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Post by Swede on Aug 21, 2008 4:29:46 GMT -5
A brisk late summer breeze rippled the surface of the watering hole, and the trees rustled loudly. Old hoofprints were sunk into the dried mud along the banks of the pool. And new ones were about to be added- that was, if their owner stood till long enough to create any.
Cochise was missing Cougar in more ways than one. As a friend, of course- the company had been valuable for the pinto. But also as a protector, someone who watched for danger, a reassurance. He had finally given up hiding by the river and come here in search of water. But it had not been an easy trip; terrified and fairly weak, he had taken several long loops away from suspicious areas and been fairly frantic the entire time.
Now, he peered out from the bushes warily, seeing few horses and none nearby. This is did nothing to reassure him. He took a couple of tiny steps forward, pricking his ears, shivering with unquelled nerves. Cochise's head turned from side to side in short rapid movements, trying to get a good view of his surroundings. He was, for all thoughts and purposes, completely blind in his right eye. Buffeted by the wind, a branch snapped nearby and crashed to the ground. The three year old darted sideways, skittering like the autumn leaves that would soon come. It took a long time before he summoned the courage to approach the water's edge.
He stepped lightly, as though walking on egg shells. This stemmed not only from his fear, but also from the risk of his tendons snapping. They had been slashed as a yearling, and were still somewhat fragile. Cautiously, Cochise bent to drink, looking up often. It seemed that, without Cougar's guidance, the colt would be terrified of everything for life. And it is not a good thing to lack any courage whatsoever, when you live in the dangerous wild.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Aug 28, 2008 13:19:55 GMT -5
Her grey brindled hide could hardly hide her as she walked into the terra. The water was looking extremely good right now and all she wanted to do was drink. Rosemont had just bred her, but that was an experience. She was still not sure why she had chosen to stay with a stallion that had many lone stallions in his herd, but there was something about him. At least the foal would be a rather regal animal.
Her head lowered to the water, her muzzle plunging into the water to drink deeply of its cool depths. Her grey tail lashed behind her as she slowly raised her head, her eyes spotting another horse nearby the water. A young one, that was for sure. He was entirely unsure of himself. Letting a neigh float his way, she wiggled her ears slightly. Remedy was usually a horse that was too regal for any other horse, but this one was different, he was lost and confused. At least that is the way that it seemed.
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Post by flyff on Aug 29, 2008 20:37:58 GMT -5
The majestic stag loped more gracefully and lightly than any horse stallion could. Perhaps it was because his hooves were smaller, more delicate, and his legs were more slender, than a typical horse's.
The red deer's dark gaze cut the air around him. The Watering Hole, a gathering place of the horses that he constantly saw and lived with. He was one of the only deer populating Sunshine River, and, as far as he knew, he was the only red deer. However, he had seen, and smelled, some evidence of a red deer hind about. Unlike his fellow stags, he was actually not that interested in finding a hind. He had been teased endlessly about it, he remembered... and yet, Awahi still couldn't help feeling that hinds were slightly more trouble than they were worth. So picky about such pointless things as antler sizes, although the stag couldn't help admitting that his own antlers were quite magnificent.
He cantered lightly to the Watering Hole, lowering his magnificent, fully antlered head to drink, ignoring the looks he was getting from all the curious horses. He was used to it.
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Post by Swede on Sept 4, 2008 15:27:52 GMT -5
Cochise nearly fell over in surprise. A horse, walking to the water, neighing at him, he had no idea what to do and took a nervous step backwards. and then, a, a, deer, yes, that was what they were called. and it had such massive antlers! He had only seen such a creature at great distance. The young colt was flightier than any doe or stag, and backed up sharply into the undergrowth. But, though he felt small and looked the part, he was still a horse and didn't manage to disappear in them- only get his tail entangled. Swallowing nevously, he glanced side to side, cursing his blind eye mentally and franically. The smallest of squeaks escaped him, and he froze. Wonderful! Now he had given himself away. then again, they probably weren't stupid. he was the stupid one. What a depressing thought that was. he wallowed in self-pity for a moment, before remembering this drastic situation involving perfectly peaceful mare and stag, who in his mind symbolized those enemies Cougar had protected him from before.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 6, 2008 23:21:02 GMT -5
Irish Remedy lifted her head ever so slowly to look at the spooking stallion. Then she noticed the stag that had invaded the terra. Of course it was his right to be in this place as well. She gave a gentle snort to the stag, having seen them back in her homeland a number of times.
