2557{denryuu}

~ s l e e p i n g   w i t h   a n   a n g e l ~


Glint was heavily pregnant, but not struggling too much to keep up
with the group. She had had lambs more than once before. The tall
ewe, her head almost level with those of the shorter rams, continued
along on the long journey as evening fell.

she would need a place tolamb before too long. Glint, despite
herself, wanted a place to settle in for a while while she raised the
thing. She was stuck raising it after all...no one out here was going
to be forced to do it for her.

Or would they?

"I'm bringing us out here for a reason," said Moonbeam as he marched
on into the night. His powerful lights illuminated the dangerous
ledges and slopes. "There is power to be got out here, in the land of
curséd woods and dark denryuu. And the gift. The gift we will need
in order to destroy a few small enemies in our way before we return
to the west. If we even have to."

Moonbeam wanted room, and there was room out here. The sheep north
and west of the parts they were heading to, were not only damn big,
they were jaded to danger. That was theproblem with Chirin. He would
have to crush that one before he not only grew to the size of a
tyranitar--Moonbeam had had a look at his feet, flippers and lights,
and it looked bad--but, and much more importantly, Chirin had the
gift and in order to knock him and others like him aside he needed it
too.

"There--i see it again. Lights out there." He nodded to a peak
somewhere ahead of them.

"That's days away, it'll take us a while to get out there." Sparks
watched the lights twinkle and shook his head.

"We have days. Now get up, i'm leading us on a little further
before we retire."

The other sheep began eating without a word. Freckle looked about him
for escape, knowing Moonbeam would have him again tonight--unless he
got his flippers on some hapless ewe--that wasn't Glint.

Moonbeam was tired and it showed in his lights unless he blotted it
out by sheer will. He had better self control than that!

he glanced behind him, making sure Freckle was still with the group.
They had a long way to go till they reached the other flock, but he
couldsee them arriving into their midst some time tomorrow if they
kept a good pace.

"tomorrow morning I want two of you heading out ahead of us to see
what's going on with that flock up there. They appear to be a mix of
ewes, rams and babies, and I only see four or five individuals. I
want to know what they are up to and all of us arriving at once would
only scare them." His eyes lit on Flash.

"I'll go, sire," said Flash, and Moonbeam flicked his lights in
acceptance.

"Who else?" Moonbeam looked at the younger rams. Maelstrom wasn't
sure what to do. He was in a strange land after having taken part in
an attack that had killed his mother. He had no easy way of getting
Freckle or anyone else away from the flock without giving himself away.
He knew what would happen if he did. They would all set upon him and
kill him. He had no chance outrunning their tracking skills yet...not
if his dah sent experienced rams like Banrai, Cliffstorm, Sparks or
Glint after him. And Moonbeam would.

Sindos stood listening. He eyed the others wondering who would go to
see this flock. He saw it under himself though, he would go if he
was asked. He wanted to do more than be just some nameless easily
forgotten drone in this great movement. He remained still and silent
and ready for orders. He waited for his chance to prove himself.

"i notice there are no volunteers," said the big ram, with the size
and shape of dominance, as he walked amoung the group. His head stuck
out above most of the other rams'. "I don't like that. I pick
spirited and determined rams for my flock."

"I will go." Sindos stepped forward. If the rest seemed unwilling to
go.

He knew it was a pissant mission, nothing to gain from it other than
the information Moonbeam needed. Sindos remained looking straight
ahead, his determined look on his face, he was just a yearling but,
he wanted to prove he could do what was needed of him when called
upon.

Moonbeam had never paid this particular yearling any attention. He
was recently evolved, a rather spindly young ram, your typical
subordinate, like most rams under six or seven.

"Phos's light to you," he said, "quickly, this is all about speed,
and we will be moving in behind you."

~

Morning found the young rams ready to pursue the flock up ahead.
Whoever they were, they were either clueless of Monbeam's presence or
had sen them but didn't imagine they were up to anything atypical.


Flash woke up alone except for Sindos. He had a look around. It was
early, but this was about the time they should be heading on.

"morning," he said to Sindos, glad that in this rather slim party of
two that at least he was dominant. He hated having to answer to
Moonbeam and submit to the mature ram.

~

"We wait here until Flash returns, as well as Glint." Moonbeam lay
down on his side and ruminated. Maelstrom was happy to stop after so
many days of long hard travel, but he sat down a pace or so away from
the rest of the large flock.

Glint had taken her leave from them, Maelstrom knew why. She would
return with a lamb, hopefully.

Zopyros looked over at Banrai and couldn't resist to hold in his
question any longer.

"Why did you do it? That thing you did to Freckle?"

"It is what rams do." He shrugged. "You would like to know it? You
would probably like it, you know."

Maelstrom watched the domineering, intimidating tactics of his own
oldest brother. He didn't know what he felt or thought anymore, but
the treatment of Freckle made him sick.

Thoughts of betrayal began to bubble up in him. He dfought to keep it
down. A short walk was what he needed...

Stepping to the north edge of the flock, and then beyond, he saw a
glistening way off in the distance. Many miles away, a flock was
approaching from the north west.

 Maelstrom fed his way over towards the dark one. Zopyros reminded
him of his
 father, in more ways than one. That proud, defiant streak was a
large part of it, not just the black colour.
 
 He wasn't ready to tell himself that he wanted out of this. How
could it be wrong? He wanted to be gundah one day, make his father proud...and
who was a better gundah than Moonbeam? Who was ruthless and without mercy and
dominated like no other? Wasn't that what a gundah was--dominant?

Zopyros looked over at Maelstorm, he hadn't met this ram yet.
Although he kept grazing, having no need to move, he wasn't afraid of
Maelstorm like he was of Banrai.

Maelstrom was taller than, but clearly younger than, Banrai. 
Though neither one had the mature,
gundah look of an older ram that only eight years could give,
Maelstrom's face
still held an innocent look to it. It was deceptive. maelstrom
looke down at
his feet, whilestanding up and stretching. He had killed with those
hooves.

"Hi," he said to Zopyros, getting down to graze again.

When Maelstorm looked at his hooves, Zopyros looked over to see the
ram's hooves too. Not understanding why Maelstorm looked at his
hooves.

"Hi."

He returned and smiled.

"I'm Zopyros, you?"


"Maelstrom," Maelstrom spoke in a deep quiet voice, like dark
velvet or a
still pool in the night.

Zopyros nodded to the ram, he'd of bowed, but in this position it was
hard.

"A pleasure to meet you."

His eyes glanced back at the flock not so far off and asked Maelstorm.

"Who are they? Do you know?"

"I know one," said Maelstrom, "it's Sindos, sent off after that
group...we'll see if he proves himself."

"That's what everyone coming in new must do," said Banrai to
Zopyros, "unless
they're a ewe...then they prove themselves by having lambs."

Zopyros assumed that Sindos was trying to join the flock...although
he wasn't sure. It was all kind of confusing to him, why did he need
to prove himself? Obviously you had to do a lot to get this group to
trust you. It seemed a little unfair that all the ewe's had to do was
birth a lamb...but that was this flock's way and he wouldn't bicker
with it.

"Do I have to prove myself?"

He asked out of curiousity, now looking at Banrai.

"Come on." Banrai started to walk at a brisk pace. "Everyone be ready
to fight. If Moonbeam's alive, something's happened our way."

Maelstrom picked up, but hung back by Zopyros. Banrai didn't hold
Freckle, no
one did. Freckle moved along willingly with them, knowing they'd
probably kill
him or do worse, if he tried anything. He was learnng that the best
way to get
 along was to just cooperate.

Excitment grew in Zopyros...so much that he could hardly contain the
dark and electric enegry in him. His light bulb crackled with energy,
his rings glew brighter then the flock had ever seen, his tail light
glew warmly. He walked along side Maelstorm, a smiled appeared on his
face as more then his lights got excited. What he gathered from
Banrai's words...they were going to meet Moonbeam!


Banrai saw the flock gathered in a semicircle, while blasts of light
shot out from just beyond them. He could only guess aother fight was
taking place.

"Sparks, you take those four," he motioned to Sparks and four young
rams, including Zopyros, "Glint, just keep to your lamb and hang
onto Freckle."

"But--" Glint sighed in exasperation. She grabbed Freckle by the arm
and moved back. She had no choice but to miss out on the active
fighting. Only after the capture could she play any role at all. She
stayed back. She assumed she would be going to fetch Moonbeam's
other ewes soon--the ewes and young that Moonbeam had stationed
further west, down the mountains, to await the conquest here.

"Maelstrom," Banrai weighted the name with some significance, "take
the others, yeah Flash you too, and go that way. You'll cut off
anyone trying to escape towards those woods."

Banrai clapped a spark from his tail. "Now let's move!"



Zopyros moved towards Sparks, another ram he hadn't gotten the name
from...of course now he knew who Sparks was, but only due to Banrai.
He followed them...perhaps he could serve more use to them. As
anyone, and perhaps more, he loved to impress others.

The mareep alone was easily heard and seen by the small search pack
of four.
Banrai turned his head. "Get her!" He ordered, taking off.
Maelstrom ran at
Banrai's side, knowing he had no chance of getting away from all
this with
Banrai there..Banrai was at least twice his weight.

Zopyros ran after Boukenn...being such a light weight allowed him to
keep up with the other rams easily. He wasn't in the lead, as he
wasn't sure what to do...nor did he want to hurt the lamb.



"Where'd she go?" Maelstrom dared to speak up as the small flock found 
themselves with no little yellow light to follow. 

"i don't know. Search the bushes!" Banrai slapped at a smalls shrub with his 
flippers, as if he wanted to beat Boukenn a bit before he even uncovered her.

"Come on!" Banrai whirled around and strobed his lights at the
group, then
 moved onward.

 Maelstrom fell back and offered his tail orb to Zopyros, "grab on,
I'll pull
you."

Zopyros reached out with his flippers and picked up speed, grabbing
hold of Maelstrom's tail orb...he help on as tight as he could. The
orb was wet and made it slippery. He wouldn't allow himself to be
literally dragged...as he ran along too.

Maelstrom was afraid to discuss the possibility of abandoning the
flock with
Zopyros. He knew the flaaffy was determined to work for Moonbeam...

 Hoping to persuade him somehow, Maelstrom headed on through the
wind and the
wet.

Zopyros was having a difficult time seeing things. Maelstrom's light
was shining into his face for one thing, and then the rain was
beating into his black eyes.

"Are we still far behind?"

He asked Maelstrom.

"Very!" Maelstrom could not keep up while hauling Zopyros along. It
was that simple. But if Banrai slowed down, they would probably lose the
group up ahead. Zopyros was the one failing...but he was just a youngling.
Moonbeam often asked too much of the young. He could only imagine what those
lambs in that flock were going to be put through.

"Aww...screw it."

Zopyros let go of Maelstrom's tail orb and ran ahead on all fours.
Having better gripping that way, even if it was an uncomfortable way
to run it game him a small boost which he used to get nearer to
Banrai. Standing back up he shouted...

"Can't we pick something up? I mean...this storm is kinda in our
favor."

In that flaaffy mind, something stirred. What, Zopyros couldn't point
out.

"you all right?" maelstrom stayed by his side the whole time. He
wondered if
there were a chance for escape in this storm. There might be,
Another one
might not come again.

Zopyros stood back up after catching his breath and looked at
Maelstrom.

"Yeah, I'm just not use to running like we have for great distances."

He looked up at Banrai, rather suprised that the ram gave up. But
perhaps giving up right now was for the better.

Maelstrom looked back at Zopyros to make sure he was doing all
right as he
himself found a dry place on the rocks, roofed by more stone, to
rest for the
night. He made room for his new friend, and thought of Pokos and
how stupid he
had been to leave him, and Kiki.

Zopyros went over to Maelstrom, after seeing that space that was left
over. He stood there and asked, slightly unsure.

"May I sleep here?"

"Yes, I'm making a little room for you," Maelstrom scooted to the
far side;
there was just enough room for Zo to squeeze in, and they could
just go to
sleep to the rhythm of dripping rainwater and distant rumbling
thunder.

Zopyros smiled and snuggled in, trying to keep all of his body parts
out of the rain. He was glad that Maelstrom wasn't as uptight as
Banrai...and who was a lot nicer.

Maelstrom was used to sleeping in the open, rain or shine. Rain
didn't really
bother him. Here in the rock outcropping, with its nooks and
crannies, the
 pockets of space trapped humidity from the rainstorm. Mist
collected on his
body, including his nose and mouth, even as he lay out of the
direct rainfall.

Zopyros wasn't discomforted by the mist that collected on his own
rubbery body...it was the smell that was now coming from the hair
that surrounded his neck and head.

Maelstrom stirred when he felt Zo stirring next to him. He lifted
his head and
looked around, and nothing seemed amiss. He sniffed the air, but
the rain had
muted any scent.

Zopyros yawned, and looked around again. He didn't move from his spot
next to Maelstrom. Instead, he leaned back against the rock and
watched the rain fall. With his head up, he couldn't smell anything
that badly. Due to being so close to Maelstrom and the hair that
covered his head and neck had filled his nostrils with ram's scent.


It was deep into the night and Maelstrom felt his friend stir.

"You okay?" he grunted in a froggy, tired voice.



Zopyros didn't look at Maelstrom, but instead continued to stare out
into the night.

