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Several sunrises had passed since the untimely visit of an Ocean Tribe member. Most of the horses of Glen Tribe had gotten back on their hooves since Bari's passing, but all never forgot. It would still take some more time; however, Laica's transfer had provided the Members with more soft grass to their chests. Within the sunrises, a moon, and a meeting, had passed. As promised, Amar and Elda had forbidden their son Jesper from the meeting, choosing to relegate him to the gray mare's care. Esther, on the other side, had free mane over going there. Her spirits had soared, giving her a chance to be away from Jesper.

Within that moon, Keanu and Rasha had stood beside each other more and more, and before long, the consenting pair had vanished into a cave not connecting to a Tribe. However, the horses of Glen Tribe were wise not to question. Love was not to be messed with or meddled. Even Anémona knew how the two enjoyed each other's presence, especially when she knew the bay-and-white mare was to soon be in season.

The two had returned the next day, manes and tails a mess, but exhilarated, nonetheless. Hymn and Chex both helped get them clean, knowing full well what they did in there, but wise enough to know it was inevitable. Rasha also found the bravery to sleep outside the Leader's cave, which both pleased the white mare but gave her a feeling of longing she had not felt before. Keanu joined her, staying beside his forever mate.

Emily also became a pleasant victim of surprise when Desert Tribe Gitano had indeed arrived to transfer to Glen Tribe as Laica told her, nuzzling her and making her feel loved for the first time in springs. However, he was able to know when she needed her area and did his own duties to the Tribe away from her when that happened. The chestnut flaxen mare appreciated his kindness when she needed assistance, feeling a flame in her heart when he did such acts.

Emily walked toward the river, enjoying when the liquid flowed down her throat. "Well, the Tribes are often full of surprises."

Next to her, the curly-eared chestnut mare trotted, rolling over to scratch her back on the grass, her barrel having grown a bit more than Yaffa would have anticipated. "Yes, we are."

"Not even including what happened with Jesper intruding upon our territory, and even Forest Tribe, we have what you prophesied come true, Gitano coming to our Tribe, Keanu and Rasha having a sunrise and sunset to each other, and now we could possibly have two to four foals filling our Tribe," the chestnut-and-white flaxen mare blinked, laying her body beside the other after her drink.

"What will transpire next, we shall not know," Laica nodded.

"That is correct," a new voice joined them. Looking up from her scratching, she saw Hymn standing over her. Laica rolled back, struggling to her hooves, when the Leader joined them, hind hooves nearly reaching her middle as she exposed part of her belly. "Peace, Laica, today is more of a day of respite, not hurting you for not doing your duties to the Tribe."

"As Jesper attempted to do in his lust. Yumi is still a one-spring, older than Eros and Skye, but she did not like his advances," Emily scoffed. "I know she shall find the right stallion, be it here or any Tribe else."

"Her loyalties, I can feel, are with our Tribe, and our Tribe alone."

Upon the knoll, Yumi breathed in a waft of fresh air, her mind set to playing with Skye. All the while, her eyes beheld the tree line that made up Forest Tribe's border. Jesper's little stunt still dried the mud around her hooves, stopping her instantly in her trek. You are well, Yumi. That foolish colt did not bother you or Eros the last meeting. That was a moon ago.

It was then that her buckskin flaxen brother trotted up to her, having grown almost a few hooves taller than her in the moon. "Are you well, Yumi? You have been looking at that border for several twinklings."

Her concentration broken, her head sharply raised, muscles tensing, then lowered, looking at who came into her area to talk. Her muscles relaxed when her eyes beheld her twin. "Oh, Tiger. It is only you. Many sorrows. I was thinking of what happened between Jesper and us."

"That colt was a snake! He did not respect your need for area or the law that forbade territory invasion, except for four-springs and older. All he had in him, was an unintelligent desire to--" Tiger dared not finish, instead stomping a hoof in the grass beneath.

