The Laws of The Wild: Centaur Au.

Chapter 1: [Briargrass.]

    Just five branches of dogberry, then we can go home. She told herself, setting a small cloth of clover and mint in a pouch. She fixed her sling, looking down at her son sleeping peacefully. She smiled, petting him and chuckling when his back legs kicked. She continued her travel, tail swishing. Dogberry, dogberry where are you. Briargrass wondered, usually they'd be growing wild. I must've picked too much last year. Briargrass' ears twitched, turning her head. She caught the bright red, smiling and trotted over.
    She bowed her front legs, keeping one hand on her sleeping son and lowered to get branches of dogberry one by one. Mountain began to stir, Briargrass looked down at him.
    "Shh. . . calm, my little mountain, calm. . ." She brushed down his small mane of streaked hair, picking the rest of the preferred number of dogberry and carefully set them in a beige cloth and tied it, connecting it to her sling of hooks. She walked to the orchard, smiling. The plums are in season. . . She got close enough, reaching for a low branch and helped herself rear up, placing her forelegs to the tree to keep herself balanced, reaching her arm up and placed a handful of plums into an empty pouch.
    She wondered what Mountain would like, he had only started eating a week ago, but occasionally he still needed milk. She roamed the orchard, studying each flowering fruit or flowers. She picked specific flowers, like orange flowers or persimmon flowers, ones she could use in herbal teas and medicines. She placed them in their own glass jars, which she placed in a leather lined crate at her hind leg. She collected peaches. My sister's favorite.
    Briargrass turned and trotted her way back to the Three Sisters, holding her son steady so he wouldn't wake. Growing foals need all the rest they can get. Her mother always said. Briargrass slowed to a walk as she reached one of the three roads into the herd's camp. She saw foals practicing flight, old mares and stallions weaving baskets and clothing, two stallions were training, led on by a mare.
    "Briargrass." A stallion greeted, Palegrass, a pretty stallion and man (what a lot of women say.) She nodded her head.
    "Palegrass, good morning," she smiled. "Training is well, I presume?" She questioned, then cleaned off dirt from his face.
    "ACk — hey I'm not your foal." He chuckled, Briargrass smirked.
    "Aahhh but you're my nephew,"
    Her nephew rolled his eyes, then looked at Mountain. "How's he doing?"
    "Better each day, he sleeps better in the sling, I know that."
    "You are my mother, Briargrass, it makes sense. How's your leg?" He asked, she turned to let him examine her missing right hind leg, which ended at a stump, mid thigh and horribly scarred. "Mother says that's a "mighty fine scar" those twolegged animals gave you."
    "I wish I could agree with her."
    "Have you thought of a new leg? I hear the humans and twolegged animals can make new limbs from metal and wood."
    She nodded. "It's been doing fine, but lately it's been bothering me."
    "Now? After four years?"
    "Mhm. I'll check out a blacksmith next time I go into town. I should get the herbs set. I'll see you later," she said. Palegrass nodded and both exchanged a forehead bump, parting ways. Briargrass turned and made for her hut which was settled between the First Sister and Second Sister, the largest and second largest hills.
    Her hut was the third largest in the herd, save for the Sanctuary and the Lead Stallion and Mare's home. It was made of woven leather, grass and rope, its walls sturdy oak. The hut was equally longer then it was wide, parting off into three separate hallways; one hallway was meant for her quarters and her son's, another meant for her patients, which was built and expanded into the Second Sister. The second was for her kitchen, dining room, clearing. Her hut was mostly grass as a floor, covered by carpet and woven rope.
    She had another room off to the side of hers, stocked full of shelves and bookcases for her herbs, potions, spells. She had noticed upon entering, her hut was messy. Wisteria must've been here. Briargrass' ears pinned back with a sigh. She should know better then to leave a mess. . . She made her way to her roof, hooves stepping over woven rope carpet and grass.
    Briargrass' room was spacious, with a hefty hammock, and a odd shaped circular bed stuffed with blankets and pillows, a mattress in the ground at the cut away. There was a loom on a desk, two bookshelves full of books on spells, medicines, teas, poultices, and food recipes.
    Some of the recipe books were based around foals. She picked up Mountain from the sling and curled him up in her bed, throwing a blanket over him. She then set the sling on a hook and went into her storage room, unpacking each pouch and jar and picking berries off their stems and leaves.
    Briargrass didn't know how long she was in that room until she felt a body brush her back leg while she was reared up to place a jar of nightshade on a high shelf, body balancing itself on a lower shelf due to her missing leg. I suppose I should see a blacksmith sooner or later.
