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Dumah sighed aloud as she trudged through the tall, dry grasses. Her back was beginning to hurt and she just hadn't been feeling like herself since the her pudgy belly had lost any cuteness it held before. Mares and stallions alike were beginning to stare when she'd stroll by. It wasn't her fault that Zasha had gotten the better of her. He was handsome, flirty, and she'd be damned if she lied that having him for the night didn't make her feel like the most beautiful mare to be walking under the moon.

Perhaps, had she had a mother, she would have been warned to shy away from anything so fluorescent in coloration. Even the tiniest little spiders could do a considerable amount of damage and the only warning you got was the spot of red on their backs.

She shivered as she thought about the insects known to have 'infested' these grasses. Not so much infested as it was irritating, but still, she wondered why she had come this way.

Dumah could take no more and bent down to kneel for a while. That was entirely too much pressure on her little ones so she rolled onto her side. She didn't care if she looked silly, everyone was already judging her for previous decisions, what was a little more criticism?

She blew her bangs from her eyes and looked up to the passing clouds. The sky had always made her feel at peace, no matter what her mood or where she was. She felt this intense relationship with it, unlike any other she'd ever had. Her 'brothers' loved her deeply, but this wasn't something she could rationalize.

The resting mother made shapes out of the passing clouds until she heard commotion. Uneasy, she rose on wobbling legs, and braced herself. She couldn't quite make out what was the cause of the noise, but she knew it was headed straight for her!

And so she gave in to motherly intuition and ran... in the opposite direction. 'Better safe than sorry!'

Dumah's legs burned and grew sore the more she ran. She hadn't been exercising them as religiously as she usually did since every little step they made tired her out immensely. 'This pregnancy business is for the birds.'

She paused and reared up as she heard what sounded like another horse. She spotted two standing a few feet from where she'd been resting not even a minute before. They appeared harmless in nature, as they wore happy expressions and weren't giving chase any more. Perhaps she was being overly cautious, but how was she to know, she had no training, no guidance when it came to caring for herself or her young.

Dumah lowered her head and slowly backtracked her way through the trampled grass. She'd apologize for jumping the gun and ask them for directions.

As she walked, she thought to herself about these strangers. The mare, she worn glorious clothes of sage and gold. Clothes were foreign to Dumah, as they were hard to come by with so few humans inhabiting the lands near the lake her brothers resided by. In fact, she'd never laid eyes on one before, a human that is, or a foal with such beautiful spots. She'd found her way back to them faster than expected.

"Hello, ...." (shortness of breath) "I didn't mean to insult, I was just...I .... think I need a moment's rest, excuse me."

She stopped before the two and kneeled, direly in need of laying down.

Dumah breathed in and out with a wide 'o' on her face. She smiled up at the two, glad to have some companionship for the first time in a few days.

"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance ladies. My name's Dumah and I don't think you'll be seeing the foals just yet, Tian. I'm only 10 months along in my pregnancy, one more to go."

She giggled at the foal before glancing towards it's mother. "I've been having cravings since month number three. I swear, if I eat one more dandelion, the foals will come out pollinated." Dumah laughed to herself for a moment, enjoying it for one of life's simple pleasures; the understanding between two strangers.

"How old are you, Tian? You already look like quite the young lady." She knew all to well that children loved to be treated like adults, it was her favorite form of bribery.

"She sounds like a breath of fresh air. One that I'm direly in need of."

She glanced between the mother and child before her. They looked so happy, so content where they were. Perhaps she could have that. Perhaps her children would reveal something about her parents? She could feel the sides of her mouth starting to droop. A change of pace, quick! She turned her focus to the little one.

"Tian, what kind of quests do you go on? What is it you seek most? I find myself on one as we speak."

Conversing with two at one time, today wasn't without it's blessings. Children brought out such wonderful feelings, probably because of these damn hormones. They were beginning to get the best of her, but then she felt a small kick towards the small of her back. 'Remember who loves you.' She covered the discomfort with a laugh.

"Knights and dragons, oh my! You must be braver than I, for sure. I guess I grew up as a delicate flower, not the adventurer."

She turned her smile towards Merashik next. She had to tell the mother what was on her mind, how she was feeling right now.

"I have to thank you, ma'am. You've given me hope that I can do right by my children, despite the lack of a fatherly figure. You've raised such a beautiful child, I can't imagine two more of them."

"Thanks, Merashik," she said with a nervous smile.

Now Dumah was panicing. Who would be her source of support? No parents, no brothers now that she'd left them behind, and certainly no babies' daddy. This was the first friend she'd made and soon they would be parting ways and where would that leave her? ALONE. Her breathing quickened and she began exhaling through her nostrils. Dumah tried focusing on the youth trotting off after an insect of sorts, but it only made her think of the children she would soon be giving birth to. They were starting to move, speak of the lil devils.

"Come to think of it, I don't feel so good right now."