Her eyes shifted to the stallion once more. He was a nervous bugger. But then again, he was young and experience was what was needed when one was alone. Her tail lashed behind her softly as she shook her head. Gently, she lowered her head to graze at the edge of the lake quietly, still not returning to Rosemont's terra just yet. She had other plans and other things to do right now.
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Post by Swede on Sept 10, 2008 15:12:44 GMT -5
ooc: flyff-I know you got rid of several characters, is Awahi still around or no?
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Post by Swede on Sept 18, 2008 13:55:07 GMT -5
ooc: i'll take that as a no.
Cochise sighed inaudibly, tossing his head back and forth as he tried to keep all those at the water under his eye. He wanted to run away; but to where? Nowhere. He had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. And what would he hide from? That was an easy question- the world. Everything was a potential danger, and he was just a nervous little colt. Who stuttered, on top of everything. And he was thirsty. But he couldn't go to the water's edge with the others there. could he?
Walking slowly, shaking like a leaf in autumn, he stepped towards the water, lowering his head cautiously. One sip- then he glanced up again. Nothing had changed. Feeling no more confident, he drank a short draught again, and spooked as something moved in the pool. Just a frog... just a frog... he repeated it in his head, feeling stupid, but could not help his spasms of fear.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 18, 2008 21:48:25 GMT -5
Cautious of his behaviour, she nickered softly and subtly to the young stallion. She in turn lowered her head to graze as she stood near the water's edge. Her herd stallion would start to wonder where she had gotten herself to soon, but she was not worried. This stallion needed a friend and she needed company. The grey brindle stood quietly, hardly a muscle moving as she watched the young one.
From a short distance away, possible travelling through, a semi large mare cut through the fields towards the watering hole. She was a bay pinto Gypsy Vanner. Though her build was quite large, she was finely feature and rather quiet herself. Her large hooves made little noise as she walked on towards the water. Her eye caught the young stallion as she edged closer a few hundred yards away from him. A gentle nicker was sent out, a greeting to both stallion and mare as she lowered her fine muzzle and began to drink deeply from the cool water. Orchid then took a moment to stare at her reflection in the rippling water, curiously thinking about her life.
Bushes, they meant nothing to her. Nothing at all as she hide among them. But the other horses. Could she actually go around them? Her silver grulla hide kept her hidden, her black barring masking her outlines. Yes, she could have been almost invisible. Her tangled black mane and tail were caught in several bushes, but she did not care, not at all. Where were her deer? She snorted silently and lowered her head. A nervous young stallion and two other mares. All sure of themselves. That was unlike her, but she was thirsty and had no other place to go. The grumpy protector of the forest would have to make an appearance. But what about the stallion? Would he attack her like the others did in the past? What about her alone life? At times, she did enjoy it. The breeze picked up a bit more and she could hardly help than to lift her nose towards the breeze, giving away her position in the brush. Stupid wind, and stupid life. She snorted quietly once more and took one step forward. Like most times in her life, WindStorm was nervous. She was upset and she was above all, still grumpy.
