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With a soft squeaking of the hinges the front door closed, Nisha stopped for a moment taking in the early morning sounds. The birds were starting their morning serenade, a doe was idly grazing right at the tree line at the far end of her little dwelling. The morning dew made the grass still slightly wet and cold to walk on and the morning fog had yet to rise so she drew her cloak tighter against her body as she started to walk.

Every morning the same ritual, stopping in the meadow to pick a little bouquet of flowers, then a slow walk up to the little hill where she had buried her mother only a few months ago. When she came up to the little cross that marked where her mother was laid to rest she kneeled and put the fresh flowers down as a soft "good morning mother" passed her lips.

Nisha felt it was strangely comforting sitting next to her mother telling her about her day. It had become so silent in her life since she was gone, Nisha missed her terribly. Her only companion these days were Vox the mini dragon she had found hurt in the woods and had healed back to health. He was a Norwegian mini firedragon, or at least so he claimed, he was a pesky little bugger with a nasty temper, something her still scarred paws could attest to. He had not taking kindly to her treating his wounds and as a thank you had set her furry paws on fire on more then one occasion. As time passed he apparently realized that she meant him no harm and little by little she had gained his trust. She smiled as she looked at him as he was walking around just a few feet from her, walking isn't really the word for what he was doing, wobbling back and forth was more like it.

Dragons were clearly not made for walking but since he hadn't regained full strength in his wings yet, he was forced to either ride on her shoulder or wobble by him self. "you're not coming to say good morning" she asked, he turned his head and just starred at her with his golden eyes and then continued wobbling. Guess not she thought, his little scaled covered body glimmering in the morning sun. He really did have a perfect color to hide amongst the heather that grew up here. His purple bluish scales with some streaks of green almost made him vanish as he wobbled his way through the little flowers.

"I miss you so much mother" Nisha whispered, hurriedly adding "but i'm doing okay, you needn't worry". Thinking if only she knew how she would survive the rapidly approaching winter. The uncharacteristic drought this summer had made the forest cupboard very empty. Her storage should be filled by now and yet the shelves where screamingly empty, Not only didn't she have enough food she also didn't have enough herbs and medicinal plants, without it the little food she could have traded with the women from the village would make the winter even harder, if not impossible.

It's funny she thought, when her mother had been raped during a raid by the neighboring village clan she had been shunned, forced to live by her self in the little hut in the woods like an outcast. Giving birth to Nisha all by her self and raising her as best she could. It wasn't until the village elder's wife got in trouble that things had slightly changed. All of a sudden they wanted her mothers help, how ever proud her mother was she knew she couldn't afford to turn them down. Thus it began, when sick or in need of her medicine they came knocking on her door, always carrying something in their baskets to pay her with.

Nisha a curious foal always sat silent beside her mother as she made her concoctions and healed the villagers, little by little she was taught how the plants work, what to use for which illness. Had Nisha only not been so stubborn she probably would have more food in her cupboard by now, but when no one showed up when her mother died she wowed she would not help them no matter what, she would rather die of starvation then take their handouts or help them when they were in need.

Nisha rustled her head, shock her long wavy mane and called for Vox "Time to go!". To save her self some time, and Vox the embarrassment of wobbling to her she took a few quick steps and picked him up and put him on her shoulder. Vox of course hissed in disapproval to be manhandled in such a way. "oh shush you" Nisha said with a little smile, knowing full well that it was more show from his part then actual grumpiness.

"You really shouldn't be so grumpy you know," adding in a slightly more somber voice "at least not today of all days, after all today is my birthday" Vox just gave her a snorting sound as if he didn't really care what day of the week it was. It really didn't matter much to Nisha either, they had never had much so birthdays was more or less just another day, but she was determined to continue the tradition her mother had implemented, freshly picked wild strawberries on a string of grass, three to be exact. Nisha didn't know why it had to be three, her mother had always given her three so three it should be!

When she was out picking mushrooms yesterday she had seen a patch of strawberries along the village road and decided that she would leave them for today to pick. It was not too far of a walk either, and she enjoyed being out in the woods as the woods woke up. The sun was beginning to climb, and as she came out of the woods to the small forest road she took of her cloak and put it over her arm, her short summer dress now enough to keep her warm. As her hooves came onto the road her sleek black figure was hit by the sun and made her hide glimmer in the morning sun. She stopped for a moment and just enjoyed the warm feeling on her hide.

