The Mare Who Fell In Love With The Wind

by canonkiller


New Hooves (And Old Bruises)

The wind was much less bitter with her by his side.

Shadow tilted his head, leaning against her shoulder. The wind may have been blowing outside, but in their makeshift igloo, it was nothing more than noise.

Together, they had built the little home, supported by a icy rock on one side and by thick sheets of ice on the others. A small tunnel lead to the outside world, but at the moment, neither of them cared. Crystal stretched out a hoof, yawning.

"How long has it been, now?"

Shadow smiled, nuzzling her mane. Nine months.

"Nine months free of my parents, of the palace, of all those dumb rules." She sighed. "I wish you could come inside the barrier. Maybe then we'd find someone who could make you into a pony."

Shadow shook his head, mane billowing in the wild way of the Windigo. You'd lose too much, being in there again.

"But I want us to be together!" She pressed her cheek up against his neck, sighing. "We can't live like this forever."

Why not? There's no rules out here. Shadow snorted, shaking his head. I can't let you go back alone.

Their discussion was interrupted by the stomping of hooves outside, of the eerie wail of wind dimming. Little one, is this where you hide?

Shadow snorted, gently pressing Crystal's cheek with his own before struggling out into the stinging wind. The herd, frost-white and shimmering, encircled him, pawing and snorting.

The castle is changing, one muttered, they have grown warmer. We fear they mean to end us.

That is not a problem of mine. Shadow replied, tossing his head. I'm not a Windigo.

One stepped forward, ice glittering along his back. You have a Windigoes' skin and a Windigoes' heart. You are one of us.

Another approached as well. Your friend caused all of this. The city changed when she left it!

They are preparing something to remove us, to protect the city.

"It's a child."

Shadow turned, eyes widening as Crystal stepped out of their home. She flinched immediately as the wind rose, the Windigoes' gleaming eyes narrowing.

"The protector of the city is a child." She continued, trudging through the snow to stand by Shadow's side. "My mother and father plan to kill it to create an artifact that will keep the city safe, even in the darkest of days. They planned to use me, but my emotions became too strong."

The Windigoes nickered among themselves, in the language of Wind and Ice, and eventually turned back to the two.

We will enter the city as one and stop this from happening.

"I can't break down the barrier."

White eyes glinted fire in the wind.

We can.