"Yeah. I just woke up."

His voice was like Maelstrom's, dried, unused, and tired.

The young amp ram stretched and relaxed. He shook his head; his
ears flapped
 and water sprinkled off him. "Thinking about things?" ~I am,~ he
nearly said.

"Nah...not really. Was just tryin' to get back to sleep. But I think
I'm too anxious to get back to Moonbeam to sleep."

Zopyros looked over towards Maelstrom, he had been sprinkled with
water droplets when the ram had shaken.

Water was dripping in where Maelstrom had been asleep. He sat up
chewing cud
 now. "Yes...this is an uncertain mission," he said.

"I hope it doesn't take a lot longer."

Zopyros grinned at the ram who had sat up.

"Me either Zo...although," he glanced at Banrai who snored
soundly. "What...I don't know where I'm headed really."

"Heading? What do you mean by that?"

Zopyros gave Maelstrom a confused and somewhat concerned look.

"Like...I don't know what to do with my life...do I really want to
spend it
> killing innocents."

"What do you mean Maelstrom? You can't leave."

Zopyros's voice got louder as he looked at Maelstrom with concern.

"I don't want you to leave, that'd mean I'd probably have to kill ya
if I permantaly become part of Moonbeam's flock."


"You'd kill a fellow ram because someone told you to?" Maelstrom's voice
quivered; he knew he was getting into forbidden territory here. But he felt
like he was past the point of no return.


"Yes."

Zopyros said firmly.

"I'd kill a fellow ram as they would banish me. You may think
banishment and killing are two different things. But when you've been
banished by so many...then you can tell me if they are different."


Maelstrom had misjudged this new ram, and now he had put himself in
danger. Zopyros had to know his traitorous thoughts now.

"I understand," he said, carefully. He had to get away at first
chance now.



Zopyros stared at Maelstrom long and hard for a moment before he
decided to get up and walk off. He began to graze at what grass grew
around the foothills here. He's teeth ripping at the ground hard. His
body was drenched as a pugnet smell surrounded him from the water and
from his own sweat.


Maelstrom was still sound asleep as dawn came over the mountains.
Water still dripping through the rocks, slapping the stones. He had
fallen asleep again when he had toldhimself now was the time to
leave. Was his life something that he would always sleep on?


Zopyros fell asleep on one of the rocks. It got him up out of the
grass but the was still getting wet which he hadn't cared about. He
just didn't want to be near Maelstrom anymore....the ram wanted to
leave.


"Good morning," said Maelstrom to Zopyros, wondering if he had
really given himself away. He supposed it all depended on how smart
Zo was, or how willing he was to give Maelstrom the benefit of the
doubt.


Zopyros groaned awake...there were sores on his side now. Obviously
sleeping on a rock formation hadn't been the best choice, but it was
his and he'd live with it. The black ramling lifted his tail and
blinked it once in a good morning to Maelstrom while he sat up and
rubbed his eyes.

"How are you?"

"I could be better."

Zopyros rubbed his side as the flaaffy shook off droplets of water
that still clung to his body.

"Shouldn't someone wake Banrai?"

"I'm up already," said Banrai, in a most unpleasant voice. "Our spy
apparently did not get the chance to come to us last night."

"Was that Sindos?"

Zopyros had never met the ram, although they had talked about him
briefly while waiting for Moonbeam's signal.

"Yes," said Banrai. "Looks like we start moving from here, try to
get close enough that we can move in if sindos gives the signal."

"Alright."

The flaaffy jumped down off the rock he had been sleeping on and
yawned. Stretching out his limbs before they started walking.

Maelstrom was on the outside of the group. He wandered over towards
Zopyros, still nervous that the flaaffy had guessed his true
feelings.

Zopyros was basically ignoring Maelstrom...he was in half denial. Why
would anyone want to leave a flock that would protect you if you did
the same? Which was of no problem to him. Moonbeam's flock wanted to
grant him life, and he would not leave them b/c he had to kill...the
umbreon part of him did not mind the killing, and that part was
poking up.

Maelstrom followed the group, sensing more and more that Zopyros was
turned off to him, and that was that. He had to get out of here
before Banrai found out.

Something about Zopyros made him afraid, more than just any flaaffy
could. He wanted to say it was his looks, but Moonbeam was black and
even he didn't bring out that side of Maelstrom in quite the same
way. He felt like he was walking next to a wolf.

Zopyros kept a wary eye on Maelstrom, he didn't want to have to go
chasing after the ram if he did so happen to leave. Even more so he
didn't want to get blamed for anything either...especially since he
had a haunch that Maelstrom was deciding to leave. And he didn't want
to have to kill the ram either...he had become a friend to him, and
despite anything he just felt he wouldn't be able to kill someone
that was within his own flock. No matter if the one wanted to leave
or not...although a part of him knew that he'd have to get over that.

Maelstrom could feel the dark one watching. This was going to be a
real problem. Was he being stupid? The other rams all had no
problem. Since being accepted by his father, Maelstrom had been
wondering why he didn't feel more grounded than he did.

Zopyros kept quiet, and kept walking. They'd have to get as close to
the other flock as possible....he wondered how they'd find them. And
even more so, how they would capture the flock.

Banrai stopped at a small deposite of dung. He looked at it, knew
that it was ampharos dung. He didn't need it, either, to tell tht
the flock had passed by this way, on their own way along through the
mountains.

"We'll be able to track them pretty easily...they're too many to
lose us."

Zopyros looked over at Banrai, being sure to avoid the left overs of
the other sheep.

"But should we follow their tracks exactly?"

"For now we're just trying not to lose them," he said. "Best to
follow them exactly and stay a littl e further behind...than try
something fancy and then find them gone without a trace."

"But we know where they are, don't we?"

Zopyros didn't like having to follow their tracks exactly...and that
dung pile prooved to him that they were. These were the
mountains...if they knew where they were, couldn't they move a bit
farther off and then surprise them? They would probably be watching
their tracks, they obviously knew we were following...

"For now yes," said Banrai, his voice beginning to grow impatient
with the ramling's question. "We don't have the power to overpower
them right now. We have no clear plan. We follow them at a slow and
safe pace until a chance arises."

Banrai didn't know what to do. The truth or it was, they were
outmatched. There would be no way to get close to them and take the
Mure'mar without some crafty scheme, and he had no head for it.
Banrai saw the flash. "That's the signal," he said to Maelstrom
> and Zo. "come
> > on."
> Banrai could not send a signal back without alerting them...he just
had to
> hope that the ram was ready when they reached them.

Zopyros picked up speed, he wanted to get to Sindos before anything
happened...like loosing their chance to capture them. He would not
let anyone ruin anything. He would make this go by faster, whether
Banrai or Maelstrom liked. And if Maelstrom got away today, he could
be sure that the black ramling would have no problem killing him.

what i predicted is
true" he smiled "I belive some warriors of our kind in the past
used
this power yet were not able to control it and so were stripped of
thier strength" he looked to the stars and started walking "I
predict
you will inherit not only the magical powers of our ancestors but
also the combined strength of the unworthy"


"I hope so," said Peem, "and more than that i hope that if i do
inherit this
kind of power that i know what to do with it. It's possible to take
on too
 much power for one's own well being."

 Banrai flashed his lights to Sindos. He flicked them, then hung
about. Peem
narrowed his eyes.

 "Get away from us!"

 The mure'mar's body did not move but suddenly, rocks and vines and
things
 began to fling themselves at Banrai Zo and Maelstrom.


"Moonbeam's goons!" Peem struck out ruthlessly with his powers,
knowing they
 would be more effective than electricity against other amps.

Wind stood behind Peem and sparkled aggressivly "Do you want any
help?" he said with a sadistic smile.

Sindos ignored Banrai. He couldn;t slip out of his cover just yet!
No! Not when he had to go down into this labyrinth nd uncover the
secrets of those spirit stones. No! He was not going to unveil his
surprise just yet.

"Let's go, if you know a closer entrance in to this place it is
fine by
 me...only one thing is that if we enter here we will still have to
hike the
 distance underground, and there will be no grass for us to eat on
the way."
 Peem was trying to think this out. "On the other flipper...we'll be
able to
 avoid being found out by Moonbeam.:"


He pondered for a moment and recalled his lessons "There were
numerous exits to the Ruins " he looked around the surroundings and
spotted a passage buried halfway with mus and rocks "Look, theres an
entrance but i have no idea where it leads to" he lit up the area and
looked at the narrow gap "And thats a tight squeeze"

Zopyros couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal by Sindos, and he
glared at the ram for only a second then took his turn in following
Banrai. Perhaps out of the three rams he looked more closely related
to Moonbeam, of course that was only due to his colors. After all,
his figure and features didn't resemble Moonbeam a whole lot.

~

"so what now?" Banrai stood in the cave, not sure where to go from
here. They had tracked the group all the way towards a chasm, where
their progress was stopped. Apparently thre was some way across
because the mure'mar was on the other side, along with some strange
ewe...

He saw no way to get any closer without being found out. "Maybe
there's another way into the cave...or at least we can get Sindos
from here and just head back."

Zopyros shrugged. He had never been in this kind of situation and
wasn't sure how to react. After all, he had never expected to chase a
flock down into a cave to capture them and return them to their
ruthless leader.

"I'm not sure..."

Zopyros shrugged. He had never been in this kind of situation and
wasn't sure how to react. After all, he had never expected to chase a
flock down into a cave to capture them and return them to their
ruthless leader.

"I'm not sure..."

"We wait for Sindos. I'm sure if he comes back to us now he'll have a whole
load of information in a place like this," Banrai gestured around them.

He suddenly realized Maelstrom was not with them in the cave. "Maelstrom?"
'
Zopyros's eyes went wide and he made his lights slightly brighter,
hoping not to get noticed. Whoever saw him from the other flock just
might actually think he was Barukuru...but he didn't care. He was all
to worried that his hide might be finished. After all, he had a hunch
that Maelstrom would be running away.

"Maelstrom?"

"Dammit. Where'd he go?" Banrai turned to Zopyros. "He say anything to you
about whether he was going anywhere?" Maybe he'd got hungry, but Banrai didn't
want to leave the cave until he had Sindos' attention.

Zopyros looked back at Banrai nonchalantly.

"Nope."

He wasn't completely lying either....Maelstrom had never actually
said he -was- leaving, although he had hinted it.

"well, then,' banrai looked around, they were down to two. 'let's head
outside and figure this out. because i sure didn't see him ahead of
us.' maelstrom had been lagging behind a lot lately...

"Okay."

Zopyros let Banrai take the lead outside, hoping that nothing would
be pinned to him if Maelstrom really did run away.

Banrai didn't think he'd findhim out there and he didn't. "Well, looks like we
have a deserter...and his son too! My brother." Banrai shook his head. "come
on..let's see if we can get sindos out of there.:"

Zopyros walked back in with Banrai, getting bored with chasing Sindos
all the time. Thankfully they were going back in to retrieve Sindos
rather than continue to follow him.

"It's time to get this flock moving back to Moonbeam already...we've been gone
far too long and at this point it is inefficient." Banrai chewed his cud while
he waited for a sign from the young ram.

Zopyros began to get anxious again, they'd be heading back to
Moonbeam at last! He just hoped that every adventure wasn't going to
be as boring as this one.

~

The ram jerked his head up to scent the air while he ran. His feet thundered
through the field as he ran for his life. his nostrils flared, pulling in fast
breaths. He glared darkly at the world ahead of him, he ran, four years old
and with his life in ruins.

Maelstrom thought of dying. He could run full speed over the edge of a cliff
and plunge, flying to the end, he saw in his mind's eye his own body splashing
on the rocks, two hundred something pounds of meat laid out on stone in the
sun, worth more to the world than he was now with all his vitals inside of him
and working.

He would never kill himself. He didn't have the balls. Not now, never would
he. If he was still a coward now it was built into his blood.

Maelstrom thought of Pokos as he ran, lungs ragged and mind in a spin. Whre
was he, where was Kiki? What had happened to them? He ran on and on...
 
~

"We have another problem now," said Banrai as he reached the light
of the new
morning. Mmmph, he was damn hungry. He snapped up some grass, then
headed on
 away. "Maelstrom seems to have deserted. We have one policy for
traitors."

Zopyros gulped hard...he didn't want to have to kill Maelstrom if
they came across him again.

"Banrai...."

He said, a little wary.

"What? You think maybe something got him in there?" Banrai thought
about it.
"'s possible. But i smell him out here." he put his nose to the
ground, then
 looked up and squinted down a trail, like he could just tell
Maelstrom had
 gone down it.

"I dunno...but the other night while we were waiting by the cliffs
and you were asleep. Maelstrom gave kind of a hint that he might be
leaving. I didn't realize it till now, but he was asking me questions
like, I'd kill another ram 'cause someone told me to? He was acting
real strange..."

Zopryos left out the part of his suspicions, he didn't want to get
into trouble.

"He turned tail then! We should make worm food out of him."
Sindarios grinned.

"If those aren't the words of a traitor then I'm Watakko's mama,"
said Banrai.
 "You are to inform me or whoever your appointed superior is on a
mission if
you observe any suspicious activity--ANYTHING," Banrai was fuming.
This could
have been avoided!

