Nervous Fire [Bokara]

[Tiggs]

OOC: Continued from Exogenesis, set in Autumn

Quinja nudged and harried the stallion back into the safety of the snowgums. The trees pressed them together, and she could not put much of a distance between them. Her flank was flaming hot against his after her romping, and her dark and white mottled pelt was damp with sweat. She was not the most attractive she had ever been, but she felt no self-consciousness in the face of this lovely bay. Perhaps she should, though, at closer inspection. She had seen creamies and moon fillies, but none of them had that natural beauty this stallion possessed.

He was not heavy like most, and he looked almost fragile on those slender legs. Despite herself, she reached out her muzzle to though his upper foreleg, and was only half surprised that it did not break! Quinja spend a moment to admire him in the dappled light through the trees, before she realised what danger they were in.

“You are a foolish one,” She whispered, nipping his flank for emphasis. “This is the King’s herd, and I am his mare,” Or so she assumed, he did not treat her like one, “You risk his wrath if he had seen you.” The greying roan was anxious, and seemed genuinely worried for the stallion.

She glanced out at the herd, and saw that a second marauding stallion had come to see the King’s daughters. She breathed a sigh, glad for the distraction. It did not escape her attention that the other stallion was exotically coloured. It made sense that he should be interested in the Kings’s daughters, and a simple bay was the only one interested in her.

The roan chided herself for thinking it, but it was true. Perhaps she was not beautiful enough for the King. Was that why he could not spare her the time of day? She shuffled her feet nervously, sooty tail catching on low branches as she moved it in anxious patterns. Quinja looked hopelessly back to the bay, and wondered what he saw in her. What could possess a delicate stallion like him to risk the wrath of the King?

[E!]

B O K A R A;

---

[/i]'.

Bokara's deep, emotional eyes changed from being excited and nervous in the prescence of this young, beautiful filly, to being filled with hurt. He had, indeed, believed that she had wanted to be with him. He blinked softly, lashes fluttering. His fine boned head turned aside, finally turned away from the filly. He focused instead on the pale bark of a snowgum behind and to the left of her, lean muscles tight and tense. Her continued whisper only reminded him of his foolishness and his ear twitched silently, the breeze lifting his dark mane off of his smoothly muscled neck.

Her sigh seduced him back into looking at her, and he followed her gaze, watching the uniquely coloured stallion try to steal mares. This only made his heart heavier, as he came to the conclusion that she wished she was standing now with that young beast, rather than he. He turned away again, hearing the shuffle of her hooves on the earth but fearing to glance back in case he saw another hurtful thing. His heart was easily broken - especially by this filly, the first he had felt a burning desire for. Of course, his heart was still intact, but bruised, along with his pride.

Bokara felt her eyes on him, and he raised his head - still avoiding her gaze. "Forgive me. I could not help my desire, and had to have you - or try to in the very least" his beautiful big eyes turned to hers smoothly, nervously "You are worth a beating, beautiful one". Bokara blinked, slowly, then turned his gaze back to the branches across from him, hoping that she might speak to him in return - and perhaps even stay with him. "I am Bokara, named for the heat". It was a statement - for maybe, if she left and returned back to spend her days beside the King, she would remember the fine boned bay that had come for her when she was but a filly.

His self esteem was easily beaten down, and his gaze kept returning hurtfully toward the handsome young stallion marauding the Kings mares. A stallion that he thought was so much more desirable than he, though this was not true. Perhaps others thought that the other beast looked more interesting, but Bokara could see the arrogance lining his face, and turned away sadly. It would not do to envy another. Those eyes of his fell back to her, the beautiful filly that he risked his heart for.[/ul]

[Tiggs]

The bay seemed hesitant to meet her gaze, and she followed his eyes as they flickered between the branches. Was he so shy? Why had he even entered the King’s valley if he was so very flighty? She nickered softly, encouraging him to speak, and he did.

What he had to say though was startling, and he even met her eyes for that brief time as he said so confidently, as if it were truth, the words ‘you are worth a beating, beautiful one’. So secret as they were, Quinja might have laughed another time. “Oh Bokara, you are mad! There are many more fillies out there, King’s daughters, I cannot possibly be the most beautiful.” She said it lightly, but her heart raced. He truly thought her beautiful? Over all the other mares that the valley had to offer?

For the first time, she was on the receiving end of adoration she thought she would never have. She thought only she would feel it for that great black King, whose calls of anger snatched her attention like a whip crack. The calls were far, and she stood tembling in silence for a moment before she was sure he was not coming their way. She breathed another deep sigh, and looked to Bokara for his answer. “I am Quinja, named for ash.” She said, a hint of his shyness infecting the wispiness of her voice. “Do you really mean it?” She asked, her dark brown eyes intent on him.

