the grey gale, [O]

[yaruka]

OOC: lol, I was thinking the same thing Tiggs xD poor thing's never seen a human up close...

BIC:
Waiirri was sorry to have startled the mare, and blew out through his nostrils apologetically as she thrashed in terror. The mare struggled harder, managing to pull herself up to a sitting position, though the effort had clearly exhausted her. Waiirri was just about to nose her gently in reassurance when she bumped him with her nose, hard. Waiirri was a surprised and encouraged by the force behind the gesture, clearly there was life in this mare yet.
Respecting her wishes he backed away a little, eyes still anxious for this strange mare. His sympathy was soon replaced by shock though as the mare spoke, anger plain her words. But Waiirri was not about to leave the mare helpless to whatever might come up here, so he continued to stand there, frantically trying to come up with some way to get the mare to rise, other than anger her further, which it appeared might actually work as anger seemed to bring out some reserve of strenght in the mare. Just as the blue stallion was seriously considering provoking the mare into rising a strange sound rang through the air, accompanied by a foreign scent, that, though unrecognised, Waiirri immediately associated with danger.
Anxiously he tossed his head, his gaze flickering from the mare to the direction from which came the odd smell. What was he to do? He would not leave the mare, but all his instincts were screaming at him to run. Undecided, the stallion stood braced, snorting nervously as the stockmen approached.

[Corowa]

Just then, a stockman whistled and the sudden lowing of cattle reached the two bush brumbies. The blue roan stallion stood undecided, and he nervously snorted and stamped. “Run stupid one,” the mare panted. “You’ll meet stockmen if you stay here!” Yarrawah showed the marks of exhaustion, and as the sounds of the muster sounded nearer, she snorted in terror. Her light-grey coat was dark with sweat, and her breathing was heavy.

Yarrawah could hear the sharp crack of the stockwhips, the shouts of the stockmen and furious barking of their dogs. There seemed to be so many cattle being driven down the wide stretch of snowgrass, and Yarrawah started to struggle, trying once more to get to her feet. Before long, the mare was covered in lather, her flanks heaved and her nostrils flared red. Yarrawah had thoroughly worn herself out, and the mare could just lay in the snowgrass, as she shook with terror.

The stallion still stood at her side, and Yarrawah thought perhaps that the stockmen would chase him. In her panic, she nickered worriedly to him, told him to go and that she would be safe enough. She did not want him to be captured, and even though she was terrified to be left behind, he surely had a small mob of mares nearby to look after.

With her ears sharply pricked, the mare turned, looking down the slope of snowgrass and gave an anguished whinny. Yarrawah could see the stockmen and their horses outlined against the dust stirred up by the cattle. The mare trembled to every sound, and her every sense was outraged, as she could feel herself trapped, seeing no hope of escape.

OOC: I think we should have the stockmen come in once you’ve posted with Waiirri

[yaruka]

OOC: sounds good. poor Yaraweh though-she's sounds so terrified...

BIC:
Waiirri flicked his ears to catch the grey mare's words, wincing slightly at their harshness.But still he stood beside her, legs locked in place even as he panicked. He knew he should run, whatever was coming was not safe, but how could he leave this mare to the very threat he so feared? No matter that she had been nothing but negative towards him, he could tell that she was scared.

It was the grey's worried nicker that finally inspired movement in Waiirri once again. Anxiously he dropped his head to her own but the sharp snap of a whip spooked him and he shied severely. Casting a glance at the still approaching men he finally took her advice-there was nothing he could do for her, so he spun around and fled into the brush, hiding within sight of the poor mare, gaze still fixed on her even as his body quivered nervously.

OOC: again, pretty pathetic, but hey-at least it's there...

[Tiggs]

Loping into view came a stockman on a dapple grey mare followed by the herd of cattle. Flanking both sides were another four men, and another two followed at the back. The man and dappled mare at point slowed at the sight of the brumbies, and a shout went up. The flanking men drew nearer the front of the herd, and the cattle slowed. The man on the grey tapped his heels on the horses flank, and they sped to a steady canter.

If a brumby could tell such things, they might tell that the man was in fact a woman. Molly squinted out from under the brim of her hat, pulling her male Moya up short when they neared the downed brumby. She had been expecting the feral horse to rise and move, but on closer inspection she could see the brumby mare was obviously exhausted. The grey mare struggled to stand, but Molly could see one of her hind legs was just not steady enough to support her.

