New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
19 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by kiblet on Jan 28, 2016 9:09:06 GMT -8
| Journeying through the woods in silence gave Simplicity plenty of time to think. They had been trailing through the dense forest forest for at least a couple of hours at this point and had yet to see another living creature. The thunderstorm had been intimidating at first, with the fierce, low rumbles and electric flashes of lightning. At one point, she thought she sniffed the faintest hint of smoke, but with the rain as heavy as it was, a fire never broke out. At this point the more dramatic storm elements of thunder and lightning had calmed down and settled into a quiet, cold rain. The dark skies had released gallons of water onto the treetops, but luckily the leaves provided a fair amount of protection, and she was only damp not soaked. She slapped her moist tail against her hocks when a nippy breeze whistled through the trees, but otherwise was content to plod along behind Keska, her fearless buckskin leader. Winter was coming soon, she knew that, but the climate felt more mild here. The trees in this land had all sorts of vibrant colored leaves adorning their branches—reds, golds, yellows, browns. With the rain, a few of the deadened leaves had fluttered to the ground and lay resting. Sidestepping a particularly large clump of wet leaves, her eyes caught sight of a clear valley just ahead bordered by mountains on the horizon. The wide expanse of the valley showed more of the luscious green blades of grass that she had left behind in the meadow. Food! Her mind was blown by the sheer amount of forage this new world offered, and she eagerly picked up her pace until she was at the valley edge.
Hesitant to leave the security of the trees just yet, she halted and chanced a glance over at her companion. The desire to snatch a snack of grass was strong, but her instincts were also strong and something was amiss. She scanned the valley, ears swiveling like little satellites as they strained to pick out any sign of danger. She tossed her head, flipping her damp forelock, and flared her nostrils, catching the scent of another horse in the vicinity. Given the rain, the scent was muted, but there nonetheless. A worried but excited eye rolled over to Keska, watching to see if he noticed the strange scent too. She did not wish to speak, potentially inviting trouble, but was beyond curious to figure out who it was that lived here. Planting her feet firmly, she chose to wait hidden at the tree-line of the valley, head high and tail flagged, as she strove to ascertain the situation.
| Simplicity // 5 years old // Arabian // Mare // Bay // 15hh // Homeless
|
|
|
New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
Mocha Connoisseur
17 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Neon on Jan 28, 2016 17:35:16 GMT -8
Several hours had passed since he had met Simplicity in the glade near the lake, and Keska was beginning to feel a bit foolish for acting so confident while leading her into the forest. Before, when he was travelling alone, he didn't have to worry about the safety of others. But now, he thought, as he glanced back at the bay mare, I have to worry about this one too. Turning his head back to the path in front of him, he wondered if he had been overconfident or arrogant in assuming his knowledge of previous travels would help him here. Moreover, was he even going to be able to lead a herd further down the track? Lost in his thoughts, it came as a surprise to him when Simplicity stopped next to him, alert with pricked ears and flared nostrils, that he began to pay attention to what was happening around him again.
He could smell it too; there was another stallion around ... Probably older than him. Unsure as to whether the stallion was close by or not, he followed Simplicity's lead by staying hidden behind the trees. He swished his tail irritably, trying to gather a better grasp on the situation. It was possible the humidity was making the stallion seem further away than he was.
"Stay here" Keska uttered under his breath to Simplicity as he stepped out into the clearing. His breath was coming hard in nervousness, his cream hide twitching, ready for anything to jump out at him. In spite of his natural fear, he tried to keep his handsome head held high in case a stallion really was around. if he couldn't fight, maybe he could bluff them into believing he was fearsome. Scanning the area with his ears, he was positive he could hear something, but couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. With an assertion of self confidence he snorted out a puff of steam to anyone in the area. OOC: DingoMutt WILL JUMP IN AFTER THIS POST C:
|
|
New Face Lvl1
26 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by DingoMutt on Jan 28, 2016 21:11:57 GMT -8
Booth // knab x friesian // seven years // 16.1 hhIn the months since Booth had stumbled through these woods, they had become his home. Where once he spooked at the shadows and shuddered under the foreign calls of birds, now he strode easily through the dappled walkways he'd worn between the trees with berry juice dripping from his chin. He was still a nervous creature by nature, but now he knew his way around and that instilled a great confidence in him. He had ventured out a few times to seek herd-mates, and several times he had met mares and failed to bring them back. He did not want to bully them, so he returned to the coolness of the woods and disappeared among the leaves until once again he would decide to venture out. One day the confidence in his feet and in his surroundings would fill him, but today he was alone and he would remain in the shelter of his home to wait out the rain.
