The herd she seeks.

[peanutgregory]

Her dainty hooves picking their way over tangled roots and fallen braches, Fern made her way carefully through the forest. Her deep, chocolate brown mane hung in waves past her shoulder, snagging twigs and leaves as she walked. Her kind eyes drank in her surroundings, and the plants seemed to lean closer to her as she passed through. Flicking her long, tangled forelock out of her eyes, Fern peered through the dimly lit forest, trying to find the herd known as the Forest Guards. She knew instinctively that she would belong with them. As she walked, Fern sang a wordless tune. Her voice was sweet and clear, floating through the forest hauntingly. Her long tail dragged along behind her, occasionally brushing over a small forest animal. A squirrel chattered in a tree, high above, and Fern smiled, her eyes shining. She loved the atmosphere of the forest, it was as if she could breathe easier knowing she was surrounded by nature. Coming across a small trickling spring, Fern paused, lowering her head to drink the cool, clear water. She touched the tip of her horn to the water, sending a ripple across the surface. As the ripple of water touched the floating water lilies and other plants, Fern watched them burst into life. New flowers grew in an instant, unfolding and blooming with their beautiful colours. Fern made a small, satisfied sound and nimbly jumped the small stream of water, landing softly on the other side and continuing through the forest. She sang the whole while, sending her melody into the very heart of the forest to seek out the herd she looked for.

[Immortal]

Nightshade raced along through the forest, she was nothing but a silent shadow. Her hooves moved silently as she twisted and galloped on toward where her magic told her the leader of the Forest horses was, as she raced things of her past played through her mind...
The young stallion cowarded to her as she towered over him like a giant, the little bay colt shrank in fear, his eyes glisened with with tears and fear of the purple mare with glowing eyes, he feared her more then anything else in this cause he had just watched her murder his mother and his sister and now it was his turn. She lashed her tail and scowled at the pathetic excuse for a unicorn, she snorted and whipped her head. Her purple coat gleamed as the lightning sliced across the sky and she lashed at the colt, his screams of pain peirced the night he fell to his death in a pool of his own blood. Nightshade lowered her nose to him and sniffed to make sure he was dead. She raised her graceful head as her leader came to her. "Nightshade my beauty you have done well." Said the sickly sweet voice of the brilliant stallion that which she shared her soul with, she bowed down to her master tucking her head and lashing her tail in respect for her soul mate. He lowered his head and whispered. "Raise my darling." He said and she looked into his red eyes and thought she could stay forever lost in them, his soul was dark and dangerous something she always thought she wanted but this was the first time she had ever looked into his eyes for the search of his soul and what she saw scared even her. His soul had changed, there was something more dangerous there, more deadly and worst of all his soul seemed to be gone. Nightshade felt chill roll over as she realised all the murders she had commented and looked around herself and finally saw that she had killed two foal because her master had told her two. She raised her head and pretended to proud and shortly after they returned home she ran, she ran till she was almost dead, she repented to everything she had ever done and begged for the forgivness of the King but his answer to her pleas was simply. "It is not me to grant forgiveness for your sins." He said and turned his back on her...
She jerked out of her memories just as a log almost tripped her but she maneged to jump it before she fell over it, she cursed herself for getting lost in memory and just kept racing, racing, racing. Nothing else ran through her mind except the simple words, racing from the past.

(Like??)

[peanutgregory]

