We wandered aimlessly in the wilderness, the darkness sure didn't seem like it was helping the mare. However I still followed her intently, stepping in her large footprints. We had made quite a few circles, although I didn't want to mention it. I occasionally tossed my regal, flat crested face into the air. causing my swished upward hair to fly around, and settle back into its wavy, upward position. my feet skipped, and bounced in the mud, splashing, and throwing mud in all directions, my inner child felt like it was about to explode. My body burst with a fiery colour against the dark night, red as if a burning flame, consuming its white base. My caramel eyes dated around trying to adjust to the darkening world, that my coat failed to provide light for.

The mare started to walk up to these amazing trees, they seemed to be lit by hundreds of candles, providing great light, which cut into the endless dark. This must be the foothills. I thought to myself. "I could get used to this." the words spilled out of my red lips, as I blew past the mare, in a fast gallop, to see these new plants. I felt like a colt in a new world, which I was, a very old colt. my hooves clicked against the outreaching roots. as the mare kept her steady pace strait ahead. I veered back to her, discontinuing my ADD moment, and halting next to Artemis, my feet halt square, and perfect, neck arched as her own, and looking straight ahead.



"Speak."

A P O L L O

And how can you say that your truth is better than ours?
Shoulder to shoulder, now brother, we carry no arms

Hooves beat like a staccato against the ground, kicking up mud and grime as the stallion moved through the confines of his home at a gallop. His mind moved just as quick as his body, if not more so. Things needed to be done; the Threshold needed to be stalked for new members, patrols needed to be done, sparrings needed to be taken place, spies needed to be sent out to get a feel for their potential enemies... All in all, Apollo was terribly frustrated. It was an emotion that he didn't feel very often.

The Foothills was slacking. The Grey was slacking, and the recently appointed Chief was uncertain how to pick up their moral. It was almost as if members readily joined their herd, and then simply floated away. Apollo gave a snort of indignation, hooves slipping slightly on the damp ground, and it was with that warning that he slowed his pace. Tail snapped left, then right, honey-brown eyes hard as he surveyed the surroundings of his home. This land was vulnerable... Didn't the rest of the Foothills see that? It could be taken from them in a blink of an eye, would if nothing was done about it. The thought caused Apollo's teeth to grind in uncertainty.

Slowing his pace from his mad-dash down to a leisurely trot, the overo's head lowered, horn pointed slightly askew. His eyes continued to search and survey the land, making sure that no tresspassors had wandered past the herd borders... And it was then, as his head scanned to the right, that he spotted a familiar pelt of white and crimson. It was Artemis, the mare he had brought home from the Threshold not so long ago. What was most shocking, however, was that she was not alone. A red stallion had accompanied her, and Apollo's head tilted slightly as he eyed the male.

A weary sigh escaped his lips and the Merciful moved forward, slowing from his lazy trot to that of a calm walk. Lifting his head, a nicker left his lips, ears turning forward.

"Artemis," he called, dipping his head to her when he was a few paces away, "Good to see you well. Who is this?" Turning his head from the pale warrior, Apollo's eyes lingered on the roan. A new member, it looked like, and Apollo was relieved that at least someone other than himself was frequenting the Threshold.