No Memory to Cling to....

[Priceless]

Why couldn't he remember?

When he woke up this morning, he had felt great, alive, well. Better then he (thought) he had in years.

Of course, all of this was objective, since he didn't even have a clue as to how old he was or how he even got here, let alone how he felt waking up years ago.

Well.....he remembered a few things. His name, for one. Aneurysm. Where he was? A voice in the back of his head told him he was someplace called 'Sunshine River' though, how he got there?

Zip.

Heck, was he even male like he thought he was? Looking down just to check, he was satisfied with the outcome. Yup, he assumed that extra appendage down there wasn't just for show. Well, maybe it was. Who cared at the moment? Well, he sorta did.....Now, if he could just figure out where he was.....

For some reason he felt like he had done this before as he moved through the autumn underbrush, sneezing, coughing and basically looking miserable as he made his way to a clearing, where a watering hole was present.

Okay. Weird that he knew what a watering hole was but not where he was at. This sucked.

"This is soo weird..."

Okay. Even weirder that he could talk. Even weirder then that was that he knew that it was weird that he knew how to talk, and even weirder still.......

"Okay, confusing myself. No more." He stated, halting his thoughts as he walked towards the watering hole, his steps slightly lazy and with no energy. If there was one thing he was certain of (besides his name) it was the clarity of confusion with this whole day. When he approached the waters edge, the reflection made him cringe; he looked like someone shot mucus up his nose and rubbed poison ivy in his eyes. His fur wasn't even running in the same direction anymore.

"Geez, what did I do? Fight an alligator?" He thought with a sigh, dipping his maw to drink while walking straight into the water to perhaps make himself a tad more presentable. He didn't even want to think on how he knew what an alligator was. He washed himself in the hole, cleaning his face and fur and splashing a bit with his head before getting out, rather happy that he was now not looking like an alligator-slayer.

"Whatever an alligator-slayer looks like...'' He muttered under his breath, stretching out his legs and shaking the water out of his fur. When he finished, he began scanning the area, wondering what types of other four-legged, behoofed creatures lurked about.

"Maybe someone can tell me just where the hell I am......and what I am...."' He muttered under his breath before taking in a large amount of air. He then released a loud, deep whinny, calling just about anyone that would be willing to help him out.

[Dusty's Girl]

RaineStorm and Shade both entered the clearing, some distance from the stallion they did not know was there. RaineStorm watched with pride as Shade bounded away at a smooth canter but as the wind blew, she caught a scent. Stopping she lifted her head into the air and her ears went back. Where was Shade? Looking around frantic, she went into a gallop to find him. How could she have let the colt out of her sight for just one second? "Shade?!" she called as she looked all around the for the foal.

Shade was laughing as he cantered for the water, but when he saw the other horse, he slowed. He watched the horse carefully and soon he shook his mane and started over. Shade trusted about everyone ever since RaineStorm took him in. And now as he approached the older looking stallion, he smiled and swished his still fuzzy little tail. Standing just a little ways away from the stallion, Shade dropped his muzzle and drank a little bit of water before turning to face the stallion.

RaineStorm sighed and forced herself to gallop even faster. She finally decided to head to the watering hole where she saw Shade facing the stallion. She knew some stallions where not nice and gentle; but mean and nasty to foals and mares alike. Her heart leaped with fear of what could happen and as Shade started to move; RaineStorm urged herself faster and soon stood between Shade and the other horse. Her head was lowered, ears perked, hooves spread apart, eyes wide with fear and breathing hard. "Shade, stop where you are." she whispered as she faced the colt. "Never approach another horse, much less a stallion without someone with you." she said. "Alright momma, I was just trying to be a friend." She nodded but she was still shaken at the thought of her adopted son facing another stallion. "I know, but I would rather have something happen to me than you. Not all horses, mare or stallions are nice and gentle." Shade nodded as he lowered his head.

[Priceless]

It hadn't been long for Aneurysm to remain alone, not that he minded much except for the part of being alone and all, that he caught the scent of other creatures on the soft wind. His ears went up in slight alert. Great, did he make a mistake letting out a call to anyone? Why didn't he just keep his big ugly maw shut tight?

He was ready to go ninja on whoever was near when he saw a tiny little streak of black running towards him and the watering hole. He almost jumped out of his skin and took two steps sideways, watching the colt with wide eyes, watching his every movement. From what he could tell, the little creature wasn't very dangerous. In fact, Aneurysm was pretty much a giant to him, which deflated his worried as soon as they had sprung up.

He chuckled at himself; he felt kinda silly for being afraid of something so small, but without memories, how was he supposed to tell what was going to hurt him and what was not? He smiled at the little creature who looked a lot like him in build but not in color.

