Between Ice and Water

Featuring - 1855 Varune & 1841 Eira

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Snowhaven was more than Varune could have asked for. Through the kindness of Eira and Aster, he had found a home, one he was willing to die to protect. Perhaps that was the inflated thoughts of a young stallion, one who owed his life to the half siblings who ruled the island. Full of brawn and bravery, the brashness of youth, he had taken to patrolling the island.

Granted, he was not the most watchful scout nor the most dutiful. And really, what could he protect the island with except for his hooves and brawn?

Varune snorted softly, wandering through the snow. His coat stuck out like a sore thumb, but the young stallion was lost in the thoughts of grandeur. He daydreamed of battles and fighting, of glory and praise. So needless to say, he was completely unaware that Eira had crossed his path and followed him.

“Hello Varune,” Eira said and Varune couldn’t help but jump. Ice shot out around his hooves, and the young stallion, not expecting it slipped on the ice, falling face first into a snow drift.

Pulling himself free of the snow, Varune turned on Eira.

“Why did you do that?” He questioned, a bit petulantly. But Eira was watching him speculatively.

“It seems you have discovered your first magic,” Eira said simply with a slight smile.

Varune blinked at her, confused. “That wasn’t you?” he asked.

Eira shook her head, and Vaune looked down at his own hooves in shock.

“But I thought magic came from your horn?” Varune questioned.

Eira shrugged. “Magic, when first discovered, can come in many forms,” she said simply.

“Come, I will help you,” Eira added, turning to head toward the camp.

Varune followed Eira, his head spinning. His first magic? He was proud to say it was from the Icy region, his home. But what did that mean? He momentarily thought he wasn’t old enough to handle it, but then the arrogance of youth took over. He was powerful! He had magic already!

Upon reaching the camp, Eira turned toward Varune, and Varune felt a bit of trepidation at her expression. The ocean was near, and Eira expertly summoned some water, spinning around her form elegantly.

There was a small depression in the ground, and the water flowed down and into the depression, forming a pool of still water.

Varune was momentarily distracted as Eira’s familiar fluttered down and landed on a branch, watching them. The snowy owl’s wise eyes seemed to rest on Varune with a strange sort of mockery, as if it knew something that Varune didn’t.

“Alright Varune, freeze the pool,” Eira said, stepping back out of the way. Varune wondered why she moved so far. Freezing a pool of water should be easy!

Varune turned toward the pool, but feeling both Eira and the owl’s eyes on him he couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

It should be easy!.... Right?

Varune’s first attempt didn’t go well. Neither did his second, nor his seventh. Varune was panting, staring down the pool of water with determination when Eira intervened.

“Varune, relax,” Eira said softly. “The magic is inside of you, it knows you. And you know it. You are trying to force it, to beat it into submission. It isn’t something to tame, its something to befriend and use. You can’t win it over with force.”

Varune looked at Eira’s soft gaze, and watched as little icicles gathered on her horn. When he looked back at the pool of water, it was frozen solid.

It remained that way for a few more moments before it returned to its liquid form, perhaps by Eira’s water magic.

“Show me again,” Varune half demanded, half pleaded.

So Eira did.

The sun was setting as the pair headed back for The Sunken City. Eira paused momentarily, her owl landing on her rump. The pair both looked at Eira’s stomach, and Eira nuzzled her own belly. Now that Varune looked at her, he noticed her belly was a bit… bigger. But it wasn’t nice to comment on a ladies weight.

But Eira noticed, and gave Varune a smile. “Yes,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”

Varune blinked in surprise. “How?” he asked, not realizing how that sounded for a few moments. “I mean I uh. Know about the normal ways, you know. But like. I thought you and Avia…?” Varune stumbled over his words, and Eira laughed softly.

“We were blessed,” Eira said softly. “A blessing from the Sacred Tree and the Deities.”

Varune smiled at the gentle joy on Eira’s face, and the past few weeks made more sense. The way her normally independent owl hovered close, the constantly alarmed look that Aster had when near Eira, the way she had seemed… More at peace.

“A piece of both of us, and I carry him,” Eira said softly.

“You are certain it's a he?” Varune asked, curious.

“Call it a mother's intuition,” Eira said with a smile.

“Avia knows, right?” Aster questioned, and Eira nodded.

“The tree chose me to carry our child, I suppose. Perhaps they knew he would need a little more immunity to the cold if we were to co-parent from different regions,” Eira said with a hint of humor.

Varune looked in the direction of Espeor and Queensbreak, so far in the distance. “How will they travel?” He asked.

“Khaalida already offered to help with that. She knew the moment we came back after praying to the Sacred Tree,” Eira said with a laugh. “Khaali knows too much, I think.”

Varune murmured his agreement.

“Is it safe for you to be teaching me though?”

Eira shook her head at his question, not in a negative but more in a laughing sense.

“Of course, silly,” Eira said. “Magic is part of us, just as it will be part of this foal. My water and ice magic is stronger than your magic. I can defend myself if things go wrong,” Eira explained.

Varune nodded, only half convinced.

“I will practice, though. I froze the pool, I know how it's done now. I will practice when I’m on patrol,” Varune said with determination.

Eira gave a bemused smile at the young stallion's attitude. “You will excel quickly, I’m sure,” Eira said.

So Eira led the way, her owl protectively close, and Varune followed, reinspired to continue his mission. He would learn his magic and keep Snowhaven safe. If not for those who saved his life, but also for the life that was growing inside of Eira. For the future.