Mornings grasp (OPEN)

[KAREE]

Adoni felt light and happy, feeling encouraged and bolder at the mares soft nickers. He watched as the mare, Uuna, spoke to him then turned her attention to the buckskin. “You are mistaken, I am not beautiful, simply a mare. I thank you sir for the frank offer, but what authority do you have that your protection is worth accepting? I am old enough to take care of myself; I may not need your protection.” Adoni then looked at Uuna, the bay mare shone lightly under the sun, that was about it. Nothing too special, Adoni couldn't think of the mare as beautiful, that was a bit too far fetched for the poor colt. “Charming young Adoni is correct; you might introduce yourself first. There is no need for haste, I know for a fact the men are more than a day’s travel from here, and they will not be out today.” Adoni smiled, his golden head lifting up high, the white blaze down his face seemed to shine whiter than normal as the sun hit it, but at the mention of man Adoni quickerly recoiled, head whipping around cautiously before he relaxed again. "Well, good for you. Would you mind teaching me that sometime?" He nodded, "I may if you want." He grinned. He was not scared of the buckskin, he would not hurt Adoni, he knew that. "My name is Cobar, meaning burnt earth. Your words are correct; I-" The buckskin finally introduced himself when an odd screaming interrupted him.

Adoni watched Cobar stiffen and take a step towards Uuna. The movement made Adoni tremble, what was that? Just then a stallion came bounding down the slope Adoni had cantered down earlier. Though this stallion was not happy, he was angry, body formed into a huge shape of aggressive. Adoni shifted under his weight, but quickerly backed away as the stallion came closer. Why was this stallion so angered? Adoni hadn't done anything wrong! He trembled again, feeling confused and scared. Then another movement caught his eye and just a in the fringe of the trees was another horse, a mare this time. These stallions had mares with them, no wonder! The colt lowered his head and backed up a few more steps, before pricking his ears forward to watch the stallion talk to Uuna like he knew her from somewhere else. “Uuna,” Curiosity made Adoni take a small step forward, “I thought you a mare who would run with none but the strongest of stallions. Yet here I see you with colts who could never hold you through a winter.” His ears went back in response, he wasn't out to protect the mare, she was waaaaayyy to old for him and he was just old enough to look after himself, so why did the stallion think that Adoni was there running with the mare? “I would lead you away from here,” The stallion continued, coaxing the mare, “Lead you on a dance through the High Country, coax you to highest reaches of the High Country where the wind blows fierce and the snow falls unending.” So was that how they did it? Was that how these two stallions got their small band going? Coaxing poor mares into believing them, making them think they'd protect them to the ends of the earth. That was sad. Very, very sad. Adoni would never be like that. He'd never coax a mare, never ever, ever!

[Tiggs]

The buckskin made a token effort, but from the arrival of his fillies, Uuna could not say she was overly impressed. By the looks of things he only held two young mares, mares he probably was yet to fight for. From his age, he should have at least built a more substantial herd by now, unless he had lost them to another stallion. Nevertheless, she was alone in the High Country and she supposed any stallion was good enough for the moment. He did look like a decent specimen, but she would have to wean him out of those habits. Mares had just as much right as stallions to be treated with respect.

Cobar, was it? She nodded her head in greeting, but they were soon cut off by the arrival of a second stallion. Her ears pinned back at the call; she would recognise that voice, unless the High Country was playing tricks on her. She turned to look, and she had been correct. The grey stallion, paler than she had ever known him, came cantering over the flat, every muscle taught with familiar anger. Uuna lifted her head, appearing nobler as the grey stallion came to her.

Typically he menaced the other two males, and she found herself swelling with pride in herself and her former stallion. It was a wonder he was still alive, let alone holding mares. She nickered to him but stopped herself. This was the proud magnificent stallion that had left her in the hands of men. She waited impatiently until he was close, greeting her with enthusiasm and his typical brand of persuasion. Ears and nostrils trembling, she seemed to be falling for it until her nose reached his shoulder and she gave him a sharp nip and squealed in annoyance.

