Welcome to Gaia! ::

The doe followed a familiar, well worn path through the swamp. She had passed this way many times in the last few weeks; an oddity considering her nature forced her to wander ever onwards. But something had kept her tied to this place. Something important.

A shred of motherly instinct kept her on a tight leash.

Only Dreaming clambered up a small rocky rise, pushing her strong body up by her hind legs. It was not the easiest terrain to navigate but she did it without complaint. This was the place she had deemed safest.

She wound her way through the narrow rock paths and tangling vines… and stopped. Sacs no more. Her vigil was finally over.

One of the new foals raised his head at the sound of his mother’s hooves on the rock, but he did not open his eyes. Instead he dropped his head back onto the flank of his twin sister, letting out a soft sigh. He was content here and not ready to greet the world.

True to her still vivid naming dream, this foal continued to doze even at the sound of approaching hoofsteps, only flicking an ear to rid herself of a bothersome insect. Only after a minute did she slowly open an eyelid, glancing over the forms of her siblings and giving a wide yawn. Then she caught sight of a larger figure and paused, opening the other eye to unabashedly stare at Only Dreaming not too far off, seeming surprised to see something with coloring similar to her own. She didn't get it quite yet, but something told her this other was just like her in some way.

Giving her head a weak shake, Sleeping Fire slowly mustered her strength and stuck out one front leg, then the other, then carefully, awkwardly, the strength pushed from her shoulders...

Finally, her front end rose in a most ungainly fashion. But hey, at least it was a start.

He had not yet opened his eyes. He did not yet know if he existed - did he exist? There was light above, a new heat on his skin; perhaps he did, but sometimes sensation ebbed into familiar blackness, and then he did not know. There were points around him, dim shadows against the light, points of warmth - five points. Sometimes it seemed less; sometimes there was movement. He did not move. He drowsed there, flowing in and out of darkness, until a new shadow shielded the light. This one was different, larger, warmer still - this one made him feel...real.

Flickering opened his eyes.

Relieved that the invisible chord had been cut, Only Dreaming nearly turned away from her foals right then. When she had been born, she had been alone. There had been nobody, not even siblings, and she had grown holding that solitude close to her heart. But the stumbling steps of one and the attempt to stand of another stopped her. At least she would learn their names and let them know the face of their mother. Perhaps she would even tell them of their father.

She could not help but smile at Fireblight as he tumbled back the bump against her leg, lifting her nose down to his. “Welcome to the swamp.” He would do well; already up and so intent on life.

Only Dreaming moved in closer to inspect each one in turn. She studied the marks along their backs, some so similar to her own, and gave each a gentle nudge. Dreaming stopped over a small female, who shivered and stared at the world with wide, frightened eyes.

“You are awake now.” She told the small foal with pity in her eyes, but that was the only comfort she could offer. It would not be enough, she could see that already. The doe turned away.

So this was her first batch of young. A warm, fondness had grown in her chest. But it would not keep her here for long.


Consumed remembered fire, remembered burning. This was much more enjoyable. What could be better than the comforting presence of the being who was the same as himself? They were one in the same. His head shifted with her squirming, but he was a heavy presence that refused to budge. The movements of the others made him sigh again and the nudge from Dreaming caused him to grunt softly. But he still did not open his eyes.