Black Ice [BURNUM/OPEN]

[yaruka]

Along the shaly shores of Lake Cootapatamba stood a black mare, her foal a slightly paler shadow beside her. It had been months since Omaroo had last seen her stallion, by now she had all but given up hope of ever seeing Cobar again. Still, the mare was fairly content, enjoying her life of exploration with her similarly outgoing daughter, though concern for Taleri’s wellfare did temper the joy Omaroo felt at roaming the brush. Not that she needed a stallion for protection, but it did worry her that her foal’s only line of defense was herself, not a meek mare but a lone horse all the same.
The foal, face characterised by a wide white blaze and queer blue/grey eyes, had moved to the edge of the lake and played happily in the gentle waters by the shore, oblivious to her mother’s musings. She was a happy foal, always up for fun, and she loved these night time wandering where she was near invisible, her mother completely so, and they could play by the glassy lake, so clear it resembled the night sky. With her right foreleg she pawed at the water, disturbing the perfect picture and sending rivulets of water circling around her legs. Turning she nickered to Omaroo to come join her, and not one to stand about worrying; the mare waded over to her daughter and joined her in her quiet game.

OOC: don’t make fun of its awfulness… :/

[tingara]

Why had he come back to this place, this God forsaken lake? Pain echoed in each of Burnum’s steps as he climbed the rocky rise that led to Lake Cootapatamba. It was here he’d met his first mare, and she had agreed to run with him as they swam to the middle together. She was gone now, she and her unborn foal. The thought of the mare and his unborn child gone still haunted the bay roan stallion; the wounds of their disappearance were still relatively fresh. Maybe he was journeying to the Lake because deep down he hoped they would be there waiting for him.

Whatever his reasons were, they were not important, all that mattered was he was standing on the shore looking sorrowfully out at the water. So engrossed in his mourning was he that Burnum did not realise he was not alone in the valley, not until the sound of splashing reached his russet ears. Was it her? No it wasn’t, but it was a mare and foal and it hurt to see them. Bitterly he wished the stranger and her offspring to leave the lake in peace but this feeling did not last long. An overwhelming need for companionship spurred the stallion towards the mare, calling to her as he walked around the edge of the water.

[yaruka]

A sudden strange call met Omaroo's ears and, startled, she threw her head up, straining her eyes to see across to the other shore, watching the approach of another brumby, undoubtedly a stallion by his whinny. Curiosity, not caution, governed her reaction, perhaps not wise for a mare with a foal at foot. But Omaroo had never been undually cautious, perhaps to her fault. She stood frozen next to Taleri, ears pricked forwards with marked interest. The foal nudged her mother inquisitively, and Omaroo dropped her head to nuzzle her in reassurance. The foal had never encountered a strange horse before yet the smoky black did not shrink from the stranger's approach.
When the black mare raised her head again the stallion was close enough for her to be able to pick out some of his features. Surpised, she found he looked rather familiar. A brisk breeze which picked up just then only confirmed her suspicions. This was one of the three stallions she had encountered fighting over a couple of mares back in the spring! How strange to see him here. Instead of moving to shelter, the mare lifted her head and answered his call, frozen in the middle of the lake she waited for him to reach them.

[tingara]

The closer he got the more Burnum could discern the mare’s colouring. His heart almost shattered when he saw she was black, just as his last mare had been. Again hope blossomed that it was in fact her, the one whom he had some this very lake with but he could see that she was built differently. In fact she was the same colour but everything about her was different to the mare the bay roan had known so intimately.

Regardless of the pain he felt, the russet stallion continued to approach her. She did not turn and run, that was always a good sign. ”Greetings,” he called as he got closer still. At last he was within a neck’s length of her and she was beautiful up close. Breathless, Burnum struggled to speak but at last he found his voice. ”What do they call you, mare the colour of shadow?” he bobbed his head politely, keeping both his eyes squarely on her the entire time. ”Why are you here, so high up and alone? You are alone aren’t you? If not where is your stallion?”

[stormsnow]

OOC: Hope you don’t mind me joining in…

BIC: A mare stood opposite the three brumbies, about where Burnum had stood a few moments before. She was a blood bay, and her coat was polished to an unusual but not unnatural sheen of red. All four legs were black, as were her long, silky mane and tail and muzzle tip. Her eyes were a normal shade of brown and hid what she was thinking and feeling, unless she chose to show it.

She surveyed the three, surmising from their words and actions that they were acquainted with each other, but were not of one herd. Not yet. Her heart clenched unexpectedly at the sight of them together. When she had been a yearling, the herd her mother had joined behaved as if the filly was tainted by men, and so she was, in their minds at least. Kurra shook her head. No, just because her father had been the slave of man, born and bred in captivity, did not mean that his daughter was the same.

Because of that, she had wanted to make a new start. After all, none of these horses would know that she had been born in captivity, and she was glad of it. Just forget about it, she told herself. She dipped her head to take a drink, and when she was done, she raised her head to watch the other brumbies once more, smiling at the little filly’s antics.

[yaruka]

The stallion was polite, a fact not wasted even on the laid-back Omaroo. He was quite pleasant, though she thought she saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes that puzzled and concerned her. Still, it was not something she could worry about now. Boldly, she held his gaze as she replied.
”Greetings Bay Roan Stallion, do you not recall me? I assure you we have met before.” Bobbing her head she glanced sideways at him, her eyes lighting up lively. “Perhaps you do not remember. Your attention was otherwise occupied if I do remember correctly,” she snorted, remembering the brash boasts of the three stallions in front of the mares they were seeking to impress. She had been mostly overlooked, likely do to her very pregnant sides at the time.
“Regardless, it is nice to see you again,” she added, “My daughter and I are alone,” she continued offhandedly, not troubling to try and conceal this information from him. He didn’t scare her.
“And I’ll tell you my name if you tell me yours,” she added mischievously, nipping him slyly on his neck.
-----
Taleri had started out being fascinated by the stallion. But as her mother spoke to him she soon lost interest and returned to playing in the glassy water. As she pawed at the reflected stars she suddenly noticed from out of the corner of her eye another brumby across the lake. Curious, she raised her head and stared at the stranger, eyes bright with lively interest.