Neamh || 3 || Herd Mare || M: Nysa, River

One moment ago, the sun had been scorching the earth and Neamh's back. Now, she couldn't see her own shadow. The cracked ground beneath her hissed and dust began to swirl around her hooves. What-?

The young mare turned and a shudder ran through her whole body at the sight of the violent clouds gathering in the near distance. A dust storm? Now? But there was no shelter; where would they go? Neamh's dark eyes searched the horses around her, all of which seemed to be growing uneasy and skittish. Obviously, and who could blame them?

Certainly not the tobiano. Her heart had already skipped one, two, three beats. She burst into a quick trot and made her way to the other horses. The winds picked up, throwing dust in her eyes and causing her to blink rapidly. She shook out her body and pressed herself against the nearest form, still on the fringes of the herd. Through watery pools, she squinted at the shape -- Nysa?

Augh, her eyes stung. She had the sinking feeling that one of the dust particles still in her eye may have cut it slightly. Neamh turned her back to the winds and grimaced as a larger spray of dirt smacked her painfully in the rump and legs. She stumbled forward with a grunt and forced her eyelids open.

"Nysa, I'm just going to stay by you," she rasped, choking on the dust that entered as she drew in a breath. She knew the other was less sociable, and she understood that, but this was a life and death situation. She'd have pressed herself against Atolos himself if he'd been near, and he would probably be more danger to her than the storm.

The young filly was uncomfortable and scared. Her eyes were wide with panic, and her ears were pinned. There was a certain bounce in her step as if she were prone to bolt at any second. She felt the instinct to run, get away from this storm and hide. However, she knew that would be foolish and dangerous. What to do, what to do?

The mare then heard a familiar voice. Do not panic, it spoke.

And she looked to see the form of her father, and a breath of relief escaped her. And her eyes that were once panicked were now calm and motivated. She could hear the caring in his tone, and she was greatful for it. Macha, the young appaloosa drew closer to her father, and could in a way say pressed her body against him for stability and comfort.

She was with her father. He had come for her, he was her hero. And then she wondered if Nysa was alright. Had she been found? These thoughts flooded her mind, and then she squinted her eyes trying to see her father. She then tried to yell over the storm, but with the howling wind her words were probably muffled.

"DAD," the mare shouted, "I'm sorry from being away from the herd! I was trying to get Nysa to come back before she got into trouble, because I didn't want you and Atolos to be stressed. Did you find her?" in her voice was concearn, and the once panicking tone was gone.

She didn't care if the dust was stinging her eyes, or making her voice raspy because she spoke. She needed to know. Had her foolish mistake of leaving Nysa alone gotten the older mare harmed?

The older mare listened to Cadhla as she mentioned them talking about mountains. Áine gave a thoughtful gaze at the thought of it. There was a time when she lived near the mountains, and sometimes on them. She remembered how peaceful it was, the crisp mountain air, the green vegetation, and not to mention the blankets of snow. Even the clouds seemed more gleeful in the mountains. They were always white like the snow and thin and whispy indicating good weather or large and fluffy.

"I'd say the mountains would be a good decision. The water during the spring, summer, and fall seasons would always be pure and fresh. Not to mention the meadows and wild life." she said thinking about the pros of the mountains, "I would say that the only deterance would be the winter season when the water is undrinkable as it's icy cold or it's frozen over. Not to mention their can be avalances or blizzards."

"Sure darling, what's the question? Is it about the sounds from last night?" Áine said gently.

"Looks like I'll have to answer your question at our next stop." Áine said to Asteria chuckling softly.

At the sound of Caldha, she said, "No, I haven't seen her, but I'm sure she's alright." Áine said in a calm tone. She understood the protectiveness as she herself would raise hell and move a mountain for Asteria. Then the sounds of distress rippled through the heard. And in a second, her vision was ingulfed by the storm. She couldn't make out the form of her daughter.

"Asteria." she called, and perking her ears for a response. Dread began to well within her body, "Asteria!" she called again, her voice losing compsure. She was moving in the storm, which she shouldn't do. But she needed to find her daughter. If anything happened to that foal, Áine quite frankly, wouldn't forgive herself.

"Asteria is missing as well. Stick close to me, until the storm blows over, and we'll find them. I'm sure an experienced mare will find them. They'll be alright."Áine said trying to comfort the younger mare.

Ouranos || 4 || Herd Stallion || M: River, Inessa, Sylph, Cadhla

The pale stallion turned his head as the warm breeze began to come in violent spurts. What in the world? His eyes caught on to the darkening sky and he couldn't help but release a groan full of resigned annoyance. He pushed his flank against his mother's and nosed River gently towards the dappled gray mare's body.

"This can't be good," he grumbled. The dark brown clouds gradually came closer until Ouranos could no longer see more than ten feet in front of him. Small rocks and dirt chips snapped against his body and dust filled his eyes, nostrils, and ears. He lowered his head and released a violent cross between a cough and a sneeze. An extra strong gust sent him stumbling on already weak legs, and he lost contact with Inessa and River.

It took him a moment to realize such, but when he did, panic began to set in. With a sharp inhale, he called, "River! Inessa!"

The wind took up his cry and sucked it into the void, engulfing his words in its own howls. The stallion staggered forward, trying to retrace his steps, and eventually planted face-first into someone's rear. Through the dirt clouding his senses, he was fairly certain he'd run into Cadhla. With a loud apology, he nearly backed up, but then thought better of it and just moved alongside the older mare.