Lifting her delicate head, Fern peered through the trees and uttered a tinkling laugh. Her herd found, Fern had counted over each member, and now stood, poised and waiting for the newest mare to join them. "Ease her mind," she whispered, and as she did so a soothing scent drifted on the wind, floating away through the trees. Fern smiled, her soft velvety lips twitching upwards. The mare racing towards them was troubled, yet Fern was not worried. A few young horses lifted their heads as they felt the earth groan under the impact of thundering hooves. "Easy, my beauties," Fern whispered to them reassuringly. The heads dropped, curious gazes from the foals ceased, and Fern smiled graciously. She walked slowly away from the herd, occasionally touching the tip of her horn to a leaf or flower in need of repair. She sang lightly as each plant burst into new life at the touch of her magic. Continuing her wordless tune, Fern made her way through the forest, to await the new mare patiently. Her melody drifted through the forest, and the plants seemed to lean towards her. Animals cocked their ears and listened, and the forest thrummed with content. "Come, lovely. Come," the mare whispered, smiling.
Stopping once she was closer to the new mare than the rest of her herd, Fern lifted her head and whinnied through the forest. Lowering her pale bay head to the forest floor, she gently dug her horn under the soil. Spreading her magic through the ground, Fern chuckled as seedlings sprouted and unfurled their new leaves. Raising her head, the mare peered through the densely packed trees to await the new mare. She was close enough now that Fern herself could feel the tension rolling off her. The mare was shrouded in a dark past, one that Fern could not see until she was standing before the newcomer. She opened her jaw and let her tune float again through the trees, welcoming and drawing the new mare closer with its inviting melody.

(ME LOVE)

[Immortal]

Her heart pounded as she raced through the forest, her body nimbly dodging and lunging avoiding touching any part of this quiet forest. Her gleaming hide shined with the streaming sunlight of the morning light, as she galloped on word she felt her heart and magic scream and thrash for the open spaces of the wind plains where she didn't have to think anything but run, gallop, race, storm... She breathed in a deep breath and called to her magic and closed her eyes bolted like lightning shooting across a dark and wordless sky, she she raced onward her magic told her when to slow, jump, dodge and most important when to go flat out. Her sides were starting to heave and sweat started to grow on her sides as she raced for the herd that she was to find for that of the king.
When she heard anothers whinny she slid to a stop and lifted her head judging where it had come from and studied where she was and decided she knew where to run to, she reared and shot lightning across the sky and jumped into a gallop towards the neigh of the other Unicorn. As she raced her pulse also raced, nothing felt better then this feeling, racing with nothing to stop her with the lightning striking across the sky like fingers reaching out and trying catch her, in her heart she would never out run the horror of her past but right now right this minute with her heart free and soul free of all damnation. She Raced The Lightning...

[peanutgregory]

Fern glanced briefly into the sky as lightning flashed, and frowned. This new mare was obviously in more pain than she'd realised. Closing her eyes, Fern reached out, and gleaned that the new mare -Nightshade- had control over lightning. Tossing her head, Fern reached out with her magic and sent a breath of life through the air. Hoping it would reach Nightshade quickly, Fern retreated into the trees. Racing so fast through the forest was exhilarating, but it was dangerous too. Each time the thunderous mare's hooves landed on a seedling, or crushed a small insect, Fern flinched. She felt the forest's pain, and it wasn't liking having a huge mare race through it. "Come, come mare. Calmly and quietly. Ease your mind," Fern sang, letting her words drift through the forest on the wind. The plants reached towards her, and the trees cringed away from the lightning bursting through the sky. "Selfishness is not the way of the forest," Fern murmured to herself. The lightning show might calm the new mare, but in frightening the forest she was doing more harm than good. Fern waited for Nightshade, letting the new mare come to her. She would address the situation once the dark mare had calmed herself, and could see the error of her ways.

[Immortal]

Nightshade felt the thunder roll in her heart, she had but one purpose on this run to bring word of the King's message and be on her way and with that message came no care but to race with fearlessness. Her heart thundered and her body slowly became lathered as the small petite mare raced onward, her hooves as silent as the breeze, her body was nothing more then a shadow of smoke. She jumped a log and galloped on, her heart still feeling free as the Lightning chased her like an old and dear friend, Thunder rumbled with her heart like another part of her heart that all could hear. Her powers soared as she raced, even though she was not that of a the earth horses she could still sense parts of the forest was dying of thirst even with all the Earth horses in it it could survive cause they could not all be in the same place at once. Nightshade filled her powers to slowly darken the lightning streaked sky, her power was low and the only clouds brought to the bright sky were a few light gray ones that quickly dissapeared into nothing. Nightshade sighed and felt her heart rumble with getting close to the one she was looked for, she looked around and finally spotted where she was to go and slowly slowed down to a trot, her lightning acquitting and the thunder nothing but a distant rumble, when she saw the mare she seeked she said. "You are the leader?" She asked nodding in great respect for the mare.

