EC | Pyre | Remembrance by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Pyre | Remembrance
Life had been quiet for the past year. After little Yuki’s introduction to the herd, something that was filled with much joy and happiness, things seemed to settle somewhat. The summer heat had faded to a dingy autumn, and that was when the herd started to notice something fishy with Pyre. She’d been growing rather portly, which Calliope had hedged on it being the lack of movement with the forests offering more foliage and the group’s decision to stay during the colder seasons. It wasn’t until Gemini began to swell in size that Callie took a long, long look before casting a wayward glance towards the two stallions in their midst. Her brother wasn’t necessarily vocal about those sorts of things, but after the argument she had overheard that unfortunate night… She couldn’t picture Hakkon siring either of the foals she was certain lay in the two mare’s wombs. “When were you going to tell us the good news, brother?” Calliope called out from her spot under a shaded tree, hiding from the
EC | Acheron | Dragon Friend? by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Dragon Friend?
Poppy was rather far away from her companions, having picked up her speed to stay nearly parallel with the dragon soaring overhead. It took but only a moment before she saw the beast’s head turn towards her and she slowed to a stop, sand spraying around her as she did so. Her eyes never left the sky as it circled overhead, and for a brief moment she worried it truly was a predator to be concerned with before it suddenly dove for the ground. The creature pulled itself up at the last second, landing with an audible thud despite the fact it looked like it didn’t exert any energy. Great wings splayed as the dragon righted itself, an image that brought an uncomfortable memory front and center, but where she remembered great feathery wings this was instead a pair that was more reminiscent of a bat - even ending in the same claws she’d seen on the tiny creatures. This dragon, however, lost all similarities to a bat once she got past the wings. If it weren’t for the fact she had seen it land
EC | Acheron | Flying Shadow by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Flying Shadow
Even in the midst of winter, the cold did little to alleviate the warmth that radiated off the sands below the group’s hooves. A season spent growing winter coats meant that the punishing sun was even more potent - for all of them, really, except the Blight. Thorne was miserable and had spent the last day complaining about the sun, begging someone to block it, which just ended in a sideways glare from Orpheus. The black stallion was suffering the most, panting heavily like his wolven namesakes. Even Poppy had been uncharacteristically quiet, her head lowered to the ground and letting out pathetic groans every few steps. The evenings were even worse. While the sun was up it was blisteringly hot, and while it was down the chill settled into the bones until the group was a huddled mess seeking warmth together. It had been like that for the past three days - sweat in the day, freeze in the night. How anyone could survive out here for any length of time, none of them knew. “You wanted
EC | Acheron | Separation by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Separation
It had been a few days since they’d noticed the strange stallion trailing after the herd. The first day he had triggered Star’s wards, the mare startled by someone unknown tripping them. She had been the first one to spot the red and white stranger, but he hadn’t noticed her. Instead he had only seen the rather large herd and seemed to steer somewhat clear. She’d voiced her concerns, even though he was only one stallion, and Acheron had agreed with her to keep an eye on it. By the fourth day, the herd was well aware he was following them. He seemed to be seeking out the foliage that Duvi and Kainan were making for the herd, and it didn’t help that the mare’s steps in particular seemed more inclined to freshen the grass she stepped on in a perfect shape of her hoofprints. Thorne had offered to chase him off, mostly irritated at another stallion near the herd, but Acheron told him to leave it as the stallion hadn’t truly bothered them yet. The fifth day was when the herd had noticed a
EC | Acheron | Outsiders by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Outsiders
Acheron had been somewhat annoyed that, by the time the herd had caught up to the pair, both Kainan and Duvi were nowhere to be seen. The entire herd felt deeply unsettled by the hill temple, Poppy remarking on how it felt like a graveyard to her. They waited outside, patiently impatient, staying a fair distance away where the magic of the temple didn’t seem to bother them until finally, blissfully, the two unicorns made their way out. Kai led the way, head held high and proud and before anyone could ask, the ground in front of them was filled with brilliantly green grass and bright flowers. The stallion’s smile was practically blinding at his newfound abilities and the mare at his side just smiled fondly at the feel of the earth beneath her hooves. The herd settled for the night, the foals finding their fill on the fresh grass. Calanthe had taken to picking some of the flowers, assisted by the foals and elated whenever they would grow back as they were picked - courtesy of either
EC | Acheron | Homecoming by saltyearthmango, literature
Literature
EC | Acheron | Homecoming
It took what felt like weeks for the herd to find the entrance to the temple. They only really rested for the foals sake. They weren’t used to traveling for extensive periods at a time and given they were still growing it was only fair to take breaks. There was an almost nervous energy in the herd, some voicing their concerns about finding the temple, while the two hopeful earth magicians never really lost hope. Something called to them from the deep woods. They were getting closer by the day. It was on the eve of the seventh day that something clicked. Kai took off, zipping past Poppy as that call grew louder. Even the ever lumbering Duvi was hot on his tail, the only thing slowing her down the trees surrounding them. The dark mare almost slammed into Kai when he suddenly stopped, but instead of chastising him the two unicorns were staring in awe at the hill before them. It wasn’t much at first glance, but something about it was warm and inviting. Like coming home. There was a faint