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Winter had turned into Spring. And just as quickly Spring turned into Summer. Damselfly had spent much of her time with the family. Caring for and teaching the younger ones all that she knew. It was amazing that her daughters had created such a large family unit.

Even Dobsonfly had had children now.

But there was a small niggling at the back of her mind. Thoughts of the son she had left behind. He had taken over as the head of the herd after Dragonfly had disappeared for months and never returned. She herself had also snuck out in the middle of the night without a word to her son. He would have stopped her if he knew she had intended o. Leaving to find her mate. His father.

The loss of his father and being thrust into the herd leader position had taken a lot out of Snakefly. As the days dragged on he had become bitter and unattached. He punished herd members more than praised. And by the time Damselfly had made the decision to leave in hopes of finding Dragonfly and quite possibly her wayward daughter Forefly, Snakefly had become a tyrant. Her heart ached for her son. Ached for the path he now chose to walk.

Even now Damselfly felt guilty. This part of their family was free from the restrictions of the old herd. Even she and Dragonfly were free. The reach of their old herd did not come this far.

And yet she was surprised that others had not been sent to track them down. No, Snakefly was too clever for that. He would not send someone so soon. Her son liked to play the long game. And leaving the herd or ger son’s watchful gaze was never easy.

She found a shady tree with some plush grass beneath it. Damselfly settled herself onto the grass and heaved a heavy sigh as she stared off into the distance.

The sound of hooves snapped her right out of her thoughts and she turned her head to see her mate Dragonfly walking up. A look of concern on the dark stallion’s face. “A whinny for your thoughts?” His voice rumbled deep in his chest as he leaned his head down to nuzzle her cheek before settling down next to her. So close their coats were touching.

“Snakefly. I worry about him.” Damselfly’s eyes lidded half way as she peered at her mate through thick eyelashes. “I feel so guilty that we left and never returned. Him taking over as leader was supposed to be temporary…” Her voice trailed off as she turns her gaze away from him.

Now it was Dragonfly’a turn to sigh. Since coming here to get his daughter, Damselfly showing up not long after and the birth of their theee other children while here had given the stallion some perspective. His desire to take his family back to the herd has lessened as time went by. Their family was here now but there was always that missing piece that bagged at him. Guilt hanging in the background. Damselfly was right. It had only meant to be temporary as Dragonfly had swore to return with Firefly but for obvious reasons that never happened. The dark stallion actually was enjoying his time away from the herd and all the responsibilities that came with leading it.

He often wondered how his son was doing.

Leaning over he nuzzled Damselfly who then leaned against him, nuzzling he nose into the soft spot under his chin. “Do you think he will come for us?” There was a tinge of fear in her voice. They hadn’t really started living until they had come here. Even their feelings towards one another had changed for the better. The mare was afraid that it would all be ripped away from them.

“I don’t know…” Dragonfly wanted to reassure her. The fear in her voice broke his heart. “But if he does come for us we need to be ready.” Snakefly coming could result in any outcome but the thought of returning to the herd was the last thing Dragonfly wanted. For him and his family.

“ThenI guess we”ll just have to face that if or when it arrives. Just like we least have.” She watched the sun sink lower in the sky through lidded eyes.

“Are you certain that would work?” He asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice. Waiting was never really an option for Dragonfly in the past. He felt better meeting such challenges head on. Even seeking them out to get everything aired out and in the open. He disliked the feeling of dread that just waiting left in his stomach.”Would it not be better to seek him out and put this all to bed once and for all?”

She didn’t turn to acknowledge him. Simply flicked her ear in the silence. “We are not as young as we used to be…”

“We’ll I would claim different what with Butter, Alder and Dobson.” He had cut her off rather quickly. To be honest Dragonfly disliked admitting that maybe he didn’t hear quite as clearly anymore or that his sight was just a tiny bit fuzzier than usual.”

“We are not as young as we used to be.” She stated again. “What chance against a younger would you have?”

He took great offense to that statement. She was questioning his ability to protect their family and that sunk a thorn of resentment into his heart. Damselfly had no faith in him. He ground his teeth slightly before rising to his feet. Leaving here there where she sat. “I have faith in my ability to protect our family, Damselfly. Even from family.” He furrowed his brow, flicking his tail the dark stallion began to make his way back to their family’s grove deep within the forest. A grove that united the generations and protected them from discovery and the elements.

Damselfly frowned. That had not been what she meant but now she started to even doubt that. Maybe there was a shadow deep within her heart. A shadow where the love for her son had been. But was he even the same stallion that she knew and loved? Had the years changed him? She shook her head. How could she believe that her son had changed so much. Perhaps even become cruel and unrelenting.

As she sat there her mind began to drift through memories of her sweet son. There were times where he could be bratty as a colt but when she left him he was a kind soul who had not wanted the leadership position. How could anyone not feel resentment for the abandonment of him. Of the ways of the herd that had been sew into the very fabric of their lives. Everything was for the herd and few ever escaped it. They were either hunted down and brought back, which was why Dragonfly had left in the first place, or they were just quite possibly killed. No one ever truly knew.

The memory of Firefly and Dnakefly playing in the tall grass of the rolling hills while she looked on. Ever watchful of predators. They had been playing chase when Firefly had fallen into the river. Dragonfly had been the fasts to rescue their young daughter and Snakefly was the one Dragonfly had taken his anger out on. Asking the young colt a rhetorical question of what would have happened if others had not been nearby. Damselfly put herself between her mate and their son. Scolding Dragonfly for his outburst towards their son. They were just foals playing and couldn’t understand how seto the ramifications of not being careful could be.

That hasn’t been the first time her mate had treated their son poorly. While Damselfly knew the sweet and loving side Dragonfly only ever got the negative. And once their son was big enough the tables could turn.

The worry set heavily in her heart. If he did not come toe send others to recollect them Snakefly might have issued their death sentences and now it was just a matter of time. Taking a deep breath the dappled mare tried to calm her quickening heartbeat.

But what would she say to him if she ever saw Snakefly again? Sorry that she left to chase his father who was obsessed with tracking down his sister? But she also could not guess what kind of mind set her son was in. It had been many many years since she last saw him.

And not knowing scared her. Chilled her to the bone.

She could not cause if Dragonfly felt the same. If he too was scared of what their son and the herd might do. Firefly and her family could be in great danger and not even know it. She didn’t want to spoil this life her daughter had carved out for herself in this place. And Danselfly was quite fond of this place too. Fond of her family and the love they had all found.

If they had been born in the herd that choice would have been taken from them. She didn’t want that at all.