Exogenesis: A Kingly Thread

[Ehetere]

The black stallion’s angry trumpeting neigh made Kirroo jump and stop in his tracks. He threw up his head and twitched his ears nervously, but held his ground despite the other’s fast approach. Kirroo was brave for a colt; foolish, but brave. And he wanted this filly for his own, even if her father was being rather shirty about it.

Back in his old herd, his father had not liked colts that came snooping and stealing either, and those hopeful colts had had to return later at night when the stallion was in a slumber. Kirroo supposed this was the best strategy to adopt at this point, however, he would not have a chance to convince the filly to leave with him then if time and silence was of the essence.

The black’s closeness made this difficult however, especially if he wanted to cut the filly away from her little group to talk to her. He was pleased that she had come forward at least, which meant he was surely making headway already. He danced a little more, though more out of indecision than flirtatious behaviour.

He was not entirely sure why the black was maintaining such vigilance on him; for these young daughters and sons of his who were old enough to go adventuring by themselves were surely only making the search for decent grazing harder. He was offering to take one off his hands: he was doing the black a favour in a manner of speaking.

He looked up to see if he could find that other colt, and why he was not also diverting the larger stallion’s attention. But Kirroo could not see him anywhere: he must of gotten away with his filly of choice already. Not fair! Still, he thought that disappearing now might be wise - the stallion though old, was imposing to say the least.

“Follow after me,” he whispered in an undertone, after dancing a little closer to the filly and her group, so the black stallion would not have been able to hear. He hoped she had heard him and understood that it was she at whom the message was directed. He was going to get no where with the stallion breathing down his neck. He could only hope that she would come after him when the black lost interest, else he would return at night and try and spirit her away then.

[tingara]

If the colt had gone for any other filly, Tingara would have done nothing but watch. He would not have had any objections if it had been one of his daughters the queer coloured young stallion was eyeing up but as it turned out it was not a daughter. Although he was not really all that interested in her it was still the ways of the bush for a stallion to fight for an unrelated mare. With another angry, trumpeting neigh, the King thundered towards his rival.

If it so happened that he drove both off he would not mind. Only mere metres away, Tingara skidded to a halt. His ears were laid flat against his head and he tossed his head and pawed the ground, his ire obvious. ”She is no daughter of mine, if you want her you will fight me for her,” he whinnied shrilly with a half rear. From side to side his tail waved as the King stood waiting for the apricot coloured colt’s next move.

[yaruka]

Biara was quite enraptured with the queerly coloured colt, his coat so unusual, like hers. Though this was not what attracted to her to him. It was more the fact that he dared come here, so close to Tingara, to try and tempt her away. She wasn't necessarily interested in him as a stallion, surely much to his disappointment if he'd realised, but his boldness fascinated her.

His invitation for her to come closer was not unexpected, but not quite what Biara had in mind either. She liked her life here in the large herd, it was safe, and most of all, it meant family. And Biara couldn't imagine leaving Taworri, Kurrawa or Barinya, she cared about them too much. But it looked as though it wouldn't be her choice whether she stayed or went.

So fascinated by the young stallion, Biara shied quite violently when Tingara charged over, her expression instantly changing from one of curiosity and mild concern to worry. The colt couldn't hope to stand a chance against the great Tingara, and if it came to it, she would leave herself rather than have him pummeled to death. The silver grulla had seen enough bloody fights for her young years.

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Beside his younger brother Kurrawa stirred restlessly, aware that soon there was likely to be a fight. The hot-blooded colt was burning for some excitement of his own, and he pawed the ground repetatively, as was his habit, as the tension in the herd thickened.

Barinya also gazed on the two stallions, gazing through his dark lashes innocently at the clashing parties. He had never seen a fight before, and Taworri stirred protectively beside him, concern for sons, her daughter and both Tingara and this foolish tan colt fluttering inside of her.

In complete contrast to the beautiful family of the Moon stood Wirruna and her young family. Kooraloo was too disinterested in others affairs to be bothered with this conflict, and Wirruna herself used ignorance as a defense mechanism. At her feet Quahlee again slept, this time even through Tingara's angry words.

[Ehetere]

Kirroo came to a screeching halt as the black thundered his way towards him. Kirroo was no small horse for his age, but compared to this giant he still possessed the immature body of a youngster. He flicked his ears nervously in indecision - he wanted the filly dearly, but getting himself killed for her was senseless, especially before she had decided whether to come with him.

