Viper convinced Raider to escort her beyond the usual trails to study rumored “vine clusters” she’s heard of from passing traders or local herds. Raider relents, partly out of duty and partly to map unfamiliar terrain. The morning begins crisp and bright. As they climb into thinner air, conversation weaves between Viper’s chatter about soil, sunlight, and magic in plant growth and Raider’s curt replies. Along the way, he finds signs of other creatures: hoofprints not their own, faint claw marks in the dirt. It’s not enough to raise alarm, but enough to make him uneasy. Meanwhile, somewhere in Whisperwood, Shadow trotted around eagerly awaiting for her friend Barracuda, Barr for short. She was ready to head out and explore their home. The plan had been to head towards the Eastern Terrepar Highlands; she had wanted to explore the area around the foot of the mountains. Barracuda walked up, watching the young mare. He snorted at her eagerness but felt the excitement in the air. With Shadow gliding in the air and Barracuda on the ground, they headed towards the highlands. Traveling to the Eastern Terrepar Highlands would take them a little while, but with the way Shadow was going, they would make it by midday. By midday, the highlands unfurled before them in all their autumn splendor, rolling swells of gold and amber that caught the light like polished brass. The wind swept over the hills in slow, sighing waves, stirring the tall grasses until they shimmered. Here and there, hardy thistles nodded among the blades, their purple crowns dulled by the season’s chill, while seedpods cracked open and loosed their feathers down to the wind. The air was clear, cool, and faintly sweet, the scent of late bloom and dying summer mingling with the promise of rain. As they crested the next rise, the land softened beneath their hooves; the stone strewn slopes began to give way to fertile hollows where the soil deepened to rich, dark loam. And there, resting in the bellies of these gentle basins, they saw them. Clusters of strange fruits sprawled across the earth, globes and ovals, ridged and dappled, in every hue between sunset and moonlight. Some were large and squat, their skins rough and veined; others glowed pale as candlelight, half-hidden beneath their own sprawling leaves. The vines that bore them were thick and knotted, their tendrils coiling through the grass like serpents of green and bronze. Dew still clung to their stems, catching the sunlight in a web of tiny prisms. Raider halted on the ridge, his breath rising in thin plume. The sight struck him silent, not with wonder, but quiet unease. He had never seen plants like these, swollen strange, their colors too rich, as though shaped by a careful hand rather than the will of nature. He frowned faintly, burrowing his brow beneath his forelock. “Curious things,” he muttered to himself. But Viper was already gone from his side, her excitement breaking through his stillness like sunlight through a cloud. She moved down the slope with the grace of one who knew the rhythm of living things. When she reached the nearest cluster, she lowered her head, muzzle brushing a broad fruit’s edge. “Would you look at this!” she called, nosing aside the vines. “There must be half a dozen kinds here! Some twisted, some smooth- look at these markings!” Her voice danced on the wind, and Raider descended after her with patient resignation. He tested the soil beneath his hooves, lowering his head as though listening to the quiet breath of earth. The dirt was dark, soft, and faintly damp, an odd thing given the height of the hills. “Strange place for them to grow” he knickered. “The sun hardly touches this side.” “Exactly!” Viper beamed, eyes bright with the spark of discovery. “They must thrive in partial shade, the moisture gathers in the hollows, and the earth here stays cooler. Oh, this is perfect!” Her voice carried that particular note she used when the world gifted her something worth studying, a melody of wonder and satisfaction in one breath. Before Raider could even comment, she set to work immediately, nosing through the leaves, inspecting every curling stem and knotted bloom. Her movements were meticulous, the careful motions of one who read life through touch and scent rather than sight. She brushes aside broad leaves to expose the vines beneath, tracing their coarse texture with her muzzle. Occasionally, she would pause to nibble a petal or taste the edge of a leaf, thoughtful, muttering quiet observations under her breath about moisture, texture, and vitality. Raider watched for a while, expression unreadable, before Viper turned to him with that bright look he’d learned to dread. “Raider” she said sweetly, in that tone that sounded more like a command than a request. “Smash that one.” He blinked. “Smash it?” “Yes please. I need to see the inner structure, and, well, you’re better at breaking things.” A low snort escaped him, the faintest twitch of amusement betraying his annoyance, but there was no real protest. With one deliberate swing of his hoof, the pumpkin burst apart, its rind splitting with a wet, satisfying crack, spilling its golden orange innards onto the soil. The scent rising was rich and sweet, earth and fruit and the faint tang of rot intermingled. “Great!” Viper exclaimed, leaning in to examine the seeds. “Now that one- no wait, the larger one, near the edge. Try not to flatten it entirely.” What began as reluctant obedience soon turned to sport. Raider found a rhythm in the game, the satisfying crack and squelch as the rinds gave way, the dull thump of the seeds and innards scattering. He snorted and stamped, each strike sent seeds flying in lazy arcs, glittering in the light before scattering down the slope. When one particularly well aimed toss splattered across Viper’s shoulder, she gasped. He only smirked and quipped, “you said to open them.” Before long, the quiet