Mares of the pale grey stallion, [O]

[Corowa]

The small mob of mares grazed in the shallow grassy basin, sheltered by a great overhang of rock. On one steeply rising spur, Boolee stood with ears sharply pricked, listening for the faintest sound of threat. Hearing no more than the wind, he tossed his head and turned about. Reassured he and his mares were alone here; the stallion picked his way down off the rocky headwall. There had been many mobs of brumbies running the lower country of the Bogong and Crackenback, and so Boolee had driven his mob up to the rough broken country of the Ramshead. When the ridge grew less steep, the stallion bounded down at a canter, filled with joy at the fineness of the morning. He had missed these wide slopes of snowgrass and heather, and returning here made him feel as if he were a young stallion once more.

Head held high, Boolee trotted a wide circle around his mob, made certain all was well. Wise Uuna had led his mob before, and the stallion trusted in her knowledge. Neck proudly arched, he showed off for his mares with his high, prancing step. With a grateful nicker to Uuna, Boolee approached his two youngest mares. He was still rather watchful of the elusive creamy Cardinia, for she was sly and silent enough to slip away unseen. However, she carried his foal, for he had bred with her in the spring, and Boolee was pleased for the companionship of such a beautiful mare. Nostrils quivering with a soft greeting, he moved towards Tyrilly, for he had grown fond of the brown and white filly. Nibbling affectionately on her wither, he gave her a playful nudge when his teasing grew rougher.

While his mares grazed, Boolee stood alert, ready to turn and run, to hustle his mares up one steep line of ridge and swiftly down the other side. Ears flicking back and forth, he nibbled on the snowgrass, lifting his head every now and then to look and listen.

OOC: I hope it’s ok I put Cardinia in with his mob because they’ve bred and obviously she’d have to be with him to do that.

[Ehetere]

Through the uneven shafts of morning light Allirea and her new foal walked with sure, silent steps. She knew that her son would grow up to be a fine stallion already; and a grey one too! This pleased her immensely, since grey was of course the most beautiful and mysterious of coat colours. Allirea had given birth to her son in an unusually frigid predawn and frost had crunched under their hooves when he had first struggled up to feed. It was then that Allirea had named him Piringa; for the Frost.

Of course he wasn’t grey yet; Piringa was a smoky sort of black with the odd white marking here and there, but Allirea was certain that he would grey out very quickly. Already his legs and head were beginning to pale. Slowly he and his mother had been making their way up through the bush in no apparent direction, although in her heart Allirea was truly searching for Boolee; Piringa’s father. They hadn’t parted on the best terms, to say the very least, and Allirea had since then decided that no other stallion was what she wanted. She had seen both ends of the social order in stallions; the black King and a very inexperienced youngster - and neither came even close to comparing to Boolee.

But Allirea’s main problem was that she had no idea where Boolee was. After all, she had been separated from him for quite a time and her rushed leaving meant that she had no indication of where she might find him. Even with all her bush knowledge she had not found scent nor track of him so far. Emerging onto the snow grass slopes of the Ramshead; Allirea whinnied to Piringa and sprang off on a brisk trot, feeling the need to stretch her muscles out. In the corner of her eye she spotted Piringa’s gangly form racing behind her; and a swell of pride filled her chest. He was a fine colt indeed.

The ground became far more rocky and uneven; forcing Allirea to slow once more to a walk in order to avoid laming herself or her son. The morning truly was magnificent up here in the high mountains where the whole sky was laid out before you. But just as she thought this thought; something caught Allirea’s eye that made her come abruptly to a holt. Piringa crashed into her rump; but she barely noticed, There standing high and mighty on a rocky tor was Boolee; in all his grey magnificence. In that moment he no longer looked like an old stallion; but one in his prime. He jumped down from the rock and cantered down a snow grass slope with his tail streaming out like a banner or cloud behind him.

The sight of her stallion had given Allirea some unknown thrill; and ignoring his other mares and even her own colt, she cried out wildly, her voice filled with such joy that it could barely be contained within one horse. Then arching her neck proudly and nipping Piringa to make sure he followed; she pranced and hopped nimbly over sharp rocks and down the slope to where Boolee was with little Piringa as a dark shadow behind her.

[stormsnow]

Eira had been traveling slowly across the country for days; now she'd come to the Ramshead Range. She had only just dipped her head to graze when she heard the unmistakable noise of a herd-not far off. She looked down the range, ears pricked, and sure enough, a stallion was proudly circling his mares.

The young silver brumby trotted down towards them, her green eyes blazing with excitement. She had not met another brumby for at least a week, and she had gotten lonely. Advancing toward the stallion and his herd, she let out a short, sharp neigh.

