Under A New Impression

[Dusty's Girl]

She was tiny, that was for sure. A little horse in a big world. Sure, she should be classified as a pony, but she was certainly not small on attitude. Her grey roan color stood out among the grasses, her white mane and tail were slightly dingy from her life in the wild. But she was here. At least she was on dry land this time.

Her breed was that of a Shackleford Horse, a rare horse that lives on the coast of North Carolina. What was she doing here? She certainly looked young, but one could not be too certain. Her height was questionable, maybe around 13 hands. She let out a small whinny, her tail lashing out behind her. She had never seen a place like this before, it was something unlike her coast land. Other horses were here, but no true herds. At least not in this terra. She shook her head and continued walking slowly, looking about as she did so.

Her name was that of Dusty, something that she truly looked to be. She lowered her head to the grasses as she walked, tearing at them and chewing. Not salty here. Just grass. She missed her marsh grass, her flats, and her salt water baths. But maybe she would like it here.

[Swede]

The sturdy brown mare lifted her head from the grass, pricking her ears at the sound of a stranger's call. She returned a whinny of her own, once she had caught sight of the smallish grey across the meadows. Yrsa had not met another equine for some time, after leaving her parents comfortable home on the ridge to explore the world herself. She had come here to roll in the early morning dew, and had stayed for the sake of the forage, still green from the river's care. In many other places, the grass was dry and yellowing, and winter was threatening in the form of autumn. She was actually quite loking forward to the first snows; this land had always been too warm for her tastes. Still, it paid to seek out the healthier grasses when they were available.

[Dusty's Girl]

Dusty raised her head slowly, another equine had answered her call? She let another one fly, perhaps this mare would be a playmate? Or know of a herd that she could join? Her hooves took her over there to the mare. Though tiny, she was still something. Her greyish coat stood out against the browning grasses and her white mane and tail stood out among her coat.

"Hello there. I am Dusty. What is this place? And what is your name?" Oh the age of youth. Although even she was uncertain of her age, she knew that she was still young. Of course you are only as old as you act. Her tiny hooves moved slightly as she settled a place in the grasses, her muzzle bending to graze the browning grass.

[Swede]

She raised her head, shaking her forelock out of her eyes and trotting closer. ''You can call me Yrsa,'' replied the brown mare, nickering curiously. ''And this is, well, the river. Sunshine River. I suppose I'm the wrong horse to ask, i wasn't born here, but I've been here a while. My parents and I come from the humans, actually, but I don't remember them-I was only a week old when we ended up out here. I had some aunts as well, three of them, but they were all stolen by other stallions. Up until recently I lived with my parents and my sister, but well, here I am now, I guess.'' She swished her tail idly, out of old habit, though there were fewer insects this time of year.

[Dusty's Girl]

Dusty snorted and giggled softly, "So Sunshine River....I am from the ocean. Its a long way away from here...but a new place is always good. I once had a herd...but that was a long time ago and I have been on my own since." She moved a bit, looking around. Her eyes took in the terra as she turned back to Yrsa.

"Ive never been around the humans...but I have seen them from a distance. That was a long time ago though. Since the waters took me out to sea, I havent seen home since then." She tossed her head, her forelock dancing in the air as she did so. Her tail swished behind her softly.

[Swede]

Yrsa tilted her head curiously. ''The sea? I have never been there, though some say my kind are tied to it by the humans who bred us, in a land with long coastlines. But there were thick forests too, and that is where my heart lies. An odd feeling, really, knowing you long for a place, that it is in your blood, but never having been there.'' She chewed some grass thoughtfully, then added, ''I supposed home is a matter of perspective; your home is far away, but you may still come to view this place as home. And me, I've never even seen y home, but I am content here and I suppose I was content with the humans.'' She frowned, considering this idea. During her self-imposed loneliness, she had become a bit more of an introvert, often thinking. She shook her head suddenly, as though inviting the wind to blow the dust from her mind, and said brightly, ''Excuse my ramblings. You say you were swept to sea? I smell a tale here. Would you like to share it?'' This mare had always been fascinated by those different from her, and even when the black shadow had swept over the ridge, she had been just as curious about the doings of mighty stallions as she had been fearful.

[Swede]

ooc: is this thread still going, or...? also, Dutchess in the other thread reminds me of Faradera when she lost her foal- a skin and bones suicide risk. And thanks to your character nightingale on here, I saw her name while skimming friends and it got a song stuck in my head. Grr. XD i will stop being rantive and borderline hysteric now.

[Dusty's Girl]

ooc: Yes, I keep forgetting to post here and yes Dutchess is a basket case that is almost crazy and suicidal and Nightingale got her name from a song from Nightwish.

[Swede]

ooc: I was actually thinking of the Norah Jones version, but whatever.

[Dusty's Girl]

ooc: Yea, that one too. But Nightwish has a song titled The Escapist and it talks about a Nightingale and kinda follows her story line... soo..since I have some muse for Dusty now...

