hold on hope [O]

[Ehetere]

The pale faced mare threw up her head at his arrival, a spark of fire in her eyes. It dimmed as soon as it had come, and Piringa second guessed himself. Perhaps these mares were looking for their stallion, just as he had been looking for his missing mares. Perhaps his presence here was not wanted. He knew from experience less than willing mares could be bothersome to have in a herd.

Quickly though he shook these doubts off. He was a stallion in his prime, more than worthy of mares. Besides, in the breeding season any mares alone were in danger of being stolen away by more savoury company, particularly out in the open like this. He could not in good conscious let them be taken away by some monster of a stallion, even if they might leave him should they cross paths with their previous stallion. He would gladly take them with him, should they want to come to whatever end.

“I come seeking my herd,” he replied solemnly, energy momentarily waning as a sombre mood took him. “We were separated in the fire. I have been scouring the country for them ever since.” He almost regretted saying the last part - he must sound hopeless to have not found them yet, but there was always the niggling voice in the back of his mind that there may be nothing left to find. No, they would have outrun the blaze. Jiba was too stubborn to be caught, Kiata too swift.

His gaze returned to the pair, for though their coats might have suggested some relation their builds spoke the opposite. The pale faced mare was more heavily built, whereas the dappled mare was more refined, with a distinct dish to her face. Piringa was once again struck by a sense of familiarity with the grey mare, in the shape of her head and the slope of her back. He was sure he had never set eyes on her before, but these things, along with her scent seemed to suggest he might remember her from somewhere, some forgotten memory.

“I thought you might be them, I mistook your scent for one of my mares,” he said, bobbing his head in pale face’s direction. “I am Piringa, and I hail from the Ramsheads, where I am travelling now. Do either of you lovely fillies like exploring?”

[Tiggs]

Elinya did not seem unimpressed, at least, and Quinja took that to mean that the stallion might be in with a chance. Quinja smiled to herself; she was well versed in the feeling of first love – she and Bokara had created a strong foundation of true love upon it. Perhaps Elinya would not have to be alone for much longer...

The stallion seemed friendly enough, and the roaned mare felt sorry for him in his plight. He too felt the pain of loss. The three of them had more in common than he realised. Quinja nodded knowingly, seeing the stallion now as less of a stranger. She should probably have been more disconcerted about the way he was evaluating the two of them, looking them over so keenly, but she supposed she could not blame a stallion for looking when the heat of summer was affecting them all.

It seemed odd that he might recognise her scent. They had never met before, she was sure, yet he seemed so sure that he had expected to find someone else. It made more sense now that he should scrutinise her, if he thought he should recognise her.

Up until now, the mare had been entertaining the stallion’s presence with the intention of parting company when their exchange was done. But he piqued an old facet of her personality that was older even than her love for Bokara, and just as deeply ingrained in her soul. “Exploring?” The mare asked, pale ears pricking forward, dark eyes alighting with an interest that had not been present before, “Yes, I love to explore.”

The roan grey mare flicked her tail, glancing to Elinya. Though her heart was Bokara’s, Quinja wondered if the grey stallion might accept the company of simple friendship. She would never stop trying to find her mate, and perhaps she might have better luck trying to find him with the help of this alabaster stallion. It was cheeky to ask, though, and Quinja kept the idea to herself for now. She did not want to burden this stallion when he clearly had mares to find and care for.

[dreami]

