted to get back to the clear mountain river that ran close to her homegrounds and just let it wash over her...

As she wandered, ironically, her belly began to feel heavier. Bitter with the irony, she realized that she had gotten exactly what she had asked for. She was with foal. HIS foals. She wanted to be home.


Eventually, she caught the whiff of familiar scents - the particular twinge of the fir trees that grew near Sabin's teepees. The distant smells of familiar soquili. Her family.

Travel weary, her relief was muted with exhaustion, and defeat. She was back to where she had started... back with a family that didn't love her. But... maybe, just maybe, Dyson was right? Maybe she had done well in her father's six eyes.

And those six, shining eyes were exactly what greeted her as she wandered slowly back into the territory. Like a ghost, Anju seemed to materialize out from the shadows beneath the thick grove of trees at the edge of the territory. And with a bemused expression, he looked over his daughter. She had been gone for weeks, and yet there was no joyous reunion. Anju looked over her with almost a sneer, and as his eyes roved over her swollen midsection, he snorted derisively.

"So you are back." He whispered in a monotone. And for a moment, Arcana's heart fluttered. At least he had realized she was gone. That was, until he continued. "You do not even have the courage or strength to make it out there on you own, do you, Arcana? Have to run back home to daddy when you get yourself into trouble. Did some fearsome stallion have his way with you? What was he? Another bug?"

Arcana felt her eyes burning, but her voice rang out defensively. "No! No, It... It was my choice!" It... it was her choice. Really it was. "And No! He wasn't a flutter." She liked that term much better. "He was a Kalona!" She drew herself up, despite the fact she could see the mirth in his expresion.

"Kalona?" Anju called out with a laugh as they wandered back towards the rest of the herd, drawing the attention of the others who were about - Alecto, Megaera, Psyche, and Taraxippus. "You. And a Kalona. I was not born yesterday, Arcana."

Arcana followed after Anju like a lost puppy, defensively. "He was! His name was Dyson - and he was the biggest Soquili I'd ever seen! He was huge, with big bat wings without feathers, long spirialed horns..."

"Stop, please." Anju cut her off with a snarl. "Your lies will be revealed in time and you will only appear more foolish. Did you think to impress me with such stories? Your desire for approval is weak, Arcana. If you were more like your brother, you would be stronger for your independence. Did you think to improve on his pairing with concocting a story of a bigger, badder kalona?" His whispery chuckle permeated the clearing as he turned his back and flicked his tail as he made to leave again for the edge of the territory.

"He was.." Arcana muttered at Anju's retreating form. "And you'll be the one to see!" She persisted.

So perhaps she didn't get the awed reception that she had envisioned. But maybe she would just need patience. After all, she WAS telling the truth. Her children would prove her story. At least she hoped.

Megaera approached with a quirked eyebrow, Psyche at her side. "That's okay, Arcana." She said with a laugh. "I don't think Father's opinion of you can lessen." She whinnied a laugh.

Arcana felt even smaller next to her adopted sister who bore the kalona wings herself and a hot, firey mane and tail. The adopted sister that had an even higher place in Anju's favor than she - his real daughter. "At least I had the sense of discretion with my mate." She sniffed, remembering the drama that had stirred when Megaera was seduced by a 'bug'. She was lucky that the basket she had kept had produced a soquili like Psyche. She was every bit as odd as her mother, but in a much different way. She was quiet, introverted, and kind of creepy.

Megaera's ears cocked back and she snapped at Arcana with her sharp teeth. "Mind you words!" She called back. Arcana had knowingly hit a nerve, and Megaera herself was never as skilled with such things. Nudging Psyche away, she turned her back with a fierce glare

Arcana breathed a sigh of relief at Megaera's retreating figure. Taraxippus's constant snide comments and confusing words were almost better than her. The intruder in the family. At least she was easy to fluster. Sighing, she settled down near the warm teepee. She almost didn't notice as her shadowy sibling, Taraxippus passed close to her, pausing to speak.

