Six Feet Under the Stars

[Xarae]

ooc: reserved for tiggs and jason, i do believe~

Summer found the quiet rippling of the creek a calming noise. Her mare, Cosmonaut, did not. The petulant horse stood a few feet away, glaring at her owner venomously. Summer rolled her eyes, stretching her hands above her head and yawning pleasantly. It was close to midnight, as far as she could tell, but she was still hoping for a brumby spotting. More than that, she was hoping to wrangle one in and break the mustang. Prices had been getting higher and higher, and at this rate if she sold a well broke horse, she'd be set for rent for her apartment the entire next year. There was a rope hitched to Cosmo's saddle, and suddenly Summer found herself wishing for the safe assurance of her trusty horse Enfilade - not this mare, who would be more likely to drive a wild brumby off than keep absolutely still.

Summer sighed in annoyance as her mare suddenly decided to let out a loud, trumpeting call, which would most likely drive all the horses that weren't deaf away. Well, those of the wild persuasion. A well broke horse would merely flick an ear. The young woman sighed and reclined by a rock, her baggy flannel shirt hanging down to almost her knees as she boredly untucked it. "'Nother day's work, wasted."

[Tiggs]

After a day of roaming the range with not even a sign of brumby herds, Jason was almost asleep as his old mare walked them home. He didn't like to work her so hard, but bless her she was willing to stretch to her limits on days like these. He's spend tomorrow at the hut letting the old horse rest. He needed to find a good brumby this year, one he could break and keep. He could be very selective, so he might even be out of luck this year if he didn't find something he liked.

He was suddenly dragged out of his thoughts by the sound of a horse. Patting Marie's neck and apologising for the extra work, he pushed her into a trot in the direction of the sound. They reached the creek and by the moonlight he spotted the blue roan. His heart leaped until he noticed the tack. Spirits plummeting, he noticed the girl sat nearby. Grumbling, he swung out of the saddle and lead Marie to the creek to drink. The mare seemed to sigh in relief and greeted the other horse with a nicker before plunging her muzzle into the cool running water of the creek.

"What the hell are you doing out here in the dark, girl? I wouldn't be surprised if a dingo came along and ate you up." He jumped over the creek and ran his appreciative eyes over the gorgeous blue roan. A mare, and an exquisite one at that. He wished he had enough money that he might make an offer on her. "Daddy buy this one for you? I've never seen a brumby this beautiful." He couldn't wait to see her in the daylight, he could barely make out the colour of the mare in this moonlight. "Where are you staying? Cascade?" Hand on his hips, he looked down at the girl, noting that she was a little older than his first impression had perceived.

[Xarae]

Summer snarled in annoyance, hoisting herself up. "Dingos don't eat people, I'll have you know," She snapped, putting her hands on her hips defensively. Summer may not have been in Australia for too long (three years, but it seemed like nothing), but she knew dingos more or less went for carrion. Cosmo whinnied and trotted up behind Jason, rubbing her head up and down across his back. "Traitor," She mumbled under her breath. Cosmonaut snorted and nuzzled Jason's shoulder, her soulful brown eyes searching his - she was clearly after treats.

Summer sighed. "No, she was bred for me as a going away present of sorts. I was just lucky that she turned out the way she is, but she's an absolute dunderhead in the ring, and usually out here, too," She said dryly, folding her arms under her chest. The girl didn't bother to drag Cosmonaut away from her new friend, knowing the mare would only throw a fit. "Yes, I'm in Cascade, and if you had any respect at all, you'd have asked after my name before my place. I'm not some goddamn brumby that can be located by place and gender," Summer said irritably.

[Tiggs]

Jason tickled the mare's soft muzzle, rubbing at the poll of her head. "Dunderhead? What kind of drongo word is that? You seppos are even invading the bush now eh?" He petted the mare's neck. "At least you brought a beaut of a beast with you. She'll make good babes. Got a good bloke for her?"

[Xarae]

Summer stared at him with her mouth gaping open. She hadn't been this insulted in a long, long time. The girl took a step closer. She may have been an American native, but she knew the Aussie slang very well. In fact, she could imitate the accent perfectly. "Yeah, I've got a right good bloke lined up from my own lil' herd, but I don't s'pose you'd care." Her accent was spot on, her right hand propped arrogantly on her hip, her body tilted to the side. If he hadn't already heard her American slang, he might have mistook her for a native. Summer liked to observe before she took part - hence her amazing copy-cat accent.

"Anyway, aren't blokes like you s'posed to be in by shark? I was dead cert that people like you," She thumbed in his direction, "Were kept on a leash."

[Tiggs]

Jason snorted and rolled his eyes. "Alright miss, fair doos." He pushed the mare away gently and jumped over the stream at picked up Marie's reins. The girl was a feisty one, and he was too tired to think of a good comeback. "G'night Sheila, I'll be seeing you." He winked and stepped up into the saddle with ease. Clicking to the mare, he urged her into a slow trot, heading back to Dead Horse Hut.

Perhaps he'd take a walk over to Cascade Hut tomorrow and have a look at the roan in the daylight. e sighed, wishing again he was rich enough to buy a horse. He'd have to settle for a brumby, but they were usually good stock and well built for trekking the range. It was a pity the girl was a hard mark to tease, it was lonely up here without his usual group and poking fun at a princess would have made it that much more bearable.