Of the Months Past

[Swede]

March 2010

Member

Renegadesgirl
Always friendly and eager to post, Reney is a wonderful member and a pleasure to chat with. Her posts are interesting to read, and she does a good job of keeping up with activity; glad to have you with us!

Post

Shadow and Capri

This post does a remarkable job of displaying a very believable relationship. The two characters involved clearly love each other, and yet they are very different in personality and opinions. Playing such characters and relationships is often very difficult, and yet Friesian manages to do it with apparent ease. A pleasure to read, and certainly worthy of recognition.

Capri watched the mare as she spoke. "I do not care about those stallions, Shadow is the one you should be telling that to. As for your foal, I already knew it was alive." Caprikara turned away from the mare. There was one comment that had angered her. "Don't you dare even think you could ever love Shadow as much as I do. If you truly love him, wouldn't you do what was best for him?" The silvery mare didn't wait for an answer. She already knew it. What was best for Shadow would be for Bandit to leave. The question was one Bandit should have asked herself a long time ago but she was too self-centered to realize she was destroying Shadow. Capri turned and ran off to find Prince, who liked to play hide-and-seek too much.

Shadow watched Capri confront Bandit, he watched the tears flow freely from her eyes, he watched Bandit tell Capri the good news, he watched Capri flounce off to find Prince. All he could think of, though was what a mess he had gotten himself into. He walked slowly up to Bandit from behind, nuzzling her softly on the neck. "So we are to expect a foal in the spring?" He asked quietly. He wasn't ecstatic about it of course, it wasn't his foal, but he was happy for Bandit none the less. The grey stallion lifted his eyes to watch Capri look for Prince. "Please don't listen to her. She. . . she just doesn't want me to get hurt." He turned his head to look at Bandit. "Are you feeling better today?" he asked to change the topic. All this fighting was tiring him.

Character

Solbrinn

It's not often we find a horse quite so unique as Solbrinn. Her multiple personality disorder makes her a character unlike any other we have seen here. Her zany comments and off-the-wall remarks always keep you guessing at what's going to pop out of her mouth next. At the same time, her more random moments can make you laugh hard enough to cry. Some of her finest moments (and hilarious outbursts) can be found here . I'm sure we all can't wait to see more of her and her wild alter-egos in future threads.

[Swede]

April 2010

Member

Saz
Though Saz is relatively new in the ranks, she has displayed everythong we love to see in our members both young and old: a cheerful and helpful outlook, good posts, and high activity. Saz is a model roleplayer, and we look forward to seeing more of that in the future!

Post[/u]
Pageant
Pageant is a sweet little filly, and to see her this miserable is heartbreaking anyday. But mouse manages successfully to weave the anxiety and sadness of rejected feelings into every word. Who knew young love could be so sad? A wonderful read, if you've got a box of tissues handy.

The loud dark bay ran through the twiggy branches, feeling twigs and leaves tangle in her mane. They scraped her face leaving stinging feelings. Her hooves were covered in mud. As she dashed to the river edge. Throwing herself on the ground near the water, tears streamed her face. Why didn't he want her? She was just a child but she had gone through many things that she should not have. Her heart felt broken right in half. She raised herself looking into the water. “oh Fire, I truly did love you... but you didn't love me" she whispered into her reflection. She had lost her mother and father in a fire; a tree had fallen on her father and her mother was burned to death. Pageant sat up tucking her head close to herself she let tears flow. Fire did not even try to stop her. No one wanted her next spring she would be three, but she already felt matured and older. Her mane and tail had grown and her features were filling out. Black stockings were starting to appear. "Fire.." she said desperately as she lost consciousness. She has ran herself ragged, it seem like she was trying to get on the other side of the world from the colt. Her head fell into the water has her body fell back. Jerking herself awake. "Smoke..Fire" they were all she had. Nothing left. The tears would not stop and all she could was let them. She tried to raise herself up but fell. Too tired..she had no strength to want to move. Her stomach growled telling her she needed to eat. She had not ate since yesterday. She turned away from the food. Her throat. Her lips were dry she would need water soon but she turned away from that too. She was too depressed to drink. "Fire why did you not stop me?" her words came out blurry through her tears. She tried to stop but her inside hurt too much. As she laid her head on the ground.

Character[/u]
Vesperanzo

One of our newest charries, Vesperanzo has done what perhaps none have dared to do before- get on Titania's good side. In his first thread here, and on his first try, he even managed to bring her home with him! It's obvious, though, why he had such success. His manners are impeccable and he is caring and compassionate. With his great personality, too, many others must not be able to wait to meet him here on Sunshine River and I'm sure we can't wait to read more about him.

[Swede]

May 2010

Member

Dusty
One of our most loyal members, dusty is well-liked on the site. Moreover, she does more posting than half the other members combined, and you can usually count on those posts being worth an extra read. Not to mention all those devious plots stewing in her head... glad to have you with us dusty.

Post[/u]
None nominated

Character[/u]
Cryptic

Ahh, Cryptic. Who doesn't love him? He's rather legendary here and known for his apparant "immortality" gained by living through his descendants. He has claimed land in the deserts and is about to bring an all-out war to SR, which makes him my pick for COTM. Nothing like a little action to spice up our writing, eh? I know you all love to read about him, thanks to Dusty's skill with words, and I'm sure we all can't wait to find out what sort of plot is unraveling in that twisted little brain of his. I'm sure it will be something that you'll never expect. . .

