The Good Life [Open!]

[Tiggs]

If Baan’s stomach was as big as her greed, she would be three times the size as she currently was. The yearling filly was a portly creature, her scrubby fawn hide bulging around the stomach with a summer of excellent grazing. The Bogong was the filly’s favourite place, not too hilly, covered in good grass and the open meadows made it easy to spy stallions.

She grazed in a bimble of four, with her sister and two colts who despite their confrontations were putting up with each other for the sake of the fillies’ company. The colts had wooed her and her sister away from her parent’s herd. She had been worried that they might not escape their enraged father, but he had been otherwise distracted.

Having two colts at her beck and call was making Baan exceptionally confident, and she had never felt too regal in her life. Her sister, Bilba, was the more quiet of the sisters but Baan knew that she enjoyed the company of Iluka, the older golden colt that grazed with them.

Baan couldn’t pick a favourite – Wirriwirri was the younger more confident colt, but Iluka was stunningly handsome and a full year older. The two were yet to come to blows, and Baan wondered if they would be content to share her forever. Other stallions grazed the Bogong, and it might only be a matter of time before an older more experienced stallion came to replace them. The dun filly seemed not to mind either way – so long as she had a stallion, she was content.

Having filled herself with grass, the filly made her way over to Wirriwirri and began to groom his sooty-gold withers. Iluka was almost too tall to groom, so Wirri was often subject to this particular type of affection. Her teeth worked over his spine, scratching the parts that were hard for him to get to and easing out the sweat that caked his pelt after a day of standing in the beating sun.

She enjoyed the colt’s company, and she often wondered if she did prefer Wirriwirri over Iluka. But then when she looked over at the other colt, seeing how he shone like gold in the sunlight, she couldn’t be sure. Huffing, she flicked her darker brown tail and continued with her grooming. Life was good for the filly, and she intended to make the most of it.

[Corowa]

The heavy, bay colt looked out over Bogong. There were dark patches of sweat on his chest and flank, for the day had become hot, hotter than usual for this time of year. The wind picked up, blowing directly to him. Jirregah lifted his head. His nostrils quivered and in a moment, he struck off at a trot.

Jirregah had filled out in the last few months, and he now bore the look of a mature horse. The smell of other brumbies reached him, and the colt stopped in his tracks to test the air. He snorted loudly and shook out his mane. The brumbies were closer than he first realised, and Jirregah pawed the ground impatiently.

He headed off down the slope at a smart trot. A mob of kangaroos, startled by the colt’s sudden approach, bounded off into the trees. Jirregah flattened his ears slightly, but continued on his way down the steep slope. He noticed some tracks, and followed these, cutting across the side of the slope and into some thick scrub. He had no idea how fresh the tracks were, but they were the only ones he had found.

On the grassy flat just below him, four young brumbies grazed. Jirregah stopped in his tracks and let out a shrill whinny. His gaze rested on an attractive brown filly with a silver mane and tail. He had only a mild interest in the dun filly and two colts.

Most of the stallions that ran in the Cascades, did not tolerate him near their herds. To find this group of colts and fillies alone was an opportunity he had not expected. With neck arched and tail flagging, Jirregah trotted down to meet them.

[Ehetere]

Wirriwirri stood watch over what he considered his fillies, exuding a sort of confidence that young stallions find after winning their first mares. His victory was admittedly marred by the gold colt standing a little over the way: the stupid colt still hadn’t run off or gathered the confidence to challenge him. If the sooty colt was brutally honest, he thought it would be very difficult for him to beat the large colt in a fight - he was but a yearling and his golden opponent was bigger, stronger, taller. Perhaps not faster. Wirriwirri had spent many an hour planning how he might defeat the flighty creature if it came to blows, and thus far his only thought had been to become a ducking dodging gadfly like his ancient ancestor Thowra. Even this was not guaranteed to work - the other colt was young and vital and full of energy. He might never tire.

So instead he’d been thinking of ways he might lose the pesky stallion, scare him off. He was hoping that their arrival to the Bogong would see the departure of the gold bother, as the number of other herds and stallions grazing around was not small. Wirriwirri had a more courageous head on his shoulders, filled with a good amount of sense. The fillies were but yearlings, the only opponents they would be attracting were two year olds. The one advantage of having the golden colt around was that two colts together seemed to deter any others from trying their luck.

The scrubby coloured filly, who Wirriwirri could no longer deny enjoyed her grass rather a lot, came trotting over to groom at his withers. He welcomed her with a whicker, thoroughly appreciating her attention. The vain colt felt that he deserved it, he was after all the son of a silver brumby and surely had looks to spare compared to the gold colt. He was braver too, surely he would be the greater stallion one day as well. Disappointingly the slighter of the two sisters still had not warmed to him nearly as much, and he still caught her gazing at the white faced palomino. Wirriwirri was beginning to worry if he did eventually scare off the bigger colt the willowy filly might follow.

