The Siren's Remorse

by TheronSniper

Ch. 44 Tying Up Loose Ends

Ch. 44 Tying Up Loose Ends

"First Sergeant Quick Silver, get those cages off the train and get the sirens loaded in as calmly as possible. You have half an hour." A Terror Wing officer ordered, his mouth barely visible behind the segmented armor resembling an armored girdled lizard.

This new Terror Wing stood as imposing as wraith, his black armor dull and matte, streaked with a few red stripes along the leg plating indicated his rank, a stallion who possessed seven red lines made him the acting commander with Captain Sabor disposed of. The sweeping spiny protective metal bore runes which dimly glowed in the center of each plate, the kind designed and crafted to offer the most protection against magical and physical attacks. His wings were shielded with such arcane energies as well, tattoos barely visible underneath the thin coat of fur of the appendage as they too had snaking lines of illumination. The stinging rain had set off the runes and glyphs as with all other guards enchanted armor, automatically answering to the assault and canceling out the impacts to the force of a gentle sprinkle. Water had long soaked the commander who had only just arrived, flown in from another quadrant under special orders. It was a grim day for him, but the act was called from the highest order even beyond the Princesses.

"Corporal Azure, tell the Solar Guards nearby they are no longer needed. This storm should have them scampering back to their warm quarters without trouble." he looked to his left at another Terror Wing who saluted and galloped off as he followed the Land Train down its length and away.

The amber eyes of the thestral scanned everywhere else to assess the situation as it developed, the train had been secured twenty minutes ago with the crew incapacitated. His engineers would work the vehicle in the unicorns stead as they were bound and unconscious, shielded by the compartment which housed the gauges and levers of the steam engine glowing with a stoked fire awaiting more fuel to power the machine. The massive land train was a new invention, purchased from two unicorns with an inventive mind and a greedy side to their workings. Normal Equestrian trains either used stallions to pull the heavy load of wood and steel, or a two stallion team of ponies watched and fueled the fire. The L.T. locomotive was ubiquitous in that capacitor gems were the fuel source and generated less of a sound signature and needed less dangerous means to propel the train. Interestingly enough, it was dubbed a motorized vehicle and this was the christening voyage of the newly purchased asset.

More Terror Wings were going about either setting up a perimeter for any of the battle warriors on the beach trying to escape with their lives. Others were making a pathway for the Sirens to make it up the cliff under careful escort. Using their weapons honed beyond the edge of a standard sword, they made quick work of thinning the vegetation that would be piled up and a mana bomb thrown on top to to disintegrate the remains.

"Sir, the loyalists are still down there fighting. None have attempted to flee. All our brothers and sisters under the oath are safe and following the plan. Though we may have a few to watch over." A standard Night Guard approached, his blade sheathed underneath his right wing, "The recovery teams have freed the young, and so far they are cooperating once they were told their mothers were on their way. What do we do about the males?"

Through the eye holes of the sinister looking helmet, "I want two squads to remain here and track them if they live, they are serving their purpose right now. Have those cages tossed into the sea, I don't want evidence left behind. Have those two squads also collect the fallen, gear and all... they deserve a proper burial."

The guard said nothing and saluted, taking leave to talk to the other officers to set about assignments. After the cyclone eventually would die on land, there would be no mark of war for even the most inquisitive foal or treasure seeker to unwittingly find. The weapons would be returned to the armories, dead honored, and only the bits and pieces of that monsters to lead any mind to see that a predator was there feeding and nothing else. It was a mission to clean house, to rid their ranks of the tainted thestrals whom the Arcana had swayed to their favor. For a Terror Wing such as himself, Command Sergeant Major Tough Stride, it had been long time coming act of cleansing since the corrupt magic academy began utilizing their tribe for missions deemed too confidential for normal guards to handle or if it needed muscle.

The elders had watched from their village, gaining intelligence on what happened to the Night Guards who were attached to any Arcana mage. They always asked for the same warriors time and again, which at first was deemed for the reliability of the stallions and mares. Yet it became apparent how friendly those soldiers were becoming with the institution. No one would have guessed, as their combined agenda to stop the age old agents of shadow was both a guise and the reason as perverted as it became. The dawn of light came thirty years ago when the head shaman detected magical binds that were expertly hidden upon the bodies of those thestrals. The kind which affected the mind and made them more apt to work with the Arcana and its goals regardless of the life lost.

