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The mare watched her with interest giving a bit of a sigh as the filly hobbled along. She was stubborn one minute and the next cooing next to her for milk. Nai would probably never understand children, but there was no need to. Each one was unique and she wanted the little filly to keep her uniqueness. She flicked her tail following behind the blanket carefully.

It was then a few miles up that there came a figure riding on another azrein. Nailiah wasn't used to Athari riding the others that attended the stables, but at the distance where she was it didn't surprise Nai that her bonded wanted to get there as fast as possible. Her mount, however, was the surprise to Nailiah. "Come filly. Athari is here. She will tend to your leg." The mare nudged the foal gently nipping her ears and adjusting her blanket for comfort. "Settle down so she can look at you properly."



"Hail!" Athari called out to her mare waving as she rode bareback on the stallion known as Shadow. She was wearing her typical garb of almost nothing: a tan hide strap around her breasts with a matching loincloth that ended to her mid thigh. Her hair was up and out of her face with the ever present bow and a quiver of arrows on her back. When Nailiah had mind called Athari for help, the human was all but ready to hoof it with all of her baggage. Shadow, being a gentleman, refused to let the amazon walk on foot and demanded to take her to see Nailiah and the hurt foal. Athari had to agree since well she needed the help and Shadow would be an asset if the foal couldn't walk. The two stopped a few feet away from Nailiah, Athari halfway bounding off Shadow to hug her azrein. As they embraced, a sense of calm washed over the scene as equine and human fell into each other for what seemed like eternity. No doubt there were words spoken, but that was for them to know. "Well, dear heart looks like you picked up a baby!" Athari snorted looking over at the blanket immediately noticing her stance. With a simple nod, Shadow trotted over still bearing the packs of supplies. Athari leaned down and whispered soothing words to foal. "Hail, little one. My aren't you a pretty? I am Athari, bonded to the wonderful mare Nailiah that has been taking care of you. Let me look at your leg..."







It had been an honor and a pleasure for Shadow to help the human Athari across the plains. She had indeed sheltered him and fed him from the kindness of her own being. It would be less of him to not return the favor, and quite honestly he wanted the exercise and craved to see the world.

Upon seeing Nailiah, Shadow realized that the mare was just as gorgeous every time he saw her. True they had officially met once and never really had conversation, but he eyed her when she moved and it was a sight to see. Her bright red mane contrasted so with her pure coat that it almost made him wonder how the gods could sculpt such a being? He was thankful that Athari wasn't his bonded for the things in his mind shamed even him sometimes when he thought of her. It was then that he noticed the foal beside Nailiah, and a look of pure worry crossed his face. What was something so small, so fragile doing out here by her lonesome? He was gladdened for Nailiah's affection and vigil for the filly. He trotted over bowing a quick greeting to Nailiah who whinnied to him in return. Shadow nudged her cheek in affection before allowing Athari to grab what she needed from the packs. It was good that she brought too many supplies instead of too little. Hopefully the foal's leg could be saved.

Nailiah kept close to the foal, but she nudged her nose gently with hers in reassurance. "She won't hurt you, little one. She just wants you to feel better. Athari is going to heal your leg." Nai looked up toward Shadow who backed off a little more to give the foal, Nai, and Athari some space. He didn't want to cause any more distress for the filly. "Do not worry yourself, my babe. Stay calm. I am here. I will always be here. Please, settle down, my filly."

Athari on the other hand was firm. She gently patted the blanket on the neck whispering soothing tones to the foal. "Aye, little beauty. Rest your weary body. I only aim to heal, not hurt." Athari thought a moment before jumping up to grab a pack from Shadow's back. The human then came back slowly sticking her hand in the small parcel only to come out with a hand full of small, dainty sugar cubes. "I bought these at the market, little one. They are sweet and will help make the pain go away." Athari looked up at Nai who looked at her as both hoped this would work smooth things over for the foal.

Dark simply kept herself still as the foal nibbled and then devoured the sugar cubes. The human gave a chuckle gently patting the blanket on the shoulder as if to reassure her that everything would be fine. She then became absorbed in her work as she looked over the foal's leg and ankle leaving Nai to do the mothering.

