A cluster of eight unicorns maintained a perimeter of light. Within the perimeter, Granite sat with his head hung in shame as Crag tried in vain to extract reassurances from his father.
Canary, meanwhile, was singing a wordless melody into the darkness, a beacon to match the radiant ring of light put in place for the lost filly.
The other ponies rested, having walked for hours.
Granite raised his head as hoofsteps approached. The scout they sent must have… “Sandy!”
Injured but intact, Sandy was embraced even as the scout galloped back.
“The sun! *pant* The sun!” gasped the scout.