His hooves were steady as he worked his way to his favorite palm tree. It was a very short palm compared to the rest, only about ten feet tall but wider than the rest. The leaves hung low and formed a canopy that the stallion could disappear in and find shelter from all sorts of weather. He spent his days patrolling the forest, knowing that one day he'd have to find someone. He'd done his best to form a good rapport with the little critters and birds that lived here. Somewhere he heard a gull calling, quickly stifled by a drizzle of rain pattering on the waxy leaves of plants and palms. Where once the woods were silent, now they were alive with sound and he did his best to tune out the rain and the sound of his hooves and keep alert for anything else. He'd been glad to find a shortage of predators, but he would not chance lowering his guard while he was alone.
The drizzle became a heavy rain, and the stallion left the safety of the trees at the base of the mountain to enter his valley. He didn't mind being wet, and within an instant he was soaked to the bone. It was like a switch was flipped, and he went from a kind-eyed, gentle giant to the beast of nightmares. His mane and forelock stuck to his neck and face, and he dropped his head a bit to let the rain hit his poll first and avoid his eyes. He picked up a quick trot, his steps high and flashy and snappy. It came naturally to him, and he'd incited his fair share of trouble when other bachelors had taken his lofty steps for a posturing challenge. He hopped neatly over the roots of a rogue eucalyptus tree, nearly losing his footing as he landed. The rain was coming hard now, faster than the earth could absorb, and he weaved a bit to avoid a few deep puddles that were forming. The sky overhead was dark and heavy, and he pinned his ears when a flash of lightning cut across the sky.
The brute's world was limited to what he could see ahead of him. The world smelled like rain, sounded like rain, and he gaped his mouth for an instant to get a few drops of moisture on his tongue. As he approached the trees, a pair of eucalyptus whose branches tangled and merged his target, he was startled to spot a buckskin horse. He had just a moment to decide what to do, to decide if he should flee or charge ahead, and he settled on the latter. His trot faltered and slowed for a single stride, then he kicked forward with a new surge of energy. In the darkness and pounding rain he had been able to come within a hundred feet without being seen or heard. He was soaking wet, his lips stained purple red from a patch of berries, his dark eyes hidden beneath a stringy mane as the world was suddenly lit up by a flash of lightning. He stretched out his neck, reaching forward as he kicked up his knees high with great impulsion and strength. He snaked forward towards the strange stallion, his ears pinned and his teeth bared. If Keska didn't retreat a few steps, the black stud was prepared to tussle. The sky lit up once more, turning him into a dangerous silhouette as he grew ever closer to the buckskin. He went from full speed to a halt in just a single stride, stopping just a couple yards from the stranger. His posture and dark eyes screamed a challenge, telling the younger stallion he best take a few steps back or face the consequences. He couldn't see Simplicity hiding in the shadows, all his attention was on the intruder.
The whole world was still for a few breaths while the stallion struggled to find his voice. He hadn't used it much of late, so he took a moment, gaping again to get some moisture on his dry palate. He was so focused on coming across as an alpha that he had neglected to breathe and keep his voice prepared. He pinned his ears and lashed his soaked tail against his hocks.
