AuroraElis
AuroraElis
The exhaustion of labor has taken all her strength so she simply rests awhile. Jack nose presses into her as he calls for her to get up, but she can't, not yet.
As she lay there, her magic works weakly to try to repair her body. It is slow but steady and will just take time. Time, they do not have. A heaviness comes over her as she hears anger now coming from Jack nearby. She tries to open her, to see what was happening and if her children were safe, but a force much greater than her own in her weakened state forbids it. She then feels Jacks warmth again at her side, a sadness lingering in his words...
Suddenly the pressure releases and she works quickly to come back to them. Her ivory legs are the first to move as they try to grip the earth she lay on. Her head rises and eyes open as they tuck under her. Her vision is blurred but she can make out Jack on the ground in a heap and another coming near. There is an eerie red glow within the shadows of her view, the memory of her dream surface abruptly. Panic sets in while attempting to stand. She musters what strength she has found to rise and circles to find her foals not too far from her. She sees him clearly now, the undead thing from the beach. Rage boils within her and she turns to land a perfectly centered kick to his side. "Get away from them!" she yells angrily standing now protectively over them. She can see Jack from the corner of her eye and begins to call to him, "Jack. No Jack!," eyes still on the cryptic thing she throws out accusations, "What did you do to him?!" With ears pinned and teeth barred her mind hardly processes what the undead thing says now. Die for me? The words soften her expression as she realizes her companion has given up his life for her own. She stammers in confusion, "W-Why...?" Her thoughts racing to all that has happened here. How scared Jack must have been. Tears begin to well in her eyes as she now looks over to where he lays, lifeless.
It is the wiggling of life beneath her that draws her back. The colt had been between her front legs when he comes to. Her head lowers to press her muzzle along the pink colored skin that was dotting his body. She begins to lick him, when she notices the filly beginning to walk towards her sire. She whickers softly but the filly's course does not change. Her ears flicker at the sound of his speaking. Her head rises, a scowl returning to her face. She was not happy about this whole situation but nevertheless she listens. She considers being alone with twins and their safety. She considers him saving their lives and what could be the repercussions. She also considers the fact that Jack lays dead not far from her and what else the stallion would do, could do, to them if she says no. The responses play out in her mind and only one comes from her lips, "One chance... I will give you one chance to be a good father but that is it." Her words are firm, her eyes narrow. That was all she would allow.
Still not convinced they were safe in the stallions presence, she nuzzles the colt at her hooves. Coaxing him to stand and follow her. She whiskers to the filly again who is pressing her muzzle to her sires mangy hide. Pinning her ears, she moves towards the pair, warning Zain to back away. Corraling twins was proving to be quite the task. She is surprised as Zain pushes the filly gently in her direction. Reaching her muzzle out, she bumps the fiery bundle closer to where her brother begins to wobble about. He falls a time or two before he is able to take a step. He never gives up though.
The spring sky is bright blue today with the sun hanging high overhead. Scattered white clouds dot the skies scarcely. Had the circumstances been different they would be celebrating, but today is somber. She moves towards the body of Jack, babies in tow. Her ears are perked forwards as she whinnies to him as if he will wake. But as she nears she extends her nose to press into him, and he is cold. Tears again well in her eyes as her lips brush his forelock from his face. "I'm sorry Jack," she whispers, "thank you for saving us."
The twins gather alongside their mother. Each mimics Aurora by nuzzling the large bay. The tiny flames that scatter about Escence body rise and fizzle out at random. She wanders farther from her mother's side, moving towards Jacks belly. Her fiery tail wags as her head lowers to sniff his hoof. Aurora nickers at her and she wheels around quickly, bucking her hind legs into the air as she runs back. Eviction nuzzles the stallion too but then turns his attention to his mother. "Come on, let's leave him rest in peace," she says softly to them before taking them a short distance away, but not too far. She wasn't ready to leave her fallen companion yet...
Not all that glitters is gold