Love Notes [Open!]

[Tiggs]

It had been a few days since that horrific summer storm, and it had taken this long for Omeo to pluck up the courage to come down from the rocky Brindle and to good grazing down here on the flat. He and Karanee grazed on the long grass at the far reached of the Boggy. Summer had dried the ground here, but the Boggy kept the foilage lush and green unlike the grass elsewhere that suffered under the summer sun.

The colt was doing well for himself. He had one mare to graze with him, and he bore only a few dark marks over his shoulders and neck from the encounter that won her. Omeo still felt guilt about that. The fight had been unfair odds, but Omeo could not have left Karanee to the cruel buckskin and so here they were! The roan’s ear would flick every now and then, and he would regularly check for other brumbies. If that stallion came back, Omeo would not be escaping again with only a few scratches.

After his last furtive look around, he glanced on Karanee. She was a sweet thing, pale dappled brown, with dark legs and a greyed face. She was only a year older than him, and he felt comfortable with her. He found himself thinking that she and Alinta might make good friends, but Omeo had not been able to see his first love for a while. He vowed to seek her out over the next few days, just to check on her.

Of course Karanee would have to come with him, he was not leaving her alone, which greatly increased their chases of being spotted. This fact had escaped him until now, and he began to worry. What if Fira saw them and hurt Alinta again! What if Nepelle caught up with him and gave him a thrashing? He could hide Karanee somewhere, of course, but that would mean leaving her alone, and he did not like that idea at all. She might be taken while he was gone!

He moved over to her, and tentatively brushed his brown muzzle over her withers. Over the last few days, he had been practicing affection toward her, but he was still unsure if he was doing it right. Did she prefer to be scratched on the withers or the back? Did he press too hard, or not enough? Did she like to touch noses or stand flank-to-flank? They were simple things, but Omeo worried about them. If only he had wise Cean to teach him, like she had taught him how to run in the snow.

He often found himself thinking back to the brown mare, remembering her wise words and kind heart. He wondered if she had found her perfect stallion yet. Smiling to himself, he draped his head casually over Karanee’s back and watched the glittering of the river not more than quarter of a mile away. At least in wide open country like this, he could see if any stallion were about to sneak up on him.

[Rivre]

Karanee was pleased to have the company of her protector - not that he had left her side, and she relished also in the attention he rained upon her as if she were one of those rare creamies! The grazing here was good, and there was enough for the two of them, in the open and under their burning yellow sun; Omeo shifted so that he could brush roan nose to her own dappled withers, and she nickered her thanks, deciding that for the moment she could cease to speak, for the warmth of their closeness and the dawning of heated days was enough to lull her into a fitfull doze.

It was odd to think of the frightful mare she had been before she met her sweet speckled stallion, and as she dozed, the same anxious demaenor began to resurface in the twitching of eyes, flickering of ears. Was someone close? For there was certianly a presence...
The world of dreams seemed to collapse in on itself and she jerked back to the reality of her daylit hours, flanks rising a little faster and faling to the same pace. Had that sound been a sound of the sleeping or waking world, the wild call of a stallion that echoed on the wind?

[Shay]

A familiar scent drifted across sensitive membranes that had been until that moment been buried in a particularly tasty patch of grass. Memories of a delightful young friend accompanied that scent. There was another's mingling with his, a mare. Twins perked forward while that sparkling gaze scanned the open plains finally coming to rest on the pair. Down river somewhat from their position and much closer to its flowing banks Cean would pivot, her meal forgotten. Tossing her cranium with burst of laughter white dipped timbers paw at the air before her before launching into an all out gallop. After all she had quite a bit of distance to dispose of before she'd draw near enough for her to slow.

Once she drew within several hundred yards of the stallion and his mare she'd wicker a greetings, tones full of life rang out. "Omeo, I hardly recognize you. I see you have found a lovely companion." They had parted on friendly terms which led to the familiar greeting now as she pranced closed, muscles rippling beneath the warm rich earthy tone of her pelt, the gleam of fire could be seen where the sun's kiss was particularly bright. That snow brushed muzzle reached out towards him for a brief touch, the light amber of her gaze glittered with joy.

Her attention would shift once more to the young mare, a warm smile across her maw. "Ah, pardon my rudeness. You are a pretty little thing, I am called Cean." Friendly and open, though odd for a mare her age since they'd usually be a bit more jaded. Soldiers swivel until they came to attention focused on the dappled brown fae. Perhaps she had come on a bit strong, but that was simply attributed to her delight that Omeo was doing so well, she'd wondered about the delightful stallion often since they'd met. But for now her curiosity was on the young mare who followed him.

[Tiggs]

In the warmth of the summer sun, Karanee had drifted into a fitful doze next to him. Unwilling to wake her, but concerned for her apparent uneasiness, Omeo nuzzled her gently in an effort to calm her.

It was not long though before he caught sight of a dark shape coming at speed towards them. The colt startled, but on closer inspection, the brumby did not appear hostile. The gait was fast but the head was held high, with no sign of malcontent in the set of the neck or ears. In fact, the closer the dark brumby came, Omeo could see it was a mare, and those flashing white socks made his heart leap. Cean!

Karanee was startled awake then by the drumming of hooves on the hard earth, and Omeo nickered and rubbed her shoulders. “No need to fret, she is a friend.” He told his companion. The roaned colt whinnied a greeting in return to Cean’s, and tossed up his young head, dark mane flying. “Cean! You look lovely, of course. Life treats you well.” He said, taking in her glossy coat and muscled frame. He reached out his muzzle to brush with hers, pleased to note he was growing to be taller than her now.

