If You're Wondering... [COROWA/CLOSED]

[yaruka]

OOC: To All: this thread is closed for all but Werrilah for now, thanks

It was a bright night, the moon casting its full glow on the lands of the Brogla's Country as the shade thrown by the towering ash trees formed queer shadows on the springy floor of the forest. Between the trunks flitted another shadow, sometimes taking on the shape of a lithe brumby, other times fading into the strange dusky light. At the side of this vector was a smaller figure, made of shadow and moonlight both. The mare and foal were making their way back to their stallion, Boorana having only just given birth a few days ago. Despite this, the foal was steady on its slender legs, a subtle boldness hinted at in his strong steps. Like her ancestors, Boorana had given birth during a full moon, and was choosing to make her return in the night, when she was most comfortable. Her refined night senses had no trouble picking out reality from insubstance in the odd light, and the foal seemed to share her confidence, the sureness that only Moon Fillies and Nightrunners could know at night.
The mare's steps were purposeful and eager, though there was a strange air of haste about her gait. Her head was flung up and her nostrils flared, tail flagged though she was not wary of the night.
She had missed Werrilah more than she had expected, more than she cared to admit, and was anxious to return to her mate. It wasn't fear for herself or her foal that drove her onwards, rather a compulsion, a need to be with the silver stallion on this night. As she drew closer and closer to her goal, scenting Werrilah in the brisk air of the night the strange drive that had flared up in her began to calm. With it her senses returned, and all of a sudden, at the edge of the forest she halted, abruptly dropping her head to graze. Her foal looked at her in confusion, but not yet tired did not settle to sleep, instead nosing at her side in hopes of some more milk.
The dark mare's ears flickered hastily back and forth, but other than that she gave no hint of her previous purpose.
This desperation to be with her stallion wasn't like her, she was independant and so stubbornly she would wait for Werrilah to find her. She loved the stallion more than she would have ever believed possible, but she wasn't going to let him know that if she could help it.

OOC: this is a weird post, sorry :/

[Corowa]

The young stallion grazed alone in a pocket of snowgrass, where the grass was still rich, even if there was not much of it. Just then, he thought he heard something moving about, somewhere up near the timbered ridge line. Werrilah lifted his head, and stood for a couple of minutes with his ears pricked forwards and nostrils wide.

Even though he listened intently, the sound had obviously stopped, and convinced there was nothing to be concerned about, Werrilah settled down to graze. Perhaps it had only been another brumby, finding shelter for the night.

There were only one or two small mobs grazing here, and sometimes the young stallion had seen them, milled about the shallow creeks, and grazing on whatever snowgrass they could find. He had been surprised to see how poorly they had looked, and the ribs showed on the mares, with the stallions in even worse condition.

They had been run off from better grazing by stronger stallions, and while presently, Werrilah was content to share the best of the grazing spots with the near starving brumbies, if he remained here, he would be forced to chase them off, and perhaps even fight, once his missing mare had returned.

Werrilah would not let his own mare go hungry, and he decided it would be good to go north, now that stockmen had left, up to the rich snowgrass plains where the big mobs of brumbies grazed. The young stallion was certain his dam would be happy to see them again, and since she was the favourite of Tingara’s, he thought they would not be bothered.

The young stallion was surprised by how much he missed his mare. It worried Werrilah, to think of what might happen to the young mare, without him there to watch over her properly. Sometimes, he imagined Boorana captured by the stockmen, and hobbled somewhere in a stockyard where he might never find her again.

Then all of a sudden, Werrilah stood with ears sharply pointed and head held high. He looked towards the lightly timbered ridge top, where he had first heard the sound just moments before. Now, he stood with his attention firmly fixed on one particular spot of ridge, sure he had seen something moving through the whippy saplings.

Werrilah decided it would be best to investigate, and while he did not think it was stockmen, he still wanted to be certain. Truthfully, the young stallion longed for companionship, even if it was just one of those small brumby mobs. He stamped a foot impatiently, and then, with a noisy snort, Werrilah started up a narrow bush track, towards the spur of the slope.

OOC: You can just powerplay Werrilah continuing up and finding Boorana

[yaruka]

Ever the stubborn one, Boorana was still resisting her inclination to find Werrilah. Determidedly she cropped at the grass, allowing Pirnbial to feed as she did so. A shift in the wind brought with it Werrilah's scent again, this time stronger. Eagerly the mare lifted her head, breeze blowing her short black mane back with its sudden intensity but for now it did not bring with it a silver stallion. Stifling her disappointment she dropped her head to the grass again. Pirnbial, however, was not so easily convinced to give up a chance for excitement, foolishly he whinnied to whatever it was his mother had scented, earning himself a quick warning nip to the rump from his mother. Knowing now that their cover was blown, whether to Werrilah or someone else, Boorana stepped forwards protectively in front of her colt, ears flicking restlessly back and forth, dark eyes searching the gloom. Was that a flash of white hide she saw just now? Or was it only her imagination that brought Werrilah proud stepping up the narrow bush track towards her?

[Corowa]

The slope was less heavily timbered here, and Werrilah plunged on up through the sapling scrub. Occasionally, he would stop short, ears pricked and nostrils wide. Then with a snort, he would continue on up the slope, until finally the young stallion reached the flat line of ridge.