His fears were not unfounded - as Bilba stood grazing peacefully, her ear occasionally flicking in the golden colt’s direction. He seemed more honest than the sooty colt, though she couldn’t understand his fear. Surely he realized the sooty colt was only a yearling, well grown but nothing on him? Despite her growing affections, the wild bay filly grazed closer to Wirriwirri, dutifully following her sister’s example as always. She had to admit, despite all this tension that remained between the two colts being away from Baan’s dam was a relief, and certainly an exciting new experience.

A shrill whinny came from up the valley, and Bilba threw her dainty head up, ears alert, to spy a bulky bay colt making his way down to them. He was the first one to approach the little group, and the two colts look none too impressed about it. Iluka’s eyes were wide, nervously shifting his weight as if tensed to spring away. This colt was also only a yearling, but he looked like he could pack far more punch than the lithe sooty. Wirriwirri returned the bay’s cry with a ringing neigh of his own, turned to stand protectively to make it clear that he was the owner of these two fillies, regardless of what the gold colt might have to say about it.

It was a bit too much for the nervous golden colt, not liking the look of the heavy colt one bit. Wirriwirri’s cry made him shy violently, and then he bolted, having reached his limit. There was only so much stress the colt could take, and two colts who wished to keep these fillies from him was a number that he didn’t fancy in a fight. Bilba called after him forlornly, but the gold colt was gone, off to find some fillies not being guarded by hordes of colts.

Wirriwirri eyed this new bay arrival suspiciously, half expecting Bilba to bolt after the white faced colt whom she clearly favoured. Blood bonds clearly ran strong however, as she stood faithfully by her round sister’s side, eyes bright and curious at this new arrival. The sooty colt stood his ground, lifting his head a little higher. If this bay colt thought he could just come and pick one of his fillies he had another thing coming.

[Tiggs]

Baan was not a particularly observant mare, but the cry of a stallion was something she was particularly attuned to. Forgetting her grooming of the sooty colt instantly, she threw up her head and looked in the direction of the call. She saw a handsome bay colt, his rich brown coat darkened with sweat from a hot day under the sun. She knew it would make his scent full and salty and wonderful, like a real stallion should.

The sooty colt next to her was promptly forgotten, and she whinnied to the bay before Wirriwirri’s call had even finished. The way the bay arched his neck, chest muscles rippling with every step was fascinating. His ebony tail plumed out behind him, so pure and dark compared to the flaxen cream of Wirri and Iluka. He might not have a golden coat like Iluka or a strikingly dappled coat like Wirri, but he was strong and powerful, and handsome in his own way.

The dun filly did not even notice Illuka flee, she had eyes only for the bay. She wondered if he would fight Wirri for her, and if he would win. The excitement was palpable, and the filly nickered to him again, her nostrils flaring to catch his scent on the breeze. How brave he was! Baan could not imagine a finer stallion.

[Corowa]

Jirrigah continued to trot towards the mob of young horses. His tail flagged out behind him, and Jirrigah proudly arched his neck. He was aware that he was quite a good-looking horse, and Jirrigah stepped a little higher, hoping to impress the two fillies. Suddenly, one of the colts wheeled round and bolted. Jirrigah was confused. What had made him so afraid? He snorted, amused by the colt’s cowardly retreat.

The dun filly called out, but Jirrigah paid no attention. He noted with some annoyance, how closely the other colt guarded the brown filly. Jirrigah snorted angrily. He had wanted the handsome brown filly for himself! His eyes rolled, and Jirrigah tossed his head impatiently. He was filled with jealous rage. How dare that pesky colt stand in his way! He did not deserve a filly as fine as that.

Jirrigah squealed with fury as he advanced on the colt. He stopped to paw the ground, screaming a challenge as he went up on his hind legs. A big, heavy colt, he relied mostly on his strength. Jirrigah knew he would have to be cunning if he wanted to win that brown filly for himself. He eyed the other colt carefully. He did not want to get tired out too quickly chasing after some impetuous dolt.

[Ehetere]

Wirriwirri felt a jolt of fury course through his usually calm mind as Baan called back to the bay. Could she not see that he was far finer than his boring old bay. He was lithe and swift and as quick as the wind itself. All the bay could say for himself was that he was brown and fat! The bay at least seemed to ignore the scrubby coloured filly’s call, fixing his gaze on her quieter sister, whom Wirriwirri had yet to woo. No, no this could not be happening. The sooty colt had finally succeeded in losing his irritating golden adversary to gain another interested in stealing the curiously coloured filly’s heart.

