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Markus stood silently upon a tall ridge that overlooked the valley where most of his family grazed. Winter was coming, the n** in the air bite at his nostrils and chilled his hide. Tri-colored eyes scanned the world around him, the leaves that only days before had been so vibrant with their bright reds, yellows, oranges, and greens were now beginning to turn brown and fall to the earth bellow. He looked down at the herd again, it felt so good to be home ...

Yet, he'd come home in a time of crises, the family had fallen to shambles in his absence, Ernsta had turned on her own blood and sucked Cacille in with her serpentine lies. .. Oh Cacille, his sweet little daughter, the apple of his eye. How had she changed her soft body had become hard and muscular, her power wasn't to surprising she -was- from his loins, but he hadn't expected it. He had tried to find his youngest daughter, but it had all been for naught. Cacille seemed to far gone for him to help alone. The massive stallion closed is eyes and breathed a huff into his helmet.

So lost in his own thoughts was Markus that he didn't hear the soft hoof beats coming up behind him. When he finally felt a soft muzzle, graced by vicious fangs against his sides he turned to see his dear, dear mother by his side.

The sight of her constricted his heart into a painful throb in the center of his chest.

He had only been gone a few short months, and yet all his family had seemed to be hit hard by his absence ... none more than his mother. For the first time in his life she looked frail ... old... even. The stallion dropped his head to drape it over her neck. "Wie sind Sie liebe Mutter?" Translation - 'How are you dear mother?', the soft spoken words were meant only for her ears.

~~~~~

Shade moved slowly up the ridge, towards where her eldest son stood watching over their family. His mostly safe return had been a time of joy for most of them, and yet still her family was in turmoil. The once proud beautiful mare paused and turned to look upon her family that stood in the open, only two were constantly missing ... only two.

Constantine was disappearing constantly these days, and this most recent disappearance he'd been away many days but she didn't worry much, he'd reappear when he pleased.

Shade continued her slow climb again, her joints felt stiff, she felt stiff. The recent months seemed to have accelerated her aging, and she was hardly seen amongst the herd any longer, preferring to stay in hiding in her grove, where none dared to trudge uninvited.

She was thin, with ribs and hips peeking out from under her velvety black hide once so filled out with thick muscles like bands of coiled steel. The coat around her mouth and eyes had grayed and long whiskers graced her muzzle even in the summer time. Her joints popped, creaked, and on cold winter morns froze into place hindering her immobile for a while.

She nuzzled her dear Markus out of his thoughts, and his soft greeting made the mare smile.

"As well as I can be son," the mare folded wings, now so brittle and old that they were almost invisible unless looked upon the right way.

Shade stayed quiet for a long time, the air around them thickening as Markus sensed something heavy in the air.


"We must talk ..."

Markus lifted his head again as she finally spoke and looked down upon her, something in his gut curled up into a tight chilly ball of stone. His wings shifted restlessly against his sides as he waited, but his mother was only silent, red and gold eyes starring silently at him. He looked away briefly and spotted Mista down on the plains, her wings shifted close to her face then away and he frowned deeply, had her thoughts too drifted to their children? The stallion's ears flicked back for a moment, he felt to blame for this, had he not gone hunting and then become hurt maybe they would have all been more prepared for the collapse that was now surrounding him.

He shook his head, and opened his eyes, just in time for her to look up at him. He felt, more than was ably to absolutely tell that their eyes meet from across the distance. He stared, unwilling to look away from the contact he just knew he''d made with his one true love.

But a soft n** brought him quickly back to reality though. And his dark eyes turned down to his mother.

~~~

Shade's eyes had followed her son's to his mate, and she smiled slightly. Mista was such a fine mare, strong and proud with pure German blood. Since the day Markus and his brother had fought over her as foals she had decided whichever the clothed mare choose she would have been the future daughter-in-law- that would proceed her in the running of the herd, though truly Shade had never seen it being this soon.


"We shall speak in private .... Mista should be there as well ..."