There it was. Happening all over again, the scene unfolding right before her eyes as it had many times before. She was less than the mare next to her or at least to most stallions’ standards. Elinya knew she was intelligent and she knew she wasn’t horrible to look at but there was just a desire other mares seemed to have that she lacked, the constant need for attention and the constant desire to be in the middle of things. She wasn’t saying that every mare or filly was that way but from her experience whether it was intentional or not the female equine was a dependant species – those that weren’t intrigued her. They were interesting individuals those that wandered alone without a concern what others thought or did were just fascinating. Perhaps it was as Elinya had never felt strongly for another, she had never really felt needed or even desired. Her company was usually enjoyed but rarely sought after part of the filly hoped it was because she hadn’t found someone who truly intrigued her, and in the rare occasion she did she was not bold enough to make him realize it. Besides hearing the story of loss, seeing the pain in the eyes of others didn’t make her want to risk her heart or self at all – perhaps it was selfish and she was too naive to realize that in order to feel strongly or have a deeper connection you needed to risk part of yourself and if the emotion was genuine the one you shared the feelings with would be risking a part of themselves too. The dappled mare had yet to figure it out, she was young and tired – so tired of fighting against her mother’s words and ideas that even now with her gone she fought by herself against no-one and she was certainly losing. She did hold some interest in the stud; perhaps he could share news, or anything interesting for that matter. She pained for him in his loss, and knew Quinja did too. Elinya felt that her loss was beneath that of the others, she didn’t bother think of her mother other than in spiteful terms so she ignored the topic all together.

She felt Quinja change slightly, it was mild but being an attentive and intelligent filly Elinya picked it up. Not certain what she was thinking the dappled filly didn’t bother trying to figure it out. Quinja had her reasons, she had her idea’s and Elinya had the feeling she was “up to something” what she wasn’t totally certain but while she had felt as though the conversation might have been brief at first she did feel it lengthen the instant Quinja changed. Attentive to the stallion she watched him bobble his head then pose a question, she came up with an answer almost but kept her thoughts to herself. Her eyes did often speak her mind though she currently used them to look at Quinja, avoiding eye contact with Piringa in her moment of weakness. She nodded to him making eye contact once again upon regaining complete composure, her dark dished head stayed lower than before – the excitement had left her replaced by her manners and mothers annoying tone in her mind. The pale mare’s interest peeked in her tone. With the words Elinya figured that she might be looking to get moving again, look for the bay stallion she was missing so desperately. When the silence hit the air again she figured she should say something, it was the mannerly thing to do and her mother’s voice might quiet a little.

“As do I, enjoy exploring that is.”

Her name. She hadn’t found a less than awkward way to fit it in, though she couldn’t let the moment pass without introducing herself. The stallion had given his calling, she had been taught to follow up with her own. Looking frantic for a moment she realized perhaps why she was alone for such long periods of time, drawing in a breath she looked off into the distance auds perked passing it off as sensing something that worried her. After a few more seconds had passed she looked to the pale mare, her auds still perked and frame tensed then back to the stallion. Bobbling her head lightly she peered out from under her thick forelock her voice was quiet but in her usual sweet and mannerly tone.


“Please forgive my lack of manners sir, I’m Elinya.”

[Ehetere]

His words seemed to excite a change in the pale roan, a spark returning to her eyes that he thought must have been dulled with the pain of loss and heartbreak. He knew this feeling all too well, but he also had hope, found joy in his survival, the survival of others. For where there was hope there was happiness, and peace.

Her response had Piringa excited as well. Instantly his thoughts wandered north, to the rugged rocky tors of his birthplace to the icy peaks of Kosciusko. Running, playing, cavoring through the snow daisies he saw himself, accompanied by a herd of mares who shared his love for the high wild places, the secret hollows and deep creeks, the sound of the wind through the snowgums and the whispering call of the wind.

The dappled mare, who to him had seemed quite shy and perhaps disinterested in his company shared the pale roan’s opinion, and the flecked white stallion all but glowed. Regardless of whether the pair would stay with him, here were two horses who might come and share his love of the High Coutry. While neither were his beloved Kiata, they surely would make better travelling companions than Jiba had.

His thoughts were interrupted by the dappled mare introducing herself - Elinya. He was a little taken aback - he had certainly never been called sir before. How very strange. “Well met Elinya,” he said warmly with a nod, wondering what had influenced the dappled mare’s apparently insecurity. Perhaps if she were to travel with him he could find out.

”If it is not too bold of me to ask, would you two like to come exploring with me?” he asked hesitantly, fearing his request would be taken the wrong way. “I have been alone for quite some time now, and I know that the experience is far more rewarding and engaging to share with others, who in turn share my love of the unknown.”

