Finally a Safe place

[Dusty's Girl]

Angel watched as Dream and Calming talked about the many joys of having a herd, she just prayed that Calming didn't remember much of what happened some time ago. Tossing her head, she looked over to Brave and Knight as they circled each other and pawed the ground. She watched as they playfully fought each other and pretty much showed off. She glanced around for Laughlin, she wondered more about him.

Champion sighed as he came up behind the yearlings with Andy and soon that became more of the fun and games. Champion and Andy didn't expect to have both foals coming after them. racing away from them, Andy and Champion looked at each other and pretty much with their look said "What did we get ourselves into"

Brave and Knight stood circling each other as they had decided to make sure they were in top shape just in case anything came down to a fight. Knight had lunged at Brave who side stepped and nipped him on the hind quarters. This was just a low class play.

[bullseye]

Laughlin surveyed his territory. His territory. It belonged to him. He'd claimed it, he'd brought his herd here, it was his.

This was an awesome feeling. Undoubtedly, it was odd. It wasn't since his foalhood that Laughlin had experienced being part of a family herd. Sure, his fellow bachelors had been a good family for him; they played, they protected one another from the dangers of the wild, heck, they even stood close for warmth on those chilly desert nights. But it wasn't this. Whatever this was.

Laughlin had to be honest with himself, he still wasn't sure how to do this whole head-of-herd thing. Stallion after stallion had learned over the course of the centuries, he knew that, but how, he knew not. The speckled stud's eyes paused when their methodical perusal of the White Meadow brought Brave and Knight to his attention. The dark bay and white studs engaged in the dancelike movements of a brisk sparring match, a sight so familiar to Laughlin. And yet, somehow, something so common to the young stud tied knots in his stomach.

The spotted stud was handsome, of course. Charming, naturally. And he most definitely was a powerful hunk. Frankly, he was what every stallion wanted to be. Or so he thought. And yet, here he stood, with this sneaking suspicion that he perhaps wasn't the most powerful stallion here.

As Brave sidestepped his white rival and delivered a light nip with practiced ease, Laughlin contemplated the number of fights the older stallion had fought... and won. So many stallions in one herd could end in disaster. He just hoped that this tight-knit group could accept the rule of a complete stranger.

Deciding to join the other stallions in their fun and games at a later time, Laughlin moseyed over to his new lead mare. Touching the golden paint's neck lightly with his muzzle, Laughlin nickered a greeting as he walked up beside her.

"Your family seems happy," he nodded towards the small band.

[Dusty's Girl]

Angel looked over at Laughlin as he came over to her. Reaching out her muzzle she nuzzled him back. Could she have taken to another stallion and left NightSky in the past? She more than likely did, but for sure, she wasn't.
"Yes they are,the yearlings are talking about the joys of a herd, Brave and them are just happy to be where they can focus on the yearlings. You're still worried though aren't you? About Brave and Knight because they could be the ones to over throw you?" she asked him as she turned. Nuzzling against him, she added, "Do not fear. They wouldn't even dream of it." Pulling her head up, she looked at him and then back to the others. Brave and Knight were just messing around as they sparred between each other.

Brave had turned his back on Knight and glanced up at his sister and Laughlin. He smiled at the thought of his sister finally happy and without a worry in the world. He just hoped that this stallion would treat her right. When he glanced around, Knight was gone and as he noticed Raging grazing, he smiled as he watched the white stallion race off to his beloved mare. Now that he looked around, Champion and Andy were missing as well and he could only guess that Dream and Calming were playing around.

[bullseye]

Laughlin gazed at the herd's two yearlings as they frolicked in their youthful way. It was a good thing that they'd come to be part of the same herd--young'uns needed others their age to keep them occupied. Although adult horses were responsible for properly rearing foals, they never quite managed to have the same energy levels as their offspring.

"I think staying in one spot will be good for Dream and Calming. It will certainly be easier to maintain their safety," he gave a chuckle as a thought crossed his mind. "Plus, they're sure to fill out a bit more with all of this untouched grass to graze on."

There was no denying it, this place appeared to have been abandoned for no short amount of time. Perhaps the strange coloration--or rather, the lack thereof--was the explanation for other equines overlooking this territory. Regardless, Laughlin was thrilled with his new home; the idea of staying put and managing his own terra sounded pretty neat to the young stud.

His cheerful demeanor wilted as Angel brought his attention to the matter which pressed so heavily on his mind. "I... I don't deny, I've thought of it." A few hundred times, he thought.

The speckled stud pushed his concerns to the back of his mind, to be addressed later, as Angel assured him her brother and friends would do naught to upset his rule.