[Swede]

June/July 2010

Member

Polaris
Polaris is one of those endlessly good-hearted individuals who can always light up your day. As if that weren't enough, she is also a phenomenal writer, and never fails to make detailed, interesting, well-formulated posts. There is no question that Polaris is a joy to have around; and I think we can all agree that she definitely deserves to be Member of the Month.[

Post[/u]
Tritessa

I had not actually read this post before it was sent to me in a nomination. But when I did, it made me shiver. Without checking the character's profile, I still have a good idea of just who she is, through the information provided in the post, and yet it still manages to leave me eager for more. Combined with absolutely gorgeous writing style, it's no wonder that this is our Post of the Month.

.... Can a heart still .b r e a k. even after it stops? ....

Green eyes glowed through a soft, flaxen mane as the wind wisped it around her elegant face. The cool smell of rain reached Tritessa's nostrils; they flared to inhale the calming scent that encompassed them with a gentle touch. Muscles quivered from the slight chill, though she had already experienced the most extreme cold. By literal sense, she was young and healthy; but mentally she felt as though she were on the verge of death. The wind picked up, slicing through her and flinging strands of hair in every direction. She shivered again...there had to be a way to end it. End it all. Darkness was always edging closer...like a shadow constantly trailing behind her, even in the brightest sunlight.

"Where am I..." The mare mused to herself as she took in her surroundings, really unsure of whether she wanted to linger long enough to find out. The world never looked very appealing anymore; she thought that maybe she could look past all of the faults of the beings that crossed her path, but every time they proved to be worthless, gutless, mindless beasts...like her mother.

Mother...

A sour taste tinged her tongue. That sad excuse for a horse ruined her life, and made her the empty shell that she is today. Tritessa could never get past the insults and bruises; it was almost what kept her going this long. Bitterness...bitterness kept her heart beating. A sad, dark truth that even she wished was not so. The beaten mare wished that she could feel something...even something as torturous as heart break. Anything to make her see that she was still actually living.

Thunder rolled, and the rain began to trickle gently from the darkened sky. A lone rain drop fell on her face, and ran down her cheek as though she were crying. Tritessa chuckled; if only that were possible. There were no tears left to cry. When her mother died...when she left her to die...she took them with her. Tears were weakness. It was what brought her so much pain.

"Never again!" Tritessa spoke loud and firm to the sky, as though challenging it to continue its onslaught of rain. "Never again will I open my heart to another soul...if there are any left in this world."

With a grunt, the mare knelt in the wet grass and allowed a shallow sleep to overcome her, the nightmares that hid during the day now coming to haunt her again.


Character[/u]
Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay has had it rough- abandoned by a mother who showed him no love, the bay stallion was forced to survive on his own. And then he found a mare who he loved and who he thought returned his love, but she cruelly broke his heart and left him. Despite his past disappointments, he still gave love another chance, and the tenderness and devotion he shows towards his new mare is touching to read. Thunder Bay fought on the behalf of a stranger's herd, asking nothing in return, and has never lost faith even when things were bleak; definitely a character worthy of recognition.

[Swede]

August 2010

Member

Silverbolt
One of the things I value most in a member is consistent activity, and silverbolt's got it. We see our lovely silver pretty much every day, even if she has no posts to respond to at the moment. And on days she does have something to write, her posts are always full length and well-written. Silverbolt is a pleasure to have around, which is why she is our member of the month.


Post

I Stand But Will I Die

It is a shame this post was never given any response, because with an intro like that, I think it would have made for a very interesting thread. The display of conflicting self-interests by the various characters all produced by the same writer makes them so personable; each one has its own problems, its own needs and desires. This multi-layeredness is a mark of expertise; combined with vivid storytelling, there's no doubt why this is our post of the month.

Before she had realized it, her hooves had taken her into this terribly barren terrain. She was part of another herd, but raged filled her soul and a scent overpowered her mind. In the winter of the lands, one scent was not taken over by nature. Her foal was here. The cremello filly that she had named Dust Relic was here in this place. The black terror that had stolen here away was likely here as well. Delourean had to find her foal, had to know if she was still alive, and had to kill the black menace that took Dust Relic away from her.

She frolicked through this barren place. There was not much here now, a few patches of snow to play in was all really. The little cremello filly was loving life though. She had grown on Maiden's milk and would be a strong yearling soon. Her legs had grown tough on this rugged terrain and her senses sharp. But she knew one thing. She did not belong. Maiden could not be her mother and Thorn could not be her father. No, they were wonderful to her though. The other bachelors that lived with them were wonderful as well. Young Toxic was still very playful and Roulette was always playing guessing games with her. But Maiden was dying and everyone knew it.