He stepped aside to allow the older mare to greet Karanee. Rather than introduce Karanee on her behalf, he let the two mares talk so he could ponder his luck. He had only just been thinking of Cean, and here she was. It would be a lie to say he did not notice her charm or to say he did not think about her in his herd one day but the young stallion, still a colt really, could hardly expect a worldly mare like Cean to be interested in a youngster like him. She had told him herself, she was waiting for the right stallion to find her, and if Omeo could not yet call himself a stallion, he already did not fall into her criteria. One day, perhaps, but not yet.

Nickering, he came forward to reassure Karanee with a tender brush of the muzzle to her neck. He was lucky enough to have Karanee, so his fantasies of future mares could wait until he felt he had more luck to test. Absently he nibbled Karanee’s mane until Cean’s attention came around to him. He was patient, and Karanee deserved another brumby to call a friend.

[Rivre]

Delicate lobes stood fast to attention, limbs locked as the dark liver brumby came galloping towards the two, whites showing as she pulled to a harsh stop before them, legs finally working as she scrambled back to further the distance. It was a mare? Small shiver escaped her neatly drawn-in frame, Omeo's muzzle roaming her withers in reassurance, and some of the tension evaporated as the older mare introduced herself. She nodded quickly, a small gesture, before replying in hushed tones; "And I am Karanee.... Have you two met before?" It seemed the sun had done some good to her nervous reside, warming the muscles of her tense body, until they relaxed, pressed close to red roan flanks, features jumpy, but more held-together. She was a flighty little thing.

Her mother had always degraded her for the way she acted around others, she distinctly remembered the time she had told her she was no good a horse if she did not admire the herd-life she led. How could she have admired something she hated? Even if her mother had been swept away by those floods, it was her sister that she missed, not her - her she could live without. But what of the rest of her bedraggled herd? Did they still roam these hills, live to see the sunlight? Nose trembled, but still she extended it to the mare, who now had been introduced as Cean. She listened casually to their chatters, happy to bathe in the warmth and listen to Omeo's soothing tones.

[Shay]

A sideway glance was offered toward Omeo at the skittish mares question. "Indeed, one bright wintery sunrise, our stallion here joined me for some play in the freshly fallen snow." A nicker of laughter slid free before gently extending her muzzle toward the mare. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Karanee. How is it you come to be traveling with this charming young stud? That banner of dark mahogany lifted to splay against equally dark flanks while snow dipped timbers occasionally lifted in a light dance before once more finding rest on the green earth.

Twin soldiers flickered forward, focusing on the young mare with an open curiosity. Despite or perhaps in spite of her age, she ran alone without a care in the world, easily avoiding the clutches of the stallions who roamed this land looking to increase their harem. She chose to live life on her own terms and had, with skill and luck, managed to do so thus far. Part of that skill was observation, just as she noted the darker marks that had not marred his shoulder and neck upon their last encounter, Cean noted the slight tremble when their velveteen muzzles had brushed for a brief greeting. The deep earthly mare was a maternal sort, and the slight scent of nervous lingering on the dappled mares pelt triggered that urge to protect and befriend the skittish mare.

Curiosity flared as she waited with a seemingly infinite patience to hear the tale they would tell, if the chose to tell her of course. For all she knew they could tell her to bugger off, but that had never stopped the bold, joyful mare before.

[Tiggs]

Omeo gave a snort at Cean’s recollection, “I was hardly a stallion then. I was just a silly colt.” He was not much older now, but he’d had a lot of experiences since their first meeting, and he regretted a few things about that meeting. Perhaps though he could remedy his mistakes now.

Cean was enticing Karanee to speak, and Omeo knew it would be good for his shy mare to gather some confidence. Cean was easy to talk to as he knew from experience, and hopefully Karanee would find the same. He nosed the grey’s cheek reassuringly, and looked to Cean with a thankful gaze. She was indeed a noble mare, and Omeo wished he could know her better.

It might be wishful thinking, but the young stallion wondered if Cean might enjoy his company. She had been keen to greet him, but could he still just be that curious colt to her? Could he really be anything else? He was growing into a stallion, but sometimes he did not feel like it. But then he would look at Karanee and Cean and feel a surge of pure stallion’s spirit. He wanted to protect them, hide them, keep them.

Karanee of course would stay with him, but Cean was another matter. She was a worldly mare, and Omeo doubted a young stallion like him could interest her. He pressed is flank to Karanee’s and encouraged her to converse with the liver mare. He watched the exchange with a strange expression, pensive and curious.

[Rivre]

Dappled grey hide prickled uneasily, although she knew full well this mare had nothing but good intentions, a sweat breaking out behind flickering ears as she remembered the night Omeo had claimed her. For a second the fear gripped her, and she shied away - almost looking to flee in the heat of the situation, but instead she snorted, and propped to a halt, blowing loudly through fanning nostrils. This mare really was a good creature, that was evident in her red roaned saviours expression as he looked upon her, and so she gave one last great snort of exuberance, before turning back to face the infamous pair, breathing slowing once again.

"Forgive me," she nickered softly, "My way is a feigning as the winds. The night that Omeo took me was also the night he beat the ugly dun stallion. He was a mean thing, and at least two years older, but I watched him beaten by his stupidity and Omeo's courage." Although the words were feeble, their meaning was strong, and Karanee side-stepped to touch greying shoulder to red flank, feeling her own worries absorbed by the stronger horse, the more confident.