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

[not_so_smooth]

"That is definitely a baby pegasus," Sam agreed, inching closer with one eye on the horse and one on the dog. There was no way this was going to end well for him, no way at all.

He supposed it was beautiful, the pegasus, but he couldn't see it. He had too many issues dealing with coitus interuptus and flying horses. Maybe when it wasn't quite so small.

[thethirdwonder]

"Come here!" Cassie gestured with one hand before reaching out for him. "Please? I think she's my gift from the island so you better get used to her." She gave Sam a pointed look before it softened. "You wouldn't leave a baby to fend for herself, would you?"

[not_so_smooth]

"A baby monster I would," he grumbled, taking her hand and inching closer. She seemed excited about this thing, so he supposed that he should at least not hate it too much, especially if it was going to be around a lot.

"Why does the island have to get you pets that want to eat me?"

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie tugged his hand until he was sitting next to her and then let the filly sniff their joined hands. Once the baby seemed okay with this new arrangement, she brought their hands down so Sam could touch the soft fur of the filly's neck.

"It's not going to eat you. Stop that."

[not_so_smooth]

Sam's hand shook a bit as he touched the animal's neck, just waiting for it to snap and take his hand off. When it didn't, he relaxed just a bit and inched closer. Maybe the horse was going to wait until it was big enough to eat all of him or something.

"What are you going to name her?" he asked. "Wingfoot the Devourer?"

[thethirdwonder]

The filly looked up from where it had it's head buried in Cassie's chest and sniffed at Sam's fingers. Then, as if accepting him, shuffled closer to lean against him too before hiding her head again.

Cassie smiled, before she smacked him. "I think she likes you. And be nice. She needs a prettier name then that." She paused, thinking. "Hemera."

[not_so_smooth]

"Is that anything like the Chimera?" he asked, although he didn't really mean it, not with how it had leaned into him. Maybe it was a long term plan to endear him and them it him, but if so it was a good plan.

"Her nose is soft."

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie just grinned as she watched Sam melt at the foal's charms. "She's the Greek Goddess of the Day. I think it fits, with her bright coat. And it kinda matches Iris, who was the one to find her."

Finally, she squeezed Sam's hand. "You okay now?"

[not_so_smooth]

"I'm pretty sure she's still going to try and eat me at some point," he told her, squeezing her had back. Still, with how pleased Cassie was, he could at least try and not freak completely out about this.

"We should, uh, probably get her some oats or something, right? I mean, I think that's what horses eat, oats. And hay. Maybe carrots and apples?"

[thethirdwonder]

"I promise I'll protect you." Cassie leaned over and kissed Sam's cheek.

Then she blinked as she realized that she hadn't even given the care of her new charge any thought. Her expression dropped. "Oh goddess....Sam, I don't know how to take care of a horse!" Not she had to fight the urge to panic.

[not_so_smooth]

"Hey, whoa, it's okay," he said, reaching out to put an arm around her. Cassie could face down all number of scary things but apparently unprepared responsibility was not something she handled comfortably.

"There are horses on the island. And- Bart looks after those chicken things, right? People will be able to help you and show you how. I'll learn with you."

[thethirdwonder]

"But...she's just a baby!" It was ironic really. Cassie had been terrified of getting pregnant and now she had a baby to take care of. It was four legged sure but it still needed the extra care. "What if she needs special care I can't give her?" It literally broke her heart to think about having to give up this little filly that she'd already fallen in love with.

Even as she was freaking out, Cassie leaned into Sam's embrace, feeling so damn lucky she had such a supportive person to back her up.

[not_so_smooth]

"And she's lucky to have you to watch out for her," Sam said, just holding her close as best as he could. It was unusual to comfort her to this extent, but he didn't mind it.

"Yeah, it's a lot of responsibility but I know you're up for it. And I know you, there's nothing she'll need that you won't do everything you can to provide for."

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie tried to be strong most of the time as per the super hero she was...but sometimes things were just outside of her experience and she panicked. And it was those times that she was grateful for all the support she had here on the island.

"Thanks Sam." She said softly before giving a heavy sigh. "We should probably get her somewhere safer then the middle of the jungle. And find someone who knows what they are doing."

[not_so_smooth]

"Your dog will eat anything that tries to get near her," Sam pointed out. He would have picked it to even take on a dinosaur and win. Especially if it was a male dinosaur.

"But yeah, she'll probably prefer to be someplace with food more to her liking and around other animals."

[thethirdwonder]

"Anatoly won her over with sandwiches you know. Maybe you should try it." But Cassie appreciated the sentiment, as well as Sam doing his best to get along with her crazy dog.

"Then I guess we should go." She kissed Sam's cheek before turning her attention the foal in her lap. "Hey little one. Let's get you some place safer okay?" She kept her voice soothing as she carefully stood up, encouraging the filly to do the same.

[not_so_smooth]

"That's it? All I have to do is bring her sandwiches?" he asked, glancing over at the dog. "She's easy."

Of course, he was probably going to get eaten for that comment, although maybe if he grabbed enough sandwiches before hand he would be okay. He'd have to find out what kind she liked though, peanut butter and jelly was probably not her favorite.

"And you, little one," he said, turning to the Pegasus, "We'll get you some carrots or whatever."

[thethirdwonder]

"Well, it does help that he owns her favorite playmate too but it could be a start?" Cassie shrugged, glancing over at Iris, before turning back to the filly. She was positive her dog would follow.

She helped the filly to get her balance and gently grabbed hold of the soft mane to lead her. "Come on....that's it!" She said encouragingly as the filly began to follow her with shaking steps.