[Tiggs]

Elinya’s reaction was minimal, but it was positive at least. Quinja flicked her tail happily, her gaze lingering on the mare for a moment longer. She too did not seem that interested in the stallion, almost mirroring Quinja’s cautious reactions. Yet neither was she indifferent. If they both enjoyed exploring, and this stallion was offering his company and protection while they roamed, why not go with him...?

Quinja turned her gaze back to the stallion, looking pencieve. She knew it was improper for her to join this stallion if she did not intend to stay with him. She would be a burden on him, spreading his attention further when there might be dangers to his other mares. But this stallion was alone... He might benefit from additional company as much as the mares.

The roan mare looked back to Elinya, clearly undecided. She felt like accepting the stallion’s (very attractive) proposal would automatically exclude Elinya, and she didn’t want that to happen. But she so badly wanted to explore, to be out in the High Country again looking for Bokara, yet not missing the wondered that passed her by. She badly yearned for the unknown, and she certainly shared this stallion’s love of it.

Ears flicking, she nickered to the stallion, “It is not too bold, but give us a moment,” she flicked her tail, turning her back to the stallion and putting her head close to Elinya’s. In a quiet voice, she asked, “What do you think, Elinya? Does he tempt you? His offer, that is,” she snorted, eyes alight with the prospect of exploring. While she was trying to be neutral, she clearly wanted the other mare to approve.

[dreami]

Elinya was uncertain, uncertain what exactly she wanted and uncertain where she stood. She didn’t know if she had a side or an idea, she didn’t understand all the technicalities of herds and lifestyles. Sometimes she felt like she was lost in the dark and blindfolded, just feeling her way around with no real other way to judge that by feeling things out – almost quite literally. Now standing before the attractive stallion and sweet mare she knew what the obvious thing to do and part of her knew it was right in the same instance, but there was the uncertain questioning part of the mare that usually held her back. The idea that perhaps there was something else she was supposed to do, that worry in her that second guessed every decision she had never made – it was more persistent in its nagging that her mother had been. Standing now between the two she felt as though she was interrupting and in the past walking away would have been the easy way out. Though now more than ever before she felt the need to stay, something inside her sunk like a rock and didn’t let her take the easy way out. Perhaps it was reality sinking in, the fact that she needed to find a herd, and maybe “settle down” or maybe it was the emotions of the fire finally catching up with her – though she thought she had done a decent job of locking those away. Whatever the cause she managed to look at the pair with a new found calmness, her self-confidence needed some work but she composed herself slightly. His offer took a moment to sink in she figured it was coming – why else had he stuck around so long? Looking to Quinja her face more confident than it had been, though she was slightly relieved when voice hit the air and she turned her back to the stallion. The mare’s tone was re-assuring her question made the mare more confident in the answer she had. Nodding to the mare she let her tone hit the air in a soft voice intended for just her to hear.

“It does.”

She didn’t need to say anymore, she didn’t like to waste words. Looking to the stallion past the mare she nodded, taking a step closer her mind was running a little now. Heart pounding and the next few seconds seemed to pass like hours. She had never accepted an offer such as this one; it was a moment in her existence that she assumed would be a moment to remember and something that affected her from now on. Surprisingly the filly wasn’t as nervous as she assumed she would be. The stunning stallion and his offer were hard to resist so she had decided against it. Smile lit her features, the little bit of confidence she owned was evident in her next few words. Large eyes peered out from her thick forelock, dished profile held a little higher and the arch to her neck was prominent.

“I do not think I speak just for myself when I accept such an offer and say I would love to join you in such exploring.”

She was proud of herself, as was her mother the annoying nagging voice in her head silenced for just a few moments, but they were close to the best few moments she had felt in the past year to say the least. She could only hope she had spoken correctly for Quinja as well, if not the mare was bold and brave enough to correct her, Elinya didn’t doubt that so she hadn’t felt too concerned in speaking for the roan mare the same way the role had been reversed just a few minutes ago. Flicking her tail she looked, eyes bright from the stallion to the mare. She didn’t fear the unknown, she liked to see new places though exploring with others could prove to be more exciting that she had ever known. Silence passed over her, the worry and fear she had worn moments ago seemed to vanish. It felt good, it was the first decision she had made for herself and herself alone and in the slightest hint of regret she realized it might be the last.