Blackthorn was worried, he knew lingering overlong that far into the Hayseed Swamps had been a bad idea, he knew they should have moved on weeks ago. But everypony just looked so tired, and he had let them down.
The guilt was just eating away at him. Settling had been a bad idea, and now his best friend was injured, Oakheart, that massive brick wall of a stallion had dived in to block a Timberwolf , placing his body between a fleeing elder and it's snapping jaws. Elders were the memory of the herd, they were to be protected.
In doing so though he had taken some rather heavy injuries, the massive chestnut stallion was resting in the healers tent right now. Meanwhile all about him the camp was a hive of activity as the shelters were rapidly dissassembled ready to move on. Once the monsters found them it was time to move on, timberwolves warning of other creatures lingering nearby.
Elstar was in the healers tent seeing to Oakhearts injuries, he would recover in time, none of them were lifethreatening but they were rather dire. She suddenly felt his hoof nudging her towards the tent door. When she looked down he smiled at her weakly. “You'd better go to him” he said “that stallion is as hardheaded as they come and he will no doubt try telling himself it's his fault, same as everything else that ever goes wrong around here. Somepony has to smack him upside the head until he sees sense, and since I can't have the pleasure of doing it myself you're drafted”
“But, I can't just leave you injured, you're family” said Elstar , she couldn't , she really couldn't he was like a brother to her .
Oakheart turned and gave her a look though, a look she knew all too well, one he'd learned from Blackthorn. “You can and you will, you know why? Right now the herd needs Blackthorn, we need a pony to keep everything in order, and that pony is him, always has been , always will be. These injuries will heal but right now the entire herds survival is dependent on everything going off smoothly. So go to him now, it'll take more than a little nip from an overgrown puppy to keep ol' oakheart down” he chuckled to himself, wincing as he did so.
At that Elstar knew arguing was pointless, it was one thing to be stubborn, but the needs of the herd always came first. they had to really the herd was everything to them, family, home, and friends. He was right she had a duty to all of them. She turned with a sigh towards the exit and went to find Blackthorn.
Behind her oakheart smiled, they both knew he was lying when he said he would be fine. These injuries were extensive and with the best will in the world they wouldn't heal, Oakheart closed his eyes smiling even as the world around him faded. The healers had slipped him some numbroot, more than they were supposed to really so nothing hurt. That at least was something of a relief to him . Everypony was together and safe and in good hooves . Everything was right with the world, and Oakheart had had a good life. One thing he never could stand was to see a pretty mare cry .
Meanwhile on the outskirts of camp Bramble Patch , Briar Rose, and Wanderlust three of the more mischievous teenagers in the herd, had snuck off to escape from the tiresome duties involved in packing up camp. The trio had decided to go exploring while the chance was still there, they wouldn't normally be able to get away with that but with the camp being dismantled all the adults were too distracted to notice, so slipping away had been rather simpler than usual.
Before too long they had found a cave , it looked like a giant stone maw cut into the earth, they were currently in the process of using it to scare the hell out of each other as is the time honoured tradition for teenagers everywhere. None of them had even noticed the little Palomino foal watching from behind a tree. Dawn watched the 3 curiously, she was always fascinated by the bigger fillies.
“bet ya don't dare go in” said bramble with a smug grin at Briar Rose. Briar Rose balked at the idea, but she had been dared, so she squared her shoulders and ran forward, setting a hoof into the entrance before bolting back.
Briar grinned proudly as her friends congratulated her, but then Briar Rose got to dare Bramble. After some egging on Bramble took the dare, swallowing as she stepped into the depths , the dare being to touch the back of the cave. She got about halfway when the smell hit her and she heard the growl. Then the stench and heat of breath hit her and her blood ran cold. She knew that smell not even hesitating for a moment Bramble ran.
Back at camp Elstar walked up to her mate and placed a hoof on his shoulder, he turned to look at her, the big stallions eyes red and puffy, yet he held back his tears and even managed a halfhearted smile for Elstar. “None of this was your fault , you know that right? “ She asked him, her concern clear.
“of course it was my fault” he snarled , not meaning the anger at anypony but himself but he could see the hurt in his mates eyes. “I'm sorry dear, I shouldn't talk to you like that, but if I hadn't been so bucking stupid as to delay the move Oakheart wouldn't be gone now, it's all my fault and I know it.” The grief twisted in him like a hot knife. Elstar simply hugged him tight, her warmth helping somewhat.
“We couldn't move with three damaged wagons sweetie, those repairs took awhile. None of this was your fault sweetheart.” *his breathing eased somewhat and she held him tight as great racking sobs shook his frame. After awhile the sobs subsided . They had just about settled down when somepony told them that there were four fillies missing from the camp. The first three were no suprise to her. Briar Rose, Bramble Patch , and Wanderlust always were the adventurous type. But then she felt her heart sink in her chest at the final name, Dawn , her little foal was missing.