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Blaze (c) Enchanted-Hopes
Artemis (c) me
Arya (c) Enchanted-Hopes & me

Artemis broke off from the group as she spotted Blaze speeding across the snow covered ground.

"Artemis! What's the mare what with you dad?" Blaze asked as she skid to a stop.

"That's Queen Phoenix of the Volcanic herd!" Artemis answered excitedly. "And I'm going to sit in on the meeting she's going to have with daddy!" She added proudly.

"Oh cool! Can I come?" Blaze asked.

"Yah! Let's go get Arya too!"

"Okay let's go!" Blaze nodded and the two sped off in the other direction towards the main herd.

*

After collecting Arya from the herd, Artemis and her friends followed Ruffian, Mothflight, Captain, Saviour, Dexter, Atlas, Jeriko, and her mother towards one of the Canyon caves normally used by the Spymater while training the new spies. Trotting up to the entrance, the girls were stopped by Atlas.

"Sorry girls, this isn't a meeting for foals" Atlas stated, Artemis pinned her ears.

"My dad--"

"Princess Artemis, you father is in a meeting with a foreign dignitary, this is no place for fillies." Atlas sighed heavily.

"Uncle Atlas, I am heir the Canyons! If I am to lead one day, I need to know what's going on" Artemis defended, Atlas almost seemed amused.

"I admire your determination Princess, but although Prince Apollo isn't here at the moment, he is still heir to the Canyons" Atlas explained, Artemis snorted as her ears pressed back against her neck.

"Apollo couldn't lead a snail, let alone a herd" Artemis stated stamping her hoof.

"I'm sorry Princess, now run along and go play with your friends" Atlas dismissed before walking back into the Cave.

"What do we do now, Artemis?" Blaze asked, Artemis looked around and realized something very familiar about this cave.

"Arya, remember when we were exploring the cave and we found that one of the caves had a ledge above the main floor?" Artemis stated.

"Yeah, what about it?....wait....do you think this is this cave?" Arya asked.

"Only one way to find out, come on" Artemis gestured and headed off towards a large group of thick brush.

*

After the fillies found the entrance, they slipped through and quietly made their way up the slope towards the over look. once there the fillies laid now at the edge as they over looked the group of larger horses making sure to keep them quiet.

"...Queen Phoenix please, start from the beginning of how nobody has ever heard of the Volcanic Herd." Desert Fire asked, the chestnut mare nodded.

"The Volcanic Herd has been around since the creation of Islay, long ago those with power over fire were outcast due to the destructive nature of fire. My ancestor, Firewind, decided to go around Islay and took on those with powers of Fire into a herd where they would be accepted. After going from herd to herd taking on these unwanted horses, Firewind took her herd far out of the way from other herds, until they came across the Volcanic plains. A field containing small volcanic mounds that feed a volcanic river running through the territory. It was as if the Gods specifically made the plains for them....as they had been out-casted from their original herd, the Volcanic Herd ensured their isolation from them; but sending spies out across Islay to keep tabs on their old herds. Soon the existence of these out-casted disappeared from history all together. For generations we lived in peace, with no outsiders approaching our borders." Phoenix explained.

"You're telling me that for generations, your herd has never come in contact with any Islay Herd. Impossible" Ruffian snorted, Phoenix rolled her eyes ignoring her comment.

"The Volcanic Herd wanted nothing to do with other herds, very unwelcoming until we had a Frost Stallion approach the outskirts of our territory when I was younger and before I became Queen....this stallion named Dorn, and he became my mate. Recently I gave birth to my son Windigo, the first foal born in the Volcanic herd possessing powers of both Ice and Fire...." Phoenix explained, Sierra seemed to be less shocked than the stallions.

"Phoenix, I can't help but notice you're from the same generation as us....but you rule as Queen....are your parents well?" Artemi's mother asked, the chestnut queen sighed heavily.

"And now we come to the part where I come baring unpleasent news..." she sighed. "Both my parents are surviving, but my father had to step down do to an injury he earned during battle when I was only a filly.....a stallion you all know too well according to my sources....Murtough." The tension in the cave became so thick and tense it confused the fillies.

