Hazy morning light filtered through the cracks and holes of the rotted wood that made up Shamrock's home as he returned from his latest dive. It wasn't much, just a dilapidated old structure left barely standing amongst a tall forest of oak trees. Leaf-litter covered the floor in piles where it was able to get through the caving roof. But most of the one-room structure was covered and protected its inhabitants from the elements. 

Inhabitants. Plural. 

Tiny hoof beats clattered and a small body came barreling out of the shadows. A little pale purple foal skidded to a stop in front of him, just barely managing to avoid collision. She blinked wide, golden doe eyes up at him expectantly. "Well?! Did you find anything?!"

She was his little sister, Dawn. Their parents had perished in a dungeon some months ago, leaving just him and this little leggy thing to fend for themselves. His heart squeezed when he looked at her. She looked like their mom, but she was as energetic as their dad. The perfect combination of the two. He hated that he had to leave her alone here, but without their parents to care for her he was left to find food and coin to keep the both of them alive. 

He bowed out of the packs he carried, nosing them open for her to peruse. "I found some food, not much coin though. I did find a map, though. I can use this next time I go to find a better haul."

Dawn whinnied happily, digging through his meager finds. She was easy to please. "When I'm big enough, we'll both go on adventures! That way we can bring back twice as much stuff!" 

Shamrock frowned. "You shouldn't be worrying about that. We should be finding you other foals to play with and you should just be enjoying life."

She looked up at him, brows furrowed in confusion. "I'm happy just playing with you, though."

His heart squeezed ever tighter. He hadn't been a very active big brother before their parents' demise, and now that he'd been thrust into this new position of parenting her he regreted not spending more time with her before. He hadn't meant to be absent before, he'd just been a busy young adult, newly exploring the world. He wouldn't make the same mistake now. He'd be here for Dawn for as long as she needed him. Which would be for the rest of their lives, if he had his way.