"Back up," he challenged. In the law of equines, the one that is able to force the other to move holds the power. He really didn't want to have to fight the younger stallion, especially for an empty forest, but when he had left his bachelor herd he had decided he wouldn't allow another stallion to push him ever again. So he laid down his demands, if the younger buckskin would submit to his authority then they would be able to get on and speak civilly. The stranger definitely had an air of youth about him, and he lacked the scars that Booth carried from years among rough bachelors. The contrast between the pair was laughable, and Booth almost felt a villain for his actions. But he took another step forward, another challenge, his ears pinned. "Who are you? Why are you here?" he asked, his voice a bit softer this time. 1031 words // here we go! big bad Booth baby
|
|
New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
19 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by kiblet on Jan 29, 2016 12:33:45 GMT -8
It did not take long for Keska to catch on to another stallion’s presence. He appeared to get quite anxious, similar to when they had first met only to a higher degree. Simplicity regarded his terse orders with respect and continued to remain planted firmly at the treeline as he pressed forward to locate this other horse. Her ears swiveled madly, attempting to catch the first sounds of anybody approaching. It did not take long for the storm to pick up again, dousing the valley with plenty of rain. These lands certainly held their share of humidity, she thought to herself, resisting the urge to shake off the beads of moisture that were dripping off her coat. It seemed to be forever that she watched the buckskin stallion twitching and huffing around in anticipation of whoever it was that would approach. At last a masculine form came into view, trotting in a most elegant fashion. Simplicity cocked her head as she watched him approach, seemingly ignorant of their presence. Not a moment later, he appeared to discover Keska and came charging forward. She stood watching, quivering with anticipation at how the interaction would go. Was that berry juice she saw on his lips or was he a bloodthirsty sort? She grunted softly in confusion at this, pondering how delicious berries would be compared to the saltiness of blood and determining it must be berries. Thinking about food had its usual effect on her and her guts began to gurgle and churn faster—despite being a lean Arabian mare, she had grown up in a land of little sustenance and was still unaccustomed to the buffet that this new world offered. With her guts in a tizzy, she started to slowly pace back and forth, eyeing the stallion interaction cautiously.
The new stallion had an aggressive and yet eloquent carriage to himself, indicative of a fellow in his prime. He must own these lands, she mused, letting her eyes trail over his muscular and soaking wet physique. On the one hand, he seemed to be eager to protect his lands, but on the other hand, he was not brash. He did ask Keska his intentions versus simply jumping him right then and there. There was civility in this approach, and Simplicity approved. After all, they meant no harm as they passed through, and in all honesty, if there was to be a fight, she’d have to place her bets on the bigger, older stallion. As she scanned his body, she noted scars. Were they from other horses or from predators? At the thought of predators, she began to anxiously peer at every tree and rock, half-expecting a cougar to jump right out and join this intimidating herd stallion. As the lightning flashed, it cast an eerie light that silhouetted things and made moving shadows from the inanimate objects that surrounded her. Giving a disdainful snort, she pushed the thoughts of predators from her mind. After all, any predator would probably be short work for three grown horses.
She eyed Keska anxiously, wondering how he would respond to the herd stallion. From what she knew of his personality, it was unlikely that a fight would escalate from this interaction, especially as she had followed directions and remained behind in the trees. Just as she was priding herself on being a good mare, a sharp crack sounded from overhead as a heavy, sodden limb separated from its tree trunk and plunged down, landing squarely on her withers with a thunk before she could blink an eye. Simplicity’s eyes rolled with fear and her ears pinned flat against her skull as she began furiously bucking, thinking a cougar had just made an attempt on her life. She let out an ear-splitting scream, tail whisking frantically, nostrils flared, and head weaving as she threw the branch from her back. It was not until she had stamped the unfortunate tree limb into oblivion, heart racing wildly, that she bolted out from the trees and into the lush valley. Spooked though she was, she soon realized her mistake at revealing her presence to the new stallion. On the one hand, she felt embarrassed at such a strong reaction to so mild a threat, but on the other hand, she was very upset at what she considered a near-death experience. Heart pounding, she stood in the field, blowing from her intense exertion and looking at the two stallions with the whites of her eyes showing. Cover blown.