 "Never mind it for now. Maelstrom isn't important in light of
thenewsof this
 stone. We have to get back down to the Windplains and from there,.
Moonbeam or
whoever he has keeping the flock there, can send a flock out here
to get the
 Mure'mar's group and capture that stone. If moonbeam's there, he
will probably
 want to go himself."

"Sorry Banrai...it won't happen again."

Zopyros had never encountered a traitor before, and wasn't quite sure
what to look for. Of course now he did, but it also showed one
trait...he was loyal. Which was obvious because he kept that little
secret until Maelstrom had actually left.

Banrai figured that Zo was just young and had a lot to learn about
being in the company. Nevertheless, whatever his excuse, his mistake
could be a costly one. "If Maelstrom has defected, he could cause
all sorts of problems....all depending on how ambitious he is."

"I don't think he'll do anything to betray us....then again I didn't
think he'd run away either. I sorry...I should of told you sooner."

Zopyros sighed heavily, he had only just begun his 'first' mission
and he'd already screwed up!

As they neared, Banrai saw a strange white ram with the others. It
was one of
> the biggest rams he had ever seen...maybe even bigger than
Moonbeam. Maybe. He
> wondered if the stranger was good news or trouible. Whatever he was
he was
 something significant.

Sparks saw the returning small group and flashed his lights to them.
"Maelstrom? Where's Maelstrom?"

"He seems to have defected." Banrai's voice was grim. "You know
what we do to
 traitors. Who's this?" The ram, almost as large as the stranger but
not so
close that he had much of a chance using his weight against him in
battle,
looked the white one up and down.

When Banrai began to speak to another ram his lights lit up and his
head jolted upwards. At last! They had met up with the 'main' flock
again. Perhaps now he could become an 'offical' member. He noticed a
ram he hadn't seen before...it was the white one. Although he didn't
know any of them...the white one seemed to stick out even more than
himself did. Although Zopyrros seriously doubted that the huge ram
was ever called one of Burakuru.

"you are part pf our flock as far as i am concerned,' said banrai. 'you
could have left with that maelstrom but here you are still eager to
help.'

Something new filled the heart of Zopyros...something he hadn't felt
in a long while. Perhaps it was the fact that he was accepted, well
by Banrai at least, or maybe he was just pleased to hear he had done
well. In any case, he was happy and speechless.

~

"Shocky where are you?" Lucinda said with a sob "You
were there then you vanished...." She just sat there
sobbing "Shocky, Shocky Shocky where are you....." She
said "I will find you!" She said getting to her feet
"Your mama needs you my baby...." She said walking
into the wilderness

He appeared with wild eyes, peeringout from the
bushes. Maelstrom had been on
the run for days and days, the better part of a month.
He peered at the
calling ewe...his lights flicked nervously. The
mountain ampharos ram was
starved for another voice to speak to, another light
to look on.

"Who is it?"

"Who who's there?!" Lucinda said with her tail
blinking "I'm looking for my baby have you seen him?"
Lucinda asked the stranger "He has a cute blue tail
like mine..." She said showing it.

Maelstrom gulped, and stepped out into the clearig
with her, although he hung
back beneath the eaves of the tree branches. They
bobbed gently over his head,
which was about six feet up there or so. He was a
frightened hulk.

"No...I'm sorry...I haven't seen anybody, anyone at
all.""

"I I I'm Lucinda...." She said looking at Maelstrom "I
um had better get going um..." She said backing off
feeling quite afraid of the ram "Um thanks for the
help...."

Maelstrom didn't have the heart to beg her to stay
with him...even now as he
was feeling the need for a ewe even more than
anything. He saw her fear. "I'm
sorry...I didn't want to frighten you." His voice was
so low and deep it could hardly be heard.

"Um that's okay..." Said Lucinda "Um I really need to
find Shocky but um I don't know where he is.... Said
Lucinda with a sob "I miss my baby!" She said sitting
there sobbing.

Maelstrom slowly, slowly crept from the shade, his
lights still low. On all
fours so as to look smaller, he grazed his way towards
her.

"I don't know how much i can help you," he said, "but
i can try...at the least
we can keep each other from being ûnphos." his voice
was husky and quiet,
like time had tried to scratch it away.

"um ok...." She said wiping the tears from her eyes
then she started to graze on the coarse grass "Shocky
mama is comimg..." Said said to herself "um you didn't
tell me your name..." Said Lucinda "I'm Lucinda" She
said her lights blinking a welcoming.

Maelstrom opened his mouth to give her his name. He
remembered that he was
wanted.

"Stormeye...good to meet you in light."

"Stormeye nice name" She said with a smile "Um if you
want i'll go in a bit this is your place I see..." She
said looking around "um i'll be going now nice to have
met you Stormeye!" She said with a wink.

"No place is my place." Maelstrom smiled dryly. Seeing
herwink at him he felt
more open talking to her. "I'm...looking for a
flock...for...just
light-friends i guess.:"

"Well i'm looking for my baby Shocky..." Said Lucinda
"He ran off without telling me but I swear I can smell
him sometimes!" Said Lucinda "tell you what it would
be nice to have some company do you want to tag along
with me?" She asked with a smile.

she seemed to get over her fear of him pretty quickly,
thought maelstrom with
his smile growing more genuine. She must be nearing
her heat.

"I...I'd like that." He nodded.

"Thanks" She whispered softly in his ear "Okay where
should we go?" She asked "I need to find my babys
scent from somewhere what do you think Stormeye?" She
asked noticing his smile.

Her whisper and the heat of her breath brought a storm
of lust rolling through
his body, twisting painfully in his groin. Maelstrom
at some times, especailly
as fall neared, was thinking of only one thing.

"Wh...where did you see him last?" He swallowed,
hoping eh had heard her
right. It wa shard to hear over the blood pounding in
his head.

"He was laying with me and the rest of the flock one
minute he was there the next....." She said as a tear
came to her eye. "I'm sorry" She said "My baby is the
most important thing to me...." She said softly. "But
there is a chance Shocky will find me..." She said
looking in Stormeyes eyes he was very handsome.

"i can help you find him...I will do my best...I
cannot promise you that i
will find him, but i can promise you another lamb come
spring...if you would
like."

His head felt like it would burst. It hurt between his
legs, it hurt so much
he wanted more and more. She was so gorgeous and so
close. Maelstrom's musk
lay thick in the air around them. "What..what way
is..your flock from here?"

Lucinda's face blushed like crimson "um ok..." She
said "My flock is in that direction" she said
pointing. Suddenly she stood up "My baby! I can smell
him! This way!" She shouted as she ran towards the
scent.

Maelstrom's longer legs easily kept up with the
flaaffy. He ran to the
pounding of his blood inside him. The flaaffy's waving
tail behind her only
turned him on more until he thought he would explode.

It was somewhat hard to run.

She suddenly stopped "My baby..." She said "The scent
is gone...." She said to Stormeye "I feel so
stupid...." She sobbed "Where are you Shocky?" She
sobbed walking towards Stormeye "I'm scared..." She
said.

"it's all right..." Maelstrom caught her up. He
crouched near her and put his
arm around her.

Feeling Stormeyes arm around her made her feel all
warm inside "thank you...." She said. "What is this
feeling?" She thought to herself "This ram is really
handsome!" She sadi to herself "Um Stormeye i'm not
just looking for my Baby...." Said Lucinda "i'm also
looking for a mate and i've been looking for a long
time too...." She said

Maelstrom thought to himself, ~My luck has turned
around..after al this time.~
But why him? he was some scum ram on the run...someone
like her could do
better. But he wasn't about to tell her so.

"i've been looking too..and i didn't even know it."

"Um Stormeye" She said nuzzling up to him "Um I really
like you..." She said licking his face "Um I really
really like you!" She said with a smile.

Maelstrom's arms were suddenly around her. He could
hardly see hre or hear
her. His eardrums pounded and his blood roared.
Everythin was so fluid, him
holding her and nuzzling her on her neck.

"yeah...uh..." he said around her ear in his mouth.

Lucinda couldn't take the urges any longer! All she
wanted was Stormeye nothing else in the world mattered
to her. "I love you!" She said in thier embrace "I'd
be honoured to have babies with you!" She said in
between breaths. "

Maelstrom mounted her with his large body seeming to
cover and surround her.
He wasn't thinking at all anymore. "I love you too,"
the words panted out as
he mated her, passionately and violently. His palms
were warm and strong on
her sides.

All Lucinda could feel was Stormeye mounting her then
the rest was darkness "Finally..." She said to herself
"Someone I love...." She said licking Stormeyes face
"True love!" She said "Well looks like we're together
always!" She said nuzzling him.

"YEah..." Maelstrom didnt have much of a mind to talk
right at the moment. A
few strokes were all he needed; a final thrust and he
was shivering into her.

"Wow!" She said feeling Stormeye unmounting her. She
then turned to him "So we're together now...." She
said giving him a affectionatte lick "I feel so
happy!" She said "If only Shockny knew..." She said
"OH MY GOD SHOCKY!" She said "Stormeye we're together
now will you be by my side forever?" She asked.

Maelstrom slid off her and rolled onto his side. He
couldn't talk for a
moment. His breath came fast and heavy but slowly, all
the rhythms ofhis body
were returning to normal.

He felt hre little pink tongue on his neck and
wondered why she cared. ~Of
course she cares right now...she is clearly in heat.~
a ewe was never this way
to a ram when she wasn't. but maelstrom didn't care.
It was affection,
something he couldn't remember the last time he had
received. He looked into
her eyes, feeling more black in his core than ever.
his body was in momentary
peace but would his mind ever be?

"Sure...if you want to stick with me..." his hand
stroked her wool.

"I love you Stormeye..." She said nuzzling him "and to
think we'll be having lambs of our own!" She said
licking his snout "of our own!" Lucinda then rolled
onto her front "Thank you for caring for me...." She
said to Stormeye.

"no, thank you...thank you." Maelstrom scooped her
close against him and lay
there with her. soon he would be ready to mate again.
"I..." he didn't finish
the sentence. She was so trusting of him...the worst
one to trust, probably.
He had messed up his life and it was completely his
fault.

"Listen Stormeye..." She said "I really love you you
know..." Said Lucinda "Please tell me a bit about your
past..." Said Lucinda "I really want to hear" She said
nuzzling his cheek.

Maelstrom stroked her head as he rested it against his
heart. The twilight
breeze cooled him through the sweat on his skin. "You
don't want to hear it.
you don't."

"Please let me hear..." Said Lucinda "I bet a ram like
you has had many adventures!" She said with a smile
licking his face "Go on tell me!" She said

Lust was creeping into his veins again, when she
licked him. The moist, warm
tongue sliding along his skin...Maelstrom grunted with
pleasure.

"My name's not Stormeye." he mumbled.

"So you have two names!" She giggled at that "Well you
can tell me anything..." She said breathing lightly on
his ear "You are so cuddly!" She said nuzzling up
against him.

"mmm...." Maelstrom gave her a squeeze. Fire seemed to
race up his belly and
down his thighs. his light pulsed a violent blood red.
"Lucinda..."

He swallowed and forced himself to sober up. "I was
withholding it to keep you
out of danger, i don't want a beautiful ewe..like
you...getting into this
mess."

"Please tell me..." Said Lucinda giving him a
affectionate lick on the nose "We're partners now..."
She said we need to let all our pasts go if we're
going to have a family!" She said with a smile "Please
tell me.." She said nuzzling him.

Maelstrom knew she wouldn't feel this way in another
few days...if it lasted
that long. Ewes quickly tired of ramly company once
they were pregnant.
Usually. He nuzzled her ear and wondered at how she
alread had a lamb. She
seemed very young--no older than a year.

"We should just look to the future Lucinda...no use
dragging up the past. I
want to get away from my past."

"Okay!" She said nuzzing him "You don't have to tell
me!" She said. "Well now we are together forever why
don't we plan for the future..." she said.

Soulmate? Maelstrom didn't know about that, but he did
know he wanted to mate
her again, badly. He moved his hands toher hips again
and towards his waiting
ramhood. He felt like the bllood in his head wouldpush
his eyeballs from his
skull.

"yeah...you have a nice name too."

Lucinda felt Maelstrom rubbing against her but she
knew when enough was enough but she had that feeling
again She grabbed Maelstrom and flipped him on top of
her "Yopu wanna go again!?" She asked in delight
"Okay!"

Maelstrom was a little heavy (ok, a lot) for her to
flip over...but then, he
was quickly rising up and topping her again. The ram's
tireless energy for
mating flooded him again. He thrust into her and took
a little longer this
time, sending his essence deep into her, this ewe who
had chosen him from
nowhere. He rested on top of her as his mind wandered
back, parting the
curtains to a sea of peace.

He held her close against him, sitting down and
pulling her near. still
breathing hard with his heart pounding.

Lucinda shuddered as he sent his essence in her "I
love you so much!" she said licking him "You are so
friendly and beautiful your breath is like a newe
mornings breeze she whispered into his ear.

Maelstrom had slid back till his head simply rested on
her back, his nose in
the wool on her shoulders. "Thanks..."

"Shocky..." Lucinda thought to herself "Shocky where
are you my baby..." She thought as she nuzzled up to
Maelstrom "I feel so much at home..." She said.

Her words were clearly candid, thought
Maelstrom...candid but also very
confused. She was a bit ditzy and scatterbrained but
he didn't care. He held
her close in the aftermath of his climax. she had
given him love and
affection. And she still did.

"We'll find him."