"Understandable, brother. Are you well?"

"Stronger every day, sister. I will do my greatest to defend you," he sighed. "He just grinds my mind down to tiny stones."

"Same hither," Yumi snorted. "What nonsense was fed into him?"

"That is a mystery," a new, thick voice came into the conversation.

Yumi looked up, seeing the light-bay-and-white mare looking over them. "Oh, greetings, Chex."

"Jesp wis a real gowk. Ye cuid hae bund me wi a strae Vitya didnae think o' grabbing th' gowk, especially whin another Tribe's filly wis heavy goin."

"That was outlandish. Vitya or Chiko would have tried to return him to Ocean Tribe."

"That is, if something distracted Rasha's father 'n' th' Guard, or if Jesp wis that astute--which ah doubt th' foolish colt wid hae dane."

"I desire that if he ever sets hoof in here again, I get righteousness for my sister," Tiger arched his neck, which was getting thicker and stronger by the sunrises and sunsets.

"Let th' Guard dae that foremaist, young colt," Chex argued. "Bruno is stronger than ye. Then ye kin git yer ain revenge."

"That is correct," Yumi nodded.

It was then that the buckskin colt sighed. They had a fact, but a great need to protect his sister overwhelmed him, strengthening his legs for a brief twinkling. "Acceptable."

---

A great gust of heat blew over the Glen Tribe as afternoon walked upon the horses, compelling them to the river. Yumi, Eros, Skye, and Tiger drank dutifully next to the stallions and mares, lapping up the cool, refreshing fluid. Anémona was firmly at her tasks, checking each and every horse for any lethargy, restlessness, heavy breathing, increased sweat, too much drooling, and more. She knew well of horses who suffered in the heat, then collapsed without a warning, never to get up again.

This was mitigated slightly from the fact that she had no smallness in herbs. A cursory glance over the sky across from the river colored dark clouds rolling in from Desert Tribe. A musky, yet welcome odor filled her nostrils. "Rain will be in our midst."

"That is wondrous, Anémona. No horse wants to eat dry grass," Juan nodded, laying his body next to Skye in an attempt to shade his adopted daughter from the heat and intense light.

"It would be too sour for us," Laica agreed, standing so her shadow could cover Tiger and Eros, both having laid their bodies down several legs away from her.

Hymn nodded. "Let us sleep in my cave this night. It shall provide cover from the dark's heat."

"Yes," Rasha agreed, nuzzling her mate's cheek. "It would be a bit colder in there after this."

"Let us hope that there aren't ice pellets," Yumi chimed in, shaking off the water from her coat. "To be certain, some horse said to me that Hildegarde had a brown mark on her coat for almost a half-moon."

"It was during the previous full moon meeting," Skye squeaked. "She had to take small breaths."

Hymn sighed proudly. The fillies were observant of their surroundings. However, there was a tiny stone in her chest, one that reminded her that they will one day observe how her body reacted to certain situations, unlike her own demeanor. Inwardly, she shook her head. So far, she stood upon her four hooves, she saw her Tribe increase by the passing suns, and, like the Tribe Nurse, she smelled the musky odor in the air, one that seemed to add in intensity.

Juan, however, had other matters in his head. "The clouds are slow in coming."

"Let them roll their own way," Bruno burred, having taken a respite from his Guard duties. "Rain does come in ways that we do not understand."

"Like when Bari had her last breath. There were clouds, but no rain." Rasha swished her tail, catching a few flies unawares. "I still do not understand."

"I am willing to say the clouds did not want to cover us with rain," Skye squeaked. "Our atmosphere had a dark start, so the sky--"

"Skye, that's plenty!" Eros, whose legs had lengthened since the previous moon, snorted to his adoptive sister. "Let us talk about other areas!"

Sensing hostility rising within the siblings' territory, Keanu rose to his hooves and walked between them. "Peace, Eros. Dark area or not, she had a belief, no more or less."