[peanutgregory]

Fern felt Nightshade's immense power echoing through the forest, and breathed a silent message to the trees and plants. As enlightening as it was to have new life brought here, crashing hooves were damaging, and the forest was afraid of the dark power rolling through it. As soft as a newly hatched chick's first down feather, Fern sang to the forest. Snares of vines reacted and slowly entwined themselves in her mane, an intricate braid forming and pulling the mare's hair away from her neck. Cocking her head towards the mare, Fern willed her to slow, and to come calmly. She could sense that Nightshade had only one purpose, but Fern's purpose was to keep the forest safe and happy. Looking up, the small bay mare finally saw the newcomer. A brilliant, deep purple mare trotted through the trees, approaching steadily. Shrinking out from the forest, Fern stepped into sight and patiently awaited the new mare. Dipping her head in a greeting, she sighed gently. The dark mare was lathered in a sweat, and Fern shook her head briefly. "Welcome to the forest, Nightshade," she said quietly. Her voice trilled like a warbling magpie, yet it managed to have an air of power resounding too. "I am Fern. If you would follow me, I think a short rest is in order before you relay your message." Dipping her head again, Fern gently turned and stepped daintily over the shrubs and bushes. Seedlings reached towards her legs as she carefully placed each hoof, and Fern uttered a tinkling laugh. Turning to peer over her shoulder, she gestured for Nightshade to follow her into the depths of the forest.

[Immortal]

Nightshade did not ask the mare how she knew her name for it was a leaders place to know, her purple coat gleamed sweat but she did not follow the mare. "I do not deserve rest for rest would mean my soul is at peace and that it is not." She said dipping her head and following the mare, before she knew what she was saying she said. "Your forest dying, I can feel the heat it feels in the south, the lightning caused by the dryness there is dying of thirst. And to the west it is drowning for it hasn't seen sun in months and is starting to starve..." She said she could sense the fire dancers playing their games in the south cause the heat to rise and forest to die soon the lightning would catch it on fire. As she followed the mare she continued. "I have come cause the old leader, the one known as the Dark King has returned and killed the queen he no longer has a use for Faith so she is gone but the dark king is back, his army is smarter and more savy then that of Faith's worthless grudge holders, The Dark King makes his followers loyal you do not betray him without a part of your soul being left behind." The black mare lowered her head in shame, she regretted everything she had ever done for him but she could not fight the feeling that she still loved him deeply, you couldn't hate your Soulmate but what did you do if they had no soul? "The Dark King is souless, he cast out of himself, he has no pity and will kill anything that stands in his way. He will not try to get into the King's home, no he will draw him out by killing off the herds. Apollo will be forced to fight out in the open, you need your herd to be strong and not let there guard down, and more then anything you must not let in any outsider unless they come with a guard from the king himself." Nightshade's head came up and she stopped dead in her tracks something dark was nearing, it felt cold and hard, almost evil but not evil. Not in the sense that it would harm an innocent, but it was still cold and carried a dark aura. That's when it hit Nightshade, one of the King's own was nearing. One of the Shadows.

[peanutgregory]