valley echoed with the sounds of laughter and cracking gourds. Viper tried to scold him through giggles as she sorted through her samples, while Raider, half amused, tore open another and tasted the tender flesh within. Soon they were both eating straight from the earth; Viper nibbling curiously at different kids, remarking on taste and texture, while Raider devoured his with unceremonious gusto. The air was thick with the scent of sun warmed fruit and trampled vines. On the other side of the rise, Barracuda had begun to feel through the earth, the slight vibrations from the stomps. He turned to warn Shadow but he found her already gone. The black, half pale dipped mare had flown ahead on broad wings when she heard the laughter ahead. She landed just before the rise, peeking over to see what was going on. Barracuda had sped up the rise, catching up to Shadow. “You shouldn’t disappear like that.” Barracuda huffed out, his protective nature flaring as he smelled not only the gourds below but also another mare and stallion. He lifted his head and peeked down into the valley. “They appear to be having fun, wonder if they did that damage” she whispered. She dropped back a step to hide her head. She knew Barracuda would go first before he would even dare let her. Barracuda snorted, he kept watching the mare and stallion. He didn’t care if they did the damage to the pumpkins or anything as long as they hadn’t over damaged the earth. “As long as they didn’t damage the earth, I could care less about those pumpkins.” He said, not caring to keep his voice low, his protective nature coming out not just for Shadow but for the earth beneath their hooves as well. Beside him, Shadow glared, in her mind he was being a jerk; letting his stallion pride get the best of him. Raider’s ears flicked sharply, head snapping toward the ridge. For a moment, the laughter between him and Viper died into silence. He stilled, muscles coiled beneath his blue-grey hide. There, just above the wind’s sigh, came the faintest murmur, the cadence of voices not their own. Without thinking, he shifted his weight forward, neck arching as he pranced a few paces forward. His stride proud and deliberate, the instinct of a stallion in uncertain company. The soil trampled with his heavy steps, loose seeds scattering from the broken pumpkins at his feet. His head rose high, ears curled like blades. Nostrils flared wide, drawing in the wind that swept across from the rise. The scent was faint but distinct, other Veilhorn, stranger. With a sudden burst of breath, he released a cry. It was no ordinary call, but deep and resonant, tearing through the hollow like thunder rolling on stone. Viper was started, earls folding back. “Raider! What are you-?” He didn’t answer, still scanning the ridge, tail lashing once in agitation. For a long moment, only the echo of his call remained, rippling through the golden hills before the world grew still once more. Barracuda heard the cry, a challenge by another stallion. He snorted before pushing his body above the rise. Shadow took a step forward but was pushed back by a swat to the face from Barr’s tail. She hesitated, hoping the two wouldn’t fight. Barracuda let out his own cry, echoing the challenge in the wind. “Stay behind me, Shade.” he said as he glanced down upon the stallion, ignoring the mare. Raider’s gaze locked upon movement on the ridge, two figures, one dark and one bay, the latter stepping forward with the weight of challenge. His breath came heavy through flared nostrils, misting faintly in the cooling air. Muscles rippled beneath his hide as he began a slow, deliberate advance toward the slope. The air between them tightened. The wind carried the scent of strangers more clearly now. Raider’s mane lifted with the current, walnut eyes narrowing. “You stand too near my shadow, stranger. Step carefully, or be swallowed by it.” Viper had long since abandoned her pumpkins, She trotted after him, her stride quick but cautious, every instinct drawn taut. Her head was low, ears tipped back with quiet unease, but her hooves stayed close to his, ready if not entirely sure. There was safety in his proximity, though she would never say it aloud. Further up the rise Shadow took the initiative and stepped forward pinning her ears at Barr. “Barr let me, please.” she nudged him, even though she already knew he saw the stallion before them as a threat. Barracuda snorted and raised his head, his ears twitched, but he did not answer. He didn’t care what the stallion warned, if they were a threat, he would gladly take care of it. He watched the two, keeping his body ready as they moved. Shadow shook her head and let her wings lay against her back, the motion smooth and deliberate. “We are no threat, we were just exploring and overheard your laughter,” she said with a flick of her tail betraying the tension she tried to conceal. Her body relaxed, to try and show no threat. She glanced at Barr, hoping with everything in her that he wouldn’t cause anything. She knew that stallions were prone to fighting over anything, but this wasn’t something to fight over, in her mind, it was a misunderstanding. She rested her gaze at the stranger Stallion, hoping he would yield, or at least refrain from escalating the silent contest that already smoldered between the two. Viper’s ears twitched at the sound of the mare’s voice. The gentleness in it eased some of the tension that knotted at her shoulders. She lifted her head a little, offering a faint, apologetic smile, but no words followed. Raider did not soften. His stance remained iron still, gaze steady as the sun on stone, locked on the pair before him, eyes narrowing slightly, his body taught. He studied them both with the suspicion of one too often betrayed by strangers. “Spying eyes seldom call themselves harmless,” he said at last, his voice edged with iron. “If it’s laughter you came