{OPEN} Through Wind and Rain

[»Koiji]

Koiji's creamy coloured hooves picked their way through the snow that was covering the land around Dead Horse Creek. She knew it was foolish to be here, what with man making his presence in the High Country, but she decided that she'd go there anyway. To see the sights and smell the smells... The mare's ears flickered and to her satisfaction, heard nothing. The pale winter sunlight filtered down through the clouds and bathed the land in a gentle glow, touching almost everywhere, and bringing a hopeful sort of light to the creek. Koiji stopped and took a drink from the creek that wound it's way through the valley. She sighed, it hadn't been too long since she'd been a horse that kept others company, but she and her friends had ended up seperated just after she'd had Skittles, and now she was alone. Her and Skittles wandered about, occasionally splitting up, but most of the time travelling together. The mare shook her mane and blew out through her nostrils. This was one of those days where they'd seperated. About two year ago, she'd had everything a mare could have asked for; a herd, a stallion, and a home. But ever since her and Ryu had left, things had gone drastically wrong. She'd been seperated from Ryu last spring, and they'd never found each other. Soon after, she'd realised that she was pregnant and then had Skittles. The High Country saw very little of the sooty black mare these days, it had been a while since she'd actually been down into the valleys to see if any herds were about. She wanted Skittles to know what it was like to be in a herd, but had been unsuccessful in finding someplace for the both of them to go. So, she'd stuck to the mountains, only coming down for food and water.

A couple of moments passed while Koiji was lost in thought. it was only when she heard something in the distance behind her that she bothered to look. Skittles appeared out of the trees and trotted towards her, her chestnut coat seeming to be more pale in this light than it was in reality. Koiji smiled and walked over to her daughter, nuzzling her neck affectionatly. "And where do you think you've been young lady?" She asked, grinning. Skittles rolled her eyes and sighed. She hated being refered to as young. As far as the filly was concerned, she was mature and sensible. "Mum!" She whinnied, shaking out her mane. Koiji laughed softly and dropped her head to graze. "It's not funny!" Skittles complained as she followed her mother's lead and dropped her head to graze as well. The two slowly made their way across the valley, neither of them talking, but both thinking the same thing; 'we should be in a herd.'

||Open thread, so if you've got a stallion who might want to claim Koiji and Skittles, please do =3||

[yaruka]

Woorin, too, was wandering about the High Country without much focus. Men had come to his former territory and he left, moving up towards the mountainous region around Mt. Kosciusko. He was quite old for a bachelor, being five already and was hoping that he may run into a mare or two hanging around some where. He snorted at his own foolish hopes, like there would be any mares running around without a herd in the spring. Just as this thought crossed his mind he caught the scent of two other horses. He threw his head up, ears pricked forward alertly. Scenting the air again he caught the scent of two mares. Not daring to believe his luck he realized that he could detect no sign of the prescense of a stallion. Excitedly he made his way towards the two scents. Finally he came in sight of a small black mare and a chesnut filly, presumably her daughter. Fluttering his lips he nickered to them then stepped out into their valley with a long swinging gait aimed to impress.

[Tiggs]

OOC: Wheee! *gatecrashes* Yell if you want him to skedaddle! I think by now Skittles is a two-year-old as she was in the first batch of foals, but if you want her as a yearling, I can fix that up for you.

Blowing hard, Nevada loped lazily down to the creek. Dipping his nose under the cool surface of the stream, he sucked up a few mouthfuls of water before continuing his long-gaited trot. It was a ground-eating pace, more for travelling than otherwise. The grey had quite obviously exerted himself recently, as his flanks were dark with sweat, his black skin turning his pale hide grey with the perspiration. His nostrils were wide, the skin reddened where blood travelled close to the surface.

He was starting to calm now, his heart slowing to a normal pace and his breathing also. The trot along the creek splashed his underside with soothing water, and he was soon feeling freshed. Refreshed enough that at the sight of a stallion and pair of mares, he threw up his head and neighed a greeting to the two females. He didn't recognise the stallion, but he was confident enough that he wouldn't attack without reason. For all he cared, the red dun could keep his black mare. It was the pretty chestnut filly that Nevada was interested in.

With a deep bass nicker, he halted well out of range of the stallion and his mare and called to the flaxen chestnut daughter. She was old enough to leave her parents now, and what better way to end this glorious day than add a new filly to his herd? Tossing his head, Nevada pranced and kicked up his heels.

First, he had chased off a pair of Tingara's sons. Secondly, he'd discovered the King's new hide-out. Thirdly, he'd nullified any debts he had to the black King. Fourthly, he had chased away the banes of his existence, the two black yearlings. And now, he was presented with the perfect opportunity to built up his herd with more eligible young mares. The stallion released and excited squeal, and beckoned for the filly to join him.

