EC - The Return

Winter, 326 of the Third Age
Featuring Khairo
Khairo's Magical Awakening Quest, Part 8
In reply to: In the Temple of Fire

It was cold at the oasis, but the mares said it could have been colder, and at least they all have food and water.  It was a blessing that Khairo had led them all down into the relatively warm Flame Expanse before the real cold set in up north, but that didn’t mean it was particularly pleasant for his herd to wait for him at the icy oasis while he was off searching for his magical destiny. 

Each day, Ehretia kept them organized, Aurora tended to the foals, and Shaiera acted as both scout and outrider, but the days dragged on and Khairo did not return.  It had been weeks - was the red stallion coming back at all?

One evening, with a scimitar moon hanging low in the sky and a billion stars shining bright, Shaiera looked out over the grasslands and didn’t see Chase rising from sleep to drink from the deep, dark waters of the pool that had become the centre of their home.  Chase sighed as he looked at his reflection in the water - alone again.  At least this time he had a herd and not just his mother, but it still stung that Khairo had seemingly abandoned him, too.

But then, motion out of the corner of his eye.  Light.  Chase looked up, blinking bleary brown eyes, unbelieving.

There, on the horizon… could it be?  

He whinnied with delight, startling the family from sleep - Khairo was home at last!

The red stallion whistled as he saw his family stir and rise in the distance, and there was no mistaking the clouds of cinders that rushed from each snort as he ran.  The mares called back, and at the edge of the oasis, he found himself swarmed with foals.

The first to his side, as ever, was Chase.

****

Back to the herd at last, now with fancy fire powers!
I was going to do the whole herd greeting him here in kind of a callback to the first part of the quest, but this version felt better. (and then I didn't have to draw so many bodies. hah. )
Next project is probably going to be working on the mares' magic, 'cause I'm paranoid and magic is protection wheee OwO