shining waters, shining filly, [R]

[Corowa]

Picking her way carefully down the old brumby track, Karuah nickered gently to the bay filly sticking closely to her side. The shaly slope was steep, dropping sharply down to the bush below. The young mare went more slowly, where the rocks were slippery with moss and morning dew, for Wangnarra slipped and stumbled often, and to fall would mean death. Gradually the ridge grew flat, and snowgrass merged with scrubby ti-tree and bossiaea all golden with blossom. When the filly’s trembling nose touched her flank, Karuah swung round to let her drink.

Tossing up her head, the mare stood listening, hearing only the softest murmur of a breeze through the snowgum leaves. Turning, the mare followed the path of the river, not hurrying, stopping often to graze and let the filly rest. Where a small creek joined up with the Crackenback, Karuah found half-buried tracks, saw many brumbies had come here recently. Troubled, the mare led Wangnarra into thicker bush, where their tracks would not so easily show and her own creamy coat would be hidden. The filly blended in with the rough bark of the messmate trees, the silvery green leaves of the grevillea, and the mare was glad she clung close, worried she would lose her. The trees became wide-spaced, for the candleheath and wattle thinned where the river met with another of those small bush creeks. With a hard nip, Karuah told Wangnarra to stay and be quiet. Hide prickling, the mare crept from the sheltering trees, calling to her daughter when she was certain all was clear.

In this snowgrass clearing, the still waters of the two rivers stretched before them. Filled with joy on this lovely bright day, Wangnarra splashed along the river, squealing with delight when Karuah joined her. For the splendid silver filly and her bay daughter played together there in the shallow waters of the Crackenback.

OOC: Reserved for Warring to meet his new daughter

[yaruka]

A lone stallion wandered the brush this fine spring day. Anxiously he awaited the return of his mate and only mare, Karuah, and their firstborn foal. He knew Karuah would return here, the area being where she had left him and equally plentiful in grazing and water. Half concealed in the shadows of the bush, Warring had no mind to anything but pace. How long was normal for mares to be gone to give birth? Surely Karuah should have been back by now? What if he had lost her? At this last thought the noble bay shook his mane vigourously, he would not think that way.

As though from a dreamscape he suddenly heard the faint sounds of hooves on rock. Throwing his fine head up, Warring looked through the branches to see his beautiful Karuah and a lovely bay filly walking through a clearing opposite him, seeking to quench their thirst at the cool waters of the Crackenback. With a low and affectionate nicker of greeting, the stallion stepped from the brush. He walked proudly towards them, barely containing his excitement.

Crossing the creek confidently he extended a quivering muzzle to Karuah, blowing through his nostrils in greeting and giving her an affectionate nuzzle. Then the bay stallion turned to his daughter, lowering his kind head and blowing out softly, allowing the little bay to come to him.

OOC: there's no dialogue in this post, so I didn't have Warring ask what his daughter's name is/verbally greet Karuah. If you want I can edit it to include those things, I wasn't in a real dialogue mood today

[Corowa]

Karuah had the strong feeling she was being watched, for there was a stillness to the bush, which made her hair rise and every nerve tingle. Sensing her mother’s restlessness, Wangnarra stopped in her tracks, and rushed back to her side. Poised to vanish with this bay filly into the thick river bush, the mare stood with head held high and nostrils quivering. From between the grey messmate trunks, she saw a glimpse of brown hide, and then Warring was stepping gracefully from the trees. Karuah’s nostrils vibrated with a soft nicker, and she shyly greeted her mate. Touching her nose to his, the young mare turned proudly to the bay filly at her side. “She is Wangnarra for the stringybarks,” Karuah said, nudging the filly forwards.