Gitano, who was giving his beloved some needed itching between her shoulders and withers, blinked in agreement, lifting his mouth from Emily. "That is correct, young one."

Eros looked between the two stallions and sighed. Both of them had perfect sense. He could not get mad at his little sister for having an idea. She had brought sunlight to his chest when Hymn and Juan brought her to Glen Tribe (attempting to bring the filly there had been a difficult task since the tiny one struggled to her hooves and scrambled a ways away from Hymn) as he felt bored being the only foal of the Leader and Deputy. She had shied away at first, not used to seeing other foals, but with the passing seasons, she found the courage to play with him, Yumi, and Tiger.

He rose to his hooves and walked to lay next to Skye. "Many sorrows, Skye. The remembrance of our Bari's last breath still sits in my mind, and I desired a change to ease the subject."

"You are valorous, Eros." And with a playful edge, the creamy-and-white filly took one her older brother's ears in her teeth and gently tugged it, causing him to squeak.

"Oh, you are in for a race now!" the colt quipped, standing up and nudging her onto her hooves.

"Wait! We are coming, too!" Yumi nickered, looking at her brother. "Tiger--"

But the black-and-partially-white filly did not have to provoke the buckskin with no brown legs any further. He got up and easily pushed his older sister up from her rump. "Gallop on, then. We have no twinkling to miss."

The older twin was off on full-hair, leaving her younger brother and her friends behind. The others reared up, waving their front hooves in the air, before they joined with their speeds, dust billowing up from the sandbar, leading some of the older horses to cough.

Hymn burred in amusement. "Well, that is an interesting way to have some excitement."

"Yes," Rasha nodded, getting a drink from the river.

Keanu repeated the gesture in kind. "Yumi is growing faster in her gallop than anything."

"Not to say that she is longer in her legs, near the same with Skye," Gitano came in, his curly ears flicking back and forth for any noises.

Emily burred in amusement, his ears providing some excitement.

However, one horse shifted in the heat, uncomfortable with how it was. "Mist it aye git this het ilka summer? Ah hate it."

"It is how our seasons work, Chex," Juan soothed. "If you desire, you can roll in the river. Just remember the water snakes."

"Ah wull be canny, Juan. Ah ken whit happened tae Imber 'n' her unborn foal,"she sighed, trudging to the edge of the sandbar and lowering to her knees. From there, she rolled onto her back, letting the cool water lap onto her hair and making her sigh in relief.

"Thither," he burred. "Predicament solved."

"Valorous twinkling, as well," Bruno blinked, turning his head to the sky.

"What do you say?" Hymn asked, raising herself to her front hooves.

"The clouds are rolling in."

Indeed, the clouds that were once in Desert Tribe territory had crossed over the river and the sandbar on the Glen's. The Leader's eyes widened. "We must gather the foals. Rasha, do you believe that you can recover Yumi? You are alike with your speed."

Rasha nodded. "I can do that, O faithful Leader! You have my faith."

"Keanu, seek Eros. Chex, once you are cooled, Tiger. Me? Skye," Hymn ordered.

The buckskin and the light bay-and-white mare rose to their hooves, shaking off the laze and the water. "Galloping, Hymn."

The four raced to find the foals. Skye was found first, fortunately, because of her light hair, mane, and tail. "My daughter, get to my cave. The rain is coming. Storms."

Skye squeaked, but nodded, galloping off to the knoll. "Yes, Mother."

Chex ran around the Glen, soon finding her charge laying in the grass, breathing heavily from the heat and exertion. Keeping herself from yelling at him to make him get up, the mare scooped him up until he had settled near her shoulders, gently trotting to the river to get him a brief drink before she could lead him to Hymn's cave.

Keanu sniffed the air. Aside from the musky odor getting stronger, there was a faint foal scent in the air. If Bari were still here, she would know where every colt and filly is. I cannot seem to find Eros.

