Proud Love [Nepelle Herd/ Thalera/ Open]

[Ehetere]

OOC: Wow; Nepelle actually can call his little mob a herd now! *squees happily* Also; only open after Thalera and Nepelle have thier little meeting please.

Nepelle trotted quickly up the side of the steep slope. It had been quite a climb in the heat of midday, leading his little band of mares and he was eagre to rest. There was a lovely little hollow in the scrub here that proved excellent secluded grazing; and he knew it well as he head visited it many times before. It had always been his secret grazing place; and it seemed very strange to be sharing it with other horses. Still; they were part of his modest little herd and deserved the best.

He glanced back; and happily watched as his mares entered the clearing. His heart leapt with pride as each of them topped the ridge; for different reasons. Beautiful, sweet, gentle Kurrin was right behind him of course. It might just be him; but she appeared to be becoming more lovely and beautiful by the day. The mysterious filly, Goolara, was behind Kurrin, the one he had taken as a prize from the strange roan stallion he had fought and won. Nepelle’s heart was still torn on whether he should have gone back for the other filly; but she had been the roan’s mate; and he was not that cruel. Fira’s pretty bay filly scrambled up over the edge followed by Fira herself. Nepelle was now completely sure that his decision to take her was a good thing; she had wisdom and maturity and what he suspected was a strong maternal instinct that made her an excellent asset to his herd.

Once he was sure that all of his mares were happily settled; he grazed his way over to Kurrin and started lovingly grooming her withers. The cut on his flank from the fight had already healed and faded away with her care, and he always liked to show his appreciation for that, as well as his love for her. “You know; I think I must be the luckiest stallion alive,” he told her, when he paused to nuzzle at her lovely face, “I have the most beautiful mare for a mate; and she is beautiful on the inside as well as the out. And she captured my heart in the winter snows. Perhaps she is winter, or snow, for she is more beautiful than both.”

[Tiggs]

Kurrin was fully settled now in herd life. After leaving her mother, she had always been a little awkward but with Nepelles love and affection, she was blooming into a fine mare, sweet and gentle. Her shyness was fading, though she was still wary around Fira. The chestnut mare was domineering and cruel, but Nepelle seemed to appreciate her presence. Kurrin supposed he needed older mares in his herd. Kurrin was impatient to bare him a foal, but she instinctively knew that she was not physically ready yet.

Since Nepelle had beaten that stallion in the mist, Fira had been a little nicer to Nepelle. Kurrin had been worried about the fight and anxious for a few days afterward but once those lingering emotions faded, she found herself proud of Nepelle, her brave bold stallion. He had fought to keep her and won! The palomino appaloosa filly followed hot on his heels wherever they went, gleeful whenever he looked her way, and generally in a state of bliss.

They stopped in a secluded grazing spot, just big enough for the five of them. Kurrin was eager to form a friendship with the new filly, Goolara, after being denied a friendship with Fira’s yearling daughter. She had only managed a few hushed conversations with the younger filly before Fira would chase her away. Kurrin had no idea why Fira was so protective of Alinta, and when she’d asked the bay, she did not know either.

She was distracted from her thoughts by Nepelle’s gentle touch. She shivered in delight, and nickered softly to him. He smothered her in compliments, and she swelled with happiness. Kind and sweet, strong and brave, handsome and affectionate. Was there no limit to Nepelle’s perfection? She returned his nuzzle with gentle sweet nibbles of her own. “And I have the most striking stallion to guide me. He is like fire, hot and fierce yet warming and beautiful. He makes me melt with nary a look. His flames do not hurt me when I dance in them, only caress me. Oh he is perfect; I am the luckiest filly alive.”

A derisive snort to Nepelle’s other side distracted her. She had been so consumed by Nepelle’s presence that she had not realised Fira had been approaching. “Charming,” the older mare said, lip curling, “You’re both sickeningly cute.” She huffed, reaching out to nibble Nepelle’s withers. She was not nearly as gentle as Kurrin’s feather-light touches but the fact she was even giving the stallion the time of day was a vast improvement. After the fight, Fira had been suitably impressed that she had even allowed the chestnut stallion to mate with her, though whether that was because he had made more of an impression on her than she let on or the lack of any better stallion remained to be seen.