chasing, you found it, and the ones behind it. Now tell me your purpose before I decide what to make of you.” Barracuda let his ears flatten hearing the stallion’s words. His body tensing but he stayed quiet. He wouldn’t fall for the stallion’s tactics. “We were just discussing how to approach. As we all know, having two stallions in the same area without a proper introduction, never turns out well for anyone.” Shadow said as she put herself between the two stallions, her body a tad smaller than either one. She looked at the stallion before her, “We are sorry if we caused any problems.” Turning towards Barr seeing if they should leave. She saw something change in her friend. Barracuda’s body began to relax as her words sunk in. He let out a mild sigh before glancing towards the mountains. “We were planning to explore the mountains, though the laughter did catch our attention.” He spoke with less venom in his voice. “I’m Barracuda, and the feisty little mare beside me is Shadow.” he turned away from them and went to inspect a pumpkin, a bit further away from where the other two had been. Raider’s ears twitched, the faintest glimmer of amusement breaking through his guarded expression. “You wound me, lady”, he said, his tone a low, sardonic rumble. “You make us sound like beasts circling the same watering hole.” Still, he did not move, watching as the other stallion’s posture eased. The sudden shift from challenge to calm unsettled him more than open hostility would have. His eyes narrowed, studying Barracuda in silence for several breaths before speaking again. “I am Raider” he said at last. “And this is Viper; healer, wanderer, and the occasional voice of reason.” At that, Viper stepped forward with renewed brightness, her early timidness melting into warmth. “Healer in training” she corrected cheerfully. “And those-” she flicked her tail toward the scattered orange remains behind them, “-are my experiments.” A small laugh escaped her, light and disarming. “We didn’t mean to alarm anyone. Though in our defense, it’s not every day that you meet a mysterious winged stranger and her friend.” Shadow raised her head at hearing the words from Raider, she felt bad and it could be seen in the way her wings dropped a bit. Her body instinctfully took a step back. She had no idea what to say to any of that. She glanced at Barr for help, even though he wasn’t showing any sign of paying attention. Barracuda heard what was said but he didn’t really care, his first instinct had told him to protect but now his element was telling him to check everything out. He sniffed the ground, noticing a few things. “Weird, the ground here shouldn’t allow for this kind of growth.” he said more to himself, his nose following a trail only he could sense. He began walking towards the mountains, even though they were at least a few hours walk from where they all were. “Barr, where are you going?” Shadow said as she was torn between following her friend and making sure that no fights or worse broke out. Raider let out a sharp snort, the sound breaking the uneasy quiet between them like a whip. “Your friend’s got no manners”, he said dryly, his voice a low rumble beneath the wind. His gaze stayed fixed on the stallion’s retreating form; steady, watchful, unblinking. His voice carried no real malice, just firm disapproval that clings to those accustomed to solitude and discipline. Viper stifled a laugh, her ears flicking with amusement as she turned to Shadow instead. “He means no offense” she said with a crooked grin, nudging one of the larger pumpkin pieces with her hoof until it rolled to a stop in front of the mare. “Here, try some! It’s sweet and the seeds are the best part.” She dipped her head, teeth catching the piece of the gourd to break it off. The scent of ripe fruit drifting through the air again, warm and earthy. Raider’s eyes never left Barracuda. He watched the other stallion’s movements with quiet intensity, ears flattening slightly against his mane. The tension hadn't left him, it simply shifted, coiled now beneath the surface, waiting. Barracuda paused then, his ears flicking towards the horizon. The faintest tremor had run through the ground, so subtle that even the grass barely stirred. Yet, he felt it, the deep almost imperceptible pulse of something shifting. His muscles stiffened, his breath drawing short. Something vast was moving, not near, but not far enough. He lowered his muzzle to the soil, feeling its hum beneath his skin. Whatever it was, it was heavy. It was coming. Shadow kept her eye on Barr but allowed Viper to come closer with the pumpkin. She slowly lowered her head and took a nibble, her eyes widening as the taste touched her tongue. “You’re right, this is good.” she said before taking another nibble. As she went for a third nibble, her body tensed as a shadow went across the ground, she let out a startled squeal as her wings spread wide. Viper lifted her head, laughter fading. The air had changed; she could taste it, metallic and dry. Her eyes flicked to Raider, who had already raised his head toward the hills. His nostrils flared, breath leaving in a short hiss. Raider felt it then, the low growing tremor in the soil, like a heartbeat rising from the depths. The air thickened, whistling faintly, heavy with charge. He lifted his gaze skyward. A shadow crossed the sun. It fell across them in an instant, vast and cold, the world dimming as though dusk had come suddenly too soon. The light fractures around the shape’s edges, rippling like heated glass. For a moment, Raider could not breathe. The sound of wings followed; slow, deep, and immense. The kind of sound that lived not in the ears but in the heart, rattling bone and breath alike. He caught only flashes through the glare; scales glinting like tarnished lead, a shape too broad to name. Its shadow swept over the hills, devouring light as it passed. Then he moved.