The older mare turned slowly and picked her way down off the slope and towards the woods. She passed close enough to Mista to flash her a soft smile before she disappeared down the dark shadowy path to her glade, her sanctuary within her own herd.

~~~

Markus watched her move away until she disappeared into the shadows, but still he didn't move form his perch until his half brother Meuchelmorder appeared to take over the post.

With a grunt, the huge brown stallion turned and picked his way down the steepest trail, he almost grinned as his hooves slipped and he slid among the rocks and loose dirt like a foal again. He hit hard ground with a thud and tossed his dark blue mane before moving towards Mista.

Markus still had a slight limp from his wounds, but it was nearly unnoticeable now as he strode proudly up to Mista and threw his head back, making the face mask of his helmet fly up away from his muzzle. Much like his mother, Markus had a soft muzzle, graced with thick sharp saber fangs.

Markus dropped his head, rubbing his mate's cheek with his muzzle, his fangs lightly grazed her soft skin threatening to rip it apart, yet not wanting to mar such a beautiful coat. It was a sensual touch, usually used when they were alone in their glade, passing time in private. His touch ghosted up to her ear and he breathed softly "Meine Liebe, meine Königin." Translation: "My Love, My Queen"

He breathed softly again and straightened up "mother requests our audience."

He purred softly in her ear, a deep rumble that boiled from the cor of his body meant only for her. He let his head raise up as he rose to her feet. He turned with a snap, keeping his bummed leg off the ground as he did so, and strode proudly after her towards the shadowed woods. He almost pranced along beside her, neck arched hooves barely seeming to touch the ground and his tail snapping back and forth as he moved along.

He could feel the eyes on them as the disappeared into the shadowy path and flicked his ears.

The entire family was questioning this, as was he, but they all seemed to think the same question, was something wrong with Shade? or Nightmare even? Were they dieing and only telling Markus. He could feel the rumbles of fear and anticipation within his family, even as the shadows swallowed them up.

He let out a snarled growl at the eyes that stared at them through the trees, the beasts that protected the beautiful secluded glade his parent's called him. He'd never seen one face to face, but he highly doubted they were pretty creatures.

When he could no longer carry on his dancing pace Markus slowed to a walk beside Mista, his wings stretched up above his back as if trying to make himself seem even bigger ... like it would stop the beasts if they decided to attack.

For now the massive stallion was staying quiet though, letting the eerie silence of the woods that surround them drift through his ears. The rest of the world was dieing with the onslaught of winter, and yet his parent's woods were as dark as if the leaves weren't falling from the trees. He shook his head as the scent of a fresh kill, and the bright n** of clean flowing water hit his nostrils, they were nearly at the grove "....seemed so much longer the last time I made this trip.." the unspoken words hung on the air 'maybe mom shortens the path to fit her ..... needs'

Markus rumbled deep in his body again "I hope so Mista," there was doubt in his thick voice, he didn't believe it. Oh he wanted it to be true, but he highly doubted that it was, it was more likely what he thought, the path was shorter because his mother was weaker. The forest around them slowly brightened, the eyes of the beast becoming more and more scarce until they exited into a large field, large, ever-green trees raising high overhead, branches criss-crossing to form a sort of roof.

The grass beneath their hooves was as soft and green as it would have been in mid summer, and the stream gurgling nearby ran right through the clearing. His mother's regal rock sat near the stream and the large thicket where she and mare slept was at the other end.

Shade herself stood under a weeping willow at the far end by a bend in the stream nibbling on the carcass of a large buck Nightmare must have caught and brought back to her.

He nipped Mista's neck then moved up to the large rock, standing nearby it and waiting for his grandmother's approach and for their 'talks' to begin.

~~~

A soft smile stretched Shade's muzzle as the two entered and moved towards the rock, she wadded through the stream and to them. Walking up to Markus she grabbed one of his horns and pulled his head down, either she was still strong, or Markus wasn't giving her any resistance. She placed a small hooves on the top of his head, between his ears and nibbled on the back of his neck. Shade muttered something softly, just to him, in German.

Letting her son up once more she turned to Mista, She wrapped her thinning neck around Mista's and stretched out her wings to do he same. "Willkommen dennoch wieder liebste Tochter." Translation: Welcome yet again dearest daughter

She stepped back away from the two and closed her eyes, seemign to take a deep breath before she opened the again.