Simplicity // 5 years old // Arabian // Mare // Bay // 15hh // Homeless OOC: Giving up on those darn tables until I can figure them out :/
|
|
New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
Mocha Connoisseur
17 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Neon on Jan 29, 2016 19:14:52 GMT -8
No sooner had this unknown stallion charged at him with thundering hooves had Keska quickly taken stock of his surroundings, his eyes flashed and ears swivelled, filtering out the usual storm sounds and sifting around to see if the other male was alone. It appeared he was, but it also seemed to be the case that the lands Simplicity and Keska had stumbled into belonged to this horse. He widened his nostrils and let out a defiant snort; if the interaction turned bad he could at least head for the safety of the trees and take Simplicity with him. As the larger, fearsome looking horse challenged his intentions, he squared himself in front of him, lining his shoulders up and keeping his hind leg muscles taut, ready to flee or ... Fight, if so be it. With hooves planted firmly in the crisp grass, he pricked his ears and made eye contact so as not to antagonise the other horse.
He was barely even able to utter a reply when Simplicity came hurtling out of the forest growth, making an ungodly amount of noise; screaming, kicking, her hooves pounding on the grass and flicking up the earth. Judging from her white-eyed, terrified expression and reaction, she had obviously been spooked by something, but Keska could see nothing pursuing her and deduced it was probably from the crack of thunder that had just occurred. She stopped, hooves spread wide, looking at them with fear in her eyes; Keska knew he had to move immediately to protect her, at least until he could be sure the other stallion was no enemy.
Kicking his hooves up and lifting his tail, he let out a confident neigh and swiftly centred his body between the stallion and Simplicity, making sure the bay mare was safe behind him. He didn't have time to deal with whatever her problem was because the other stallion posed the bigger threat, but he aimed a soft nicker at her in an attempt to calm her. Deciding the best course of action would be to distract the horse from Simplicity, he decided to speak to him now.
Keska took a few steps forward, holding his head up and tossing his mane, He would make sure he didn't seem intimidated, but he didn't want to start a fight. "I am Keska." He answered, his voice low and deliberate, "my friend and I are just passing through, seeking shelter from the storm. We are no threat to you."
The sky seemed to agree with him and flashed with lightning, echoing a ear-shattering crack in a reminder that more inhospitable weather was to come. Keska swished his tail and replaced his hind hooves on the ground as his withers twitched in anticipation, readying himself for a fight should this horse decide to start one. He had now managed to take a closer look at the stallion... Was that blood around his mouth?! Keska did not want to fight with such a horse, but if it really was blood, perhaps he might have no choice. OOC: THIS IS SUCH A FUN THREAD C: APOLOGIES FOR MY AUSTRALIAN GRAMMAR
|
|
New Face Lvl1
26 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by DingoMutt on Jan 30, 2016 0:46:37 GMT -8
Booth // knab x friesian // seven years // 16.1 hhThe past few moments had felt like years. Time had slowed to a crawl behind Booth's eyes, and looking over his intruder was all he could do to keep from going mad. He was quite finely bred, small hooves, long legs, a slightly dished mug, one of the sort that looked more suited to the desert than anywhere else. And here he was, with his heavy feathered feet and his long neck and he felt a bit silly. Booth appeared something from a story book, his dark eyes guarding many secrets, but Keska had long trotted from the arid wastes and hardly broken a sweat. The stallion remembered his sire, and how the black beast had commanded the world with just a look and with that image in his mind he felt a bit stronger. He was his father's son, a strong son and not merely a painted idol, one that would defend his territory and himself if he had to. The rain drummed a steady pattern on his back and between his eyes and simply everywhere, and that was enough to bring his attention to his skin, to feel every fiber of his body and be utterly in command and ready to tangle. His lips were pursed, his ears perked as he waited for the buckskin to respond.
