Areus | Stallion | Single | Mentions: Taleia, Diego

Areus leaned back to momentarily study Taleia's scrunched features. He could tell something was off and worry caused his gut to clench and a bitter taste filled his mouth. If it was pain or worry or some other emotion, the stallion could only sense it, and when Taleia struggled to stand, his concerns were confirmed. "Tal, what's wrong?"

The painted stallion caught Taleia before the brindled mare collapsed to the ground, attempting to keep her from hurting herself if she fell. After all, the foal needed to be protected as well. His ears pinned flat against his skull, his worry only worsening as Taleia's breathing became labored. What am I supposed to do? How do I help her? I don't even know what's going on...His thoughts were like a whirlwind, consuming all of his senses, preventing him from thinking clearly. All he felt was the sick feeling of worry clawing at the inside of his stomach. Tal...please be okay.

Areus | Stallion | Single | Mentions: Taleia, Diego

The foal...? Taleia was going to give birth today? Areus blinked in shock as the young mare nipped at his withers, nuzzling her cheek when he heard her whine of pain. It worried him; he'd never had a mate before, let alone one who was giving birth. It made him uncertain as to what he should to, how he could help Taleia if she was going to give birth to the foal. Or he could just be overreacting and the foal was simply moving around.

"It's wanting to see me...?" A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his muzzle as his gaze shifted to Diego who continued to doze against Taleia's side. He carefully used his nose to bring the colt into side to give the mare some space to relax. "What can I do to help, Tal?"

Shade trotted through the shadowy forest, relishing the gentle breeze that flowed through her mane as she kept up a quick pace. Her blue audits looked around, hoping to find something of interest, yet, she simply found more trees, leaves, and shrubs. This is so boring, she thought. She hadn't seen another horse in weeks, and the closest thing had been a deer she'd seen a few days ago. The deer had run away when Shade tried to approach it, though.

She heard a nearby stream, and walked towards the sound. There were all kinds of critters near streams, right? Besides, she was thirsty. Finding the stream, she followed it into a large meadow and dipped her muzzle into the cool waters, taking in large, refreshing gulps. She lifted her head, detecting salt in the air. There must be a beach nearby.

Shaking out her mane, Shade jumped across the stream and galloped into the forest once again. Hearing nothing, she became bored, and her galloping pace was slowly exhausting and overheating her. She slowed to a canter, then trot, and then a walk. Walking through the trees, she followed a vague path that looked as if it had been walked before.

Shade came upon a cove, and she gratefully dipped her muzzle in the water, which cooled her down somewhat. She then heard something, voices. Shade looked up, seeing a chimera stallion talking to a sandy gray stallion a little ways in the distance. She pinned her ears, backing further into the shadows as she watched them, flicking her tail at the occasional fly.