The Arrival of Hemera

[thethirdwonder]

It had started out like any other morning. Or at least any other morning that she didn't spend with Sam. She and Iris were out for their morning run, Cassie alternating between jogging and sprinting while Iris just looped along beside her. It was a beautiful morning and Cassie was almost tempted to go a little farther but something seemed to call to her back towards her hut.

And it was a good thing too, as just before the hut would have come into view through the tree, Iris veered off the path and went charging into the woods. Moments later, Cassie heard a racket of barks and some sort of screeching. Afraid for the her dog, she ran after her, following the noise until she found them.

When she did find Iris and the source of screeching, Cassie couldn't help stopping in shock. Iris was standing protectively over a little golden colored foal, barking not at it but to get Cassie's attention. But the barking was still scaring the baby animal, thus the screeching. But it wasn't the screeching that was making Cassie stare, but the two white wings growing out of her back. It seems like the island had decided Cassie needed a baby pegasus in her life.

Once she got a grip on the situation, Cassie ran the last few steps and fells to her knees to try and comfort the little foal. "Hey, hey it's alright! Shhhhh....no more of that crying, it's okay."

[For reference, the foal will look like this when she grows up. For now, she looks more like this]]

Comments

[arrowette]

The first sound Cissie heard as she slowly woke up was Iris barking. This in itself wasn't anything really unusual but the screeching after that was. She bolted out of her bed and paused only to grab her bow and quiver. The minute her quiver was slung over her shoulder, she was out the door and running towards the sound, arrow nocked and ready to go.

"Cass? Cass, are you okay?"

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie looked over her shoulder when Cissie appeared and immediately covered the foal with her body. "Wow! Ciss, don't shoot!"

Once the arrow was lowered, Cassie moved aside again so Cissie could see the baby. The foal had buried it's head in her chest, stopping the screaming for now but it was obviously still upset if the shaking was any indication. "Look what Iris found. I think, I think the island wanted me to find her."

[arrowette]

Whatever she had been expecting to find, it was so not Cass and a baby pegasus. Cissie boggled for a moment then quickly unnocked the arrow and put it back in her quiver. She carefully set her bow against a tree and cautiously moved until she was next to her friend.

"Oh my god, that is amazing! She's so little... and she has wings, right? I am not seeing things?"

[thethirdwonder]

When the arrow went away, Cassie let go of the filly for a moment so she could wave Cissie closer. "She's tiny and terrified, but yeah. She's a genuine baby pegasus. I hope..." She looked at her best friend with a beaming grin. "Oh I hope she'd supposed to be mine!"

It was genuinely surprising to Cassie how much she wanted to take care of this little filly.

[arrowette]

Cissie couldn't help but smile back at Cassie. "She's got to be yours," she said. "Iris found her, right? I can't imagine she'd be anyone else's."

[thethirdwonder]

"Oh Hera Ciss...I have no idea how to take care of her!" Despite wanting her more then she could stand, Cassie started to panic. What did she know about taking care of a baby, much less a baby winged horse.

[arrowette]

"We'll find out somehow," Cissie said, hugging her friend tightly. "We'll beat books out of the bookshelf if we have to or get some advise from someone."

[thethirdwonder]

Uncurling one arm from around the baby animal, Cassie returned the hug gratefully, glad Cissie was her to be a calming and stable influence. "Thanks Ciss."

Then Cassie looked back at the filly and sighed. "I guess we can start by asking some of the people who own horses. There are enough of them on the island."