Fern nickered gently to Nightshade, bobbing her head thoughtfully. "You may not deem yourself worthy of rest at the moment, but I must insist." Turning from the dark mare, Fern closed her eyes and picked through the forest carefully. Nightshade's feelings washed over the little mare, swarming her with feelings of guilt and shame, yet wariness and caution. Fern suppressed a shudder. This mare had a rough past, yet she wanted nothing more than to make it right. She was so conflicted with herself, that no amount of reasoning could help. Nightshade would have to find inner peace on her own. Stopping and opening her lids, Fern lowered her head to the small brook that trickled through the trees. She had to admit, it was running lower than normal. Fern knew that the forest's borders were sick, dying in some cases, yet she had no option but to stay here. The heart of the forest was her home, the herd's home, and Fern couldn't just up and leave. Turning to the dark mare, Fern blew air gently from her lips. "Hush, child," she murmured. "I am aware of the Darkness seeping closer. The trees withdraw from it, the animals rush away. I am not deaf to the warnings of the forest." She sighed, and ground her teeth softly. When the forest hurt, Fern herself hurt. She hummed a gentle tune as vines began to wrap around her slender legs, as if the forest was trying to comfort her to a degree. With a gentle smile, Fern wished them away. "Thank you, my lovelies," she whispered, watching as the vines retreated, curling back into the forest's dense undergrowth. Looking up at Nightshade, Fern smiled.
"I appreciate your warning. Your knowledge of this Dark King shall be a great help to our King's cause." Fern sighed. The Darkness was intense, and it's very essence seeped into the forest and thus into the mare. She trembled slightly, but regained her composure and gazed at the other mare warmly. "Please, have a drink. Satisfy your thirst, pause a while if you shall not rest. At least catch your breath here." She gestured with her horn towards the brook, and waited patiently. She could sense that Nightshade had a connection with the Dark herd, but was wise enough to know that she probably did not wish to remember. Listening intently and replaying Nightshade's words in her mind, Fern nodded. Singing four sweet, gentle notes, she summoned her most trusted members of the herd.
Slowly, slipping out of the shadows of the forest like clouds on a dark night, three horses came into view. Fern smiled and greeted each with a warm whinny. A delicate, pale grey mare walked tentatively towards them, bowing briefly to Nightshade before turning to her leader.
"Rima," Fern greeted the mare kindly. The grey nodded, glancing around timidly. "Don't be afraid dear. I need you to take yourself to the southern edge of the forest. No stranger shall be granted passage through her, not without running it by me first."
The grey mare nodded briefly, then turned and sprang from the trees, bounding out of sight like a large deer. The two others stepped forward together, both matching each other. Two dark bays, each with a tiny star on their forehead. "Arden, Fraser," Fern smiled to the twins. Each stallion nodded to her. Arden let his eyes graze over the dark mare next to his leader appreciatively, before his brother bumped him back to reality.
Fern chuckled and sent them both on their way to each protect a different side of the forest. When she and Nightshade were once again alone, she swished her tail gently. Something niggled at her conscience, and agitated wave rolling closer and closer. Noticing Nightshade go rigid, Fern turned her head in the direction of the rumbling cloud of dark. It wasn't something she could see, or hear. No, Fern could feel in her very soul a darkness coming ever nearer. Turning to Nightshade, she spoke quietly.
"You've done wrong in your life, child. Pay it no mind. Here, you are welcome and safe. As safe as you can be, with the present situation anyway." Fern glanced towards the Dark, and back to the mare. "You know their ways, I do not. I cannot fathom something so dark, it makes my insides tighten and hurt. It causes my forest pain, and through the forest, me. Glean what you can, please." Watching Nightshade with solemn eyes, Fern didn't blink. She wanted the mare to understand what she was saying, without having to say it. With a whisper, Fern tried to soothe the forest and the other mare, whether she needed it or not.
"No blood shall be spilled on my land this night," she said, more as a warning than a comforting statement.

[Immortal]

Nightshade did not speak nor reply to anything the forest mare said, she did not need to or feel the need to speak further. Her shiny coat gleamed and she couldn't but shiver at the cold rolling in closer to them, the forest was getting dark it seemed. She watched the three horses with interest, she tilted her head to the side at the twin horses, strange she had never seen twins before, she knew the kings army carried a pair or used as Faith killed one, driving his brother Leaf partly insane. She almost snorted her annoyance at the young stallion watching her, she had a soulmate it should have been marked on her skin or in her eyes. She closed her eyes and let herself dink lightly of the water, she never liked drinking after a hard run it made her sick but she thought maybe this time it would not hurt. Nightshade slowly looked at Fern her purple eyes held slight rage and sadness, she knew more then their ways, she was their ways, she had once been their Queen. "You would not say that if you knew my true soul, if you knew what I chose to do with my life." She said looking to the sky, would the Great One ever forgive her? Or would she parish only to go through eternity of pain.
She looked down at the mare and shook her head, "Darkness travels through your forest, it is freezing it making it cold but it has no need to cringe and fear. The one who travels with the cloud of angry darkness wrapped around him comes bearing a message, he wishes no blood to be spilled, for he is of honor, he is dark and cold. His face will be covered with a mask of angry black medal, his body is laced with scars of war, his back will bare a pale almost invisable white lined wings that will be hard to see even on his ebony coat." The black mare uttered watching as the cloud of cold and darkness came into view, she instantly froze with fear, she may not be of the Dark Kings army anymore but the Shadow Walkers still brought fear to her heart.

