A hard winter ahead, [O]

[Corowa]

The small mob of brumbies stood spread across the snowgrass flat, sheltered on the south side by a low scrub of white sallee and ti-tree. There was no stallion here, and instead the two mares watched over the young colts, one nearly a yearling, and the other only a few days old.

Coongulla stood with legs splayed, and he glanced back at his mother to make sure she was near. His ears picked up so many different sounds, and there was so much to see here, that he found himself a little confused. Sometimes the wind piled the drifts of snow high, and once or twice he had floundered into one and nearly found himself trapped.

With a good shake and a swish of his little wisp of a tail, Coongulla started off in the direction of his mother. It was only now that the colt noticed how cold it had become up here on the high plains, and he longed for the warmth of his mother’s milk. The wind had picked up, and some instinct told him to find shelter, for surely something bad was going to happen.

Tallarook grazed alone down in the fringe of bush. The bay colt was nearly as big as the two mares, but the colt still looked to his mother for shelter and comfort. Myrrina had shown him how to dig out the snowgrass, and now he pawed impatiently at the snow, so hungry even the wet and soggy snowgrass filled him.

The two mares stood side by side. Huddled together, they turned their tails to the strong, north easterly winds. Something told them there would be more bad weather soon, and they knew it was time to head for the lower country, where there still might be grazing enough for a small mob.

Myrrina had started forwards in surprise, when something first bumped up against her flank. But it was only Coongulla, and he immediately thrust his head under her belly and started to nurse. The mare settled, and while she rested a hind leg, she turned and watched the young colt.

Coongulla was soaked through, and when he could no longer stand, the little colt plopped to the ground. Even so, he remained there for only a couple of minutes, and then, with much effort, the colt struggled to his feet. The ground was much too cold, and Coongulla thought perhaps his mother might go on without him if he did not have the strength to stand again.

It had been raining for some time now, but soon enough it turned into sleet. Both the mares stood then, with heads held high and ears pricked. Myrrina looked about for Tallarook, suddenly terrified he had gone and she could not find him. The bay colt still grazed down in the thick scrub, however, and with a loud neigh, the mare told him not to go any further.

Just then, Durroon turned and nudged Coongulla forwards, but the young colt only squealed in fright as he was nearly knocked over by the strong winds. Coongulla baulked, but both mares urged him on, and the colt found himself driven on between shoulder and flank, protected from the wind by his mother on one side and that brown mare on the other.

From somewhere nearby, a currawong called out, and the mares stopped for a moment, before they continued on their way. But it told only of a hard winter ahead for the wild bush brumbies, of terrible fights and poor grazing, a winter in which only the strong would live through.

[KAREE]

The wind wrapped its tiny fingers around the alabaster clad mare in a tight hug; whisping her frizzy, tangled locks around her solid frame. Her dark brown pools stared off through some snowgums at a small mob of brumbies, there was no grown stallion with them, so Snowy assumed that it was safe to approach without getting swamped and persuaded into running with them. But, she couldn't be sure. It was possible that a stallion could be hiding in some of the trees further down the flat without her knowing. And she just was not ready to be comitted into a small herd just yet. It was just like giving away her freedom to a man!

She pushed away the thought as the mob began to move. The rain had began to diminish and the wind that tugged onto her mane grew more fiercer and more icy. Snowy tried to ignore the alarming feeling she got from this sudden change in the air, but couldn't push it away like she had the thought a moment ago. There was something bigger coming their way, and the mob of mares and foals knew of it as well. Turning away from her spot inbetween the trees, Snowy trotted a large circle around the flat, before trying to catch the scents of the mares once more.

The furosity of the wind startled Snowy, she was starting to get worried, now trotting along a snow covered path. If the winter was only beginning, she could only imagine how worse it will get. The mares stopped for a moment to listen to lone currawong, so Snowy took that as a chance to catch up with them. She let out a small nicker, stepping out of the trees. She was a shabby looking mare with a thick winter coat, mattered mane and a roman nose. But if one was to look past her faults, they would see a totally different horse. She arched her neck and whinnied, trotting up to the mob; with ears pricked forward. "Greetings, I am Snowy." She stated quickly, glancing over the strange faces.

[Corowa]

Durroon could feel her hide prickle with the sense of being watched. She stirred uneasily, suddenly longing for the cover of the snowgums instead of this open plain. Something moved through the sapling scrub, only half-seen in the grey light, and the mare stopped, listened intently, head up and nostrils wide.

Myrrina had started to tremble all over with a restless excitement, filled with the absolute urge to race wildly over the snowgrass, to race the very wind itself. At the same instant, the currawong’s call sounded again, though much louder than before, and both mares started forwards in sudden fright.