With a nervous whinny, Wangnarra shrank away from the stallion. All four legs planted apart, the filly pressed more closely to her mother’s side. Eyes showing the whites, the filly’s ears twitched uncertainly and even Karuah’s gentle nuzzling was not enough to coax her out. Hidden beneath her mother’s belly, Wangnarra peered curiously up at the stallion. While Karuah quietly grazed, the bay filly drank, seeking reassurance in her mother’s milk. The milk warmed her, filled her with high spirits, so she longed to put her head down and buck. When Karuah snorted, Wangnarra leapt skittishly to one side. Heart pounding, blood thrumming with this wild excitement, the bay filly sprang away at a gallop.

Whirling about where the river curved into ti-tree and wattle, Wangnarra threw up her head when Karuah’s throaty whicker reached her pricked ears. Karuah was warmth and safety, and with a shrill whinny, the filly tore back to her mother’s side. She arrived there breathless, and no longer so afraid of the strange bay stallion.

[yaruka]

“She is Wangnarra for the stringybarks,” said Karuah, and Warring raised his head as it became obvious the filly was not going to approach him just yet. "Wangnarra is a lovely name," he said "And she is a lovely filly, as beautiful as her mother," he said, nudging Karuah affectionately on her neck. Karuah began to graze and Warring mirrored her, ears flickering to catch the slightest hint of danger. He had resolved not to push the bay filly to come to him just yet, there was plenty of time to get to know her. Still, though he knew it was foolish, Warring couldn't help but be faintly hurt by his daughter's initial reaction to him. Surely he was not that intimidating so as to cause the filly distress?

In spite of his concern, Warring felt proud as he watched Wangnarra frolic and play out of the corner of his eye. She was a lovely, healthy foal, and would grow up to be just as fine as her mother. He could not help but feel faintly relieved that the filly did not share in her mother's pale coat but his own dark one, it would cause less danger for her when she struck out on her own. For Warring felt certain already that his daughter would be a prize mare for a stallion one day,and he did not wish her to be fought over by the brutish stallions that silver fillies seemed to attract. Warring himself was an exception to the rule but he knew that many a stallion in posession of a silver filly was cruel and overbearing.

Finally Wangnarra returned to her mother's side, seeming more at ease with his prescense. Calmly, Warring raised his head to look at her, his gaze kind and gentle. "Do not be afraid, little one. For I am your father and would never harm you," he said quietly.

OOC: ha, I just realised that both Warring and Waiirri's first mares were silver brumbies....

[Corowa]

Karuah grazed purposefully towards Warring, glad for the companionship of this fine young stallion, her mate. Wangnarra stuck close to her side, though her ears were pricked and she peered shyly around at her sire. The bay stallion fascinated her, for he seemed strong as the river itself, and even the gentle and anxious Karuah had quietened. Filled with curiosity, Wangnarra crept nearer to Warring. With one flicked back towards her mother, the filly whinnied shrilly and then stepped lightly forwards. Teasing the stallion with a swift nip, the filly whirled nimbly about and fled back to Karuah’s side.

Corowa had been awoken by the gentle murmur of the wind. The mare stood with ears sharply pricked, listening to half-forgotten stories and ancient tales. Trembling all over, Corowa turned to where Nandalie and his small mob of mares and fillies grazed further down the ridge. North, the wind told her, north to where the deep cold waters of the Crackenback flowed and the bush grew thick and scrubby. Silently, Corowa slipped away into the cover of the snowgums, careful to leave no tracks for her mate to follow. Snowgrass became rough rocky ground, and the pale grey mare picked her way upwards. Stopping to drink at a sheltered water soak, the mare’s ears twitched nervously and she raised her head and melted hastily away into the trees.

She found them in one of those deep gullies stretching back into the mountains. The river was shallow, sheltered by eucalypts and ribbon gums, water rippling lightly over rock. On the opposite bank, a bay stallion and creamy mare stood grazing. From where she hid in a thick belt of timber, Corowa stilled, for she suddenly recognised her daughter Karuah in this beautiful young mare. Beside her stood a filly, bay like her sire, but a fine filly nonetheless. With a joyous neigh, Corowa plunged headlong into the river, droplets of water glistening in her mane, shining silver in the sunlight. Nickering gently to mare and filly, Corowa stretched out her nose to Warring and greeted him with a soft snort. The bay had grown into a splendid stallion, with his broad chest and noble head, and the mare was pleased Karuah ran with him still.