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Post by Swede on Sept 19, 2008 13:47:33 GMT -5
Cochise looked up with a jerk, blinking nervously. For a moment, he merely stood there dumbly. It was by all means not the first time anyone had greeted him, but it stunned him every time. And generally it ended in him being made fun of. Stallions greeted him in order to pick a fight as young stallions do, whether for play or for power. Older mares pitied him, other mares laughed at him. Young mares did not favor him- he was too plain, too scrawny for such attention. It was not until the second mare, large and with a similar coat pattern to himself that he realized it was prudent to answer. Oh, how he missed Cougar, who always let him know what to do when he was in doubt. He quivered slightly. They were just drinking, two strangers who came here for the same reason as himself. Just thirsty. But the greyish one, with the unusual brindle coat, was looking at him. The three year old tried to force out a nicker, but nothing came. There were stallions in this land who were hardly even a year older than him, with herds and power, bold and unafraid. Cochise could never be like that. He was weak, he was fragile, and he could hardly string two words together. Blinking again, he opened his mouth, looked at his feet and mururmed softly, ''H-hello...'' Had he been human, he would have blushed. As such, he merely lowered his head in a harmless position, glancing about warily out of the corner of his eye. A rustle sounded behind him, and he jumped, splashing into the shallows of the water and turning full circle, head tilted slightly to the right in order to see better. Though it was no predator, the appearance of the mare did not make him any less miserable. They were coming from all sides, these horses, and he could not watch them all at once. Just drinking, just drinking... he swished his tail submissively, not moving from the water. It seemed to be the safest place at the moment.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 21, 2008 22:16:23 GMT -5
Remedy continued to look at the nervous youngster, "Hello there." Her voice was gentle as her eyes fell towards Orchid and Windstorm, who was already turning to leave. Windstorm had enough of this place already, she was just grumpy and did not want to be with others of her own kind today. Orchid stood placidly near the younger stallion, her head lowered towards the water as her gentle eyes looked upon him.
Orchid raised her head rather slowly, "Do not be afraid, little one. No one here will hurt you. We are mares that have no intent on fighting. Even I myself do not have a herd to call my own, I live with my sire yet. I am Orchid, by the way." Even her voice was gentle for this large mare. She was gentle of nature and unflappable. Nothing bothered her badly and nothing unnerved her.
Remedy was different, she was a regal type. Always had to be the queen, always in the drama. Perhaps that is why she was swept up by Rosemont in the beginning and carrying his foal now. She sighed and shook her head, drinking deeply again. Her tail lashed behind her because, well, it could and her right front hoof sank deeply into the soft ground beneath the water's surface.
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Post by Swede on Sept 22, 2008 12:01:27 GMT -5
He let out his breath a slight amount as the third mare moved away through the trees. Even so, the colt was quite wary of those around him. It was difficult enough to try to keep track of the strangers and formulate intelligible replies to their conversation; it did not help that he had to be careful not to slip on the muddy rocks in the water. A single twist or fall could kill him, considering the fact that his tendons had never been given a chance to heal fully. Getting out of the pond was not an option at this point. He didn't dare leave this feeble safe zone.
Realizing that perhaps a response was warranted, he looked first at the grey brindle mare. Cochise opened his mouth, but his throat constricted with fear and he simply gave a rapid nod instead. He then looked at the stocky mare on the other side. His mind shouted at his quivering body to relax and at least make an effort at confidence, but it didn't work. The colt was scarred, and the mental ones ran even deeper than the physical. He knew nothing but fear, hadn't been able to relax since he left his mother, never allowed to recuperate. So the terror simply grew. He looked up for a short moment, forced himself to meet Orchid's eyes, and responded in a small squeak, ''H-hello.'' There was some aura about her, a deep and reassuring calm in her eyes that held his gaze for a moment. Quite suddenly, he remembered that one introduction deserved another, and stammered, ''I-I'm C-Cochise.'' The young pinto stallion glanced at the grey mare again, and looked down, silent, burning with embarassment once more.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 23, 2008 11:40:00 GMT -5
Orchid smiled softly, her head lowered towards the young stallion, "It is a pleasure to make your aquaintance, Cochise. Do you live around here? Or have a herd?" Her voice was still calm and quiet, never moving up or down to frighten the stallion. She had all of the air of her sire, calm and collected. True royalty in blood. But that seemed to run in her blood line, even fractious Kadison could be this same way when the mood struck him.
A soft snort rippled her nostrils as she waited quietly by the water's edge, patience was a virtue in her mind if not always in the mind's of other stallions.
Remedy snorted softly, careful not to frighten the young stallion, Cochise, as he waded in the shallows of the water. But it was cool out and she did not want the young one to catch a cold or worse, pnuemonia.