Kurrin lowered her head, demure around the older mare. Fira was the lead mare here, and Kurrin had no notions of challenging her. She stayed by Nepelle’s side though, nipping at the grass around her hooves. Fira meanwhile busied herself with grooming Nepelle. She had left Alinta to graze a little distance off, but one ear stayed on her daughter at all times. Fira was many things, but lax was not one of them.

The russet chestnut mare came to the healing scar, and she gently brushed it with her muzzle, feeling the texture of it. “We’ll make a King out of you yet.” She murmured, dropping her head to graze, glaring at Kurrin under Nepelle’s body.

[Ehetere]

Nepelle looked at Kurrin with total and utter devotion shining in his eyes. He meant his words even more than he could express to her; and could tell that she felt the same. That moment would have been absolutely perfect were it not for Fira’s sarcastic comments. “Charming,” she said dryly; trotting over, “You’re both sickeningly cute.” Nepelle restrained himself from sighing or rolling his eyes; knowing that it would only earn him a sharp nip. But despite her disapproving words; she actually began to groom him, which was a first. Ever since his fight with the roan stallion, Fira had been an awful lot nicer to him actually. Still, she was somewhat of a violent mare; perhaps she needed violence to please her.

All the same, despite Fira’s improved temper towards him; Nepelle noticed that it hadn’t improved one bit towards poor Kurrin. She acknowledged Fira as lead mare; and yet still the chestnut was not even polite to her and Kurrin was oh so shy whenever she was around. Since travelling with him; Nepelle had watched with pleasure as Kurrin’s shyness melted away; but around Fira it all seemed to come back. At least she did not move away this time. But Fira did run a tight ship and ensured that none of Nepelle’s respective herd went awry. It was easy with only one or two mares; but the more he got the harder it was becoming to pick out their individual footfalls as they followed him. He trusted Fira to keep everyone together and inline, and to be perfectly honest, she knew a lot more about moving larger numbers of horses than he did. Actually that was a point.

“Fira…” inquired Nepelle, turning his head around so that he could get a better look at her and what she was doing, ”Whose herd did you belong to before I happened across you?” Normally he didn’t talk much with Fira; non-verbal communication was more effective. Actually; he had talked to her so little after their initial meeting (and tongue lashing) that simply saying her name out loud almost made him stumble. It certainly did sound strange. When she dropped her head to graze; he couldn’t help but frown slightly upon Fira’s glare at Kurrin. Some things never changed.

[Tiggs]

Fira huffed into the grass, lifting her head and peering at Nepelle. “Lucky for you, I was not in a herd when you did stumble across me.” She lifted her head proudly, regally. “Do the names Aleo and Tingara mean anything to you?” She snorted and nipped his shoulder. “My mother the daughter of a King. My first stallion was Aleo, King of the High Country. My second stallion was Tingara, King of the High Country. You are my third stallion.”

He ears twitched and she glanced to the ridge they had just come down, her ears pinning back. “You have a lot to live up to, Nepelle. By the time this foal of ours is born, you will be the King. No daughter of mine will be anything less than a princess.” She warned him, glancing to Kurrin before returning her attention to Nepelle. “It’s unfortunate the current King is not as satisfying as yourself or Aleo, meekness runs in his blood.”

She sneered, lashing her tail. While she was proud of Alinta, Fira was convinced Alinta had inherited nothing worthwhile from the black King. Alinta was quiet and meek, and knowing Kurrin was another so-called princess, Fira could see that Tingara had infected both daughters with his weakness. Such lapses into kindness and charity were undesirable. A King should be merciless and strong, and Tingara had a sickening habit of being nice.

Kimba had been a promising filly, but it seemed even being around Tingara was enough for his kindness to catch. Fira was inwardly bitter about her failure to raise Kimba properly. She was determined this foal would grow up to be as strong willed and stonehearted as herself. Nepelle had promise. He was soft with Kurrin, but at least he proved to have fighting prowess. That was the sort of strong blood Fira wanted in a foal.

