The Brumby Run

[Tiggs]

OOC:

This is the thread for the brumby run! This is where the main bulk of activity will take place. Those who have signed up for having captured horses may post here, as well as those who want to include their horses in the run only to escape at the last moment. Here's a few things to get you started:

• The men and their dogs started widely spread across the High Country, and have driven all available brumbies into the Gap. Most of the brumbies are probably quite tired by now.
  
• If you want to play the beginning of the chase, feel free to do so in other threads.
  
• The men will drive the collective herd of horses toward the corral, and horses that are not being caught may break off before the rest of the horses are trapped.
  
• There will be a lot of horses, and not all of them will be played by people. You can invent other horses to interact with for the duration of this thread.
  
• As these men are experienced, the horses will not be able to play clever tricks. The fences are solid and the only escape will be through a weakly guarded part of the herd near the end of the chase.
  
• No horses may harm the men intensionally (unless its a passing kick if they get too close), and remember that your character should act naturally in this situation. They would run where they are driven, and will not randomly leap and attack men, for example.

Righty, so all those brumbies and men who want to leap in, off you go! Play like any other thread, but so long as you're not leaving anybody too far behind, the post order is sort of first-come-first-serve. Occasionally I'll plonk in some directions for the men to take, but for now, assume the men are flanking the brumbies and are driving them along the base of the Gap.
Ready?
Set?
GO!

[Tex]

OOC- Muahahahaha! This is gonna be fun! I'm guessing we just keep the humans at flanking places, cause I don't know a huge amount about runs >.< I'll just start off with her on the side, eh?

A young woman, riding a bay mare, was galloping like crazy down a plot of land called by most simply 'Dead Horse Gap'. She and a huge amount of other people, all men as far as she could see, were driving a herd of wild horses into a fenced area. She waasn't very sure about what her specific job was, but the guys had vaguely waved towards the side, away from the pounding hooves and whip cracks of the main action. Honestly, she was happy to not be in the way of such dangerously wild animals, but kept runaways from escaping from the main herd. She'd heard of ages ago, when the legendary Silver stallion was around, that he had escaped with his mother right near the end of the chase, so they couldn't go back for him. Her grip tighetend on the reins, and jesse whinnied at the unexpected tense hold of the leather straps. Alison loosened her hold, surprised at herself. No need to get so worked up about it.

A dappled-grey stallion was in the middle of the herd, galloping as fast as she could, not realizing that his speed was why he couldn't escape. Perhaps if he had faked a slow run, he could have fooled the Men into not wanting him, but Coorain wasn't exactly the smartest stallion around. His dark mane and tail streamed behind him as if through water, and sweat shone on his hindquarters each time he made a leap forward, to try and go a little bit faster. They had chased him all the way from Paddy Rush's Bogong, and he was very tired already. This didn't keep his hooves flashing any slower, however.

A sooty palomino was running as well as she could, panting with exhaustion and anxiety over he small foal, which was running beside her. She couldn't think of a worse time to be chased, with a foal right beside her, apart from being pregnant and still having a foal run with you while being caught. That's an extra two to the Men. Her foal actually was going quite well, being younger than his mother and full of more energy. It galloped without going all-out, to preserve what energy was left, and nudged Coorah to let her know he was okay. The mare whinnied tiredly and slowed down a notch.

Another mare was on the other side of the herd, well towards the front and on the left. She was galloping easily, not having to work hard at all, as she was well-bred and born in the mountains, which she had loved to race down. Sure, she was a bit tired, but being tired was a part of life. The Men didn't scare her, and she showed it by challenging them in a loud whinny, angry and mocking. They didn't seem to hear her, and she realized the herd was making too much noise in its gallop. And it'd be a waste of time to ask them to quiet down. The bay snorted, and went back to annoying her neighbour by grooming its withers, completely clueless about the yarded area up ahead.

[danni]

Towera felt confused and frightened at the noise this herd was making, the sudden cracking the screeching, the sudden flash of a Grey hide in the middle of the herd reminded her of Coorains pelt, then Norwego. She missed them both, flattening her ears at a horse who ran into her patched back she jumped forward and tried to push her way through to find a dappled creature. Even if it wasn't him, she would felt comforted that he was safe. She lengthened her stride, her white legs ;ashing out suddenly and jumping forward, her neck arching as her mane whipped back at the stepped. more animals were surrounding her. When she saw it again she pushed through the last horse to be running beside him, then it was him. Towera almost stopped in her long stride trek, the sun felt hotter and she screamed "Ohmigosh! Coorain! How did you get here! Did they hurt you?" she looked over his body concerned that they had, oh this wasn't good.