[yaruka]

OOC: haha lol ya that's ok. She kind of just floats along with them, sometimes wandering off slightly apart from the group and never in the thick of things

BIC:

This windy afternoon brought no change in Cardinia's demeanour. The oddly coloured dun grazed as per usual, detached from went on about her. The prescense of the new bay mare made little difference to the independant creamy, she could care less that the herd now had a "lead mare." But it was true that she carried Boolee's foal, an act of permanence that had surprised even she herself, she had never thought to be with a stallion long enough to bear one a foal. But for now Cardinia's mind was not on next spring, but rather, on the grass she chewed. The mare was deliberately focusing more on the spring snowgrass beneath her feet than the proud grey stallon pacing about his mob. She wouldn't want him to think she was getting too interested in him. On the other hand, she did notice his careful gaze watching her more than was strictly necessary. Cardinia was well aware that Boolee recognized her capability to disappear, and the good chance that she just might. Snorting softly in amusement, she hid her lapse in indifference by reaching to rub her face along her leg. Just then another mare made her prescense known, and shortly after yet another one approached. Raising her head in faint interest, she noted the return of Allira, followed, by a colt no doubt sired by Boolee. The other new mare was a stranger, another pale one. After a short time the flaxen dun dropped her head back to the grass, her attitude once again indifferent to the newcomers.

Tyrilly was completely at home in Boolee's mob. The little painted filly trusted the pale grey, and she had no objection to the companionship of the other mares, inspite of their somewhat difficult personalities. But Tyrilly was a horse that just got along with everybody. Nothing really fazed her. The delicate filly was grazing a little ways from Cardinia when Boolee's approach caught her attention and she raised her head. She nickered softly to him, sweet head tucked close to her neck and a coy expression in her bright eyes. The stallion nibbled at her withers and Tyrilly closed her eyes for a minute, enjoying the sensation before swinging her head around with a teasing nip of her own to Boolee's shoulder as the stallion's nuzzles grew rougher.
The wild cry of another horse caught the pinto's attention suddenly, and turning to look, Tyilly saw proud, haughty Allira approaching. Her nostrils trembled with a soft nicker of welcome, for though Tyrilly had known the other mare for no more than a few minutes she still recognised her. Behind the grey came a little foal and Tyrilly nickered to him also, thinking how fun it would be to play with him when he was older, if indeed, Allira stayed this time. Another sharp neigh distraced Tyrilly from these thoughts and her bright blue eyes widened at the approach of another mare. How odd that they should all meet here, this one day! Nevertheless, Tyrilly's gaze was friendly as she looked from one new arrival to the next.

[Corowa]

Boolee stood trembling in every limb, when one call then another rang out on the still morning air. Throwing up his head, Boolee gave a trumpeting answer and then swung about at a gallop. Rounding his mares up into a small mob, the stallion flattened his ears, told them to stay until he returned. Then with that springy, swinging stride, he cantered forwards to investigate. There was Allirea, black foal at her side, picking her way carefully down the steep line of ridge. His mane rippled over his neck, glistening silver in the sunlight, and the stallion arched his neck playfully and stepped higher still. Trusting in his nimbleness, the stallion raced up the slope, greeting the mare with a throaty whicker. Then he was touching his nose to hers, squealing and nickering with excitement.

Lowering his head, Boolee sniffed his son all over. He was a fine looking colt, though his black coat paled already with the beginnings of grey. “So you have come back,” the stallion said. Indeed, once he had coaxed this mare away on one queer winter storm, had felt the joy of her closeness thrumming in his veins, then she had left him, vanished on those same winds, and he had not forgotten. Boolee carried within him all the strength and fury of the whirlwind, for if the proud grey mare was to rejoin his mob, she would listen to no will but his own. For now though, it was enough she had returned to him once more. Nipping her gently, Boolee told the mare to come. He knew her to be surefooted, and surely, this colt of theirs had inherited her carefulness, so it was at a canter did the stallion lead his mare down the steep headwall towards the rest of his mob.

In his excitement, Boolee had not thought of that other alluring call. So when he saw the strange filly standing there, he almost sat back on his haunches in surprise. He left Allirea to greet the other mares, and trotted eagerly forwards. However, the creamy filly was no more than a yearling, too young to hold his interest, beautiful as she was. “Greetings young one,” Boolee said, moving closer to give the filly a cursory sniff. His ears twitched, and his nostrils dilated as he sharply drew in his breath. For a moment, he wondered if the filly’s mob ran this rough country of the Ramshead. Anxiously, he looked to his mares, to Allirea and their black son. Here in the higher country there were fewer mobs of brumbies, for Boolee knew he was no longer strong as those young stallions who ran the lower country of the south. “So where is it that you have come from filly?” he asked, ears pricked even as his eyes still showed the strain.

[stormsnow]

Eria neighed, "I have come from the north, and I travel alone. My name is Eira, for the snow. What do they call you, O grey stallion?" she asked. She did not run away; she knew it would be rude, and besides, she didn't even know the stallion's name yet.

[Ehetere]

OOC: Hey there Ballie; could you post in turn next time? Thanks!