Kurrin stiffened at the insult to her father. Tingara was a kind and noble stallion, and didn’t deserve Fira’s cruel words. Her teeth grinding, she resisted the urge to retort back to the chestnut mare, but knew it would do her no good. Instead she pressed her cheek to Nepelle’s leg, sighing lightly. Fira would shut up eventually.

[Ehetere]

Nepelle listened with amazement as Fira listed her various royal relatives and descendants. He hadn’t even guessed that she may have known Kurrin quite so closely; or that she had belonged to not one but two Kings, one of them being current. Nepelle thought that perhaps it would not be such a good idea to let Kurrin go and visit her father soon after all. Tingara would probably beat him up and take not only Fira and Goolara but Kurrin too.

“You have a lot to live up to, Nepelle. By the time this foal of ours is born, you will be the King. No daughter of mine will be anything less than a princess. It’s unfortunate the current King is not as satisfying as yourself or Aleo, meekness runs in his blood.” Well; that was certainly a very forward way of putting it. And he had no choice in the matter either? Nepelle also snorted at the fact that Fira apparently knew that their child would be a filly, and wondered how she would react should she birth a son. Nepelle to be perfectly honest did not mind whether he sired colts or fillies, unlike some stallions who wanted more sons to follow in their footsteps. Those sons were more than likely to steal all of his mares in later life; along with any glory he may have won himself.

And Fira had given him a compliment too! Nepelle was actually shocked and blinked several times; since Fira had before this shown open dislike for him, and all of a sudden she was not only talking to him but complimenting him as well. All the same; Nepelle had the distinct feeling that Fira was insulting Kurrin at the same time. He would have to work on Kurrin’s confidence around Fira soon; perhaps then the fiery mare would stop giving her such a hard time. Kurrin laid her sweet head against his foreleg and he felt her sigh. It almost made him laugh. Lucky he didn’t though; as Fira most likely would not have approved and her sudden good mood (comparatively) would vanish.

“I never knew that you had such a rich past Fira,” commented Nepelle respectfully, hoping that some day he could indeed live up to her expectations. But to be King before their foal was born? It was an arduous task; and in his mind, a dishonest one. The King had given him his own daughter as a mate without fight or fuss. What a poor way to repay his generosity by taking one of his missing mares and his position as King? But Nepelle also supposed that if he didn’t take it; some other stallion certainly would. He wondered quietly to himself which stallion the King would actually want to take his place…

[Tiggs]

Fira snorted as his expression, misinterpreting its meaning.“Yes, shocking a mare of my calibre consents to follow you, of all stallions, but with a little work, you’ll be a King in no time. And perhaps you might have learnt more of my past had you bothered to ask.” She flicked her tail high, holding her head proudly. “Maybe then you might have realised who your real prize mare is.” She smirked at Kurrin, but instead of opening her mouth for another derogatory comment, her head snapped to the East and she flared her nostrils.

She nickered a low warning to Nepelle, for one a warning of someone else other than herself. Promptly she gathered up Alinta and Kurrin and pushed the pair toward Goolara. The older chestnut mare bossed them until they formed a tight group before she turned to look at Nepelle for his instructions.

Up on the hill stomped a two-year-old colt; the source of Fira’s concern. Thalera was not being quiet, nor had he noticed that he had been following a trail made by a herd of horses who and only very recently passed this way. He was bored and lost. Thalera had little to know bush sense, and certainly no knowledge of the area to guide him. He had been wondering aimlessly for days now, his aim to find Illoura but how he was going to accomplish that without trying was beyond even the wise mopoke’s comprehension.

Only when he sighed deeply did he even realise there was a scent of another. Snuffling eagerly, he scented the ground around his feet and discovered an overwhelming collection of scents, mostly mare. Suddenly enthused, the colt trotted along the path at a smoother, longer pace, eager to find these mares. He was a two-year-old, he rationalised. That was almost fully grown, wasn’t it? Thalera experience with other stallions was limited to the hazy memories of his father. The only other stallions he had even seen had been men’s stock horses, and they were all meek as dingo puppies.

Thalera was quite confident that if there was a stallion with these mares that it would be a simple matter to fight him off and claim the mares for himself. Then Illoura would be sorry. When he found her, he would prove what a strong stallion he was and she would be fawning over him!

