|
Post by aquiladorado on Mar 21, 2010 17:06:46 GMT
”Barwon, Ballook...”[/i] Baralga nodded his head in turn at each of the blue Brumbies, tearing his eyes from Ballook with some level of difficulty. The way she had spoken, the proud air to her voice, suited her beautiful form perfectly. Looking to Kurra, the young stallion questioned her with his gaze. He had assumed at a first glance that the two blues had run with each other, but it seemed now that he was there, that was not the case. What would Kurra think of the mare, if she had no other stallion hiding somewhere, if she were to come with them? That is, if the mare even wanted to. Perhaps Barwon had already asked and been refused, and if a mare could refuse a stallion as large as Barwon, then Baralga had little hope to live up to. His strength was definitely not as developed, nor was he as old as the blue roan.
Still, the young stallion was curious about what Kurra would think of any mare joining them. Would she approve of it? Baralga definitely did not want to welcome the company of another if it were to upset the Bay, his first companion. But Ballook had sparked a longing deep within, a longing to expand his small herd to show the prime he was entering. His life was to revolve around defending mares, winning fights, exploring the land – the more mares he had, the greater he would become. The young stallion reminded himself there was no rush, though. He was still young and able to fulfill his youth with the joyous ventures he had been going on, and now they would always involve the lovely Kurra at his side. And possibly Ballook, in his deepest dreams. ”What brings a pair such as yourselves to the Stockwhip, apart from this weather?”[/i] His question was working up to something much bigger, but conversation was necessary, he figured, to get there. He could turn on his charm when he reached that point.
|
|
|
Post by Corowa on Apr 4, 2010 23:40:40 GMT
Ballook let out a soft snort, then reached forwards and gently nipped the stallion’s shoulder. “I was born on the rough south slope of the Stockwhip,” she said proudly. “My mother was a great-granddaughter of Whiteface himself.” She wondered whither this great bay stallion had come, wondered, if perhaps he had come from the high wide mountains and mighty snowgum forests of the north.
In her excitement, the young mare had forgotten Barwon. He stirred at her flank, and Ballook turned then, to watch the big blue roan stallion. She found herself suddenly half-afraid Barwon would challenge Baralga for her. There was still that feeling of uneasiness, that the stallion might force her to come with him, for he looked strong, stronger perhaps than even that fine bay roan stallion.
She could feel her hide prickling with every hair on end. Just then, there sounded the sharp crack of the whip bird’s call from somewhere further down the flat. Ballook stood perfectly still, listening, waiting. Something in that call told of all the joy that was living, and the mare trembled with a sudden, wild longing. Ballook could no longer contain the throbbing in her blood, and she pranced forwards, every part of her beautiful in the sunlight.
She sniffed curiously at the bay mare, Kurra, gave her a playful nip, and invited her to join her. Then there, beneath the spreading branches of the snowgums, Ballook went up on her hind legs, stood outlined for a moment, by rough-barked trunks and narrow-leaved tea tree. She called then, and her call contained all the joy and longing of a mare searching for a mate. Though whether it had been only to that bay roan stallion she had called, or in answer to that wise old whip bird, the mare did not know.
|
|
|
Post by stormsnow on Apr 5, 2010 7:13:11 GMT
Kurra saw the longing with which Baralga eyed the blue roan mare. She shifted uneasily; she was not one to make friends lightly, as her temper had a tendency to flare up at unexpected moments, and she was not used to nor liked being in the company of more than one other horse. The blood bay mare could tell her stallion this, because for one thing, it would be rude to say it in front of Ballok, and for another, he would probably think she was just being jealous. She gave a small sigh and closed her eyes briefly.
Barwon studied Ballook's face for a moment; he wondered if she thought that he was going to take her with him by force. He snorted. He had already stated that he would do no such thing, but maybe she did not trust him. The blue roan stallion looked at the ground in silent despair. Was he destined to never find a mate, someone whom he could love, and who would return that love? Was he destined to remain a bachelor for the rest of his life?
He viewed the blood bay mare for a moment, envious of Baralga for having such a strong, beautiful looking mare. He frankly envied any stallion who had a herd, no matter how small. He decided, for the first time in his life, to challenge this stallion for his mare. Having made this decision, he trotted out from the circle of brumbies and reared, catching the bay stallion's eye as he did so. "I challenge you for your mare," he whinnied loudly, supremely confident that this was a fight he could win.
Kurra stiffened slightly beside Baralga as Ballook reached out to nip him on the shoulder. Now she was sure that she did not want the mare to join herself and the bay stallion. The blue roan seemed to confident of herself, too certain that Baralga would not react negatively. But despite all this, she did not dislike Ballok.