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Post by Swede on Sept 23, 2008 14:56:20 GMT -5
Standing up to his knees in water, he managed to relax slightly. No one had attacked him, not yet anyway. Everything was going very slowly, gently, at a pace that he was just barely able to keep up with without panicking again. Though Orchid was the one who spoke the most, he continuously glanced at the other mare. She was in his blind spot, and anything in his blind spot unnerved him. Despite the fact that she seemed friendly, he was not willing to take chances. Even cougar had accidentally frightened him on several occasions when he came from the right side, where Cochise could not see him. ''I l-live around h-here, I g-guess,'' he said nervously, blinking, ''b-but I don't have a h-herd.'' Clarifying quickly, he added, ''I'm b-by mys-self.'' The simple thought struck him dumb- he, Cochise, have a herd? Coward of cowards, weak, not even any looks worth mentioning on his side. The pinto had quite a low selfesteem, and his opinion of himself was not a kind one.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 23, 2008 23:09:28 GMT -5
Remedy snorted softly and backed up a few steps, lowering her head to graze on the grasses near the bank. Her tail slowly swished behind her as she grazed, her body relaxed and calm, letting the stallion know that she meant no harm other than to graze in a quiet place.
Orchid raised her head slightly, "No herd? But surely you much have many mares running around you and with you. You are a lovely stallion and should be holding yourself higher and with more of a presence." She let her ears swivel slightly as she watched the young stallion in the water.
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Post by Swede on Sept 24, 2008 10:29:33 GMT -5
It was difficult to conceal his shock. He simply stared at Orchid, mouth slightly agape, blinking dumbly. Beauty is an opinion, some say, but it was an unanimous opinion that Cochise was, quite frankly, a pathetic excuse for a stallion. And even if he was brave and noble, he was still short and plain to the point of ugliness. The blood of easily a dozen breeds ran in his veins, and for the most part he had gotten the worst of each.
Recovering quickly, he bit his lip in shame. There he went again, staring and proving himself an idiot. Cochise coughed a little, shaking his head- a definite no. No mares trailed after him. And he had never chased them. Somehow, his own trauma had replaced the typical instincts of a three year old stallion, and rather than pestering herd studs and flirting with fillies, he avoided strangers like the plague.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 24, 2008 22:35:03 GMT -5
"It seems rather odd that a lovely stallion such as yourself would call yourself a loner, would have no herd. Or maybe it is that you do not think that you could handle a large herd of your own and wish to join a herd as a Knight?" Orchid's voice was soft and calm, never putting the young stallion down or talking bad about him at all. She was genuinely concerned and was caring for this young one slightly.
Her painted body shimmered in the light as she took one small step forward, barely moving an inch. The grey brindle mare, Irish Remedy, had backed away slowly and trotted off towards another terra, leaving Orchid and Cochise by themselves here on this terra.
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Post by Swede on Sept 25, 2008 10:31:16 GMT -5
Cochise shook his head miserably. ''I'm n-not a st-stallion,'' he answered morosely. Recognizing how odd the phrase might sound, he tried to explain, ''I-I am, b-b-but not like that.'' It was hard to communicate yourself, especially when each word you uttered sounded so ridiculous that merely opening your mouth was a cause for shame. But it wasn't responsibility or anything like that which scared him off- though they were factors- but he just wasn't made of the right stuff. Stallions led herds, or knighted others. Not colts as nervous as deer. He was a burden to any he lived with, more trouble than he was worth. to care for someone, when no reward would ever come, when you had your own self and herd to take care of was really just stupid. He could not help protect against predators, find food, or anything. Cochise was a mental wreck and physically disabled. Even young foals could easily lord it over him. And he couldn't seem to help it. He would try to be brave, but his knees would start shaking and before he knew it he was running blindly, or behaving like a foal being chastised.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 25, 2008 21:34:09 GMT -5
A thought entered Orchid's solid mind. Her solid colored tail flashed slowly over her body as she looked the young stallion up and down slowly. Another gentle snort echoed from her nostrils as she formed an answer to this young stallion's quandry in her mind. "Cochise, if I called my brother and we, together, took you to meet a stallion that would help you in every way, would you do this for me? For you?" Her voice was soft, she was not upset with this young stallion and she was certainly not going to leave him standing here because he was frightened. She did not care that he acted odd, perhaps a physical problem. But she knew that he was not up to what he could be fully. In her mind's eye, she saw him older and well behaved. A strong stallion that cared for a couple of mares. And King and Raidho just might be able to help him with his problems.
