Callaquioa, Brennik, Nightshade, & Daga

A few days of peace had graced the herd since the Makucha's attack. Daga had agreed to stay in the territory, finding it far safer than the oak and sage brush hills of his old home. So many of his herdmates had been slaughtered anyway, it felt good to get away and start fresh on the opposite end of the Valley. His only regret was Little Spot's death, and he vowed to honor his friend's sacrifice by never letting those cats claim another soul in these lands. To that end, the young buck always remained close at hoof to the herd, often meandering into whatever meadow or field the mares happened to be grazing in, unlike the reclusive Nightshade he tended to keep just out of sight.

It was on the fifth morning following the attack that he'd finished his afternoon rumination and decided to check on Callaquioa. He'd stopped a few times to scrape his loosening antlers against a leaf-bare shrub, or prickly cedar sapling, but they failed to budge. Snorting, he continued on... until his broad ears caught the distinct cry of a very young voice. Immediately dropping into a cautious mode, Daga continued forward, until he came upon his friend, laying tiredly on the ground with three foals scattered about her. Calla had given birth!

The new mother was clearly exhausted, and a little distressed by the lifeless body of one of the triplets, but the other two were alive and well, and she was grooming each of them while she recovered her strength.

Xena

Xena twins Loki and Savannah were now the size they should of been when born being premature they had been tiny and it had been touch and go with them. She was grooming savannah while she nurses she heard calla and moved toward the young mare. She noticed the still born but then she had two healthy twins. She moved to groom calla while calla cleaned the two foals

Loki and Savannah follow there mother

Thor struggled to his feet as calla cleaned him.

Onok, Callaquioa, & Others

Callaquoia hefted herself to her hooves and gave Xenarona a soft nicker upon seeing her. She also welcomed the grooming, and gratefully accepted her friend's company while she finished cleaning her surviving foals. She'd given Thor a gentle nudge to her underside, followed by Brennik after the little chestnut colt staggered to his spindly little limbs.

"I never imagined there were three." She finally said, once Brennik had begun to nurse. Her pale sights lingered wistfully on the body of the stillborn foal, then peeled away to admire the two healthy colts she had been blessed with. "But look at us, four healthy new foals that can grow up together. And of course, Darkia's little one." She smiled, a happy crinkle setting into her blue eyes. The mare looked to her friend, "We finally have a family." It was something she'd always dreamed of, from her time as a foal in the Golden Rose Canyon, to the horrible year spent in the Haunter's control, to their tumultuous start in the SunSet Beach.

Never far from his ladies, Onok had also been alerted to the new arrivals. As eager as the stallion was to meet his children, he remained back for the time being, letting the mares socialize first.

Xena

Xena groomed her **indeed. We need to move from here predators will be drawn to the smell** she said

Savannah struggled to follow.

Loki suckled

Thor moved to nurse

Onok, Callaquioa, & Others

"Oh, right." Callaquioa murmured, having not considered in her inexperienced age that predators would be drawn to such a sight. Her eyes trailed to the corpse of the tiny foal laying in the snow, and she her legs became a little weak. "With Onok here though, we can afford to wait a little longer? At least for Brennik and Thor to feed a little longer." And though she spoke of her surviving children, Calla swept her muzzle down and nudge the form of her third that hadn't made it, brushing her velvety snout and delicate whiskers against the tiny body, in faint hope that it might stir.

She almost didn't see Onok stepping her way, having heard the brief conversation. "Xenarona is right." He pointed out softly, giving Calla's rump a gentle nudge to make her move forward and away from the dead foal. "Follow her to a safer location. I'll make sure no one follows us." He tried to sound as reassuring as he could, letting no inflection of sorrow taint his words, even if heart was stung with such feelings.

The young mare snorted, but didn't fight back. She gave the foal one last look before shuffling forward, moving slow so that her children could keep up. Little Brennik wobbled after, not happy about his meal being interrupted, and eager to feed some more.

Onok hung back as promised, to make sure his family wasn't scouted by any predators. He was especially watchful of Savanah, noting that the little filly's legs seemed.. a bit off, when compared to the others. He would make sure she wasn't left behind.

Xena

She snorted and shook her head. No, for one we have four foals that need us, one of which...she looked to her daughter. She wasn't sure if she had trouble walking because she was premature or if something was wrong with her. Two we can't deny a predator food. AS hard as that is to hear its the circle of life plus, Sh said. She didn't let it show but when Onok agreed with her she was a bit shocked he was so convincedd on his protection that she expected him to say yah it was fine. She turned then to lead Calla to an open feild a good distance but not too far from where she birthed. Back to where Darkia and Hath were with Coltrane.

Darkia saw them and nickered .

Coltrane was busy playing in the snow

Loki followed his mother

Thor snortedd but followed

Savannah tried to run to keep up but would tumble over her legs ..

Onok & Others

Callaquioa balked at the idea of a predator feeding on her young one and actually turned around to move back towards the corpse, but Onok was standing in the way, his expression sympathetic but firm. "Look to your twins Callaquioa, they need their mother still. This one will protect them by satisfying the predators for a short time." He stepped forward, again using his muzzle to nudge Calla and encourage her to move.

The mare's ears folded back, but again she was compelled by her friends and turned back to Xenarona, anxiously leaving the sight behind as she followed her friend to the open field. Little Brennik tottered along after his mother, beginning to find his legs a little sturdier with each awkward step he took.

Onok took up pace behind them once more, where his eyes often fell to Savanah as she struggled along. On her latest tumble, he lowered his broad dial down to give her a helpful push back to her feet, "Easy, Savanah. You're not hurt, are you?"

Harthrou watched the group approach and his stance stiffened a little. "Stay close, Coltrane." The stallion murmured, for his still felt uncertain about the lead male, and the whole 'herd' life in general. Sure, Onok had been true to his word and hadn't turned so much as a nip or an irritated glare to the colt, but Harth still felt uncomfortable with the draft stallion close to his son.

Xena

Xena ear flicked back as Calla tried to turn back. But she let Onok handle it as she rejoined Darkia and HArth.

Savannah got to her feett with her fathers nudge. She snorted at him and against walked after her mother. Determined to not be different.

Thor gazed around a bit but once their mother would come t a stop he would immediatly move to drink again.

Loki moved to nurse.

Coltrane felt his fathers nervousness and moved back cloer to him and his mother.

Onok & Others

That overwhelming impulse to return to her foal subsided some once they'd moved to a new field, and her attention began to shift more fully to Thor and Brennik. She settled in the open meadow a few paces from Xena and Darkia, where she scraped away the layer of ice and snow on the ground and began to feed.

Brennik resumed nursing, paying little mind to the other foals for the moment.

Onok had smiled after Savannah, watching the determined little filly get back to her hooves and stalk along after Xenarona. And once the herd was officially reunited in the field, he drifted a short distance from them to graze himself, giving Harth a bit of needed space.

Daga also remained back, deciding he'd speak with Calla and the children after the new mother had more time to bond with her foals.

Xenarona

Xena was constantly fussing over savannah. Trying to help her small daughter in anyway she could. She was growing slower then her twin and it worried her. She grazed while one ear was always on her foals

Thor finished nursing and then yawned and lied down at his mother's feet

Loki eyed to two other foals. His sister just didn't hold his attention cause she couldn't really stand and run well.

Savannah lied down after nursing

Darkia began grooming Coltrane