Sleep

It was very early in the morning when something awoke the red dun filly. A gentle nuzzle. Still in a dream-like state the filly's muzzle curved into a smile and she let out a sound of content and a soft, sighing "Mommy." Little did she know this wasn't her Mommy, this was one of the Alliance sympathizers trying to wake her up, nudging and licking her softly, calling her name gently. Wake up... She needed to wake up... Why was Mommy waking her up? Mommy never woke her up unless something was happening. Something must be happening. Letting out a soft groan the delicate red dun filly opened her eyes. As soon as she did reality crashed down upon her once more. She wasn't with her mommy. She was still being held in the main herd, like she had been the past two seasons.

It was an unfamiliar face that was awakening her, but she could see the kindness in the doe's gaze. "Come on, get up. We must go." With that Anabelle caught to her feet, shaking slightly on them with grogginess. What did this stranger want? She looked about. All the other fawns were being woken up too... Before long they were all being led along, away from their prison. Anabelle began to shake out of her sleepiness, excitement beginning to swell inside her. Home? Were they going home? Were these wonderful strangers taking her home?

The filly glanced behind herself and recognized her father. He looked troubled, walking along behind them, looking about, almost as if he was nervous. She'd be nervous true.. Would Daddy get in trouble for this, if this really was what was happening? If he and the other wonderful strangers were taking them home? Anabelle looked to her right and recognized Nopharia. The kind doe also looked troubled.

Then her fears became true. "Go, GO!!" the words were loud, a yell... and then suddenly a torrent of hooves were unleashed behind them. The main herders were on to them!! Jeet suddenly exploded into action, yelling for the fawns to flee, nipping at rumps. Anabelle felt his teeth graze her own and it gave her the momentum to speed up into a flat-out run... For a second.. But, then everything just seemed to fall apart. Fighting erupted all around her and the fawn came to an abrupt halt, chest heaving. All around her the nice strangers were fighting the bad strangers. Fawns were screaming in terror as they fled. Some fawns were being forced back towards the main herd. Not everyone would escape... Many wouldn't if nobody helped...

Anabelle's head turned and she looked out towards the horizon, where the first rays of the sun began to peek out. The horizon was home. She could be home soon with her Mommy, surrounded by her warmth and her scent. She'd be home... But, when she looked back she saw all of the brave adults that made this happen fighting against the bad guys. They needed help.. But, what could Anabelle do? She was just a baby after all.. OH, she could do something...

Main herders flashed by her and when she did she lashed out at their feet, causing some to lose their balance and tumble to the dirt, giving the kind stranger they were fighting with the advantage. But, not everyone fell. Some got rather angry. One roan stag charged towards Anabelle with the intent to give her a good blow, but one of the kind strangers- or "alliance sympathizers" as they were being called- darted in between them, taking the blow for the filly and continuing to fight the bad stranger.

Anabelle looked about, chest heaving with fear and panic. She wanted to run. She wanted to run home with some of the other fawns towards Mommy. But, she was needed here.. If she went home now she'd forever be a coward. So, she did the only thing that she could do. She kept tripping people up. A couple times she accidentally tripped a good guy and felt guilty, but most of the times it was the bad ones. The, another stag lost his temper and this time she didn't have anyone to block her and take the blow for her.

The bay stag hit her hard, plowing her over and keeping on running. The blow sent her tumbling to her feet, head cracking against the ground hard. Everything grew dark as she slipped into unconsciousness. The last things she could hear were the sounds of the battle and a couple of the fawns and adults she knew calling her name in alarm, then everything became deathly quiet.. and then she fell into sleep.