"Who's Murtough?" Arya asked curiously looking between her friends.

"I dont know, but I've heard daddy mention that name between uncle Atlas and his original band" Artemis whispered.

"Same with me to. Nobody says much when I'm around but from what I've heard in whispers was that he knew my daddy before he died.." Blaze nodded.

"Sshh, they're talking again." Arya hushed them.

"So he affected every herd in Islay..." Aunt Mothflight said quietly, Uncle Ruffian nuzzled her cheek gently.

"My father suffered a stifle injury from him, but that was all after he was chased out from our land. Only a few years ago my father stepped down unable to fully deliver on his duties. But that is not the news I bring....over the last couple months my scouts have come across corpses of horse, all beaten and bloodied. And according to our healers that was the cause of death. Even more concerning is that there has been rumours that a new herd is gathering further North, but my spies have found no proof....aside from the decrease of herd-less horses in the unclaimed lands...." Phoenix informed Desert Fire.

".....over the last two months we've taken in a number of abandoned foals....recently we took in one found by her beaten mother....the wounds were fresh but she was not attacked where she had been found..." Desert shook his head looking over at Jeriko.

"In our investigation around the unclaimed territories and around peace rock, we found nothing to suggest she was from these lands" the spy master stated.

"If she came from the East, she would have had to cross through Solar Territory, my guards would have reported it and taken her in with the foal" Sierra stated. "And nothing has been reported from the Shadow Herd either."

"Do you think Nightfrost could do such a thing?" the canyon queen asked Mothflight, the small mare shook her head.

"Nightfrost is a fool and manipulative but he is not a brute....and there has been nothing from the Vale to suggest those loyal to him would dare attempt that to a mare. Especially a herdless one, they're too stuck up to worry about any one but themselves" Mothflight answered.

"No...this feels an awful lot like the work of a stallion for our dark past" Desert stated darkly. "When I was a colt...Brutus and his goons used to go about torturing mares and killing rival stallions who came close to our borders....he was ordered to kill me before I escaped the Canyons to the lower lands.."

"You think this is the work of Brutus?" Atlas asked.

"I have to agree...I served under Brutus during those times....it fits what he would do...and they did get away during the battle" Ruffian explained.

"What's my daddy talking about?" Arya asked Artemis.

"I don't know, but my daddy told me there was a big battle against a horse who took over the Canyons before daddy defeated him and took back the Canyons. I never knew his name but he was a real mean horse." Artemis whispered.

"That Brutus must be the horse who took over the Canyons..." Blaze suggested.

"Must be" Arya nodded.

"We need to alert the Council." Sierra stated.

"Yes, we do. Phoenix, will you come to the Council of the Herds in a fortnight?" Desert asked.

"Yes, I shall. Until then I shall return to my herd and send my spies further North to uncover any sign of a new herd" Phoenix answered. "It is time the Volcanic Herd to leave the shadows." she added.

"Make it known that the Canyon Herd officially acknowledges the Volcanic Herd as one of the Mountain Herds of Islay" Desert Fire stated. "Atlas, Captain, Saviour, Dexter. Send our fastest Messengers to Shadow, Vale, Frost, Lunar and Mystic....and even to Snipe's herd....they're on the edge of the Vale near the unclaimed territory, no herd shall suffer under Brutus as long as I stand and breathe" Artemis was stunned as her father arched his neck with ears pinned so far back against his head that they seemed to disappeared, and as hoof struck the Canyon floor sparks flew. Sierra coiled herself as her ears flatted, tail thrashing as it coiled.

"The Solar Herd officially acknowledges the Volcanic Herd as one of the Mountain Herd of Islay, also. I'll order that my adviser spread word through our herd as well, my own spies shall keep a ear to the ground and double the guard across the border facing unclaimed land. I shall escort you across the Solar Plains" Sierra stated, Phoenix nodded.

"I think we should go now..." Blaze suggested, Arya nodded and the two quietly got up and headed down the slope. Artemis took one last look before following.

*

Outside Artemis shook her head, if this was true then the Canyons...no. Islay was in danger of whoever this Brutus was....she would be Queen. She would rise. She would fight.