"Thank you...." She said smiling "Ok let's get all
cosy...." she said with a smile let's find somewhere
to curl up for the night!" She said nuzzling Maelstrom
"Okay honeybuns!" Said Lucinda licking his fleece and
nose.

Maelstrom lay with his arms around Lucinda, curled up around her in the hint
of fall coolness, when he smelled another ewe. His head picked up and he
looked all around. 

The flaaffy ewe drew back a bit, spotting the ram glancing around. She frowned, irritated with herself. Acting shy wasn't about to get her anywhere fast. If they rejected her prescene, then they rejected it. Hesistating wasn't about to make any difference. Still, that fact didn't draw Tsurara's quivering body from the bushes. The coolness in the air wasn't what did it, of course. It was the cold from inside of her, as always.

Just another thing making her different, in a way she didn't want to be.

Finally, having gathered up her nerves enough, she took a cautious step foward, being careful not to reveal herself from the leafy shelter that hid her. "Excuse me...?"

Maelstrom jumped when he saw movement, heard the voice, and saw no light to go with it. The ewe was here...but she seemed dead at the same time. What was
this? His eyes were wide as he cast light on her. She was an ordinary
flaaffy--except for no light...

"Who...who're you?" He thought he was looking at a spirit. He curled his arms
around Lucinda. 


Tsurara cringed. She hadn't taken into consideration that he'd use his own light. Still, it was a 'pleasant' greeting she'd met with before. "My name is Tsurara." Shivers continued to wrack her frailer than average body. More than likely, she wasn't the most pleasant thing to look at when it came to others of her kind. Even when not taking into account that her light had no shine. 

"What happened...to your light?" Did she actually have no light? How had it
happened? Maelstrom looked at her with concern.>>


Though her expression didn't change, her ears lay back flat. "My light's never been lit. It's there, but no light comes from it. Not since the day I was born." The expression in the ram's eyes wasn't exactly what she'd been expecting. But it wasn't as though things would turn out differently, even so.

Not to mention, she hated being the one talking, and it always seemed as though she was the one doing the most of it.

Maelstrom nodded...trying to react in some way besides looking dumb there.
"I'm sorry to hear..." he nodded for her to come closer. How had she gotten
this far on her own? "Are you really alone?"

Tsurara couldn't help hesistating for a split-second before finally allowing herself to draw closer. Her expression continued to remain the same, though subtly, she seemed to be almost attempting to hide her tail behind her. She smiled, though a bitter edge crept into it as she wrapped her flippers tighter around herself. "I am. No one seems willing to accept me, it would seem."

"You got this far with no light..." Maelstrom's face was sad. "You must be
pretty strong."

"Heh..I suppose you could say that. Though I wish I wasn't." Tsurara shook her head.  She was talking far too much. This ram had no idea, and it was likely better off that way. 

"m....maelstrom.' he looked at her with almost frightened eyes, after
all, he was letting these ewes know his name.

"A pleasure." Tsurara noticed the nervousness in Maelstrom. Her ears flickered uncertainly then, unknowing of the real reason for it. "If you aren't comfortable with having me here, it's perfectly understandable." 

"no, no..I'm--it's fine, come on over." Maelstrom kept his voice low as
Lucinda slept. He lay her down gently, on the moss. He looked at her with
love. She was ditzy and silly, but he would've died for her. 


"If you're sure." Again, Tsurara was hesistant, but did make her way closer before long. Unsure of what to do or say, she sat down, still a short distance from the pair. And continued to shiver. It was an irritating act, but something she couldn't quite help. She eyed the sleeping Lucinda, and even without knowing the ewe, felt a familiar pang of envy. A normal ewe who would live a normal life. 

Maelstrom, still breathing heavily especially now with another ewe here,
sniffed at her, trying to see if she too eas ready. Wow...his luck really had
changed tonight! He had been alone for so long, and suddenly, ewes were coming
out of the woods and greeting him and mating with him!


Unfortunately for Maelstrom's lucky streak, even if he were to mate her, Tsurara hadn't hit the key point in the fall yet to signal her season. No lamb would come of it. Though somehow, it comforted her to know a ram would even consider it. On the other hand, rams didn't seem to care either way, did they? Her tail began to curl around her, before she even realized it. An almost irritated look swept past as it swept back, hopefully out of sight again. She despised it, with the constant threat of rejection it posed to hang over her head.

But she didn't fear it. Not like she feared the cold. 

Ah, she wsn't ready. Maelstrom didn't really mind, since he had already had
Lucinda and would probably mate her again tomorrow. He really shouldn't get
too spoiled! The friendliness given to him by these ewes was a luxury in
itself, that he was not yet ready to fully trust.


Tsurara endured the silence. A usual sound for her, but at a time like this, almost frustrating. She glanced at Maelstrom, and then quickly away again. More silence. Her gaze drifted back to the ram, again. "...doesn't it bother you?" She didn't want to be tossed away, really. But she couldn't help asking. "Pardon me for asking but...doesn't it bother you at all?"

"What...? you mean the light? I feel bad for you, a light is a denryuu's
birthright. But it doesn't bother me." After what Maelstrom had done in his
life he was the one who deserved no lights. After all he had seen...how could
a simple lightless sheep bother him?


Tsurara's gaze was averted downwards. "Thank you..." For another moment, she sat silently. He was the first ampharos she'd heard say something like that to her in a long while now. For all she knew, the ewe at his side may very well disagree with her prescence upon waking. But until then, she almost felt as though she'd been accepted. It was a nice feeling, really. "May I ask you one last thing, Maelstrom?" she asked.

"yes," Maelstrom sat down, marveling also at the fact that she hadn't seemed
so scared of him, a 6 foot tall ram with very very deep crimson eyes.>>


Tsurara had honestly felt no need to be afraid. She'd seen worse things than him in her three years time. Especially in her youngest days. Fuzzy, but frightening images lingered in her mind. Things she didn't want to have to remember at all. And usually, she was feared herself, and chased away for that. A ewe with a dead light, and not to mention...

All the more reason to wish she was a normal ewe. "Do you know anything about curses? Or anyone that would?"

"The Mure'mar," said Maelstrom, "but...I never met him. I'm sorry." he looked
at the ground.>>


The Mure'mar. Even at hearing at Maelstrom didn't know him personally, she felt a definate hope spring up inside of her to hear it. "That's fine." She nearly smiled at him, even if he was looking at the ground at the time. "I appreciate the information. It means alot to me to know that someone maybe able to help me." Tsurara ended up looking at the ground again. "That I can have the chance to survive."

<<"There are spirits on your side." And on his side, thought maelstrom,
something had shined on him tonight. he watched lucinda sleep, his
angel.>>

"If there are, than they're likely laughing as they watch." Tsurara
pulled her flippers away from herself, holding them in front of her as
they continued to quiver and shake. Wrapping them around once again,
she shook her head. "But enough of my ramblings. It's been too long,
I'm afraid." She gave a half-hearted smile. "I'm not usually as
talkative as this, I can assure you."

<<"Better than spirits jeering." Maelstrom took to chewing the cud
that had wandered up into his mouth. "Or better than spirits just not
being there at all. There's nothing worse than being alone.">>

"That's true." Tsurara glanced thoughtfully at the darkened orb at the
end of her tail. Useless. "Being alone is the worst of all."

"hmmm what's wrong Maelstrom?" Asked Lucinda confused
"Who are you talking to?"

"You wish you were not strong?" Maelstrom
must've misunderstood. He did
 know it was hard to survive ûnphos even with a
 light. He had done it, for a long time now.

"Never mind me." The shivering flaaffy flashed him a
half-smile. "Would you
care to share your name with me, perhaps? I've
already given my own, after
all." The ewe beside him had been silent. Perhaps
afraid, or disgusted. A reaction
she would have been accustomed to, but that didn't
mean she had to enjoy it.

"Um...." Said Lucinda "Ummm have you seen my baby
Shocky?" She asked the stranger "Um he has a Blue tail
like mine...." She said showing her it.

Maelstrom was exhausted by now...Morning would come
before they knew it. "Do
you have a flock...anyone who could help you along
with me?"

"You look tired my sweet..." Lucinda said licking his
nose "We should get some sleep you're welcome to join
us if you want to!" She said the the ewe

Maelstrom didn't think he had the elegance of words,
to tell her how she
affected him every time she licked him, no matter
where on him she licked. It
made it hard for him to sleep. Would his rut-lust
never calm down? Maelstrom
knew the ewe wanted some sleep, and frankly heknew he
needed it...He lay down
pulling her against his chest and stomach, where he
could keep her safe.

"yeah...You could say i'm tired."

"yeah...." Said Lucinda curling up entwined with
Maelstrom "Well *yawns* I need some sleep...." She
said drifting off into the land of nod.

"Shocky where are you...." Lucinda said to herself.
Suddenly sleep took over and she found herself in a
strange multicoloured meadow "Where where am I?" She
 thought to herself. Suddenly she noticed Shocky
 nibbling at the grass. "Shocky my baby!" She said
 running towards him. But suddenly Shocky disserpeared.
 "Where are you?" She sobbed "I'm right here mother!"
 Said Shocky appearing behind her. But this wasn't the
 Shocky Lucinda had given birth to this Mareep had been
 born of a evil entity. "Pathetic!" He snarled "you go
 all this way to find Shocky and look where you are no
 where!" he laughed dissapearing. "Shocky don't go...."
 Sobbed Lucinda "SHOCKY!!!!!" She screamed waking up
 suddenly and sobbing.

"Mmph..." Maelstrom had been in a deep sleep. His lights flickered
into
 awareness as the scream shoved him back to this realm. As soon as
he came to
and felt the ewe shivering, he was licking her face and nuzzling
her shoulder.
"What is it--what happened?"

"Shocky!" Lucinda said "He was taken by a evil spirit!" She
sobbed "He said how much he hated me for everything and Shocky....."
She sobbed on Maelstroms shoulder "I want my baby....." She sobbed
out loud.

Maelstrom held her as she cried; she seemed part lamb
herself. She was very
young herself, that wsa sure, "what...did the evil
spirit...look like?" he
gulped. "What did it say?"

"It looked just like my Baby!" She sobbed "He had evil
red eyes but other then that he was Shocky!" She said
sobbing "I want my baby!"

Maelstrom felt a dark knot in the pit ofhis stomach.
~Moonbeam's after him,
he's after me and Lucinda with me,~ was all he could
think. "Lucinda...I...I'm
not what you think I am."

"What do you mean?" Said Lucinda looking confused
"What is it you haven't been telling me..." She sadi
licking his nose "Don't forget we're together now you
can tell me anything you want!" She said.

"I know. I wanted to spare you this...my father...is a
monster of a ram..he is
named Moonbeam. Have you heard of him?" Maelstrom
waited for the fear to reach
her face and her lovely light.

"MOONBEAM!!!!" She shivered at the name "He attacked
my flock a few years back!" She said "But you are
still so handsome and cute and cuddly!" She said
"Moonbeam is after my son isn't he?" She said.

"I couldn't say," Maelstrom felt shaky. "I doubt he's
after onelittle lamb.
Moonbeam..likes to take them by the flock."

"Listen Maelstrom you may be a relative of Moonbeam
but I still love you if not more!" Said Lucinda with a
smile "And we will always be together and once we find
Shocky we can find a place of our own and be happy
forever!" She said Nuzzling him "But Shocky I hope
he's okay."

"I do too..course we hope." Maelstrom knew this was a
bad sign, though..dreams
were that way,m they told a lot. he held lucina and
nuzzld her.

"Ok let's get some sleep again..." Said Lucinda "i'm
sleepy..." he said falling asleep almost instantly

Maelstrom lay back down, feeling relieved that he
had at least begun to
tell her the dark truth about himself.

"Thank you Maelstrom" She murmered in her sleep "I
love you...." She said "You mean the world to me" She
said romanticlly

What did a ram say to those tihngs, coming frm a ewe
he'd only just met? "I
love you too." his palm rested over the back of her
head. He meant it too.

Lucinda could only think about Maelstrom at that time
her hormones were going crazy! "hmmmmm" She said to
herself nuzzling up against Maelstrom for warmth.

Maelstrom felt a swell inside him again as he lay
there. his breath increased
as he held lucinda and his ramhood reached for
her...below her feet.

"I can't sleep...." Lucinda said "I feel so active
why?" She asked then she felt his Manhood "Oh that's
why!" She gigglled.

Maelstrom grunted as he felt her palms on him. She
really couldn't keep
herself off him...and nothing made a ram's day (or
night) more. he bucked his
hips.

"All this for me..." She said to herself "This makes
me feel so good!" She cried out "I feel alive!"

"You have no idea..." Maelstrom's eyes rolled back in
his head. He might not
get much sleep tonight, but who cared? he ws coming
closer, so close...

Lucinda growled at the pleasure it felt so good. "All
these lambs!" She said between groans "We will have a
big family!"

Maelstrom groaned, through a grin creeping onto his
face. He realized she was
mating him as he lay there. The smile faded as intense
pleasure overtook him
again, he rolled over to where he could brace himself
on the ground and pump
harder. he shot his full load into her, with a long
deep grunt. he sighed and
collapsed, breathing into the grass.

Lucinda went up and curled up next to him to share
body warmth "Let's just get some sleep handsome!" She
said nuzzling him "Good night my sweet!" She said to
him.

