Welcome to Gaia! ::

Two baskets had laid in the snow, but one hid itself within the fluffy whiteness while the other stood out with its purple weave. The purple basket wobbled some as the foal within tried to get more comfortable. Where was the mother to this pair? Where was the father? The forest surroundings were indeed quiet and no one seemed to be around. Mindy the young purple mare of the pair laid some distance away, apparently asleep. Nikki, the father, was off hunting for a more secure location to raise his young. The winds were starting to howl and the snow started to drift. Mindy having dug out the white basket, thought her other would be safe enough. Taking one basket she headed for the more sheltered area of the trees.

The purple basket shivered as warmth came, then left again. The snow built up around the weave making the young foal inside shake. With a soft sneeze, the young life had to wonder if its mother was coming back, or not.

There would be no telling if Mindy or Nikki had returned to the spot where the remaining basket had laid. The foal within the basket, listened to the strange voice that spoke to it. A small squeak as the basket was lifted from the ground and placed on something, warm! Shuffling its legs around a little, the foal tried pressing as much of itself against the base of the basket to absorb the warmth. It seemed that he didn't care where he was going, or whom he was with. The foal was happy just to warm again and getting away from the cold and snow.

-------------------------

Weeks passed since the basket was stolen from its parents. There didn't seem to be much searching for it as it laid still within the lair of the demon. The basket wobbled a little, the lid lifting just a little. A purple nose poked through the crack between the lid and the rim of the basket. With one burst of energy the young colt thrust his head into the world. Blinking against the dimness of the lair, his small unicorn horn gave off a dim purple glow as the colt stumbled from the confines of the basket and onto the hard, but dry ground. Vivid purple eyes looked around at his surroundings, wondering where his mother was, the place around him seemed lonely... He didn't like it.

The colt turned quick as something spoke behind him, spinning almost knocking himself off his own hooves. He looked up at the large, pelt covered mare and tilted his head to one side. "Momma?" he asked in a quiet voice before looking down at the thing that was pushed closer to him. The colt wasn't quite sure what he was really expected to do with it, but from the look on the mare's face he was meant to eat from it?

Stepping over to the dead deer, he nosed at the meat a moment before looking up again. He had to wonder if this mare was really his mother. Poking at the meat again he lowered his head and tore off a small piece of the meat. The instant it hit his tongue, he felt repulsed by the taste. Swallowing the piece from the shock, he ended up almost choking himself. "I don't think I like this type of food." He looked back up at the mare.

His ears fell back as the mare told him to either eat what was presented before him or go hungry. With a resigned sigh, the colt looked back at the meat that laid at his hooves. His belly rumbled, he didn't know if it were hunger or the sick he felt eating this stuff. Shaking his head the quiver rolling down his back and out his lion like tail he still didn't like it.

"alright Momma." He said moving closer to the meat and started tearing off small strips. He chewed and swallowed what he could, trying not to retch. It wasn't easy, with knees quivering a little, he remained standing while he ate. The small colt had a feeling that this might be what he had to eat, even if the meat was kinda hard to chew and the taste wasn't the best.

"What are you wearing Momma?" the colt asked, finished with the meat having filled his belly the best he could. "Do all our kind wear something like you do?"

The colt tilted his head some to one side, before tilting it to the other side. Only special adults wore such pelts? He wanted to be special too, he didn't want to be... Whatever his mother had said those without pelts were. Nothings? Wasn't it? Well it was something like that. Stepping around the carcass that laid on the lair floor, barely eaten at the moment. The colt looked the strange pelt over more closely.

"I want one too!" He said in a most assured tone. "I don't want to be like those without one."

He looked at the strange leathery wings, they sure were large and frightening looking, glancing to his own sides, he didn't have wings. Well that was sort of a downer, but glancing up again. Kinda going cross eyed to look at what he could see of what was poking out of his forehead. It was... Different, but he wanted to be more like his mother, wings and all.

"I will eat lots to grow up strong and gain my own pelt!" Though he didn't know the real meaning behind the pelt and those who wore them. But with a determined look on his face he forgot about the horn on his forehead, though it gave off another small glow for a moment. He wanted to be a SOMEBODY!

The colt once more tilted his head to one side, he was pleased that his mother was pleased. He watched her step forwards and take a bite from the meat herself. With tail swinging a little behind him, he thought over the name that was given to him. It felt right, at least it wasn't a silly one he had heard whispered outside his basket from a different voice. A voice that he barely remembered now.

"I like it." He nodded before moving over to stand beside his mother. Still thinking that the meat wasn't the best thing to eat, reached down and started tearing off more strips. Mikhail thought his own name over and over again, he did like the name. It felt like a strong one, at least this kept his mind off the taste of the meat as it rolled over his tongue before being swallowed. "Do all with special pelts eat what 'we' eat?" he asked after swallowing the last he could manage. His stomach felt over full and he felt a little droopy, even after sleeping so much within the basket.

Mikhail was going to protest that he wasn't tired and he wanted to go out and see what it was like outside the lair, but a yawn put an end to his thought train. With a belly full of meat and head full of questions, Mikhail felt there was more he should be doing besides sleeping. But he resigned himself to nodding at he looked over his pelted mother again.

"Alright, but afterwards I want to go outside." He paused looking a little sheepish, "ok?" he finished lowering his horned head a little still looking a little sheepish.

Turning from where he was standing, Mikhail headed over to where his mother had told him. Stopping close to the bed before flopping onto it. The cushion of pine branches and countless soft pelts met him. The bed was a little cool, but the pelts warmed easily sending Mikhail to sleep as it still trapped within his basket. But his sleep wouldn't last too long, a quick nap seemed to be all he really needed.