News from the King

[Immortal]

Dreamer smiled. "Yeah I guess so its like being with my family" she said with a smile. Dreamer sank to the ground a little exsuasted from everything that day. "So can you do any other magic then controling the wind?" she asked and then added "I can heal wounds by just thinking of them being healed" she said a bit proudly.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge nodded, and then gave a small shrug. "Well sometimes when my emotions are really high, I can run really fast," he said. "It's like, everything fades into a blur and I'm almost flying. I don't know if it counts though." His eyes widened when he heard of Dreamer's talent. "That's amazing!" he said. "I wish I could do something as cool as that." He lowered his gaze, and wished he could do something helpful. Something that was actually useful. So he could cool himself down with the wind, and run super fast. As if that was useful. Fledge sighed, his tail flicking slightly with annoyance. He'd never be able to live up to the expectations of everyone else.

[Immortal]

Dreamer listened intently, and then she smiled. "That's cool. Sounds more unique then others, a lot of Unicorns have the power to heal others" she said with a sigh, sure hers was a little bit stronger then most but it was still a common power to have. "Yeah healing is pretty cool thing, but its not unique" she said shacking her head a little bit.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge snorted. "You could save someone's life!" he said. "That's pretty special." It was his turn to sigh now. Running fast was always fun, but it would never be able to impress anyone. Especially not Dreamer. He smiled at her. "I bet the herd appreciates having someone like you, who can heal them when they're hurt," he said. He flipped his forelock out of his eyes and looked at her. "I've never come across anyone who could heal," he said. "So it can't be all that common." He smiled again, trying to make her feel better.

[Immortal]

Dreamer laughed to herself. "Yes one of the up sides of being able to heal, but many of the other herd members can do that, Cloud can heal among other things." She said with a snort and then thinking for a moment. "You know I can teach you to heal its easy to do and lots of Unicorns learn it from some one they know. Me and Cloud were born with it and others have learned from us." She said hopping to show that it didn't matter what he could do, it never mattered what magic they could do, she just liked you for you. "Well being born with it isn't that common but being able to learn it is," she said happily, "you know there can never be to many healers" she said her sweet warm voice. She tilted her head to side looking at Fledge. Dreamer's hazel eyes shined, "everyone is special in some way, whether its their personalty, something they have done or for the power they have, wither way every one is special in one way or another." She said with a nod hopping to make him feel better about his powers.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge smiled. "That would be awesome," he said excitedly. Learning to heal would mean he could finally do something useful! He felt a warm, glowing feeling rising inside of him as Dreamer spoke. The words she said made him feel like he was already doing something useful. Her sweet voice and kind eyes made him feel more special and wanted than he ever had. "Thanks," he said softly. "You're special in every way," he said boldly. Then he felt like cringing. "Well, I think so anyway," he said quietly.

[Immortal]

Dreamer laughed and smiled. "Okay then guess its settled," she said nodding to him. Dreamer watched him and listened to Fledge talk. She smiled and tilted her head to the side. "Well thank you." She said with a nod and smile. She smiled and what he said after that, she tipped her hair down to let her forelock fall in her eyes, that was the habit she had when she was embarrassed.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge smiled, happy that he'd made Dreamer smile. He almost laughed when she tipped her forelock into her eyes. It was funny to him, that she would let her hair cover her face, and he was constantly flipping it out of his. Fledge suddenly got a feeling that Dreamer was a little embarrassed, so he changed the subject. "So what's it like living out here?" he asked her. He'd gotten a small glimpse of the Wind Plains, but he'd been too focused on the actual herd to take much notice of his surroundings.

[Immortal]

Dreamer smiled. She let her mind wander for a while, most Unicorns were annoyed by their forelock in their face. It made her feel like no one could see when something got to her, but she had since learned that they all knew what it meant when she let her hair fall in her face. She lifted her head back up at the question. She let a vine come out the tree and pull her forelock out of her eyes. "It can be hard to find water some times but most of the time its easy enough to find." She said to him. "You learn how to hide without have things to hide behind or in. You can run any time you want and not worry about crashing into trees." She said with a laugh. "There are a few trees like this around here in case some one gets to far away from the herd at least they will have shelter," she said. She smiled, "Oh yeah and I can't forget to tell you about the tattoo we all get" she said to him flipping her mane over to the other side to show him the tattoo mixed with pale blue and blue gray. "In each after the horse is sure they are gonna stay here, they get it under their mane. We don't use as complicated tattoos as every other herd does, were simple and we hide our tattoos under our manes." She to him flipping her back over her tattoo, it was about a foot long and only 6 inches at the highest point large but small enough to keep well hidden under their manes.

