A Dark Light

Chapter 8 - Sunpearl

I woke up to see Silverblaze looking at me concerned. My side hurt horribly. What had happened? The last thing I could remember was leaving the cave. "What happened?" I asked Silverblaze. "I'm not sure, you'll have to ask Sunny, she sent her filly to come get me and help bring you back here but that's all I know, she won't talk to me at all". I needed to know what happened out there. I struggled to my feet ignoring the searing pain in my left side. It was painful to walk and I ended up limping. I wondered if one of my ribs was broken. I walked cautiously to Sunny knowing if she got angry at me I was to weak to fight back. She was standing with the filly from before and another dark brown mare. "Sundancer" I said quietly. "What" she snapped at me. She clearly still hated me. "Well I just woke up and I can't remember what happened out there" I said slightly embarrassed. "All I remember is leaving the cave". She sighed as if telling me was the worst thing she ever had to do. "You were kicked by another horse, I found you and got Silverblaze to help bring you back" she then turned back to her friend. "Who was it that kicked me? And do you know why?" I asked anxiously. She ignored me. I sighed and went back over to Silverblaze. "Any luck?" he asked. He must be wondering what happened as well. "She said I got kicked by another horse. She refused to elaborate beyond that, so I don't know who or why". Silverblaze looked concerned. "It wasn't anyone from either of the herds in here, I've been watching the entrance all evening, you and Sunny were the only ones who left". I thought back to the black horse that had been following us. "Could it be that Friesian that was following us before we came here?" I asked. "It could be, but it surprises me that one would attack you, he was watching us for a while without making a move, but it's possible" Silverblaze replied. "If it is him, I would fight to my death defending this herd should he show up again, but you know he would want to take control if he kills me, just by the way he watched us it was obvious" he then added. Silverblaze then told me to get some rest, reassuring me he would make sure somebody he trusted watched the entrance all night. I didn't object, my side was killing me. I went over to where Pepper was sound asleep and laid down next to him painfully. It was hard for me to fall asleep, I was truly terrified by what had happened but after an hour or two I finally drifted off into a restless sleep.