A crack of thunder hid the sound of the crashing tree limb, but despite the rain the brute saw the vegetation shift. He was deadly calm, but his eyes widened a bit when an arabian mare came tearing through the bushes and out into the valley. He had gone from very alone to the company of two horses very quickly, and his irritation spiked. He watched the mare with curiosity, his hooves planted in the soaked grass. He could feel the earth under his frogs growing soft as it struggled to absorb the sudden rain. The mare finally settled, her eyes still wide and her body trembling from the exertion of being so scared and fleeing so quickly. He had to wonder what had startled her, as so far he'd yet to find anything in these forests that would harm a horse. He remained still, merely turning his head as Keska trotted from his place ahead of him to the side, placing his pale hide between himself and the mare. Now the buckskin was on the broad side of his body, and he had to hope his considerable bulk would serve as a deterrent to any attitude. They were nearly the same height, but Booth surely had several hundred pounds on the intruder. But the stallion's steps were lofty, his neck a bit arched, his tail just flagged and the black had seen it before and still that did not make the situation any less bothersome. He had been straightforward with his demands, but he had been ignored. He had only desired a display of submission and good will, but instead the youth tossed his mane and stepped forward and spoke. The black's dark ears carefully picked out Keska's words over the downpour.
"Keska," Booth began, testing the exotic name on his tongue. He did not acknowledge the mare. Perhaps she would introduce herself, and he would treat her kindly, but his issue at the moment was with the arrogant blonde. He'd seen how his sire had treated wanderers, and he had not been nearly so polite as the appaloosa struggled to be right now. It was a bit frightening, he felt, that he was so calm and ready to fight. This was not Booth, he decided, this was his very best imitation of his father. "I do not appreciate your boldness. You tell me you are not a threat, but your posture betrays you." he said. He finally turned his body, very slowly, and took one step forward. His ears pinned for an instant, then gradually shifted forward. He wasn't sure what to do. He felt an arrogant youth deserved a nice bite on the neck, but he would not deliver it. He felt like a stranger dealing with two unruly children that were not his, but how was he to leave them out in the rain?
"Lass, are you alright? That was a mighty spook. If you'd like to get out of the rain, you may follow me," he began, looking past the stallion to the little bay mare. He had to wonder if they were a pair, but Keska introduced her as his friend. He thought that quite odd, but it wasn't his business. He turned his gaze back to the buckskin. "You may come as well, dear Keska, but make any sort of posture in my direction and you'll regret it. You shall respect me while you are my guest." he finished, his voice firm. He wanted to cry, acting so boldly towards strangers, but he had to remain strong and not allow them to take advantage of him. His face did not betray him, as he'd spent his entire seven years lying to those around him. Lying to his sire and dam, lying to the other bachelors, and now lying to protect his hide. He carried himself well, his long neck arched a bit as he was built and trained to do. He turned back towards the forest and raised his legs to step over a short bush, not bothering when he came across the limb that Simplicity had stamped into the mud. He didn't care much if they followed him or not. If they went their own way, he decided he'd have to find them when the rain let up and send them on their way. He glanced over his shoulder, then back forward to focus on his feet. The rain was less here, with sparse trees and palms to block it, but still it poured and ran down his sides and dripped from his belly. The edge of the forest was sparse, and it was a good walk to where the woods were dense enough to shelter them completely. He was no longer headed to his favorite palm, the perfect size for one, but instead a twisted and ancient eucalyptus that had still held its leaves despite how late it was in the season. 1040 words // Booth is a decent actor, I'd say lol don't mean to say what Keska's doing, but this is how Booth is seeing it. now they can make nice and play house
|
|
New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
19 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by kiblet on Jan 30, 2016 14:20:25 GMT -8
Simplicity began to calm; safety in numbers was usually a good defense tactic against predators, even if they did turn out to only be unruly, wet branches. Steam rose from her hide as the cool rain met with the heat from her quivering muscles. The raindrops had a soothing quality, cooling her and providing a mild distraction from the experience she had just had. It seemed like forever, but in fact only took moments for her to gather her wits and assume a more collected air. Her dramatic entrance appeared to have spurred Keska to action as he inserted himself between her and the large herd stallion and offered a whicker of support to her. This piqued her interest, as she had thought surely he would try to avoid a fight, particularly since they were not necessarily bound to any particular territories. While she mused about his new confidence, her eyes trailed to the patterned stallion that they had encountered. After sizing him up, she decided that he would most certainly win any fight that was started based on the premonition of size equals power, but those stained lips were very distracting. While the boys were figuring each other out, she stared openly at the dark stallion’s lips, wondering where he would have found a fruity delicacy. She had long since decided it was berry juice, seeing not a trace of discoloration anywhere else on his body and determining that while he appeared to be an elegant and orderly fellow, nobody could kill something of any size and only stain their face. Unless of course this stallion had a penchant for snatching up and dispatching of small rodents. She cocked her head, toying with this line of thought for a moment then dismissing it. Berries. It had to be berries. Now that her near-death experience was behind her, she was beginning to feel some post-traumatic munchies and was craving some berries. Nevertheless, she surmised it was not quite the appropriate time to ask this brute where she might find some sweet morsels.
