Atna was feeling weak, something that she did not feel often. The hunger was getting to her. She didn't have enough for her own self ever since the snows were coming in fast. She was lying down more, which wasn't something that was normal for the study mare. Her energy levels just weren't enough. The deep snow on the plains were deep enough to tire out any horse, but along with the cold weather of the last few days the mare was barely holding on.
She sought Nechako's company, and warmth of the others of the herd. Still she preferred the stallion close by. Her frame was starting to fall in, even though her sides were round her hips were starting to show. The sun went down, and night came. With the sun gone it became even colder. The mare was so tired she needed to lie down. By the time that dawn came the mare was so cold and frozen that she could not get up anymore. Her breathing slowly stopped as her tired heart froze into place. Never moving again.
January 12, 2017, 04:50 PM
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The weather had turned foul almost overnight, and they hadn't expected it. It wasn't uncommon for the band of horses to mill about together, and with the plummeting temperature, Nechako was all too thrilled to be up close and personal with his beloved wives. He was ignorant to the affect of weather upon Atna and the babe she carried, perhaps on purpose or perhaps because he hadn't ever considered that the very air could become such a dangerous force.
It was cold, though.
He tried to keep their spirits up — rough-housing with Skoonka, racing around the plains with young Tseax, even spending time huddled among the women-folk for hours. Yet the temperature kept on plummeting. On occasion he would find Atna trying to lay down, but he would rouse her each time. It would not be good for the child, he thought. Their child was their future — his legacy.
When he found her again, it was too late. She was a solid silhouette upon the plains, her head tucked against her legs and bowed. He did not know what to make of it at first and simply went on as if nothing was wrong. Nechako nuzzled at her despite the chill of her skin; he bowed his own head by her curved, fat sides and listened intently for movement, for a heartbeat, for anything. The stallion refused to leave her side and repeatedly tried to wake her, to get her to stand and run with him — but Atna would run no longer.
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The weather had turned foul almost overnight, and they hadn't expected it. It wasn't uncommon for the band of horses to mill about together, and with the plummeting temperature, Nechako was all too thrilled to be up close and personal with his beloved wives. He was ignorant to the affect of weather upon Atna and the babe she carried, perhaps on purpose or perhaps because he hadn't ever considered that the very air could become such a dangerous force.
It was cold, though.
He tried to keep their spirits up — rough-housing with Skoonka, racing around the plains with young Tseax, even spending time huddled among the women-folk for hours. Yet the temperature kept on plummeting. On occasion he would find Atna trying to lay down, but he would rouse her each time. It would not be good for the child, he thought. Their child was their future — his legacy.
When he found her again, it was too late. She was a solid silhouette upon the plains, her head tucked against her legs and bowed. He did not know what to make of it at first and simply went on as if nothing was wrong. Nechako nuzzled at her despite the chill of her skin; he bowed his own head by her curved, fat sides and listened intently for movement, for a heartbeat, for anything. The stallion refused to leave her side and repeatedly tried to wake her, to get her to stand and run with him — but Atna would run no longer.
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January 17, 2017, 03:30 PM
It was cold, so cold in fact that he had frozen icicles of snot running from his nostrils. He trembled so violently that he feared his legs would buckle, causing him to fall to the harsh ground below never to get up again. He whinnied pathetically and shifted his weight, the movement causing sharp pains to shoot up his frozen legs. The running with Nechako had ended a while ago, leaving him to stand and shiver with the women of his father's harem.
Looking over at Atna he noticed how she kept attempting to lie down only to be persuaded to stand up again by his ever diligent father. lowering his head to the ground he attempted to nose at the snow to move it aside, hoping to reveal some grass below. He succeeded somewhat and yanked out a clump of grass that had been frozen below the Icey cold snow, and walked over to Atna and Nechako. He snorted softly in greeting as he dropped the grass near his pregnant mother's muzzle, snuffling at her nose in greeting. Up until that point he hadn't realized that she had passed, but when he felt no breath come from her nostrils for a long period of time he lifted his head and dug at the ground with a forehoof.
"Mother! Mother don't leave me.." The normally silent boy pleaded, his teeth worrying at her hair in the affectionate gesture that mother's and their children share. He turned to Nechako his eyes full of grief "It's the cold. We have to get everyone moving" he said softly.
Looking over at Atna he noticed how she kept attempting to lie down only to be persuaded to stand up again by his ever diligent father. lowering his head to the ground he attempted to nose at the snow to move it aside, hoping to reveal some grass below. He succeeded somewhat and yanked out a clump of grass that had been frozen below the Icey cold snow, and walked over to Atna and Nechako. He snorted softly in greeting as he dropped the grass near his pregnant mother's muzzle, snuffling at her nose in greeting. Up until that point he hadn't realized that she had passed, but when he felt no breath come from her nostrils for a long period of time he lifted his head and dug at the ground with a forehoof.
"Mother! Mother don't leave me.." The normally silent boy pleaded, his teeth worrying at her hair in the affectionate gesture that mother's and their children share. He turned to Nechako his eyes full of grief "It's the cold. We have to get everyone moving" he said softly.
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