However, he trotted where he soon found the chestnut, a few legs away from where Chex found Tiger. "Eros, a storm is rapidly to be here."

"To the cave," he nodded, racing off. "Yumi? What about her?"

The buckskin followed him, understanding his worry. "Rasha will find her."

"Rasha is a wondrous help around Glen Tribe. I think we would be missing if we didn't have her here."

Just as the two ascended the knoll, Keanu felt a stone drop in his chest. Where was his beloved mate? Surely finding Yumi would be easy? She couldn't be lost. "Where is Rasha?"

Bruno shook his head, not knowing where she is. "We shall not--"

Suddenly, a neigh came from behind the frightened buckskin, one so familiar that the worry lifted it from his chest. "Retrieved her! She was resting in the shade of one of the trees on our side of the territory. The darkening sky made her almost difficult to recover."

The bay-and-white mare walked up with her charge in tow. However, that did not stop her beloved mate from galloping up and nuzzling her. "I almost thought you lost your breath with Yumi, Rasha."

Rasha nuzzled him in return, a kindle in her eyes. "You will not lose me, Keanu." She then led them into the cave.

"We have the foals and every horse else," Juan reported to Hymn, just as a small plop tapped his rump. "Just in twinkling for the rain."

She burred in amusement. "You get in my cave, my beloved."

As the Deputy stepped into the cave, Chex found a reason to feel a warmth in her chest as the rains started to fall from the sky. "Soon th' rains wull gallus oor air fur loads sunrises. Ah hae na purpose tae fret."

"Yes," Emily breathed, at the hazard of making the horses jump. "Many sorrows."

Laica, who had seen her become a friend since the opinion that she might be having two in her belly, stepped forward, having shaken off the sensation of her sudden jolt fast, and nuzzled her. She knew of her steps of noiselessness and would understand that she startled horses involuntarily. But she did not let it cloud her mind. At the very minimum, she had gradually started using her words more, even with the two in their retreat. "You have nothing to fret, Emily. They are not yet used to you talking, even with Bari's last breath."

She nodded. "I still at twinklings do not have much to say."

"And you are permitted to your own emotions," Juan replied.

"Yes," Hymn agreed. "Many sorrows for our responses to your words."

She looked at her Leader. "You have nothing to fear. I am a noiseless one, but I am going to improve."

"Do not gallop too fast. Walk in your own manner. We shall do the same."

Emily felt an appreciative flame enter her heart. "Many thanks, Leader Hymn."

Gitano walked up beside her. "As well, whether your words come or not, you are a part of Glen Tribe. Nothing can switch that."

She turned her head at the strawberry roan with the snip on his nose. "As are you." With the time that he kept beside her, she understood his sense for area, and her happiness was important to him. She could not mistake the sensation in her chest.

However, a particular buckskin stallion could not avoid the besotted expressions in the pair's eyes. "Walk into the cave we were in, you two!"

"Keanu, allow them to make that choosing at the kindness of fortune," Rasha scolded in jest.

However, Emily shook her head at her. "I am not perturbed. He was having a bit of excitement."

Gitano nodded in agreement. "However, it is acceptable, Rasha."

On the other edge of the cave, the foals had gathered together, Yumi snuggled close to her twin brother. "Valorous twinkling that the rains came when we walked into the cave."

"Walked?" Skye jested. "I galloped as soon as Mama encountered me."

"That is nothing," Tiger came in. "Chex gently carried me to the river before she helped me walk to the cave, and she is usually irritated."

The black-and-partially-white filly snorted in a joking scoff. "You are full of luck."

"I galloped, as well, Skye," Eros neighed. "Keanu was by my flank."

However, this parley was not endured in hushed whinnies, as Bruno walked over to the foals. "It was fortunate that you all entered the cave. We should not want to know one of our horses, little or big, had their last breath in a storm."

Skye's legs trembled. "I remember the fate of Katya, our Leader's mother."