Maelstrom was already asleep.

~

Morning came, and Maelstrom, usually an early riser, slept until the sun
shined on his face.

Lucinda felt the sun on her face and she opened her
eyes. "Good morning...." She said to Maelstrom "Did
you have a good sleep last night?" She asked nuzzling
him. Then she chewed on some fresh morning grass.

"Yes. I did, thank you. Did you?" Maelstrom got up, himself, hauling up his
bulk and starting in on the grass next to her.

"Well I had a lot of fun last night if you get what I
mean!" She said giggling in his ear "So what do we do
know?" She asked

Maelstrom cocked his head, lifting one of his black-striped, black-tipped
ears. He looked around, then back at her. Unlike most amps he had four neck
stripes. "i thought we were going to look for your son, after we eat up."

"Shocky we're coming for you!" Said Lucinda "thank you
again for coming with me..." Said Lucinda "besides
we're together now nothing can tear us apart!" Said
Lucinda

"nope..." maelstrom gave her a smile. He ha dnot finished eating, though, so
he kept grazing for now, wanting to wait for Tsurara.

The other lightless ewe had edged away over the course of the night, and ended
up curled into a tight ball. At last, Tsurara began to stir. It had been more
difficult than she was used to to be able to nod off. Were things such as what
had happened the night before common among others? Uncurling partially, she sat
up and yawned.

"Tsurara?" Maelstrom realized she was not in eyesight. He stood up and looked
around over the grass.

Still looking a bit tired, and her mouth open in mid-yawn, Tsurara made her way
back. The yawn was cut short as she arrived. "Apologies. I just felt the need
for a bit of space." She tipped her head politely in the direction of the two.
"Good morning to you both."

"Good morning. How was your dream-journey?" Maelstrom asked the traditional
morning question.

Tsurara shrugged. "Quiet, I suppose you could say." She just hoped that was a
proper answer to give. "And you?"

"I don't recall it clearly." Maelstrom didn't. It was a night, though,
when he could safely say, "but I know they were not dark."

"That's good to hear." Tsurara moved to graze for a moment, still feeling probably a bit more awkward then she should have. Lucinda didn't seem to have any troubles with her at least. 

Maelstrom was ready to go whenever Lucinda was, but since she didn't have a
clue where to start to look for her son maybe he could start things off. As
long as their search didn't take them you-know-where.

"Tsurara, have you seen a small, fluffy ramling?"

Tsurara straightened, and shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Maelstrom." Was it Lucinda's child he was talking about, perhaps? She hadn't gotten the chance to answer the ewe's question regarding him the night before.

"that's allright...We're looking for one, though, so just keep an eye
out.' maelstrom stood up ready to go.

"I'll keep both out, while I'm at it." Tsurara was ready to go anytime the others were. Even in the daytime, her flippers were still wrapped tight around her thin form.

"are you cold?' maelstrom looked around, his skin tasting the breeze.
the morning was a little cool,but nothing really uncomfortable.
maelstrom liked this weather.

Tsurara shuddered. "Just a bit. I often feel that way, though." She said it
so casually, it nearly made her laugh. Her expression, luckily, didn't
change.

Maelstrom knelt by her and put his warm palms on her shoulders, he gave a
little rub. One thing about the palms of a mountain amp...they were always
warm. He wanted this cool weather to last, and not turn all hot and sticky
like it had bee lately.

"This help?"

For a moment, Tsurara's ears were back, a nervous look in her eyes. But the warmth from his palms was enough to keep her there, and she calmed down quickly. Unconciously, she leaned towards him, relishing the moment of feeling even a little more warmth than usual. "Yes...thank you." 

"you're right...you feel a little chilled." Almost like she was dead or
something, actually...Maelstrom had never felt anyone so cold in normal
weather before.

Tsurara nodded just once, her gaze averted to the ground. "I wouldn't be surprised if I did." She shut her eyes, and added quietly "That's...the true curse."

"It's alright." She smiled, the same half-hearted smile she gave a
good deal of the time. "Perhaps I said too much. I didn't mean to
burden you with it." Besides, there was a chance at least that the
Mure'mar he'd spoken of maybe able to help her. Tsurara could only
deperately hope so. "But thank you, for listening. And for your warmth."

"No..it's fine,
it's fine." Maelstrom put on a
 smile for her, "don't worry
 about it." It was a better past than he had had.

Tsurara's smile became a bit closer to being a
 full-fledged one for a moment.
 He didn't hate her when he'd found out...

"Good Morning!" Said Lucinda with a smile "By the way
 i'm Lucinda pleased to meet you!"

 She turned to nod at the other ewe. "A pleasure to
 meet you as well,
 Lucinda."


"I miss my baby so much..." Said Lucinda with a tear
running down her cheek. "Shocky means the world to me
and I want to know he's fine....." She said with a
sob.

Maelstrom yawned, sloughing off the last of sleep.He sniffed and nibbled at
whatever greens he passed by on their leisurely pace.

Maelstrom crouched down and nuzzled her. he let out a
purr-like growl as his
head rubbed her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

Lucinda always liked Maelstrom nuzzling against her
"thank you" She said nuzzling hin "Shocky I hope
you're safe...." She said in a soft voice.

"Let's head for the highest ground," said maelstrom,
"that way we can see
where flocks are. He would probably joina flock,
right?"

"Good idea.." said Lucinda "maybe we can spot Shocky
from there!" She said "Shocky hates being alone so
that would be probally what he would do!" She said.

"We all hate beig alone,' maelstrom let his flipper touchher shoulder,
then, for the first time in almost a month, he stepped out of the
forest and into the fields.

"Is there high ground around here?" Lucinda asked "His
cute blue tail is a dead giveaway!" She said showing
her tail again.

"those hills look like the closest place, but those mountains beyond
are even better.' maelstrom longed to get back up the slopes where he
was native.

"Okay let's head for those mountains!" Said Lucinda
nuzzling Maelstrom "You coming with me?" She whispered.

"course i am,' said maelstrom, 'you think i'd leave you here?' he
started the long walk, although he kept ;ooking nervously around.

Lucinda walked side by side with Maelstrong fleece
touching "okay hang on Shocky mama's coming!" She
said. "Are you allright Maelstrom?" asked Lucinda "You
seem a bit vacant

"Vac ant? what do you mean?' maelstrom had never been called that
before.

"I am thinking the mure'mar would bethe best one to
see for your [Tsurara's] problems,"
said Maelstrom, "but...I've lost track of him." To put
it mildly.

"Um Maelstrom sorry did I offend you?" Said Lucinda
nuzzling up against him "Vacant means a daydream like
you're thinking about something"

"Oh...yes I knew what it meant..just didn't know where
you saw it in me."
Maelstrom wsa just glad he didn't look as nervous as
hewsa. "Perhaps I'm
feeling some relief to beout of the woods."

"Oh ok..." Said Lucinda looking a bit sad "Why is he
so away from me today" She thought to herself "Perhaps
I should ask him."

Maelstrom looked down at the ewe, to make sure she was okay. he
couldn't come out and ask her--he was still too shy. even after all
they had shared,.

"I hope I can find this Mure'mar someday then. Until then, I'll just wait and hope for the best, I suppose." Tsurara smiled at him for a moment, before what felt like a very uncomfortable silence overcame the group. And wondered if perhaps Lucinda was really as alright with her prescene as she'd thought.

"I wish i could tell you where he is..." Maelstrom contimued on with his gaze
hung low. He was guilty here...he had been part of the plan betraying the
Mure'mar, or trying to. And by the time he had come to his senses and left, it
felt like everything was said and done already, his move had been too little
too late.>>


"It's alright, Maelstrom." Tsurara, who had no idea of course regarding the ram's past, just continued to smile. "It's not your fault if you don't know. You've already been a huge help as it is to let me know there's someone like that out there." 

"Just...if you see a really big, black ram...with lights that seem to be
strobing all the time, even just a tiny bit--let me know. If I haven't spotted
him already." Maelstrom kept looking around him as they headed through the
fields.>>


Tsurara looked curiously at the hulking form of Maelstrom, then gave a small shrug-like motion. "I'll let you know if I see anyone like that." Was that black ram, perhaps, the Mure'mar he'd spoken of before? 

"That would be Moonbeam, my sire." Maelstrom hiked on towards the top of the
hill. "He has lights a lot like mine."


"Ah, I see." Tsurara went up after him, pausing just momentarily to shiver before she forced herself moving again. She couldn't help asking, rather innocently. "Is this Moonbeam the Mure'mar you spoke of?" 

"Not at all, Moonbeam is after the Mure'mar...to steal his powers, like he
wants to steal everything else." Maelstrom's voice was cold and hard, and a
fire was behind his gritted teeth.


Tsurara cringed a bit. What a fantastic way to go about hitting a nerve without meaning to. "Apologies. I didn't realize that he was..." She fell silent after that. 

"No...no, you didn't do anything," said Maelstrom. "i've just known
from a very close perspective what he can do. For a long time i was
stupid enough to believe in him."

"i'm sorry, ' maelstrom walked up to the top of the hill. he waited for
the ewes. 'i will not speak his name again in your presence if you
wish.'

"Thank you." said Lucinda with a smile nuzzling him "I
really hate that name but I love you so much!" she
said.

"Love you too Lucinda."

Maelstrom stood on the top of the hill looking around
for a sign of lighted
tails.

"don't worry Shocky mama will find you soon...." Said
Lucinda "I promise..." Said Lucinda looking around for
lighted tails as well.

Maelstrom didn't see any, although further off, to the
far north they were
there. But they were so far away as to be
indistinguishable from the whole
that was a flock.

"I thought it would be easy to find a lamb with a blue
tail...." Said Lucinda "But it seems my Shocky isn't
anywhere...." She said sadly "Well i'm going to lie
down for a bit you're welcome to join me if you want!"
Said Lucinda laying down.

"All right. I'm sorry we don't see him yet..I'm going
to keep trying."
Maelstrom's lust wouldn't let him sleep, and neither
woukld his fear. He kept
his lights lowand his eyes on that distant flock.

Lucinda gave a huge yawn then gave Maelstrom a
romantic look. "I'm so tired..." She said "And I feel
like something is happening as we speak..." She said
looking at him.

Maelstrom's lights flicked. "What...sort of thing?"

@My body is going through well a change a the
moment...." Said Lucinda "I feel so happy but empty at
the same time...." Said Lucinda looking deep into
Maelstroms eyes "I just feel empty without Shocky...."
Said Lucinda.

Maelstrom nuzzledher, something he rarely did to
anyone--if ever. "Keep
yourself safe, you probablyhave another life starting
in you now."

Lucinda knew what he meant straight away "Wow...." She
said "Another lamb I can't wait!" She said with a
smile "Don't know what to call him or her though...."

"I wouldn't worry about that until the lamb is there
looking you in the eyes,"
said Maelstrom. "I don't think you can name someone
you don't know yet."

@Okay..." Said Lucinda munching on a bit of grass. She
was still in heat even though Maelstrom didn't know
it. "Well I hope we find Shocky soon...." Said Lucinda
then she started looking at the clouds.

Maelsrtom knew it all right. He was just making sure
no one was out to kill
him up here. He felt naked, like he had to hide. That
flock out there might
have already seen their lights.

he nuzzled her. "i hope so too..." his breath was
heavy and horny.

Lucinda always liked being nuzzled that made her horny
as well @Wow I love it when you do that!@ she said
with a smile.

Maelstrom grinned as he pulled her under him. "I'm
glad you do..."

"Oh yes again!" thought Lucinda as she felt Maelstrom
on top of her "never make it stop!"

Tsurara watched, tempted to dart away. Instead, she finally averted her eyes to the ground, feeling as though she was intruding on something she shouldn't have been. They loved each other, and here she was. Sitting, she curled up as best as a flaaffy could without laying down, shaking. Lucinda had to find her lamb. But her lamb would leave again, even if she did find him. And by then, she'd have another, and more than likely Maelstrom as well.

And meanwhile, Tsurara didn't have any of that. All she had was this god forsaken cold. Again, she felt jealousy welling up inside of her, and a longing. She wished for what Lucinda had. Someone to love, who returned it, lambs...

The breeze blew more cool than he was used to. Maelstrom smelled the fall in
the air. He held his head high as he walked on, he looked the picture of a
young powerful ram, even if he lacked bulk. He was almost his full height
already and that was real tall. He stopped to graze again. If they were going
to get around the threadt of Moonbeam's flock they had a long way to go, but
they had a better chance hiding in the mountains than being pinned against the
shore. 


The cool breeze just set Tsurara into another violent set of shivers, dying down once the wind had paused. She moved a short distance behind him, more uncertain than ever about things. On one hand, she wanted to stay with them. They'd accepted her. But on the other hand, they were obviously very close. And when she came into season herself, it could end up destroying that. Her face was expressionless, glancing back at the ground again. She didn't even know these two all that well. After all, she'd only just met them last night. It may have been easier if she just left them to hide in her bushes again. The problem was, she didn't want to have to do that. She wanted a flock to belong to. Like this one.

Maelstrom stopped and faced Tsurara. "Don't stay so far behind me. It's not
safe...I have never been in these lands before and I'm going by feel--I don't
know where the enemies hide here, or anything. Unless you do?">>


"Ah, I'm afraid I don't." Tsurara bowed her head a bit. "Apologies for straying behind. I'll be more careful."

