WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOR? THERE MUST BE SOMETHING MORE. FOR ALL THESE WORDS I SING, DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING?

It’s time. 

When the labour pains hit she hides away, finding a place in the forest where the trees are thick and she’s hidden from prying eyes. She’s nervous, but the whole process is surprisingly quick and easy, and in under an hour her foal is out in the world. 

Morigan is quick to her feet and rushes over to the child, moving to clean off the mess of birth. It’s immediately apparent that it’s a girl, and after a few quick licks the child’s colour becomes more clear. The girl is pitch black, tipped with a bright red mane and tail, and covered with a smattering of little bend-or-spots. Morigan smiles. Such a pretty little thing.

She nudges at the child, and the girl immediately tries to stand. Morigan chuckles as the girl falls over once, twice, before finally managing to keep her feet. The girl wobbles over to Morigan’s side, no doubt following the smell of food, and latches on to Morigan’s teat. “Oof! Gentle there!”

When the girl has drunk her fill, she takes a few steps away and falls over in the grass. The filly hiccups and lays down her head, eyes threatening to close. Morigan steps over to join her, purple spotted muzzle nuzzling at the red and black. “Merida. I’ll call you Merida.” She’s reminded for a moment of her younger brother when she’d first met him, though he’d been a bit older then. But she has the same instinct, the same need to protect. She hopes Ruan is alright, wherever he is. 

Her head pops up briefly, scanning the nearby trees. Archam and his mares have kept a respectful distance during the process, but she wouldn’t be surprised if one of them approaches now that it’s over. 

SAID I'M OKAY, BUT I KNOW HOW TO LIE. YOU WERE ALL THAT I HAD, YOU WERE DELICATE AND HARD TO FIND.

WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOR? THERE MUST BE SOMETHING MORE. FOR ALL THESE WORDS I SING, DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING?

It doesn’t take long for Archam to arrive. Within moments of little Merida’s eyes closing, the roan stallion appears and approaches. Morigan is surprised to at how quickly her protective instinct raises its head - her ears flick back and she nonchalantly takes her weight off one foot. But she shakes her head slightly and her ears flick up, though she keeps a close eye on Archam as he gives Merida a little sniff and nudge. She really has no need to be so cautious here, Archam has been a complete gentleman so far, and would really have no reason to object to the presence of a filly not of his blood in the herd (especially since he’d been aware of her pregnancy when inviting her to join him).

“Thank you Archam.” She inclines her head slightly, hoping that he hadn’t noticed her instinctive reaction. “Her name is Merida.” She steps over to the little filly and gives her another nudge. Merida’s dark eyes flicker open, and fasten upon the roan stallion. “Come on sweetie, come say hello.” Merida forces herself up onto her shaky legs, eyes still fascinated on Archam in open curiosity. She sways once or twice, then wobbles over to Archam and gives him a good sniff. Then, suddenly shy, she takes a few bouncing steps back to her mother. Morigan laughs. “It’s alright Merida, this is Archam.”

SAID I'M OKAY, BUT I KNOW HOW TO LIE. YOU WERE ALL THAT I HAD, YOU WERE DELICATE AND HARD TO FIND.