"She was a lovely white mare, like her daughter," he breathed. "Saved Hymn from her last--"

"Yes, yes." Eros stomped a hoof, causing a little clack. "Katya had been valorous and kind. Can we not talk about last breaths for several twinklings?"

Regularly, Bruno would have talked to the chestnut colt at leg about how it was part of every horse, but he sighed, seeing how he was bristling each moment it was picked up, like grass. Bari's passing had changed him. There was no doubt in his head. She had been distinct to all who encountered her, as she also had stood near Hymn as Eros started taking his first breaths.

Wittily, the little colt had mistaken the then-Guard as his mother, seeing how similar they were colored, only to reconsider when he could not smell milk off her.

Pulling himself out of his head, Bruno nodded. "Many sorrows, Eros. We have put the reminiscences into the sun too often. We shall cease."

Eros nodded. "Many thanks, Bruno."

The rains carried on, moistening the dirt entrance to Hymn's cave. However, it did not come silently, as fits of thunder filled the air, and flashes of light spasmodically streaked the sky. The horses were not bothered, as they surrounded the foals, gently nuzzling them, easing them into a nice slumber to patiently endure the storm.

---

Soon, the clouds and the moisture had done their duties, moving on through Forest Tribe. Hymn walked out into the evening air, taking a deep breath of the coolness, sighing in content. It was premature to have every horse sleep again. As she let the wetness soak into her hooves, she set out to check every area.

As she looked out near the river where they once stood beside, the water and the grass squirmed with the venomous snakes, causing her to shake her head.No walking to the river for a few sunrises.

She turned away from the infested river and down the knoll to the edge of Glen Tribe and Forest Tribe's territory boundary but finding nothing in her vision. She could smell a mare's scent, but she chose to ignore it. Perhaps Rane is doing her own patrol as I am, but if that were to happen, I should have seen her.

However, her head was set at rest when the chestnut-and-white Forest Tribe Leader walked in the same direction she was, looking as though she had leaped into Ocean Tribe's waters. Instead of balking like a one-spring filly, she bowed her head at her. She would have seen her anyway. "Forest Tribe Rane."

In kind, she repeated the action. "Glen Tribe Hymn."

"Are you patrolling your territory, as well?" she whickered.

"Yes. We had received rain again." Rane shook her head, droplets falling from her mane in scattered directions. "I see you were not touched as we were."

"Juan got a droplet on him," she nickered amusedly. "However, you are correct."

Rane snorted slightly. "We do not have your caves for our protection, Hymn. And the ones we use for long ways to your Tribe began getting imbued with snakes right off."

"It cannot be helped our ancestors chose our territories, Rane." Sensing a challenge from the Forest Tribe Leader, she arched her neck.

However, instead of leaving her boundary to fight, Rane stood straight. "How is my daughter, Hymn?"

"Do not stray my mind. You know we enjoy our free land."

"I recognize that, Hymn. Do not worry. I do not dream of taking your territory hence. I only desire that Rasha is doing well." She blinked slowly.

Hymn slowly relaxed her neck. "She is doing really acceptably. Rasha has received the sense of duty from you and the stubbornness of Vitya to see it through."

"And the foals from your Tribe? How is she getting on with them?"

"Rasha has gotten on with them well."

"Oh, thank the sky. She got on with Sun Belt when they were less than a spring, and then Coro and Aleena."

"Taking care of every foal is her ability. She may even have foals of her own one season."

"What? But she--"

Hymn arched her neck at the Forest Tribe Leader. "She is still able. She has never treated Yumi, Tiger, Eros, or Skye in a manner that would make me distrust her. Rasha even rescued Yumi before the rain came."

Immediately, Rane relaxed her neck. Hymn was correct. Her daughter was often the right fit for the foals of the Tribe. "Many sorrows. I--"

"It's acceptable. I do the same with Skye and Eros. They are growing in their own mind and body, but I see them as the foals they once were at twinklings."

