Dawn's Traveller (open)

[Tiggs]

Mayrah glanced to the dark stallion over the injured mare’s neck, thanking him with a bob of her head. He did not have to help, but he did without hesitation, and Mayrah was further convinced that her first impression was just right; a kind and noble stallion. He introduced himself as Dooloomai, and though the meaning did not quite fit his personality, it certainly matched his deep voice and steely coat.

Smiling to herself, the grey mare turned her attention back to the mare, gently nuzzling her, giving her encouragement with every step. The stream was really not far now, and the older mare was more confident they would make it there without incident. “Ballook,” she repeated, nodding. The blue gum, “It suits you,” she nickered, gently lipping at the mare’s forelock.

The terrain began to dip, and Mayrah watched Ballook’s steps carefully. She braced herself with every stumble, helping the mare to keep her balance down the slope. The creek was just through a thin line of trees, and Mayrah whinnied with Ballook. The younger mare found the last reserves of her energy, and Mayrah picked up her pace to keep beside her.

Getting through the trees three-abreast turned out to be a task in itself, but then they were through the trees, and the brook split the Bogong before them, winding lazily through the scrubby grass and windswept trees. A second bird began to sing, and then a third, and a fourth. The sun had been slowly lighting the sky from below the horizon as they walked, and now the first golden shaft of light broke over the mountains and lit the Bogong with the cool golden glow.

“Here, where the stream turns,” Mayrah said, leading Ballook to a sandy slope in the cusp of a bend. The water started shallow, and sloped down into a deep pool formed where the stream cut down and turned, diverted by a great granite boulder under the grass. “It is deep here, and the current is not so strong this time of year,” she added, keeping shoulder-to shoulder with the mare. The river would be bracingly cold at this time of day, but the pale mare would stay with Ballook until she was sure the young mare was strong enough to stand alone.

Mayrah glanced to Dooloomai, apologising with a look for paying all her attention to the mare. “So what brings you to the Bogong, Dooloomai?” She asked, resisting any probing questions about his mares. He must have some, surely? As daylight showed the stallion to be just as large and strong as she could tell in the darkness, the mare could see now that his dark coat was actually flecked with white, much like a darker version of Ballook. He was not unpleasant to look at, but Mayrah withdrew her gaze nonetheless. Staring was rude, after all.

[byrch]

The horizon was tinged pink. Dooloomai lifted his nose high in the air, staring at the ridge line. It would be another hot day, fortunately for Dooloomai, he wouldn't be doing a hard days travel. Lowering his head to normal, he looked toward Mayrah. She wasn't looking at him, tilting her head just a little away from him. He sighed slightly, closing his eyes. "Well, in my travels as a bachelor, I heard of tales of a place with plenty of grass and water."And mares he thought to himself, but didn't vocalize it. "Where I come from, most of the mares are all with one stallion or another, it's hard to start a family there."

Turning toward the stream, he lowered his head to sip the cool water. Looking back up, he noted where the mares were, and moved slightly away from them, and started pawing at the water. Crystal droplets fell around, catching the light just right to cast tiny rainbows on the two mares. After a sufficient intro, he lowered himself down, with just his head above the water, and started rolling, always keeping his head away from the depths.

Getting up, he shook himself to get rid of most of the water. He shivered just a little, the cold water chilling him to the bone. But, he guessed the river would be crowded with other brumbies, and he didn't want any competition for anything, even a drink.

Slowly walking to Ballook, the stallion nickered to her. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked. He started moving his head toward her withers, then froze, not sure it would be wise to start a grooming session with her being unstable on her legs.

[Corowa]

Ballook stood in the icy water. The water swirled and eddied round the two brumbies as it fed into the little pool. Ballook shivered. The burning pain in her leg and shoulder lessened. But, a chill crept slowly into her bones. The mare waited for a moment to husband her strength. Then, with a great effort, Ballook turned and scrambled out up the sandy bank.

She shook the water out of her coat. Mayrah kept close, and Ballook fondly nosed the silver-white mare. She looked up at the sky, and saw that the horizon was lightening overhead. The first rays of sunlight stole over the bush, and a warm wind rustled through the leaves of the sally gums. As the day grew hotter, Ballook knew there would be several mobs of brumbies coming down to the creek for a drink. It would probably be a good idea to move off before another stallion arrived with his herd.

The blue roan stallion ambled over to the two mares. Ballook watched him with interest. Her ears pricked, and she blew through her nostrils. He was a nice-looking horse, and his blue speckled coat was particularly attractive. Dooloomai stopped in front of the mare, and studied her earnestly. She felt his uncertainly, and Ballook bobbed her head and softly whinnied. “It is not quite so sore,” she answered him. “But, I do not think it will be as strong as it once was for a very long time.”