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[peanutgregory]

Fledge smiled when the vine pulled Dreamer's forelock away. "That's so cool," he whispered. He listened intently to everything she said. "I can't wait to learn how to hide," he said. It was true, ever since Cloud had told him that he'd be able to learn, he couldn't wait for it. His eyes were drawn immediately to Dreamer's tattoo. "Wow," he breathed. He'd seen a couple of small markings on the older member's of his family herd, but they were nothing compared to this. "It's amazing," he said. His eyes grazed over every inch of the tattoo, drinking in the colours and swirls. Fledge sighed when Dreamer flipped her mane back over the marking. It was almost like a spell had been broken once the tattoo was concealed from his view. He suddenly itched to prove to everyone that he was here to stay. If he got a tattoo like that, it would mean he finally belonged somewhere, and that he was included. He let out a small sigh, and then wondered to himself if it was a happy or a sad sigh. He wasn't even sure. He looked back up at Dreamer and smiled.

[Immortal]

Dreamer smiled. "Its so handy to be able to hide where ever you are," she said happily. She smiled listing to him talk. She laughed lightly. "Yeah our tattoos are made to be hiddin', they are to only mark us as Wind Dancer's not be big and flashy." She letting her mane stay partly off her tattoo. "But Faith's worthless horses know how to mask their tatts as we call them, so others don't see what they see its how they know their own. Their tatt is a wicked looking one very hard to make and imposable to miss if you see it." She said shacking her head. "If they think they are safe they let their magic down and it is shown like a beacon" she said whipping her mane. "The only tatt they can't disguise theirs as is ours, for some reason the simpler the design the hard to mask their tatt." She said half her red mane was hanging on the other side of her neck and the other half was covering her tatt. "You only get a Tatt if you feel a pull to the herd like your hearts finally set where it belongs then the Tattoo is givin' with a honor." She said raised her head proudly. She really hoped Fledge would stay with this herd and not move like many had. There was a reason this was the smallest of all the herds. Cause they worked with being stealthy and some thought it was too much trouble and left. "Most leave cause of the training they have to do." She sighed and looked off for moment. "I really hope you stay though," she said looking down and letting her hair fall into her face again.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge listened to everything Dreamer had to say, hanging on her every word. "Faith and her herd sound horrible," he said softly, sadness glinting in his eyes. He'd thought that he'd had a hard life in his small family herd, being picked on when he was a youngster. He'd had no idea of the evil that was around. "And now she's planning an attack!" he snapped angrily. "I can't believe anyone oculd be so selfish!" He hung his head and waited until his anger subsided. He listened to Dreamer's explanation about belonging to the herd. He would never leave this herd because the training was too hard. He looked forward to learning every skill that the Wind Dancer's could offer. He looked up at Dreamer and whispered quietly. "I'll never leave here." He closed his eyes for a moment, and then reopened them, looking through his forelock at Dreamer. "I promise."

[Immortal]

Dreamer whipped her head in agreement. "Yes they are. They have destroyed life around them. Their all cold hearted and don't care about anything but them selves. They don't even care about the others in their herd." Dreamer almost spat out the words. "Yes they are all selfish." She said regaining her calm smooth honey tone voice. She bent her head down shyly to listen to him whisper. She thought about how to respond but wasn't sure how to do that. So she stayed quiet for a moment with her forelock covering both her eyes. "Well I suck at words soo..." She lied, she was great with words and loved to talk, she was also the herds spokes person so to say, mostly cause her voice was so sweet others felt a need to listen to her when she spoke. "I'll just say thanks and I'll hold you to it." She said in a quiet voice, tilting her head to the side while she spoke.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge nodded as Dreamer spoke. He hated Faith and her herd more and more with every passing moment. He shuddered, thinking of how horrible it was for them to find enjoyment in the pain of others. He blinked through his forelock at Dreamer. He stifled a yawn, and continued to gaze around him. It was so peaceful here. It was like Fledge had no reason to worry anymore. No, there was no way he was going to be leaving.