"Ah, little sister, I would be careful of the situation you have found yourself." It was almost eerie how much he had become like their father. "Just becuase Father is proud of Megaera, and is proud of me" he looked pointedly to the shadowy basket that he had been keeping careful watch over, "does not mean that your indescretions will improve your favor with him. Even if what you had said is true." he left her with a toothy smile. Tara knew Arcana well enough to know her hopes. IF she was lying, she already had that burden to worry about. But if she was telling the truth, then she was hopeful. it was that possibility he wanted to dash. He turned his back, and paced back to where he had secured his basket, but savored the wibbling noises that his sister began to make.

Balrog stood poised on a ledge near the top of the cliff that jutted out of the center of his herd's territory. His wings were half unfurled at his sides, and he breathed deeply as the winds whipped through his mane and feathers. Spring had come to the land, melting the snows, bringing tender new leaves and grasses. This was the time of year when everything felt clean. New. And along with the disappearing snows seemed to go many of Balrog's lingering troubles and guilt. Anemone had left. So had many of the lesser members of the herd. It was a new spring - both for the land and his herd.

New life was in the herd as well. Belle and Zhuri had had foals again - strong, beautiful foals and three of them - all of them with the gift of wings. Even Azure's indescretion with some strange mare from another herd had brought new life to their herd. And at least he had had the sense of mating with another that yielded winged foals. They both had the strange bug-wings as she did, but it was infinately better than nothing.

And then there was the basket, still housing a son... his son... whenever he emerged that was. But the basket still brimmed with life despite the long wait. But overall, he was pleased. Happy even.

Stormwild came up slowly behind Balrog, being quiet and letting him have his moment. She let the breeze drift through her own mane, tossing it back in the wind and enjoying the serenity of spring. Balrog had seemed more content resently, and despite her sacrifices, she felt more at ease overall. After a few moments she stepped closer, nuzzling her nose behind his ear in greeting

Balrog stiffened for a moment, but then relaxed and nuzzled back at her with a content rumble. Balrog had indeed been much more approachable recently. Granted, after the incidents, Balrog had been wary for a while - anxious to let himself relax or believe that the soquili in question were really gone.

"How have you been, Stormwild?" he inquired and made space for her.

"Fine," she tossed her mane and looked over the sky. "Ready to welcome spring. Foaling in winter has been a bit straining, but all's well at least. Have you seen Zhuri's foals recently. They are exceptionally fine."

Balrog let a genuine smile spread across his face. "I have. They are fine young wind soquili, and growing quickly. Indeed, welcome new arrivals. And Kamiki and Azure brought some foals in as well. The herd is growing fine and strong!" He savored a deep breath of the clean mountain air.



Stormwild just nodded and looked back over the valley below, her mind wandering to Sequoyah. It had been far too long until she had seen him. There was a sadness in her eyes... not the desperation there once was, but the deep chasm of acceptence. Things were better, and even she new that, but the nostalgia still lingered. She would let the new lives the herd was bringing focus her attention to the future.

Balrog wasn't completely oblivious to her pain or the sacrifice that she had made. She had made that perfectly clear during their last argument, and her words still rung clearly through his mind.

"I hope that this new spring brings with it a better year. Thus far it... has been good." The vision was clear in his mind now, all of them - every single member of his herd was airborne... it was truly a glorious thing. And new life was on the way.

first place.


"Yes..." The thought of new life brought her to realizing how much she wished to be a mother again. She looked over to Balrog thoughfully... it was too soon to bring that up with him again. But she could occupy herself with his progeny for the time being. She would make it her personal missong to make sure his colt did not grow up without a mother figure. "How is your basket doing?"

Balrog held his breath for a moment. He was concerned that it was taking as long as it was to emerge. He had in fact had concerns after Anemone left that she was as strong of a figure as he had first assumed. How many characteristics had he ascribed on her that he wanted to see?