    "Momma?" A voice followed. She looked down at her son sleepily standing beside her. She lowered on all three legs. Mountain looked up at her, rubbing his eyes.
    "Yes?"
    "Why'd you stop holding me. . ."
    "I had to sort my herbs and medicines dear, are you hungry?" She asked, Mountain nodded. She brushed back his hair, caressing his face then walked from the room and to the kitchen, her son close behind holding her tail.
    "What are you hungry for?"
    "Soup,"
    "Soup? Are you okay?"
    "Mhm, I just want soup. Chestnut and cheese."
    "Very well, do you want to go back to sleep while I make it?"
    Mountain shook his head, slipping under her and stood between her front legs. She smiled and stepped back, making her way to her room to grab the sling. Briargrass slipped it over her chest and bowed, helping Mountain into it. She stood up.
    "Comfy?"
    "Mhm,"
    Briargrass chuckled, walking back into the kitchen and began to prepare the soup, humming while doing so.
    Her ears flick. Someone's coming, let's see. . . steps proudly, stallion, is it —
    "Briargrass? Oooh, what smells good?"
    She smiled. Lion's Ear. She turned her head to greet the stallion. "Chestnut and cheddar soup," she replied.
    Lion's Ear was a handsome man and stallion, she would mentally agree, with heavily freckled brown skin and golden honey eyes he gained from his father Sunrider, but he had his mother Heatherrider's dappled coat, brown hair, mane, and tail, and her four white socks. His wings though were a spectacle. While the others had wings matching their coat patterns and colors, Lion's Ear's were a glorious white color, dappled with gold.
    "May I come in?"
    "You may." She watched him walk in. "Would you like a bowl, is that why you've come?"
    "No, well, yes I'd like a bowl, actually, but I have come to ask if perhaps you'd like to watch the sunset? Over a bowl of plums? I know you like plums, and while I don't, I wouldn't mind trying them again."
    Briargrass listened to him talk, smiling still as she added chopped sharp cheese to the soup. She then looked at him, studying his face. Nervous. She observed, that made her chuckle. "I'd love too, Lion." She watched his face flush more red, feeling her own cheeks flush too. "Could you get me sage from my shelves? The jars are labeled, it's on the second lower shelf."
    "I can," he said and off he went.
    "It's in my bedroom, first room you see in the third hall."
    She reared on her back leg with her front legs leaning on the counter to search through her cabinets to find her needed spices; rosemary and crushed spicy peppers, nutmeg and a jar of various crushed herds she made, salt too. She carefully added them, letting Mountain be her taste tester, something she hopes will continue as he grows up. Lion's Ear came back with the sage, giving the jar to her.
    "Thank you Lion," she thanked, leaning to kiss his cheek as an extra thank you, sprinkling in the sage. She chuckled again at his expression, adding the finishing bits before setting the lid on the pot and let it simmer.
    "Can Mountain join? For the sunset? You know how he is,"
    "Aye, I do, I do. Er, I hoping it would just be us. . ."
    She rose a brow, crossing her arms. "Yeah? And what for?"
    "Well — uhm, I had — I just wanted, alone time. . ." His voice was softer, like he was embarrassed. Her expression shifted, looking at her son.
    One hour won't hurt. "Mountain, darling, will you be alright alone for the sunset? Just for an hour,"
    "Mama,"
    "You'll be alright, I promise. I'll be home after sunset," she promised, holding his face. Mountain nodded, his little black ears lowering. "Don't give me that pouty face, sweet boy,"
    "But I want to with be you."
    "You're with me all day and night, you can handle an hour, yes? Where's that big brave boy?" She smiled, squishing his little face. Her son squinted.
    "Mooom!" He said. She laughed, leaning down and kissed between his eyes, mindful of the growing horn in the middle of his forehead. "Mom! Mama!"
    "Yes dear?"
    "Can you teach me magic?"
    Briargrass nodded. "I can dear, now I think your soup's done. Lion's Ear, soup?"
    "Oh I would —"
    "You're getting soup,"
    "Yes ma'am."
    Briargrass chuckled, tail flicking his upper stomach as she went to grab bowls and spoons and a ladle. She took the lid off, inhaling the wonderfully, somewhat spicy, smell.
    "You always make me add too much crushed pepper," she teased.
    "Oh, sorry mama."
    "Oh, no no dear you're alright, I was only joking." She reassured, tussling his hair. "Lion's Ear, could you get my sister? And Palegrass too? This soup seems it's a family dinner."
    "You're. . . letting me eat with my family?"
    "Why not? It'd feel rude to turn you away, you fawn." She teased, patting his cheek. His ears twitch, and he hurried off to fetch her sister and nephew.