"Who else is here?" he shouted above the screaming blizzard of sand. "River? Inessa?"

Ouranos squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled. He could smell the other horses, but their scents were quickly fading. River and his mother were not among them. All he could hope for was their having stayed together. Hopefully, he'd find them after this had passed. If he lived, anyway.

Naga || 8 || Herd Mare || M: Keanu, Others (Ind)

As the dust began to swirl, Naga set her jaw and began nosing her son into the middle of the main body of the herd. She'd seen a few dust storms in her lifetime, though none as severe as the current one promised to be. Her white mane and tail lashed against her black body, and she shifted to cover her colt from what she hoped was the worst of it.

"I want you to bite my tail and try your best not to let go, okay?" she told him, squinting as the winds picked up. "I don't want you to get lost in the storm."

Naga kept her voice as soothing and calm as possible, though her body was tense with worry. She couldn't lose Keanu, not now. Not after they'd made it this far. She'd already lost one son, in a way; there was no room left in her for another loss. The mare lipped the bay colt's mane and gently tugged.

"It'll be okay, Keanu."

She would make sure of it.

Naga pushed into the nearest horse's side, unable to tell who exactly it was, but she was fairly certain they were near the center of the largest group. She could hear the panicked cries of others drawing farther and farther away, but she herself refused to budge. No point in asking to get lost.

The spotted mare took long strides towards Atolos, her heart soaring at the idea of moving. While the valley provided the herd with good resources and memories, it was time. To stay would mean death and sickness, something that Cadhla had seen enough of.

A gentle breeze ruffled her mane. Closing her eyes, the mare lifted her head, enjoying the slightly coolness of it, that is, until it suddenly picked up. The gentle look upon Cadhla's face vanished, and her eyes snapped open in confusion as her mane now began to twirl around in the wind. "Do you see this?" She asked Sylph, motioning upwards to her mane dancing around. Staring at her friend, she saw her look at something. Slowly, Cadhla turned her head, only then noticing the cloud. Immediately, she knew that it was no normal cloud.

"Good grief.." She uttered. Did the herd not have enough hardship? Had they not suffered enough? It was bad thing after bad thing. The heat, then the drought, then death, then the foal, and now this? Now, a dust storm? A pang of anger formed within Cadhla, but what was she to do about it?

Her ears turned to Sylph, who had called her name. It sounded questioning, and for once, the mare herself was speechless. "Running won't help us," she sighed, staring directly at the storm. Pondering, her own instincts told her to run, which was exactly why Cadhla didn't listen. That, and common sense. "We can't outrun it." Snapping her gaze away from the storm, she turned to her surroundings, glancing around. "We need to hide behind something. It'll help shield the storm from us." Where were they to hide? It was a valley. "No, no, we should stay with the herd. We can't split up from them." Cadhla glanced back to the herd, noticing some breaking off into groups and others beginning to panic.

Where was Macha?

"I need to find my daughter." Craning her neck, Cadhla felt fear form within her. She couldn't find Macha, couldn't even hear her. Where was she? "Macha?" She called, eyes widening. Where was her daughter? Had she found Anil? Yes, maybe her father had found her. Oh, but what if he didn't? What if she was alone? What if she was scared and alone? Turning to Áine, she paused when her other friend was no longer near, nor was Asteria. When had they left?

Pressing herself against Sylph, Cadhla continued to search with her eyes for Macha, but it was too late. The storm was here, and within moments, her sight had been restricted. All she could do was pray that her daughter was safe while she pressed herself farther into Sylph. At least she had her friend alongside of her and wasn't truly alone.

She could make out Sylph's figure, but nothing in front nor behind. Cadhla's first thought was to remain put, but the dust swirling around had begun to block her nostril, causing her to begin a series of snorts and sneezes while her eyes narrowed. Small pieces of debris flung against her body. It was clear that they couldn't stay where they were. "We need shelter. We can't find the herd in this," she practically yelled over the wind, beginning to take a step forwards.

A sudden force caused Cadhla to stumble forwards, practically landing face-first on the ground. Head turning behind her, she first believed a log had hit her, or a branch of sorts, but it was none other than Ouranos. Relief flooded her at having another individual near, not remotely caring that he had nearly caused her to fall over.

She could hear him saying something, and although it was difficult to hear, she managed to make out a few words. He was asking who was near, and then asking for a river? No, no, he was asking for River and.. Inessa? "It's just myself and Sylph," she shouted back, "No River or Inessa." Pausing, she turned to Ouranos once more. "Have you seen Macha?" She shouted. Maybe he saw that she wasn't alone. She needed some relief. Before letting him answer, she relesed a huff when a branch smacked her side.

"Shelter," she added on, speaking to Ouranos. "We need to walk. Stick close together." Motioning for Sylph to remain in the middle of her and Ouranos, Cadhla pressed her body against Sylph, expecting Ouranos to do the same on the other side. It was be difficult to navigate without sight, and they needed to make sure not to lose one another. "We're going to move. Look for something to hide behind." Cadhla would keep mental notes of how far they would move, and try to remember which direction they had come from. All she needed Sylph and Ouranos to do was try not to be separated, and to try and find shelter.