Teykali woke with a start, sweat pouring down his body, chills prickling his fur. Eyes wide, he stared anxiously around the clearing. The dark, alluring mare from his dream was nowhere to be seen. Despite the clear emptiness of the meadow, and the ever brightening light of sunrise, Teykali could still see those mocking amber eyes, staring at him from beneath the hood of a pelt.
The baskets he lay curled beside quivered slightly as the foals within began to wake as well. Soon they would emerge, and the thought brought their father no joy. He was terrified that when the lids of the baskets tilted off, the eyes of his children would be relentless gold.
Sighing, the young stallion climbed to his feet. He had slept poorly, just like every other night. His dreams were haunted by the Skinwalker mare he had met countless nights ago. Emma J' was constantly in his mind, an infectious sore that refused to stop throbbing. He was tormented by what he had done, and even more so by the night the foals had been born. The bloodlust in Emma's eyes as she lunged towards their offspring...he shuddered.
He had sustained multiple wounds from that night, fighting to keep the fragile foals from their ravenous mother. The cuts and bruises were healing, and they meant little to him. The injury to his heart, however, was still raw and bleeding. And today would only be worse.
He was close to his old home, nearer still to Zeda's herd. He was far enough away that he knew nobody would bother them, but close enough to catch the scent of his former mentor. He knew that she would see his...children today, such as they were. If she didn't find him, he would seek her out himself. The thought caused him more agony than even the events prior to this moment. It was Zeda who had taught him defense against the monstrous Skinwalkers. His liaison with one of the treacherous creatures was the worst sort of betrayal, and Teykali knew it.
Head down, he went back to the trembling baskets, and lay beside them once more. It was early morning still. There was time before he had to face the music.