[»Koiji]

||~Nah, it's okay =D This should be interesting XD She can be two, it's 'cause of my inactivity that I still thought she was one lol~||

Skittles lifted her head up as she heard the sound of hoofbeats hitting the ground. Her forehead tightened as the filly frowned, unsure of what direction the horse was coming from. Her chestnut ears flickered until she decided that that the hoofbeats must have been coming from behind her, and that they were too heavy to be a mare's. Her frown only grew when she heard something else as well. She saw her mothers head come up as well, and her voice drifted towards her ears. "Skittles, whats wrong?" She asked, knowing that her daughter didn't make a fuss over much. Skittles shook her head, and went back to grazing. Koiji watched her for a second, before dismissing the topic. A few seconds later, a nicker came to her ears and she looked up to see a red-dun stallion making his way towards her and her daughter. She snorted, and looked towards Skittles who was now grazing a few feet behind her. As the stallion got closer, Koiji's ears picked up more hoofbeats somewhere in the distance.

The little black mare was rather in awe at the entrance of Woorin, having not expected to see anyone about. "Um... Hi there." She managed to say, before turning her attention back to Skittles. She realised that the filly was gazing in another direction again, and saw a big grey stallion also entering the creek. She whinned to Skittles, who apruptly looked back at her mother and then at the red-dun. She gave a frightened little snort and went to her mother's side like she used to when she was a foal. Skittles looked from one stallion to the other, and heard the grey one's excited squeal. It took her a moment to realise that he was squealing at her... She looked at him for a moment, the frown creeping back onto her face, before she grinned and took a step toward him. Koiji snorted at her to stop after she'd taken a few steps. She didn't really want to see a kick off between the two stallions.

Skittles stopped when she heard her mothers snort. She turned to look at Koiji and wondered what she should do. After a bit of pondering, Skittles yelled out to the stallion. "Hi!" She had wanted to appear friendly, like how her mother had seemed to the red dun stallion that was stood by them. This wasn't turning out to be a bad day after all...

Koiji looked from stallion to stallion, and then to her daughter. It was obvious that the grey stallion was after Skittles, and that struck a chord in the mare. If Skittles chose to go, she'd be alone again... But there was this other stallion that was stood ever so impressivly near her... She flicked her tail and waited to see what was to be said.

[yaruka]

"Umm...Hi there," replied the black mare and Wurrin felt a surge of excitement, at least she was showing some interest. He was just about to take another step forward and introduce himself when he heard another nicker behind him. Whirling around he snorted in disbelief and anger. A grey stallion had stopped just out of his reach and was busy oggling the chesnut filly. Wurrin paused, unsure what to do. They weren't his mares after all, but he had obviously been hoping to persuade them to join him. Just then the grey let out an excited squeal and Wurrin reared up on his hind legs, ears laid flat back in warning. Honestly, how dare he? He couldn't believe the audacity of the other stallion. He came back down on all fours and trotted a circle around the mares, nickering to them gently and shaking his head, trying to get them to follow him. He could tell the grey only wanted the chesnut filly and that he could probably make off with the black mare and avoid conflict. He did his best to ignore the unsettling thought in the back of his mind that he could end up losing them both. But if he didn't fight he'd be branded as a coward and lose face. He couldn't really run away from this challenge, unexperienced though he was.

OOC: t'is shall be fun....

[Tiggs]

The filly seemed to be interested, but the dun stallion seemed to be protective of his daughter. He trotted in close to his little herd, and Nevada flicked his ears back. It seemed the dun wanted to keep the two for himself. Nevada rose to the challenge. Instead of becoming agitated at the stallion's attitude -- he was too tired to get angry now -- he gave an amused snort and skipped backward a few steps. Still standing in the shallow creek, the confident grey stallion lifted a foreleg and stamped at the water, sending splashes up around his chest.

Nevada called again to the chestnut filly, dancing about in the water like a playful colt. He ignored the dun and his mare, no doubt fueling the other stallion's ire, and continued to boldly prance and whinny for the chestnut. It was a childish game. Nevada preferred to woo mares away from his foes, fighting as the next resort if his 'charm' was unsuccessful. The little filly seemed piqued enough, it was just her over-protective father he had to overcome.

[tingara]

Sweet, sweet freedom was all Birubi could think as she galloped through the bush. All the sights and smells that had once been familiar to her where now so strange and wonderful. After almost two years of captivity the filly had almost forgotten the feeling of the mountain wind rushing by as she galloped freely, with no man behind her and no tether around her. The birds and creatures of the scrub looked at the odd coloured filly and only saw a stranger but that’s not what Birubi felt like. She was home, now all she had to do was find her mother after so long.

Although the filly felt like she hadn’t been gone for so long, a lot of things would have changed while she’d been away. She already knew that Tingara was still king, the gang-gangs had been all too happy to help Birubi with that, after pelting her with gumnuts of course. Where was Dilali and was she still with Nevada? That was the question, or questions, that lay unanswered. Though Birubi didn’t feel a strong urgency to find either of them just yet, it was still a strong desire of hers.

It was only by chance that the filly caught the sound of voices floating close by. Nostrils quivering, Birubi stopped and listened. The nearby creek almost muffled the quiet sounds of other horses but not quite. Creeping closer, she saw through the snowgums a familiar sight. Nevada.

