Chapter Text
(Voice claims: Siren --> Edwin Murray, "FNaF: SotM" | Seasalt --> Fiona Murray, "FNaF: SotM" | Timekeeper --> CaseOh, YouTube)
We have been been migrating for hours. Walking for hours on end while pregnant is going to be the end of me. If only this foal would stop moving around! I've already asked Siren if we could stop for a short rest, but I was shut down quickly. He told me that we cannot rest now, mainly because this is an area populated by dirus packs and smilodon coalitions, but also because he wouldn't allow us to stop somewhere without food and water readily available. He's right, we've fled at least twice during this migration, and he has brand new wounds from fighting off predators. It's a miracle he's even alive right now, considering how many carnivores he's fought off.
I could never be a stallion. I would probably be the first bachelor to become a meal for those savage creatures.
As night fell, we finally arrived at the migration spot. Siren lifted his head, "Everyone rest, I'll stay awake throughout the night to be sure that nothing has followed us." He then turned his head to look at me, his pretty brown eyes softening as they landed on me, "Are you feeling okay, Seasalt? Is there anything I should get for you while you rest?" He approached calmly, resting his forehead against mine in a comforting manner before beginning to groom my mane for me. I sighed happily, nuzzling his shoulder in return, "I think I'll be okay tonight, Siren. Thank you for the offer, though." He nodded, helping me lay down before he began to turn away to patrol the surroundings. However, I felt the need to have a short chat with him for a moment.
"Actually... I feel like something is wrong." He turned, confusion and worry written on his face as he dipped his head to nudge my flank, "What do you mean? With the foal? Did you eat something harmful?" His worry was clear in the way his pink-splotched nose flared, his ears twitching subtly, and the slight dilation in his pupils that he swears doesn't happen. "I don't know... I didn't eat anything bad, and I don't think I hurt myself, but something about the foal feels off. I've told Cotton and even Straightwind about it, but they said they've never heard about that feeling, nor felt it themselves. I'm scared... What if our foal has something severely wrong with them? What if they're-" He stopped me immediately, not wanting me to stress myself out.
I looked up at him as he lay next to me, if only for a brief moment, so he could comfort me, "Seasalt. Please, calm down. It's not healthy for you to worry like this. I'm sure they'll be fine. Since this is your first foal, it's probably just your mind worrying. Many first-time dams experience these feelings. Please, get some rest, and don't let your worries take over, okay?" He watched me for a moment after that. I knew he was waiting for me to say something, but I simply nodded. There was a stillness of uncertainty in the air for what felt like forever, before he finally stood and left to patrol, but not before nuzzling my ears gently.
As the months passed, my worry only grew. I attempted to confide in anyone I could, but I was always either turned down, or ignored. Eventually I just learned to keep this worry, bottled up. I was so tired of hearing that it was just because I was a first-time dam, and that it was normal to worry. I wasn't just worrying. I knew something was wrong with my foal. I could feel it, smell it, even dream about it. It was driving me absolutely insane, and I couldn't do anything about it but hope.
However, as much as I wanted to ignore it, I could tell Siren sensed my feelings. He was worried too, but he was too stubborn to admit it. I wish he would have taken my worries seriously instead of brushing it off to maintain his image. Along with that, I could tell by the way he was starting to look at me that he'd dispose of me if I was right, and our foal came out wrong. Judging by these strange dreams I've been having, I was afraid that might happen.
"Seasalt, can we talk in private really quick?" I was startled to hear the lieutenant stallion, Timekeeper, speak gently as he approached. His thick, shaggy mane nearly falling over his dark brown eyes as the muscles in his legs rippled with each step. He was a gorgeous stallion, with a shiny buttermilk bay coat, roaning, a thick blaze up his nose, and 4 bold stockings. He was always there for me whenever Siren was too busy to check on me, and he had nearly the same amount of gentleness to his voice as Siren did. If I wasn't currently deeply bonded with Siren, I would have run off with Timekeeper in a heartbeat. I rose to my hooves with his eyes following me patiently, "Yes, what do you want to talk about?"
I followed him a short ways away from the herd, glancing back to make sure Siren wasn't watching, only to find him too busy tending to one of his other heavily pregnant mares.
"Cotton told me you had a strange feeling about the foal... Is everything okay?" He stepped closer, barely inches from me as we gazed into each other's eyes. I sighed, frowning heavily as I spoke tiredly, "Yes... Nobody else seems to notice it, but the foal just feels different. I can smell it, too, and I've been having dreams about the foal being different from other foals. Siren told me it was normal, and that I was just worrying too much. It just... Those words made me feel invalidated, and now every time I mention it around him, he shuts me down immediately. I know, I know, it probably sounds irrational..." His kind eyes didn't stray from me. He didn't interrupt me. He just listened. And when he could tell I needed comfort, he moved closer to comfort me. The warmth of his body grounded me, and I couldn't help but turn my nose into his neck as I broke down into tears of fear and worry. His words are gentle as he speaks to me again, "It's alright... I'm sure your foal will be perfect. And if he isn't," He hesitates, as if unsure his next words will be okay to say aloud, before continuing, "I'll take care of him with or for you. I know Siren isn't accepting of those very different from him, so I'll keep an eye on your foal if anything happens to you. I promise."
