The Felled Heart sighed dreamily, face turned towards the water so that she could think fondly of Vainmoon and the reflection that they had both often sought during their time together. They had met in the snow and the sun and created a romance in the pale light of day, built on the fragile longings that comprise loneliness and the fear of it. She had stayed at his pool for a time to press her cheek against his and to know love between every breath and whisper. It came time. however, for her to wander once again, looking for new love as the warming winds captured her and lead her off. She loved him though, still, in that endless way of hers with her endless heart and endless passion for love.She had not, however, expected to become pregnant from their encounter. Surely, she should have expected that one day one of her loves would result in children, but she was so focused on the exhilaration of romance that she forgot the joy that her own parents had taken in raising children and loving them. When she realized that she was pregnant she resolved to return to the land that had raised her to seek out her grandmother. She remembered her grandmother fondly and the stories she had told of love. She remembered her grandmother's glowing eyes and bright smile. She wanted that type of joy for her children, she wanted the love she felt buoy her heart life up theirs. She wanted to never be lonely. Here by the pool, she rested as she remembered her own loves so clearly and though the sun was still high in the sky, soon her moon would be there and she would see his reflection right next to hers.
--------
The grove was quiet. her parents were not here and her siblings must have set out to live their own lives just as she had. Perhaps she would bump into some of her family before she left, but for now, no one was here to witness her return. She did not feel unwelcome though. The birds still sang and the sun shone brightly down upon her. She settled onto a flat rock to rest her hooves. During her journey home, her belly had continued to grow and now, though she was still comfortable, it was obvious that she was with child. She had temporarily set aside her journey for loves so beautiful they took her breath away to return to the place that had taken her from foal to doe. It was as her mind wandered that a cheetah seemed to slide out of the light before becoming a kiokote.
The Felled Heart smiled up at her grandmother and was given one in return. She moved to get up to properly greet her grandmother but was shushed gently and pressed back down with a nudge. Felled Heart watched her grandmother settled down on the ground near her and was secretly a little relieved that she did not have to get up for now. She had walked for a long time to get back to this grove. She laughed when her grandmother finally spoke."I see I am to become a great-grandmother once again," the mare observed with a bright smile.
"Yes, it would seem so," Felled Heart replied, though she hadn't known about again.
"Two cousins of yours have had children as well. It would seem that I am getting old," though there was not a touch of bitterness to her voice. In fact, she seemed quite pleased at the proclamation, though that was likely due to the reality that she was still quite young, especially in comparison to some of the other kin that walked the Swamp.
"You're hardly old at all, grandmother, we just found love young," breathed Felled Heart, her voice barely a sigh.
"It would seem that young love has become a bit of a family trait then," came the response. It was said with fondness and Felled Heart knew that her grandmother was remembering when she and grandfather had first met. Their story was a favorite of her father's so she knew it well. "Though there is nothing wrong with that. It seems to have brought us all a great deal of happiness in the end. Are you happy?"
"Yes, exquisitely," Felled Heart said so quickly. Her eyes sparkled and her pale spring eyes met Starburst's blazing summer eyes. "I'm so happy and there have been so many kin to love."
Starburst nodded, understanding that Felled Heart loved in a way both the same and entirely different from the way she loved. "That is all that matters, that you are happy."
"Tell me about the love that grows within you, of the love that begot them."
"Oh, he is the moon, grandmother, the moon coolly smiling down at us all and as beautiful as the night illuminated by the moon's light. Together we are not lonely," she murmured. "When you are together, you cannot be lonely."
"And that is the love that grows within me. Until they go their separate ways, they will have my love and each other's love. And then they will be free in the Swamp and I hope that they will find love there too. I wish for the safe passage of their hearts, that is what I wish."
"And I wish that for you as well. May your children know their hearts and know their loves so that they may find freedom and joy in the lives that they truly revel in. May they know the love of many and never feel true loneliness touch their heart."
They both smiled then and they spent the rest of the day speaking of their lives. Later they would seek out the rest of the family, but for now it was just the two of them.