“Nevada!” forgetting all caution, Birubi called out joyously before bursting through the trees. She expected the older stallion to be a little bit more than surprised to see her.

[»Koiji]

Koiji looked from one stallion to another, panic rising in her system. She looked at her daughter who was stood not too far away where she'd told her to stop. Skittles was showing interest in the Grey who was standing in a confident way over the river. When the Grey delivered a squeal, the dun looked disgusted and started trotting in a circle around them protectively. She smiled, he seemed nice enough. But the smile soon faded when she saw that the Grey was showing off in the river. She looked over at Skittles who seemed really piqued. Koiji sighed, she knew that all foals had to leave their mothers at some point, but that didn't mean that she wasn't going to hurt if Skittles did leave.

Skittles watched with a grin on her face as the Grey pranced about, playing in the water. He looked very majestic through her eyes at that point. She knew that he was probably annoying the other stallion who was stood by her mother, but it didn't stop her staring interestedly in his direction. Her ears pricked forward and she raised her tail slightly. It was only when she saw the other stallion trotted around them in a circle that she looked back to Koiji. A torn look crossed her face, she would have liked to go with the stallion, but she felt that she should stay with her mum... Skittles closed her eyes and sighed.

Koiji looked protectively over at her daughter and was about to ask her something, but another voice entered her ears and distracted her before she could. She looked up in the direction of the Grey, thinking that his voice was too high, and then realized that it was the voice of a filly. She watched as the filly seemed to not stop to think about approaching the stallion, but went straight on to greet him. Maybe its one of his herd? Koiji wondered as she watched them. She noticed that the dun stallion seemed really tense, like he was planning on taking on the Grey if things got ugly. A stab of fear hit her stomach as she imagined what the outcome of that might be.

[yaruka]

The grey stallion continued to prance and show off in the water, aggravating Wurrin still further though he refused to show it. Really though, who did that grey think he was? He was insufferable. Wurrin saw the filly's attention wavering between the grey and her mother, and glanced at the black mare just in time to see a flicker of sadness in her eyes. Seeing this only fueled the red dun's desire to keep the two together. He squealed warningly at the grey, trotting forward and pawing the ground threateningly. If it came to it he'd fight. Just then a strangely coloured filly burst out of the trees, racing towards the grey, whom she called "Nevada'. Wurrin's eyes widened in shock, what now? Then, capitalizing on the distraction for the grey, Wurrin trotted back over to the mares, nickering and extended his nose to greet each in turn. He gazed steadily into both of their eyes, trying to convey to them that he truly was a good guy.

[Tiggs]

Understandably, the young chestnut seemed hesitant to leave her mother's side. The bond between mother and daughter was strong, but inevitably it would fade with time. The stallion tossed his head, calling again, his voice strong and confident. He was clearly not phased by the dun's annoyance, and it was a well-deserved assuredness, not foolishness that gave him that confidence.

Fairly sure it was only a matter of time before he won over the chestnut filly, the grey danced backward at the dun's approach. He was enjoying simply infuriating the dun with his prancing and he couldn't suppress his daughter indefinitely. Turning, Nevada stepped out of the creek on the opposite bank to the stallion and his little mob. He had been about to call again, to entice the charming little filly over to him with reassurances that her choice would be a good one, but then he heard his name.

The voice was both familiar and strange, and he shrugged off his carefree demeanor and turned to face what turned out to be a very familiar yet unexpected filly. With a squeal of delight, Nevada forgot the other stallion -- who was thankfully retreating -- and greeted Birubi with an exuberant nuzzle. It struck him that she was entirely striking. She had grown to almost her full size, and she looked to be in good health. Her coat was so stunning that he was lost for what to do for a moment.

When he had taken Dilali into his herd, Birubi was barely a few months old and she was not much older than that when the men had caught her. Now she stood before him, a beautiful filly. He had never wanted her to be his daughter -- he had always intended to keep her as one of his mares when she came of age. But then the men had taken her but now she came to him, better than a dream, and he nuzzled her with more affection than a father would lavish, making it quite clear that she was an unrelated mare, not a daughter in his eyes. "Oh, Birubi, you are magnificent." He longed to ask her how she had escaped the men, but then the realisation that there was another stallion close and now he had one of his own fillies by his side hit him.

Nudging Birubi to stand behind him, he turned to the dun. The playful light in his eyes was gone now as he stood protectively before Birubi. He warned the other off with a look, and perked his ears toward the chestnut filly. "Join me -- you'll be safe." He promised, demonstrating his kindness as a stallion by turning to nuzzle Birubi's cheek (whom he still couldn't believe was actually here). If his gentleness didn't convince her, then he didn't know what else could -- aside from a show of physical prowess by fighting the dun for the right to claim her. But he didn't have time or quite the energy for that now and he would have to leave her with her mother and sire unless this last persuasion was successful. His number one priority now was to take Birubi safely back to the herd but he couldn't quite resist the challenge of wooing the chestnut daughter away from the defencive dun.