[CV] After the Storm

It was the end of summer and black clouds were rolling into the valley. The air was thick and humid, causing most of the horses in the herd to lay low for the day and conserve energy so as not to overheat. With the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance, it was now time to head for cover somewhere safe.

The herd was rounded up, standing along a treeline as the wind began to pick up, blowing aside their manes and tails. Buckeye was busy trying to count the herd as they all shifted about and chatted amongst themselves. "Our number's off." He finally stated, eyes still distractedly grazing over the herd.

"Did you include our two visitors?" Nightingale asked, glancing out at Persimmon and Viktor who had joined up with the herd not too long ago as they passed through the valley. They were former members of a herd Buckeye had been friendly with, so naturally they were welcomed with open arms as they passed by.

"Yes, I think perhaps it's-"

"Fela!" Maple called out, mild panic trembling in her voice. "FELA!"

"Fela..." Buckeye sighed, ears flicking back. Why did foals always have a tendency to wander? He answered his own question when he thought back to his own foalhood.

As the frantic searching for the filly continued, the stormclouds grew stronger and closer until the rain was pouring down. Buckeye was forced to call off the search for the safety of the rest of the herd. Maple, though, was undeterred. "I have to keep looking, Buckeye." She spoke in a firm tone. "I understand that you need to stay with the rest of the herd and can't come with me but I need to do this."

Buckeye watched her with concerned eyes before gravely nodding. Maple was his first mare so he knew her best of all and he knew that there was no stopping her.

Huckleberry, ever at Buckeye's side, opened his mouth to speak up.

"You're not coming with me, pipsqueak." Maple quickly shot at him with narrowed eyes. The pair had a bit of a love-hate relationship.

Huckleberry snorted and rolled his eyes. "I was simply going to tell you to stay out of open spaces or away from lone trees but if that's the kind of tone you want to take with me then-"

Maple rolled her eyes with a smile and gave the little pony a nuzzle before heading off. As the storm got worse and worse she did her best to keep going, calling out her filly's name every so often, her heart pounding. What could have happened to her?

Thunder crashed overhead and flashes of lightning lit up the surrounding area for hours until finally the storm had began to wane down... and down... Until it was nothing more than some gusting wind and gray skies. As everything began to lighten up once again, Maple was slowly making her way back to the herd, checking every nook and cranny as she went... Until she spotted her. A flash of brown speckled white in the brush beneath a grove of trees. Maple rushed over and there was her filly, curled up sound asleep. "Fela!" She was ecstatic.

The filly stirred from her slumber. "Hello, Mama." The filly blinked up at her Mother. "What's wrong?"

"Where have you been?! The storm rolled in and we couldn't find you and we were all worried sick. I've been searching for you this whole time."

"Oh... Why?" Fela slowly rose to her hooves, giving her mane a little shake. She was mostly dry beside her sopping wet mother. "I found a lost pig, he needed help getting back to his farm. So I helped him!" She seemed rather proud of herself. "Then the weather got bad so I did what Dad always told me to do, find cover, and I fell asleep." She shrugged at this.

Maple, although a bit alarmed that her filly had followed the pig to a farm, was quick to overlook it because she was just so happy that Fela was alright. "We'll talk more about that later," She wrapped the filly in a warm nuzzle. "But for now, let's get back to the herd."