Wild Berry Meadow chewing on the golden grain

”they all crazy! thinkin’ that old sack uh bones can save ‘em from the inevitable.”

everyone loved the old mare that was nanny. she always kept the herd buzzing with her wild tales and the latest gossip. they would follow her to ends of the earth just to hear what she had to say. but the only ones following her now was her wife and daughter. how is that? surely a popular mare like herself would have a whole crowd behind her? your mind would jump to drastic possibilities. maybe she stole something from them. maybe she attacked some higher-up. maybe she killed a man. nah, she was too old for that thrill. it was much more simple than that: the herd couldn’t handle the cold hard truth.

nanny’s evening gossip was a sacred thing between her and the common folk. the rumors usually flew over leaderships head and if they did catch it they’d never know who it came from. but she couldn’t keep this under wraps. that no brained stallion they called a king was gonna kill them all. and for what? to keep the family’s withering land? they were gonna starve and nanny couldn’t keep quiet about it. 

“we gotta find greener pastures!” she announced, “causs if we stay here, death’ll reap us all.” nobody moved. nobody spoke. they just shuffled in place looking at anything but her. the king snorted, “if you so keen on leavin’ then g’on. die alone while the rest of us thrive. i won’t stop yuh.” dying alone, most living creatures feared the thought. the herd was no exception, so they followed the foolish stallion into the sunset. she watched them go, gaze clouded with sorrow and disappointment. there goes protection. there goes friends. there goes family.

well, most of her family went. her beloved wife and daughter had stayed, but not without their worries and doubts. “we didn’t have a whole lotta food, but at least we had protection.” bluebell was quick to cut into her ramblings. “there’s only three uh us now, ma. what we gon’ do?” nanny whipped her head around. “we gon’ protect eachother that’s what we gon’ do! trust me sweetheart, this a whole lot better than starvin’.”

and mother earth drove in that point. when the trio came across a meadow, they were reminded of just how hungry they were. they were quick to graze upon spring’s lush grasses.

Because I want this thread, I'm going to assume at some point during their travels, Ibis and Sarah and his trail took them near enough for him to be there. While the others hunted, he struck out on his own for a time, thinking on where they'd been so far and what he had (or hadn't) learned. If their trail did not come by here, well.... his would, as sooner or later he'd wish to make a visit to the Plateau.

He was not too caught up, though, to scent an animal he'd never encountered before. Without much fear, and without stealth, Gannet came up beside them and sat down, still a good healthy distance away.

They looked almost like deer, but sturdier, and as such a little more dangerous. He didn't immediately speak, just watched, wondering if they would run away.

the woman grazed quietly for awhile, enjoying nature’s ambiance. but they weren’t even halfway done when a wolf came crashing though the bushes. annie was the first to announce his presence with an amused chuckle. “look alive ladies, we got some company.” bluebell was the second to jump up. she was clearly frightened and rightfully so. the young girl had barely had any encounters with canines and assumed the worst of them from all the stories she heard. but nanny was unphazed for now.

“don’t be scared lil blue,” she hummed, “if he wanted to eat us he woulda had some friends wid ‘im.” her ears rotated in all directions. she couldn’t hear anything, nor see anyone. “he’s just bein’ nosy that’s all.”

Gannet was indeed being nosy. He watched them silently a moment longer, then his head tilted, focusing on the oldest. What are you? he asked, not moving from where he was sitting and simply raising his voice slightly so it would carry.

He was neither hungry nor wishing for a fight. A talk, however, could be interesting.