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(( we moved this out of guild so we could keep it going))

Oracle emerged from the thicket as well, his son in tow, shaking off the night sleep from his mane. Winter dashed out a head of him, watching his hooves make impressions in the new snow; having been fascinated by it since his birth. Oracle let his son distract himself with child-like musings as he made his way over to Shoshana smiling at her and nodded happily as his beautiful daughter nuzzled her.

He waited his turn to step and rub his soft muzzle against hers as well, breathing in her flowery and warm scent.

Shoshana smiled and nodded nuzzling against her daughter. She then stepped forward to nuzzle against Oracle chuckling lightly at her son. "Boarder looks clear this morning." She grinned some. "Sleep well you three?" Her long tail gave a light flick as she looked about. It'd been a while since they'd seen or heard from Florian and part of her wished the girl would come home for a visit if nothing else but knew she needed to get out and satisfy her wanderlust.

After greeting her mother, she looked back to her brother and half hopped, half trotted over to him, nudging him lightly. "You've always liked the snow.. Can't say I blame you any though." She giggled lightly before looking at her mother. "I slept well..." She beamed before walking forward to greet her father for the morning.

Winter looked over to his sister with a smile. "Yeah, I guess," he said quietly as he pawed the ground. He was always a quiet, soft spoken boy, but friendly enough.

Oracle stood closely to his mate. "I slept well my love," he said with a nod. "You know you can always wake me and I can help do the patrol..." he nuzzled her neck behind her ears. "I worry about you sometimes, all alone out there."

She chuckled a bit. "I don't mean to make you worried. I'm just use to wandering out on my own. Though my wander lust's been sated I still sometimes enjoy patrol on my own. Perhaps though I should take you with me more often though." She seemed a bit thoughtful as she spoke. Giving a gentle smile, she nuzzled his neck in return. "How about tomorrow morning then? After that I'll be starting to take Bri with me.. After the incident with that stallion the other day.. I think It's time We start to teach her some things of the world beyond what we already have been."

Briallan stopped frowning slightly as she over heard the last bit of the conversation. "Good morning father." Her voice was soft, dainty much like she looked. Friendly as she was she always seemed to have that look about her like if some one sneezed too hard on her she might break. She wasn't sickly or anything she was just small.. and dainty. Full grown and she was still smaller than her mother who stood even shorter that her father by a small amount.

"That sounds like a plan," Oracle said, referring to the morning outing. But when she spoke of their daughter he shifted his shoulders in unease. "Perhaps I should go along with you and Bri as well," he hedged, looking fondly over at his gentle daughter. "She's so ... " he shook his mane, "It's not that she's weak, or fragile... but she's do delicate. O, Shoshana, why do they they have to grow up so quickly? It was much easier not to feel guilty about sequestering them away and protected when they were young.

He stepped over to her. "Good morning, Bri," he said fatherly, looking between her and her mother and smiling at both the differences and similarities.

She chuckled lightly and nodded looking at her son who looked like such the heart breaker. She knew all to well just how shy the boy really was though. "Yes they do grow up so quickly.. too quickly it seems.. But then.. I'm sure our own parent's felt the same about us my dear." Stepping forward to leave her daughter and mate to converse alone, she made her way to her son and greeted him fondly. "You're not going to leave your father and I to worry about you and some mare now are you?" She teased only slightly before giving a small giggle. "It's ok you don't have to answer that one Winter."

Bri Gave a sheepish smile to Oracle and cleared her throat. "I guess mother told you what happened the other day when the storm hit... Honestly though daddy... nothing happened between that male and I.. he just got sick so I made sure to look after him till he could care for himself.. I couldn't leave him there to freeze in the snow storm could I?" She frowned a bit afraid of any more lecturing she might receive from her father. Sure being lectured by her mother was bad.. but a lecture from her father just about felt like her whole heart might just throw it's self out of her chest.

Winter's ears pressed back against his head embarrassed. "No, mother..."

Oracle, meanwhile, addressed his daughter. "I believe you, girl..." he said, nudging her a bit with his shoulder playfully. "But you know, you're no filly anymore my dear. And not every stallion out there is as gentle as your brother. Or honest as your father," he said, looking at her pointedly. "You are just a beautiful, delicate flower. I would hate to see someone come and try and break your heart. I'm not exactly the brute I wish I could be to protect you."

Shoshana smiled and gave another chuckle. "It's ok my boy.. I know in time you'll eventually find some one for yourself.. though we all know there's no rush in the matter. Just remember even mares can be as caniving as some stallions.. so do try to be careful." With that, she lipped at his forelock motherly.

Briallan nodded slowly. "Yes poppa... I'll do better to try and remember that." She gave a small smile. "But.. Say something were to happen.. you know.. like to mother.. Say for example a mountian lion got the best of her and you were the only one near enough to respond.. could you actually protect her then?" She knew he was a kind stallion, but it never did stop her mind from running through scenarios and asking. After all.. She remembered asking him 20 questions about why the winter had snow and why snow was cold when she was a little foal.

"The whole .... thing just seems so complicated," Winter mumbled, shyly, flipping his tail. He nuzzled his mother, as yet have no desire to have anyone other in his life than his family.

Oracle blinked at his daughter, trying not to be offended. It was a legitimate question, and he gave a puff of irritation, more at himself than his daughter. He was a capable stallion, sure, but he wasn't exactly the strongest one out there. "Of course..." he said, looking at his daughter. "...or I would die trying, at the very least," he said seriously.

She chuckled softly and gave Winter a reassuring smile. "It can definitely be complicated.. But then.. Some times things just happen when you least expect them to."

She frowned at the thought of her father dieing even if it was to save some one else. "Lets just hope that it doesn't ever come to that." She gave a small smile. "I.. I don't think I could fight..." She said matter of factually. She was small and meek.. She just couldn't fathom fighting anything.. even a mountian lion.

"Of course..." He was quiet for a few minutes, looking over his family. "You know, there is nothing wrong with running away. Some people think its cowardly, but sometimes its just smart. Every creature has their strengths. We can't all be strong like the buffalo." He frowned. "Sometimes you don't have a choice. Or sometimes you may throw yourself into danger to protect someone you love. But never be ashamed for running. Surviving is the true test of strength."

Soshana looked from her son to Oracle and her daughter. She smiled fondly."You're father has a point." "Some times.. You just have to run." She nudged winter before nodding her head for him to follow her closer to where the other two stood.

Briallan nodded slowly. "I understand.." Her short tufft of a tail have a small flick as she thought giving a nod more to herself than to anyone else. "I'll just have to be sure I do what's best for the situation." She gave a small smile. "Any word from Florian?"

Oracle smiled at his mate, thankful she was backing him up. Winter followed his mother over this father and sister, listening in, his ears pressed back against his head.

Oracle's smile faded at the mention of their other daughter. He just shook his head, looking over to Shoshana.

She caught Oracle's frown and her smile faded to match. Shaking her head, she gave a small sigh. "She's got wander lust.. I'm sure she'll send word when she's ready. We'll see her again I'm sure so never you worry." She offered her family a smile. She'd be strong for them though her own mind hoped that nothing horrible had befallen her second daughter.

Briallan nodded slowly. "I guess you're right.. I mean.. You had wander lust too didn't you mother?" She'd once asked her mother about her grandparents, having wanted to know what kind of family her mother had come from but gotten a reply of, 'I haven't seen them since I was a small filly.' She'd also caught a hint of regret in her mother's face that day.

Sho's smile faltered a bit but she nodded all the same. "Yes.. I had wanderlust for a long time.. I guess that's how I'm sure that Florian's fine."