[❅ Icy Dragon ✩]

L i n k
&& Zana

It was sort of a rare event at this point, for the chestnut stallion to cross the desert between the Helkaer lands and the rest of the world. The later months in Delilah's pregnancy had him staying home for longer and longer periods of time - eventually just binding him to the meadow until she gave birth. With her large size, it was really only a partial surprise when there were two foals instead of one. Link really hadn't been sure of what to do at that point and had been mostly focusing on not eating them, but now it seemed alright. He was waiting for them to be older before he started making the "back up foal" jokes.

The three seemed to be settling and Link found himself oddly protective of the newborns. He hadn't expected the sort of feelings that came with watching the twins pester their mother. They'd sort of been not on purpose, but Link was very quickly finding it hard to imagine what it was like to not have them around. His sense of family had always been odd, considering he only ever knew his mother and she was just about the only one he had in this world. Having the foals and Delilah by his side, it made him very uncertain, but maybe a little happy for once.

Although, if Link knew one thing, it was that his mother would kill him if he didn't tell her about something this big happening. The vast distance between them had been difficult at first, but now it seemed even worse. He had to wait until the foals were doing well enough and Delilah was recovered before he could even think about making the journey. As soon as they were, he gave a brief goodbye and set out.

Fortunately, running had sort of become Link's thing over the years. His legs would burn, but never feel as though they would give out and his lungs never threatened to crumple. For what he lacked in height, the chestnut brute made up for in bands of lean, well-earned muscle wrapped around his frame. He tore across the desert in an enviable amount of time and headed straight for Mount Vigilum. If he knew anything about his mother, it was that she'd still be there.


The sun had just barely kissed the horizon when Link finally came across the lower slopes of the mountain. The evergreens blocked the view of the huge rock until he was right up on it. However, Link had managed this voyage before and knew just where to go. He began to climb the slopes and lunged up steep, rocky paths that didn't seem meant for visitors. By the time he had reached the ledge he desired, the brute was actually out of breath. He stood by the edge of the path for just a moment to catch his breath before turning to enter one of the crevices there. "Hello?" he called, squinting into the dark of the small cave. Further along, he could make out a very dark, solid shape pressed against a wall. At his call, it began to stir and he flicked his harks forward to listen as the shadow shifted weight and took a step. The telltale scrape of the toe of a hoof against rock gave it away and Link snorted, "Sleeping in?"

A grunt and the low sound of a shaking coat was the only response he got for a moment. "I was, then you showed up," finally came the response. Link smirked and took a few steps back, closer to the entrance. "Come outside, I have something to tell you," he explained and turned then to walk back out into the crisp, morning air. He halted beside the cave and snorted as he looked over the slopes. They were tinted pinkish in the raw dawn; it was an entirely different world than the grassy meadow he lived in. After a few moments, a dark head appeared from the cave and he saw his mother hesitate before shaking off again and finally stepping out. The ebony mare sucked in a deep breath and glanced sleepily over the mountainside as well.

"It's beautiful, right?" she mused and cast a glance back to her son. Link gave a slight nod in return. He'd always held bittersweet feelings towards this mountain. Sure, it was lovely, but it had also taken his mother away from him. Zana seemed to sense this hesitation and took a step closer, raising her maw to touch his cheek, then press against his shoulder. She gave a deep sigh and Link pressed his muzzle against her side as well. It was a little strange to be standing there now, with his mother who now appeared so differently from when he had lived with her. She seemed much smaller now and more wiry, whereas he had grown and filled out. After a brief moment, he took a step back and again returned his gaze to the slopes. "It's good news, though... kind of wasn't intended," he paused, giving a sort of half amused snort. "Delilah had twins. They're both alive, so that's good. Delilah too, so all three of them. I haven't eaten the foals yet, so there's also that," he mused, his tone humorous despite the actual struggle it was sometimes to not dig his teeth into their throats.

It seemed like the news took a second to actually register with Zana, as his mother stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. "An accident, huh? I guess it runs in the family," she smirked and playfully nipped at his forelock, something she'd done to him when he was a foal.

Link rolled his eyes, though couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, but... they're not that bad. We have a bay colt and a black-ish filly. They both have white manes, I don't really know where that came from," he rolled his shoulders, not too caught up with the genetics of it. He didn't even understand how his mother, with a coat dark as night, gave birth to a fiery red colt. Then his own children's colors were out of his realm of understanding. "They both have Delilah's stocking, though. And my white," he smiled a little as he pictured his mate and their spawn standing together. Despite the strange colors, it was apparent that they were the parents, at least.

However, somewhere in his explanation, it seemed his mother's attention had been grabbed. He hesitated as he looked back to her, observing the torn look on her face and the low gold hue to her eyes. The color thing was new, but he knew that didn't mean something good. She seemed to decide something and sighed, "The white hair and the markings on the sides..." again, she hesitated and Link found himself growing impatient. A feeling began to gnaw at his insides that he was not going to like what she was about to say next. "It's from your father, but I'm sure that's where the similarities end. They must be beautiful, Link, with a stocking from Delilah," she sounded hopeful, but the mention of his father was all it took to make Link tense up.

He glared aside, sending a scathing look to the now red mountainside that had done no actual harm to him. His father hadn't either, but that was the problem. The asshole hadn't shown his face for a single second in Link's life. The brute wasn't even convinced his father had been around while his mother had been pregnant. She didn't talk about it much, but the silence left enough evidence to assume. He'd just been there and been gone the next moment, not a single word, hadn't attempted a 'rescue' or even protected the foal Zana had left him. It caused Link to seethe with hatred for a man he'd never even known.

And now his children bore the same colors.

"That bastard is not my father! I'll rip his fucking throat out if he ever shows his face here again," he spat and pawed at the rocky path in irritation. "I hate him," he snorted and continued to paw at the ground, his tail snapping to either side. It felt childish, almost, to throw a fit over something they'd talked about probably hundreds of times. Still, Link couldn't forgive the stranger. His actions just earned a heavy sigh from Zana, who regarded him with a softer expression. "I know you do and trust me, you won't even need to worry about his throat, because I'll already have ripped his face off," she mused and reached forward to prod Link's shoulder with her muzzle. "Don't waste your breath on him. You're already the father he could never be and I'm proud of you for it," she said gently and Link found his anger slipping, but the irritation remained.

"I'm not going to abandoned Delilah. I'm going to actually be there for my kids," he stated firmly, an edge still to his voice. He furrowed his brows, feeling a bit weak at the thought of even the possibility of abandoning them. It made him sick to think about. The little brats had already grown on him so much. "Wolf and Void. That's their names," he sighed heavily and glanced back up to his mother. "Wolf is the filly and Void the colt, they're already trouble," he felt the faintest pull of a smile as he said the words.

The sudden softness to his words seemed to make Zana smile as well. "A little unusual, but perfect. Though, I can't really talk, since y'know, you ended up Link," she smirked and took a step forward, nodding to the path. "So, when am I going to meet these little brats? If they're anything like you were, I'm sure Delilah has her hands full," she asked, her tone playful.

Link rolled his eyes, though turned to step alongside his mother. "If we start now, we can probably make it back before Delilah decides to kill me for leaving her alone with them," he shrugged, "If you can leave your lovely little mountain alone for a few days."

Zana gave Link a dry look and nudged him forward, "I think it can survive without me, smartass, let's go."