Ellie said on Mosco, glancing around hazily, she would take the front side of the herd when they chased them down the hill, she guessed because Mosco was a fast horse he would keep up with the herd, She could hear them a mile off, the whistling and the cracking of the whips, this was the thrill of the chase. tightening her reins she saw a cascade of horses bowl out of the shadows. Mosco was in action as soon as he saw them. His buckskin pelt, his nares flashing, Elli felt her hand move to her whip as she lent forward in her saddle, the rush of the wind pulling enthusiastically at her face. It was unraveled as the herd started drifting she slammed in on the ground with a ease of her wrist, the horses moved the the side, her feet sank deeper into the stirrups as she turned Mosco over a log. His legs lashed out at the ground as she kept the horses from wandering at the near front of the huge mass of animals.

[latymier]

Dinga, realizing that something was not right, pinned her ears. The herd was running fast and dogs were barking. Her nostrils flared in alarm and she began to run instinctively. Her heart raced, and her breath was coming shorter the longer she ran. Panic began to seize her, would she be caught by a horrible dog that wouldn't stop chasing her?

(I may have her run wild and crazy in panic? Any human or horse want to be hurt by Dinga's panic?)

[yaruka]

OOC: ok, I have a lot of characters (to state the obvious lol) so I was thinking about posting them in stages? just assume that other than Waiirri, Warring, Woorin, Tham and Yaruka, they are all somewhere in the crush. Only Wahn is capturable. Wangara is a maybe. so yeah.

OOC:
For once in his life the black colt was absolutely terrified. Ears flat against his head he strained his young legs to keep up with the herd, desperately trying not to be left behind. He didn't care where they were going, he only knew that he had to keep with these other horses. With the herd lay safety-right? He wasn't really scared of the things that were chasing them, they smelled like the place where he had talked to that bay stallion, Cas, and no harm had come to him there. But the terror of the herd was infectious, and Wahn was determined not to go back to being on his own.
------------
Well this was a great start to setting out on his own. Not. thought Yarran as he galloped in the midst of the frantic crush of horses. The red dun going grey colt had only set off from his birth herd a couple days ago but today had found himself swept along in this massive drive of horses. He was still fresh, not having been with the group for long, but he was aware that he definately needed to get out, and soon. Every minute with this herd he felt himself loosing his powers of reasoning as the terror of the other horses swept over him. But Yarran was a two year old colt, fresh out into the real world and no where near as aware of his weaknesses as he should be. He tried to break away to the left but found himself pushed back by numerous galloping bodies-black, grey, chesnut and roan. The horses behind him pressed in tighter and for the first time the young stallion felt claustrophobic. Finding it more difficult to get his own space he thrust his head into the air and tried to run that way. He soon realized that this made it impossible to breathe at such a reckless pace and he had to plunge his head back down into the mass, narrowly avoiding the hooves of the horse infront of him. Beginning to get scared he again darted to the left but the wall of horses did not give for a gangly two year old. Whinnying in frustration he tried to kick out, what were they even running from anyway? Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he caught the flash of a bay horse with something on its back. Terrified he tried to bolt, plunging sideways, deeper into the mob of horses.
---------------
Next to the mulberry grey was another young stallion, of about three years. His flanks and neck were coated in sweat as his dark legs pummeled the ground. Wangara's sooty blue roan coat was almost black now, the combined heat of the summer day and the terror of the drive taking its toll on the young horse. Terrified he could only think to keep with the other horses. His throat, parched from lack of moisture, burned and his eyes stung from the grit being kicked up ahead of him. Still, he did not attempt to break away from the herd. Beside him galloped his half-brother, another three year old stallion. Usually slightly more level-headed than the roan, Kurruk was nonetheless faring little better in this situation. He, too, was coated in sweat and perspiration dripped down from behind his ears and into his eyes. The stockings on his dark legs flashed in the crowd of horses, pounding the dusty ground as he sought to keep with the other horses.

[yaruka]

Oh no. Oh heck no. She wasn't going back to those men. Nuhuh, no way. Furiously the pony mare galloped alongside her companions, shamelessly kicking out at any who got too close. She had done this before, and she knew her only chance at freedom was to try and get to the edge of the mass before it was too late. She had lost track of Camira a little while back or she might have tried to guide her daughter to freedom also. As it was, in her mind there was nothing she could do about that now. Spotting anyone, even a palomino filly, in this mess would be difficult. Urgh, why had she ever trusted that Nandalie? He had failed her, just like all the other stallions she had been with. Stallions were useless creatures. With ease she lept a log in her path and spun, pushing her way to the side. Pinning her ears she warned the other horses away, snapping at any who wouldn't give. The faint scars on her side from the last time she had been in captivity still showed, and her delicate mouth had never quite recovered from the men's harsh hands. She had to get free.

OOC: Tiggs- is there room for Wyuna in the escapees pen?

