//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: A New Home 
// Story: The Equestrian Civil War: A New Hope 
// by Admiral Producer 
//------------------------------//

Silverstream was worried, but she tried not to show her fear. She knew that Hawk didn’t want her and she was used to it.

As she walked with him down the streets, she caught him occasionally glancing at her with disdain. Each time he glared at her, it frightened her. She had a feeling that she was going from one bad home to another.

“I’m sorry…” she told him.

Hawk glanced at her, “I’m sure you are. Just keep moving. We’re almost there.” They continued on and on until they reached the outskirts of the city, where they found an old rundown looking cottage.

“That’s my house.” Hawk told her. Hawk opened the door and they went inside. The cottage was bigger on the inside, but not by much. The kitchen and the living room were in the same area, the walls were painted brown, and there were two silver couches in front of a large TV. There was a brown staircase that led upstairs. 

Silverstream was amazed by it. It was not luxurious by any means, but it was better than the slave barracks back in the castle. 

“What are you standing around there for?” Hawk asked her, “Go explore.”

Silverstream nodded again, touring the house. She went upstairs and found the bedroom. The walls were painted brown once again and there was a large bed beside a large window. She climbed on it and it was comfy. She felt everything, the pillows, the blankets, the rugs…They felt real. Not like her bed back at the castle which was as hard as a rock and extremely small. She had to share it with other slaves who constantly picked on her.

She saw many interesting pictures on the wall and the one that caught her attention was one of three batponies in military uniform, smiling for the camera. She was curious about it. She went back downstairs and asked him what it was.

At this, Hawk’s blank expression turned into anger. “That’s none of your business. I hope you didn’t touch it.”

Silverstream shook her head, “N-no. I-I was just c-curious…”

“Curiosity gets you nowhere.” Hawk told her harshly, “You’ll get over it. Now leave me alone.”

Trembling slightly, Silverstream nodded, “O-okay. Sorry I bothered you.” She walked away and Hawk sighed. 

Silverstream wasn’t welcome and he wanted to make sure the hippogriff knew it. This was an assignment, not an obligation. No, not even an assignment. A distraction was what it was. He could be out fighting battles at the moment, sieging Canterlot at ending the war. That was where he belonged. On the front lines. Not at home where he could do nothing to stop Celestia’s heinous war crimes.

“You’re a distraction.” Hawk muttered, “Nothing else.”

Hearing him, Silverstream turned around on her way to the two sofas. “What?”

“Nothing!!” Hawk yelled. 

Silverstream hurriedly ran off in terror, laying down on the black living room couch to the right and beginning to cry.

Hawk heard her sobbing and was snapped out of his rage. He walked over and tried to lift her head up the way his parents used to do for him, but Silver sat up and backed away, shaking her head.

Hawk sighed again and looked out the window. This was going to be a long night.