Description
Blaze (c) Enchanted-Hopes
Artemis (c) me
Arya (c) Enchanted-Hopes & me

Artemis broke off from the group as she spotted Blaze speeding across the snow covered ground.

"Artemis! What's the mare what with you dad?" Blaze asked as she skid to a stop.

"That's Queen Phoenix of the Volcanic herd!" Artemis answered excitedly. "And I'm going to sit in on the meeting she's going to have with daddy!" She added proudly.

"Oh cool! Can I come?" Blaze asked.

"Yah! Let's go get Arya too!"

"Okay let's go!" Blaze nodded and the two sped off in the other direction towards the main herd.

*

After collecting Arya from the herd, Artemis and her friends followed Ruffian, Mothflight, Captain, Saviour, Dexter, Atlas, Jeriko, and her mother towards one of the Canyon caves normally used by the Spymater while training the new spies. Trotting up to the entrance, the girls were stopped by Atlas.

"Sorry girls, this isn't a meeting for foals" Atlas stated, Artemis pinned her ears.

"My dad--"

"Princess Artemis, you father is in a meeting with a foreign dignitary, this is no place for fillies." Atlas sighed heavily.

"Uncle Atlas, I am heir the Canyons! If I am to lead one day, I need to know what's going on" Artemis defended, Atlas almost seemed amused.

"I admire your determination Princess, but although Prince Apollo isn't here at the moment, he is still heir to the Canyons" Atlas explained, Artemis snorted as her ears pressed back against her neck.

"Apollo couldn't lead a snail, let alone a herd" Artemis stated stamping her hoof.

"I'm sorry Princess, now run along and go play with your friends" Atlas dismissed before walking back into the Cave.

"What do we do now, Artemis?" Blaze asked, Artemis looked around and realized something very familiar about this cave.

"Arya, remember when we were exploring the cave and we found that one of the caves had a ledge above the main floor?" Artemis stated.

"Yeah, what about it?....wait....do you think this is this cave?" Arya asked.

"Only one way to find out, come on" Artemis gestured and headed off towards a large group of thick brush.

*

After the fillies found the entrance, they slipped through and quietly made their way up the slope towards the over look. once there the fillies laid now at the edge as they over looked the group of larger horses making sure to keep them quiet.

"...Queen Phoenix please, start from the beginning of how nobody has ever heard of the Volcanic Herd." Desert Fire asked, the chestnut mare nodded.

"The Volcanic Herd has been around since the creation of Islay, long ago those with power over fire were outcast due to the destructive nature of fire. My ancestor, Firewind, decided to go around Islay and took on those with powers of Fire into a herd where they would be accepted. After going from herd to herd taking on these unwanted horses, Firewind took her herd far out of the way from other herds, until they came across the Volcanic plains. A field containing small volcanic mounds that feed a volcanic river running through the territory. It was as if the Gods specifically made the plains for them....as they had been out-casted from their original herd, the Volcanic Herd ensured their isolation from them; but sending spies out across Islay to keep tabs on their old herds. Soon the existence of these out-casted disappeared from history all together. For generations we lived in peace, with no outsiders approaching our borders." Phoenix explained.

"You're telling me that for generations, your herd has never come in contact with any Islay Herd. Impossible" Ruffian snorted, Phoenix rolled her eyes ignoring her comment.

"The Volcanic Herd wanted nothing to do with other herds, very unwelcoming until we had a Frost Stallion approach the outskirts of our territory when I was younger and before I became Queen....this stallion named Dorn, and he became my mate. Recently I gave birth to my son Windigo, the first foal born in the Volcanic herd possessing powers of both Ice and Fire...." Phoenix explained, Sierra seemed to be less shocked than the stallions.

"Phoenix, I can't help but notice you're from the same generation as us....but you rule as Queen....are your parents well?" Artemi's mother asked, the chestnut queen sighed heavily.

"And now we come to the part where I come baring unpleasent news..." she sighed. "Both my parents are surviving, but my father had to step down do to an injury he earned during battle when I was only a filly.....a stallion you all know too well according to my sources....Murtough." The tension in the cave became so thick and tense it confused the fillies.