[{ Opal }]

Darel pounded wildly alongside the other brumbies, their mass of bodies slamming against him on every side. His panic was so great he hardly knew where he was going, what he was doing, why everything was happening. It was all just a blur of fear, and that alone spurred the young stallion to crash faster and faster through the crammed herd. Kimba, Kimba! The back of his mind nagged at him, screaming her name, but in his shock Darel could hardly do more than utter cry after cry of horror in all the manic. His voice was quickly swallowed by the crowd, and it seemed all was lost. But Darel had no time to despair, for dogs were barking, whips were cracking, men were shouting, charging after him. He leaped forward, trying to escape, but there was no relief, and by now Darel was heaving for breath, his limbs trembling with exhaustion and fright. Suddenly his muscles locked up, but in such a way that refused to hold him upright. Darel heaved out a shrill neigh as he crashed to the ground, his body paralyzed. His nostrils flared, he fought to stay up, to keep running, but the increased height of fear only worsened the attack. Darel's muscles shuddered across his body, making him convulse. Now his breathing grew hoarse, and every gasp caused a loud scraping sound in his throat. In those horrible moments, Darel knew nothing but pure terror.

Kurra's mad neighs rang out above the noise as he thundered along the edge of the crowd, flinging his hooves at any creature that dared come to close. Anger boiled inside of him as he fought to escape, but to no avail. Kurra released angry snorts and bellows, just to make sure that his captors would know just how mad he was. He was not being captured, he would not going take it. Kurra tried to lengthen his strides, to work his way to the front, but he was too tired to go any faster. His weakness made him only further upset, and he bucked and kicked in frustration. Kurra's bay coat was shimmering with sweat by now, but his wild eyes never got any calmer, just more persistent.

[Valatone]

(Can someone make a posting order? XD I'll get muddled up)

Althea's nostrils flared in anger, being driven along by a maddened stream of brumbies. Her coat become prickled with sweat, her fear shown in her eyes. Thrashing her tail, she contrinued to be pushed and bruised by those arround her. Angrinly, she nipped a colt in front of her who was panicing, slowing down then thrashing into the stallion in front of him. She wasn't gonna be caught...no way...or, be caught and kept. Althea wouldn't take it.

Cobalt was rather confused as he looked around. Nervious like the others, he was rather obedient in the drive, but was rather skittish. He laid his ears against his head, whinnying to see if anyone else would answer. But nothing came, so he continued to be driven on my the men.

Kinta kicked out at the horse behind her, not showing how nervious she was. She tried to look strong, but really, she was having a break down. Baring her teeth at the mare in front, Kinta sluggishly continued on, wondering if Pirilah or Garrong had been caught.

[yaruka]

Through the bush on the ridge above the gap moved three brumbies, two pale and one a dark shadow. The horse slightly in the lead, a ghostly white stallion, stopped suddenly, head raised, as the wind carried to him the scent of many horses. Just then a horrible echoing rumble shook the ground and indicating to his mare and son to stand back he crept forwards to the ridge, knowing what he would see but hoping desperately that he was wrong. Below him plunged a herd of hundreds, all galloping wildly, their terror evident even from this distance. His fears confirmed, Thambaroo looked on with concern and sadness as humans mounted on horseback caught up with the wild ones, yelling and screaming in their horrible voices. Snorting, Thambaroo backed quietly into the shadows before turning and walking over to his mate "It is a brumby drive larger than I have ever seen before, Mullara." The great stallion sighed deeply, dark eyes troubled. They were safe up here, he could tell the men were closing in on their target group of horses and were no longer scouting a field, but it still upset him to see so many of his fellow wild ones racing towards more danger than they could ever imagine. He knew the panic they would feel when they realized they had rushed into a trap, having felt it himself long ago. And then would come the despairing calls of the seperated as they realized their was nothing they could do to help their loved ones. Their whinnies would echo off the walls of the chasm, joing those of other trapped brumbies long ago, who's desperate pleas still haunted this area of the mountain.

[yaruka]

Near the back of the group raced a dark bay stallion, sweat streaming down his
once glossy coat and nostrils flared pink from fear. He tried to keep with his
two mares but was finding it increasingly difficult to keep track of them among
the other horses, even in spite of their unusual colourings. The threat had
come upon them so fast, they had had no choice but to flee the barking dogs and
the wrangler's whips. Warring felt like a fool, even though he knew there was no
way they could have escaped the drive. For all his caution and care to keep
hidden they had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Begining to
panic as he saw the larger mass of horses ahead of him Warring flung up his
head, calling a desperate plea to his friend Kye Help! How do we break
away? He could only hope the falcon would hear him.


OOC: phew, I still have Ira, Amarina, Wyuna, Camira, Baree, and Biangri to add to this thread