"Me and your father have been talking ... ," silence filled the small grove for a long moment "we aren't getting any younger ." She closed her eyes again, and a soft breeze blew through her nearly transparent flaming mane.

"We have decided to step down as leader, and protector of this herd .. our family. We want you to protect them Markus, it was to be yours from birth" she turned to Mista "and you will lead, as matriarch." She snapped her tail back and forth "it was to be one of my daughter's .. until the day you showed up, with my son's fighting over your hoof, it was that day you were destined to take my place." She flicked an ear towards Markus as he puffed up like a balloon animal.

"Me and Nightmare will always be here," she mentioned around the glade "and among family for guidence."

She smiled softly, she couldn't wait to show them their glade.

Markus's prideful puff deflated in an instant, he could they step down ... it wasn't right they were the leaders they had started this family. His mouth opened and closed like a fish for a moment. He had known this would happen one day, but so soon. His wings were twitching and flapping in nervous jitters.

"Aber Mutter…" Translation: But mother ...

One look from Shade shut his mouth tight and he just closed his eyes rocking back slightly with resignation.

"What about the others, they won't take this quietly" his choice to use English this time was telling "...and the turmoil ... Ernsta ...and ..C-c" the stallion couldn't bring himself to say his youngest daughter's name and snapped his fangs together with a loud click. "Not to mention that Constantine has now disappeared.

A dark look crossed the stallion's face, he would throttle his son when they found him for skipping out -now-.

~~~

She listened silently to her son's concerns. Bi-toned eyes flicking between the two. "The changing of power won't be instantaneous, no need to fear, the female will fall in line with the orders of myself and Mare, even if it means turning to new leaders." Her tail snapped back and forth brushing near the grass, as her almost transparent wings fluttered against her back. "Over the next few weeks me and Nightmare will teach you both all you will ever need to know about the family, and running it. You two will do fine, and before you know it the herd will be thrilled to have you as their leaders."

Shade flicked her ears towards Marcus again "All the problems will be dealt with in time, and your son has to return eventually."

She stretched slightly and her wings snapped up "Enough of such talk for now! Me and your father have something to give you." She turned with a militaristic jerk and moved towards the other end of the clearing. She ripped up two huge bushes showing a trail, lined on either side by rose bushes.

She grinned as she stepped onto the trail made of soft rose petals and soft rust red clay lined non either side by the rose bushes. The forest here was not dark and eerie like the one that lead to Shade's glade. Sunlight streamed through bright green leaves, and animals bound past them. The sound of the very stream that ran through Shade and Mare's home could be heard nearby.

The trail wound through the woods for maybe a quarter of a mile before it abruptly ended at to large bushes. Shade ripped them up as well and tossed them aside. Then stepped into the bathing sunlight of another clearing.

This one was smaller than Shade's but it was almost more beautiful, huge trees formed the outer walls and their massive branched stretched far to make a nice roof that would protect them from most of the elements but still allowed plenty of sunlight. The grass was thick and bright green with various patches of wild flowers. At the far end was a large thicket tucked against a rocky overhang, easily big enough for Markus and Mista to curl up together.

A few weeping willows were scattered around the clearing, and rose bushes with the oddest colored blooms had been planted. for the couple.

Nearby their thicket the ground had been torn up and two holes dug on either side as if more was to be planted. Shade's ears flicked back for a moment "we weren't -quite- ready ... but Mare should arrive soon with the bushes.."

~~~

No sooner did Shade get the words out of her mouth, the sound of jingling armor floated their way. Nightmare emerged from the woods with two bushes resting carefully on his back.

Both bushes had deep crimson leaves, and small black and icy blue buds, there were two of Shade's favorite bushes, the roses she'd created for herself.

He smiled softly at the trio and carefully put each in it's place, covering the roots with the rich black dirt and wondering off, using his helmet to scoop up water. At the same time he pulled out a small leather pouch and poured a small amount of blood into the water before dumping a little on each bush.

Finishing his work he wondered towards them his tail flicking lazily.

~~~

Markus stood silent at the scene, his face momentarily blank, he was shocked. It must have been long, and hard work for both his parents to have created such a home for himself and Mista.