The elders were baffled as to why such an unlawful use of magic and influence was needed, thestrals were the guardians of the night, custodians of Princess Luna. Ever faithful servants to Equestria and the handlers of the dirtier deeds to keep the nation safe from anything and everything. The questions rose and were debated, including even the leading houses of untainted warrior clans. Probes were launched, the Arcana was trailed for clues till anti scrying spells and protective wards prohibited any deeper inspection. It became all too clear when missions arose and the warriors attached to a convoy were constantly made to kill unnecessarily for the sake of recovering magical artifacts which were of the Ares Class designation. One such item made itself brutally noticed in Ponyville by a low tier unicorn known as Trixie Lulamoon. Thankfully through quick wits with friends, the Princess of Friendship was able to prevent the tainted item from going further in its destruction. No matter who held or used the artifacts, foals or adults, it was discovered that the thestrals were commanded to eagerly dispatch them or in the few rare cases capture. Innocent blood had been spilled many a times well before and that broke the rules of the Elder Council's bond with Equestria's crown and the Arcana. The edict to watch over and protect it from invading forces or corruption within was never meant to be applied in such a manner. The memories were discovered by the very same shaman who broke the magic on one of the guards that had taken part.

To be harnessed for such an agenda, it sparked a new order and one of which to fix what was stained. It took a great deal of resources and energy for the non-magical thestral shaman to remove the mind altering enchantment without harming the warrior. The amount of lap dogs that were under the Arcana's hoof were far too many and to bring such a thing up to the Princess would spark troubles that the agents of shadow would be all too willing to exploit a jarred defense. Even though it was a bitter pill to swallow, it came to pass when the corrupt institution ordered the Night Guard to capture specimens of hippocampi spotted close to a city. Treating them like lowly timberwolves and harvesting gems and younglings for study. With little knowledge of sirens other than tales, it was against the very rules of engagement and unnecessary harm was authorized for. To affirm the conviction, the Elders had sent ghosts to tail the scouts watching the sirens ever since they were seen. Accurate true facts were quickly expedited via seer crystals, revealing the sirens as not some rampaging hydra or a pack of manticores on the hunt. They had language, social bonds, and did not seek to harm nearby coastal villages to supposedly feed, not like the three who nearly brought Equestria to its knees. Though being so close to a major city was a red flag, it was assumed the storm had forced them close by. To be made into a evil beings that Starswirl the Bearded banished, they did not match the infamous trio and were at that point put under the protection of Steel Vigil and his warriors. If they could make contact and use the cyclone to their advantage, it would be possible to earn their trust and see into the species for more than they appeared. To find out why the Arcana wanted their powers.

In the span of a few hours before the fated execution of the Arcana mission, the message was sent and coded to both the Terror Wing head officer and commander Vigil. They would have to act fast before the forces were amassed, segregating the loyalists to fight to a warrior's death and free them from the chains. Chains brought onto them for the greed of the academy which at that point was seen as harvesting magical items at a high moral cost, and using spells to cover their tracks.

Here now they stood, the Terror Wings, the veterans of warfare and the battle hardened of the tribe and called upon only by the Council and the Crown solely. Minds trained to be swift and calculating, dealing with the worst the world had to offer that no sane pony would ever even fathom such as the dangerous magic of the agents of shadow. The entire tribe came to the conclusion that the Arcana had become a creeping precipice to the nation once innocent lives were snuffed, it began the start of a guerilla style warfare of which the mages would come to find out they had made a huge mistake to go down the path they'd chosen.

With a huff, Stride went about to inspect the guard, checking on their progress under the horrible weather conditions. The cages were just started upon with their metal barred walls being disassembled at their joints, nets and cables re-bundled and stowed away, sentries on watch in the tree tops. Though curiously enough was the sight of the guards handling the little fish that were recently freed from their imprisonment and foalnapping. How close they were likely to being dissected, studied, and observed for their magical abilities while their mothers would probably be killed for their gemstones. As powerful as the tales would speak of them, a live mother and one enraged out of care for their young would make a rampaging Basilisk a better candidate for study.

