book 3 || Dove's Peace

A Curse?

Picasso and Rogue looked at each other with no words. Rogue knew what Dove had done, she risked her life to save mine. Rogue felt awful, tears started to fall down her face. Raja had loved Dove so much he chose to die with her. 

"StreamHerd, back off." Picasso ordered sternly, a light fall of rain drumming on their fur. 

Picasso walked up to Rogue, towering over her like a shadow. She stayed still and kept her head down. Picasso's muscles tensed and before he could do anything, Rogue's bright eyes burned through his. 

"Haven't you ever wondered why Prince risked his life for me when Taka tried to kill me?" Rogue felt a pang in her heart, that's all every horse did, die to keep her alive. 

Picasso eased, his eyes flashing around to find an answer. "I have no clue." He nickered, backing away from Rogue. 

"Guess you didn't think this all through." Rogue smirked, the blood from her cuts oozing onto the ground, causing the grass to turn red. 

Picasso tensed again, fighting the urge to smother her to the ground. 

"I was born with a gift, or a curse." Rogue began, her voice trembling as she did. Horses stepped back, still afraid of her. "Remember, Taka was DustHerd, Prince was ShadowHerd. Horses from other herds are forbid to mate. StarHerd curses all the foals to half-herd horses." Rogue explained, her eyes flashed with sorrow. 

"Then what was Charm's curse?" Picasso asked, nearly hesitating to ask. 

Rogue paused, as she did she gave Picasso a evil glare. "Me." 

Picasso and the rest gasped and pinned their ears. "We loved Charm!" Horses yelled out angrily. 

"Silence, get back to what you were saying. You're a curse?" Picasso was hungry for answers, how come this evil mare was gifted and not him. He must be the oldest leader by far, doesn't he get an award apart from death? 

"If I die, all the herds will randomly start fighting and shed blood. And StarHerd can't stop it." Rogue paused. She noticed a mare, who was clearly standing beside her daughter. "You'll all kill each other, your family, foals, and the horse-kind will cease to exist." Rogue was pacing around the horses now, seeing their torn faces made her want to keep going. 

"Dove will be honored for her bravery, meanwhile, Raja's beautiful love story will be shared around the whole forest." Picasso explained, wanting to get his horses back to camp before Rogue stroked out again. 

Rogue gave a small smile and started to lead her soldiers back where they came from. "As for Rogue, she is welcome to stay and all her soldiers too." Rogue turned around, she saw a fatherly gleam in Picasso's eyes. 

Rogue ran up to him and hugged him. "I don't know what to say, except thank you." She whispered into his ear. He nodded and they all walked home. 

Rogue collapsed down under an oak tree for the night. She knew she would make all the mares uncomfortable sleeping with them, plus, she wanted some alone time.  

"I'm so sorry." She nickered to the stars, hoping her son was listening. Tears streamed down her face like a waterfall, her heartache was the worst. She knew she couldn't kill herself, she had to stay alive for the herds.

She cried for all the one's who she had fallen in love with that left her so soon. Apollo, Taka, Prince, Raja, Nuka, Stacie, and Dove, they were all buried deep in her heart. Suddenly a dust storm spiraled around her, she took in a deep breath as all around her was dust. It was her mother. 

Her mother's mane was long and glistening as it had always been. They looked at each other with no words. "Forgive me." Was all Rogue could squeak out, she barreled into her mother, wanting to breath in her warm scent. 

"No, forgive me. I should've been a better mother, Rogue, I've never told you this but Apollo's still alive."  Rogue gasped and backed away from Taka. Her fur bubbled with excitment. 

"Jaguar never killed him. Apollo was able to flee while he still could." Taka dipped her head and started to fade away. Rogue's heart was racing, she finally felt restored. 

I have to find him, he's the only horse I have left. Apart from Jag. She thought, laying her head down to get some rest.