Stirred not Shaken

[Tiggs]

He could feel the chill of winter on its way as he and Mica climbed the Ramshead to the rugged plain of grazing that sat halfway up the mountains. They had been there the day before the King arrived to woo Dilali away. Aleo was now back in the lower areas of the highland, and Nevada hoped he wasn't relentless enough to follow him back up here.

Nevada would prefer to graze lower, as the grass here was tough and there were patches of snow obscuring some of the area. But he didn't want to risk Aleo seeing his Mica. So far he'd kept her hidden, but Aleo might take her if he saw that she was his. The King had to know he wanted Dilali and that glorious dappled mare he'd left him with. Aleo would give him no slack if Nevada was caught.

Reaching the elevated flat, Nevada called out - not too loud - to see if Bakoli was still nearby. At least Nevada could feel confident in the fact that he was not the youngest stallion out there. Poor Bakoli was not even ready to gather mares. Nevada trotted to Mica, nibbling at her neck and flanks, grooming her withers with his teeth. At least he had his Mica. His first mare. The breeding season couldn't come quicker for Nevada. The thought of siring a foal with Mica, a new life of his own blood and hers! How miraculous.

He paid special attention along Mica's spine, rubbing away the dust and dirt that had gathered there. At least there was one good thing about the stiff mountain grass, it was good for rolling on. Her sorrel and white coat was an interesting thing. Patches so clearly defined on a body so beautifully crafted. He nickered in appreciation, glad that they were alone so he could direct his attention to her.

The dapple he'd encountered last night may have been more stunning than Mica, but his little pinto had a wholesome beauty that he knew she'd hold onto for the rest of her life. Still not quite fully grown, like himself, she had a slim and leggy build, with promise of a shapeliness he wouldn't be able to resist. No matter what unique mares he gathered over the years, Mica would be his first and most treasured.

He'd fight for her to keep her, he'd never let Aleo or another stallion take her, if it meant more danger than he would usually participate in. Aleo could keep the dapple and Dilali for now, Nevada would keep his eye on them and if the opportunity arose, he was not above stealing them away. If they would even consent to that. It was obvious they were not interested in him just yet, but he'd show them. He'd grow to be magnificent, and they'd be the ones fighting for his affections when he was King.

How fabulous that would be. As King of the High Country, he'd be able to keep his mares with reputation alone, or until his reign was halted by the next challenger to win. He sighed. It was a pity the position came with an early death penalty. Nevada had no intention of dying before he was ten, but to have the mares he needed the position, and with that it was only a matter of time before that and his life were taken.

He huffed, blowing warm air into Mica's mane. No use thinking about that now. It would be years before he could challenge Aleo, or whoever his predecessor might be at that time. For now, he'd graze with his Mica before the snows came in force to take all the greenery away.

[aya]

Mica could feel how tense Nevada was as he stood next to her; she'd been hidden away for a while now without seeing him, but she knew he had had a rough time. As he nibbled absent-mindedly on her coat, she felt that now he was a little calmer maybe she could talk to him.
She'd worried incessantly since he had come to claim her from her hiding place; he'd sweated and clearly had travelled a long way. He said barely anything at all, and she dare not push him - not while he was so exasperated.

"Nevada..." She nickered to him now, hours later, turning to rub her forehead to his, "you seem so sad. Did something happen when you were gone?"
The question she asked would probably annoy him, she figured, but she wanted to know simply because he was the centre of her life right now. The only horse she cared for so deeply.

[Tiggs]

Nevada looked p from grazing, nuzzling her as she pressed her head to his. Such a tender and sensitive mare. She was delightful. "Not so much sad as restless. I know I have to gather more mares, but the King - Aleo - is there at every turn. He has the authority and the majesty to just woo every one away. I'm afraid even you might be converted to follow him. He rules his land, owns the grass we feed on. You'd be safest with him, and can't equal him for years." He nibbled at her mane, nervously twitching his tail. "I want to be the best for you, but what if I can't? What if I lose you? What if I can't hold any more mares?" He sighed. "Visions of grandeur, and I can't hope to touch them."

He snuffled her ear, his soft dark muzzle lipping at her two-tone mane. No other horse would see this side of him. This vulnerability was reserved just for his Mica. To the world, he'd be a young and hopeful stallion. To Mica, he'd be deeper than that. He had to share his thoughts, and Mica had the right mind to respond and help him figure things out.

[aya]

Mica flicked her ears. The King? There was a King? She had no idea. She wouldn't tell Nevada this, though, for fear he would think she was an idiot. Why would the King be harassing a younger stallion like Nevada? Nevada was going to be a great stallion once he matured, perhaps the King saw it too. She might not know a lot about the High Country, but she knew that not even this King, this Aleo, could take her away from Nevada.