She had forgotten exactly how glorious the grey stallion was, his mane cascading over his neck as he cantered to approach her. Allirea watched on proudly as Boolee greeted their son, and once again thought of what a fine colt he was. At Boolee’s request, Allirea cantered nimbly down the hill to join the small mob at the bottom, occasionally checking behind her to be sure that Piringa could keep up.

But near the bottom, an alluring filly’s call rang out and Allirea pulled up on her haunches, throwing her head up in alarm. It certainly wasn’t the call of one of the mares that Boolee had collected before she had left that was for sure. A small silver filly was trotting up the valley towards the small herd. Boolee had also stopped and was looking in the filly’s direction. Allirea could see that she was barely a yearling, but regrettably had to admit she was already beautiful. But when Boolee moved closer to the silver and gave her a curious sniff, unhindered hatred swept through Allirea as the water after a big storm surges down a river. She laid back her ears in a clear sign of distaste. WHY did silver mares always have to ruin perfect moments between her and her stallion? She noticed that the palomino mare whom she had taken an instant dislike to in the winter time was still there; which was bothersome, she had quite been hoping that she would have left by now. But all the same; she would not be thwarted by some upstart little filly.

She trotted gracefully over and stood beside Boolee, stretching out her neck to make her mane gleam with a shine that he would never before have seen. She had already experience that Boolee did not want her creating a fuss, so perhaps she would have to divert his attention another way. Allirea had positioned herself here for two reasons; firstly to show the filly exactly where she stood, and secondly to tell Boolee that she had no intention of leaving his side any time soon. She relaxed her ears slightly; with difficulty, since the more she looked the mare she saw exactly how immature this young thing was. She no longer inspired hatred; only perhaps annoyance at her presence. Allirea looked down at her with satisfaction; thinking that even though the filly was silver, she was still more beautiful.

[yaruka]

Cardinia continued to graze, indifferent to the going ons about her. She ignored Allira's annoyed glare in her direction, but did prick up her ears to listen to Boolee's exchange with the new palomino. If there were other stallions about Cardinia wanted to know about it.

The little yearling replied and Cardinia heard nothing of interest so she resumed her careful study of the grass she chewed. Rhythymetically her teeth ground the green stuff, rythymetically her long, pale tail flicked at her side. Set off from the herd, Cardinia retained the essensce of her independance.

--------------------------
Tyrilly watched with interest as Boolee spoke to the new mare. Curiously, she cocked her head to one side in order to listen, then, her inquisitive nature getting the best of her, she crept closer. Silently and smoothly, the painted filly moved over the ground until she was only a few feet to Boolee's right side. Her bright eyes were alive with interest and she longed to introduce herself to this new one, to see if perhaps she might like a good game. For though Tyrilly greatly respected her herdmates, none of them were really what one could call the "fun" type. And Tyrilly was still only a filly. She wasn't quite ready for this kind of serious life yet, though she did remarkably well in the herd none the less. Tyrilly could fit in anywhere.

The little pinto's vibrant gaze also passed over the new colt, eager to talk to him. But she didn't dare go over to him just yet, not with Boolee having such an important discussion and Allira still glaring daggers. Besides, he was still very young. There was a good chance he coudl be frightened by a strange horse approaching, even if Tyrilly was just about the sweetest horse imaginable.

[Tex]

A golden and dark stallion trotted casually over the High Country, his black muzzle waving hellos at the bush animals as he traveled past, and a black main and tail cascading like black fire down his sides. He had left the two mares, Yaruka and Curlah, hidden and happy, in a place that he had only just discovered. Hopefully they would stay there, as he intended to gain another member of his family, and losing one didn't sound very appetizing. The ground became rocky under his hooves, and he realized with a jolt that he had already made it to the Ramshead Range. Just goes to show what can happen when you're lost in thought,
His curved ears caught a sudden sound, quickly silenced, and he froze. Now that his hooves did not clap on the rock, he could hear more clearly, and the sound of horses came to him. Nowego threw up his nose to smell at the air, and also caught the scent of mares, and one stallion. Quivering with excitement, Nowego navigated to be coming from the way the wind was blowing in, so they could not catch his scent, and silently made his way towards the smell. A large overhang of rock came into view, and he made sure his golden coat wasn't seen as he slipped behind it, whisking his black tail out of the way as well.
Peeking around the rocks, Nowego saw a mob of brumbies grazing on the snowgrass, oblivious to him. He drew back his top lip with excitement, and drew his muzzle back, shaking his legs and body. Once he was ready, Nowego would go out and formally challenge the grey horse that was in charge, as the unwritten laws of combat said he must do.

OOC- Nowego wants to battle for one of the mares here, probably Cardinia. Anyone upset at that?

[stormsnow]

Eira felt rejected, but she decided she didn't want to be a part of such a big herd yet anyway. She strode away from the hostile mare and her mate, away from their herd, then after about six strides she stopped, timidly lowering her head to graze.