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Post by yaruka on Jan 28, 2009 19:52:08 GMT
Dusk was beginning to come to the mountains as two pale spectral figures and two darker shadows made their way up the mountainside. The horse in the lead, a ghostly light blue roan raised his head to glance at the sky before swinging to the right off the faint path and into the bush. Waiirri scented the air to ensure their was no sign of danger before gesturing to his mares and son "We should rest here for the night," he said "I think we have gone far enough away from the men and it is peaceful here." The stallion was referring to the increasing amount of men who had been riding through the lower country lately. With a heavily pregnant mare, a silver mare and a yearling making up his herd Waiirri wasn't taking any chances. The area he had picked was sheltered and had a small trickling creek running through it. It was the perfect place for a young stallion and his small mob.
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Post by { Opal } on Jan 28, 2009 23:13:13 GMT
Aruna followed diligently by Waiiri's side, but she was starting to feel the burden of her foal after the walk. The mare nodded, relieved, when the stallion decided to stop. Aruna shuddered at his comment; the thought of running into man, this far in her pregnancy, was frightening. She had grown quite attached to Waiiri also, and was very proud to be having his foal. Aruna nickered gratefully to the roan as she observed the area he had picked; perfectly sheltered, with enough water and food to last them weeks. A bit tired, she wobbled over to a bed of grass. With a huff she lowered herself to the ground, her swollen belly getting in the way. Aruna quickly rolled onto her side, her legs splaying awkwardly outwards. With a contented sigh, she rested her head on the grass.
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Tex
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Post by Tex on Jan 29, 2009 5:44:29 GMT
The silver mare was rather quiet, merely following and not speaking a word to either Warri or the new horses. She was actually deep in thought, strange for her, about what she should do about competition. As far as she could see, she was the first, the prettiest, and the only one Warri took for granted. It was good to be taken for granted, apparently, but she didn't like it. She didn't act spiteful to the mare or yearling, instead walking to the side of all of them, placing her feet on places that her hooves would not mark, and not bothering about how much sound she was making. As they stopped to rest, she grazed a bit off by herself, keeping her distance and lost in her thoughts.
Another horse was keeping pace with the small mob, a beautiful white lipizzaner filly that was skilled in the ways of being hidden. Even her white coat could be mistaken for a pile of dead leaves if she stood in the right light, by the right trees, and she kept out of their lines of sight anyway. She folloed them by sound, rather than by sight, as she was trying to learn of them before she even thought of being with them. After being tricked by so many, Nirrike was watchful, and cautious before being with a stallion.
the group she was tracking had stopped to rest, and she kept away still, grazing the small grass around the trunks of the trees. Every now and then she stopped to listen, and to make sure they did not know of her presence.
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Post by yaruka on Jan 30, 2009 1:31:45 GMT
Waiirri nuzzled Aruna gently as the grulla mare passed him to lay down in the soft snowgrass. He nickered throatily to her, reasuring her that she could rest without concern, he would be guard them all carefully. The blue roan stallion had settled down more than he could have ever imagined in the past two years. No longer as ambitious in his aspirations for his herd he was content for the moment to simply take care of the mares he had with him, each of them being very special to him. And he was proud to be a father, excited too that soon Aruna would bear him a foal.
He noticed that Doowi was grazing somewhat off to the side and with one last gentle nicker to Aruna he picked his way cautiously over to his first mare. Approaching her slowly he reached his nose out to nuzzle her own before rubbing his cheek against her neck in an affectionate fashion. "Doowi," he whispered "What is wrong?" Heb began to groom the mare's withers soothingly, hoping to relax the beautiful filly.
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Post by { Opal } on Jan 30, 2009 3:20:57 GMT
Aruna sighed contentedly at Waiiri's reassuring nickers. She had changed from that insecure figure she had once been; the thought of someone truly appreciating her blew all doubts away. And in a few days, they would even be connected by blood. Aruna's back tingled in excitement. She had always waited for this, but it always seemed so far away. Basking in her happiness, Aruna relaxed and let herself drowse.
A few moments later, Aruna pulled back into consciousness. She heard the soft pad of hooves, and glanced sleepily at the silver mare from the corner of her eye. Waiiri was standing by her. A pang of jealousy shot through Aruna, but it quickly subsided; she would not worry herself with such thoughts. If the mare made a move, it was then that Aruna would take action. With a deep exhale, Aruna drifted off again.