[Immortal]

Dreamer sighed overcome by sleep. She smiled glancing at Fledge. For once she felt content to stay still. "We all carry a curse in our hearts." She said but didn't finish. She relaxed ready to sleep. "Sleep now talk when the sun comes up." She said drifting off to sleep. And for once in three years no night mares came to her and she felt content for once in her life.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge nodded, and smiled as ge watched Dreamer close her eyes. There was no way he'd be able to sleep tonight. Thoughts of Faith and her evil herd were still swirling through his mind, as well as the excitement of having finally found a new herd. Fledge closed his eyes to attempt sleep, but gave up almost immediately. He watched Dreamer sleeping peacefully instead, and he never wanted anything to shatter the tranquility of the night. The beautiful mare was the picture of serenity, sleeping underneath the tree. Fledge watched her the whole night, never once taking his eyes off her. He felt a strange calm settle over him, and felt strangely peaceful as he matched her relaxed breathing. As dawn slowly arrived, Fledge allowed himself to doze, his eyelids slowly lowering and mixed images flickering through his head. He didn't quite dream, but his mind wasn't blank either.

[Immortal]

Cloud moved slowly in the early cold she knew that it was time for the herds to awake and move back onto the plains. She reared up and slammed her feet hard onto the ground.

Dreamer opened her eyes as she felt the earth shift releasing the ties of the willow branches. As the morning light washed over her, she smiled at its warm and loving touch. She looked to Fledge and decided to speak with Cloud as he slept. At her approach Cloud smiled and said, "my old friend, I see someone has succeeded in melting your heart, that you have kept so made of ice." She said with a happy smile. Dreamer looked to the ground and said, "when will the herd run?"
Cloud shook the dew off her long rested and stiff body, "when the sun reaches the peaks we will run, for that is the most beautiful to run."
Dreamer smiled and nodded. "She turned and looked at Fledge. Was it true what Cloud had said? Had he melted her heart that she had worked so hard at to make ice? She smiled at thinking of their talk last night and said, "I think he will fit in here, and will not leave." She blinked slowly thinking of how she hadn't had any nightmares last night. Cloud laughed and said, "yes well I'm glad you have that faith in him because your gonna be the one to train him."
Dreamer looked at her and widened her eyes. Not from shock but from excitement.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge felt the earth tremble beneath him, but didn't awake immediately. He slowly came out of his dozing dreams, and when he finally opened his eyes he blinked around blearily, glancing around him. For a moment he didn't realise where he was. He looked up, and saw Dreamer speaking with the lead mare, Cloud. He rose to his feet and dipped his horn respectfully to his new leader, then glanced briefly to Dreamer. "Good morning," he said to both mares, smiling softly. He rolled his shoulders and then shook himself, trying to wake his still sleepy muscles.

[Immortal]

Cloud nodded and said, "morning Fledge. You get through today and you'll have yourself a tattoo."
Dreamer looked at Cloud and frowned, why was she giving him his tattoo so soon? most of the time you had to wait a few months. Was it because Cloud to saw the loyality in this young stallion? She looked at him and smiled. "Morning." She said shyly hiding her eyes behind her forelock again.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge trembled inwardly, a shiver of delight racing down his spine at the thought of being accepted into the herd for real. 'My own tattoo,' he thought to himself with glee. The end of his tail swished joyfully, and he beamed at Cloud. "Really? Thank you! Uh, I mean...well...thanks," Fledge stammered, ducking his head meekly. He could barely believe that Cloud already deemed him fit to become a Wind Dancer. He hoped he'd get through the training, he couldn't think of anything better than joining the herd. He glanced over at Dreamer to see her reaction, and caught her frown. His insides squirmed a little, didn't she want him to get his tattoo? What if, after everything they'd talked about, Dreamer didn't actually want Fledge to stay in the herd? Fledge ground his teeth nervously. Some rational part of his mind was telling him that he was being silly, of course Dreamer wanted him to stay. But there was still a part of Fledge that was so used to feeling like he was being judged, that he couldn't help his thoughts. He looked at Dreamer again and her frown was gone, a smile aimed at him in its place. He returned the smile cautiously, his eyes dancing with amusement as she hid behind her forelock. Lifting his head and looking back up at Cloud, Fledge asked her curiously, "So what exactly is involved in the training?"
He hoped he wouldn't have to fight anybody. Fighting was not Fledge's strong point, although if it came to protecting his new friends he knew he wouldn't have a choice.

