It had been revealed by Lightning Cloud that he had been separated from his herd by the storm, and that he ran to the meadow for sanctuary. He hadn't known any other place to go, at least there was nothing else as close. Sun Leap promised the stallion, similar in age to himself, safety in the meadow until his herd found him or until he wished to leave.

The stallion was bold, but Sun Leap knew he was hesitating. He wasn't sure where his herd was and didn't want to risk getting lost in an unknown landscape. Lightning Cloud called him a legend, so he couldn't have known this land that well.

"Where does your herd come from? If you found my meadow, they can't be that far. Everywhere around is blocked by high mountains. There is only one way in and one way out." Sun Leap said to Lightning Cloud when he spotted him near the edge of his domain. The golden stallion looked at him, the blaze on his face ignited from the sun. Sun Leap's own features were exaggerated on by the light of a new day. But the stallions didn't care for their features, only paying attention to who held themselves to a higher level of dominance.

Sun Leap knew Lightning Cloud must be born from a leader, from what he knew about other horses only someone in that position could be as high-standing as the other stallion was.

"My herd is not from nearby. We traveled into this land, for what reasons I cannot tell you." Lightning Cloud answered after some thoughtful silence. Sun Leap eyed him and stopped his trot, turning his head toward the plains surrounding his meadow and the distant mountains.

"Everyone has their secrets. I would hope you do not hold the important ones to yourself. And if you're standing here, at the edge, you may as well travel with me on my patrol. You've become restless awaiting your herd." Sun Leap suggested. The other stallion considered it and slowly approached Sun Leap, accepting his offer. He began his trot again, hoping to take this opportunity to make Lightning Cloud talk more about his herd.

Sun Leap was more curious about the herd's build up rather then the story behind Lightning Cloud's. He never had the experience of traveling around with basically your family, protecting each other and always moving to new places. He had similar experiences, sure, but none of them were the real thing.

Lightning Cloud did begin to loosen his lips and told small stories of his life to Sun Leap and many foal related fantasies, and it only made the gold and cream stallion more curious about an alternative life.

××××××××××

Lightning Cloud and Sun Leap spent more time together with Lightning Cloud becoming more trustworthy as he proved himself. Sun Leap and Nimble Rain began to see him as a guardian of the meadow, but they both knew he wouldn't stay forever. His herd still had yet to appear for him and they knew it weighed heavily on his mind.

Sun Leap spoke with Nimble Rain about it many times before, usually at night in hushed tones. He had an idea of going with Lightning Cloud to search for his herd. He knew this valley well, it wasn't safe to go alone no matter how tough you thought you were. Nimble Rain had agreed he should go, but she also protested that she shouldn't be left alone to guard the meadow.

The golden stallion was torn. He refused to accept the idea of Lightning Cloud leaving to search on his own, but he couldn't leave Nimble Rain by herself either. He had also thought of having her come with them, but who would watch and guard the meadow?

If no one was there, no true harm could actually come to the meadow, but someone could try and claim it while they were gone.

It wouldn't be hard to take back, but the idea of another horse taking over the meadow going into it's history disturbed him. He sighed heavily as his mind settled on a choice.

He would go with Lightning Cloud to find his herd, and allow Nimble Rain to come with them if she chose to. He came to her that night and told her his decision. She agreed to wait in the meadow, but warned him if she faced something she couldn't handle she would retreat from the meadow for her safety.

He understood and went to tell Lightning Cloud. The other golden stallion waited by the river with a heavy mind.

"I have decided to accompany you outside the meadow to find your herd." Sun Leap informed him, coming over to drink from the stream. Lightning Cloud's heart seemed to lighten as he raised his head to look at Sun Leap.

"Thank you, I can only hope we find them quickly." He admitted, the worry easily seen in his tone. Sun Leap raised his head from his drink and nodded, his ears twitching at the sounds of nature around them.

"I have no doubt we will if they're in the valley." Sun Leap assured him, "They wouldn't leave you behind, I'm sure." Lightning Cloud nodded in response, turning away to clear his head with the blazeless stallion watching him go.