BIC: Yes, a sea story always made things interesting when horses were involved...unless you happened to be the horse that was in the sea. Dusty tossed her tiny head and gave a gentle snort, "The sea...and yes, I was involved with it most of my life before now. I lived on a tiny island with my herd. My ancestors had settled that place long before the humans knew about it. But the sea was always there, always looming. We accepted it as part of our life, learning its ways and its temperment. It is quite like a moody mare most of the time. But we also learned to swim as a part of life, swimming and searching for food. "
"I was out with friends on the fateful day, when the sea swelled and swallowed us up. I lost my friends and my family that day as it swept me past the shore of our island and down to a river mouth. I was lost and could not find my way back to the island. After I had searched for many miles, a storm sauntered in and I lost my hope of ever finding the place called home. But I never gave up and somehow I ended up here." A soft sigh followed by a shake of the head was the last noise made by the small mare as she looked up at the young mare. Her story was rather different and rather intriguing when she actually listened to what she was saying at times.

[Swede]

Yrsa nodded sympathetically. ''It must have been awful, losing your friends and family like that, not to mention the place you call home,'' she answered softly. At least she had always been with her own family- members had been stolen away, yes, but the core of her herd had always been there, herself and her parents, and more recently her sister. And she could go back, too, if she so chose. But she was getting a bit old to cling to her parents, and it was about time she had left the nest. ''This place is quite nice, though,'' she added brightly. ''I think you'll end up liking it. Always something new going on, it seems, but the land takes care of you.'' She sighed slowly. This land was most certainly beautiful, and bountiful, but there were no true forests here, no thick evergreens where you cold wander for days on end without meeting another soul, and yet still not be frightened. And there was no sea either.

[Dusty's Girl]

"It was hard indeed, but time heals that which wounds us and we cannot always have what we want. This land is a wonderful place so far, at least what I have seen and I am sure that some place, I will find a few friends and maybe even a herd to join. Though my ocean and my island is not here, I am sure that I can adapt to this place." Though her small heart longed for the crashing of the ocean waves, the sounds of a river would have to suffice for the rest of her life it seemed.

Her small greyish body twitched slightly as she looked around her, at the filly near her, and at the land beyond. This was indeed a different place, but she was equine and she could adapt very easily. Especially for a Banks Horse.

[Swede]

The stocky brown mare nodded again, swishing her thick dark tail against her sides. Longer, softer hairs were starting to push out through her coat, and would eventually become a thick winter fur that would protect her from the worst of tempests- a gift from her hardy ancestors she was grateful for. For a moment her thoughts drifted, and she hesitated. ''Yes, it is a nice place. Still, there are those who have tormented us in the past. And there is an ill rumour on the wind... I fear the shadow is returning.'' That would be a horror indeed. Yrsa blinked, and shook her head suddenly. ''There I go again, mumbling to myself and utterly ignoring courtesy. You'll have to get used to that sort of thing, if you stay in my company much longer.'' She smiled in a goodnatured sort of way.

[Dusty's Girl]

"A shadow has haunted you?" It was strange for the little mare. The concept of horses being frightened by a shadow or something that represented by a shadow. Of course the hardy little mare had no natural predators back in her island. Sure, on her travels, she had seen a wolf or two and maybe heard a cat, but nothing actually came after her.

The winter breezes were pushing through as of late and a thick winter coat was trying to develop on her small body. Though a thick coat would come up, it was slow in coming about and would be even slower in shedding out when the time came. But that was life and existence on the beaches and not in the middle of a plains and forest.

"But maybe the shadow will not harm you? Or maybe it is not after you and after some other horse?" Her questions were well asked or rather well intended.

[Swede]

Yrsa shrugged, and looked at the small mare critically, though not in an unfriendly manner. ''Evil's intent is to harm, and someone will get hurt somehow. And is it really right, to close our eyes for suffering just because it is not happening to us? The suffering of others is the suffering of all; but most do not realize that. Not yet. Some never find it out.'' The brown mare sighed, swishing her long, thick black tail. She was struck by a sudden worry for her parents, and for her sister. Perhaps she should return to see them. No doubt they would be elated to see her as well.

[Dusty's Girl]

The small mare raised her head and looked at the larger mare, tilting her head to the side. It was true that evil ones intented to hurt others, but what could a tiny mare such as herself do about it when she did not even know anyone here other than that one that she was speaking to? A small snort rippled her nostrils as she let her tail lash behind her.

"But what can a mare like myself do in a place that I have never been before. I do not know most of the horses here and I am not in a herd myself, so therefore I have nothing to do about the evil that will errupt in this place." Her voice was quiet as she was almost speaking to herself about the day of reckoning.

[Swede]

Yrsa nodded, watching Dusty intently. It was the typical reaction of many, to think that because they were small, or did not know anyone, that they need not concern themselves with dangers of others. ''If you choose to stay in this land, it will most likely touch you in some way. Some of us are the ones who actively fight, with violence and heavy blows; but even if we do not join the battles, we cannot forget those whose lives are taken, and we must do for others as we would have them do for ourselves. Because one day, we could be the ones in trouble, and who will save us, if no one considers it their business?'' Yrsa sighed, and looked down at the yellowing grass that brushed up just slightly past her fetlocks. There were families here, mothers and fathers and innocent foals, and none could ever feel safe in life. The elements and predators would take many; but those equines who chose a path of destruction and murder would threaten so many more. It would be a long winter, and cold. Already she felt a bitter chill down her spine- though how much of it was from the frosty air, she could not tell.