In other situations, Kirroo would have accepted the challenge readily - he was brave on the point of foolishness. But certainly not the level of stupidity required for him to enter this contest. Though his ears were flattened in distaste, he half reared and began to retreat like this - hoping that the filly would also realise that to accept the black’s challenge would be fool hardy. He was still going to win her over - he did have some patience.

He did not turn his back on the other stallion, but he did not keep his eyes on him either. Instead he now focussed his attention back on the filly. He was willing her to realise he was promising a more exciting life than this. They were both young and free, and should enjoy the young life that all fillies and colts deserved. It was a crime to be bogged down in herd life and have that wild young carelessness stifled. If only she would come with him when he left here.

With a parting glance and a whinny, he turned on his haunches and dove for cover into the trees. The black was an imposing shadow he did not want to be anywhere near while the other knew of his presence. His call was not to the black, but the filly. It was a promise. He would return for her. It was filled with longing, offering a different life if she would choose to take it. Really, Kirroo just wanted her to follow him after the black had lost interest to save time effort and anxiety. Then everyone would be happy.

[tingara]

The young, would-be Casanova was a fool but he was not stupid. His retreat was brave and defiant, a fact Tingara noted with respect. If he had been just a little older, the stranger may have made a worthy rival but the days of rivalries were gone as the only stallion ever brave enough to pester him repeatedly was gone and his bones bleaching in Yarraman’s Vallley. No, it would only ever be foolhardy colts that the King would have to deal with as he grew closer to old age.

The black stallion neighed in warning as he noted the colt’s attention on Biara and not he himself. It was a weakness that, if he so wished it, could be easily exploited. The youngster had a lot to learn and something told the older stallion that this would not be the last he saw or heard from the apricot coloured horse. With a rear, Tingara threw his head to the sky and roared a warning that the colt’s presence would not be tolerated if he chose to come back in answered to the young horse’s own calling.

When the stranger had at last disappeared the King set about rounding his herd up. He whickered gently to Biara for her to join him with her mother and aunts. It was only when he had looked over his herd did the black stallion realise Quinja was missing. He knew full well that it was not uncommon for fillies of her age to wander every now and then but if she did not come back soon he would most definitely look for her and fight any stallion foolish enough to have claimed her from the King.

[yaruka]

Biara watched Kirroo go with a mixture of fascination and anxiety in her eyes. Perhaps a touch of something else too, longing even. She listened to his promise with some trepidition, she hated conflict, but had little time ot dwell on it as Tingara was now calling to her and, as part of his herd, she was bound to follow. As she fell in behind her mother she thought of Boorana, her older sister who had run off with Werrilah, Tingara's son. Of course, Boorana had not been easy to woo...Biara's eyes brightened with amusement as she remembered the white colt's determined courtship of her stubborn sister. It was with some shock that she realised that Boorana could well have her own foal now. Infact, she herself was coming close to breeding age. She had never given the idea of a stallion much thought but now she realised that as a member of Tingara's herd she would probably be expected to carry his foal. This thought disturbed her slightly. She loved the noble black stallion but he had always been a guardian figure to her, never a mate. But such thoughts were atypical of her generous nature and she shook her head to clear her mind.

Following the herd she noted with love how Barinya still hadn't grown into his legs, Kurrawa's agitated and excited prancing, and the aura of kindness that surrounded her dam. How could she ever leave them? But something in Biara's blood was stirring now for the first time, some sense that perhaps this wasn't where she was meant to be her entire life.
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OOC: Does it bother anyone if I skip to nightfall? If so just let me know and I'll adjust the post

BIC: As night fell on the large herd Biara stirred restlessly. She had made her decision in the late afternoon, had spent the rest of the evening with Taworri and her brothers, in her own manner saying goodbye. She knew the colt would be back, he had promised and a colt like him was likely to be too proud to go back on his word. And if he returned it would surely mean he would fight with Tingara. Biara couldn't stand that, so she was leaving to protect those she loved. She hoped that if she left on her own perogative that she would protect the tan colt from Tingara, Tingara from an unecessary fight, and her herd, especially young Barinya, from having to watch another potentially brutal conflict. The silver grulla filly shuddered in horror as she remembered the last fight she'd seen, and with that thought in mind she silently slipped away from the herd, her dusky coat blending perfectly in the silvery light.