Sarada/Thor/Madara

They hadn't gone very far when Sarada felt pain. Her nostrils flared as she paced and occasionally rolled trying to relieve it. She had no clue what it was since it was her first.

Thor missed his family already but the enticing mare kept him following.

Moon & Osmia

Shaded Moon pushed his family along for some distance before finally allowing them to rest on the eastern stretch of the prairie, far from where the big cats lived, and far from their encounter with Onok's band. The strain from the battle had started to settle in, but the blood had all dried, and he had no broken bones or bruised joints from the ordeal. Plus, he had snagged another stallion to help protect his little clan.

"You." The ebony Arabian mix approached Thor with a raised dial but calmly held tail and forward-facing ears. "You're part of my band now, kid. You can call me Shaded Moon. What's your name?"

Now that Osmia's part in luring Thor was done, her attention turned to the young Sarada. She watched the other roll about on the ground, distress painted clearly on her features. A pang of sympathy came to the elder horse and she moved in closer to the other, "Take it easy now, I think your labor has started." Osmia herself had never born any foals, none living anyway. But she had been around long enough to know what was taking place, "You focus on them, I'll keep a watch out for danger."

Thor

Thor was unsure how to react to this stallion or what he should do. He might be able to out run him if he really wanted to especially right now. But the fact there was a mare here and he was young and his hormones were starting to show. One ear was back but the other was forward. His tail twitched. thorFor now he knew he had to play it smart.

Sarada listened to osmia. It hurtsShe said. Her tail going back and forth.

Shaded Moon & Osmia

"Thor?" Shaded repeated, testing the name on his tongue. Authority carried in his voice as he continued, "Welcome to the Midnight Triad herd. That over there is Sarada, and Osmia - it's your job now to help me protect them. You do a good job, stay in line, and you will become my lieutenant." He paused to let that all sink in, not wanting to overwhelm the yearling, but also wanting to make it clear where he stood in the herd. "You'll also help me acquire new mares, and if you do all of that well, I'll share access to them."

"I know, darling." Sympathy played in the mare's tones, "You just have to ride it out a little longer, until your foal is ready to drop." She stepped in closer to Sarada, deftly touching her whiskered muzzle to the other's nape, "Walk with me, it'll help some with the pain, and encourage your little one that it's time to come." The elder mare took a few steps, trying to encourage Sarada to move in a light trot.

Thor

Thor listened to him he knew there was no point in arguing. His ears twitched. He was just a yearling and this stallion expected him to protect the herd? Sure he probably would do it anyways but he was no match for things yet. alrighthe said.

Sarada pawed the earth and then nodded and followedh er.

Shaded Moon & Osmia

"Good." Shaded breathed out, thankful that this yearling wasn't trying to bolt away or cause him any grief, even if he didn't seem entirely sure about things yet. "Just having another pair of eyes and ears is a big help." The Arabian-mix shuffled his dark hooves and turned a few steps, so that he could look out and see where Sarada and Osmia had gone to, and it was then that he realized that the young mare's time had come. His heart nearly skipped a beat and he nodded to them, "Give them space, but we need to stay close."

Osmia moved smoothly and slowly, with frequent pauses to look back at Sarada or give her an encouraging nudge. She was also vigilant about not moving too far from the stallions, and was ready to help defend the new foal when it came.

Thor

He could always find an escape later on if he really needed to he was sure of it. alrighthe said.

Finally after about 10 minutes of walking the foal was coming. It took about an hour for her to get the foal all the way out. The pure black colt landed on the ground with a thud and was wobbling to his feet within the first fifteen minutes after Sarada cleaned him.

Shaded Moon & Osmia

Osmia offered words of encouragement here and there, and kept a vigilant eye and ear out for any danger during this critical time. Shaded Moon had been nearby too, but at a further distance from the mare, so as not to overcrowd her.

When the foal finally got to his feet, Osmia moved in slowly, auds pressed forward and eyes all but glimmering in awe. It had been so long since she'd seen a foal! "You did good, Sarada. Do you have a name picked out for this little fellow?"

Hesitantly, Shaded Grace began to move in too.

Sarada

Sarada instinctivly cleaned the foal off and encourage him to stand.MadaraShe said.

Shaded Moon

"He looks healthy." This was Shaded's voice as he moved in to see his newborn son. "Mada-"

-Snap!-

Osmia's teeth clacked together inches from Shaded's face, startling the stallion and forcing him into a clumsy back-step. The mare snorted and flicked her tail, giving the stallion a hard glare, "You know better than to crowd a new mother - give her some space and bonding time!"

Sarada

Even though she was a first time mother and she was real young when Shaded came near despite Osmia warnning himoff she immediately became bold and mor confident and placed herself between her son and his father. And without warning throughh er hind legs out at him with a snort.

Thor kept his distance.

Shaded Moon & Osmia

Shaded had just enough time to shy back, avoiding the hooves that swung his way. "Hey!" He snorted indignantly, but again was cut off by Osmia.

"I warned you. Go on now, give Sarada some time. I'm sure you can see your son later, once he's properly learned his legs." Feeling confident that Shaded Moon had learned his lesson, Osmia turned her back on the stallion and returned to Sarada's side, where she began to groom the new mother.

Sarada

Her nostrils flared as she cleaned Madara who began making attempts at standing

Shaded Moon & Osmia

The stallion eventually drifted further away, but remained in their line of sight. Osmia relaxed a little and continued to groom her friend.