"Okay now you can go practice flying or something, just try not to set the forest on fire will you" she said to Vox as she put him on a branch hanging down next to where she was standing. "I'll be over there if you need me" she said and pointed down the road.

She had been picking strawberries along the road for some time, someone had come in after her yesterday and picked quite a few, which led her to walk for a bit. Having picked all in one spot she stood up and slowly started to walk, as she came over a little hill in the road she stopped dead in her tracks. Someone was laying in the middle of the road! It was clearly a male, his battle gear was scattered around him, his shirt bloody and one of his arms lay in an angle which clearly suggested it was broken.

Nisha didn't know is she should turn and run or if she should see if he was still alive, what do i care she thought, it's not like i'm going to help him anyway. Undecided she stood her ground, looking back and forth between the hurt male and the road she came from. suddenly her ears picked up a small grunt. "Oh bullocks" she thought, with a deep sigh she started to carefully walk towards the male.

His white body was covered in dirt and he was laying perfectly still, maybe he is dead after all she thought. Kneeling down at his side she softly spoke "Are you okay, do you need help?" nothing, the male didn't even flinch. Leaning over him seeing his face she withdrew with a gasp, it was a unicorn. "bullocks, bullocks, bullocks" she mumbled under her breath, knowing that the only white unicorn with that tartan was the Conner clan. Apparently three times bullocks was just what was needed for the unicorn to wake, with a groan he opened his eyes and as they met hers, Nisha knew she was in trouble.

Until recently all Conner had to really worry about lay in the field of battle. Leading the charge against his enemies and laying them to waste. Cutting a swath of death as he made his way from one victory to the next. It was a simple life, but one he enjoyed. There was just a certain thrill to it that he couldn't explain.

Now however he had taken up the reins from his father. Taking over the leadership of the clan, and all the headaches that entailed. If that wasn't bad enough, the call for him to take a mate was growing. His mother wanted grandchildren, and his father was pressing for a wedding of convenience. One that would solidify the uneasy peace that had fallen across the land. A sound strategy, but one he was against. If he was to wed, it would be for love and nothing else. Still that pressure was getting hard to bear.

Sometimes as he wandered the stone halls of his keep, or looked out over the village with it's roundhouses of stone and thatch he wondered if he should give in. He knew he didn't want to be alone forever, that he wanted a mare by his side. Someone he could hold close and cherish. When he was in the village it was worse. He could not only see the happy couples, but hear them as well. Such laughter and joy, and such love. That was the key. Without love there was nothing. And so after walking the hard packed earth that served as roads, and seeing just what could be, he always returned more determined then ever not to take a bride

Yesterday Conner had held council in the Guildhall. Sorting out any disputes that might have popped up in his village, and meeting out punishment for any crimes. In this he was thought to be fair by most if not all of his clansmen. Still this weekly affair tended to wear on him in a way that no other task did. It was bad enough having to choose between neighbors and friends, but when there was a crime it was even worse. Today had been especially difficult as one of the young mares had suffered the indignity of being mounted against her will. That was bad enough, but the local healer had confirmed she was carrying. Perhaps that is why she had pleaded for the young studs life, or perhaps she had other reasons. That wasn't up to him to judge.

To be honest, He had been rather surprised the young stallion had refused the offer. Choosing his own gelding instead of being joined to the young filly as was allowed. Even more so that he chose to curse the poor girl out, as if his current problems were all her fault. In the end there had been no choice in the matter, and the young stud was seen to right then and there. For Conner figured it was best that justice not only be fair, but swift as well.

Afterwards he had needed his customary walk more then ever. His disgust at the days events, and at what he had ordered done making his own stomach churn. He needed the time to think, to cleanse his mind and his soul. It was getting dark when he finally decided to turn back, the sun hanging low over the hills. The day was ending, and soon a fresh new one would dawn. Things would be better then, they just had to be

Only it seemed a few of his Clansmen had other idea's about him seeing that new day. As they quickly surrounded him. Attacking him in numbers that threatened to overwhelm him, and though he did his best eventually he fell. Left for dead in the middle of the road where nobody might find him for weeks. Drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the night until he found himself staring into the eyes of the prettiest filly he had ever seen, the bright sun making her appear as if an angel, and then he passed out.