"The life inside is still strong... perhaps... he will just be a late bloomer. They say that some of the latest bloomers grow to be the strongest.." They did say that, didn't they? It sounded good to him...

Storm smiled and nodded. "Perhaps he is waiting for the warmth of spring. Its never a good to rush. He will come when he is ready."

He nodded, leaning closer to her with the encouragement. "You.... always had a way with foals." He commented after a pause.

She puffed a bit with pride. "Thanks. I enjoy it... that really means a lot to me."

Balrog even had the decorum to not mention her fist indescretion that had wasted her strong winged heritage. They had butted heads on that in the past... and... well, it was a new spring.

She... always had been the maternal type. His gaze wandered down to where the crimson basket was nestled safely and back over to her. Good things were on the horizon.

Arcana had been hovering protectively over the cluster of three baskets ever since the tiny foals had been tucked away into them. The labor had been unlike anything she had ever experienced before - excruciating, terrifying. She hadn't been around when Megaera had had her foals, and while she had heard her adoptive sister complaining about it for some time afterwards, Arcana hadn't exactly been in a very sympathetic mindset.

Now she understood. Sabin had tried to ease her through it, tucking the tiny infant foals into baskets as soon as they emerged. She listened to his steady talking, easing her through it - it had been something to focus on to try to muster through the pain. She latched onto his confidence and fearlessness. She listened as he talked about how the baskets were expertly crafted by the medicine woman who lived up the mountain, how she was doing well, and that her foals seemed healthy. She was glad that Anju was not about for such a painful moment. The young mare barely kept her head during the trial, and the last thing she needed were more scathing remarks from her father.

Then, for weeks, there was a time of repreive. She huddled close to the baskets, watching in awe as colors bloomed on the wicker weavings. Colors that were reminiscent of her own... and the massive kalona. There was no doubt in her mind that they were his to begin with, but seeing the colors influence her children... it almost sent a shudder down her spine as she recalled that day... But he was gone. She hadn't sniffed the faintest hint of the Kalona since she had found her way home. Now... it was just a matter of time till she proved herself right.

Then one night, as Arcana lay besides Sabin's teepee protectively curled around the baskets, she was awakened by a vibration. She lifted her head suddenly, shocked. So soon? Elation sprung to her heart and a vindictive smile actually found its way to her muzzle momentarily. Taraxippus had been pacing in anxiety this last week since her own baskets had been secured - his foal had still not emerged from its false womb, and he was growing concerned.

Her baskets... they were brimming with life that was about to push forth!

She got to her feet quickly, calling for her father as the basket whose colors most strongly resembled its father began to distort.

Within a few moments, The shadows seemed to part as a stallion virtually materialized beside her. Arcana looked up triumphantly... until she saw that it was not her father. It was startling how much Taraxippus had grown to resemble his father... throwing her own dainty, glimmering features into sharp contrast. She shied back under his critical eye, placing a silvery hoof protectively in front of the shaking basket.

Taraxippus made a show of rolling an amber eye. "Oh come now, Arcana. Do you really think me so brutish that I would hurt your young? After all, they are my nephews or nieces."

Arcana tossed her head indignantly. "I have seen you enjoy causing harm to small, helpless creatures, Tara. No, I wouldn't put it past you. You are a brute!" Arcana was NOT in the mood for his games. Today was supposed to be a HAPPY day.

"Then you don't know me half as well as I know you, little sister. Take for instance, I know for a certainty that it wil be much more savory to watch as your bug-offspring crawl out of their baskets and prove your story was a lie. TO watch Father dissappointed in you again."

"No! You're a liar! They'll prove me right... father will be proud of me! And at least my babies are strong enough to fight a way out of a basket! Are you sure yours isn't dead!?"