Saving the injured mare as much stress as possible, she turned Moya and cantered back to the other cattlemen. There was a short discussion, and two of the men gathered rope and accompanied Molly back to the brumby mare. They were in a good mood today – another day she might not have been able to convince them to help. They could herd the cattle round, but they might sense the mare’s anxiety. Shooting the mare was definitely not on the table. She only seemed lame – and Molly hoped once they had her on her feet, she would be able to limp away. The woman only hoped the poor dear would heal in time to survive winter.

The stockmen surrounded the grey mare, and set about roping the downed brumby. The feral horse complained, of course, but there was not a lot she could do to help herself otherwise. After much cajoling and after somewhat of a competition, the men managed to get ropes about the brumby and made ready to heave, using their steeds for the strength they needed to get a fully grown mare to her feet.

[Corowa]

The sounds of the muster sounded so loud now, and the cattle milled nervously about, so she flinched at their constant bawling. One of the stockmen approached, and the mare turned her head and watched with wild eyes. Just then, the loop of rope fell around her neck and immediately tightened, so the more furiously she fought, the more it strangled her.

More stockmen approached, and the mare really started to panic. There was a thump when she kicked out blindly in fright. Then someone sat on her head and held her down in the snowgrass. Yarrawah had quietened, blindfolded with a strip of cloth. The mare could smell the sourness of sweat on the stockmen, and she shook with fear. Then all of a sudden, she felt herself lifted, and her lame leg gathered up under herself so in one painful moment she stood.

The mare shuddered, blowing and sweating and swaying, somehow finding the strength to stand on legs that were not sound. Her sides heaved and she coughed up a thin rope of saliva. The concerned voices of the stockmen confused her, and she gave a sharp backward tug on the rope. Having recovered some of her strength, Yarrawah now strained against the rope. She had recognised the help the stockmen had given her, but she would not be captured.

It was not for Yarrawah to stand tamely tied. The constant rubbing of the rope reminded the mare of her capture, and she plunged violently forwards, desperate to escape. The rope pulled her up short, and the mare fought against it, eyes rolling and legs braced. Each tug of the rope enraged her, and she shook her head to free it from the trailing rope.

[Tiggs]

Understandably the mare was frightened, but the stockmen got her to her feet with not too much hassle. Once up, the mare regained her spirit and began to thrash and strain against the ropes. The men (and woman) worked to loosen the ropes, keeping as big a distance as they could. The blindfold was almost last to be taken, and in avoiding a particularly violent lurch, Molly leaped back and landed not quite squarely on one foot. She grunted and waved off the concerns of the men. It was only a minor sprain.

Unroping the mare was harder than putting them on, but eventually there were only two lassos around the mare’s neck. Two of the men with the burlier stock horses mounted up and made moves to lead the mare out of the way of the cattle before they would release her. They could have kept her, but they hadn’t the time or resources to tend a lamed mare – and the men were more interested in the cattle than one measly brumby.

Molly watched the men struggle with the feisty mare with a hint of a smile on her lips. The brumby was courageous. Even roped and injured, she fought. It was the wild spirit of the High Country that Molly loved, and she could see it present in this mare by the bucket load. She was sure the mare would survive the winter and come out fighting. She went to Moya, mounting her grey mare with practiced ease and turned her back toward the cattle mob, watching the brumby mare over her shoulder.

[yaruka]

Waiirri watched frozen as the men gathered about the fallen mare. His instincts still screamed at him to run but against his nature he did not, forcing himself to remain hidden but present. He could sense the grey mare's terror as she was surrounded, and for a moment his vision of the scene was obscured by the loud stockmen. A sudden lurch of movement from the mare sent the people scrambling backwards and in an instant the grey was up, trembling and shaking, but still, standing. She suddenly began to fight, and even in his own fright Waiirri admired her courage, her indomitable spirit.