She lay under an outcropping of rock, her chestnut hide blending into the surroundings. Her breathing was labored and her hide was fiery to the touch. Infection had spread to her blood through a trapper's jawtrap. Her left front leg was useless and gangrenous, past the point of swelling. It oozed a greenish yellow liquid that smelled of death. Her eyes were sunken deep into her skull, she was lethargic and near the end. Thorn stood by her, unwilling to leave her yet unable to watch the only mare that he had ever love die. But she knew that she loved him, he had never said it to her. She had never asked him if he did and never asked for him to provide a herd for her. She was happy just being with him. But the end was near, her pulse was slowing down and it was getting harder to breathe. Pain was far away from her now, in fact she could not feel much of anything anymore. Barely raising her eyes to the black stallion that she had loved so dear, she whispered soft words of love before her last breath left her body. Maiden had passed into the Green Pastures.

Thorn lowered his muzzle to her still warm body for a moment, letting her scent flood his nostrils before raising his head and letting a keening wail race from his parted lips. Maiden had been the only mare that he had ever loved and the only mare that he had ever truly been with. She had been his light and soul, his everything. And now, now she was gone because he had to come to this place to fight three different wars that he should never have been a part of in the first place. Resolve quickly took over his heart and mind, competing with anger and an overwhelming loss. Thorn was angry and now he had a war of his own to start and finish. He would end this war with Cryptic, if he had to kill the Ancient himself.

Toxic stood on the outskirts of this tiny bachelor group. He was an outsider anyway it could be said, his life had been wtih humans and he had already murdered a father figure to him. The leopard appaloosa was spiraling on a path of self destruction in his mind alone, but he continued to romp and play with Dusty. But there was something that he did not want to think about. He did not want a herd, but he wanted to cover this little filly. the urge filled him even in this winter harshness. He longed to cover her and get her with his foal, but she was almost like his adopted sister. That would be wrong. So very wrong, but it would feel so very right. In fact, he was thinking about this when he was knocked to the ground. His hooves litterally were knocked from under him, from an unseen source. His body hit the ground with a thump, but he gathered his legs and stood quickly. His eyes rose to take in a chestnut grey mare standing above him, panting and almost bellowing her rage. His eyes grew wide as he tried to scamble upwards, but one of her hooves was literally standing on his right hind leg. He was unable to get up. "Where is my daughter?" She breathed at him. Too scared to even move, he surely did not understand what she was saying to him.He thrust his nose towards the cremello filly standing by the stream, "Sshheee....Isss...The only fffffilly that we have..." He was stammering and he really did not care. He would have already wet himself if he could have.

Delourean stood above the spotted colt, but her eyes turned towards the filly standing there. Dust Relic. So she was alive and well. But this horrible herd had her. There was already one dead horse here and another was wailing into the sky. And this stupid spotted one was staring at her daughter with lust in his eyes.


Character

Cochise

Poor little Cochise- he's had a tough time of it. But even when life got better, and he was free of the people who tortured him, he didn't get much happier. A prisoner turned loose, only to discover that the world is indeed quite a scary place. The stammering, timid colt has become a stallion now, but you certainly wouldn't believe it by talking to him. But now, his heart has been captured by Orchid, the mare he worships like a goddess; can she turn him around?

[Swede]

September 2010

Member

superswede
In Black Magic's absence, Swede has been running the site for several years now, keeping it alive and well. On top of admin duties, she also actively posts in a variety of threads, and pours a lot of time and effort into Sunshine River; for the love of the site and the love of the members.


Post

Coming Around

Though fairly short and simple, this post conveys plenty of emotion and makes the reader's heart ache with pity. At the same time, you wonder what will happen to the poor filly, and eagerly await a continuation of the thread.

The dark mare glared down at the shivering bundle near her hooves. A year ago the mare had become bored with herd life, cut her ties and left... or so she thought. Last month she had been gripped by pain and given birth to this runt. Now with this foal in tow, she couldn't go very far or very fast at all, not to mention it kept whining to be fed.

As the mare stared at the foal an idea came to her, why not leave? It was sleeping sound enough that she could walk away and never come back! The mare liked to imagine the foal would sleep itself to death or just stop existing once she was gone.

Without a word the dark colored mare turned and left, not even looking back at her daughter lying helpless in the grass.

==================

An hour or so later the little filly picked up her tiny head, she was a silver buckskin all creamy whitish silver with a silver and black shaded tail.

"Mamma?" The filly looked around. It was dark and a little cold. "Mother?" The tiny stomach rumbled, where was her mother?


Character

Molly

Molly is quite the character. This pony mare is a very down-to-earth, no-nonsense individual, but at the same time a wonderful friend to those around her. Though not involved in any major plots or causing any sort of ruckus, Molly is highly endearing and provides a welcome dose of common sense in the middle of everyone else's drama

[Swede]

October 2010

Member

Lilmisspony
She's back! But a mere return does not warrant member of the month. No, the missus earns this honor because now that she is back, she posts. Quite often. And her posts are always a joy to read, demonstrating great literacy and depth of thought. Not to mention her happy attitude and the awesome Aussie accent I always give her in her cbox comments. Hehehe... Pony, congrats on making The Month.

Post

Quicksilver Mists

Mercury loved warm summer nights at new moon. It was dark, quiet and she could spend hour upon hour gazing at the stars. The lake was one of her favourite places to do so as, like her, it was a secluded being. The duality of stars in the sky and stars dancing upon the lake had always been a welcome mystery to her, and she had spent many nights standing in the grass beside the lake wondering whether she could ever dance with the stars one day.