Not a few trots away, pups were crying for their mothers huddling close to each other still terrified beyond belief, the guards keeping an eye on them were trying their best to disarm that fear. The mares of the unit gathered together and used their wings to shield the stinging rain away and doing an admirable job of using their feminine voices to get a conversation going. It was easy to tell that the stallions were more imposing, even if the mares had signs of battle scars. Their standard armor hid the more gruesome ones, but a few slashes and burn marks could be discerned from a careful eye. All aside, every thestral to even a Terror Wing still possessed within themselves those who they were before the horrors of war were experienced. Unlike ponies, it was a blessing to have strong spirits which could detract from what would traumatize other tribes, it was what made the Night Guard the superior force as well as its weakness. That which led the attention of the Arcana to hire them.

One of the guards with a light gray coat and yellow eyes cooed at a shivering kittens mewling in uncertainty, "Don't you worry little ones, the cavalry's here. Just 'ad to clean up and what not. Sorry if the bad guys roughed ya up a bit."

"Yes, we're not the ones here to harm you, they are gone now. Your mothers are almost here, so keep your chins up and make them proud alright?" another female thestral next to the other guard smiled, giving a quick nuzzle to a confused opal scaled hatchling within her reach.

The little siren had no idea how to react, but even at their age they could sense what was what in terms of emotions. They sensed good intent, unlike how the first thestrals they ever saw were a jumble of negative emotions. No longer than five feet from nose to tail fin, the multi colored hippocampi formed a mass akin to a congregation of eels. Out of instinct they were fearful, and thus they collected themselves into a protective ball where their tails weaved in and out of one another where the more timid and shy were under their stronger sisters. What they could taste coming off the guards who denied the sharp rain from touching their still vulnerable bodies started to crack the anxiety that wracked them since their capture. It appeared as if they were trustworthy, and with the promise of their family coming to get them some relented and held hope for a good ending to the chaotic night.

"Heart Storm, you really know how to get through to foals don't ya?" the guardmare known as Gray Twister said with a toothy grin.

Storm simply nodded, "I have two of my own, I know how scared they can get in situations like this. So little filly, what's your name?" she then looked back at the most courageous of the bunch poking her upper body out of the quivering mass.

With a head tilting to a side, ears ever swiveling and eyes drinking in the warrior before her, Legata took in another scan with her empathic sense. She found only love and compassion in the bat winged pony, with no drop of vile intent to taste. Thus, with a gulp out of anxiety, she decided to talk to the maybe kidnappers since the guard looked just like the ones who spirited them away from their mothers.

"I... I'm Legata Potch, please don't eat us?" she abruptly asked upon noticing the fangs of the thestrals around her.

Twister laughed, "Eh there, you don't have to worry about that. I only eat rabbit! Quite tasty, a little gamey at times but roasted and grilled just cor." the mare licked her lips as she tried to sway the idea of food to keep the dialogue going.

"R..rrrabbit? What is that? Its not a siren of the south seas?" Legata still tried to pry for any reason to be worried.

"Don't mind her she just keeps her mind on food. But, well, rabbit is a small furry little creature that only dwells on land. It eats grass and runs about when chased by foxes. They are not in any way water dwellers, in fact they can die from water if I'm correct? Where was I going with this..." Heart sighed as she tapped her chin with an gauntlet covered hoof.

"Don't worry love, not many of us even eat fish for that matter. Plus we would only go after little things like sardines and tuna or the like. We'd never feast on anything like you." the guard said as mention of those types of fish brought a short lived expression of joy.

"My mom loves tuna... and sardines, but she says we can only have so much of those because too much can make our singing sound dull. I don't know what that means. But I like octopus, crab, shrimp, and urchins!" the hatchling wiggled out of the mass to get closer, clearly intrigued to find some kind of plane the two parties could agree on.

It was then that the mares could really see the prismatic brilliance of the siren young, though the others possessed a semblance of glimmer even in the dark lighting under the overcast sky. Strikes of lighting in the distance shone upon Legata's form, from the scales of her muzzle down to the membrane of the fins she was as much of an opal as any real one. The colors of the spectrum lit up with each blaze of electricity boring down from the heavens, it was an awe to behold and one the mares were quick to bring up.

"My my your quite the beautiful little filly aren't you? I never thought I'd see a living gem in my life!" Heart's eyes gazed on before she smiled again seeing Legata shy under the compliment.

"Aye, she's got uh... the scales that could rival Princess Celestia's coat one on one! Your mother must be proud?" Gray giggled.