She waited for him to answer her before ever lifting a call towards Kadison, before even calling to Raidho or King. She knew that everything would have to be done on Cochise's time and she was more than happy to wait it out with him. She, of course, still lived with her loving sire and had no stallion to return to quickly.
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Post by Swede on Sept 28, 2008 6:29:38 GMT -5
He stared at her numbly. The thought that anyone would do such a thing was completely foreign to him. Everyone was after something, wishing to improve conditions for themselves; it was a natural thing. What could anyone ever gain out of taking him in? The idea of any stallion helping him was even more foreign. They were generally quite happy with the state he was in, completely harmless to themselves. But he might as well, what was the worst that could happen? He was driven off and left alone. And that was something he was used to. Cochise chewed his lip nervously, and finally answered in a voice not much more than a whisper, ''O-okay...'' He considered adding something more, but no words came to mind, and any longer speech wasn't plausible anyway. He wondered grimly what sort of friends she was talking about; they must have been miracle workers in any case, to be able to change him.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Sept 30, 2008 11:26:22 GMT -5
Orchid smiled sweetly and nodded her larger head, "Then follow me to a place called Rainbow Ridge. I am sure there you will find a certain stallion that has been needing something to do as of late." She nickered softly at her own thought and slowly backed up, letting him get out of the water before going anywhere.
Her bay and white hide gleamed in the light as she waited patiently for the younger stallion to come out of the water and start on his way to finding himself. I would of course take time and she knew that time is what Raidho and King had as of late. Though King was obsessed with his new lead mare and rightfully so, he would take the time to lovingly embrace a young stallion that was not even of his blood. And Kadison would enjoy a playmate, even though the gelding was much older than this young one.
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Post by Swede on Sept 30, 2008 14:18:16 GMT -5
Cochise nodded dumbly. Rainbow Ridge. He didn't know the name of anything in this place- there was the river and this pond, and fields. The place Cougar died. The place he met those others. But no names. No one had ever taught them to him.
It took a moment for the scrawny young stallion to realize that he was expected to leave the water. His knees had stiffened while standing in the small but icy cold lake, touched by autumn as it was. He picked his way into the shallower part carefully, touching his hoof hesitantly to the bottom with each step to feel for rocks and slippery bits. No use twisting a leg and destroying his fragile tendons again.
Standing on the muddy bank, water dripping off his lower legs, he pricked his ears warily, twitching at every sudden noise and movement. Well, then. Orchid's stallion friend would certainly have plenty to do, whether it was making fun of Cochise- a typical pastime of other males- or helping him, which would certainly be something if he succeeded. The pinto's selfesteem was rock bottom, and quite possibly with good reason. He took a deep breath, and nodded twice in rapid fashion to Orchid, still trembling all over.
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Dusty's Girl
Filly
Name is Raine, but I will Answer to Dusty's name, he is my horse and We found Dusty!!!!!!
Posts: 114
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Post by Dusty's Girl on Oct 2, 2008 12:23:47 GMT -5
Orchid snorted softly and turned in the direction of the Ridge, her large body easily seen for leading the way of the younger one. She still did not neigh towards Raidho or Kadison, she was able to handle one fragile young stallion. She nickered softly towards him as she started to walk off, hoping that he would follow close behind her. Her tail swung with the motion of her stride, her head nodding up and down as she walked. Relaxed and quiet, she headed towards the home of her sire, where she was currently residing.
Her hooves plotted the shortest and the easiest route to the Ridge, taking care that he would be able to follow behind her every step of the way.
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Post by Swede on Oct 2, 2008 12:32:00 GMT -5
ooc: follows.
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