"I'm glad to hear it. Now, before the day grows too old, I say it's time for some fun." With a confident grin, he gave his mare a small nudge. "Tag, you're it!"

The cocky stud gave a little buck and cantered ahead of the palomino mare, encouraging her to do the same with a look over his shoulder. "Catch me if you can!"

[Dusty's Girl]

Angel watched as Laughlin took off, bucking like he did. She couldn't believe she was going to be playing. How long had it been since she played any kind of game? Rearing up, she took off chasing after Laughlin,but soon changed her mind as everyone else joined in the fun and games. She watched as Brave came up in front of her. "Come on Sis, just like old times." he said before he threw out a burst of speed. She could see Calming and Dream start off and she soon got the idea of chasing after her son. He had yet to see her play any games. As she neared him,she reached out to touch his hind quarters and did a hard stop to turn away from Dream. "Dream's it!" she called as she lunged into a gallop away from him.

Dream stood as still as stone until he took sight of Laughlin and took off after him.
Angel smiled as she stopped to watch her son go after the other stallion. It was a good sign that Dream had taken to Laughlin but Dream had soon turned around and was racing towards Andy, who had tagged Knight who tagged Raging; Raging had tagged Calming and she tagged Champion. Now when Champion had tagged Brave; Brave went past them all and straight to Laughlin. He knew that the younger stallion was worried about him or any of the others taking over the land.

Brave surged forward and galloped after Laughlin and just as he reach him, he said, "Hey Laughlin..."Reaching out his muzzle, he tagged the appy stallion and soon turned and raced away; kicking up some dust as he did so.

[bullseye]

Laughlin threw up dirt as he galloped to avoid his lead mare, slowing to a trot only when he heard her drop off to chase the rest of the herd. He winked at little Dream as the paint colt stood like a statue, appearing surprised at this sudden shift in his mother's personality. The yearling quickly locked onto his spotted counterpart, chasing after Laughlin with incredible celerity.

It did not take long for the colt to select another target, though, allowing Laughlin to settle into an easy canter, surveying his new family. The other four stallions gently played with the two yearlings, each treating the young'uns as their own blood. It was an odd family structure, but it seemed to work. Though Laughlin couldn't imagine having so many fathers to keep track of his every antic when he was Dream's age.

The speckled stud was yanked from his thoughts as Angel's dark bay brother lunged towards him. Laughlin turned on his haunches and galloped away from Brave, but just couldn't move fast enough to evade the other stallion. As Brave pulled away from Laughlin, the appaloosa stallion pulled an about-face, locking onto his lead mare. Giving a little buck, Laughlin neared Angel with a sly grin covering his features, turning last minute to touch Dream on the flanks.

[Dusty's Girl]

Dream stood and laughed as the little game played around. He soon went after his cousin and chased after her. When he tagged her, the filly soon went after her father. "Oh daddy." she said which made Knight lift his head to watch her near him. Taking off, Knight looked over his shoulder at his little girl and laughed as she touched him. Stopping, he turned around and looked at everyone that was trotting around. But his eyes landed on Brave Angel. "Oh Brave,you may wanna high tail it out of there instead of standing and watching me." he said with a chuckle.

By Now Angel had come to stand over by Laughlin and watched as he brothers faced off. This was going to be a fun thing to watch. Both boys knew how to run and was good at it; but it wasn't going to get out of hand either.

[bullseye]

As Angel drew near Laughlin, the inexperienced stallion took in the sight of his mare. His mare. The look of joy painted across her features made the golden mare even more beautiful than she was normally--nothing short of a challenge. Her pleasure was contagious, somehow traversing the distance between the two equines; Laughlin felt happiness start deep within his bones, quickly covering every inch of his speckled body. He had a family. One of his own. Once he sired a foal, he would even have a young 'un of his blood to raise into a strong, young horse.

Following Angel's line of sight, the spotted stallion turned his attention to Brave and Knight as the two stallions postured at one another, prepping for another mock battle.

[Dusty's Girl]

Angel laughed as Brave and Knight had taken off after the other, but being matched in speed, the game went on for what seemed like hours, though it was still only a few minutes. Brave had taken the hills and everything else, he couldn't possibly loose Knight on, but at the end of it, both Brave and Knight fell to their sides. They both were far to tired to even keep trying to catch the other. Looking over to where the yearling were, she smiled as she found them asleep under both Champion and Andy.