Suddenly, the blue roan mare sniffed Kurra, and gave her a rather playful nip. She went and stood beside the mare, whom she noticed was shorter than herself by a few inches. She was about to say something when Barwon trotted away from the group, reared, and challenged Baralga. A chill ran through the blood bay mare. She was very fond of her stallion, but she was not sure that he could beat the huge, muscled Barwon.
|
|
|
Post by aquiladorado on Apr 27, 2010 16:53:03 GMT
At the playful touch, Baralga quivered. He turned his head to look at the mare with a curious glint in his eyes, and moved to touch noses with her once more, lifting his slightly higher to give her a nip on the cheek. She definitely was a very assertive mare, and deserved to be by what she told of her lineage. Although the bay roan was not brought up in the area, and was fairly new to the wonders of the High Country, it would have been ridiculous for him not to have heard of the great stallion Whiteface. ”Those are strong lines you carry,”[/i] the young stallion said with a hint of admiration. ”But such is only suited to a filly raised on the Stockwhip.”[/i]
Ballook trotted forwards, her movement sending her dancing into the sunlight. Baralga tensed as the blue roan mare got closer to Kurra – for mares to accept each other was of the utmost importance. He watched cautiously, keeping an eye trained on Kurra rather than Ballook, but found he was distracted when a meaningful call echoed inside his ears. They perked up as his gaze shifted to the mare that stood on her hind legs, the sun lighting up her frame from behind to almost make her glow. The summer was the time for a stallion to find mares, and perhaps it was the heat that drove them on such trials, but Baralga felt he was falling victim to nature. He couldn’t help but walk (if not strut) forward a couple steps, his neck arched and his dark forelock resting over his eyes in wisps. The mare was showing off for him; she had called to him, and to him alone – why shouldn’t he do the same?
Unfortunately, it seemed the other stallion had the same idea. He trotted away from the group and locked his gaze on the bay roan stallion, declaring his challenge. Baralga was shocked – here stood a mare worthy of fighting for, a mare that had not yet been claimed, yet the brute was inclined to take his own beautiful, fiery Kurra?! The young stallion found his senses once again, and pinned his ears at Barwon. What an idiot! Baralga had not thought the stallion to do something of the sort, and found he was outright frustrated. The question was almost rhetorical – it was frowned upon to deny a challenge, although this one was most certainly not following the normal, and what would happen if he did? Barwon could try to make off with his bay mare, and Baralga would be left with nothing for Ballook was likely to turn her nose to a coward. But the young roan was no coward.
Baralga struck at the ground with a forefoot, tearing up the earth. He ducked his head and trotted to Kurra, nudging her on the rump and driving her to a more secluded corner. The young stallion looked at her briefly, his face soft with worry for her. ”I am not being left with a choice here. Should I lose, and you wish to stay with me, you may flee. He will not catch you if you’ve left with a head start – I will find you.”[/i] Baralga nuzzled the mare behind her ears, and then spun on his hindquarters and charged back toward his opponent. Every line of his body was tense, every impression he gave off menacing. His glare was set on Barwon, and Baralga reared up when he was close enough, hooves forcefully parting the air and mane and tail flagged out behind him. His nostrils flared as he answered Barwon’s challenge with a bugle of his own. It was true that this other stallion was older and was likely to have more experience, but where the brute was over assertive was his size – Baralga had filled out incredibly since he had first encountered Kurra, and while his build was naturally large, his strength was not far behind that of the blue roan. The fight would come down to chance, and the young bay roan was ready for it. He would do anything to protect Kurra, and the same to win over Ballook.
|
|
|
Post by Ehetere on Jun 11, 2010 13:59:58 GMT
Fight roll!
Baralga has 1-7 and Barwon has 8-16!
And the roll is......
3! Congrats Baralga!
|
|
|
Post by stormsnow on Jun 12, 2010 2:44:33 GMT
OOC: That's good. Thanks Ehetere. And congrats Baralga!
BIC: Kurra nodded wordlessly, collected herself, and trotted out of the clearing. Letting her hooves clatter audibly, she galloped halfway down the hill, then turned and crept back, concealing herself behind a few overgrown bushes near the clearing, where the blood bay mare could watch the fight unseen.
Barwon narrowed his eyes as Baralga spoke to Kurra, and watched as the firey mare sped out of sight. Shaking his head, he snorted and trotted toward Baralga; when he was a few metres away, the blue roan stallion lashed out with a foreleg, hoping to gash his opponent's flank.
|
|
|
Post by aquiladorado on Jun 28, 2010 15:36:11 GMT
The sound of Kurra's hoof beats as she fled brought him confidence, but the bay roan stallion was still almost caught off guard by the sudden attack. Baralga reared once more in defense, attempting to swing his hindquarters away, but he was not quite fast enough and felt the impact of Barwon's hoof. The young stallion winced and kicked out with the closest hind leg as a reaction to the thud. His skin had not been broken, therefore it would do nothing more than bruise, but Baralga knew he had avoided most of the force of the hit. This was his first fight, and it was a learning experience. He would have to play it more cautiously than he thought.
Racing away from the blue roan to lead him on a chase, Baralga gave a powerful buck to turn his front end toward the opposing stallion when he got too close and struck out with his forelegs. He dove for the stallion's face, aiming for his poll with his jaws wide open, and pushed with all his strength to try and bring the brute down to the ground.
|
|
|
Post by stormsnow on Jul 2, 2010 11:55:49 GMT
Barwon thundered after Baralga, narrowly dodging a blow from the bay's forelegs and snapped at his neck. He squealed with surprise and pain and attempted to duck as the bay bit into his ear, now practically in a sitting position. Realising what the other stallion was up to, he surged up with an angry bellow, battering his opponent's belly with his forelegs.
|
|