Keska had acknowledged her presence to the stallion, but for now her name remained anonymous. Then again, she did not know this other stallion’s name either. I bet his name is Annihilator or something powerful like that, she thought to herself. She knew that she was not particularly large or muscular in stature due to her lineage of small, fleet-footed desert-dwellers, but he just seemed so burly in comparison. Keeping her feet planted, she lowered her head and put her ears to the side, hoping to appear unobtrusive. She decided if he lunged for her, she would have to retreat, but to her surprise he retreated instead! Her head shot up and ears pricked at this turn of events. One moment she thought the two fellows were squaring up for a fight, and the next she and Keska had become invited guests into this stallion’s territory. Curiosity getting the best of her, she found herself stepping along several paces behind the stallion before she even decided to follow. Eyeing the evil tree limb that had inspired her explosion, she addressed Booth, "I was attacked, but took care of the issue. I’ll manage, thank you. As far as accompanying you…" Casting a questioning glance at Keska, she paused, hesitating to leave her companion behind. Although they had only been traveling together briefly, he had made no aggressive moves and respected her opinions. Push come to shove, she would do what he thought best, but she so hoped he would consider a detour on their journey to see where this stallion was headed. “Shall we?” she asked Keska, her eyes urging him to say yes. After all, this stranger may turn out to be a good ally…or at least show them where those berries were.
Simplicity // 5 years old // Arabian // Mare // Bay // 15hh // Homeless
|
|
New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
Mocha Connoisseur
17 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Neon on Feb 1, 2016 2:42:14 GMT -8
Keska let out an irritated snort as the spotted stallion and Simplicity walked ahead of him, leaving him behind. His deep-set trust issues surfaced again, and an involuntary, hurried neigh burst from his throat. This stallion was bothering him, but he didn't want to engage a fight; not over a mare who hadn't agreed to join a herd with him, or for lands he didn't particularly want. Booth could also have an ulterior motive; he had completely shut down Keska with a few mere words yet was perfectly - and almost sickeningly - inviting to Simplicity.
He pawed at the ground with his forehooves and slapped his ebony tail against his sweat and rain sheened beige rump as he grappled with his conflicting emotions. It might be best to go with this horse called Booth, he concluded to himself, just because refusing is probably the faster way to a fight. Keska wasn't a coward - he was just careful and logical. With another wary snort, he lowered his head only a small fraction, kept his ears pricked and took a few tentative steps forward before trotting to catch up with Simplicity. He swiftly and gently nipped the crest of her dark mane, demanding her attention.
"We must be on our guard," he warned her with a dire look in his eyes, "both of us are at risk in this situation. If he means no harm, then so be it. But he could also be leading us astray."
Keska had visions of a trap laid by Booth, perhaps he had a band of stallion bachelors who would jump him and steal 'his' mare (as that is probably how they perceive Simplicity), then leave him for dead in the depths of the humid, unknown rainforest. A shiver chilled him, wriggling down his spine. He had to be alert, careful and wary. In the past there had never been a single friendly outcome from an encounter with another stallion ... If history dictates, then this will probably end the same way. He walked subconsciously so his shoulders and flank touched Simplicity's out of protectiveness for both of their lives. OOC: MY WORD COUNT IS SO LOW COMPARED TO YOU GUYS ... LOL BUT WHAT CAN I DO HERE ?