[Immortal]

Cloud had to re-frame from rolling her eyes at Feldge. But she did smile, "you are very welcome but first you must get through the training of today and it is not easy. We are in a time of upcoming war, so there is no for easy training and then the hard, you must go straight to hard." She said but not in a leaders voice, just in a friend voice. She really didn't want to put through such hard training so soon but Faith's herd was becoming more and more dangerous. Everyone needed to be fully trained as soon as possible. Cloud sighed and answered his question, "it is not up to me what your training is to be, that is up to your trainer." And then added, "Dreamer will you give me a moment with him?" Dreamer nodded and went to talk with one of the other mares of the herd. Cloud turned back to him. "I try to stay out of my herds feeling but sometimes I can't stop them from hitting me, so let me tell you one thing. Dreamer wants you to stay, her shock was because I said if you made through today you'd get your tattoo. I have givin' that honor before, but I have seen such loyalty in anyone else either."

[peanutgregory]

Fledge nodded to Cloud, and managed a weak smile. "Oh...Can't wait," he said in a meek voice. Straight to the hard training? There was no chance of Fledge getting through that without having any basic training first. He held his head high and stopped himself from looking away from Cloud. He smiled when he heard that Dreamer would be the one to choose his training. It couldn't be too bad if it was her teaching him. He watched curiously as Cloud asked Dreamer for a moment alone, and watched as the chestnut mare walked away. He turned his attention back to Cloud, wondering what she had to say to him. When he heard what Cloud had to say, he ducked his head in embarrassment. "I-uh, okay." He said. He found he was overjoyed at the fact that Dreamer didn't want him to leave. He nodded solemnly to Cloud. "Thank you," he said. He had a feeling that going through the training process so soon was rare, and he was honoured to be given the chance. "I won't let you down, I promise I'll do my best," he said to Cloud, lifting his head higher. He didn't want to let her, nor anyone else in the herd down. Especially not Dreamer.

[Immortal]

Cloud smiled and nodded, "the training is not the easiest and with Dreamer as your teacher don't expect it to be any easier." She said with a smile and added, "she is one of our top trainers and you are not granted the right to work with her unless she apporves it. She is theachs the art of steath and how to move without making a sound, soon she will be able to teach you how to fight and hone your abilities." Cloud said, "just know that Dreamer will not be easier on you because she cars for you, it is required of her to not treat you any different." She said in her normal herd voice, Cloud never held herself above her herd and never could. They were family and the only ones that could ever understand her as herself. Finally she called, "Dreamer come here."

Dreamer trotted back over to them and nickered to her leader, "yes Cloud?"
"We will be running soon and once everyone is settled you may start Fledge's training."
Dreamer nodded and glanced at Fledge, she almost felt sorry for him that she was his first teacher. But today it was only skill testing nothing more, at least that shouldn't be to hard on him, finally she looked to Cloud and said, "I'll be ready." She turned and moved further into the tree dome.

[peanutgregory]

Fledge nodded, managing a small smile. He had no doubt that the training would be hard. And he knew that Dreamer wouldn't be easy on him, he just thought it would be easier for him personally having her there. With Dreamer around, Fledge felt a little more comfortable. He felt a flutter inside him when he found he'd be learning how to move silently. Fledge had always been clumsy, tripping over the smallest things and making far too much noise. He hoped he'd do well in learning. "Wait...fight?" he said in a small voice. Fledge didn't want to fight anybody. He hoped it would be a while until he had to learn combat. He nodded to Cloud and what she said. "I wouldn't want her to treat me differently anyway," he said quietly. Fledge wanted to prove himself just the same way that the rest of the herd had to. He was determined to do it. He turned as Dreamer came back to join them, and smiled to her. He cocked his head when Cloud yet again mentioned running. He caught Dreamer's eye as she glanced at him, and gave a half hearted smile to her. He then watched as Dreamer left again, without so much as a word to him. He watched her move away, pricking his ears in her direction and staring after her for a long moment before turning back to Cloud.
"What exactly do you mean, that everyone will be running soon?" he asked curiously. He felt a little excited for whatever it was, but kinda nervous too. As soon as it was over, his training would begin, and Fledge felt a little queasy. A light breeze picked up and flowed around him, the wind soothing his feelings and helping him to relax. He smiled, and turned his eyes back to Cloud.