He could laugh right now and break the fragile hope she had built. She had not expected this. This was the sort of thing you woke up in the morning expecting. You should have time to prepare! Now she had nothing to say. She did not wake up this morning, knowing ‘this is the day a stallion will want me’. She had only the persistent worry that Tingara would not want her. It had niggled inside her for months now, and suddenly there was this lovely stallion, with eyes only for her!

[E!]

[/i]. Bokara's brow creased suddenly, a slight frown upon his beautiful features as he turned back to the little filly, watching her for a moment, then letting his eyes wander to the herd he had seduced her from. That frown dissapeared as he looked back to her, mahogany eyes softening as they set upon her messed up coat - sweat covered and utterly irresistable. He turned to face her straight, his neat hooves making barely a sound on the earth.

He started to reach forward, meaning to touch her soft nose with his, but straightened suddenly as a cascade of angry neighs reached his ears. Bokara stood stock still, lean muscles tense and his large eyes alert as he searched for any hint of black through the trees - he would fight for her, if he needed to. His heart thudded painfully in his deep chest as nerves set in - he had never fought a real, proper fight before! Soon enough though, it was evident that the crys of anger were not directed their way, and Bokara relaxed a little, though remained tense as his eyes turned back to her.

Finally, he gained her name. Quinja... he said it to himself, delight spreading through his delicate frame. He shook himself, eyes dancing in pleasure. Her soft voice slipped into his ears once again, and he turned his gaze to her gentle brown eyes, sincere. "Quinja..." he paused, savouring the sound of her name off of his lyrical tones I do not mean it, I know it. As much as I know I am alive, and that my blood is set alight by the very scent of you" he stretched out his sooty nose, touching hers so very softly.

"Quinja..if you would be mine, I would be..." he paused, trying to find words - for he was quite a poetic creature "Overjoyed." He finished simply, unable to express his emotions through words. Ah, he was a dramatic beast, if he fell in love - he really fell.
[/ul]

[Tiggs]

It was a declaration that made her quiver, and her tail flag in excitement. He truly meant it! His dark nose on hers was electric, and she lingered there before she snuffled all over his face, and crowded closer so she could crane her neck and sniff his withers. He was so delicate and tall! Not like the King in shape at all. The filly was shaking, but not from fear.

The stallion had proposed that she go with him, and that offer had promise of so much joy and excitement. She turned about, resting her flank against his so they stood side by side. It felt wrong and right at the same time, to be with this stallion rather than her King. She had never stood with Tingara this way. She and Tingara barely touched at all. He had so many mares to care for, and she was but one.

She could not find any words, they all caught in her throat. So without any thought to how much it might tease him, she leaned her muzzle towards his and investigated his features again, even nibbling his ears as she investigated them. He was certainly handsome, and she could find no flaw with him. He was sweet, if a little shy, and he appreciated her even in this state!

Quinja became conscious then that she was resting against him when she was in dire need of another roll, or a good grooming, so she stepped away with her head lowered sheepishly. She missed their touching, though, so again she reached out her muzzle to his. The feeling was just as sensational as before, and so she stayed that way for a long time while she contemplated his offer.

Bokara was a good looking stallion, that was important she supposed. He was wonderfully sweet, and she would never feel like she was not important. As far as she could tell, he had no other mares. Was that a bonus? He would be all hers for a time, until he gathered more and his attention drifted away. She could deal with that, any attention was better than none.

Her eyes showed a little while, and her indecision showed in the set of her ears and tail. She looked to the stallion for help. If he could tell her what she should do, she’d feel much better, but he was bias of course. Her gaze flickered to the direction of the herd. She needed her friends, to gossip and talk it over with her. They would let her know what to do!

But she couldn’t very well run to them now, she would give Bokara away, and she found that she definitely did not want to do that. She huffed warm breath from her nostrils into his, her eyes focusing forwards again. He was lovely, he really was. And nobody else had made an offer for her. Would this be her only offer? Or would there be many if she waited? But could this be the best offer of any she would ever get, and if she declined, would she regret it.

She tested moving her nose away from hers, and she felt a chill. It was certainly nicer to be touching him. Would she miss him if he went? Would she spend the rest of her days daydreaming of the fine-boned bay who had come for her when she was just a filly? She did not want to take that chance, she realised. This could be beautiful, or she could be disappointed. Either way, she would not know until she tried.