Komo, as usual, was not far away from his sworn companion. However, as was becomig more and more common, he was relaxed in his stance. Mercury did not need a great deal of protection now that she had become such a shy and secluded being. It was rare for her to make contact with the horses in this land, and he appreciated the ease of his work.

Together the two beings sat in scilence and happiness, one slowly and contentedly eating the dry summer grasses, and the other contemplating the wonders of reflection.

Character

Oscuro

Raised to follow in his sire's cruel hoofsteps, Oscuro turned out to be a disappointment. He sought to please, but earned little more than scorn. Now he is out and about finding his own mares, and his dark origins are apparent. No doubt he will take over his father's title of darkness one day... but wait- is that a glimmer of kindness we see? My, my, Oscuro, but you are a fascinating individual.

[Swede]

November 2010

Member

Polaris
See that snazzy cbox? We have this wonderful lass to thank for it. She may love us, but we love her more; one of the nicest people on the site (and considering our niceness level, that's a real achievement right there) and a brilliant poster. Definitely worthy of the Month.

Post

Short but Courageous

Laying down at the lakeside was a beautiful golden mare, her cream tail laid beside her in harmonic waves as her long thick mane all rested on one side of her golden neck and back. Her legs were tucked under her body beautifully as she admired the colorful ducks floating so gracefuly on the water. She had just had a bath, a dificult thing to do without humans or bubbles, but somehow the mare had removed every ounce of dirt from her silky coat.

Grazing peacefully on the other side of the lake was Courage; he was just happy that Lust wasn't moaning or groaning for a change. He too had been forced to take a bath, and for an easier life he accepted it. He had gone before Lust and was now completely dry whereas Lust's mane and tail where still wet. His thick black tail and mane still looked shaggy, only now it was shiny and shaggy. He was happy just to be out and about. And he was almost excited about Lust's foal. He had bred with her, again just to stop her moaning, but now he had some time to think clearl,y this was going to be his first wild-child and he couldn't wait to welcome it into the world.

He kept a eye on his golden mare now, instead of trying ditch her places. Lust had her back to the woods, which made Courage uneasy, but not being from the wild he didn't understand what threats could escape from the woods so left her. Lust could see Courage on the other side of the lake, her eyes opened and closed sleepily, the bath and fresh grass had had made her tired, but a warm happy kind of tired. She rested her chin on the grass and closed her eyes happily.

Character

Matanza

What a troubled soul he is, our Matanza. He's not alone in having a difficult past (though few stallions can compare with the scars marring his coat). No, what makes this fellow interesting is his total ignorance of all things equine. Having grown up without any socialization, even the slightest thing, considered normal by others, confuses him to no end, and getting along with others is extremely difficult when he doesn't know he is offending them.

[Swede]

December 2010

Member

Silverbolt
Tiny is everywhere, or so it would seem; she is always caught up on all her posts, maintaining an extraordinarily high level of activity. And when she isn't posting, she's always eager to help, or just hang out on the cbox. A little bucket of cheer who definitely deserves this month's nomination.

Post

Break Like Time...

Multiple people bawled their eyes out over this one. It is the end of many things, and leaves little hope for a happy ending. How this saga plays out is still yet to be determined- can there be a happily ever after for anyone involved?

Kenna tore himself away from the Dalt stallion, spraying blood across the earth. He slammed hard against someone behind him, and whirled around. Where- oh, on the ground. He reared up, determined to make another kill, then realized it was a mare- not Dalt, but Outsider, and pregnant to boot. That mare they had captured spying on them in the meadow. He did feel a bit sorry for her at the time; poor Outsider, probably too dumb to realize what she was doing. Kenna thumped back to Earth just inches away from her. "Get out of here," he said harshly, but his eyes softened slightly. "This is not your battle, and you shouldn't have been dragged into thi-" Before he could finish his words, a flash of grey barreled into him, knocking the black clean off his hooves. The grey crashed on top of him, and the two stallions kicked and rolled, trying to get back up without letting the other catch an advantage. Callum was pretty badly hurt, but he was both older and stronger than Kenna; a smaller Strath stud tripped over the pair, and the fight turned into a mess of tangled legs.

Rysen and Heilig had found each other once more; brothers in a manner of speaking, as Torna had raised both of them, but desperate to kill each other. Though both were getting on in age, it was nonetheless a fearsome sight; they were the leaders of their respective herds because they were the strongest, the cleverest, and in their battle, it showed. This was no colt's play; this was a pair of screaming stallions, neither giving in as they fought to the death.

Aurelie's eyes widened as a large black stallion suddenly approached the mares. The few Strath mares left were mostly pregnant; then there was Ivory, the horrid thing, and Pentacle, hardly much better. This was no Dalt; this was a mercenary. Cold-blooded, as only mercenaries could be, those who killed for profit and pleasure. She flinched away as he nipped her neck, then gasped in pain as the motion passed through her hip. Was this was it all boiled down to? Did Torna's prophecies mean nothing after all?

Torch lifted his bloodied head, a sudden instinct awakening his senses. The young stallion was wounded, and had not killed anyone thus far, though he had dealt heavy damage. His job was not to kill, but to keep the score even, giving Dalt or Strath a helping hand depending on who needed it most; the battle would last longer, and destroy the herds more thoroughly that way. But this... Aurelie. His mother; he recognized her as though he was looking in a mirror, though he had not seen her this close since his birth. With a furious scream, the palomino charged towards the heavy black, throwing his body hard against his side. His teeth grasped at the black's hide, hooves pounding into him with strength born of pure rage and hatred.