"It's all right--I just don't want anything to happen, and we are not a proper
flock." They needed another sheep before they were. Maelstrom was out to find
a flock, any flock, more than finding Lucinda's son. Safety came first.>>


"Right." Tsurara did stay close to Maelstrom.Though she mused with a small grin that even if this wasn't a proper flock just yet, it was the closest she'd managed to come to one that was this accepting.

Maelstrom saw lights now that he stood up here. He spotted a small string of
them in the south, not far from where they had been wandering. 

At first he wanted to hide. He ducked and hid his lighted tail as he searched
the group for anyone he had ever known. They were strangers. He stood back up
tall. "Down there...looks like another small flock." He started over that
way.>>


"Another flock?" Tsurara repeated, her voice a bit uncertain. At the sight of the lights, she stole a glance at her own. Though she followed Maelstrom, everything about her seemed nervous. If the other flock didn't accept her like these two had, then what? She'd likely end up cast out again, just like before if they didn't. Alone again. 

"That'll just be too bad for them then." Maelstrom would not see her abused.
"Anyone gives you a look--anyone raises a flipper to you--they'll find my
flipper rammed down their throat.">>


Tsurara looked at Maelstrom for a moment, shock in her eyes. Then, slowly, a small smile made its way onto her face, her gaze soft and somehow happy. Despite how much it sounded like a threat to them, she was honestly touched by what he said. "Thank you.." she said quietly.

Maelstrom nodded, "you're in my flock and no one disrespects anyone
in my flock. Never, for any reason."

The little flaaffy looked almost as though she was on the verge of tears, for a moment, before she calmed herself. "Thank you, Maelstrom...it means alot to me to hear that." He'd even said she was a member of his flock. Lightless Tsurara.

~


"Shocky!" Said Lucinda running to meet her son
"Shocky
i'm so happy to see you are ok!" She said nuzzling
him. Then she noticed Tracer "We're you taking care
of
 Shocky?" I thank you..." She said blinking her tail
light.



Singalong stood and stared. It'd all happened so
quickly. She was still
trying to comprehend what this would do, and what kind
of an effect this
would have to her and the flock. With her lights low,
she shuffled aside to
hide in Tracer's shadow a little bit, although she
protruded out above him
quite a bit. ~Shocky is truly happy now.~, she
realised, ~I guess he won't
be my little lamb anymore.~. She glanced down at
Tracer in front of her,
~It's time to make my own lamb, anyway...~

But of course, there was the other ram now, too...

Maelstrom's eyes were already on Singalong, a
beautiful flower of a ewe.
"Hi."

Tracer thought he was talking to him. "Hi."

Lucinda looked up for a second and looked at Singalong
"So you have also been taking care of Shocky thank
you!" She said smiling. "Hey Singalong don't feel
bad..." Said Shocky walking over to her and nuzzling
her "you are a great friend to me too!" He said with a
smile.

"Tracer was, we all were," said Tracer, "we found
Shocky west of here. Tracer
is so happy to see him with his mother! He has been
talking about you."

Oh Shocky my baby..." She said picking him up in her
arms and licking the top of his head. "I missed you so
much...." She said nuzzling him "Where were you?" She
asked "Well mama I ran away because of dad he always
used to hurt you and I couldn't watch it...." Said
Shocky "i'm sorry mama..." Said Shocky.

"Hurt you?" Maelstrom and Tracer both said at once.

"I didn't want to say it...." Said Shocky "But yeah my
mama was hurt in the past by my dad and she never used
to cry.... I couldn't watch it so I run away to escape
the torture of watching my mama being hurt...."

"A ram beating up on a ewe?" Maelstrom snorted. "Some
ram." he put his palm on
lucinda's shoulder. How could anyone bring themselves
to hurt her?

"Tracer thinks that is horrible." The flaaffy petted
shocky.

"But it's okay now..." Said Lucinda looking up at
Maelstrom "We're together now that's all that
matters..." She said.

"But it's okay now..." Said Lucinda looking up at
Maelstrom "We're together now that's all that
matters..." She said.

Singalong glanced at Maelstrom, inhaling his scent from a little distance
while she ran her flipper through Shocky's fleece. She tried to smile as she
slowly ran her flipper through the curls, and bleated, "That's alright. I'm
happy that you found your mother. And she'll take better care of you than I
have. She has more experience than I."

"Well having two mothers wouldn't hurt..." Said Shocky
wagging his tail "You can be my mama as well as
Lucinda!" Said Shocky with a giggle "How about it?"

Singalong giggled at the idea, "While it's tempting, I think Lucinda would
feel better having you to herself. After all, she'd had to miss you for
quite a little while. Besides, Fall is coming soon and I'm intending to get
my own little lamb."

"yes,' said maelstrom, 'we could make a fine flock. only that my father
is maurauding around the land.'

Maelstrom's scent and lights spoke for him as he feasted his eyes on
her.

"we can all be a flock together, and you can helpnout when new lambs
come,' said tracer to shocky.

"Ah, of course. It looks like we'll have several.", Singalong said, as she
smiled, genuinely, at Shocky's mother. She loved lambs, she really did. And
this fall would be the first time she'd get to make her own.

It was getting late, the sun was setting. Tracer saw clouds moving in and
felt
> a breeze whipping up. "Why don't we all stay here for the evening?"

> "Where else would we stay? Why would we move?", Singalong said, as she
took
> a moment to wander a short distance away to relieve her bladder, returning
> after a little while.
>

> Tracer blinked his light, agreeing. "Tracer was being silly...forgive
Tracer."
> He ducked down and started grazing.

Singalong ate, herself, but she also took a moment to approach Shocky's
mother, sniffing her fleece to see how akin it was in scent to Shocky's,
before hesitantly approaching Maelstrom and sniffing him in greeting, her
rounded snout nearly touching his skin, her hot breath flowing across it as
she exhaled. Moments later, she turned around and returned to Tracer,
grazing by his side.

Singalong's chest swelled as she lifted her head to the nighttime skies, the
last bit of pink dissapearing at the horizon as the stars wheeled overhead.
Slowly, she allowed the air to escape her body, feeling a light flush warm
her face. Nearly time, nearly time. The scent of Maelstrom still clung to
the depth's of her nostrils, and turning, she inhaled Tracer's scent from
his fleece, joining the two together in a bouket that sent a soft glow
flowing along her flanks and belly. The last hints of the fading heat of
Shocky's mother was the final key, and with the next inhalation, Singalong
could taste her own scent, warm and alluring, upon the breeze, so light as
to be difficult to detect.

Still, Singalong expected that by morning, the smell of her heat would cling
about her like a misty shroud.

Shimmer watched Tracer for a moment, and then turned to look at
the new ram. She hadn't said hi to him, yet...maybe she should
do so...

Although he seemed to have his attention on Singalong right
now...maybe she should just wait to say something to him, then.

Singalong flicked her ear at the touch of Maelstrom's tongue, a slight
shiver running along her spine, fading before it reached her long, smooth
tail. Maelstrom had followed her after she sniffed him, it seemed, not
something entirely unexpected, but now Tracer was leaving. Turning, she
nudged Shimmer in her fluffy rump with her nose and tried to coax her
between herself and Maelstrom as a temporary distraction so she could
approach Tracer and talk, "Why don't you go meet the new ram, Shimmer? I'm
sure he'd like to meet you."

Maelstrom noticed tracer..."he can come over here," said maelstrom, "biut
i trust him not....with you alone..." he stroked her cheek with the tip
of his flipper...so beautiful.
 
 Tracer wasn't leaving, he just stood by the edge of the flock.

Singalong noticed quite well that her distraction failed.. it was a stupid
idea, anyway. Rams were not so easily distracted from an ewe entering her
heat, even by another ewe. She swallowed once, her eyes closing as she felt
Maelstrom trail his flippertip along her cheek, tilting her head slightly
into the caress. She'd not expected such a large ram to be so sweet and
gentle. Quickly, though, her eyes flicked open, and she slowly withdrew
herself frrom Maelstrom's touches, turning to walk towards Tracer, "Tracer?"

Brodi sat by Tracer, the mareep didn't wnat his friend to be all
alone right now. He yawned and chewed some cud.

"yes?" Tracer turned around...the picture of a broken flaaffy. his ligh
was  dim and ihs tail low.
 
  Maelstom followed her, but not too closely, only closely enough to stop
tracer if he tried anything.

Singalong slowly approached Tracer, and leaned forward to reach out with her
flipper to flick the little braid back in front of Tracer. She wasn't quite
sure what to say. She wanted to mate with Tracer, but that wouldn't happen
with Maelstrom, never mentioning that Maelstrom possibly, or even probably
had better genes for her child. "Ah... things don't always work out, do
they?"

"No..." Tracer sniffled loudly, although he tried to keep it soft. But he
 couldn't just let his nose run.

"Plenty of seasons left in my life, as well as in yours. There will be other
chances.", Singalong said, not entirely sure if she wanted Maelstrom to mate
her... but Maelstrom was rather sweet. He touched her cheek, her face, she
liked that.

"We need to get away from my father." Maelstrom spoke grimly. "As well...as
secure a place for ourselves." Maelstrom knew he could do pretty well
keeping
a flock like this. He was four years old. He was not so far from the prime
of
his life, and although most four year old rams had little chance against the
gûndië, Maelstrom had been gifted, it appeared, with his
father's superior size and strength. Even at only four he was a ram to
reckon
with.

He had an appetite to reckon with, too. Maelstrom munched while Brodi spoke.

"You'll have your chance, Tracer, maybe several. You'll just have to be
patient.", she softly said to Tracer, before leaning forward a bit further
and whispering, "Maybe we'll just try something after Maelstrom finishes,
alright?". She gave the Flaaffy's cheek a lick before turning a bit and
walking several steps away. She realised that sitting so close to the
Flaaffy while she was in heat was a rather mean thing to do to him, so she
got a little distance from him, testing the wind to make sure her scent went
away from Tracer.

Tracer filled with fear. "After....but...he wouldn't let me--...he wouldn't
let me." That was all he said, for he drew away from he ear when maelstrom
let
out a little warning growl.

Maelstrom wasn't stupid. He knew the two might be planning something, well
he
would just stick with Singalong like pollen to a beedrill, and see how
things
went.

Maelstrom need not have worried, since Singalong approached him out of her
own free will, not fighting, struggling, or worrying. She wasn't quite ready
to mate yet, but that wouldn't keep her from enjoying Maelstrom's attentions
and touches. Lifting her rounded snout, she offered her face to his
flippers.

Tracer couldn't believe it...yet, why not? Of course she would like
maelstrom more, he was tall and handsome--and evolved. He had that
svelte deep voice--well, sort of--and he dripped testosterone and
ramliness.

"I want to head north," asid maelstrom soft in her ear. "I feel
something drawing me there to a place in the mountains...something in
my blood calls."

Singalong sighed, pulling her head back again. Apparently that single touch
to her cheek was the only one she was going to get. "Ah, but what if your
father feels the same?"

"This place here is a fine place to live. The grass is thick, the food rich.
Even in winter, the weather shouldn't be too bad. Why go to unhospitable
mountains where you'll likely meet the last person you -want- to meet?",
Singalong said, before reaching down and brushing her flipper along the
ram's lower belly.

 Maelstrom shivered and his ramhood revealed itself as singalong teased
him. "I'll stay here for now...but there's something else. My father is filled
with  darkness and dark powers. I know that if i feel a pull to go somewhere
like  this, he probably feels it too...i juts wonder if we will eventually be
found  here, or if he will grow too powerful to ever be matched...sooner or later
i  need to figure out what he'sdoing and find a way to stop him."
 
  Once, Maelstrom had looked up to his father. Now he was coming to realize
he had to kill him. Tears threaened to roll but he let his lust ride over it.

"Let others do the fighting.", Singalong said, not being in the mood to
fight anyone or anything, especially after the struggle with brighteyes. She
was the peaceful kind. Slowly, the rubbed her flipper along Maelstrom's
ramhood, feeling it's warmth against the yellow surface as she tried to find
some sensitive spots, practicing on Maelstrom for what she was planning to
do for Tracer.

 "Yeah...I tell myself that, too." Maelstrom closed his eyes, his mouth
ajar as
  he felt her touch on his most sensitive places. his legs trembled. "I
 also...tell myself.." he tried to find the words through the pleasure, "to
 stop sitting around and do something about what's going on."

"Let's discuss this later.", Singalong said, rubbing the bent tip of
Maelstrom's maleness, leaning forward until her nose was close enough for
him to feel her breath across the turgid flesh, then extended her slim, pink
tongue to drag along it's tip. Next morning, she would mate with Maelstrom,
but now she was trying to learn a way to please a male without having to be
in heat. Maybe she could make Tracer happy then, too...

~


  Maelstrom felt the climax gathering in the small of his back. it
 exploded forward and down in bands of convulsion, overtaking him as he
  ruthlessly pumped his shaft into singalongs mouth. his ramhood gave a
  twith and then, shots of salty cream jetted into her mouth as maelstrom
  let out a moan.