"Th... th... thankyou, mom says i'm special because its a rare color. Something about a story? I don't remember what it was about?" she pouted as she felt she displeased the scary looking ponies.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I'm sure you'll let us know down the road. Your family is coming with us so I'm sure there will be plenty of time to..." Storm's ears picked up on a distant sound, the kind that sounded like something large and heavy smashing into rock.

The little pup jumped in place and dove back into the defensive pile as terrible ear shattering hiss from the gargant in the distance let loose into the air. All the trees swayed in one direction from the serpents cry, before resuming their ruckus shaking in the turbulent winds. Something magical had just happened, the wash of mana was strong like a wave of water rolling over the convoy. The coats of every guard stood on end from the scream and its accompanying sensation, guessing that either it was then very angry or somehow harmed. The resulting panic imbued into the little Legata had caused the mares to frown, seeing that it was pretty much pointless to coax much out of them with the monster nearby. They'd let their mothers soothe them, as they would know themselves that only such a being could rally in the situational feelings for the pups.

As if speaking of the demons themselves, as if on que when the last tree was cleared out of the way came the arrival of heavily guarded sirens half floating through levitation magic while others crawled on their two clawed forelimbs and the motion from their tails. The stallion guards behind Heart and Gray took heed and knew what to expect, thus they spoke up as they gave ample space from the reuniting families.

"Hey we got the VIP's showing up. Best step away, no telling how on edge they may be." Night Guard Shield Tipper warned.

Gray joined them as the two brought their wings back down, "Your mothers are here now, see? We're not the bad guys." Storm gave a wink to the Opal hatchling that had the expression of shock and delight as well as her sisters.

Tipper took the second to grab the mare by her tail and quickly yank her back abruptly and painfully, and she would have scolded him if the rush of air and the feeling of something large did not appear before where she was. A stampeded of anxious and worried female hippocampi stormed straight at the little pups who eroded their protective pack and into the waiting love of their parent. There were sounds of exhilaration, cleaning, and non entrancing tunes from the creatures as each female inspected their offspring for damage to which none of them were. Upon a few of the mothers were uncaptured younglings, the others who were not taken once the enslaved guard ponies began to make the mission harder than expected. These beings of great strife and discord that the great Starswirl the Bearded claimed to be the most dangerous creatures in Equis, demonstrating their capacity to love like any other creature. Three troublesome sirens likely went rouge and acted like the Changelings at the wedding of the Solar Guard Captain and Princess Cadence. Heart spat in her mind on the ancient and beloved academic of magic, xenophobia after one experience and an entire species is put on a hit list. To her she was glad they were there to intervene and see for themselves what the mysterious aquatic singers were really about.

Tough Stride appeared out of thin air to begin contact, knowing if any other thestral had tried they'd likely not make peace initially nor survive like he could. There was a reason that he attained his position after years of service, and that was quick wits and ability. He reached ten feet within the group, knowing they had some kind of organization as he was told. The largest female acted as the matriarch for the brood, she would be the one to speak to. His eyes looked about scanning for that colossal siren, and shortly she would be noticed as she personally checked on each hatchling herself and then spoke a few reassuring words to the mothers who were just livid to be with their fillies again. He waited till it appeared as if she was done doing a round over, he then beckoned over the loud wind still howling around and over their spot.

"As you can see, we had to send our own to die... that beast was not in the plans but it made the task all the easier! I am Tough Stride... Commander of this unit and under orders to protect you. I'm sorry you had to endure this debacle!" his voice carried far enough that each word was understood, yet the return wasn't at all peaceful.

Some of the more stronger sirens set their young behind them with jaws snapping at the empty air, dorsal sails raised in warning gestures, showing off the deeper hue of color to their bodies like the Devil's Flower Mantis of the exotic southern jungles. A protective wall was formed around the younglings, with the smaller mothers inside keeping control over the offspring. Though Stride knew these sirens were still capable of establishing a tolerance and truce, or else they would have sung in an attempt to escape. It was worth the death of Captain Sabor and letting his body drop before them, showing that there were two sides to the Night Guard. He being on the good side that they could trust.

The big siren who possessed mainly a size up from the other only larger specimens dragged herself over to face him without floating over, her intense sea green eyes popping from her prussian blue body in contrast held hate. Their ire was understandable, after what they likely experienced before the storm hit probably stressed them out enough and having this occur made them as friendly as an ursa major.

