Dixie needed to move. She couldn't sit still. She pulled herself to her hooves and hobbled around, nipping at the occasional blade of grass that emerged from the dirt. "Oh West... I'm sorry" she mumbled, knowing she had done something majorly wrong when he hadn't returned.

West let his muzzle rest in the dirt as he tried to process everything and how he could best help. If Mystery was actually gone, it was plain he had to go after her. But should he leave right now and not tell anyone? It was tempting, but he knew someone would end up leaving as well... which meant he'd be putting someone else in danger. Maybe he should just tell Ghost, then the stallion could take care of everything. In any case, West needed to get away, and making sure Mystery was okay seemed like a great excuse.

Dixie sighed. She had messed everything up. Falling for West had to be a mistake right? She couldn't fathom how that could have caused any of this. "Maybe it's not the reason ..." she whispered to herself. She loved West. She knew that now. But now everything was falling apart.

West finally decided, sucking in a deep breath before standing. he still felt nauseous, but he wasn't letting that stop him. He practically snuck back to the edge of the herd, then sidled up near Ghost. "I'm leaving Ghost.. I need you to watch the herd. I trust you. Thank you so much." He said quietly before disappearing, trotting out towards where Mystery had disappeared. West wasn't coming back. At least until he found her.

Dixie quickly turned when she heard some talking at the back of the herd. "West!" She called when she spotted him just as he trotted away. "Wait..." she whimpered, looking back at her injured leg. She snorted angrily and stomped her front hoof.

West, with his trademark really good hearing, heard a soft voice call his name. Dixie's voice. Why would she ever want him to turn back. All he did was ruined things, even IF that meant saying he ruined things. His brain said to keep going, but his heart said to stop, and his muscles obeyed the wrong power. He paused, turning back slowly. "I can't stay Dixie. I need to find Mystery and.. get away.. for a while. It'll be better for the herd." West said quietly, walking back towards her a little bit before stopping a ways away.

(My eyes are literally watering right now. I am NOT crying)

-

Dixie stopped and looked at him. "Is it because of me... did I say something wrong... be honest and tell me if o did something. I'll fix it. I promise..." she lowered her head in submission

(xDDD I am writing this while doing a school synopsis about the Revolutionary War sooo)

+++

West tried to hold his heart together before he could feel each already shattered shard shatter more and fly off into nowhere, it seemed, never to be recovered again. "No Dixie, it's not your fault.. it's never your fault. It's mine. I can't get stuff straight. I'll come back. I..." His voice cracked. "I love you Dixie, no matter what, so I'll come back for you. I just need time." West finished, turning and cantering away. He couldn't bear staying there any longer. He shouldn't leave if he cared about her! He was only hurting her! But he needed to find Mystery, and he needed to figure himself out... and to heal.

Lol)

-

Doxie froze when he spoke. "You... you do?" She watched him canter off, wishing dearly that she could follow, but she had no way of chasing after him like she used to. +he said he would be back. For me. + those last few words stuck in her head. They gave her hope

West could feel the heartache and unhappiness and sorrow and grief and regret already smashing into his brain, but he couldn't turn back now. He would be back. He promised. Which was stupid, but he had to be back now. However he would find Mystery first. And he would fix this. The best he could. He would fix himself, because he always seemed to be the problem.