    Later, Briargrass laid by a low set table with her sister, nephew, son, and Lion's Ear while conversation after conversation over bowls of spiced chestnut and cheese soup filled her hut. Mountain laid against her belly, fast asleep after three bowls of soup. Lion's Ear was on his fourth, her, her nephew and sister on their second bowls. The chatter was quieter, with Mountain asleep.
    "I can't remember the last time I've had a good home cooked meal." Palegrass said, leaning on his mother, his empty bowl on the table.
    "Are you calling me a bad cook?" Marigold questioned. Her nephew's ears lifted.
    "No, Mama."
    "Mhm," she flicked his ear, Palegrass groaned. Briargrass chuckled as she finished off her second bowl and stacked  the empty bowls, spoons in the top bowl.
    She tucked a strand of her son's hair back, taking three parts, and began to braid, humming.
    "Briar,"
    "Yes, Lion's Ear?"
    "The sun, it's-it's lowering."
    Her ears flick, looking up out her window. "I see. Don't get so anxious, Lion." She chuckled, tying the braid and picked up her son carefully, needing help to stand given her missing leg, carrying him to his room, her sister at her side. Even after four years, I still need help standing like a newborn foal. It made her feel weak, dependent on people.
    "So, you and Lion's Ear." Marigold spoke once they were in his room. Briargrass sighed.
    "Sister, it's not what you think,"
    "Yeah? Because it looks like my sister is gonna get some tail tonight."
    She scoffed. "You're disgusting. I have a son, I don't need anymore." At least not for a while.
    "Mm, fine fine."
    Briargrass tucked her son in, kissing his hair. I'd love to give him a sibling. . . but tonight is not the night, I already have a big job, I don't need more on my shoulders. Especially because I don't know how Lion's Ear will handle newfound fatherhood. Will he be okay, like he is with Mountain? I suppose I'll cross that bridge, when I get to it. She turned and left from the room, Marigold at her side.
    "You'll tell me everything when you get back, right?"
    "Yes, Mari."
    "Everything?"
    "Sister, please. This isn't an invitation for sex. . ."
    "How could you know?" Her sister insisted in a whisper. Briargrass' doubts began to creep in.
    Lion's Ear doesn't like me that much, right? I like him too, he's cute, funny, he makes me laugh, even Mountain likes him, but I don't want another foal, or to drift apart from him because of a wrong move. She sighed. Please, great ones above, please don't let this be a trap, a trick, something. Please.
    She fletched her basket of plums from her room, tail swishing. "Ready, Lion?" He turned, ears lifting and nodded, standing from his spot. He trotted with Palegrass to the door, and she and Marigold followed.
    Briargrass said goodbye to Marigold and Palegrass, watching them walk away while she followed Lion's Ear, then the pair lifted into the air, soaring over land.
    Where is he taking me? She wondered, watching him. They flew until the sun was just kissing the horizon, landing at a beachy part of the Flatlands. Lion's Ear shook off, stretching out his wings and tucked them in. Briargrass did the same, setting down her basket. Lion's Ear looked over at her.
    The spot he had picked was specific, she observed, it was an overhanging cliff with a beautiful and very large oak tree, half of its thick roots showing from the sandy, rocky grass. She watched Lion's Ear sit at the base of the tree, which had been smoothed down from countless hours of sitting. She walked to his side and carefully laid down by his side, setting the basket down again. She shared a wing, leaning on him while they watched the sunset.
    Briargrass could feel him tense up and chuckled.
    "Why're you chucklin'?"
    She looked up at him and saw with a jolt of surprise he was staring too, both their faces flushed red in embarrassment and surprise.
    "You-you got all tensed when I leaned my head on you, Lion. Can't I be comfortable?"
    "Well, yes, you can, but it just-just surprised me, is all."
    "Aww," she said in a fake pouty tone, laughing softly and looked back at the sunset. There was a drag of silence, between the pair, Briargrass with her eyes on the sunset. It's so beautiful. . . "It's beautiful, right Lion?"
    "Yeah. . . yeah, beautiful. . ."
    Her brows furrow, ears flicking. "What's with the dragged —" She turned her head to ask him, ears lifting and eyes widening as he grabbed her face, lips crashing against hers. Her heart pounded wildly, Lion's Ear pulled away, eyes wide.
    "I'm — oh my god I'm so sorry. That's too fast, that's stupid, that was just. . . I'm so sorry I didn't — please don't hate me, I'm so sorry. I just — I'm sorry I should've ask —" Briargrass silenced him with her lips back against his, her hands holding his face now. They fell into the kiss as the sun lowered under the horizon.
    And the night was theirs.