The first flakes of snow now fell, but soon enough it began to fall thicker and thicker until the world was covered by a blinding whiteness. Almost impatiently, Myrrina swung around, and with ears pricked and head high, looked northwards. Perhaps there was still time to reach Lake Cootapatamba, though surely the snow must be falling much deeper higher up.

The wind shifted, and there was something outlined by the heavy-falling snow, so for a moment Myrrina could only stand, tense all over, waiting for a call that never came.

Then at once, the swirling snow cleared, and she could see it was not the one who she so desperately longed for, the one for who she might wait for always. Even the snow-filled wind, a promise woven in the very depths of the blizzard, had not led him to her.

Both mares stood perfectly still, and stared. The mare was big-bodied, but only young, perhaps no more than four or five-years-old. Durroon gave a sudden, throbbing neigh, and plunged on through the wind-whirling snow. Myrrina, stirred by longing she had half-forgotten, followed much more slowly, her mind filled with memories of a fine black stallion, a splendid dance amongst the falling snow.

Having reached the young mare first, Durroon extended her nose in greeting, and blew softly through her nostrils. “I am Durroon,” she said gently. “We have travelled north, many miles, up from the Brolga’s country. This is Myrrina, and her foal, Coongulla. There is a colt down in the snowgums, but he is only a yearling and full-brother to this one.”

[KAREE]

Flicking her ears, a distant cry echoed through the gumtrees. After a few more minutes the mob she had been following emerged out of the swirling snow. One of the mares walked up to Snowy, reaching out her nose for her. She extended her sooty nose to exchange breath, then pulled back.

She looked over the new faces, trying to memorize each name with a face. "It is nice to meet you Durroon, as well as you Myrrina and Coongulla." She looked around her, before laying her muddy coloured eyes back on the lead mare, Durroon. "I have not travelled far in this weather," she said, glancing amoung the different faces. The snow swirled around them once more, blocking Snowy's view for just a moment.

The weather seemed to be getting worse as the minutes flew by, and Snowy was sure that the others did not want to be held up any longer. "Do you mind if I travell with you for a while; I have no herd and the weather is getting worse..." She trailed off, looking hopefully at the two mares.

OOC|| sorry about the super short and super crappy post.

[Corowa]

The wind had become a gale. It roared through the highest snowgums, and Durroon trembled at the sound, for in the hushed stillness of the bush it seemed almost a living, breathing thing. Coongulla cringed up against her flank, and the mare turned and comforted him with the soft touch of her nose.

Myrrina wondered at the young mare’s shyness, and she stretched out her nose and gently nuzzled her. “Come and shelter with us in amongst the snowgums,” she said kindly, for the old mare was wise to the ways of the bush, and she could see it would be a bad storm indeed. “I cannot let you go on alone,” she softly added. “For there is something in the wind that makes me uneasy,”

The wind-driven snow, stung hide and flank, and a great willy-willy of snow swirled up around them. Myrrina was nearly blown over by the wind, and for a moment, Coongulla vanished into one of those swirling clouds of snow. Myrrina plunged forwards; suddenly terribly afraid the foal would be lost to her. The mare struggled on through the driving snow, but she was no longer certain which way Coongulla had gone.

Then Coongulla was suddenly there at her side, and they both stood breathless, listening to the roaring, tearing winds. Shivering, Myrrina led the foal on through the blinding snowstorm. The young grey mare was nearly invisible in the snow, but there was Durroon, clearly outlined against the wind-whirled snowgums, and Myrrina gave a gasping neigh.

It was only when the mare had regained her breath, did Durroon gather them all up and lead them on through the blizzard. Presently, the cloud of snow cleared and Durroon glimpsed the band of snowgums only a little further ahead. Though it was impossible to see through the snow, Myrrina knew the other mare had followed. She possessed the queer quality of seeming to fade into the snow, and to Myrrina she seemed more wraith than of solid flesh and blood.

It seemed to be a very long time before they reached the shelter of the snowgums. Tallarook waited there, wide-eyed and anxious. Myrrina could feel the terrible pounding of his heart, and she nuzzled him reassuringly. The yearling rested his head on her withers, and slowly the fear went out of him, until finally he stood with eyes half-closed, drowsing there beside her.

Coongulla stood on trembling legs. He no longer had the strength to stand, and a sigh went through him, as suddenly the foal collapsed into a heap. He was soon fast asleep, and Myrrina watched over him until his breathing deepened and he no longer shivered so badly.

“It seems you have brought the snow with you, O mare of the blizzard,” Durroon said lightly. The tremendous sound of the wind filled her with dread, and every part of her tingled with the desperate urge to go southwards, to get down out of the blizzard before it worsened. Yet everywhere, it seemed there was the blinding whiteness of the snowstorm.

OOC: I just had Snowy follow them to the snowgums