I did not catch the scent of the approaching creature, but her noises alerted me. My ears perked and my body followed suit by turning to face the newcomer. Despite her scent being hidden it not reached my nostrils as she came closer. She smelled so much of the unicorns that lived with me and my eyes instantly recognized her familiarity. Her ebony and crimson form was not foreign to me and I felt no threat from her. Something inside me rationalized that if anyone wanted to hurt me they would have three battles, at least, in front of then: Mother Kou. Daddy d'Artagnan and Mauja. Aviya knew she was safe here also, in the presence of this mare, even without their direct shadow.

"I like it here. They were worried for me at first, but I have grown stronger now." My words were simple and, if anything else, young. Despite that, they were true. My coughs were still coming and they still racked my body and hurt me, but they were less frequent. Daddy d'Art had given me some bitter tasting food to eat and it helped ease my body and the pain the coughs caused. I preferred Mother Kou's milk over the disgusting things he fed me, but I knew it helped, and I knew he was pleased when he did not have to hold me close to stop the shaking.

I blinked again and turned my head to look out at the waters. The waves beat up against the rocky shore. I shifted my weight on the rocks, my cloven hooves letting my rest comfortably on the uneven surface. "Do you think our herd is going to live here forever?"

(Sorry for switching to third person mid-thread, but I decided first person on Aviya isn't going to work anymore.)

Aviya lifted her head to look at the crimson-maned mare once more. She denied that the herd would live in the snowy fortress forever, and Aviya was only half glad for that. The filly had grown to enjoy the snow and the cold, for it gave reason for her to draw strength from others--from their warmth. Aviya enjoyed that--enjoyed growing stronger. She craved it, strength, more than almost anything else in her young life. She watched the way Mauja had been after she was born and was instantly drawn to something about him. She had been with Mother Kou every moment since she was released from her dark world, and she knew Mother Kou was strong in a different way than Mauja. And then there was her father, d'Artangan--he was what she truly admired when it came to strength.

d'Art was an incredible force. He was muscle and knowledge, something Aviya knew he would pass on to her. She half-smiled thinking about it, the action resembling a smirk on her white lips. Then she simply nods to acknowledge the fact that Faelene felt the way she did about the herd living forever in the north. Pulled back to reality by the black mare's words Aviya turned her head to where Faelene was looking. The filly narrowed her eyes to try and focus on the object but could not. She snorted shortly and looked to the flock of gulls flying and moving towards where the object was.

Aviya wished that one of the gulls would bring them what they were seeing. The filly did not know if it was dangerous or not and did not want to take the chance of it. "Do you think we should go and see what it is?" Aviya asked quietly. She wanted the mare to respond wisely--she almost wanted her to say no. However, something inside Aviya told her that Faelene would want them to go and get the shiny object. Flicking her wispy, frosted tail Aviya focused on one of the gulls. Bring the object--endanger yourself, you brainless gull. Aviya thought.

Just as the thoughts were leaving the filly a fog seemed to roll out from under the gulls. The lot of them squawked and flew away, but the one Aviya had been focusing on seemed to be stuck in the fog. Without hesitation the fog encompassed the gull and took control over the bird's body. Aviya watched in amazement as the gull flew by the fog's command and swiped the shining object in its beak. Just as the gull was flying over the two mares it dropped the object and the fog released it. Hurriedly and fueled by fear it flew away, squawking loudly. Aviya looked down at the gold object with her jaw ajar. "Di-did I do that?" she asked, eyes widening.