But there was no small mob of brumbies spread out through the fringe of bush, and instead, Werrilah found a young brumby mare, grazing beneath the sheltering eucalypts. The stallion stood for only an instant, and then he hurried eagerly forwards.

The stallion’s ears twitched and his nostrils quivered with excitement. At first, he looked over every inch of the mare, snorting to himself as he made sure she was all right. Then, convinced nothing had happened, Werrilah started to nibble at the mare’s shoulder, slipping in a playful nip or two.

It was some time, before Werrilah noticed the young colt clinging to Boorana's flank. The stallion considered it for a moment, before he dropped his head to investigate it more thoroughly. In his excitement to greet his mare, Werrilah had not given it much thought, and so now he made a suitable fuss of it.

“He is so tall and long-legged!” Werrilah said proudly. “Have you thought of a name?” he continued, though like most stallions, he was more interested in the mare than the colt. Even so, Werrilah knew it belonged to him now, and the stallion would do his best to protect both his newborn son and its mother.

[yaruka]

Boorana couldn't resist a low whicker of greeting to Werrilah as he suddenly appeared, shining white in the half-light of dusk. Her nostrils quivered silently as he came over, bumping his nose with her own. The stallion ran his gaze over her, fussing with her mane and the mare pinned her ears in mock protest before striking out playfully with her foreleg and tossing her short mane so that it flopped in the stallion's face. She squealed at his playful nips, before quieting and nibbling at his own fine crest.

In her excitement at greeting the stallion, Boorana had practically forgotten poor Pirnbial, clinging wide-eyed to her flank with a half-defiant look in his gaze. Werrilah's words reminded her of him, and she turned to encourage him forward to greet his father, proud of her colt in spite of her relative lack of motherly instincts.

"He is Pirnbial, for the rainbow," she said proudly, "He is a blend of both of our pelts, and a finely built colt like his father always was."

Teasingly, she reached forwards to nip Werrilah on the neck, reminded of when the stallion had first taken an interest in her. They had both been with their dams still then.
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Pirnbial was quite confused by his mother's interest in this strange horse, but unafraid, he stayed boldy by her side nearest the stallion. Finally the two older horses noticed him again. He did not recoil when Werrilah began sniffing him, standing his ground, only his tiny flaring nostrils belying his slight discomfort.

[Corowa]

Pirnbial. Werrilah stared intently at the young colt, fascinated by its light colouring, no more than a wraith in the darkness. The stallion stood, wondering if it would vanish. Instead, the colt stood and looked back at him, so Werrilah stretched out his nose to gently rub its ears, to feel if it was indeed real, and not some vision woven by the moonlight.

He could feel its heart pounding in its chest, and his own blood throbbed in answer. Werrilah blew softly through his nostrils, in an unspoken acknowledgement of his son. Only then, did he swing his head around, and turn once more to Boorana. The sight of the mare, bathed in the pale moonlight stirred something deep within him, and a sigh went through the young stallion.

The mare was splendid in the full light of the moon, which streamed through the snowgum leaves, and made mane and tail glisten. The wind moved in the biggest of the snowgums, and it told of old stories, only half-remembered, no more than long forgotten memories.

Werrilah had started to tremble with excitement. He found himself filled with a sudden longing to race through the night, to plunge on down the slope into the blackness of the gully far below, to thread his way swift and sure through the great mountain ash, to feel Boorana there at his flank, their strides so evenly matched, it was if they were one.

Every hair stood on end, and his hide prickled. The young stallion stirred restlessly, and it seemed the wind promised something, which Werrilah did not yet understand. In the peaceful stillness of the surrounding bush, it seemed as if they were the only ones living, and Werrilah felt a cold shiver run through him.

The stallion thought it was time to find more sheltered bush for the night. Surely, Pirnbial would need to rest soon, and Boorana would need her full strength for he sensed it would be a long, hard winter ahead. With the tenderest of caresses, Werrilah reached over and gently nudged the young brown mare.

“There’s a little snowgrass flat not much further down the slope,” he said softly. “It’s sheltered enough that your foal should be safe, and there’s some good grazing.” The thought of winter hurried him along, so Werrilah turned, and picked his way down a rough track, listening for any sign of danger, but waiting, always waiting, for the gentle touch of a nose at his flank, the feel of a shoulder pressed close to his.

[yaruka]

The colt's tiny ears went back as the stallion reached forwards to nuzzle him. He lifted his nose still higher in defiance, trying to stare the white horse directly in his eyes. What was his mother's fascination with this odd horse? Somehow Pirnbial felt as though he himself was also connected to this Werrilah, though he could not imagine how. The stallion turned away and Pirnbial relaxed slightly, breathing out with a sigh that mimicked his sire's.
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Boorana watched on as Werrilah investigated their son, noting with amused pride the young colt's bravery. The young stallion turned away and Boorana felt a current race through her veins, her mind and body in tune with her mate's. Werrilah reached over to nuzzle her and Boorana closed her eyes to feel his caress, for once placated in the queer night that belonged to her, her mate, and their son. Werrilah spoke and Boorana opened her eyes. Nodding in agreement, she moved to follow the stallion, walking beside him as an equal, her young colt trotting at her flank.