[Tiggs]

The creek was almost icy, and Mayrah’s thin summer coat prickled as she and Ballook stood almost chest-deep in the meandering brook. She stood resolutely by the roan mare’s side, taking a short drink of water and grazing on the grass that she could reach. Ballook seemed to be looking more comfortable by the second, and Mayrah was glad. She would not like the mare to be left with this pain, and the High Country could be all too harsh on brumbies.

Meanwhile, Dooloomai allowed the mares some distance, and dropped to roll in the shallower water downstream. She could imagine how satisfying the cool water and pebbly bed would be, soothing and scratching at his pelt. It was just the thing a brumby needed in summer, though the stallion was brave to bathe so early. The grey mare watched him with interest, her long grey forelock a veil under which she could hide.

Ballook seemed to have had enough of the water, and Mayrah breathed a sigh as they forged out of the cold brook and up the sandy bank. Ballook was already brighter and perkier, and Mayrah felt some of her worry fade. The mare could recover enough before winter after all. To show her delight, she nickered and nosed the dark mare. “Some time and rest will bring it back sooner than you think,” she reassured the roan mare softly, nosing her cheek.

Keeping close to the mare lest her recently regained energy begin to wane, she reached for Ballook’s withers just as Dooloomai did. Huffing, the grey mare smiled at the stallion over the back of the other mare, continuing to reach for the younger mare’s withers and rub her teeth over the hard bone. “So Dooloomai, did you find this place of grass and water and mares aplenty?” She asked in a pause between grooming strokes, dark eyes glittering wryly under her salt-and-pepper forelock.

[byrch]

Turning his head away, he nuzzled Ballook. As the sky lightened, he studied these two mares in ernest. Ballook was a lighter shade of his own color, like a snowy gray day, while his coat was like a night with a dusting on snow. Reassured with her answer, he turned his attention to Mayrah.

"Yes, I do find this place a blessing, now that I have seen just a fraction of it's treasures." Seeing that the gray mare was already taking care of Ballook, Dooloomai walked around the blue roan mare over to Mayrah. Gazing into her eyes, he said"Though, I will not be able to hold unto any mares yet, for I know nothing of the high country" He studied her more closely, noting her convex head, with a long forelock and mane that went pass her neck. Now with the sun light upon them, she no longer had a glow around her, though there was something special about her.

He inched his head over to Mayrah's shoulder, and after a few seconds, closed the distance and began to groom her. "Do you know anything of the high country?" he asked. He could feel the cold water drip down his mane, slowly splashing unto his body, giving slight shakes as each one hit him. The morning would quickly heat up, as some of the water already began to dry on his back.

Other brumbies were beginning to wake up. Looking up from his grooming, the big stallion saw a few meander over to the river, keeping a respectful distance from the trio.

[Corowa]

Ballook had been exhausted by pain, and the great effort she had made. The young mare stood quietly between the two brumbies. Her eyes closed occasionally, and she dozed fitfully. Once or twice, she was sure she heard horses moving through the nearby bush, but even that was not enough to bother her.

Ballook felt Mayrah’s teeth suddenly on her withers, and she swung her head around, ears fixed on the little white mare. It had been a very long time since someone had groomed her, and Ballook nickered gratefully. She let her own teeth slide over the mare’s neck, eager to return the favour.

They all stood very close together, and Ballook gave Dooloomai a quick nip when his head touched hers. Before he could pull his head back, she reached over and tugged on his mane. “Where is it that you are headed, O adventurous one?” she asked him playfully, though the words were tinged with a slight sadness.

If only that near foreleg would heal! Ballook wanted so desperately to go with him. Surely, Dooloomai would not want a lame mare in his herd. Every horse knew the dangers of facing winter lame.

The mare watched from the corner of her eye, as a couple of brumbies headed for the creek. They did not come much closer than a few hundred yards. A rangy young stallion kept a close watch on his mares as they drank. Every so often he would look over at the three brumbies, and give an angry snort. Once his mares had finished, he hustled them off into the thick scrub, far away from the big blue roan.

Ballook snorted softly to herself. What a stallion Dooloomai would have been to have as her mate!

[Tiggs]

Mayrah gave a grateful nicker to Ballook as she began to groom her, warming to the pale blue roan mare even more. She was the sensible sort, not flighty like a lot of mares, and she was sociable too. Mayrah wondered if she had found a friend in the younger mare, and she continued her grooming gladly.

Dooloomai answered her question, and she couldn’t help but smile. Was he referring to her and Ballook as treasures? The white mare certainly appreciated the compliment, but he could easily be talking about the High Country’s many breathtaking panoramas. He moved around Ballook to come to her side, and the grey mare paused in her grooming of Ballook to meet his gaze. That stallion was modest, but Mayrah thought he could risk a little confidence in himself, “I think that holding mares would not be your problem – it’s knowing where to put them if this land is strange to you.”

The stallion, who seemed to have been evaluating her visually, moved in closer and began to groom her back along with Ballook. Feeling thoroughly pampered, Mayrah continued to groom Ballook, and occasionally nibbled at Dooloomai’s dark flank. His pelt was stiffening up as the water dried his fur into spikes, and she did her best to ease some of it flat. She gave a nod when he asked her about her knowledge of the High Country. She too was the modest sort, but it often astounded her how little most brumbies knew about the High Country that they lived in.