She nodded. "I should keep patrolling. Who knows if one of the caves has become imbued with snakes?"

"I shall do the same. It was a great pleasure talking with you."

The two bowed their heads and walked their separate paths. Hymn made her way toward the cave connecting Forest and Glen Tribes. Before she could make another move, some horse galloped into her at full body, a scream escaping the two of them. Looking over, she saw her bay lover stand over her.

"Juan?"

"Are you senseless?! There are snakes over there!" Juan demanded, blowing air out of his nose in high pitch. "You are fortunate Chex was able to see you."

"Simply attempting to patrol," she panted, rising to her hooves. "Snakes are also at the river. We cannot--"

He sighed, and Hymn could sense the relief her mate had in her. "So you were not senseless. Many sorrows."

"I am not perturbed. You two were looking out for your Leader, Juan. No punishment will be given." Then as quickly as she could, she playfully tugged at his mane, making him squeak.

"Oh, you are in for some excitement, Hymn. Race you back into the cave," he neighed.

A mischievous nicker left her throat. "You know I have the faster of legs." Right away, the white mare galloped off and up the knoll, leaving her bay mate trailing up behind her.

She passed by her Tribe-mates before her hooves met the dirt opening, a victorious whinny echoing through the cave. "I have won."

Juan soon joined her, panting, but having great speed, ears flopped out straight as a stick and tail down. "You always have the faster of legs between the two of us, Hymn. I never will doubt you."

Hymn nodded, a yawn escaping her mouth. Nearby, Tiger, Yumi, Eros, and Skye lay snuggled up to each other.

This action did not go without a look. "The stars are out this night."

She looked over at the bay-and-white mare walking up beside her mate. Hymn could declare that the two could have been father and daughter, had Juan chosen Forest Tribe and Rane instead of Glen Tribe and her. However, she inwardly shook her head. They may look related with their coloring, but they are not. Moreover, Forest Tribe allows Mountain Tribe and no horse else. Juan is my chosen mate.

She nodded, in response to Rasha. "Yes. The stars are apt to arrive after such a torrent."

"The moon is losing its fullness," came a deep voice, and Hymn turned her head to see Gitano walk in, Emily near his side.

The flaxen chestnut took a deep fill of air, letting it loose. "I fear that something is going on in Forest Tribe. More than what greets our senses."

"How do you think of that?" Rasha inquired. "As far as I can gallop, my mother has been well, my father still thinks his first daughter is more adapted in Forest Tribe..." At this, her ears pinned back as she snorted. "...Aleena and Coro have grown long-legged, and Sun Belt is doing his best butterflying after Kapri--she has to see him one trot or another."

"Not in that sun." Emily looked at her fellow Tribe member out of her peripheral vision. "There is peace, perhaps, but something pricks like the pine leaves of Forest Tribe."

"They never call them that, since they are too thin to be leaves."

"Something scurries, then."

"You heard my mother, Emily. Matters are faring well in their territory, aside from my family fuss."

She sighed. "Perhaps you are correct, Rasha."

Gitano nuzzled her, an accidental sniff of her scent entering his nose. "You can always speak to me the new day, Emily."

"As long as you respect my need for area." She blinked in a butterflying fashion.

"Yes, your area is what you can have." With that, the strawberry roan walked several hoof steps over to a far corner of the cave. He did not look at her, though in his chest, he knew something before Anémona could foresee it.

Then other horses walked in, some still worried over their beloved Leader, to which Hymn appreciated their concerned whinnies and neighs, but she insisted she be regarded as a grown horse, not a newly-born foal. The general consensus of the Tribe, however, was that night had come, and they should rest in the cave, seeing how the foals had slept through. One horse after another fell asleep, with Bruno's watchful eyes staying open. In the cave or out in the glen, he did not desire to see any horse harmed. So, the buckskin watched in the night.

Little did any of Glen Tribe know, that something Emily said made perfect sense.