|
|
New Face Lvl1
26 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by DingoMutt on Feb 1, 2016 20:12:28 GMT -8
Booth // knab x friesian // seven years // 16.1 hhBooth tried to keep his ears forward, focused on the poorly lit path ahead, but they flicked back regularly to keep some focus on his guests. The mare had followed quickly, surprisingly so, nearly on his heels before he'd finished speaking. He was glad she appeared to trust him, or at least was more interested in getting out of the rain than afraid of him. Which was surely a good thing, as despite his appearance Booth was anything but a force to be reckoned with. Still, he could walk the walk and talk the talk, and now that he thought about it he'd spent many years sparring with other bachelors. And before that, his sire had tried to train him to be a noble beast and a capable fighter. He tossed his head to get rid of a few rain drops clinging to his chin, deciding that he was indeed a force of nature, and he licked his lips with delight. Some sweetness clung to his whiskers from his snack earlier.
He paused when Simplicity did, turning his head to see if Keska would come as well. His lower lip drooped a bit, his ears perked as he listened to the pair speak. He was unable to discern Keska's speech, but he could surely guess at their conversation. Was it okay to trust him? He wasn't sure that he would trust himself in this situation, in fact he was sure his meek self would be dancing out of his skin, so he would simply move on and brave the elements. But the two arabs had taken a chance and opted to follow him for a chance at shelter. After a brief hush the pair pressed on to catch up, and Booth watched them for a few steps before turning and continuing to lead. He didn't miss the way that the buckskin watched the mare and hovered near her. If they weren't already pair, that's surely what the buckskin wanted. Not that the black would blame him at all, but that perhaps added to the tension between the studs. The appy had spent his whole life thus far without a mare, he wouldn't lose his mind to his hormones this evening.
He wouldn't speak on it, but the panicked neigh of Keska had rung about in his mind. As stressed as Booth had ever been, he had always been quiet. He carefully picked up his feet to avoid tripping on a particularly gnarly set of tree roots. He flicked his tail against his hip, wondering what was going through the minds of the other horses. He hated wondering what others were thinking. As he raised his foreleg he turned his head a bit to glance over his shoulder and see how his guests were getting on. They were close, picking their way through the underbrush. The buckskin seemed a bit more alert than the mare, but both moved at an easy pace to keep up with his own. They didn't seem too terribly stressed, or they were at least acting it. He'd managed to suppress his anxiety thus far, why couldn't they be?
"Lass, what's your name?" the stud asked, keeping his attention forward. The rain had slowed for a few moments, no longer a downpour. The forest was growing thicker with each step, where once there were sparsely scattered palms now they grew closely together. Palm fronds and dead leaves scattered the pathway, but had been stamped down and brushed away in a path just wide enough for the big brute's hooves. He heard mice and other little mammals he didn't have names for scuttling through the underbrush, which gradually had changed from grass to ferns and other plants he had yet to trust to try. The world was growing dark, but the pounding of the rain on his back was replaced with the sound of it pattering against leaves fifty feet up. He paused beneath a great white eucalyptus, one that grew up just a few feet before jutting sharply back to the ground, then finally reaching up towards the sky. It had many thick branches, and the stud approached to rub his neck against the smooth bark. He turned on his haunches to watch the two strangers.
"My name is Booth. I beg your pardon for my behavior before, but understand I won't accept any rudeness on my lands," he said. He shook out his coat like a dog, his wet mane slapping against his neck. When he was done he no longer dripped, and for this he was grateful. Here and there a drop would get lucky and not be stopped by the canopy, and he shied away when a large droplet struck his eye. He said a curse under his breath. "You two are welcome to stay for the duration of the storm if you'd like... and there's plenty of land to the south if you're seeking your own place to live." he said, really trying his best to be kind. Keska was tugging on his nerves a bit, but he didn't want to fault the buckskin too terribly for looking out for himself and his mare. If they got on, he might even invite them to stay forever.