Dagger's eyes flashed in pain as the Dalt stallion's teeth scraped down his neck, leaving a deep gash. But the pain turned to triumph as his adversary fell to the ground, and he attacked with vicious glee. Dalt scum! He reared up once more, making sure to finish the job properly. Then he left the Dalt lying in the filthy dust where he belonged, and turned about, spotting Heilig and Rysen. Hmm... wouldn't it be a lovely coincidence if both of them died?

Smoke had retreated a ways, keeping a good distance between herself and the battle. There had been a couple of other Dalt mares, but they had been engulfed by the swelling sea of fighting horses, and she could not see them in the mass. But there- a flash of grey- Sterling? And that hateful, awful Dagger, son of the Piper himself. Suddenly, she realized that she desperately did not want Sterling to die. Her first foal had grown up not knowing his father; she did not want that to happen again. She pricked her ears hopefully as Sterling landed several heavy blows, but suddenly he was down, and- "No," she whispered. "No, no, no..." Sterling was gone. She suddenly realized fully that Fire was out there as well- Fire, her only son, her beloved little colt, was somewhere in the midst of that bloodbath. But where?

Atira turned his head just in time to see as some wild-eyed horse smashed into him and sent him crashing to the ground. Lifting his head, he realized it was a mare. A wave of confusion washed over him, dazed as he was after hitting hard onto the dusty earth. But then his head cleared, and he leaped back up to his hooves. Argh... one of his ankles hurt horribly, he must have twisted it. Atira was a mess; Trace had torn his ear, and he had a dozen gashes across his face, neck, and shoulders. He propelled himself forward, aiming to attack the mare's sensitive legs and perhaps use the bulk of his chest and crest to unsettle her balance. His teeth grazed over her dark coat, and he sensed an easy victory; but suddenly, he felt a set of jaws clamp down upon his neck just behind his ears. Her strength surprised him- her ferocity stunned him. Atira felt the teeth bite down harder, straight through his skin towards the bone, paralyzing nerves as they crunched straight through. Then his neck was pulled up, back, and suddenly, everything was dark.

The world flickered in and out of focus. He could hear the beating of his own heart- or was it the beats of hooves, thundering around him? Something dark moved across his vision... Payton! He tried to cry out, to warn her... Atira.. he... but his voice wouldn't come. For a moment, things cleared. Payton, no! But then... Atira... falling? No, that couldn't be.. Then the grullo stallion landed next to him. It must have been a heavy crash, but Trace didn't hear it; he only saw the dust puff up next to him. Payton, his mouth moved slightly, but no sound came out. His eyes closed briefly, then opened again, desperately trying to see her through the haze. "Payton..." his voice was a soft, hoarse whisper, which suddenly caught in his throat as he flinched, pain lancing through his body. His broken ribs cut through his lungs, damaging the pulmonaries. Blood steadily flowed from a long cut on his neck, running parallel to the old scar. For a moment, he fought back the wave of agony. No, not yet! "Payton, I... I love you... now go." His vision steadied, and he saw the mare as clearly as he had ever seen her; he saw no dust, no blood, only beautiful, perfect, bright Payton. Then he coughed, blood trickling from his mouth and nostrils as his lungs finally gave in. There was no more pain... only Payton, and... and someone beside him, he could not remember the name, not anymore. A shudder ran through the blue roan's broken body, as he struggled to lift his eyes one more time. There. His mouth moved again, forming the words he so desperately needed to say, not realizing he had said them already; but no sound came. And then she, too, was gone.

And there was nothing left.

Character

Shallot

This stallion is the epitome of the gallant knight. In a brief time he has managed to gather a fine herd to cherish and protect, thanks to his many good qualities. The good, the bad, and the downright nasty- he handles them all with unwavering grace, nobility, and chivalry.

[Swede]

January 2011

Member

Gecko
Our resident lizard is always a joy to have around! Back from bit of a hiatus, she has since posted actively and well, and participated in many enjoyable (and often slightly odd) conversations.

Post

Home Again


This is a post filled with the raw emotion and unstability of one character, and another's confusion with a situation of being out in the wild; both characters attract the reader's sympathy, and we can feel some of their despair. However, the paragraph of insanity is an amusing break in the sorrow, and gives an otherwise serious post a touch of humor.

Scarlett told him to stay. And also to be polite if anyone spoke to him- whatever was considered to be 'polite', he did not know- but Ranger did not seem inclined to chat, so Matanza followed the black mare's orders to the letter. He planted his hooves in the ground, and waited. Patience was something he had developed long ago, tied for days on end in a shed, and so long as he could still see the rest of the herd, he did not feel too uncomfortable with the situation. They ignored him; he pretended to ignore them, while he maintained his vigilance.