Her toothy maw with pearly fangs let out an irritated rumble just inches from his armored snout, she sensed his emotional state first, "For as long as I've been the leader of this pod we've never been treated so horribly by ponies or any other race of this world. And I've been around longer than your grandparents and theirs before them have existed. Tell me wretch... how now should you explain all this?!"

Having been through the grinder of the combat more times than he could willingly count, the commander was unphased by the threat before him, "You were targeted by a new threat to the nation I serve, on that has unfortunately forced us to put to rest very valuable warriors who've served the crown to the best of their abilities. They were being controlled by the threat and that very same wanted your powers and gemstones. By the R.O.E. stated by the tribe of the Thestrals and the Elder Council, in doing so it has broken our accord with the crown and the kingdom until we can bring them to justice for their misguided sacred mission. You're the only sirens we've seen in many many years, and I am to bring you to safety until the threat is dealt with."

A heavy snort of air in anger demonstrated her lack of care about the details, "You ponies were always the kind to segregate themselves based upon heritage... you always have hidden disdain that ages so well. We've fed on plenty of ponies... but none like you, bat ponies! You ambush my pod and then turn around expecting us to believe this story to get us to go with you?! Even if you feel nothing right now, what trust is there for me to make? My sirons are down there risking their lives! I'm going to likely lose them, but if they were not there they'd be feasting on your corpse!"

"Ma'am I can assure you that what is coming will make this storm and that beast the least of your troubles. We've spilt our own blood to cleanse the infected, and those that stand here before you are those who'd not want to see obviously peaceful creatures be turned into a science experiment. That is unless you were planning to use your powers over in that city yonder? By which then I am inclined to act in accordance. Perhaps I should see your species truly like the three who were banished from this world for trying to conquer Equestria?" he returned the barb in full tow as it became evident that mentioning the three sirens of yor hit a string in the great matriarch.

Erecting herself to tower over the speck of a pony before her, her dorsal sail at full mast with the snarling of a tiger trapped in a corner, "Don't you ever... EVER speak of those whelps in my presence again... DO... I... MAKE... MYSELF...." she brought her head down again till her eyes met his with a killing intent, "Clear?"

"As soon as you make your intentions clear being so close to a large habitation over there." he pointed with an armored hoof at Seaddle.

She squinted at him, at his courage to face her with no hint of fear or anger in him. She could sense nothing, almost considering the armored thing to be a golem used by the true commander. Yet there was life inside the flesh, just barely any whiffs of existence that escaped the mental control the thestral possesed.

"Our pod would only feed on the first dock we came across." she answered with reserved anger, "Because we've been running from that serpent, for two months we've tried to escape it. Its like a shark hunting a blood trail. Our young were only recently birthed... I can only assume it's sensed easy prey. Our plan was to head up north into colder waters and since there are more ponies in those parts it would also be discouraged... they never dare get close to your kind." a final huff, her dorsal fin giving a little as the weariness the entire family had suppressed finally came back.

"So you did intend to use ponies as a source of food? But not the city then? A quick bite to eat, then head up towards Vanhoover... what then if you attained safety? What then?" Tough asked as his eyes picked out the evident exhaustion in the other sirens.

The matriarch had no patience for the thestral, but she also was losing the adrenaline that empowered her. They were on dry land now with still the beast of the deep eating its way through the ponies they said to have sacrificed for some reason she cared not to understand. If they did attack, there was a slight chance their songs might not be effective and they'd be pushed into desperation to get to open water. Yet even if they did, all that was waiting for them were churning waves and a very angry Hammerhead Morey, a large alpha at that.

Deciding it would be best she spilled the shrimp, "Do what sirens do of course... find a suitable village or port and sing a little. Harvest what energy we need to survive... then live off the food of the ocean. I don't know what you think we do, but we cannot subsist on negative emotions alone and I can sense you know this already? You know more than you let on?"

The commander shook his metal plated helmeted head, "I know enough before I head into any fray, I have my sources and I know very well what creatures exist in Equis here and abroad. I won't tell you why, but all this..." he pointed to the land train, "Is for your own good, there is a race of vile things who feed like you do. They don't like to share either. So if you don't want to become the Arcana's play things anytime soon and want to help stop the worst enemy to ever exist on our world... I suggest you find trust in me at least. These soldiers follow my word to the letter, and I promise my life to you that no harm will ever befall you or your pod."

