Winter Approaches [Ehetere]

[yaruka]

OOC: I apologize that I absolutely fail at starting threads :/

BIC:

Moonlight shone on the little clearing, picking out the highlights in the three horse’s coats and silvering the water of the creek they grazed beside. One of the three was a dark roan mare, the moonlight shone on her only subtly, glimmering on the infrequent white hairs that speckled her dark coat but casting a strange glow around her eyes where the hair was palest. The other two shone much more brightly, a fact that Luz was acutely and painfully aware of as she grazed beside her friend Kirrkie and Kirrkie’s little foal. It had been some time since the three had seen other horses, but one could never be too careful. And now that it was fall cover was becoming even sparser for the little band. Still, Luz was happier than she had ever been in her young life. She had escaped the tyranny of her first two herds, and no longer lived under the influence of a stallion, not even brave Nevada or noble Tingara. She had found a true friend in Kirrkie and for that she was grateful. Occasionally the blue mare would think of the future, worry about the time when Nevada would surely come back for Kirrkie and leave her alone, but she tried for the best part to live in the happy present while she still could. And sometimes, when she watched how Quirindi was growing, and saw the special bond between Kirrkie and her first foal, Luz longed for a foal of her own. Still, for the most part Luz was content.

A cool breeze blew across the creek, lifting Luz’s forelock and fluttering her tail out like a banner behind her. Shivering slightly, she turned to glance at Quirindi and Kirrkie, wondering if the foal was warm enough. Winter was certainly on it’s way, she only hoped that between herself and Kirrkie, they could manage to give Quirindi the same protection that she would have had in a regular herd.

OOC: ughhhhhhhh, it sucks. sorry :/

[Ehetere]

OOC: You don't suck Yaruka! It's better than what I would have done that's for sure XD

The night was peaceful and quiet enough. There was no noise other than that of the bush, but inside, Kirrkie was restless. Winter was coming; she could feel it in the chilly wind that blew across the clearing. In spring and summer, and even autumn, Kirrkie had always maintained that they could manage better than any stallion with his herd, but now that the numbing cold of winter was approaching, she was beginning to have her doubts. Sure, it would be easier to find food for two and a half horses than seven, but seven horses had the combined warmth and knowledge of each other. She was still relatively young, she had to admit that now, and this was her first foal.

But despite her doubts, she knew that Quirindi was a very strong youngster. She had grown up magnificently under her care and Luz’s watchful eye; and already Kirrkie could see that she would grow up to be an extraordinary mare. Stunning and spirited, just like her.

But being spirited could have its downside. Quirindi had woken up from the new chill in the air, and was demanding milk. Kirrkie instinctively knew that she would have to stop providing food for her daughter and tell her to start eating grass like everyone else, and what better time to put her foot down than now? She snorted angrily, and pushed Quirindi away from her udder and told her, “You have to start taking care of yourself. Winer is coming, and you need to be able to feed yourself.” Quirindi responded in kind by nipping her mother’s shoulder none too kindly and throwing her a dirty look over her shoulder as she cantered away and began careering around the moonlit clearing.

[yaruka]

OOC: aw, thanks Ehetere I find starting threads to be really difficult, especially with characters that I haven't had for very long.

BIC: Luz watched the exchange between mother and daughter silently. She wondered if Kirrkie was more worried than she was letting on about providing for Quirindi over the winter. Luz had never been one to rely on stallions (she'd learnt that depending on males went beyond foolishness), but still she couldn't help worry if the combined protection she and Kirrkie could offer would be enough. Typical mares raised their foals with herds, and there were plenty of reasons for that.

But then there was Quirindi, not a typical foal in any sense of the word. For one, her coat colour was dangerously flashy and bold. But the filly herself was strong and independant. The blue roan mare had never seen anything like the little pinto in her few short years. Perhaps she was so strong willed given the way she had been raised, by two tomboy mares. Luz wondered wryly if together, she and Kirrkie were raising Quirindi to resist stallions and typical herd life as they had done so all their lives.

Thoughtfully she continued to graze, preparing herself for the winter.

OOC: sorry it's so short, not really much for Luz to say/do at the moment, she's a pretty quiet mare. I shouldn't have made it night time, lol.