A Second Chance

[yaruka]

Along the faint trails of the Brindle Bull a glowing chesnut filly pranced and played. Her coat shined alternately copper and gold as she made her way back to the land she had fled more than a year ago as a frightened and ragged yearling. She had filled out nicely since then, beginning to grow into her gangly frame and not looking as dangerously skinny. Her mane too, had grown, and was now long and flowing, shining silver and bronze. Indeed, she bore quite a similar appearance to another horse that had once pranced and played along here, Yarraman, for whom the nearby valley was named. She embodied too, much of the long-dead stallion's grace and energy.
Though appearing lighthearted Yaruka felt apprehensive the closer she got to the valleys where inevitably she would find others of her kind. Though not nearly as nervous and flighty as she had been a year ago, she was nevertheless anxious, evident up close where one could see her slightly flagged tail and delicately flared nostrils. Being nervous by nature, her prior experiences in this territory had not been good ones and had contributed to her shy nature. But she was back for another chance, thanks to the guidance and encouragement of Ryu, the stallion who had become like a surrogate father to her.
She went quietly, her neat hooves making only the faintest tap on the granite on which she danced. Aglow with sunlight as the great star reached its peak in the sky, Yaruka played alone in the dusty beam of light that hit the moutain path.

OOC: kind of lame, I'd like to improve but I'm really tired, maybe later. Anyways, open to anyone

[Tex]

His hoofsteps echoed slightly but didn't fall upon any ears, as most of the animals that lived around here had been scared into hiding from the recent explosion of men nearby. Of course, they probably wouldn't try for just any old horse up here, but you dont really see herds of buckskin around these parts, do you? And his coat was a brilliant gold, too, which seemed to attract men as if his coat was made from honey. Mmmm, honey. What do humans do with honey, he wondered. He himself had stumbled across the stuff once, and had dearly paid for it. Even though horses aren't known for their rampages for honey, the bees thought he was some sort of massive monster come to eat the sun or something. Well, his name, Nowego, means Sun, so it wasn't likely he'd eat himself. That thought made him chuckle.
The golden and dark-socked male cantered down a slope and slowed down to listen, having heard some noises earlier and was actually coming this way to see if something was going on. A few moments ago, he had seen a few bright red flashes, or red for a horse, anyway. He was glad to know that he wasn't alone, and the stallion haad forged on ahead in search of the female. However, it seemed that she was good at hiding, for he hadn't seen her again. He paused beneath a fallen tree that had come to rest upon a fork in another tree, a slight gap on the dead-leaf-covered ground. Wait! There she was again!
He watched in awe at the filly that pranced before him, just as gorgeous as those tame horses with 'proper' breeding. Hmph. Wannabes.
The buckskin stallion calmly stepped out into the sunlight to get her attention but not look like he was too close, and tried a quiet nicker. She looked a bit nervous, in her stiff-legged walk and occasional glances, so he was making sure she wouldn't gallop off at first sight.

[yaruka]

Yaruka was still going along, half prancing half walking when the buckskin stepped out ahead of her. She shied violently to the side, flinging her elegant head up in the air and snorting, nostrils flared. Her flaxen tail, raised before, now flagged way over her back, falling like a silver fountain upon her back. Her dark eyes wide she looked at the stallion, who nickered gently to her. He wasn’t too close to her and did not seem threatening so she relaxed slightly, her tail falling back into its normal position and her breathing returning some what to normal.
'Greetings, stranger" she said cautiously, eyeing the stallion carefully.

[Tex]

He tossed his forelock out of his eyes jauntily, turning his head on the side and side-stepping to be in direct sunlight. Even though horses couldn't really carry weapons, this always seemed to make 'em relax. He gave a horse equilavent of a grin, and nickered gently again.
"Greetings, ma'am. My name is Nowego, for the sun. May I know what your name is?" he asked calmly. He dragged a hoof through the dirt a bit while he waited for an answer, patient, as always.

[yaruka]

Though unimpressed by the stallion's sidestepping and head tossing Yaruka was beginning to relax slightly. Enough to tell him her name at least "I am Yaruka," she said "Named for the light that gleams on your coat and mine," she gazed at him through steady dark eyes, hidden partially behind her silver forelock. Her legs were braced for flight, just in case and her ears remained pricked forward on high alert. "What brings you alone along this mountain track?" she asked, wondering if the young stallion had a herd of his own.

[Tex]

He froze and winced, the horse equivalent of running hands through hair and laughing awkwardly. His herd. A bit of a tricky question...
"Well, um, you see, I do, um, have a sort of, herd, you know. Only me and another, horse, so far. And she's a bit..." he trailed off as she looked into his eyes, stunned by how clear and steady her gaze was. Wow, she was more impressive than he was! And instead of feeling threatened and running off, Nowego grinned. Incredible! Follow a few sounds, and you ended up finding someone better than you! Nowego loved finding horses with better qualities that he had, it gave him more drive to look, act and just be his best. Anyway...
"Well, I like to travel alone. It's fun. Of course, it's the people you meet on a journey that really attracts me. You could end up finding a scratchy old hermit, you could end up being almost killed by a defensive stallion, or might be blessed by finding a filly or mare who attracts more than males of her own species," he finished, winking. Don't worry, he acts odd like this with everyone.
"Nice name, by the way. I have no idea why my parents called me the sun, I was a lot darker in colour when I was younger."

[yaruka]

Well, he certainly was a strange one. Yaruka gazed at him curiously as he awkwardly danced around the question of his herd. It sounded like an awkward kind of situation really. Snorting softly she answered him "Thank you, Nowego is a nice name as well. And perhaps your dam named you because of your inner qualities? Or perhaps she simply liked the name." she added, with a hint of a tease in her tone. Suddenly a mischievious look entered her dark eyes, here was a young horse like herself. It had been ages since she had run and played with a contemporary. Might he not join in on her playful dance across the mountains? They would certainly be safer together. She sidestepped gracefully to the side and tossed her head, doing a few dancing steps for added measure. Would he take the hint and join her? Or would she remain a solitary figure as she moved through the mountain range?

[Tex]

His ears pricked up as she moved to dancing in the dappled, bright sun, coat shimmering with each movement. He gulped quietly and moved his own hooves to try dancing as well. To his surprise, he wasn't too bad at it. Now that he was sure of being able to dance about, Nowego really let it rip. He trotted over and danced next to her, excited a bit too much for a stallion about to go off and play with a mare. He arched his neck and the long, black mane arched with it, black socked legs flashing up and down. He gave a mischevious smile and waited for his new friend to start off.

[yaruka]

Yaruka gave a playful buck and cantered off along the ridge, occasionally kicking up her heels in an invitation to play. When she reached the end of the path she turned and spun neatly, rearing up briefly then landing and prancing gracefully on the spot, nickering softly to Nowego.