"Who's Murtough?" Arya asked curiously looking between her friends.

"I dont know, but I've heard daddy mention that name between uncle Atlas and his original band" Artemis whispered.

"Same with me to. Nobody says much when I'm around but from what I've heard in whispers was that he knew my daddy before he died.." Blaze nodded.

"Sshh, they're talking again." Arya hushed them.

"So he affected every herd in Islay..." Aunt Mothflight said quietly, Uncle Ruffian nuzzled her cheek gently.

"My father suffered a stifle injury from him, but that was all after he was chased out from our land. Only a few years ago my father stepped down unable to fully deliver on his duties. But that is not the news I bring....over the last couple months my scouts have come across corpses of horse, all beaten and bloodied. And according to our healers that was the cause of death. Even more concerning is that there has been rumours that a new herd is gathering further North, but my spies have found no proof....aside from the decrease of herd-less horses in the unclaimed lands...." Phoenix informed Desert Fire.

".....over the last two months we've taken in a number of abandoned foals....recently we took in one found by her beaten mother....the wounds were fresh but she was not attacked where she had been found..." Desert shook his head looking over at Jeriko.

"In our investigation around the unclaimed territories and around peace rock, we found nothing to suggest she was from these lands" the spy master stated.

"If she came from the East, she would have had to cross through Solar Territory, my guards would have reported it and taken her in with the foal" Sierra stated. "And nothing has been reported from the Shadow Herd either."

"Do you think Nightfrost could do such a thing?" the canyon queen asked Mothflight, the small mare shook her head.

"Nightfrost is a fool and manipulative but he is not a brute....and there has been nothing from the Vale to suggest those loyal to him would dare attempt that to a mare. Especially a herdless one, they're too stuck up to worry about any one but themselves" Mothflight answered.

"No...this feels an awful lot like the work of a stallion for our dark past" Desert stated darkly. "When I was a colt...Brutus and his goons used to go about torturing mares and killing rival stallions who came close to our borders....he was ordered to kill me before I escaped the Canyons to the lower lands.."

"You think this is the work of Brutus?" Atlas asked.

"I have to agree...I served under Brutus during those times....it fits what he would do...and they did get away during the battle" Ruffian explained.

"What's my daddy talking about?" Arya asked Artemis.

"I don't know, but my daddy told me there was a big battle against a horse who took over the Canyons before daddy defeated him and took back the Canyons. I never knew his name but he was a real mean horse." Artemis whispered.

"That Brutus must be the horse who took over the Canyons..." Blaze suggested.

"Must be" Arya nodded.

"We need to alert the Council." Sierra stated.

"Yes, we do. Phoenix, will you come to the Council of the Herds in a fortnight?" Desert asked.

"Yes, I shall. Until then I shall return to my herd and send my spies further North to uncover any sign of a new herd" Phoenix answered. "It is time the Volcanic Herd to leave the shadows." she added.

"Make it known that the Canyon Herd officially acknowledges the Volcanic Herd as one of the Mountain Herds of Islay" Desert Fire stated. "Atlas, Captain, Saviour, Dexter. Send our fastest Messengers to Shadow, Vale, Frost, Lunar and Mystic....and even to Snipe's herd....they're on the edge of the Vale near the unclaimed territory, no herd shall suffer under Brutus as long as I stand and breathe" Artemis was stunned as her father arched his neck with ears pinned so far back against his head that they seemed to disappeared, and as hoof struck the Canyon floor sparks flew. Sierra coiled herself as her ears flatted, tail thrashing as it coiled.

"The Solar Herd officially acknowledges the Volcanic Herd as one of the Mountain Herd of Islay, also. I'll order that my adviser spread word through our herd as well, my own spies shall keep a ear to the ground and double the guard across the border facing unclaimed land. I shall escort you across the Solar Plains" Sierra stated, Phoenix nodded.

"I think we should go now..." Blaze suggested, Arya nodded and the two quietly got up and headed down the slope. Artemis took one last look before following.

*

Outside Artemis shook her head, if this was true then the Canyons...no. Islay was in danger of whoever this Brutus was....she would be Queen. She would rise. She would fight.