[Ehetere]

“Yes, shocking a mare of my calibre consents to follow you, of all stallions, but with a little work, you’ll be a King in no time. And perhaps you might have learnt more of my past had you bothered to ask.” huffed Fira, causing Nepelle to become more than a little worried. It sounded as if Fira had some sort of devious plan up her sleeve to make sure that their foal would be born into royalty. Now he was really concerned.

”Maybe then you might have realised who your real prize mare is,” sneered Fira, and as she opened her mouth to add more, Nepelle was about to cut in to prevent her from further hurting Kurrin. He could not stand there and let the chestnut mare insult his mate; no matter who she was. And Kurrin was a Princess too! But instead of continuing; Fira whipped her head around and let out a low nicker; a warning. Instantly; Nepelle tensed, all of his senses straining to see what threat may be near by that would cause Fira to act in such a way.

Actually; the ‘threat’ wasn’t that difficult to spot. A loud, stomping, sooty palomino colt was storming his way up the hill; and was apparently unaware of the small herd he was heading straight towards. Nepelle knew that he could take the colt in his sleep; should he prove hostile, and called out to Fira in a low tone; “Keep them safe and out of the way, will you? I will handle this…”

Nepelle watched; and realised that the trees conveniently sheltered them all from view. But there was nothing to hide and entire herd’s scents from the colt, and he soon picked them up; snuffling at the ground excitedly. And then he started up the hill with renewed vigour! Nepelle watched incredulously as the colt approached; did he think that he could actually fight a fully grown stallion and win? The sooty wasn’t even old enough to be considered a stallion; for Heaven’s sake! Why would any colt his age actually be coming to seek out his precious mares when he was still there? Perhaps this colt was just plain dumb.

Nepelle waited for the colt to come over the ridge. Perhaps he had not recognised who Nepelle was. After all; he was surprisingly new, and certainly hadn’t met many of the brumbies around here. And he didn’t recognise the colt either; so perhaps the colt was also new. Either way; Nepelle was going to see exactly how dumb he was.

He stood waiting, anticipating, until the colt clambered over the edge of the ridge enough to get a clear view of him. Nepelle had positioned himself so that he would be basically right in front of the colt’s face; towering above him in a magnificent rear. His stallion challenge rang out; loud and clear. Would this colt dare to challenge him? Surely not, but Nepelle dropped back onto all fours and eyed the colt suspiciously. If he made so much as one move towards his mares; he would be sorry for it.

“What do you want, colt?” demanded Nepelle, hoping that his performance would impress Fira and Kurrin alike. Actually; he hoped that timid little Kurrin would not be frightened and alienated against him for it. His mere appearance had terrified her when they had first met, and Nepelle could not bare the thought of having her reject him now, and him having to regain her trust for a second time.

[Tiggs]

Fira gave a curt nod, herding the three fillies like a pro and used the trees as cover to hide the little mob. She took up a stance at the edge of the trees, between the fillies at the approaching threat. The mare had yet to see the male she had smelt, being further away from the ridge than Nepelle, but her stallion’s sudden confidence was encouraging. At the sight of a mere colt cresting the hill, she snorted and she too relaxed. This was not a threat, it was just a nuisance. Nevertheless, she kept the fillies in-between the trees as practice for when this would happen for real.

Thalera loped up the slope, his hindquarted burning with the effort by the time he got to the top. He was suddenly then confronted by a chestnut giant, rearing and screaming. Thalera instantly shied away, almost falling back down the hill he had just scaled. Right at that moment, Thalera was starting to think challenging a stallion was not a good idea. This one was huge! Barral-chested with fury in his eyes. His flint-like hooves slashing the air, his very sight and scent overwhelming the younger male.

His eyes rolled, but they settled on something much more pleasurable. In the trees stood a chestnut mare but that was not what held the sooty colt’s attention. A pale face peeked out of the shelter to the left of the chestnut mare. A palomino! It was not Illoura, but Thalera was smitten all the same. It slowly came to mind that with Illoura, Wilgee and this pale gold filly, he would have an impressive mob. He should collect only palominos like himself. Then he would be the envy of every stallion in the High Country.