The giant black stallions ebony black muscles rippled and his armor creaked, his exposed body parts showed scars that even on black fur could be seen from his horrid battles, his legs were laced with scars so thin they were almost not there, his magic poured out of him circling his body as if noting would ever touch him, his mane and tail flowed behind him, His feathered hooves sliced into the ground avoiding any root or seed. He felt forest cringe away from his cold hard heart and he wished he could comfort it like he did his own forest but a Shadow walked was never show their true colors to anyone but the King. He stopped a little ways away from the two mares, he studied them slowly, the black was familiar and he felt anger and rage boil his blood as if he wanted to kill her. He looked at the small bay and instantly felt calmed her magic was strong, she was the one he seeked. He chuckled at her words and let his magic dissolve into nothing, but his voice was as cold as the edge of steel blade. "Relax mare, I bring no harm to you or your forest, the lush floor shall not taste the red copper of our veins by my horn." He drawled out in his sharp cold, hard voice. His eyes glanced over the purple mare and his eyes burned with hate and anger, he knew this mare. He looked back at Fern and said. "I am Itzal..."

[peanutgregory]

Fern watched Nightshade carefully, her eyes not taking in detail. Instead, her mind felt the mare's feelings, and she sighed. "Who you are is not what you've done, Nightshade," she murmured quietly. "Who you are now is what your true soul is."
Turning her delicate head away, Fern frowned. She'd never met another so in turmoil with herself. She made a vow with herself then and there to help this mare realize that her past did not have to control her life. Smiling gratefully at Nightshade's words, Fern nodded. "Thank you," she said, ready to face the messenger. Darkness had not travelled to these forests for a long time, and Fern wondered what brought it here now. She drew herself up proudly and waited for the messenger to reach her. The trees felt tense, coiled and unnerved. Fern sang softly under her breath, trying to ease their tension.
"The Shadow Walkers have always held their honour, if nothing else," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. Paying attention to Nightshade's description of the unicorn coming, Fern watched carefully. True enough, the stallion that approached fit the description.
When the stallion stopped, not too close to them, Fern focused her magic towards him. She immediately smile. This stallion meant no harm, to her nor to the forest. She didn't even think he meant harm to anyone else. As his cloud of turmoil slowly dissipated, Fern took a step towards the stallion. She was wary, yes, but not afraid of him. He emitted a strange sense, in a way that made Fern think he almost felt guilty for causing the forest to be scared. At his words, Fern flinched. His voice did not match his soul. Instead, it was the hard, clipped tone of a soldier too afraid of his mentor to stray from the rules. She dipped her head sadly, and nodded. "I know you mean no harm," she said gently. Her words flowed through the air, dancing like chimes. Fern instinctively stepped sideways to avert the stallion's eyes from Nightshade. She'd seen the gleam of hate in his eyes, the flash of anger. She could feel the negative energy sizzle through the air. Raising her head, Fern inclined her horn. "Why do you come here, Itzal?" she asked the dark stallion. She was keen to know the message he brought, for surely it would be of importance.

[Immortal]

Nightshade simply dropped her head with a sigh, the other mare may have been right and with her herd Nightshade felt at peace. She shook her head how could she ever have thought that she was ready to leave her herd. She felt herself shudder at the stallions gaze and cringe in fear at his words even though they were words of peace. She didn't have to feel emotions to see the burning rage and hate in his eyes when they touched her, she almost flinched and backed away but held her ground and did not drop her gaze. She could see the look in his eyes, he knew her but did not know her. She herself had never met the great leader and warrior named Itzal but she had heard stories of him from the time she was filly. A fierce stallion that walked the darkness, he was heartless and souless, bound in the kings service by nothing other then a deal. And she almost had no doubt that was true but she did know that the shadows may have been cold and as hard as stone they had souls. Nightshade refused to say a word to him, she did not want to hear him speak to her, she feared his gaze and was horrified at the thought of his inkling magic touching her. He had said no blood would be spilled but he could kill with just one word and still blood would be spilled but she would still be dead. If he realized who she was she would not make out of this forest alive.