He wondered what he could do if they tried to drag her with them, the grey was strong but she was injured, and definitely outnumbered. He considered rushing at their horses, hoping to scatter them, but he feared the consequences of enraging the humans on the other ends of the ropes that held the grey mare. As he frantically tried to come up with a plan the people raced about and suddenly the mare was free of her ropes-it seemed the men did not plan to keep her after all. When the last man backed off Waiirri broke from his cover, rushing over to the mare to stand next to her for support, his eyes nearly as wild as the mare’s as he swung his head at the closest man, ears pinned in warning. Clearly it was only a show of dominance, what chance did he have over the multitudes of men, but he hoped it might hurry them on their way.

[Corowa]

The cattle bawled and bellowed as they milled about behind them. The sound terrified the mare even further so when the stockmen approached on their horses she plunged wildly about, confused by the commotion and unable to see anything. The mare started to choke, and then just as suddenly the ropes were loosened and with a shout of warning from the stockmen, the blindfold was removed.

Yarrawah’s ears were flat back, but she was held fast by the ropes and nearly worn out with fighting. Then in just an instant, Waiirri was there beside her, seemingly ready to defend her against the stockmen. The stallion faced the stockmen and menaced them with pinned ears and teeth bared. The mare was surprised by his fury, but the stockmen only laughed and continued to work at loosening the ropes.

It seemed there was hope for escape, and Yarrawah settled once she realised the stockmen had not intended to capture her. The final rope fell free, and Yarrawah sucked in a deep breath and then stood and curiously regarded the men and their horses. Only two of the stockmen had remained with her, while another of them waited ahead, obviously impatient to budge the mob of cattle.

Yarrawah was confused by the stockmen’s’ kindness. The mare had never seen them help a brumby they did not capture, and she could hardly believe it had occurred. With a loud snort, Yarrawah told the stockmen that while she was grateful, they had best mind their distance. Then the mare turned, and hopped slowly towards the shelter of the snowgums.

There was the crack of the stockwhip and then the mob of cattle continued up the slope. Yarrawah stopped amongst the first of the big gums. She turned in the direction of the departing stockmen, and watched them until they disappeared into the distance.

The stallion had followed her, and the mare turned and gave him a hard nip. Yarrawah could still not believe he had come to defend her against the men, and even though she had been both surprised and comforted by his courage, the mare was still uncertain of whether he meant for her to go with him.

OOC: Sorry there wasn't much talking in my post. Anyways did you want to wrap this up within the next reply or two? All Waiirri has to do is ask if Yarrawah wants to go with him.

[yaruka]

Waiirri paced anxiously alongside the mare as she hopped towards the trees, his body braced beside her, ready to support her should she need it. His hide prickled, ever concious of the stockmen behind them, and it was only once they reached the shade of the snowgums that he stopped sweating. He didn't have much chance to relax though, they had barely entered the safety of the brush when the grey mare swung her head to nip his shoulder with surprising strength, given the ordeal she had just been through.

Startled, the blue roan stallion threw his head up, regarding the mare with a mixture of confusion and hurt. The puzzlement in her own eyes quieted him a little, and he wondered if perhaps the mare was just as uncertain as he was. Snorting softly, he reached his nose out tentatively to her.
"May I inquire of you your name, O Bold Grey Mare??" he asked.

[Corowa]

Yarrawah swished her tail, and swung her head around to nip at her flank. The flies had settled on the worst of the cuts, and the mare stamped a foot impatiently. In the confusion of the muster, her hind leg had been badly strained, and it was now very difficult to stand on.

The mare thought perhaps it was best to go down to one of the nearby gullies, where the snowgrass grew thick, and where there was still water in shallow creeks. The thought of such good things, made her prick up her ears, and she turned and nudged the stallion as if to hurry him along.

“My name is Yarrawah,” the mare replied shortly. Just then, the stallion stretched out his nose to her, but Yarrawah only gave a loud snort. The mare had no interest in stallions, and usually didn’t listen to them much anyway. They were more often than not, too busy with fighting and bothering their mares to do much good.

This stallion seemed particularly stupid. Perhaps he did not have other mares, for he obviously hadn’t any idea about what to do. Yarrawah blew noisily through her nostrils in frustration, and then hopped forwards and nudged him a little harder than before. He was not much better than a shy yearling!

Even in the shelter of the snowgums, Yarrawah was still jumpy, and she had decided that it would be best to make for lower country, in case the stockmen changed their minds and came back to capture them both. The mare told the stallion to come, and then with a flick of her tail, turned and hobbled off in the other direction.