He advanced on the other colt, annoyed that he would so rudely barge in. They were all but yearlings, and Wirriwirri felt it rather silly for the other colt to be challenging him for the fillies so early. They were far from breeding age, so bloodshed so early was pointless. Try telling that to the other knuckle headed colt though, who seemed hell bent on claiming his prize.

He tested his weight as he advanced on his opponent, flexing his limbs, his hindquarters. He was no fool - this other colt was far heavier than he, and he would need to avoid any real ding dong fighting. Wirriwirri’s strength lay in his agility, his swiftness, and with any luck he’d tire out the big bay easily. He sized up his opponent, looking for any other weaknesses he might play on in that moment of tension before a fight broke out. He would not be the one to land the first blow, instead waiting for the other horse to make the first move. Let him get angrier and angrier, let rage cloud his thoughts.

[Corowa]

Jirrigah did not waste any more of his energy trying to intimidate the mottled colt. It was obvious he would have to fight if he wanted that brown filly - and the dun one too. Jirrigah went more slowly now. While he was confident he possessed the superior strength, he did not really know how well this other colt fought.

His nostrils flared red, and Jirrigah snorted angrily. He had no intention of letting that other colt win. He knew he was within striking distance now, and he stopped, stood motionless. Jirrigah realised the other colt was waiting for him to attack first. While he might have thought it would give him the advantage, Jirrigah knew it would make little difference. Soon enough, this colt would have learnt a very painful lesson.

Jirrigah had fought many times before, and he could tell that they were both very evenly matched. This was not a fight he would win easily. He would have to be clever if he wanted to beat this colt.

He shot forward quite suddenly, determined to get in a few good blows of his own before the other colt had time to react. If he could lame him, it might be able to slow the other colt down enough that Jirrigah could give him a real beating.

He slashed at the colt’s shoulder with his teeth, screaming furiously. The sweat poured off him as he lunged at the colt. He tried for a hold on the colt’s withers, striking out viciously with his forefeet now, hoping to push the colt off balance before he could properly collect himself.

[Ehetere]

Wirriwirri continued to watch, waiting, waiting for the other colt to make the first move. Intimidation had failed, much to his disappointment, as he really would rather just keep the two fillies and leave. Why did some boring bay have to come and spoil his fun?

Abruptly the colt charged, and Wirriwirri’s thoughts had distracted him enough for the other to get a wicked bite in. Instinctively he spun, turning rump to the mercy of the bay’s teeth in exchange for a flying buck aimed at his stupid bay head. Weight and bulk were not on his side, but he knew kicks could still be lethal if they were aimed right. The same could be said for him, since he was relying on his ability to duck and dodge here. If he were kicked in the wrong spot, he’d be at the mercy of the bay.

Unlike the other colt, Wirriwirri seemed almost reserved in his approach. He really didn’t want to be fighting the bay, he was only a year old and realistically too young to be fighting for mares, even holding them. Admittedly, these were only fillies, and he wished the other colt would go and find some fillies of his own to poach. There was a slashing cut that he’d mostly dodged, but there was a weeping wound left behind. Brilliant now he’d have a scar.

Striking out with surprising viciousness, he sprang away again, maintaining his weaving dodges. It wasn’t really fighting, he knew even if he stopped to land a few blows he couldn’t really harm the bigger colt. It was most frustrating, he felt he was certainly mature enough to fight, but his body told him otherwise. The sooty colt would likely never be particularly bulky, but this was certainly of no help to him now against a more developed opponent.

[Corowa]

OOC: So did not realise this had actually been replied to. I had been waiting for you to 'reply' so I could go.

Jirrigah managed to get in one particularly nasty bite, but he was not strong enough to hold it for long and the colt shook him off. The bay colt was thrown off balance and as he struggled to regain his footing, he received a hard blow to the head.

Jirrigah roared with anger. He was too heavy to move faster than the other colt. He had not really expected this ugly mottled colt to put up much of a fight. Indeed, Jirrigah knew he simply had not realised how fast that colt could move. The blow had stunned him, and the big bay colt took a moment to properly gather himself. Jirrigah thought he would have to be much more cunning if he was going to win that silver-maned filly.

When the colt retreated, Jirrigah went more slowly forwards. He felt a trickle of blood where the colt's hooves had caught him, and he shook his head as if to clear it. Then, he launched himself neatly back on his hindquarters and full-out charged at the colt. This time though, Jirrigah slowed slightly. At the last possible moment, he whipped his head around and snapped open-mouthed, at the mottled colt.