Feeling a bit frisky all of a sudden, perhaps from finally speaking his mind to his guests, he reared up on his hind legs. He went up and up and up, until he was tall as he could be and he snatched a young branch from the eucalyptus. He stayed up as long as he could, then dropped lightly back down to all four hooves. He arched his neck and bobbed his head briefly, snapping up the young branch. It was tough to chew, but a snack all the same. He extended his neck to offer a bite to the buckskin, a peace offering of sorts. In this area of the forest there wasn't much to eat, as many of the trees were too tall and grass struggled to grow where the light was so poor. He'd spend his nights in the woods, then move to the valley to graze on grass during the day. Ferns made a fine diet if he grew peckish in the evening, but he didn't care much for the taste. 1048 words // don't ever worry about word count lol sometimes the words flow, sometimes they don't
|
|
New Face Lvl1
IS OFFLINE
Years Old
Female
19 POSTS & 1 LIKE
|
Post by kiblet on Feb 11, 2016 14:34:58 GMT -8
Keska’s nip commanded her attention at once, and she hesitated to move until she heard what he had to say. The worry in his features and voice was palpable and catching. A shiver ran down her sides as she took in the warning of his words. Clearly Keska thought that this stallion was dangerous, and although he certainly was big and bold enough, Booth hadn’t struck her as particularly dangerous yet. Then again, he could be a sly manipulator, leading them into the forest. As a mare, Simplicity was more inclined to follow stallions and rarely stood up for her own opinions. Although Keska had not formally claimed her as his mare, it was clear by the way he closely shadowed her side as they followed the other stallion that he considered her his. This did not bother Simplicity; after all, mares belonged to stallions and that was the way things were.Simplicity stepped out at a quick walk to catch up to the other stallion, picking her hooves daintily over suspicious looking undergrowth and flicking her ears around like little satellites to be sure that no dangerous creatures would get the best of her this time. All she heard was the rain against the leaves, although it seemed as though it was lessening once more, the staccato of drops returning to a soft patter as the drops got smaller and less frequent. Her back and rump were dotted with wetness from the few drops that escaped through and gave her an almost dappled appearance. Out of the silence, the dark stallion began speaking, and Simplicity perked up as she listened. He asked for her name and offered his. Booth. She wondered for a moment if the name had any significant meaning but felt unsure of asking such a bold question and decided to keep quiet. She knew that her name was meant to explain her character; the name for a horse that could hide nothing from others and was easy to interpret at all times. Some might think it a sign of weakness that she would never be able to mask her emotions and thoughts, that she was a rather plain mare, but that did not bother her. She did not place stock in manipulation or lying, and those who came to know her need never fear that she would have a malicious bone in her body. “Booth, a pleasure to meet you…I hope. I am called Simplicity. It is most gracious of you to let us get out of the rain, dreadful stuff that it is.”As they reached their destination, Simplicity watched with curiosity as the large stallion reached up above to find nourishment. As he drew down a branch, she backed away cautiously, turning her head to the side to better eye him and ascertain his intentions with it. When he began chewing and offered Keska a bite, she relaxed, ears falling to the side and tail lowering ever so slightly. Gastric juices flowing, Simplicity was eager for a meal herself and fidgeted as she decided whether or not to snatch a bite for herself. Unable to resist, she covered the ground between herself and the stallions quickly, reached out and snatched a bite from the branch Booth held, dancing away with her prize. The scent of berries from the stallion’s muzzle lingered on the branch, inciting a renewed interest from the mare. As she chewed, she figured that it was as good a time as any to inquire about those berries. “Would you be so kind as to show us the source of those berries? No rush, but I would be most interested.” She eyed him with intense curiosity, tail flagged once more--she got a rush from being so bold. Stealing a glance from one stallion to the other, she stayed light on her feet, prepared to bolt if she was to be advanced upon for stealing her snack. Adrenaline always brought her to attention, but then again, as a young mare, she was always ready for adventure and play as well. They might think that she was manipulating them, but there was no ulterior motive—she was just hungry (like usual). Simply hungry for food and adventure.Simplicity // 5 years old // Arabian // Mare // Bay // 15hh // Homeless OOC: Sorry about the delay--the little one has quite the demanding schedule, but hopefully I will be more regular in posting again
|
|