At those words, I couldn't help but cry harder, but something in me felt warm at those words. The terrifying feeling of my foal being different lifted, if only for a moment, as we embraced each other. I felt his soft breaths against my mane as he said nothing more, simply holding me and allowing me to regulate myself. And finally, once I was calm, I gave him a soft nuzzle, whickering affectionately before returning to the herd. I don't know what came over me to do that, but it felt right. It felt better to give him my affection over Siren, but I couldn't continue with this, it could lead to horrible consequences.
As much as I'm embarrassed to admit it, I continued to sneak off with Timekeeper over the next month or two, bonding more and more with him as we brought each other gifts, groomed each other, shared intimate chats, and even went as far as resting together on cold nights.
Siren never noticed, shockingly. I would have expected him to at least get suspicious not seeing his lieutenant or I for hours at a time on certain days, but he never did. Cotton, Straightwind, Majesty, Diver, Walnut, and even their foals all noticed, occasionally greeting me when I returned as well. However, not a single one mentioned our meetings, keeping the secret between them all, as if defending Timekeeper and I from Siren. I thanked them deeply for that, they're some of the most amazing friends a mare could ask for. Along with that, with every meeting I had with him, my worries faded, replaced by warmth and happiness, but I still had those strange dreams.
How could I walk away from this stallion who'd grasped my heart? He was everything I've ever wished for... Absolutely gorgeous, with the kindest heart of any stallion I'd met. He focused on me, and only me, which I know is an incredibly selfish thing to ask of anyone, but deep down, I'd always wished of that treatment from Siren. Not only that, but he decorated my mane to help me feel pretty during this time, always complimenting me, even if Siren was nearby. And he always got me my favorite snacks, along with things I was craving. Unless they were toxic, of course.
On that fated day, I went into labor. We had only just migrated north into the Santa Monica Mountains. Siren was only now returning after grabbing an entire fern bush for another mare, while Timekeeper was standing beside me, softly talking me through my labor after he assisted me in moving to a secluded area alongside Cotton and Majesty. The two mares secured the area, shooing away anyone else. (Note: I'm not going into detail here!)
Hours later, she was here. I was breathless from working so hard, but pushed myself up to check on my brand new foal. However, as we began bonding, Siren attacked Timekeeper for being so close, chasing him off before approaching to examine my filly. I froze, fear gripping my heart as I noticed just then. She wasn't normal, she wasn't even a complete filly. My beautiful foal had the scent of a colt and a filly at the same time. Siren noticed this, and wasn't pleased in the slightest. He struck out at her, and I barely managed to step in front of her before he landed a blow, his teeth instead sinking into my shoulder as I squealed and kicked at him defensively, ears pinned.
Before I could chase him off, a stallion shoved me away. I turned in outrage and bit at him, a stallion born to Siren and Brodiaea, the lead mare. The young stallion seemed confused, but his eyes told the story of one protecting his younger sister. I spared him, glaring Brodiaea down for what felt like forever before she and Siren charged me in unison, kicking me out of the herd and refusing to allow me to take my beloved Vision, my brand new filly, with me. Instead, Brodiaea claimed Vision as hers.
Timekeeper ran to me, worriedly checking my wounds before he noticed Vision wasn't by my side. I noticed fury fill his eyes as he turned towards the herd with a blow, stamping his hooves aggressively at Siren as he approached with dominance clear in his posture. I watched worriedly, ears pricked as I paced back and forth. My eyes were filled with worry as my attention was divided between the spar and that wretched mare who was forcing my Vision to bond with her.
The two stallions circled, aggression clear in both their postures as neither refused to back down. Siren's vicious eyes staring Timekeeper down, malice whirling within the stallion as he eyed the challenger's throat. Timekeeper, however, was attempting to fight fairly, eyeing the older stallion's weak points as he attacked first, biting down on Stirra's withers without hesitation, kicking out once he let go. I was terrified for his safety. I had seen how Siren fights, and I'm sure he had as well. We both knew the older stallion doesn't fight fair.
Their spar lasted for merely a few minutes before Timekeeper made a grave mistake. He grew distracted by Vision's whinny, and that momentary lack of attention nearly cost him his life, with Siren leaping to bite down on his throat. He nearly tore a chunk out of the younger stallion's throat, forcing Timekeeper to back off, if only to stay alive for me.
It was then that I knew. We'd lost. I took one last look at my dearest Vision, the filly who had caused me so much trouble, but so much love at the same time, before being forced to turn my tail and flee as Siren chased us off with the help of Brodiaea's son, Waterlily. I never saw Vision again after that day.