Itzal the Shadow scanned over the mares again, something about the purple mare brought out the warrior in him. He studied the bay mare that tried to keep him from studying the other mare, he had been told by the King to guard his soul from the mare for she resembled the Wind Dancer mare known as Cloud. But doubted he would keep up his guard if not for the black mare, Fern reminded him of his home and his forest and he wanted to go home. His battles had taken the very life out of him, and a once proud stallion felt the weight of the world lowing onto him more and more and he wondered what his King felt. Itzal blinked slowly he did not like making the one known as Fern flinch she was so connected to something he loved the forest, so many thought that the Shadows killed their forest making it the baron waste land everyone saw, but what he and his herd saw was nothing but a beautiful forest full of everything any forest needed. The Shadow Forest truly was magical. He tilted his head inward and said. "We now know why the Dark King has returned, he has come back for his Queen, she betrayed him and left, but only our King knows where she is and he has hidden her. And Dark King has returned to take her back, he no longer cares for killing our King although I think he would love to finish that task as well but in the long run he has returned for his Queen and his Soul Mate has left him. Abandoned him in his eyes." He looked between he two and said to Fern and her alone ignoring the other mare. "If you come across the Dark Queen do not trust her, I trust my King but I do not trust the Dark Kings Queen, for she must still love him and if she betrayed us most of our families will die." He said his voice still sharp and cold but somehow a little warmer when he only let himself know that Fern was there.

[peanutgregory]

Fern sensed a shift in Nightshade's thinking, and suppressed a smile. She couldn't truly read others' emotions, but being able to sense another's true intentions was an ability of Fern, and she sensed that Nightshade would eventually grudgingly accept that her past was not who she was now.
Reading the stallion was harder, but Fern could tell he didn't wish to harm others. With an exception maybe to Nightshade, Fern thought. Itzal was not evil. He was proud, and maybe arrogant at times, but Fern could tell he cherished the forest almost as much as she herself did. She found herself warming to the stallion, albeit warily. Pricking her ears to catch his words, Fern frowned. The stallion spoke as if he weren't under the listings of the Dark King. He still spoke of Apollo as 'our king', she noted. "If the great stallion wants his Queen truly, he would have searched for her sooner," she said quietly. She wanted not to speak ill of anyone, especially not one she hadn't met, but she had a fierce need to protect Nightshade's identity. "Maybe his Queen sought forgiveness for the things she had done under his reign. I do not deny that they indeed loved one another, but I fear for what may happen to our lands if they were to be reunited." Fern let out a weary sigh. She didn't want to offend Nightshade, but Fern never lied. She only ever spoke her true and honest opinion, and she felt as though a terrible thing would happen should the dark mare be reunited with her soulmate.
"It is all well and good for the Dark King to be searching for his love, but I still do not understand why this message must be delivered to me. I appreciate knowing what is happening elsewhere, and what may someday soon indeed affect my herd and I, but I do not involve myself with this situation. I am curious then, Itzal, as to why you are here. Surely the Dark King hasn't sent you to tell each and every herd leader that he is returning to find his Queen?"
Fern sighed. She wanted nothing more than for everyone to be happy, and this dark foreboding speak was tiring her. She felt vines entwine themselves through her mane, and smiled a little. She shook her head a little at Itzal.
"I will be wary of the Queen, yet I do not decide who to trust on the opinions of others. If I did, stallion, I would not trust you, for many others say not to trust any Shadow Walker. I will rely on my own decisions and instincts, and I suggest you look to your heart and do the same." She looked at Itzal with curious eyes. He was honest and loyal to his King, she could tell. Yet he seemed wary at the same time. "If ever there is a family in danger, they can find refuge in the forest," she added as an afterthought. No matter what happened elsewhere, Fern did not want to be the cause of anyone being hurt. "If they need a safe place, my forest shall become it," she murmured quietly. She wondered what Nightshade was thinking of the whole conversation. She hummed to the earth and plants, willing them to try and comfort the other mare and ease her tension. As much as she hated not parting with the truth, Fern would never give away Nightshade's identity to Itzal, but she didn't know if the other mare knew that.