Eventually, Scarlett returned, followed by a... a tiny black thing. It had impossibly long legs and a fragile-looking body; so full of weakness that it startled the buckskin stallion. The weak ones died in lower levels, long before he ever saw them. Silly thoughts- that was only in the fighting corral, and this desert was no such thing. He stood frozen in place, staring at the creature. So small... yet clearly some sort of horse, he could see that now. Something familiar flickered in his mind; he glanced up at Scarlett, noting that her odd roundness had been alleviated, and looked down warily at the... thing... again. Then it clicked. A foal! He had been one once, long long ago, tiny and helpless like that. He could vaguely remember those days, being small and hidden in his mother's shadow. So that was Scarlett's mysterious disease; perhaps all these other awkward mares were pregnant as well? As stallion and foal gazed in equal wary wonder at each other, Matanza's muscles tensed. He dared not be near this thing, this foal. It was too breakable; thus far, all his wrong actions had come to little harm, but he did not trust himself in the presence of one who seemed to be susceptible to damage from a mere puff of wind. As Scarlett turned away to bring the foal elsewhere, his mind finally comprehended her words. He was her... friend?

No one had ever called him that before.


~


Solbrinn dug a little with her hoof into the sand, investigating the consistency of the earth. So loose, and so easy to disturb... She suddenly felt very unsafe. This was not stable at all! What if it all collapsed? The only way to be certain of her footing was to stand on solid earth, ideally bedrock. Surely there must be some, beneath this mess. The brindle mare dug more earnestly, and yet the sand merely trickled back, so that for every two scoops she kicked out, another fell back in. How frustrating! Then she caught on. Right- the sand was being tricky. Well, she wouldn't be fooled. She would conquer!

~


Like a shadow of a cloud, Ela had flitted off; it was doubtful that anyone had noticed the ghostly mare's departure. She hardly advertised her presence when she was around, and when she was not around, the demeanor of the herd did not change or diminish. She neither contributed nor demanded; she merely faded into the background, her favorite place to be.

But now, she did not wish any others present. Ela felt confused, and vulnerable to a point where not even among those towards whom she held a modicum of trust did she feel secure. The mare wandered for quite a distance, deep into the heart of the desert, as her belly churned painfully. She halted during a particularly painful spasm, nipping helplessly at her side. A sudden gust rippled across the dunes, pelting the mare with a thousand tiny sand missiles. She flinched and trotted forward, sheltering from the wind behind a particularly large dune. The sand cascaded off the top, blowing over her head, but down here in the shadow she was mostly spared. With a sudden muted moan, her knees trembled and gave out. The mare curled together as the pain intensified further. She understood now that was giving birth; but was it really supposed to be this awful? Her eyes swam with tears, but she did not cry out, choosing as she always did to suffer in silence.

Finally, after what seemed to be ages, the foal slid free of her body, and the delicate mare lay limply on her side, utterly exhausted as she struggled to catch her breath. Then, with shaky, weak knees, Ela hauled herself to her hooves, turning about. Only now did the reality truly sink in; this was her foal, the nameless entity she had carried for eleven months was a living being, born of her own flesh and blood. She lowered her muzzle, sniffing it cautiously. It did not move. "You are tired too," she stated softly. Then, hesitantly, she began to lick it clean, sand wedging in between her teeth and tickling her throat. The foal did not protest in any way; she discovered as it dried off that it was a little filly, a bay. "There," she said after a few minutes. "Okay... time to get up." The filly made no move. Ela nudged it gently. "Up... get up... you must get up..." Her voice took on a pleading edge, and for a moment the carefully placed barriers in her mind nearly collapsed. But then she hit upon an alternative, and was once more safely sheltered from reality. "You're right... I am tired too..." It was true. She could barely stand. Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground again, tucking the sprawled filly's legs up and nudging her close to her side. The wind shifted directions, and once more pelted them with full force; Ela wrapped her neck and head over the tiny corpse, sheltering it as best she could while her own coat turned brown with dust. "Don't worry... it will pass soon... I'll keep you safe." Her eyes blurred with tears as she spoke. "Just... just rest. Everything will be okay. I promise." The mare closed her eyes, blocking out the sand and the sun, as mother and daughter huddled together, hidden from the world.

Character

Ranger

Half his herd was lost in the spring, both mares and foals dying in birth. What remains is a group of shattered, unstable individuals, all dealing with their own sorrows and difficulties; yet through it all, Ranger remains strong, as he must be- who else will the herd be able to rely on?

[Swede]

Feb/March 2011

Member

Black Magic
She created the site. And though she's not around these days, she deserves major kudos for giving us Sunshine River.

Thread

Fire of the Dragon, Land of the Ice

One thousand-word post after another, full of dramatic relationships and events. This thread details the "after" part of happily ever after, and as it turns out, it's not as happy as one might hope. A small family struggling to build a steady life, and a genuine pleasure to read.



Character

The Roan Brothers

The brothers are quite the characters, especially seeing as one isn't a brother at all, but a sister. Ichirou, the block-headed leader; Saburo, the girl who thinks she's a guy; and Jirou, the exasperated brother just trying to keep his siblings in line and out of trouble. Wherever they go, this trio is sure to stir up trouble, and that's why they are our character(s) of the month.

[Swede]

April 2011

Member

Dusty
Our personal boomerang, she might disappear but she always comes back; and when she does, you can count on her posting up a storm filled with creativity.

Thread

Beloved

This thread is bursting at the seams with drama, old and new. Lost love, found love, lost memories, found fathers. New friends and the separation of family; all this and more can be found here in the meeting of Fallen, Eros, and the family of Pharaoh, and it is the intense emotions and eloquent posts on all sides that makes this our thread of the month.



