Chapter 3: New Life
Warrin was just getting into town, when he seen that the town was in a hurry.  He didn’t quite know why but he had a bad feeling about today.  He headed to the butcher shop and seen that it was closed.  He then headed to the fabric shop.  It was closed as well.  He had no clue what was going on, but he knew he’d find out.  As Warrin walked down through the town, he found that every store was closed. It was not a holiday so he had no clue as to what it could be.
He finally saw a few kids running around.  He walked up to them.  As soon as they seen Warrin, they started to run away.  “No wait!  I’m not going to hurt you!”
“Then what are you doing out here now?”  asked one of the boys.  He appeared to be the leader of this little group of misfits.  However you could tell that he was as scared as the rest of them.
“I came into town for a few things, but it seems like everything is closed.  Why is that?”
“We all heard that the soldiers were on their way.  So everyone closed up all the shops in fear that they were going to destroy everything.  Look, just go home before they get here. And hurry!” said the other boy.
“Hey look, thanks for the tip.  Do you know when?”
The third boy spoke this time, saying “If they don’t come tonight then it might not be until a couple days from now.”
Warrin thanked the three boys and headed back home.  He ran on and off hoping to get back to the house quicker and warn his mom and brother.  It was still a long trip and he made it back after dark.  As he reached to door step of his house, he stopped to catch his breathe.  He opened the door and almost ran into his mom.  She looked at Warrin and then looked at his empty hands.
“Where have you been all day?  I wanted you to go to town for me.  Have you been out with that horse all day?  Just because I let you have that horse, doesn’t mean that you can just slack off on the things that I ask of you.”
“But mom…”
“No buts. So where have you been?”
“Are you finished?”  Warrin seen that his mom was fixing to answer his question.  So he quickly began to tell her of the unwelcome guests coming into town.  “So you see I did go into town.  All the shops were closed since the soldiers were on their way.  The boys said that if they aren’t here by tonight then they would be here within a couple of days.  We have to get ready.  We have to hide all of our food and everything valuable.  Please mom, we have to hurry.”  
Warrin rushed outside and into the barn.  He saw that his brother had yet to feed her.  He grabbed a bucket of grain and hay and walked over to her stall.  Warrin placed the hay net inside the stall and started to feed her out of the bucket.  “The soldiers are on their way to town.  They will be here either tonight, tomorrow, or even next week.  I have to get you into hiding.  They are sure to look everywhere and that means that they will check every farm and stable.  I don’t know what else to do.  I told you that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
Dear Warrin, I know you mean well.  I think you have forgotten what I am.  If they show up I can get out of sight faster than you can say tachasha villactium.  I have faith in you and I always will. Oh no.
“What’s wrong?”
I think it’s time. I feel….strange. Ah...I need to lie down...
“Time for wha… Oh TIME! Oh my…I need…I got to…”
Warrin stop and please calm down. I’ll be fine. This isn’t my first time.  Why don’t you go into the house and get some warm water.”  Pheleria got to where she could lay down and got comfortable while Warrin ran into the house. If he thought that she couldn’t do this with out him, he had another thing coming. She did not need him worrying over her.
Warrin ran into the house and into the kitchen.  He looked for a bowl big enough for Pheleria but couldn’t find one.  “MOM? MOM! I need your help hurry!”
“What is wrong?  What happened?  Are the soldiers here? Did they hurt you?”
“Pheleria is birthing.  I need a bowl big enough to put warm water in.”
“Use the one in the cabinet.  How did you know that you needed a bowl of warm water?”  Lumera didn’t recall teaching her son about birthing.  “I think that I need to go with you just to make sure….”
“NO!  I can do it.  It’s easy besides she has probably done this many times.  Don’t worry I can handle it.”  Warrin ran into the kitchen and ran the water into the bowl.  He hated waiting for it to warm up.  He was finally able to fill the bowl full of water when his brother came up to him and started talking to him. Warrin tried to ignore him but it just wasn’t working
“Look I need to get back to the barn.  Pheleria is fixing to have her foal and I want to be there with her.”
“What kind of name is Pheleria?”
“I don’t have time for that.  I have to go. Talk to you later. Now move, please.”  Warrin then grabbed the bowl, ran out of the house and into the barn.  
He saw that Pheleria was still on the ground. He had not missed a thing. “Is there anything that I can do for you?”
No, there is nothing that I need you here for. It could be a while. I will be just fine, go back up to the house. You could always come check on me.
“No, I want to be here and help you if you need it”
Fine, just stay on the outside of the stall. Better get comfortable…this could be a long night.
“That is fine. I am willing to wait as long as I have to.” Warrin backed out of the stall and started to look for a cot for the night. He knew that there were some around here but was not sure where it could be. After looking in the barn he looked in the most obvious place imaginable...the feed room. Warrin dusted the cot off and set it next to the stall. He was not going to miss this for anything. He checked on Pheleria but there was nothing new so he sat down on the cot. He pulled the blanket out from under the cot and covered up. The last thing he remembered was the sound of Pheleria grunting.
He was riding through the sky. Warrin looked at his clothes and he did not see just torn leather and linen shirt, he saw pristine leather pants and a silk shirt with heavy leather boots on his feet. As he looked around he saw that trees were on fire everywhere. As he looked at the reins in his hands he noticed that he was flying on a Pegasus. However, the Pegasus was not black, like Pheleria, it was blazing red. All of a sudden, Warrin heard something call out to him to look below him and he looked down to see Malipheus fighting. As he ordered his mount to descend, it refused, calling him Xanadur. He heard himself call out to his mount by name: Blazeran. Still it refused. As Warrin looked down he saw Malipheus look at him with a look for help. Malipheus saw that he was not going to receive any help, which was when Warrin saw his brothers’ eyes fill up with hate. Warrin heard the sound of Malipheus’ voice in his head,  “Wake up Warrin. You need to wake up.”