[Immortal]

Nightshade refused to speak refused to move, refused to think. Her temper boiled and she kept her lightning from striking across the sky as the stallion spoke ill of her even though he spoke the truth and deep down she knew though that if she ever came face to face with the Dark King she would kill him, cause without his soul you had no soul mate. She closed her eyes and blocked off her own feeling, it scared her when she did so but she needed to do it now or else, Fern and Itzal's words would hurt her, they didn't and wouldn't ever understand that she didn't have a love anymore, she would never betray the Light, the evil had been tempting and hard to get away from but the light was welcoming and so was its king. But her love hadn't been her love in a very long time, the day he cast out his soul the one she once loved was gone, sure she had loved him as a killer and an evil but when his soul was gone part of hers went with it, the part that loved and cared, she was empty all that remained was guilt and just a few clicks of happiness from time to time.

Itzal looked to Fern, his narrowing ever so slightly. "He does not love her, cause he does not feel his soul is gone, he is empty. But he cannot have an heir without the one that was once his soul mate, without her he will die without someone to carry on his work." He said his insides running with rigid anger and frustration, Apollo believed in her and knew that she would never go back to the Dark King but Itzal feared if the Dark King somehow even trapped her into something that if he got his heir that it would be able to kill the King's son. He looked at her and said simply, "Apollo believes in the old Queen but the dark king hold many tricks to get her. And if he does our future is at stake." He said shaking his head, he feared what would happen in the near future but he trusted his king as much as he trusted the king before him. The King Apollo's had always been great kings but this one and his father before him were of great power and they were more loyal and strong then any Itzal had seen granted that had only been three, but he still trusted this king more then the others, but he was torn with cause his need to defend his kingdom fought his kings words. His eyes burned and he raised his head looking down at her with annoyance. "I did not come for the Dark King. Each one of my warriors have been sent to each herd leader as we speak, each one of us were sent from the Tree Dome with the message delivered to our ears by King Apollo. Each one of my warriors have made it to each herd informing them of what is going on. I serve no one but Apollo as I did when his father ruled and as I will do when he has passed it onto his son. The Shadow Walkers may seem of the dark but make no mistake we are of honor and not one has ever betrayed the light." He said a sharp blade to his voice, it hurt him deeply that he was still thought of as evil, he had served under Apollo Wildfire and Apollo Starshooter and planed to serve the Future king. He snorted and bobbed his head, "You are smart for not letting other sway your judgment, but again make no mistake Shadow Walkers are the only ones that have betrayed the king. And to something you said earlier, the King requests that all herds know that this must be known cause the Dark King knows she is hidden in one these herds and he will kill them one by one to find her." He said and looked to Nightshade and something came to his mind, She is purple like lightning, her eyes flash and crackle, her name must never be known, but it is a plant that many fear, for she is the Dark Queen. Itzal had heard it through the king for the king had make something up to send in a message when he had a bounty on her. "It was not plea mare, Apollo sends his warning of every family being indanger no place is safe, watch your boarders don't trust anyone who claims to carry a message but no Shadow Walker or Tree Dome warrior." He said and stood waiting for their reactions.

(GAWD THAT SUCKED!!!)

[peanutgregory]