Taraxippus's ears flattened sharply and he made a feinting snap at Arcana's neck with his sharp, kalona-esque teeth, before taking a step back, smirking as she quivered back. "Do not forget who is the favorite... and always will be. When my child emerges, it will be far better than any spawn you could produce - regardless of whether or not you were tupped by the biggest, baddest Kalona in all the Kawani lands. Your weak, delicate nature would water down the blood of Kalona himself!" HE began to whicker in amusement, but ceased suddenly as he sensed another presence in the shadows. Settling on a triumphant smile, he stepped back, and let their father enter the scene.

Shadows swirled again as Anju, an irate expression on his strange face, confronted Arcana. "What is so direly important at this hour? You disturbed my hunt."

"Father!" She gasped, presentin the shaking basket. "My foals! It is their time!" And then, as if on cue, a dark horn pierced the battered basket, then cloven hooves, until finally, a small filly tumbled out.

Arcana watched with bated breath, only to have a gasp catch in her throat. There, shaking herself free of the wicker remains was a tiny fluttercorn. The massive kalona's influenced seemed to only bleed through in the form of her intgriguing coloration... and small notches in her ears.

Anju's brow lifted, and a mocking smile played over his face. "This is what you were so excited to show me? A tiny clone of her mother, perhaps with some more respectable coloration, but nonetheless, another "pretty bug"?" He tossed his head. "Is this the famous paternal heritage that you were so quick to brag about?"

Arcana's legs were shaking. THis is not at all how she imagined this moment to go. "N... no.... she's colored like her father... see those red rune-like pattern?" She nuzzled the foal, who was gasping the cool night air, and now looking to the tall figures around her. "You.. you'll still see." She responded, as the darkest basket now was shaking violently.

And indeed, the darkest basket was being quickly ripped apart until, finally, another filly tumbled out. But Arcana felt her eyes sting as she saw what fell out - moist butterfly wings were now waving, drying in the air, luminous yellow eyes staring out into the night. But no horns graced her head, no spikes on her body.... There was no sign of the Kalona in her at all.

Anju snorted, six eyes squinting critically at this flutter. "You test my patience, Arcana. You should have been smarter than this. A lie with no evidence only serves to make you look foolish. You bring more weaklings into this herd? What a disappointment. Perhaps I made a mistake in letting you back in at all." His ears flattened.

"No!" Arcana was virtually in tears. "It's the truth! I don't understand!" She nuzzled the newest arrival protectively. "really..." Though there was defeat in her voice.

With bated breath, she watched the last basket rock. The blue basket with silvery accents that most resembled her in coloration. Could she dare to hope?

The moments seemed to stretch forever until finally, a silvery horn and four silver hooves demolished the basket violently. Then, shaking itself free was a little colt... wingless, but with two silver spikes growing from his shoulders... and long, twisted kalona horns from his forehead. A long, hairless tail lashed behind him as he looked down at the basket ruefully, as if it had caused him some great offense.

Anju watched silently, considering. THe mocking grin had left his face, but there was still a critical squint to his eye. There was no denying the heritage of this foal. And while unlike his sisters, he bore no wings, there was a sinister feel about this one.

"Hmph." Anju said simply. He lowered his head to get a closer look, as if looking for weakness to voice. The colt, startled, turned and snapped with its small jaws. At this, Anju grinnned, pulling his head back slowly with a hissing laugh. "He has spirit." Anju conceded. "Perhaps... you are not a total loss to our family, Arcana.... but do not exaggerate again. Perhaps your mate had some kalona blood in him after all..."

Without granting Arcana anything more than that tentative acceptance, he turned, tail swishing, and melted back into the shadows.

It wasn't much, but it was something. It was... acceptance? Sort of? She pulled her foals close to her, letting them begin to nurse. She was a mother now... and these foals would love her if nothing else... right? And more than that, she smiled simply to Taraxippus, who gave her a sneer as he returned to go shelter his own basket, awating it's 'second birth'... and the start of great plans of his....