Singalong jerked her head back at the unexpected explosion of saltiness in
her mouth, her long neck pulling her mouth off of the tip of Maelstrom's
firm arousal just as the second burst jetted out of the tip, the curl in
said tip causing it to spatter across the ewe's front more than her face,
luckily for her. Blinking down in startled amazement, she watched and felt
the ramliness jump and jerk in her flippers, sending pulse after pulse of
warm, pearlescent fluid across her pale yellow belly. She'd never
seen -this- before, but then again, it was always hidden from her within the
ewe's body. "Are you alright, Maelstrom?", she asked as the flow of seed
began waning.

"Oh....oh, yeah..." Maelstrom wasn't much for conversation as he sagged onto
the grass again. the world seemed to spin with the stars as the stars were
slowly covered by clouds. His lights, which had burst into radiance a moment
ago, pulsed slowly dimmer again as he brathed heavily to catch his breath.
"Good Phos...yeah."

"I'm going to wash up, Maelstrom. You made a pretty big mess of me. You can
rest here..", Singalong said, giving the oblivious male a nuzzle as she
turned around and began moving.. towards Tracer, plucking up flipperfulls of
grass on the way to try and clean herself a bit.

"Mm?...eh...h." Maelstrom grunted as he half opened one eye. If there was a
sea made of sublime, he was swimming in it.

Tracer did not lift his head from grazing as she came nearer. She might see
him crying, and he knew he would lose it worse if he looked up and saw her
face. He knew that even when he evolved he would not be the magnificent ram
that maelstrom was. He had tried not to listen or see, but there was no way to
keep from observing what they'd done--not without leaving the flock.

Singalong came up right next to Tracer, her body smelling thickly of both
Maelstrom's ramly musk and her own increasingly-heavy scent of ewe-heat.
"We'll have to move quickly.", Singalong said, not noticing the tears on
Tracer's face, "Hurry."

"What?" Tracer looked back at maelstrom, who was getting up now. Now that he
had noticed through his half closed eyes, singalong sidling over to tracer, a
light had gone on in his testosterone-soaked brain. "Ohhh no..."

"Oh, too late.", Singalong bleated, and quickly shuffled away from Tracer in
the hope to spare him from Maelstrom's rage... but deep inside she already
knew that, in her hope to keep Tracer from being sad, she got him in some
serious trouble.

Singalong fell silent, ducking her head, for a moment wondering if she were
to get a glare too.. but of course she wouldn't. She was an ewe, after all.
The prize, not the rival. Considering for a moment, she gave Tracer a quick
nuzzle, whispering, "Another time." before approaching Maelstrom, laying
down near him so he needn't worry about her running off with Tracer just
yet. Besides, with some of the bloodpressure back to Maelstrom's brain, they
could continue their discussion, "So... what was this about your father?"

Maelstrom felt surges of anger ricocheting inside him but he did not blame the
ewe. It was her nature to seek out more than one ram and his job to stop her.
He wouldn't let it get in the way of their friendship. "My father has very
destructive plans and a strong ability for putting them into action and
possibly being successful."

"Who -is- your father, anyway?", Singalong asked, quite curious about this
now-rather-mysterious individual of power.

"Moonbeam is his name...he is a black ampharos, larger than me...a good bit
larger. And vicious and he has a nasty temper. He goes along his light-path
thinking that the world and its people are his to abuse and destroy at will."

The moment 'Moonbeam' finished passing Maelstrom's lips, Singalong's scent
grew a lot stronger... not her scent of arousal, but an acrid, forceful
smell that stung the backs of one's nostrils. Wide-eyed, with her urine
still staining the grass in front of her, Singalong scrabbled back, away
from Maelstrom, "N-no!"

Maelstrom remained lying where he was, breathing the only motion he made as he
sat there in the soft grass. He could tell...she hated him now, every bit of
him.

"yeah...I'm stuck withhim for a father...now you know why i want to stop him.
If his flock did anything to yours I...apologize." Clearly, they had.
Maelstrom didn't know what she'd think if she knew that he had tried to follow
Moonbeam out of his own ignorance.

Singalong shook her head rapidly, "No, no. I heard much.. they told me. Son
of Bangaa.". Wide-eyed, she stared at Maelstrom, shuffling back, her light
flickering in fear, her legs telling her to turn around and run. She'd heard
much of Moonbeam, much of it exaggerated, although she didn't know that.

"You can hate me." Maelstrom spat on the ground. "If you want to. I can't stop
you, I guess." He tried not to look hurt, but he couldn't hide it.

"Tracer does not hate you," the young ram said finally. He had been about to
side with singalong just to get rid of him but couldn't bring himself to do
it.

Singalong's ears sagged. She was a sucker for sad looks. "Oh... I guess I
can't be afraid of anyone that looks so sad." as she stood next to Tracer,
"You've been traveling with an ewe for a while and she's alright. And I
haven't seen you eating any lambs yet..". She turned her head to look (down)
at Tracer, "See? I learned from my mistake with Brodi."


"My father doesnt eat lambs, ' said maelstrom, 'although he
  may as  well for how he treats sheep. you have every right to fear me...i
 grew  up  away from my father and always wanted to meet him...now i'm
  the  son he wants to kill.'


"Why does he want to kill his son? That's his own blood.",
 Singalong said. She looked a bit confused, "And why do you still want to meet
  him?"


"Because after trying out the life of a flock-killer with his
 pack  of *burakos*, I deserted them. I've been on the run ever since,"
 said Maelstrom.

"You did... what?", Singalong went disturbingly quiet, leaning
 away from Maelstrom. He'd been one of the flock-killers? And she thought
 about letting him mate her? And the things they did sofar... she suddenly felt
 dirty..


"I followed his orders for a little while...but shen i found out
 what he was up to I realized i had to get out..." Maelstrom looked around,
"I waited for my chance, then ran for it."


Singalong sighed, somewhat relieved, "I'm glad to hear that. I
 nearly thought I'd... well... with a sheep-murderer. But... ah, I hope
you understand when I tell you that I'd rather not see Moonbeam's
blood spread further, do you?"


Maelstrom snorted, he gave his head a toss of disdain. "I'm on
your
 side
 there. My father must be stopped."


 "I wasn't... ah... well, alright. If you have to run off to confront
 your  father, I wish you good luck.", Singalong said..


"I'm not leaving yet," said malstrom with a smile,.


 "Oh, I thought you said you felt the call to go -now-, rather than
 later," Singalong said, slowly waving her tail behind her.

"I do...but there are other calls i feel more powerfully," said
 maelstrom.

 Singalong leaned forward, "Whose blood are you?", she asked.
 "And whose blood didn't we want to spread?"
 

 "You can accept my blood because I'm me, or you can reject me because
I'm  my father's," said Maelstrom. "it's not sometihng i can control..and i'm my
 mama's too."
 

 "Well, knowing that your size is Moonbeam's blood.", Singalong began,
 looking between Tracer and Maelstrom, "Hmmm.. I'll have to consider
this.."
 Now that she had a valid reason, she could just pick Tracer and he'd be
 happy, and Maelstrom would be alright too, since he already has Shocky's
  mother. But was Tracer truly the right blood for a lamb? He -did- speak
  really odd. What if something was in his blood which would cause the lambs
  to come out with mind-problems? Maelstrom looked like a healthy, normal
ram,
  but he had Moonbeam's horrid blood within him, and if she picked him, she
  not only would make Tracer sad, but she'd possibly perpetuate Moonbeam's
  horror.

 "i can already see it...you're judging me by him. Maybe blood is
  destiny...that's what you're thinking." Maelstrom snorted.
 

"If I do, I have the full right to, Maelstrom. It is my right as an ewe to
prefer one ram over another, although that ram claims the right of the
strongest. For -you- it's but a moment of pleasure. For me it is a monstrous
sacrifice and a difficult choice.". Singalong looked somewhat angry at
Maelstrom's remark, "-I- am going to have to take care of him. Even -if-
blood doesn't affect the lamb's destiny, it will affect his or her lightpath
if anyone comes to learn of the lamb as being Moonbeam's grandchild."



Maelstrom flicked his lights. "Think what you will...but if you think i'm
going to let Tracer near you you have something coming again." Now he was
looking at Tracer. What self-respecting ram would give up the fight to pass on
his seed just because the ewe preferred a weakling? No, he would guard her. 

Singalong turned to glare at Maelstrom. That last bit was -the- drop.
Walking towards him, she stopped in front of him, lifted her flipper,
and -slapped- him in the cheek. Turning around with a hmmph, the bleated,
"They were right about rams! I should've never left my flock. I'm going to
return and see if I can't beg forgiveness."


 Shimmer was watching what was happening between Maelstrom and
 Singalong...and her light gave a little blip of surprise when
 she saw Singalong slap the ram. The young flaaffy ewe only
 understood part of why Singalong had done that...perhaps she was
 still a bit too young to understand *all* of it...
 
  "You guys aren't gonna leave, are you?" she said, mainly to
  Tracer and Singalong.

  Maelstrom's ears lowered. Rather than haul off and hit her
  back he just sat
  there where he had been.
  "...I'm sorry."
 
 "No, singalong, please," said Tracer, "please..if you go back
 to your flock,
  may me and brodi come?"
 

 "Singalong?" Tracer was still walking by her, not understanding
  that
 she was  leaving him behind, or trying to. "do not listen to those angry
  tihngs Maelstrom says! He is only frustrated and trying to..well...don't
 let  him hurt your feelings..." Tracer kept on trying to follow, and maelstrom
was quickly overtaking him.
 
 
 Singalong actually was -already- leaving. Besides, she wasn't a
 'guy'. She'd had it up to -here- with guys already, and while it somehow felt
 like someone was squeezing her heart with a clawed fist for leaving
 Tracer, Brodi and Shocky, she had come to understand she simply wasn't suitable
 for such a flock. It was fun while it lasted. They could hope and dream and
 have fun, even after the incident with Brighteyes, but..
 
 Singalong's face was streaked with tears. She wasn't even sure if
 she'd make it back in time to mate and have a lamb, or if she'd have to go
 barren this year and wait yet one year more for her lamb...
 

 Singalong's hear tore as she heard Tracer's word. She wanted her
legs  to start running, to get away from them all, but instead she came to a
 halt, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to outrun Maelstrom anyway.
 "Tracer...", she fell silent for a moment, looking the young ram in
 the eyes with her own tear-filled ones. "It's all just dreams, Tracer."

 "What is dreams?" Tracer didn't understand. He reached out his
 flippres
 for her. He was sure glad she had stopped moving so quickly.
 
 Maelstrom tried to keep his eyes clear and his face straight. She
had hurt him more than she would ever know. What could he say that wouldn't make
it worse?
 Or did she now simply resent him because he would pursue her until
she was betrayed by her nature?
 
 "but that isn't true," said Tracer, "if you give...Tracer a chance,
 Tracer can show you." ~And I'd better,~ thought Tracer.
  Maelstrom waited for some sign that she didn't hate him. What had he
 said so wrong besides the truth? How would she feel if she'd been judged on
her mother's blood or something?
 
 Singalong waved her flipper in an encompassing gesture, "This! This...
 our little flock, our hope, our shot at happyness. The chance to raise a
 happy family sired by people we love... it's all a dream, shattered by the
 harsh truth. I thought... I dreamed along with you, Tracer. Along with Brodi
 and Shocky, I hoped for something beautiful and peaceful. Shocky got his
 wish,
 Tracer, but Maelstrom's insistences made me realise that my dream is
but a..  an illusion, an impossibility!". She reached out with a flipper and
 gently ran a flippertip along Tracer's cheek, caressing just under his eye,
"I just realised that, outside of my flock, I have nothing to see. I don't
 matter. The rams fight over me and the largest wins, no matter which one I
 choose."
 

 Singalong shook her head, not in a negative sense, but more as if she
 wanted to shake something off, "I'm.. confused. I don't know what to feel or
when
 to feel it anymore. I guess heat isn't all fun... or much fun at all.".
 She swallowed, "Any chance you need, Tracer... I believe you're worthy of
 being  given it. What do you want me to do?"
 
 

 "Give Tracer a chance...let him try to out-trick--outfool--Tracer wants
to trick Maelstrom and have you himself." Tracer blushed furiously and
looked  down again.

 Maelstrom approached her a little more closely. His desire flushed into
 his
 lights but he got on all fours so as not to scare her away.

 "singalong."



 Singalong whispered, "Alright." as she rose up and looked at Maelstrom, a
 bit more relaxed now as a glut of strange emotions washed away, although
she
 could feel several more coming. "Maelstrom?"



 Tracer breathed again. Now all he had to do was think of something to
throw
 off this ram with--a ram at least thrice his height and who knew how much
 heavier...a ram with sharp senses all tuned to a ewe in heat--the same one
as
 Tracer was. And at least twice tracer's age...The odds didn't look good.

 Maelstrom cleared his throat and spoke softly. "We shared something so
 special...you may want to forget it, you might forget it...but i won't."

Singalong blinked blearily, trying to untangle her emotions through the
strange fatigue. He crimson light glowed warmly though, as the young ewe
began turning back to the flock's resting place, walking slowly, head low.
Why was she so tired? She felt like exploding into tears but she had no clue
why. Longingly, she walked towards the fluffy cotton bedding Tracer created.

Tracer added more cotton to the bed, as if that would entice her more to stay.
The early autumn evening was already a little chilly.

"Here--is that even nicer and fluffier?" he said as Maelstrom kept a distance
of a little more, not wanting to scare her.


