Silent's POV (at the new Lakota camp..)

The pain had been unbearable.

Little Creek and Pocahontas had found me once Spirit and Rain were captured. I was brought back to what remained of the village where Innoko had taken the bullet out and mended my wound with many herbs and other natural resources that she used for healing.

Only I had overheard her talking to Pocahontas about my wound. It had destroyed my body the right side of my body was paralyzed. Once I heard that I started sobbing. And Pocahontas comforted me for an hour as all the other villagers gathered their belongings that remained.

They relocated, and since I couldn't walk, I had to ride on Innoko's young stallion Bladeagle who was Rain's non-lookalike twin brother.

Pocahontas rode behind me to make sure I didnt fall off.

Unlike Rain, he had a solid coat color which was a light brown color. He had white socks that went up to his knees on all four legs, a chocolate brown mane, and a tail with baby blu eyes that matched Rain's own.

His personality was quite similar to Rain's; only he was slightly shyer than she was. But he had the same area Rain had, making me feel safer.

But not as safe as I felt with Spirit; no one could make me feel that way besides him.

"lay her down here," Innoko said, pointing to a bear skin in her new teepee "this girl needs her rest."

Pocahontas nodded from what I saw, and she jumped off Baldeagle, then gently pulled me off and laid me down, being extremely careful not to hurt me.

Suddenly a familiar whinny rang through the air. "Browneyes!" Pocahontas breathed before standing up from her priovuios crouching position beside me and ran out of the teepee.

Browneyes was her young stallion, who she loved with all her heart like Little Creek loved Rain and how Innoko loved Baldeagle.

Before I could blink, a very familiar paint mare came into the shaman lady's teepee just as Baldeagle was. he was lying beside the fireplace, but once Rain came in, he jumped to his hooves and trotted over to her. The two nuzzled as a brother and sister would.

"you're alright!" the stallion breathed. "I was so worried about you."

Rain smiled at her brother "Im fine, you overgrown colt. I'm tougher than I look, you know" she looked over at me, causing her blue eyes to widen, and almost immediately, she was by my side.

"a-are you okay?" I croaked, my voice weak. she nodded gently, nuzzling my cheek. "w-what about Spirit?" I asked, my voice going even quieter. But she didnt nod this time. Her head drooped. "Silent... I-I dont know. I got separated from him," she said grimly.

I didnt want to cry, but tears suddenly welled up in my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. I was so scared for Spirit; he could've been hurt.

Little Creek had gone off to find him and Rain, but I guess it's just him now, but anything could have happened. All I could do now was pray that they would be safe.

Spirit's POV (back in the wilderness...)

I woke up on a river bank. The sun hurt my eyes, so I had to blink a few times to get used to the bright light. Once I could see, I pulled my head up and looked around. The first thing I noticed was a pile of red apples which was a familiar sight beside me. And by the apples was the same mysterious beast that had been with Little Creek when he unhooked me and saved me from teh fire.

As I got a better look at her, I saw her dark scaly hide, flecked with white and red sails, sprung down from her head and over her back to her tail. she was walking on two legs and used her winged forelegs as well forelegs. Her eyes were a dark sheen of purple much like SIlent's own, which made me remember that Silent said that her mother had royal purple eyes... like Amethysts.

I didnt understand why the little detail came to my mind, but I didnt question it. It brought Silent to my mind, so I was grateful it did.

I didnt even realize that she-beast had looked up at me "good to see you're finally awake," she rumbled "it's almost noon, you know" I shook my head and slowly brought myself to my hooves. "the mortal Little Creek was very determined to find you and a paint horse" the black beast continued to speak "Daenerys loves you as he said. and you love her?" she raised a scaly eyebrow at me.

I looked at her strangely. "Um... I'm sorry, I dont know anyone named Daenerys. Now, if you mean Silent--" she cut me off. "Silent? Oh... that's what they've called her ever since I left?" I thought for a moment before it all became clear. This beast in front of me was not just a random beast; she was... she was.

She was Silent's mother, Rhaella.

"w-wait a minute..." I choked on my breath "you're... you're Silent's mother? Rhaella?" the last part barely slipped past my lips as a whisper. I was shocked. She nodded "yes, I am. and I plan on returning to her"

But before she could say anything else, raging anger boiled up inside me, and I lashed out. I'm sure my eyes turned red, and my face turned red through my fur too.

Rhaella's POV

"you LEFT her!" the stallion yelled at me "you abandoned her when she needed you the most! she stopped talking; her husband abused her, and you didnt protect her!" his ears were flat against his head, and his nostrils were flaring.

I jumped back, a little surprised at his sudden outburst. He must've cared for my hatchling; his rage proves just that.

"yearling, I regret it very much!" I snapped back, "the cavalry was beginning to suspect my shirt, and if they had found out, they would have slaughtered my Daenerys, and they wouldn't have cared that I was the Colonel's wife's mother and she his wife!"

The knowledge seemed to get the stallion's attention. but it was true if any of the soldiers had learned my secret, they would have killed me and killed my little hatchling in fear that she had taken after me, which she had. "your... secret?" Spirit asked, sounding genuinely confused. I signed but mentally decided that he should know, especially if my little darling dint know.

"every generation of women in my family could change into any desired animal they wanted," I explained, and he soaked in every word. "but little... er, Silent as you call her, showed signs of only being able to turn into one animal."

"none of my son-in-law's men would notice they were too subtle. And she could turn into that one desired animal even," I continued, "but the sounders were starting to get sepsis of me..., so I faked my death. They believed it"

Spirit didnt make a sound, so I finished. "I never wanted to leave her," I said sincerely. I could feel tears prickling in my eyes, "but I had to do it to protect her. Surely you can understand that?"

He nodded slowly before sighing deeply "well... I hate to tell you this, but.. there's a high chance that she is... d-dead," he said, saying the last word quietly. "that cruel two-leg she was supped to call her husband -- he shot her!" his voice had turned weak as if he was trying to hold back tears of his own.

But I wasn't doing the same I let them fall.

Little Creek had failed to mention that my hatchling was dying when he found me and asked for my help. And I would have to talk to him about that.

But not right now.

As my motherly instincts kicked in, I slowly stepped over to the stallion that loved my little one and lowered my head, curling my neck in an arch, so my scales were touching him softly. My warm breath fanned over his fury back in a kind, calming way.

And to my surprise, he returned the hug. Well, as good as he could.

There were moments of tear-filled silence before ei spoke up as I let go of him and lifted my head again. "I had always intended to return," I said "know that. I would never leave my Daenerys."

He nodded "as would i."

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"We came here to be free of Old Valyria, and your Targaryens are Valyrian to the bone."
― George R.R. Martin,