Proud and Fierce (open)

[Swede]

The buckskin stallion strode with quiet purpose along the river's edge, scenting the air and keeping on the alert for any nearby strangers. It had been some time since Warrior last visited this place, and for a while he had thought he might not ever return; but times change. His herd was dwindling- and the method in which it happened was even more unsettling, and kept the remaining members on edge. Mojave's violent death at Ryan's hooves was bad enough, and worse, Jewel had been slaughtered by an unknown stranger for unknown reasons. Warrior had spent days trying to track down the perpetrator, but whoever it was, they were long gone, and showed no signs of returning.

Those who remained were few, and most of them quite young; the herd was in need of new members to make sure everyone had enough support from others to make it through winter, at the very least, and just as importantly, something new and fresh would help take their minds off the recent tragedies. New faces would bring fresh life to the herd, and help everyone get stabilized again. Or at least, he hoped so.

Though he had many years of experience under his belt, Warrior was still strong as ever; perhaps not quite as brisk as he had been ten years ago, but he made up for it in all the wisdom and cunning he had gained over the years. He had learned from past mistakes, and knew how to run a herd. In winter months, his old knee injury still bothered him, but it was almost as if it had never existed now when the weather was warm and pleasant. With any luck, he might find a mare or two who would be willing to join him back at Misty Falls; he didn't want to be away from the herd for too long, but it would be unfortunate to return alone.

[Dusty's Girl]

Golden Light looked back to her best friend and almost sister. Knowing Snowy River was just a slow paced filly, golden decided to make things lighter between them as they searched for a nice stallion to live with. "Oh Snowy, why don't we race?" she asked and galloped ahead of her friend, who soon couldn't help but canter after her. Catching a scent, Golden slowed and looked around, glancing back at her now worried friend, Golden nuzzled Snowy and went ahead of her to check things out.

Snowy sighed as she watched her best friend go ahead of her and really couldn't help but not mind it. She knew that after their old stallion tried to hurt her, Golden had come into her protective mode and was now willing to make sure she was alright. Deciding to graze while Golden went out looking, she soon relaxed, she felt at peace at this moment and shook her head at the sight of everything around her.

Golden could see a gold body moving and soon scented the air again and decided to move at a slow pace, letting out a gentle nicker to the other horse. "I am Golden Light." she called when she had gotten closer to him. "I have a friend named Snowy River, but be warn stallion, she is very untrusting when it comes to stallions." She said as she now stopped a couple feet from the stallion. "I can explain more if you wish before I bring her over here." she added.

[Swede]

For a while, not much seemed to happen, and Warrior began to wonder whether he should return to his homeland; it was said that this was typically a lively place, but it seemed that today the riverside was fairly abandoned. Well, perhaps another time then...

But he was proved to be merely impatient, as within moments a stranger appeared ahead. Warrior slowed his step a little, answering her greeting with a polite nicker of his own. He watched with pricked, curious ears as she approached; she was a pretty mare, bright as a buttercup in the summer light, and appeared to be quite young. "Pleasure to meet you, Golden Light," the buckskin said with a gruff nod after she introduced herself, "My name is Warrior. Your friend has no need to fear me- only a superbly foolish stallion harms a mare, and I like to think I've got at least some sense. But if there is something I should know before meeting her, by all means do tell me. I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable at all."

[Dusty's Girl]

Golden smiled. "Snowy is a good filly, a fine looking one, but for some reason our lead stallion had tried to hurt her. Why he tried to hurt her, I don't know. She left and I decided to leave with her." Golden said. "Snowy does have a good sense around her and when you prove to her about being someone who is to be trusted, she'll trust you." Looking him over, she could tell he'd do what was right for her and her best friend but she could also see something else in him, maybe sadness.

Snowy knew why her best friend was talking so long, she was trying to explain to anyone how skittish she was and why. Sighing, she ventured a little farther away from where she had been standing, slowly making her way to the others at her own pace. Scenting the air, she could tell it was a stallion, but since she was taking her own time...she was actually okay.

[Swede]

Warrior listened quietly as the golden mare explained her friend's situation. "I'm sorry to hear she had to experience that," he answered, frowning slightly. For a lead stallion to attack a filly in his herd... it was an extreme occurrence to say the least. He did not doubt Golden's story, but he couldn't help but wonder what could cause such a violent reaction; no doubt the stallion had gone crazy or something, but what if this filly, this Snowy, had done something terrible to provoke him? He didn't want to feel suspicious towards someone he hadn't even met and whom he had no reason to distrust, but as lead stallion, it was pretty much his job to be careful of mysterious strangers- and he'd become quite good at that in recent times, with treachery rearing its head even in his own herd.

"Well, hopefully she will give me the chance to earn that trust," the buckskin said after a moment's pause. "I know the words of a stranger probably don't mean anything, but nevertheless, I can assure you that if she ever comes to harm, it won't be from me." But the doubts nagged in his mind; could he really say honestly say such a thing? All those years ago, Phoenix had been stolen and Alanna and Siberia forced to leave and survive winter on their own because of his injuries, his weaknesses... and even when he finally managed to get back on his feet, start a new herd in a new land, he couldn't keep them safe then either. He hadn't been able to save Mojave... somehow he had failed to make peace between her and Ryan, and she had very nearly killed Warrior's own son before Ryan intervened and took her down. There was blood on Ryan's hooves, and yet she still lived in the herd, a proven killer. She had only ever been antagonistic towards Mojave, but did that mean she was safe to have around now? And Jewel had been attacked too, in Warrior's own home, and he had failed to keep her protected as well. Warrior would never hurt Golden or her friend; but he was not so sure he could protect them from danger as thoroughly as he wanted to believe.