“I have travelled far, and visited many places in the High Country; what is it you wish to know?” She asked after Ballook had spoken, glancing over her shoulder to follow his line of vision to the visiting brumbies. The group seemed to prove her point, and moved off as soon as they were done drinking. Dooloomai was a fit stallion and seemly in the possession of two mares, most stallions would think twice before trying to challenge him.

[byrch]

Watching the small band of brumbies move off, with the stallion giving angry huffs at his mares, glaring at the large stallion, Dooloomai snorted, shaking his head. He had no desire to fight another stallion for some fillies. He didn't want to fight period, after being beaten many times. Turning his attention back to these two mares, he looked at them, counting his blessings. Though Ballook was lame, having a strong stallion to keep others from hassling her would probably help in her healing.

Hearing Ballook's question, her voice with a twinge of meloncholy, he brushed his nose against hers, exchanging breaths. "For now, I just hope to learn more of the high country. I think, though, I will stay near the Bogong, and maybe travel the surrounding area's, always returning here before dark." He answered. Now that two mares were with him, even for just a morning, he didn't want to just leave them alone. But, thinking of what Mayrah had said, about knowing where to hide mares, she might know good places for them to hide while he explored. The thought had him torn, leave them behind and risk them being harassed, or stay with them, and risk losing them because of his lack of knowledge.

Mayrah spoke again, asking what he would like to know. Thinking on that, he went to Ballook's side, and began grooming her. "What is it I want to know? I want to know places where mares may foal safely from predators, where stallions wouldn't dare try to steal what is rightfully not theirs, but where there is enough grass and water to thrive on." He asked, looking at her from across Ballook. Then, glancing briefly at Ballook, added, "And somewhere where she could heal in peace." He didn't want the mare to suffer much before the oncoming winter, someplace nearby, where she didn't have to walk far, but safe and concealed.

[Corowa]

Ballook shoved at the older mare with her nose, when Mayrah hit a particularly ticklish spot on her flank. With a loud snort, she rested her head on the mare’s withers. Dooloomai touched his nose to hers, and Ballook blew through her nostrils at the stallion, although she was pleased by his careful attention.

Ballook listened closely to the two brumbies as they spoke. They were perhaps only a year or two older, but she felt very young in their presence. Apart from her journey up through the Cascades, Ballook had never bothered to explore much of the surrounding bush. She had preferred instead, to stick to the more populated grazing grounds even if there was more chance of being spotted by men. But, it seemed stupid now, and the realisation of what she had missed slowly sunk in.

Ballook looked up curiously as Dooloomai came to stand at her off-side. The stallion gently cleaned the sweat from her coat, but the touch of his teeth made her skin twitch. The mare was so shaken with longing; she barely heard the stallion’s words. It was only when Dooloomai turned his head to stare at her for a moment that Ballook understood. “What if this leg of mine is never healed?” she asked him earnestly “Would you still have me then?”

[Tiggs]

It was seeing that other stallion, his default reaction one of anger and confrontation, that Mayrah realised how calm and comforting Dooloomai really was. His voice remained soft, his movements were clear and expected. She could not imagine he would hustle mares or glare at another mob just for being close. It reassured her that the other stallion thought better of challenging the big black roan. It meant Dooloomai would have fewer challengers just by having that presence about him.

He spoke hypothetically, as if he wanted to include her and Ballook in his plans but hadn’t yet mustered the courage to ask them to join him. Mayrah was hit by a certainty she couldn’t deny; she would join him if he asked. He was a good solid stallion, and his temperament was a rarity in the High Country. Despite her injury, Dooloomai was still willing to help Ballook, and that filled Mayrah with admiration for the big blue roan.

Mayrah nodded as his needs; they were things many brumbies wished for, but few rarely found. The Higher Country would satisfy most of his needs, but they would be snow-covered in winter, and Ballook could hardly scale the rocky tors in her condition. They would need to find a place that would do for winter, without having to travel too far.

Huffing, the mare playfully nipped Ballook’s neck. “Your leg will heal,” she assured the mare. Thinking that it wouldn’t would surely make it harder to recover. A positive attitude might even make the healing faster. “I think, Dooloomai, that what you seek could be found in time. I know of a few places where a small herd could graze uninterrupted, but only for a time. It is hard to remain undetected in one place for too long, but with a determined stallion, I think that a small herd would remain safe,” she reached across Ballook’s back to touch her muzzle to his, “I would be glad help you find such a place,” she said, gently lipping his nose.

Ballook seemed keen to have Dooloomai as her stallion, and Mayrah had to admit, she understood. The yearning that struck her when Dooloomai spoke of mares and foals was enough to overpower her desire to explore the High Country, at least for a time. If only he would ask...