Fern turned her head towards Nightshade as she suddenly felt an emptiness. Where just a few moments before there had been rolling feelings coming from the mare, now there was nothing. Frowning, Fern turned away again, wondering why Nightshade had built a wall around her feelings. With a heavy hearted sigh, Fern tried to let the forest bring her previous radiant happiness back to her. The emotions rolling through her weren't ones she'd had in a long time. Looking back at the stallion in front of her, Fern cocked her head as she listened to his words. She herself chose her own words carefully.
"If his soul is gone, he has no hope of having her back," she said thoughtfully. "Even if all he wants her for is an heir, a foal born out of hatred and greed wouldn't have purpose. It probably wouldn't know anything but the feelings it was born from. I can see why our King does not want this to occur."
Mulling it over in her mind, Fern promised herself that she would never let the Dark King anywhere near Nightshade. At his next words she frowned. For years it had been drilled into her that the Shadow Walkers couldn't be trusted. However, she could sense as strong as anything the truth and hurt coming from Itzal, and she knew without a doubt that whatever she'd been taught before was wrong. He was a warrior of the Light, and he would never betray their King. Nodding to him, Fern felt deeply ashamed for even thinking of her previous words to him. "I am truly sorry," she said simply. "I did not wish to offend, not at all! I simply did not know," she said. She nodded at his next words and stood. There was no more talking she could really do. She turned her head to watch the dark mare beside her. She could not feel the slightest emotion coming from her, and it worried her.

[Immortal]

Itzal let himself relax into a calm before the storm type of calm and looked at Fern. Something strange rolled over him when he did so, what was it about this little earth mare that made him less annoyed at her thinking of him? He had never really felt a liking to another Unicorn before not in a way he thought he actually might just be able to stand being around them. Itzal was an old old stallion, he had never known anything but being loyal to the King and never knew friendship other then that of his herd and the king. He listened to her intently and whipped his head in a nod. "A heir born from him wouldn't have a soul not enough of one to control himself anyway, but that is what he wants..." He said looking again at Nightshade the simple song playing through his mind again. He looked back at Fern and nodded his head. "Do not say sorry to me mare, most do not understand us, because we think darkly and control the darkness we must be evil." He said his voice lacking the blade of cold fury it had had a few moment ago, his eyes softened a touch not on purpose but they did. He sighed and studied her more before saying, "If the herd think we are a threat it make the Evils think they are more open to attack but it has always been known by the herd leaders that we are here watching waiting for the battle cry." He looked out of the forest his ears pricked and his head held high. "It is not your fault you did not know, the king did not think inform up of such, he hasn't really adjusted to the old leader leaving the herd to stay at the tree dome as a warrior." He whispered, Leaf had almost lost his mind when his brother actually his twin had been murdered by the one known as Faith, after that Leaf gave up leadership of his herd and became a full warrior of the tree dome.

[peanutgregory]

Fern watched Itzal carefully, still ashamed that she had accused him of working for the Dark rather than fighting on the side of Light. She wasn't accustomed to leading a herd yet, either. It seemed she had been thrown into the deep end and she was confused about a number of things. She shook her head and sighed. It didn't matter what she didn't understand. She herself was true of heart, and she could tell if others were too, and that was her greatest weapon. She smiled softly to the stallion, and saw him gaze at Nightshade. Fern forced her muscles not to stiffen; the stallion would be close to realizing just who the other mare was. She nodded briefly to Itzal, a vine braiding itself into her forelock to keep it out of her eyes. She felt a string of flowers twine themselves around her fetlocks, and she smiled. The forest kept her at peace, and calmed her heart. She shook her head slowly at the stallion. "It was never made known to me that you were here," she said softly. "But I appreciate the knowledge now. I feel more at ease knowing those who are shrouded in shadow still fight for the light." she smiled to him, her eyes shining. Fern felt like the forest was a lot safer now, and she knew that there were strong, brave, and deadly loyal warriors protecting every inch of their lands.
Fern felt a sad sorrow drifting faintly from Itzal, although it wasn't for himself. She longed to ease the pain, but she did not know what or whom it was for. She found herself nodding along at his words, although she did not fully understand. Thinking of something else entirely, Fern started suddenly. "When does the King anticipate the Dark herd will come?" she asked. Although it hadn't been said directly, she had a feeling of foreboding that told her it wouldn't be the Dark King alone who came looking for his lost Queen. Fern felt a fierce dash of protectiveness surge over her in a wave. She wasn't a fighter, and she wasn't nearly as strong as the dark mare beside her, but Fern wanted to keep Nightshade safe with an intensity she didn't understand. She knew that keeping Nightshade safe was essential for the safety of nearly the entire unicorn population, yet Fern felt personally obliged to keep the mare safe. She cocked her head, closing her eyes while she mulled it over in her mind.