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Tex
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Post by Tex on Jan 30, 2009 5:30:04 GMT
The silver filly felt a bit sad, being off by herself. She wasn't used to it. There had always been someone- but now, even the stallion she had chosen to be with had chosen someone else. She felt rejected, and small. Of course, that mare was happy with the arrangements. She shot them a jealous look when she was sure they definitely could not see her, watching each nicker to each other. Turning away, the silver mare grazed with her back to the two again, firmly ignoring both horses.
A touch on her hide made Doowi jump, and she looked up, rather hopefully, she had to admit. It was Warri! She looked at him, and looked at the other mare, a bit confused. Was he going to tell her to leave or something?
Instead, her favourite other horse in the whole wide world nuzzled her nose, and rubbed his cheek on her elegant neck. She was quite surprised, but nuzzled him back, on the back of his neck. She was glad to be with him again.
"I... I don't like you being around... other mares..." she stammered, quietly. It was embarrassing to say, but it had to be done.
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Post by yaruka on Jan 31, 2009 22:59:15 GMT
"I... I don't like you being around... other mares..." said Doowi and Waiirri sighed, he had been conerned that Doowi might react this way to having another mare in the herd. He nuzzled her reassuringly before responding quietly so that Aruna would not hear and be offended herself "Doowi," he said "Do not feel threatened by Aruna. I still love you as much as I always did, and you'll always hold the title of my first mare." He kept grooming her soothingly, in long rythmetic strokes "Aruna is a fine mare also, I'm sure the two of you could become good friends. And I'll always be there for both of you. I was never trying to replace you." He butted her affectionately with his nose, "Come, let us not think of this right now. It is a beautiful night and we should all enjoy it together."
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Post by { Opal } on Feb 2, 2009 4:13:28 GMT
Aruna jerked awake, her mind screaming impulses she couldn't ignore. Following an inner sense of guidance, the mare pushed herself upright. She swayed for a moment as she fought to gain balance, and a moment later she finally steadied. Aruna's instincts called to her, pulling her away from the herd. The grulla soon slipped away into the bush, her steps clumsy and hurried. As Aruna made her way through the wilderness, an odd sense of peace formed in her heart. She had not done this before, but she had always been ready for it. Aruna was going to have her foal at last, after months of waiting and dreaming.
A soft wind picked up her mane and tossed her tail around, before dieing out again with a sigh. Aruna looked up through the trees, and though the clouds were abundant, they weren't grey. Even if rain was coming, Aruna wouldn't have slowed down or turned back. Her mind said otherwise; it said she had a job to do. Aruna shuffled into the shadows.
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Tex
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Post by Tex on Feb 3, 2009 5:35:42 GMT
The silver mare whickered quietly, still anxious but controlling it. He... still wanted her to be here! the other mare wasn't a threat, after all, and her foal could even be a nice friend for a future foal she might have. She cheered up almost instantly, and butted him back playfully, rearing up on her hind legs silently and not kicking, but looking around. She dropped to her hooves after a few moments, and snorted in confusion.
"Enjoy this nigth together... but where is Aruna?"
Far away, the lipizzaner mare was still keeping an eye out for any accidental meetings, just in case one of those mares wanted some space from each other. As she grazed, the mare kept her ears flicking about, watching for someone who may never arrive. But...
Nirrike stopped grazing, and lifted her head silently, staring in their direction. One of them was moving this way. She almost whinnied, but held it in, instead trotting around the group so that she wouldn't be so close to that other mare. In her hurry, she didn't realize she was leaving clear tracks, and her scent was thick on the air. Confident they were still fooled, the pale mare continued to graze, only a little further away.
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Post by yaruka on Feb 5, 2009 22:13:16 GMT
Waiirri was glad to see Doowi quickly revert to her lighthearted self. He reared up to dance playfully with her but as he did so he suddenly noticed Aruna's disappearance. Coming back down, Waiirri felt a flicker of concern but quickly reassured himself with the thought that it was most surely to give birth that Aruna had left. He felt ashamed that he hadn't noticed the mare leaving, what with trying to comfort Doowi and all but then he reasoned the mare probably hadn't wanted him to see her slip off. Still somewhat troubled he blew threw his nostrils anxiously, as he did so suddenly catching the scent of another horse. Flaring his nostrils he realized that unless he was much mistaken the scent that was borne on he breeze was that of the lipizzaner mare by the creek, and she was close by. Waiirri stood uncertainly, wondering what to do. Perhaps she had been seeking them? Should he go to her? But the last time Waiirri had encountered the pale mare his pride had taken quite a beating. Besides, he did not want to offend Doowi again. Deciding to ignore the new scent for now, he moved over to Doowi, nibbling gently at the base of her mane before starting to groom her soothingly.
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