“Boolee. I should have known you were too stubborn to let any mere winter or stallion finish you off.” She snapped at him again, turning to face him with an indignant expression. “Lead me on a dance, would you?” She huffed, “Why would I even follow you? The last time I saw you it was a view of your rump as you jumped the fence to freedom and fled.” She stamped a hoof and inclined her head away from the grey brute. “If you were to lead me anywhere, it should have been from the men’s trap.” She finished scathingly.

Despite her old anger, she couldn’t help but be almost overjoyed at seeing her old stallion again. However he would suffer a little first. She was not some ordinary mare he could woo away with a standard spiel; she knew him, and he would have to make up his past mistakes before she gave him an inch to take.

[Corowa]

Boolee’s ears twitched uncertainly, when Uuna did not greet him with a joyful whinny, when the old bay mare did not turn to him with those soft nickers he so fondly remembered. He felt her tremble, felt the sudden pounding of her heart when he pressed closer, and then she was reaching over to swiftly nip him. Squealing angrily, Boolee gave her a hard nip of his own, throwing up his head and swinging his haunches neatly away.

Distracted by Uuna, he did not notice those other fillies approach. It was only when the stallion gave a shrill whinny, did Boolee throw up his head in one sudden fluid movement, ears curiously pricked and nostrils quivering with excitement. Though intrigued by the two fillies, he made no move towards them. He wondered if Tyrilly was hidden still, for she showed the makings of a fine mare. Gentle and submissive, he was pleased to have her run with him. Shy Tyrilly gave him no reason to fear, for she listened to him, looked to him for guidance. Surely, it would be that creamy mare Cardinia, who would stir trouble, beautiful as she was. If she thought he would challenge these stallions for her, he would not. For the creamy was not truly his, elusive and rarely seen, she was more wraith than flesh and blood, and she had not answered his call. Uuna was the only mare Boolee was interested in luring away, not those shadowy fillies, nor the half-seen creamy.

“How could you be so foolish to be captured?” he demanded. “I thought you wise and strong and I sought to lead you from the men. Perhaps if that foal had not clung so close, you could have followed me over.” For all his rough bites and harshness, Boolee ran a gentle nose over the mare, nostrils distended as he noisily snorted. Reassured, the stallion gently bumped her shoulder, trying to tell the mare how deeply he had missed her, how worried he had been. Laying back his ears, neck arching in the beginnings of a threat display, Boolee turned to the two stallions, every nerve tingling with this jealous furiousness. Moving forwards, he swished his tail and tossed his head high, striking out sharply with one foreleg. For Uuna was his mare, having coaxed her from her stockman owner, and Boolee would not have her stolen from him once more.

[{ Opal }]

Cobar instinctively tensed as the grey stallion became aware of his fillies, and his ears flicked back with hostility, head raised up. He was more than willing to fight the old grey for his herd, but it seemed the stallion knew his place in the matter, and showed little interest in shadowy Omaroo, and spirited Ally. Cobar relaxed, though he was coming to the realization that he had no place in this scenario, and further more he was annoyed by Boolee's frequent reprimands. Stifling a sigh- he had seemed close to gathering another mare- the buckskin stallion backed away. But before leaving, Cobar shot a kind look at Uuna, and her apparent mate (though it was forced when it came to him). ”Thank you for the honor of meeting you both, but I must go now,” he said politely, stretching his manners to the utmost in order to satisfy the bay mare. With that finished, Cobar then turned to the colt. ”You can top most full-grown stallions, colt; I bet you’ll grow up to be King.” There was pride in Cobar’s gaze as he spoke, and he truly meant what he said.

With a low dip of his head, Cobar turned back toward Omaroo, and his eyes sparkled with humor as he held her gaze. What an encounter! The fillies would tease him for days! But Cobar didn’t mind, and he carried himself toward the young black mare (who did look beautiful against the green backdrop) with hasty steps. As he drew near Cobar gave Omaroo a playful, proud nip, then started to lead her back up the slope. Cobar had almost wanted to fight the grey for the bay mare, but he saw that Uuna was happy with her old, boisterous general, and had no intention of spoiling her fun. Perhaps another day would bring more luck to the buckskin stallion.

