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Post by stormsnow on Nov 11, 2009 20:03:39 GMT
A young mare trotted toward the Cranckenback, under the gaze of the mercilessly hot midday sun. Beside her trotted a big sandy-brown dingo, his tongue lolling in the heat. The mare charged into the shallows, making a huge splash as she did so. Her coat was the purest, most real and blinding white that had ever been seen in the High Country. The tip of her nose was pink, and her eyes were a brilliant, slightly dark blue. The dingo's green eyes gazed at his companion, then he jumped mightily, and landed on her back.
Loorea, as she was called, was used to Daku doing this. She tipped herself sideways, and her friend fell into the river with a moderate splash. He spluttered for a minute, then went very quiet. "Daku, are you okay?" She whinnied, bringing her face close to him. At that moment, a large spurt of water shot forth from the dingo's mouth and hit the mare on her nose. She dunked him under the water with a gentle prod, and when he emerged, she shook her huge head at her older friend. "Sneaky," she reproved him as he resurfaced, coughing water.
Leaning down to have a drink, her eyes caught some movement on the other bank, where there were bushes and some trees. She decided to ignore it and went back to playing with Daku. He was six years old, and had not had a mate. Loorea was four, and had generally stayed away from large groups of brumbies, preferring to travel alone with Daku. She and the big dingo had become inseparable over the last three years. The happy mare paid no further thought the whatever was in the bushes.
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Post by Cheyenne on Nov 17, 2009 17:21:05 GMT
Hiding behind the bushes, a young, grey kangaroo watched the beautiful mare tip the sandy coloured-dingo into the river and giggled. He wondered why he hadn't come down here before, it was perfect. The running water of the river sang out into the hot, hot day.
Tamaska had travelled far and wide and knew almost every inch of every land but this great valley was new to him. Why hadn't he explored this place before?
Hopping quietly out from behind his tree, Tamaska wiggled his little, black nose and made his way towards the two friends who also seemed to be enjoying theirselves. "My name is Tamaska," he called to them, the sides of his mouth twitching slightly into a smile. "May i ask you for your names?"
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Post by stormsnow on Nov 17, 2009 19:42:10 GMT
Loorea turned to gaze at the kangaroo. "Greetings, Tamaska," the white mare neighed warmly. "I am Loorea, named for the moon, and this," here she paused, pushing her dingo friend to the shallows with her nose, "Is Daku, meaning sand."
The dingo smiled in a friendly fashion at Tamaska, his green eyes calm. "What brings you here, friend?" Daku asked, genuinely interested.
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Post by Cheyenne on Nov 18, 2009 16:41:44 GMT
The grey kangaroo smiled, nose twitching. Tamaska love meeting new creatures - whether it was horse, dingo, kangaroo or something else - and usually made friends with them all. "I come here for adventure," he replied. "I have travelled far and wide and heard news of this place from the wallabies. It's a very beautiful place." He lifted his paw and pointed it towards the rest of the Crackenback River. "Anyway, why do I find you here? Is this where you stay or do you come here for something else?"
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Post by stormsnow on Nov 18, 2009 19:22:13 GMT
Loorea answered for the two of them. "We came here because we were curious, and also because a river is a good place to be when it's as hot as today." Daku added, "It's a good place to relax on a day like this, where you can act like an overgrown infant, and no-one will think you strange. That's what we tend to do, anyway." The dingo grinned, his eyes sparkling.
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Post by Cheyenne on Nov 19, 2009 17:14:23 GMT
Tamska laughed. "Well, I suppose it is pretty quiet down here". And with that, he picked himself up and leapt towards the running river and threw him self in, large feet first, spraying the cold water over the two friends as he hit the surface.
The grey kangaroo splashed around in the cool, refreshing, wet stuff. "Wow, this feels good," he said, sending up another spray of water at the mare and dingo.
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Post by stormsnow on Nov 20, 2009 8:07:57 GMT
Loorea splashed her way back into the river, making huge waves that threatened to swamp the kangaroo and the dingo. "Yes, it is on a day like this," she agreed, sighing happily. Suddenly, she took a great mouthful of water, and spat it at Tamaska. Daku shook himself, panting. He lapped up some water, then launched himself playfully at Loorea.
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Post by Cheyenne on Nov 22, 2009 19:21:21 GMT
Soaking wet and a little bit cold, Tamaska swam towards the bank and climbed out. "This is the life," he thought, lying down on the fresh grass and stretching himself out, soaking up the heat from the sun wich had started to dry his lovely grey fur. "Hm," he sighed. "Tell me more about yourself, it's unusual that dingo and horse roam these lands together, I'm very curious." Big, brown eyes watched them with inquisitive eyes.
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Post by stormsnow on Nov 22, 2009 19:58:30 GMT
Loorea heaved herself out of the water and lay on one side of Tamaska. Daku ran up to them, shook himself all over his two friends, and lay down on the grey kangaroo's other side. "Well," the white mare began, "For a start, my parents were not born here. They were born somewhere that was nearly always lush and green. But they were captives of man. Then man brought them here, and a few months later, I was born."
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Post by Cheyenne on Nov 23, 2009 19:10:12 GMT
Tamaska gasped. "Your parents belonged to man?" Humans were one of the things that terrified the grey kangaroo. "So, how come you are free now and not trotting along with men on your back?" The story had him filled with questions already. His eyes drifted away from the mare looking to nowhere in particular, deep in thought.
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