Drifting Back to Normal [Warring;s herd]

[yaruka]

It was a cold, clear winter night. Through the dark but sparse brush crept a shadowy stallion, pelt glistening faintly in the light from the moon overhead. Whatever light his coat picked up he knew would be magnified tenfold on the pelts of the two mares behind him. This thought made him anxious, and he wove deeper and deeper into the brush as he made his way down the last of the mountainous slopes. They had survived the beginning of the dry winter up here, hiding from the presence of men, but the sparse vegetation had finally driven Warring to seek lower ground for his little herd. He nickered encouragingly to the two pale horses behind him, just a little further he thought, and then they could rest. His ears flickered attentively, keeping tabs on the activities of the night. There was nothing to listen to though; the night was strangely silent, as it had been since men had carved their path of destruction and despair through the High Country. The silence unnerved the proud stallion; his steps were, though silent, brisk and determined. Finally he stopped at a little clearing where they could rest, the same clearing they had visited last spring, before the drive had tore their peace to shreds. How long ago it seemed that the red roan stallion had appeared from across the pool of water, speaking a warning of men in the lower country. Warring’s delicate skin shivered at the memory of the drive but he quickly pushed such thoughts out of his mind. He had a herd to care for, the present was all that mattered for now.

[Corowa]

Corowa followed, Karuah a pale ghost at her side, both of them following this brown streak of a stallion, half-fading into darkness. By now, very lame, Corowa hopped forwards on three legs. Swinging around with a worried nicker, Karuah gently nosed her mother. In the brumby drive, she had been forced up the steep country of the Crackenback, and her legs were bruised and cut by the rough great rocks and fallen branches. Around them, the low scrubby snowgums seemed frightening, and when the mopoke called, Karuah shied away.

Slowly the bush around them thinned and through the pale smudges of snowgums, Karuah saw the moon had risen. Then suddenly, Warring had stopped and the creamy filly felt his sweaty hide close to hers and felt that queer thrilling in her blood. From the other side of the pool, it seemed to the mare she glimpsed the ghost of a stallion. Excitedly, she rushed forwards and then he was vanishing into the night with his shadowy mares, so the clearing was empty once more. Trembling all over, Corowa neighed to the night, and the bush echoed with the sad neigh, telling of longing and loss. Karuah had stilled, head thrown up to listen, for surely the wind murmuring in the snowgums, moaning through the tors of the Ramshead, held the answer. “Do not worry mother,” she said, for around them the bush was hushed, as if too watched and waited. Bathed in moonlight, the filly gleamed silver and cream, and fearfully she melted into the thick bush, afraid of those unseen eyes.

Moonlight reflected off the shallow pool of water, streamed through the leathery snowgum leaves so the whole clearing seemed bathed in this ghostly light. Skin crawling and every part of her throbbing with this wild excitement, Karuah crept to Warring’s side. Even he seemed troubled by the eeriness of the night, and she blew softly through her nostrils, reassuring him.

OOC: Haha I think Warring needs some more mares/fillies. Oh and Corowa's seeing the 'ghost' of Nandalie, because she had a bit of a crush on him from last time.

[yaruka]

OOC: he definitely does, I’ll have to find him some lol. And about the Nandalie thing, OUCH. On behalf of Warring, poor buddy ;(

Warring was concerned about his two mares, the brumby drive had taken a toll on them and he was particularly worried that Corowa still limped noticeably. He hoped they could rest here for a few days, the clearing was perfectly suited to sheltering a small herd and the snow should not bother them here yet. When Corowa rushed forwards eagerly to the other side of the pool Warring followed her movements, ears pricked curiously. What was it the mare had seen? Corowa let loose a throbbing cry but Warring did not hasten to silence her. They were the only ones for miles around. No one was there to hear the mare’s cry save for Karuah and himself. As Karuah reassured her dam Warring felt a surge of affection for the creamy filly. She was so sweet and good. Sometimes he had his doubts about her mother’s willingness to be with him, but Karuah at least seemed to genuinely enjoy his company. And she was so beautiful too. The moonlight illuminated her coat so that it glowed brilliantly, turning her flowing mane and tail to molten silver and her shining coat to pale, pale gold. His skin prickled pleasantly as she moved to his side and as she blew softly through her nostrils, to reassure him it seemed-he the stallion who should be the protector, he felt his heart swell as he turned to nuzzle her nose gently, nibbling her affectionately on the side of her cheek.

[Corowa]

Karuah felt the warmth of Warring’s affection, and she gently nibbled on his shoulder. Thirsty, she stepped lightly away from him, and dropped her head to drink. The water glistened with moonlight, and Karuah shivered for it seemed something terrible was to happen. The foal she carried stirred and the filly felt the whispering of the wind as it lifted her mane and the branches swayed and creaked.

In the fringe of snowgums, Corowa stood drowsing, half-dreaming, listening to the faint pulse beat of the world and the murmurings of the wind. Suddenly filled with this creeping dread, the filly threw up her head, and gave a shocked cry.

In the darkness of the night, Corowa had vanished. Slipping away silently, the mare had left no tracks, a ghost, melting into the shadows of the bush. With a frantic whinny, Karuah left Warring’s side and plunged into the rough scrub and timber. Branches whipped her face and flanks, stung her eyes as she stumbled over unseen logs, dark shadows in an even blacker night.

Only when her sides were soaked with sweat, and she trembled with exhaustion, did the filly stop. Around her, the bush was still. Full of sorrow, Karuah gave a ringing neigh and stood, waiting for an answer that never came. With a sigh, the beautiful creamy filly turned and threaded her way through the wide-branched trees, back towards to the small glade, where Warring too waited.

OOC: I thought it was time to split them up. Corowa's heading off towards the Brindle Bull to meet up with Nandalie.

[yaruka]

OOC: awww, poor Warring, he's going to beating himself up internally over what he did wrong for ages now....
It had to happen though...he's just got to find himself some more mares now
BIC:
Warring had just lowered his head to nibble at the still uncovered grass at his feet when Karuah's shocked cry startled him. Throwing up his noble head he looked towards the filly and noted with shock that where Corowa had been only moments before was now emptiness. Trembling with the strangeness of it all, Warring wracked his mind for an answer. He was certain the mare had not left against her will, there had been no sounds of a struggle and he had only been looking away for an instant. No, she must have left, as Warring had wondered if she might. The reality of it was that Warring was too young a stallion for the wise mare, Corowa needed a stallion who was settled, whereas he was a wanderer. Or at least that was how he figured it, he hoped it hadn't been himself alone that had driven the grey mare off. The bay was startled from his thoughts when suddenly Karuah plunged off into the brush, in the direction her mother must have taken. With a cry of concern, Warring sprang after her. Though he was equally as fleet as the silver filly, he did not make an attempt to catch up to her, merely folowing behind and keeping her in sight to ensure that no true harm came to her. He realised that this was a difficult moment for her and was sure that she needed to come to terms with her mother's departure on her own. But he would be there for her when she came back- if she came back he reminded himself. Finally the filly stopped and Warring too halted, a fair distance behind her. He waited for her to make her decision, listened to her heatwrenching cry with sorrow in his own dark eye., Finally she turned and made her way through the brush towards him. He felt his heart go out to her in symathy. Nickering gently he touched his nose to hers as she reached him, breathing warm air into her still flaring nostrils and rubbing his nose gently against the crest of her silver neck. "I'm so sorry," he whispered "But it will be ok, you'll see."

OOC: hope this is ok, very rushed, I'll try and edit it later