[Immortal]

Cloud whipped her head and smiled, "yes fighting, it is a required field for us you know. We must know how to fight and how to protect ourselves. When you are ready I'll interdouce you to the Kings trainer, he is not a gentle horse and has seen the evil before and lived through it." She said, she knew it would be awhile before Fledge got high enough to fight that stallion but there was still time. She smiled thinking of the run and kept from rolling her eyes at Fledge watching Dreamer go, she knew Dreamer had meant for him to go with her. Cloud was happy Fledge was here because he was the only horse Dreamer even seemed to want to be around. She smiled at his question and said, "running is what this herd does evey single day that makes us faster. We all run to the medows at top speed and any of us who are wind try to help the others pick up speed. Its really just something we do because we are trapped in the willow all night, it gives some of the horses cabin fever." She said nodding towards some of the younger horses that had not yet become used to sleeping in such a confined place for so long.

Dreamer stompped her foot and called, "hey Fledge! You comin? Or what?" She smiled as she called it, she would rather have him around then any of the others. Cloud laughed and said, "I must let you go then, your teacher is calling for you and be ready to go when we run."

[peanutgregory]

Fledge grimaced at what Cloud was saying, and managed a weak laugh. "Hopefully it'll be a while before I meet the King's trainer," he said with a short smile. He sounded dangerous, and Fledge knew he wouldn't be able to take on anybody until he'd had heaps of training. He listened to Cloud and smiled. "Oh, that sounds like fun!!" he grinned. Running fast with the aid of wind was something that Fledge was definitely good at! In fact, it was pretty much the only thing he was good at. He smiled as he followed Cloud's gaze to the young unicorns who were more restless. "I can't wait to run," he smiled.
He looked up as Dreamer called to him, and he flashed a grin at Cloud. "Bye!" he said to her, then reared and whinnied joyously before cantering over to Dreamer. He slowed to a trot next to her, tossing his tangled forelock out of his eyes. He smiled to the chestnut mare and tossed his head. "I'm here, I'm here," he laughed to Dreamer, stamping a hoof. He was glad to be around the mare, he felt like they were already really good friends. Fledge smiled shyly to her, and promptly tripped over a clod of dirt, causing him to stumble midstride. He caught himself before he fully fell and shook himself off, then grinned sheepishly to Dreamer. " So, um, when does the training start?" he asked quickly, trying to steer attention away from his klutziness.

[Immortal]

Cloud ~ She smiled watching Fledge running off to Dreamer. She laughed and shook her head when he tripped and then she turned back to her own business. Her creamy coat shimmered in the morning light and she looked out over her herd with loving eyes. She sighed and turned to look back out at the perfect peaks of east, the sun was almost to the top and then they would run.

Dreamer ~ She laughed and whipped her long mane, allowing her long forelock the rest in her face. She laughed again and stomped her foot. She smiled and shook her head at Fledge and said, "so you are..." She whipped her head and smiled a small smile. She liked having him around but it also made her feel on guard a little bit, Dreamer had never been good at opening up to others or really being around others. But for some reason she liked having Fledge around her. He made her feel like she wasn't alone and that maybe just maybe she might have found someone that could listen to her. She looked over at him and smiled when he tripped, she knew he was probably trying to get off the subject of being a klutz. She smiled and shook out her entire body. “I think I'll start out by taking you to one of the brooks, there are some large rocks there and the brook curves so much it will give me a chance to test your agility.” She said with a smirk, she swished her tail and snorted, “almost time to run.”

(They'll run after your next post cause its gonna be really long )