"I would think he only harassed you, Nevada, because you are a threat to him." She told him honestly, nuzzling against his neck, "you have to be patient. I know you can be the better stallion, but at the moment, you must stay away from him."
She stepped back to look him in the eye.
"If you lose me, then fight for me back. You will only get better through experience." She snuffed about his withers, nibbling at some dirt that remained there.
"But I think you are strong enough to protect your mares."

[Tiggs]

Nevada chuckled, sighing deeply. "A threat? I suppose I will be eventually. Better to shoot me down while he has a chance." He draped his neck over her back, relaxing now Mica had calmed some of his worries. "I'll always fight for you. Who else will stop my fretting! Your plan is good. We'll keep away from him, at least until I can defend us properly. We'll concentrate on keeping safe, and I won't go looking for mares. I can't afford to leave you alone, so the mares will have to come to us."

He was satisfied with this. The itch to seek out mares was a little distracting, but he didn't even have a reputation to protect Mica and if another stallion found her alone, they could very easily drive her away and he could lose her. He'd stay with her from now on. Rubbing his cheek on her flank, he nickered in affection and returned to grooming his first and most important mare.

[aya]

Ria scrambled up the steep paths - she was scrambling all over the place lately - and she was sure she'd seen this area before. Well, not knowing where you were going was one thing, but at least she knew where she had been. Brael got lost in somewhere in the forest a while ago, and, between frantically searching for her with absolutely no luck, she'd followed the only path that seemed familiar.
But now the only familiar place to her was occupied by two horses who seemed thoroughly engrossed in each other. She stopped, neatly placing her hooves on the ground, pricking her ears as she sniffed the air. It was pretty stupid to be in plain sight, but maybe she just wanted that stallion to see her. She was, after all, beautiful, and she was determined to drive any male that sees her insane with need.

He seemed good enough; a strong, pale grey with a gorgeous head - perhaps he would be a decent leader. Then it struck her. Was this the King that Ammi had spoke of? Why was there only one mare here? Perhaps he'd left them behind somewhere safe in his territory and had just had this ordinary-looking paint filly join him.
'Pfft', thought Ria, 'there is nothing great about a paint filly. I'll show him.'
She deliberately grated her back hooves against the slate she stood on and pranced out into the opening; her streaming flaxen tail held high and her chocolate legs springing in their gaited stride. She knew that no-one could ignore her, and yet, she wasn't even sure if she was ready to join a herd. She just wanted to show off - to prove she was better than any mare that he already had.

[Tiggs]

Hearing the sound of clumsy hooves on the mountain path, Nevada moved to stand on front of Mica. He hoped it wasn't Aleo, but he'd already proved he could move as silently as a wraith. Why would he bother making sound if he wanted to catch him unless he was just going to be petty and chase him around the highlands. Lifting his head, ears perked forward, Nevada scouted the path for the source of the noise.

He was elated to find no horse he recognised, but a uniquely coloured filly. He looked around for her herd but he could not hear, smell nor see them. She must be lost. Unwilling to walk into a trap, he replied to the posing mare with his own call. He invited the brown flaxen-maned filly to join him up on the grass, rearing and pirouetting in front of Mica.

He chuckled to himself and nosed Mica. "This new plan is working well already. I think I should let all the mares come to me from now on." He nuzzled her, then stood tall and proud as he waited for the interesting-coloured mare to join him.

[aya]

As Ria approached the stallion, she realised he was younger than she had first originally thought. Was he really the King? Ria was certainly naive enough to think so, but she had her doubts anyway.
She pranced over to him, her chocolate ears pricked forward and her dark eyes trained on him as he stood regally in front of her. The paint mare hovered around behind him protectively.

"Hello," she said, her voice not too eager nor bored, "I've caught word of a grey stallion who has been made King. Are you this stallion?"
She gave no inclination of whether she would join him should he answer 'yes' or 'no'. If he wanted her, this horse was going to have to work hard and be good with his words.

[Tiggs]

"Well I'm certainly not a Queen." He answered just as ambiguously. Mistaken for the King, was he? Any horse should be able to tell his age, too young to be King. Maybe this mare was a trick, sent by Aleo so he could be accused of stealing. Or maybe she was just a mare wondering if she had stumbled across the King. He couldn't very well say that he was, and he didn't have the heart to keep up a charade of half-truths. "No, I am not the King. In a few years perhaps, but not now."

Would she leave now, disappointed at only a youth before her with no rank or reputation? He lifted his head proudly. At least he could be dignified about rejection.

[tingara]

Dilali danced as if she was on air, she felt like she was. She danced for one pair of eyes only, she had no idea that Nevada was there. Dilali wondered if Aleo had come, if not she would go back to him. She pranced and twirled, her bronze tail flowing out behind her. Her happiness echoed in every step of this entrancing, enticing dance.