Nailiah nudged the foal on the forehead nipping at her ears in playful assurance. Her tail flicked a little as she stood steadfast behind the little filly. It was only when she swore she heard a sound come from her mouth that Nailiah lowered her head placing her ear close to the blanket's mouth. "Come, my baby, speak. What shall you tell me, pretty filly?"

Nailiah listened carefully to the foal, her eyes concentrating on the lip movements from underneath the blanket. Her brows furrowed a little as she gave a bit of a snort, ears flicking as she tried to process the word in her mind. "Avatre..." Nailiah pronounced softly for a moment before speaking loudly. "Is that your name, wee baby? Avatre?" Nai nosed her cheek a little keeping her calm.

"Not much longer, little bit." Dark murmured as she had found the problem. The foal had sprained her ankle and Dark didn't know how long it had been lame. She only hope she caught it in time as the human wiped a cooling salve made out of an aloe plant and tree sap all over the lower leg and especially around the ankle. She then wrapped it in fabric bindings to make sure the salve soaked in. "This will help the healing process little foal. It will also take away the pain a little bit." Dark then placed four splints around the foal's ankle in an attempt to straighten the joint back out. It was a little hard, but Dark managed to wrap the splints in place with bindings. "There we go. She shouldn't walk on it if she can help it, but hopefully these will help the leg straighten back out." Dark was speaking more to Nailiah than the foal as she pulled out four more sugar cubes from her pocket. "Here you are, little filly. You were such a trooper." Dark held them out palm flat to the mouth of the foal in waiting.

Dark simply watched the filly explore her wrapped leg. It seemed this one was more curious than afraid which could either be smart or foolhardy. The human female gave a bit of a chuckle watching her lap up all of the sugar cubes. Dark had a thing for these sweets as well which could be dangerous when around azrein. The human stood up wiping her hands with a few claps before packing up the items she brought leaving the three to themselves.

The mare leaned over nipping at the foal's ears. She was glad that Dark had gotten to her leg in time and by the look of Avatre's prancing, she was starting to get the hang of walking on an injured leg. It made her feel all the more better to know that the filly would be taken care of by her. Nailiah already knew that she wanted this baby more than anything and would fight hoof and teeth to keep her safe. If Avatre's real parents came back...Nai would definitely have a lot to think and converse about. Her thoughts were stopped as she was suddenly bumped into by the scared foal looking at Shadow. She chuckled nudging her neck. "Shadow is harmless, my little Avatre. He would never hurt you."

This whole time Shadow had been quietly looking in at the intimate moment of foal, mare, and human. To think there were those that were against such bonding that made him wonder what evil could be wrought of this? His tail flicked as he grazed idly always keeping a watchful eye for strangers or those becoming too curious. Shadow had always had a protective spot for the young, hurt, old, or weak and though he knew that all of them could very well take care of themselves and the foal, he still felt the need to be the frontman if such a thing were to ever happen. His green eyes fell upon the foal who skittered back fast to Nai. Shadow gave a gentle grunt not moving but leaning his head out as far as he could to show his gentle nature. "Aye, Nailiah speaks truth gentle babe. I shall never hurt or harm you on purpose. You have become a treasure to this mare and I will protect you just as much as I protect the others at home." He glanced over to Nailiah for a moment before back at the foal, compassion and kindness in his eyes. He only hoped that the baby would trust him.

Nailiah simply looked toward Shadow with a gentle smile. The stallion realized then that maybe there was something more to the little Avatre than they both realized. The stallion simply stood waiting for Athari to collect her things. The mare turned back toward the filly nipping at her ears and picking at her mane gently flicking her tail behind her. "Do you think you can walk, Avatre?" Nailiah nipped at her nose starting out toward the fields toward home greeting Shadow with a gentle nudge on his cheek. The two exchanged words before Athari packed up the stallion to go. Nailiah nudged her human's shoulder as they embraced. It was then that Shadow and Athari went on ahead taking a leisurely pace leaving Nailiah and Avatre a few feet behind. The white mare looked over her shoulder toward the filly. "You ready to go home, Avatre?"