[yaruka]

OOC: I think it's my turn? o.O

Grazing in a nearby dip in the hills, Tyrilly waited peacefully for Boolee to return. She was not concerned about the stallion, she knew him to be wise and strong, nor was she afraid for her own safety. It simply was not in Tyrilly's nature to worry about things before it was strictly necessary for conern. And even then she had a remarkably positive outlook on life. The little painted filly swished her tail idly as she cropped the grass, shooing away those irksome insects that landed on her soft coat.
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Cardinia had no desire to cause trouble. No, that would call too much attention to herself. The creamy mare had spent the first half of her life avoiding the notice of stallions, she did not wish to bring back the hordes that would fight over her and try and bully her into joining them. Something about Boolee was different from these other stallions, for though he clearly desired her for his herd he was not about to go out of his way (apart from calling to her) to make her stay with him. Cardinia respected that. She wasn't going to go hanging after any stallion, why should a stallion hang after her? Still, she taunted him by remaining just on the edge of his reach. She would come, but not quite yet.
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Omaroo shivered as the strange stallion's gaze slid over her, and seeking comfort, sidled closer to Cobar. The stallion's focus soon returned to the bay mare, Uuna, however, and the black filly relaxed. When Cobar decided to take his leave she bounded over to his side, returning his nip with her own teasing one on his withers. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and as the buckskin made his way up the hill she danced beside him. "It certainly was an honour to meet them, wasn't it?" she said innocently before darting away to engage Ally in play.

[KAREE]

Adoni watched as the white continued to moon over Uuna, but he didn't make a motion to stop him. He was only a colt after all, and it didn't seem as though Uuna didn't want the company, otherwise she would have moved away. Adoni backed up again as the stallion continued to bare his teeth and what not towards Cobar and himself. Adoni looked at the buckskin, a little worried, and confused at the same time. Why could this stallion not accept that they where here? Why did he still try to drive them away?

As though he'd had enough of the nasty white, Cobar stated his leave. ”Thank you for the honor of meeting you both, but I must go now,” Adoni looked at him, panic rising like bile at the back of his throat. He didn't want to be left alone with this nasty stallion, even when the mare was there. Then Cobar turned to face Adoni, ”You can top most full-grown stallions, colt; I bet you’ll grow up to be King.” Adoni couldn't help but grin, inspite of himself. He nodded and beamed inwards. "Thank you," He watched as he made his leave, taking his fillies with him. It was then that Adoni noticed the heat of the sun radiating off his metallic palomino hide. Perhaps it was time for Adoni to leave also. He needed to go and meet horses his age. He looked up at the two horses for a moment, a look of longing for company shining in his eyes. "Um, I guess I should be on my way too." He smiled gently at Uuna, then nodded towards the demeaning stallion. "It was nice meeting you Uuna." He added before turning. He made his way across the shining sea of snow grass, cantering along with his soft flaxen mane and tail billowing out behind him.

[Tiggs]

“Foolish?” She trilled, indignant, “We were your mares, we were your responsibility.” She directed another hard nip at his rump, ears lingering back in her discontent. She couldn’t keep the façade up for long, though, and her ears perked forward slowly as the buckskin left. She looked to the colt, bobbing her head knowingly. Boolee was a stubborn stallion, and would hardly tolderate the silvery colt hanging around. It was a pity, he was entertaining company.

“You grumpy old brute,” she chastised Boolee once they were left alone. She sidled up to him, leaning toward him. “The colt was harmless.” She nipped her old mate on his shoulder, rubbing her forehead over the spot afterward. She lifted her head, calling a farewell to the creamy colt over Boolee’s back. She contented herself then, nibbling at Boolee’s spine. “Not lost your intimidating powers, I see.” She said fondly, teeth grazing his withers.

It did not surprise her that the buckskin had thought better of challenging Boolee. The grey might be getting on in years, but he still had a ferocious spirit. That was what she loved most about him, his domineering attitude to the world, his uttermost dominance that made colts flee and even stallions in their prime cower. “So, old whirlwind, have you more mares hidden about? I’d like to see if any filly could put up with a brute such as you.” She was glad he wanted her back – she had not dreamed she would see him again, and it brought back fond memories, before the drive when they could stand and graze or groom each other in the summer sun without a care.