Character

Elding

This sweet stallion has been around for a long time, but has never been in the forefront, but times have changed. Recently, he fought a vicious battle to win back a mare from his past, and his peaceful life on the Ridge has been shaken up. Only time can tell what sort of effect the changes will have upon him and his herd, mentally and physically.

[Swede]

May 2011

Member

Lily
We've known her for a while, but only recently did she rejoin us. And aren't we glad she did? A quick poster of great literary talent, not to mention the fact that she's just plain fun to chat with.

Thread

My Army Will Stand

A new herd is forming, some members more willing to be there than others. The leader is an ambitious stallion, filled with thoughts of power and revenge. This thread could very well mark the beginning of a plot to send much of Sunshine River into chaos.



Character

Ash

A blind stallion with a blind beloved, leading a rather motley herd of misfits. Being the son of Cryptic would make us think he is one to be feared, but on the contrary, Ash is loving and gentle to all those around him. Still, perhaps his sire's strength will be an asset, as this young blind stallion makes his way through life.

[Swede]

June 2011

Member

Saz
We freaking love Saz, don't we? Saz isn't just a great friend; she's also been very active lately, posting left and right and center at a sometimes astonishing rate. She's very dedicated to the site, and even though she didn't nominate herself, she was the only one to nominate whatsoever this month. For these reasons and more, Saz is definitely deserving of being Member of the Month.

Thread

The Breath of Winter

The story opens with the quiet death of a loved one, and along with the cold harsh snows, life seems bleak for the herd. But hope is always to be found, whether it be in new arrivals, the peace to be found in silver linings, or the knowledge that winter cannot last forever.


Character

Sunchaser

This friendly stallion has made a temporary home in the herd of Ranger. He will gladly offer advice and comfort to those who seek it, and sometimes to those who don't; moreover, he is a master storyteller. Eventually, his wandering ways will become too strong, and he'll search out new lands to explore; what herds will he meet up with along the way?

[Swede]

July 2011

Member

Polaris
Even though she had a very hectic life, bless her, she always tries to make time for the site, even when she is poorly you can catch her in chat. A fab RPer and a brilliant friend.

Post

Bright Desert Sun

This thread shows the insecurities of not only Ela, but also Ranger. Two horses, paranoid about two not so different things. It shows the love, but also the nature of both horses.


Character

Indra

Though she is young, she holds much wisdom. Indra is quiet, but watchful, clever. One wonders how much she really knows. Many would not want to know. Many will wonder what roll she will play in the oncoming battle. Friend? Neutral? Who knows...

[Swede]

August/September 2011

Member

Saz
"Saz has been here for a while, and even when she is gone she makes good quality, wonderful posts. Shes a blast to be around, and she is epicsauce XP" Thus speaks the nominator. I think we all agree, yes?

Post

The End of the Beginning

Trace and Payton. This pair have quite a turbulent history. Swede is a sensitive sort, but even so, it isn't every day that she sheds tears over an RP thread. Yet as soon as Trace and Payton get involved, entire boxes of tissues get used up. The only nominated thread, but quite worthy nonetheless.


Character

Faradera and Cassandra
"Both mares are close-knit and worried for each other. While Faradera is the confident, older and more commanding then the two, Cassandra balances her with her quiet, timid nature. Both are Epicsauce ^^" Thus speaks the nominator.

[Swede]

October 2011

Member

Swede
"Difficult choice this month. All such brilliant writers and generally fantastic people. Yet, Swede, bless you, you have been trying so hard. You have had so much to contend with. Uni, home life and the chaos of here. Huni, I think everybody will agree with me when I say, you have nothing to worry about. Yes, things have been a little slow. Things will pick up. New people will come. Just remember we will all be here."

Post

Summer Love

"The herd takes on new faces, both foals and wandering mares alike. A meeting of old friends, and new acquaintances, along with a stirring of jealousy that laces a secret love only known to the one who holds it within. It's a thread with a mixture of everything!"


Character

Legend

"Right, I admit it. I have a little crush on this horse. I love this dunalino. In fact I want to gobble him up. Put him in a stew, or a pie? Maybe a tart? Either way he is such a scrummy yummy. I love him. He shows such character and flair. His creator shows him of with originality and sophistication that displays his personality to the best of his ability. –I tip my hat to you."

[Swede]

January 2012

Member

Captain Stumpy
We love our Stump, don't we? Always cheerful, and does her very best to keep up with posts despite her busy schedule. Bringing her own flair to major plots and even cooking up a few of her own, Stumpy never fails to keep us entertained, and we wouldn't have her any other way. We can't wait to see how things will play out with her roan brothers.

Post

Roguish Nature

his was one of the last threads to be started this month, not kicking off until the 28th, but already it has more posts than any other November thread I can think of. It isn't just a bunch of small talk either. As the nominator puts it- "Drama is one of the main themes, as is love and sadness. This thread almost made me cry in some parts as Yrsa and Rogue reunite, but certianly not in the way we might've hoped or expected."