Steeling his mind, he quickly brushed the poisonous thoughts away. He certainly wouldn't be able to accomplish anything without any confidence. Times had been bad, yes, but they would get better. A new beginning was all they needed, and that was what he had come to find. He had learned from his mistakes and his failures; and he wouldn't fail again.

[Dusty's Girl]

Golden smiled over at the stallion. "I am happy to hear that." she said. Her ears flickered and she turned to see the white mare coming closer to them. "Hello Snowy." Golden said as she smiled. "Hello Golden. This must be the stallion." she said as she turned her attention to him. There was just something different about him and she smiled softly as she lowered her head in respect. "Warrior, I would like you to meet Snowy River, Snowy, this is Warrior." Golden watched as her friend lifted her head. "It is a pleasure meeting you." Still you could not help but see how the mare stood back from Warrior; even though she seemed to know he would not hurt her or Golden.

Snowy was just watching everything around her, listening to it all and she sighed. The reason the stallion had lashed out at her because her mother had left; wanting her to come with but because of Golden Light, Snowy had stayed. She couldn't help that she had been talking to her best friend about her mother and how she had been right to leave. Shaking her head from those thoughts she turned back to Golden and nuzzled her like always and Golden had returned it and laid her head over Snowy's back. "Can't tell we grew up together, even though she is a year older than me." Snowy said with a laugh.

[Swede]

Looking past Golden, Warrior could see the other young mare approaching. She seemed a tad shy, but that was perfectly normal, especially in such a young individual. No doubt her past experiences hadn't helped make her feel too bold around strangers either. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well," the buckskin said with a nod. "Snowy and Golden -is it alright if I call you that? Your full names are lovely, but a bit of a mouthful for a simple fellow like myself- but I can see how you got your names, quite fitting I must say." Names were a fascinating thing, really... some are named for what they already are, a name created by their identity; in other cases, the identity is shaped by the name, such as with himself. Although he doubted his mother had put too much thought into what to call him; it was the typical attitude of his homeland, something short, simple, and strong.

"You two seem to be really close," he continued, smiling softly. "It's good that you have each other to keep yourselves company, it isn't always safe for anyone to travel the wilderness all alone, especially not young mares. If it isn't predators, or the elements, then it's crazy rogues skulking in the shadows. So where are you headed?"

[Dusty's Girl]

Snowy smiled over at the stallion. "Yes it is alright to call us that." she said as Golden nodded since she had pulled her head from Snowy's back. Snowy had gone back to grazing as she listened to the stallion, but instead of her answering, it was Golden who answered. "We wish for a herd who has a strong but gentle stallion who would do about anything to keep his herd safe." she said, but Snowy added, "We want just to have a home where we aren't always worried about what could happen to us when we are alone. Golden has gotten us away from many things that you have mentioned." Looking over to Golden; Snowy smiled. "But we are close because it's always just been us alone without anyone to protect us, but we hope to change that soon." Golden said as she looked up to the stallion. "That is if you are looking for herd members."

((Sorry muse is running low lately. lol. ))

[Swede]

(ooc: no worries, happens to all of us, and you with low muse is still faster than me it seems xD)

"Perhaps fate has brought us together here for a reason then," Warrior answered, his ears pricking forward at the words of the palomino mare. "To find new herd members is precisely why I've come here... and if you're looking for the safety of a herd, I'm sure I could provide it. I live in Misty Falls, it's quite nice as long as you don't mind a bit of humidity; plenty of grass, and the cliffs by the falls, as well as the trees throughout, make it quite secluded and sheltered from wind and the worst of the elements. We aren't as many as we once were, besides Hope- an adopted daughter of sorts- and Alrainia, it's just my lead mare Ryan and my sons. And they're getting old enough to go lead lives of their own, so I doubt they will be staying in my territory for much longer." Warrior paused, nodding to each mare in turn. "You would both be very welcome by me, and I'm sure the others would love some new friends to keep them company."

[Dusty's Girl]

Instead of Golden answering, it was Snowy who answered, "You never know. Fate has a strange way of doing things and half the time we never know why its happened to us." she said. Golden looked over at her with a little surprise in her eyes. turning to the stallion, she said, "Wow, that was a first. Normally she is not this way around others. I don't know what it is about you that's made her feel this comfortable." Snowy smiled slightly, "Maybe its just he is right. Fate may have brought us here for a reason and if so; why ignore it." Turning back to the stallion, Snowy added, "Then I do say you found two mare willing to join your herd."
Golden smiled as she watched Snowy take a few steps away from her and laughed slightly as her friend turned back to her. "Well you coming or not?" "Alright,alright, I'm coming." she said and followed Snowy over to Warrior.

[Swede]

Pleased with their response, Warrior smiled and said, "Well, we shall see what fate has in store for us in the future, then." The buckskin stallion motioned with his muzzle towards the distant mountains, away from the river, and added, "My home is that way- it's a bit of a walk, but nothing too exhausting, and we don't have to rush. Just follow me, I will show you the paths and we will get there in no time at all." Flicking his dark tail merrily, he turned and began leading the way back to the falls, feeling thoroughly satisfied; he had not only found new members for the herd, but they also seemed to be very friendly and courteous. Hopefully they would get along wonderfully with the others.

(ooc: I believe a thread is going on in Warrior's territory in Misty Falls, I will try to post there tonight but not sure if I'll have time (guest coming over soon) so you're welcome to jump into that ahead of me if you don't feel like waiting ^^)