Her ears came slowly forward, and she reached her nose back to his. “Bokara. I will be yours.” She whispered, her happiness infecting every inch of her body, washing away all the tension and worry. “I am yours.” She said, with more strength, her eyes brimming with a joy that she could not describe.

[E!]

[/i] Quinja did not appeal to him. Owning her was not what he wanted. He only wanted her to be with him, forever. Foolish thoughts perhaps - but he was new to this...to actually wanting a mare to be with him. Her nose on his was a pleasure he wanted to indulge in whenever he wanted.

His eyes closed as she snuffed his fine boned face, opening smoothly as he felt her nose on his withers. His intelligent eyes followed her curiously as she moved about to stand beside him, turning his head as a bemused smile crept onto his lips. He was still awaiting an answer, and every moment just grew more painful with the suspense - hopes growing and being dashed down again, then the process beginning again. He tried not to think about how he was being measured up against Tingara - the king. For surely, if he thought of this, he would lose hope altogether. After all, he knew nothing of being a member of Tingara's large herd, nothing of the positives and negatives.

Her touch again made his eyes close, gently this time - enjoying it. All too suddenly, that touch was gone, and Bokara moved forward involuntarily - searching for her again, eyes still closed. They flickered open, his dark lashes fluttering and he immediately set his gaze on Quinja - unwilling to lose her again, even if he had only been centimetres away from her. Again, their muzzzles touched, and Bokara's flighty heart was set at ease.

That deep mahogany gaze of his was aimed into her own eyes, seeing the indecision in hers setting off the hurtful nerves in his. The silence lasted all too long, and Bokara's throat was itching to let loose a pained whicker. Usually, he loved the silence - loved to be able to hear his own thoughts and the sounds of the bush around him. But this silence, oh, he wanted it to end!

Quinja moved away again, and Bokara thought that was it - she had chosen to be the Kings. His delicate heart started to leak, held together only by that shred of hope that said 'she has not said anything yet, fool, wait for her to tell you what her choice is, stop jumping to conclusions!' And so he waited, every muscle tense, ears flicked forward to catch every sound she made. A soft breeze lifted her lovely mane, rustled his gently. Finally, her ears flicked forward, she took that step that brought her nose to his once more and she set his heart alight.

If her eyes were brimming with joy, Bokara's were burning with it! Dancing silently within their sockets, sparkling, spinning, soaring. Within his chest, his joy was supressed and he wished that he could leap to the sky and roar to the sky of his triumph. And he would have, if he had not been as smart as he was. To alert the King in his moment of joy and bring it all crashing down around him - no, he would wait until he and Quinja were away from the herd...away and by themselves!.

Instead of bucking and dancing like he wished to do, he moved forward smoothly, rubbing his head against Quinja's happily. "Ah Quinja, you set my heart alight!" he exclaimed, lovely deep voice filled with his emotions. He pulled back, turned to face the opposite direction of the herd and then looked back to her, gently asking "Are you ready?"

He knew, from how hesitant she had been to leave the herd, that this would be a big move for her. And Bokara, being as sensitive and lovely as he was - although perhaps a tad high maintenence, wanted to be sure she was ready to go out alone with only he for company. His beautiful eyes were filled with a gentle happiness, his delicate frame tense with excitement and his every cell filled with the joy of having Quinja for his own - his!. He gave a soft nicker, looking to the horizon and then back to her. In his head, his imagination started to run wild - oh the life they would lead! The delicate bay and his beautiful mare.[/ul]

[Tiggs]

His happiness infected her, and she felt the urge to jump and frolic. She lippe at his nostrils, almost quivering with excitement. Now she had said yes to him, a whole world of possibilities was opening up for her. They could run and play together! Explore every corner of the High Country! She had not seen much of it, being confined to only where the herd went, and she suddenly wanted to see more.

Bokara was ready for her to leave with him, and even though she nodded, she spent a moment to look through the tree to the herd beyond. It was where she had spent most of her life. Was she ready to leave it? She felt a pang of uncertainty, but when she turned back to look at her new stallion, that cloud lifted and she was ready. To run with Bokara would be a thrill that she had never felt, and she thought her heart might swell and burst from the utter glee that she felt.

She moved to him, pressing her flank to his and snuffling at his face and ears. “I am ready,” She replied, almost breathless from excitement, “Take me where you want to go. I want to see everything you want to show me.” She nickered, and after another soft nuzzle, she moved back so he could lead the way through the tight trees.

Quinja looked back once more at the herd, but she felt only the slightest wistfulness at leaving. She was embarking on a new adventure, one that she hoped would heal the space she had in her heart for the great black King.