Plucking up his courage, he stood as tall as he could manage and glared at the other stallion. “I am not a colt! I want your filly. The creamy one.” Thalera tried his own rear, but his hind footing was bad and he was forced to cut it short as his hind feet slid dangerously close to the edge. Thalera skittered away from the hill, cutting a wide ring around the chestnut stallion to stand on sturdier ground. “I challenge you!” He called, his voice distinctly adolescent.

Fira had been distracted by Nepelle’s performance, suitably impressed. He was a fine-looking stallion, and even if he failed to become King, her foal would undoubtedly inherit his attractive qualities. Her preoccupation allowed Kurrin to sneak out of hiding. Nepelle’s act was simultaneously frightening and exciting. This was her mate, and for the first time she would really see him fight. She did not realise quite how disadvantaged the colt was compared to Nepelle, but she would learn in time what made a stallion suited for battle. Luckily Nepelle was a fine example, as Fira was studying.

The chestnut mare realised that Kurrin was not in hiding when the colt looked their way, and she turned on Kurrin, giving a vicious bite to the neck that sent her scurrying back into cover. The mare huffed, made sure the other females were hidden before turning her attention back to the ‘challenge’. The colt was surely going to be dead in a matter of minutes, and that made Fira delightfully happy.

[Ehetere]

Nepelle was sufficiently pleased to see the colt almost lose his balance and tumble down the hill at the sight of him. That would have been awfully amusing. But while the sooty was shying away; it seemed he had spotted something that caught his interest behind him. Nepelle followed his gaze to find Kurrin curiously peeking her head out behind Fira’s protective body.

The young colt tried to appear as impressive as possible and failed miserably. “I am not a colt! I want your filly. The creamy one. I challenge you!” he exclaimed angrily and that settled it for Nepelle. This colt was an absolute idiot. But never the less; he wanted Kurrin, and had he not vowed to do everything in his power that they stayed together? If this colt wished to try and separate them; then he was going to get the same treatment of a stallion twice his age challenging Nepelle for his mate.

“You are a foolish one! She is my mate; and I would fight with my life for her! Who are you; a young, silly colt, to think that you can take her from me?” demanded Nepelle, adrenaline and anger instantly surging through him. He was going to give this colt quite a beating for even thinking that Kurrin could be his!

Nepelle decided that this was the best position in which to fight. He had plenty of foot holds and room, while the colt had already had quite some trouble keeping his balance. Not that it would have made much of a difference were the colt and he in the middle of his grassy clearing, but an advantage was an advantage; and he wasn’t about to be cocky enough to pass it up.

Since his surprise attack on the roan stallion had worked so effectively last time; Nepelle figured he could probably use it again; and even topple the colt off the edge of the basin in one hit. Not that would be much of a fight; but Nepelle supposed he could always chase the colt down the cliff and continue at the bottom. So he launched himself at the colt; but not with his full weight, just incase the colt side stepped. He had an ample weight advantage over the sooty anyway. The three or so years difference in ages really did allow some amazing bulking up time.

[Tiggs]

“Then you will lose your life! For I am Thalera, named for strength! Face my wrath at your peril!” Called the colt, completely oblivious of the other stallion having found firmer footing. He still stood on rocky ground, sloping and uneven. What Thalera lacked as well as years was experience. In time of course he would learn, but currently all he had was his misguided bravery.

Naturally he was unprepared for the chestnut’s surprise attack, and didn’t have the time or the wits to think about dodging. The stallion his him full on, and he tripped and fell, aided by the rocks protruding from the ground. One stone opened a gash on his left fetlock, and his ribs bruised against another. He squealed, scrambling franticly to get up like a foal trying to regain his balance.

Suddenly he realised his concerns earlier had been well founded, and Thalera was luckily not too unintelligent to realise that more blows like that would likely do lasting damage. Getting his feet under him, he pitched down the hill, barely catching himself with his forelegs before his hind legs kicked off the ground. Head down, ears pinned, Thalera tried his best to avoid more kicks and bites to no avail. He needed to get some distance between him and this chestnut, and revaluate his strategy.