OOC: Thought it would be nice for Corowa to meet her granddaughter

[yaruka]

OOC: yay-Warring's got the approval of the in-law! <3

BIC:

Warring watched the filly approach from out of the corner of his eye. Mischief flared in the little bay's eyes and Warring snorted in amusement at her shrill call. At her teasing nip Warring raised his head and caught the tip of his daughter's tail gently in his teeth as she ran off, giving it a soft tug before releasing it. Gently, he nickered to her as she fled back to her mother, then reached over to nuzzle Karuah gently.

The stallion had just resumed grazing when the scent of another horse met his nostrils. Raising his head he stilled, ears pricked in the direction the scent came from, nostrils flaring widely. But unless he was much mistaken he recognized that scent. From long ago, it was true, yet Warring was certain he had once known the mare that was approaching them. He could smell no other strangers on the breeze, and though he waited tensely for the appearance of the newcomer, he felt no sense of impending danger in the quiet afternoon air.

Finally the traveller appeared. It was true she was no stranger, for in her proud lines and graceful carriage Warring recognised Karuah’s dam, Corowa. The mare whinnied joyfully and Warring called back a welcome, standing proudly beside his mate and their daughter. The grey approached, nickering to both mare and foal before extending her muzzle to Warring’s. The stallion touched it in greeting, dipping his head politely to the older mare.

“Greetings O’wise Corowa. It is a pleasure to see you, I trust that you are well?” asked the bay stallion, eyes bright with welcome. He felt no hostility towards the mare for her sudden disappearance last spring, and was glad that Karuah now had a chance to see her dam again. And he was quite pleased with this opportunity to show off his lovely daughter to a horse he knew posed no threat.

[Corowa]

Corowa pleased for this warm greeting, flicked an ear in acknowledgment of his kindness. For having vanished into the night, returning now with the lingering scent of another upon her, she worried perhaps the stallion would drive her away. But Warring was gentle, and Corowa was glad she had trusted Karuah with him. I have been well,” she answered steadily. “I run with a stallion in the country south of the Crackenback, near Yarraman’s valley. I heard stories of a creamy filly and her newborn foal from the currawongs, and wondered if it were tales of Karuah, they told. Though I come to find my filly has grown into a mare, whose own daughter now runs strongly by her side.”

Longing to return Corowa’s greeting with her own, Karuah remained standing close to Warring. Nostrils wide, ears sharply pricked, the mare was almost unable to stand still. Shaking all over, she did not move until Warring greeted the mare himself. Then, filled with the wildest of joy, Karuah stepped lightly forwards. Resting a trembling nose on Corowa’s wither, a sigh went through her. She felt the mare’s heart beat strong and steady beneath her touch, and it reassured her, for Corowa was no longer a wraith to slip unseen through the trees. Here in the bright morning sunlight, the mare became once more solid flesh and bone.

Wangnarra stood further apart from her mother. Head held high, she looked on with interest when Karuah went to that strange grey mare. For the filly had sensed her mother’s longing, felt too filled with this same urgency, even though she did not understand it. Pressing in close to her mother’s flank, she turned to return Corowa’s gentle sniffing with her own curiosity. Standing here between the two mares, Wangnarra felt warm and sheltered. Then suddenly sleepy, the filly dropped to the ground, a dark heap at her mother’s feet. Gently, Corowa nosed her, raised her head to look proudly towards an anxious Karuah. “ I see she takes strongly after her sire,” she said wisely, and the creamy mare visibly relaxed. “And one day, you’ll be grateful my daughter, she shares not your pale colouring.”

[yaruka]

OOC: I'm sorry Corowa, I have no muse for a reply to your post There's not much I can really have Warring do/say at this point. Should we start a new thread or do you want me to wait until inspiration strikes for this one?