Singalong gave Tracer a weak little smile from beneath half-lidded eyes, and
slowly sank down. She'd have to ask Shocky's mother how -she- dealt with the
effects of the Heat, or was Singalong the only one who was left trying to
untangle her feelings? Maybe it wasn't the heat, and she was coming down
with some strange disease. That would definitely top it all. Closing her
eyes, she found she couldn't sleep despite the fatigue, although she got
pretty close. A tight feeling in her lower body was preventing her sleep.

It prevented Tracer from sleeping either...and he kept looking behind him, at
another ram who was not sleeping. Maelstrom was still up, watching.

Singalong felt her heartbeat thumping against her ribs, each breath flowing
into her lungs and out through her nose. Despite the cool of the air around
her, she felt relentlessly hot to herself, her face burning with a flush of
heat as she kept still, and concentrated on breathing steadily. ~one mareep,
two mareep, three mareep, four...~

Hopefully, counting Mareep would help.

A nudge against her skin, and a musky flood in the air. Maelstrom was suddenly
there and giving her a nuzzle on the ear.

Singalong's ear flicked, as one eye opened slightly. What was he planning?
Maybe he would be kind enough to soothe her to sleep, or... was he just
testing how ready she was? Keeping her eye nearly-closed, she stayed relaxed
and waited to know what he was planning.

Maelstrom felt and smelled her heat;he started sniffing under herctail
as he ran a gentle hand down her spine, stopping on the small of her
back.

Singalong was silent, relaxed as Maelstrom ran his flipper down her spine,
rather enjoying the sensation. A moment's confusion ran through her tangled
mind as she felt warm breath under her tail, then suddenly her head jerked
up, the ewe wide awake as she clamped her tail down and pulled it between
her legs, although other muscles not under her control were trying to pull
it away from her and up along her back. It was not a difficult fight for
Singalong to win, but that she had to fight at all worried her. Clamping her
taillight to her chest by holding a flipper just beneath it, she lay back
down again. He could sniff and touch all he want now, but he wouldn't get at
where he wanted.

~Oh Tracer, hurry up! I'm not sure how long I will have the will to resist
him!~

Maelstrom just continued long syrupy strokes over her lower back and
rump, and base of tail.

tracer was in the grass, desperate for ideas. then he came upon some
stun stem! if he could get maelstrom to eat it or breathe the fumes...

he yanked up the plant.

Singalong shuddered slightly, her eyes closing as she clenched her taillight
to her chest, muscles at the base of her tail tightening beneath Maelstrom's
flipper, trying to draw the long limb out of her own grasp. Her scent was
heavy in the air, and every one of the large ram's touches set her skin
afire. Her flippers began quivering slightly..

Maelstrom did nothing more than continue to carefully, slowly stroke, pressing
slightly where her back met the base of her tail. He could almost feel what
she was feeling as he stoked the fire in her with his warm, rough palm.

Tracer saw them when he appraoched, holding the plant. Even a large ram could
be addled by stun-stem for a few moments, and a few moments was all a
desperate ram needed.

"Tracer?" Maelstrom looked up as the flaaffy approached, carrying the plant
behind his back. Maelstrom thought something was up, but figured he was jut
coming over to talk to Singalong again...try to sway Maelstrom away from her
with words alone, perhaps.

"Heh-hello...Maelstrom." Tracer felt his flippers losing their grip on the
plant. Now to whip it out at him!

Singalongs eyes opened at hearing Tracer's, her grip on her tail loosening a
bit. She did it very carefully though, trying not to attract Maelstrom's
attentions with her minimal motions. She knew Tracer was up to something,
and she was awaiting the moment with tension in her legs, readying herself
to make sure it she was ready the moment Tracer bought himself a few
moments. Not that she needed any readying...

Maelstrom blinked, still not sure why Tracer was wearng that face--until he
whirled around and then collapsed into the ground.

"Tracer?" He shot to his feet. And when he stepped over to him he could not
guess why the ram ws lying face down and fast asleep; nt until he picked him
up, rolled him over and saw a stun stem plant beneath him on teh ground. Even
then...it was still hard if not impossible for the ram to piece together a
story about a flaaffy who had dropped the plant by accident and rather
stupidly stuck his face to it when he had turned around to snatch it up.

Now -that- was all shades of embarressing! Singalong felt her tail quiver as
it slipped out of her loosened flippers, beginning to rise up as her light
began a warm, wanting pulse as her last will to resist flowed from her
grasp, instead enwashed by a surging heat that clouded her mind with
pleasant sensations. Slowly, she rose, her tail rising faster to lay draped
along her spine...

...she could wait no longer.

Maelstrom was left staring at Tracer's fainted body while he mated Singalong
at last. Because of his pent-up energy he was quickly finished...even before
Tracer started to wake up...

Tracer didn't know what had happened at first. He had been trying to see
around his own shadow and then the plant had been in his face--

The ram sat bolt upright to see Maelstrom dismounting from his dear Singalong!
Tears filled his eyes as he looked down at the plant he'd uprooted and failed
to give to Maelstrom. He had been given a chance...Tears budded at his eyes.
"Tracer can't take it anymore!" He picked up the plant (careful to not breathe
in the smell this time) and threw it at Maelstrom.

The rahter surprised ram reached out to instinctively catch the plant. The
plant hit its mark, it got him right near the face as he held his palms up to
get it. He got it...but it got him. Maelstrom found himself suddenly too dizzy
to stand upright.

Singalong blinked as she wake a little out of the entrancing of her heat,
just regaining awarenessas the stun-stem went end-over-end through the air
and smacked into Maelstrom's flipper. Singalong jerked in surprise as the
larger ram wobbled, her leg muscles tightening as she took off towards
Tracer with great hurry, shouldering the larger ram aside to skid to a halt
next to the smaller ram, lowering herself through her knees eagerly,
hurriedly, knowing there was no time for finesse or any of the things she
hoped to experience when her first heat came.

Tracer quickly mounted singalong as if he had been an eight-year-old ram with
hundreds of matings behind him on his light-path. It was all happening too
quickly for him, mostly because he wanted to savour it. But all he could see
was Maelstrom slowly getting to his feet again. Because of his larger size he
was recovering much more quickly...

Singalong wished it could've taken longer too, but as it was, she was quite
content with this much, and more importantly, hoped that Tracer would be,
too. She hoped Tracer'd finish quickly enough to do so before Maelstrom came
at him, and closing her eyes, she focused on helping him along.

Tracer indeed finished, in a blinding rush of pleasure and rage. The flaaffy
nearly wept as he shivered into her and fell back, just as Maelstrom got back
up and came over to Singalong to, in his opinion, right a wrong.

Singalong quickly pulled down her tail and with equal haste rose up to stand
upright. Twice in a row was -enough-. She wasn't going to serve the
equivalent a whole flock of rams! If these rams were going to want to mount
her again, they were going to have to wait.

Turning around, she faced Maelstrom directly, but turned her head to look to
her left and down at the little Flaaffy next to her, trying to get a feel of
his emotions.

So the curtains had closed for intermission. Maelstrom figured she'd had
enough just by the look on her face. And at the same time he was desperate to
top this ewe! He could almost hear the sound of Tracer's seed seeping into her
depths.

Tracer, for his part, stuck close to Singalong.

"Well, you've both had chances now.", Singalong said. Although she still
felt a wanting warmth in her belly, she'd had her fill of mating for now,
rather pointing her attention to things that had been neglected for far, far
too long "Brodi? Shocky? Are you awake?"

Brodi had gone back to bed after Singalong had come back after
Tracer had talked her into staying. He looked up again with another
sleepy bleat hearing his name, he looked around and saw Singalong,
his tail wagged.

Tracer looked at the two lambs. After this upset, they'd better be!

"Hello Brodi," said Tracer, a rather nervous wreck about this time, because he
couldn't figure out what he was supposed to do or how he was supposedto act.
And big rams had a habit of getting angry at him.

Singalong smiled at the sleepy Brodi, her own little tail giving a quick
wag, "Hello Brodi. Where is Shocky? Is he still asleep?"

"Yeah I think so." He yawned. He smiled and blinked his light.

Maelstrom nuzzled her, 'its ok'

"youre not useless...you are a moth and a mother's l ife is never ever
useless. ' said maelstrom rememberng his mther

 Singalong nuzzled the little lamb, "Shocky?".

 He hadn't said a word in -days-!



 Maelstrom felt like their flock was slowly falling apart. He wanted to
head
 back to his home now...way up in cloudspin mountain.


"Can Mama and Maelstrom come as well?" asked Shocky "I
um would really like to be with my mama but I also
want to be with you, Singalong and Brodi as well...."
Said Shocky

 "You think I wouldn't be coming along? Someone's got to push those
nasty
 enemies off of you guys," said the giant. Maelstrom smiled at
Shocky. He
 wondered if his own lamb would be like him.

"Thanks! Dude! That's pretty far out!" Brodi grinned.

"No problem! Dude! Like we are a flock now broh!" Brodi smiled, his
tail wagging behind him.

"Thanks..." Said Shocky smiling "are we ready to go?"
He asked.

"Cool...." Said Shocky walking besides Lucinda "Hey
Mama ar you alright?" Shocky asked "I'm fine...." Said
Lucinda.

Lucinda always liked that she always thought that was
good. "Thanks Maelstrom..." he said with a smile
nuzzling him.

Shimmer followed along with the group, her silvery tail light
glowing.

 "No thanks is needed...I just do it because i love you," he
 whispered low and
 husky in her ear, before letting her go. he ran his palm down
 her shoulder,
then got up to continue going.

Maelstrom saw it--a light inside a hollow, in the copse they were passing. It
flickered like a candle inside a hollow socket, the forest had an eye looking
at him. It was only when he got closer, that he realized it wsa a sheep.

"Light-brother?" he called to the ram's feeble light in there. The light
flickered back, as if a guze of wind had blown.

Maelstrom saw it--a light inside a hollow, in the copse they were passing. It
flickered like a candle inside a hollow socket, the forest had an eye looking
at him. It was only when he got closer, that he realized it wsa a sheep.

"Light-brother?" he called to the ram's feeble light in there. The light
flickered back, as if a guze of wind had blown.

Singalong quickly hurried up, and stopped next to Maelstrom, "What? What's
thi-.. a ram?!"

"A sickly ram." Maelstrom backed away, staring, as the ram emerged. He
 certainly looked ill. He was thin and weak, although he didn't have any
other
 signs like a bad smell.

 "No," he said, "not sick...like you think..." the ram crawled over the
grass.
 "I...I brethe again...I see the night again, i see the stars again.." his
eyes
 stared into nothing.


"You breathe ag-.. you stopped breathing?!", Singalong bleated, looking
uncertain. Was it one of the living dead?

Maelstrom looked back at Singalong, "he's mad," he whispered to her. Then
he
 turned back to the ram. He didn't know whether to help him or leave--if he
was
 ill then it was not a good idea to let him join their flock!

 The ram drew himeslf up onto shaking legs. "I am not ill. I am weak...but
not
 possessed by disease. I need to find someone...i need to find...her."

 "Who?"

 "The one...her...the ewe with the sweet sweet heartbeat."

Singalong quickly took several steps backwards, "Sweet heartbeat?". Uh-oh,
that didn't sound anywhere near good, "As in eating-sweet?"

Lucinda started to shiver "Swet Heartbeat..." She said
"I'm a Ewe but it can't be me..." She said in a timid
voice

Singalong nodded, and gently ran her flipper along Lucinda's back, "That's
alright. There are plenty of ewes out there he could mean."


"No," said the ram, bitterly. "i can hear her heart beating."

 Maelstrom stayed quiet through this one, he stayed over by Lucinda. He
didn't
 want her to get scared, or attacked.

Singalong kept slowly backing away from the ram, "Ehm.. where? Are your ears
really that good?"

"I hear it with my soul." The ram spoke gravely. "I need....i need to find
 her...i need to find what was taken from me before it consumes me." the
ram
 toppled back down to all fours. "everything was taken from me,
everything."


Singalong slowly shuffled a bit closer, uncertain, a little afraid, and
watched the toppled ram, for a moment trying to compare his size to
Maelstrom's for some reason, trying to guess his age, "How was this taken?"

Singalong plucked up a few plucks of grass between her flippers, having a
 harder time of it than with her teeth, and walked over to the poor ram
with
 the bundle of grass, taking a bit of it and nudging against the ram's lips
 with it in her flippers, "You ought to eat something, regain some
strength.
 You're not going to find anyone or anything if you don't take care of
 yourself."


The ram seemed to half-notice the food offered to him. Maelstrom crouched
by
 him as well, trying to coax some greens into him. The ram ate, although he
 seemed a bit reluctant.

 "I eat...i sleep...i drink and dream, but all the while i am trickling
 away...i need help...help before it's too late."

"I think you need to eat more, sleep more, drink more, and dream less,
hon.", Singalong said, running her flipper tenderly along one of the ram's
conical ears, "And you need to tell us exactly what kind of help you need."

"Maelstrom i'm scared...." Said Lucinda shivering. "I
really feel scared..." She said picking up Shocky and
hugging him. "don't worry Shocky everything will be
fine... I hope..." She said licking his fleece.

Maelstrom hugged lucinda and got in front of her, 'it'll be ok...i wont
let anything happen'

"Thank you Maelstrom..." Said Lucinda nuzzling him. "I
know you will protect me...." She said with a smile.

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