"Thankfully your game wore the little ones out...and my two brothers." she said with a laugh. Standing with her head over Laughlin's back, she sighed happily. This was what she always wanted in life. A herd where he family was safe, a stallion to help her brothers protect them and most of all, a stallion to love her. She just hoped it would stay like this.

[bullseye]

Laughlin could barely focus on his fellow stallions, instead glancing over at Angel every few minutes. Eventually, he gave up on trying to focus on anything but the pretty palomino mare.

"Glad to be of service, m'lady," Laughlin said with a bow of his head and a wink. "Anything to give us a few moments peace."

"Since the young 'uns are well in hand with the rest of the herd, would you walk with me?" Laughlin began striding away from the stallions, mare, and yearlings. "Perhaps it seems like rushing to you, but... Well, Angel, I quite like what we have going here and think that... well, I'd like to keep it going."

"So, I guess what I'm asking is, are you willing to commit to at least a couple years more? Are you willing to have a foal with me, Angel? We can leave the kiddos with the rest of the herd for a bit and find somewhere private for a few. This would be my first foal, you know, and I'd be delighted for it to be with you." The speckled stud gave his lead mare a smile laced with embarrassment, awaiting what he hoped would be an affirmative.

(OOC: Raine, if you're cool with them having a foal, feel free to go ahead and start a thread in the Breeding Canyon once you're done here and we can go ahead and head over there for a bit.)

[Dusty's Girl]

Angel glanced over to her new stallion. Thinking hard for a minute, she finally nodded. "It's no rush at all." she said. The last foal she had, didn't survive, but she couldn't tell him that. Moving over close to him, she nuzzled his shoulder with affection. Oh how she missed having someone to be with and love once more and have a herd she could watch over once more. Glancing at the sky, she smiled. I will never forget him, I shall always love you NightSky, but I am ready to move on. she thought to herself as her mind conjured many foals. A palomino with Laughlin's spots and many more that she couldn't even keep track of.
"It would be my third foal to be honest." she said without knowing it. "Raging and I lost our last ones last fall, barely even three months." she muttered, then shook her head. "Don't mind me." she laughed to herself.

[bullseye]

As Laughlin strode back into his territory--Angel at his side--his face bore a self-satisfied smile and his walk a springy quality even he wasn't known for. While only one of the mares in "his" herd was really his, now that she had accepted the position of being a mother to his foal, Laughlin knew that he was finally on his way to the status he'd always dreamed of. He knew that acquiring more mares would be required, but the speckled stud understood that, as irresistible and charming as he was, the ladies would be flocking to him in no time. He just had to make his presence known, which was proving difficult when one of his favorite activities was enjoying playing with Dream, the son he'd never had.

Laughlin nuzzled the palomino paint mare that he claimed as his lead and love. Angel did seem to fret about her most recent foal, the on she'd lost. It was as if she felt inadequate and guilty for the young un's death. As the appaloosa gazed at the beautiful mare with adoration in his eyes, he felt sorrow for the lost foal, but knew he could never hold it against his mate. Foal deaths were not uncommon in the wild. Which was why Laughlin knew he'd be the most protective father he could be.

"You, my beautiful mare, look a tad weary. Would you care to rest? I'll make sure Dream doesn't get into any mischief."

[Dusty's Girl]

Angel smiled as she nuzzled the stallion she was growing to love. Yes he was nothing like NightSky; yet in the same sense he was everything like her lost love. "Alright my love." she said. "I will rest and watch what fun trouble you start up." she added with a laughed. Laying her head over his back for just a second; she soon turned to walk over to tree for cover. Lying down, she turned her head to watch her family. Champion and Andy were playing with Calming in the water, but her biological brother was missing. Sighing softly. she smiled and soon lowered herself completely down to take a much needed nap. All the years she had traveled with the family had taken a toll on her and now with a stallion over looking their protection, well things would soon get better.

Brave stood on a hill over looking his family; it had been such a hard time since they had lost everything; but he had heard rumors of a black insane stallion. He knew it was Dark Knight and he hoped the other two foals would be with the stallion. Sighing heavily he watched as Angel had went over to rest and he smiled. Maybe this stallion would be a good thing for his sister. Glancing over to the others, he knew Knight was somewhere watching as well; but his eyes lingered on Calming and her uncles. Smiling even more, Brave knew it was a good place. Something made him look over to the appaloosa stud and he shook his head. He was still young and hadn't seen everything his family had, but it could easily be seen that the stud had feeling about what had happened to them. But what really made his heart lift was watching Dream look to the stud as a father. That was something he had never seen.