Character

Serena

"Reason: A sassy, tough-as-nails mare that holds a grudge. What's not to love? Serena is a fantastic character to role-play with, because every so often she'll come out with an unexpected sassy comment that you don't really know how to reply to unless your character laughs it off or throws a hissy fit. Not to mention, her and Kahuna's relationship is always interesting to watch as it evolves. "

[Swede]

Feb/March 2012

Member

Snappin' Turtle
"She makes characters, she plays them. She makes threads, she plays them. She replies to posts, she keeps to them. Most importantly she has stuck around even during all our madness. Already proven herself a great person and a valuable RPer. Welcome to the crew!"

Post

Two Steps From Hell

"Ahh, what a cutie of a post. Well in a sort of warped ‘kinda messed up way. Basically, I think it shows the start of what is too come. There is death, there is betrayal and there is love. I hope that more replies come from this thread as I’m sure it has the potential to become a cracking one!"

Character

Hunter

"Well, I’m in a devilishly evil mood; therefore I have chosen a horse to meet such emotions. Hunter for me is the perfect villain. He has no moments of remorse; he rarely shows actions of affection and revels in others pain. This stallion is on a mission and anybody who gets in his way better watch out. "

[Swede]

April 2012

Member

Swede
"She has had a tough month for many different reasons and she has coped with things absoutly flawlessly. Always with a positive head when the going gets tough. Well, what do we say 'kins? The tough get going! Well done lovely for being such an amazing person."

Post

In Deeper Tides

"It's probably not othodox to submit a nomination for a thread you started, but here I am doing it. This is the only thread that I get to RP with Miss Swede and has been for a while. It is a special thread personally and the horses involved, both mine and Swede, are firm favourites of my own. "

Character

Dora

"Now Dora is quite an interesting character- after all, she is Sunshine River's only resident ghost. Or is she? As far as ghosts go, she's not really a spooky sort. Some might say she's simply a hallucination, that Legend has finally gone well off the deep end. But if that is the case, then how can Legend's daughter see her as well? Stay tuned... this isn't your classic ghost story. "

[Swede]

May 2012

Member

Captain Stumpy
"Now this was a bit of a decision for me, as there are quite a few members sticking out in my mind for various reasons. But old Stumpy here won overall. Now we all love our Stumpy, her nagging ways and naturally cheerful nature. She's easy to get along with and is definitely fun to RP with. And with one of the most major plotlines we have here in Sunshine is her doing, it's great to watch and even get into! Recently she's been a little inactive, but she's back and kicking! And she's posted everywhere she's needed to, which is always a good thing. Now Stump here has a fantastic knack for drama, can never have too much! Which is great because here we love all the IC drama we can get! She's majorly involved in quite a few ongoing plots around Sunshine, and all the threads she's in get seem to get better with the drama she adds!"

Post

Sunny Isolation

"Another thread with much drama! And boy, over here in Sunshine River, we sure love it! In this thread, the herd experience loss of a member, the birth of another, betrayal and grief. Though it's probably not a good idea to submit a thread that I've been such a vital part of, this one really sticks out among a few that deserves this spot. Or well, in my opinion at least."


Character

Jirou

"Jirou's had a bit of a rough time lately... first his brother tried to kill him (and very nearly succeeded), and in the same stroke he lost his beloved Opal. However, Jirou has soldiered on, and though he risks his life in doing it, is diligently working to rescue his love and defeat his tyrannic brother. We all love a good romance, don't we? "

[Swede]

Summer 2012

Member

Mouse
Mouse is always a fantastic poster, full of rapid replies and excellent plots. Moreover, you can thank her for the recent addition of a premium cbox to the site. It's hard to see how a member could be more dedicated than she is- and we love her for it!

Thread

Cold, Brute Strength

In this thread, we see some of the softer side that we never knew Brute had. Unfortunately, it is promptly interrupted by a bout of rather violent sibling rivalry. Ah, the drama never ends here at Sunshine River... but isn't that just the way we like it?

Character

Ryan

Ryan is a complicated mare. Her past is grim, as is her personality. She's a strong lead mare and a fierce mother, tough and independent yet will do anything for her herd. She's dealt with much hardship, and suffered for it, but soldiers on bravely instead of giving up. Between the bloodbath of battle, her sons in harm's way, or rivalry between mares in the herd, it seems that nothing can take this mare down.

[Swede]

November 2012

Member

Snappin Turtle
"We all love snaps don't we? Such a avid roleplayer and also a valued member of Sunshine River. Snap is great fun, bringing something special to each thread she's in, and although her posts are short, they're slowly lengthening and her speed of catching up on posts is unparalleled. Not only is she quick to reply, but she keeps up with her each of her characters, and it's odd not to see most of them active."

Thread

Blown Away

This thread is as dramatic as it's really gotten in Vesper's herd, little spats and secrets here and there, but nothing as massive as this. His herd is scattered as a storm and a tornado roll into the territory, horses are injured by flying debris and the only possible hope to survive the storm is to find cover in the vacant grassland.

Character

Cassandra

Poor Cassandra, such a hectic life, and barely any time spent with her blood relations before her most recent of a long string of losses in a young life. Her mother is the most recent loss to fall upon the mare and she almost lost her brother if not for the help of another mare, Indy. But Cassandra is dubious, not wanting this new mare to take her mother's place and care for Merlin, so there is a lot of tension following these two mares and the young foal caught in the middle.