Warrin woke with his brother staring at him with a puzzled look. It was a dream, he thought. His brother was just fine but who was Blazeran and why was he calling him Xanadur. He didn’t have the answers to his questions, but he knew someone who might be able to help. “What is it Malipheus?”
“Nothing it is just time to get up. Besides I think that your horse has brought some new additions to this family.”
He jumped up and looked into the stall. Malipheus was right, he had missed Pheleria foaling. He looked but could not see the foal. “Where is your foal? I don’t see it.”  He walked into the stall ad looked around.  Still seeing nothing he looked up at Pheleria.
My dear, you have walked right past them.  They are wrapped up right now with their wings.  
“Them? You’ve had twins?” Pheleria shook her head no.  “So...Triplets?”  She shook her head yes. “Wow!  You just had three foals?  I wanted to be here. Oh my god, three of them?  Where are they?  I don’t see…”  Warrin turned and that was when he seen three round objects.  He walked over to them and bent down to touch them but stopped short.  The three of them were so small.  
The first of the foals was the color of ebony, the blackest of black. It appeared to be the second biggest out of the three.  The second foal was white or at least the outer shell was. Although being the smallest of the three he had a feeling that it would be destined for many things. The third was a blazing red. He felt the need to touch it, to feel the shape of it.
Warrin, come here. I’m am glad that they are here.  I’ve waited for this day to come for a long time. They are the next generation of the Mystic Ryders. Warrin, you will not be able to touch then unless you want to make the ultimate sacrifice.  I know that you wanted to touch him and that you knew something could happen.  I’m just not sure that you are ready.  I can’t have you touching them if you are not. Even though, if you did touch him and you are the one he wants to be his Ryder....then the choice is already made. I think you two would be great together. I think you both are destined for a lot of great things.
“Oh, Pheleria, does this have to do with the Mystic Ryder’s?  Wow that would be cool.  I’ve heard stories about them and how they save the kingdom and the king.  I remembered after we had last talked about them.  Ever since I’ve heard those stories, I’ve always wanted to be a part of it.  I don’t belong here.  I’ve felt that way since you have been here and even a little before, I imagine.  How do I become one of them?”
So young.  So full of spirit.  You could become a great Mystic Ryder.  You need to have a Pegasus first.  You need one that you can connect to.  That isn’t as easy as it sounds.  You don’t choose the Pegasus, it chooses you.
“So I might not be able to become one?  Wow, well, it would be awesome to become one.  I really do want to.”  Warrin turned his attention to the foals. He thought about what it would be like to be part of the Legacy. If he stayed where he was, he would just be a lowly farm boy. However, if he became a Mystic Ryder, he would become well-known if not famous. Not only that, he would be able to help this town. He would be able to have the chance to make a difference. Warrin stood up and looked at the four of them.  
Warrin if one of them touches you, only they will be able to know how you feel, what you feel and when you feel it. The same goes for you.  You will be able to communicate with all of us but only truly know how one of them feels.  You will have to leave and forget this place.  That would be for your safety and your family.  I know that seems cruel but that is how it has to be.  You would be given a new name to protect everyone you have come in contact with your whole life.  You will also go through some changes physically as well as mentally.  Do you think that you can do that?   
Warrin thought for a moment.  He would have to leave everything behind, his mom, brother, everyone.  He was sure that he could spend a little more time with them before they all left.  Besides he would have to wait until the foal got bigger, that is if it opened up for him.  Then it hit him, this was the chance he had been waiting for all of his life.  “Of course!  This is what I was here to do.  I can feel it.  Let’s do it. Have you named them yet?”
Ah yes, I do have names for them.  The black one is Leviathan.  Litheria is the white one and Blazeran is the red one.
“Wow.  I like those names.  How did you think of them?” asked Warrin.  He thought that everything was being dumped on him all at once, but he liked it all.
They were the names of our ancestors.  They would be pleased.
Warrin sat down on the hay next to Pheleria.  He couldn’t believe that he was staring at the next generation of Pegasus.  All three of them were gorgeous.  He would be honored to be one of the legendary Mystic Ryders.  He wasn’t too fond of having to forget his family, but if it helped and protected them then he would do it.  He looked at the foals playing, and he enjoyed himself for the first time in a while.  He got up and let Pheleria outside for some air.  
Pheleria was telling him all about her time with the Mystic Ryders and their adventures.  There were still quite a few hours left until the sun was to come up when Warrin looked over towards the foals. He walked over to the group and he started to fill weird. Warrin looked close at the foals and realized that one of the foals was breaking free of its shell. He couldn’t believe it. It was hatching for him. Slowly, piece by piece, the foal started emerging from its shell. It was Blazeran; his coat was the color of crimson. He was so beautiful to Warrin that he didn’t know what to do at the moment.
               Blazeran pranced up and around Warrin to emerge from behind him.  To his surprise, Blazeran reached up and nuzzled Warrin’s side.  It was such a powerful feeling that the last thing Warrin remembered was staring up at Pheleria and Blazeran. Then everything went black and Warrin dreamed of many things including flying high in the sky with Blazeran.  There was no better feeling than flying with Blazeran.