Still she could not sense anything in the thestral, nothing that could help them get out of the predicament fate placed them in. He spoke with conviction, there was truth in the danger he spoke of the Arcana wanting their powers for their study. That had downright disgusted the matriarch, after all the times siren kind prevented an encroachment of all manner of oceanic predators and deep sea terrors, their own blood given for the preservation of a food source. Though ponies knew little of it, it was a thankless job that their kind had to upkeep. Now she felt dirty for even doing such a good deed, even if it was to keep their supply of energy up and survive in the unforgiving sea. A sensation that wouldn't wash off in even the angry waters not far off, but that was given question now as to the strangeness of the request by these ponies before her. They wanted to help them from the oncoming danger or so it was perceived, her pod also had to look forward to that Hammerhead Morey which would likely tail them all the way up the coast. Neither of the options were favorable, one being hunted as the other put them on dry land out of their element.

There as one thing she had to know then and there, "What about my mate... their mates that are out there trying to drive away that unending hunger? What will happen to them? Left to die? Podless to wonder and hope to find other sirens trying to establish their own?" her fiery stare bore down as she expected the right words to come from his muzzle.

"I already have two squads of my finest to watch over them when we leave. I have a way to communicate with those guards, and they can try to reason with them. If they choose to join you, they will have a constant connection to you until you are reunited at the sanctuary. However, if they kill my warriors... they'll have no second chance. That is the best I can offer now please give me your decision now because I'm sure there are Arcana scouts who could happen upon us and that is a problem I cannot allow to happen." he answered sternly returning her venomous gaze back at her.

Taking a deep breath, the matriarch looked back inquisitively at the other mothers, they were ready to fight to the death to protect the pups. If they could fight how long would they last, if they sustained injury would they be tempting the Morey to seek them out even longer than what they thought it would shadow? The young hatchlings were easy targets for the swords and spears, crossbows and other weapons the ponies around them sported like trophies. They were obviously much like her sirons, whose horns and spines showing off the damage they could do if given the chance. Her admission to feeding even just a little had put a stain upon their image to the commander, he had justification for genocide then and there and likely could make it happen with the primary defense down on the beach a half mile trek away. She was in a pocket, like an octopus between jagged rocks with only its beak and arms to do any hope of damage. The answer became very obvious soon enough and although it pained her to say the very words, they were in too much danger to say no.

They had the next generation of sirens of her brood coming into their own, they had to be protected since the protection being offered sounded temporary. With a belingered expression, "I accept, I... Matriarch Zaffre Stretta... daughter of Poseidon... will take your offer of protective guard from this threat you speak of. However, I want my sirons brought to me in one piece, you need only tell them this..." she looked in agony as if to say the very words were a crime to tell another race, "En mitfir oust oghanfir Poseidónas"

Stride nodded, "I am to be assured they will not attack my forces then?"

The Matriarch turned to her pod, in mid turn she stopped and grinned, "It should, and they may just believe those communication things you spoke of. But I cannot control them, it is the best I can do."

Knowing the operation was risky in itself he bit the bullet, "Fine, at least we're on the same page for now. When you are able to board the compartments, we set off in forty minutes, if... you have the concept of time that is. Once you're on, the train will begin to move. When it stops, a guard similar to me will knock six times on the door, no more no less, you can open the door from the inside and you'll be in the safest location in Equestria. You'll be provided food and shelter, anything else you'll need will be taken into account. Now go... tend to your own as I will myself." Tough turned about and proceeded to finish inspecting the guards.

With the nuisance out of the way, Stretta groaned inwardly as she came to face her subordinates that shared mixed receptions over the trusting of the ponies. Yet, her word was law as any matriarch's was, they'd have long talk on the ride to the supposed safe area in hopes their mates would join them later on. Dragging her hulking form in the swivel and pulling herself over to her own, she noticed the opal pup who'd become the star of her pod to any others out in the world. The little one seemed to be waving at one of the pony females in armor, almost like a friendly wave with a wide smile dripping with joy. Whatever happened during their separation would be a task to undertake later, but it would seem as if not all ponies were as they seemed. The mare was already trotting away still waving a winged limb to the youngling. It was then that Zaffre prayed to the father of the water realm to keep watch over her pack, for this new venture felt as if it would be their very end.