Champion and Andy stood protectively over Calming as she played with them in the pond. It was amazing at what the last stallion had in the matter of training for her. The filly could easily keep up with them over any distance they took off at. Granted her father had picked up the training when they left that land. "Oh come on boys. What is stopping you from taking me on?" the filly said to them. "One your father would kill us if anything even harmed you; including us doing harm to you." Calming wasn't your normal filly; she was an outgoing foal whom loved to test her limits. "Fine, I'll go find dad then since you two won't teach me how to battle." she said as she started to walk away. "We may not be able to teach you to battle, but let's see who can win this race." Champion said as he lowered his head and pawed the ground. When Calming accepted the challenge, it lasted for a while until the three couldn't stand any longer.

Now while all this was happening, Raging had walked over to Laughlin with Dream at her side. "You don't know how much it means to Angel to have a stallion that she trusts and who isn't a brother of hers; at her side." the other mare said. "Also to have one that Dream looks at as a father." Coming to stand at his side, she looked over the land that held everyone either standing guard or playing around. Raging could see Knight standing as tall and proud as he ever had been. "I see how she reacts to you and it does us all good to see it happening, that mare has seen to much in her life not to have some more happiness and I know you give that to her." With that being said, Raging Lightening stood in silence as she watched DayDream take his place by Laughlin's side as if he was a herd leader too. It brought a laugh to Raging that no one could hear.
"So da-I mean Laughlin, what's up?" Dream had almost let the name slip from his lips. He would have let it come out if he knew how the stallion would take to it; but being he wasn't sure yet; he would stick to the name Laughlin had given to them.

Knight stood at the edge of the woods and sighed to himself, he could see the sun setting and with everything happening, it felt good to have a place they were protected and someone to help them protect everyone. Knight looked at the darkening sky and then glanced over to where Angel stood alone. He knew what she was doing and shook himself as he soon headed over to his sister. "Angel," he said which caught the mare off guard. "Oh, Knight it's you." she said as she turned back to the stars. "You are wondering if he is watching over Airra aren't you?" he asked her. Angel sighed as she lowered her head. "Yes I am but I am hoping that he doesn't hate me for the choice I have made for us." Knight knew that NightSky was the only stallion she had ever loved, but he also knew she was starting to fall for the appaloosa. "I am sure he understands." the white stallion said. "Well we must get everyone ready for bed." she said and nuzzled her brother. The two could already see that Raging was getting the two stallions and her daughter gathered, but when Brave walked up, Dreaming wasn't with him. Angel cantered down to the others and smiled as she saw Dream coming from where Laughlin had been the last time she saw him. "Hey momma." the colt said. "Alright, time for bed my dear. Knight would you mind making sure he get to our resting place?" she asked. Angel smiled as she watched the two head to where she slept but she couldn't but go find her new love.

[bullseye]

Laughlin allowed Dream to race ahead of him as they made their way back to the rest of the herd. When the appaloosa saw his young charge meet up once more with his mother and uncle, Laughlin took advantage of the momentary peace and quiet to slip off on his own. Knowing that he could trust Andy, Knight, Brave, and Champion to keep a weather eye on the mares and yearlings, the speckled stud traveled just out of ear shot. Deep in his gut, he knew it risky to abandon his herd in such a way, but the new lead stallion found himself still adjusting to this lifestyle.

As he looked over his pale territory, glimmering in the light of the moon, Laughlin considered what the gypsy life had been like for Angel and her family. The foals, especially, had suffered from having nowhere to call home; their rapid adjustment to the White Meadow proved as much. But more than that, little Dream seemed to benefit from having a father figure. It seemed odd that a colt surrounded by four stallions might need one more to complete his life.

Though Laughlin did not understand the strange glue-like bond between the members of his herd, he did find himself grateful that Knight and the rest of the fellas had devoted themselves to Angel. Without their protection, he would not have her—a loss indeed. His love for Angel was so great, the speckled stud didn't understand how his heart could contain it all. He tried to let it overflow to Dream and felt that he was succeeding, but he did not yet know how to father a colt. A nearly grown one, none the less. The young'un followed Laughlin nearly everywhere, watching everything Laughlin did—he'd even slipped up today and just about called the spotted stud “dad.”

Well, at least there were some other studs around to keep Dream in line and fix whatever Laughlin screwed up. If nothing else, Laughlin found himself grateful that he'd basically upgraded from a bachelor band to a bachelor band with mares. Perhaps this small step towards being a full-time lead stallion would prevent him from losing his herd.

Closing his eyes, Laughlin raised his head, taking a deep breath of the fresh spring air. This life was so different. 'A good different,' the young stallion concluded.