[❅ Icy Dragon ✩]

Although, childbirth had been something Abysm had witnessed plenty of times before, he was ill prepared for when his own child had come into the world. He had given Melody privacy (as mares tended to desire) and only arrived when he was welcomed. Having gotten two different mares knocked up at about the same time, Abysm had yet to really meet either of his children. He wasn’t sure what to expect and honestly, he wasn’t sure if it would even make a dent in his usual daily activities. Of course, that was until he set his eyes on his very tiny, bay daughter.

Her mismatched eyes peered right into his core and Abysm nearly ran away that instant. In fact, he actually may have attempted to, but the pure innocence of the little girl’s curious gaze held him fast. It was almost as though she hadn’t experienced any of the pain in life. Nothing at all. She was a blank slate. Abysm couldn’t even remember before he knew of pain and jealousy. Even when he was young, all he’d wanted to do was prove himself. But this filly, she had nothing to prove. It’d taken Abysm several days to realize that her life would be completely different from his and perhaps that was the most disturbing thing. He couldn’t even imagine bringing a foal into this world who hadn’t experienced what he had. Everytime he looked at her, he couldn’t help but imagine what the world was going to do to her.

Against his usual judgement, Abysm drew closer to the filly. While she was still new to the world and only several days old, the scarred stallion decided to try and show the girl a low-down sparrow’s nest. The bowl of twigs and horse hair had been squeezed into a small area between a bush and the canyon wall. It resided on the very floor of the canyon, so it was hardly a field trip to get the filly over there.

The little bay peered up at her father with wide eyes as she trotted after him. Abysm could hardly bear to look back, knowing she’d be looking at him with that completely open expression. It tore him up to know that someday it would fade. He hoped that maybe something like a bird’s nest could help it last.

As the two approached the nest, Abysm slowed and lowered his scarred skull in a quick, jerking motion. “Shhhh,” he instructed, then tilted his head to regard the bush with his good eye. There was little movement, but the young birds could be heard calling for food. The bay filly had halted upon the command, but as her father turned his attention away, she lowered her head down and snuck forward in a manner she’d seen him do before when near nests. When the movement caught Abysm’s attention and he turned his head sharply to look, he was startled to see the crouching filly. He stared at her for a moment. The thoughts swirled blankly in his mind as he tried to reach for some kind of reaction, but the only thing his body did was twitch his lips up in a half-smile.

The moment quickly evaporated as the filly then attempted to lunge for the bush and Abysm had to quickly step in front of her. The filly gave a undignified squeak and stumbled back, peering up at Abysm with a confused and almost hurt look. It just about made the stallion’s heart stop. His chest squeezed painfully and his jaw worked to try and find words to explain, despite the young girl not being able to understand.

Then as soon as the expression had grown on her face, it vanished. The filly squealed in joy as a sparrow darted by towards the nest and she ducked her head down under her father’s chest to try and watch it. Abysm felt stricken. It was the closest tug of any sort of emotion he’d felt in years and it’d been caused by a millisecond look on this filly’s face. He could hardly even remember her name and the little thing had already forced her way into his very secured heart.

It was all he could do to just watch her. The filly squealed and snorted as the bird grew upset with her and decided to try and peck at her nose. She seemed to finally have had enough and stumbled backwards to hide behind her father’s legs. Again, she peered up at him with a helpless expression and Abysm’s heart painfully squeezed. He winced and took a step towards her, shielding his daughter from the angry sparrow. “Come,” he instructed and jerked his head towards the more open canyon area. He took a step forward and the filly quickly followed, staying close to his side. His good eye narrowed as he watched her, then flicked up to the faded scorch marks along the canyon’s walls. “I suppose.. I will protect you,” he muttered.

ooc ||
Abysm + Chime - 833 words - @ n/a
Bonuses:
8,000 points - Family Reunion
12,000 points - Multiple Characters
15,000 points - So close..!
2,000 points - 500 Words
3,000 points - 800 Words

[+ ebonite +]

Entry Check

Scenario # Two
Scenario Met: Yes (20,000)
300 Word Count Met: Yes

Bonus Requirements Met
Family Reunion (8,000) - Yes
Multiple Characters (12,000) - Yes

Word Count Milestones Reached 833 Words
500 Words (2,000) - Yes
800 Words (3,000) - Yes

Points Earned
20,000 (Finished Scenario)
20,000 (Bonuses)
5,000 (Word Count)

Rewards 45,000 Points