"Hello there, how do you-" He was cut off from his greeting when he noticed another blur out of the corner of his eye. This one was even bigger then the other one, and pretty soon he found himself with a large beast between him and the friendly-looking one. He took a few more steps to the side like, before, eyes wider as he watched the other animal reprimand the smaller one.

The creature was definitely scary. Sure, she looked like him except for some minor differences, but the way she entered made him think that she was going to eat him with toast.

He would have tried to get away quietly if it weren't for the fact that he had questions. Questions that needed to be answered otherwise he'd just spend the rest of his life like a chicken with its head cut off.

So, squaring his shoulders and lifting his head, he let out a small nicker towards the mare. This would be like, the greatest pride-killer of all time, but he need some help.

"Erm...'scuse me......Could you help me with something? I've seem to have lost......all my memories." He stated, looking away slightly and sighing a bit. He wans't trying to look pitiful....he just was.

[Dusty's Girl]

Glaring at Shade, who had lowered his head, RaineStorm turned to the stallion. "I am sorry, just need to teach my son some life lessons."she said in a sweet soft voice. "What can I help you with? Oh my name is RaineStorm and this is Night Shade." She watched the stallion closely and smiled, but turned to Night Shade. "Shade, here is a lesson. What if he was a nasty and mean stallion who would have hurt you?" she asked. "I wouldn't have been around to stop him, 'cause I would not have been able to have found you." "I would have been in deep trouble." the young colt said. RaineStorm nodded but nuzzled her son. "Good I am glad you have learned this lesson." she said.

[Priceless]

He nodded silently at the mare, "Take your time." He said quietly, unsure of why the mare would choose at this moment to teach her son a life lesson in the presence of another being. He was pretty sure she was doing the exact thing she was warning the smaller one about, but decided not to comment. What right did he have to point that out, when he couldn't even remember what gender he was?

He was slightly taken aback by her quick manner, switching from him to her son with relative ease. Is this what they called a busy-body? He took another step back, a bit fearful of the creature. It was irrational, but how was he supposed to deal with this sudden lecture? He felt like he was the youngster and wanted to run from the scary adult. But he stayed put, and while she scolded her little adventurous one, he couldn't help but notice the way she held herself. Graceful, elegant, lovely. Those were the words that came to mind, even though he hadn't the slightest clue as to what they meant. She looked strong, but there was no doubt she was petite, at least in his eyes. He wasn't quite sure what all the words coming to him meant, but he was certain they were good.

He was still caught in this gawking stupor when the mother had concluded her lesson, resulted in the smaller, apparently younger creature to agree. He tried to look elsewhere, but was pretty sure his mouth had dropped open the moment he had laid his eyes fully on her visage. If horses could blush, he probably would have as e shuffled his feet, feeling the need to run away once more as it became quiet.

"Erum.....never mind." He said, mumbling it under his breath. Oh, how his heart raced! The need to escape the possible flames of reproach. For some reason, he felt guilty for looking at her the way he did, and was pretty sure he had been thinking something akin to impure thoughts about the animal.

[Dusty's Girl]

RaineStorm soon figured out what had made him on edge or might have put him on edge. "Mare's gotta teach her colt how to be more alert and cautious about others." she said. "He forgot to let me talk to you first and then let him say hello." she explained. Watching him more closely, she could tell he was nerves about something and the way he was watching her; well she just knew that was how stallions were, always watching mares. "Shade, you can play in the water if you want too." she said with a smile as she looked back to her son.

Watching Shade smile at the stallion, but soon walk into the deeper part of the water to play; she shook her head. "What is your name?" she asked "Or am I to keep thinking of you as 'Stallion'?" she asked him with one ear on him and the other on Shade who was having a grand time in the water. Her voice was gentle and teasing, but even as she was talking to him, her mother instincts were telling her to watch it since she knew stallions could turn and kill a foal. Yet she didn't get the vibe that he was one of those stallions, just a lonesome one that wanted others around.

[Priceless]

Aneurysm bobbed his head quickly when she stated that mares have to teach their young, 'Yes, of course...." Of course, he had no clue. How was he supposed to know?

Wait! A word in there....had the other just referred to them self as a mare? That must be progress in the right direction!

He became a bit preoccupied with this, that when she spoke again to him, he almost jumped out of his skin. He was pretty sure he looked like a nervous wreck of an alligator slayer that pretty soon he was going to scare these people off just because he was acting so jumpy.

"I'm a looser of an alliga-Aneurysm! My name is Aneurysm!" He corrected himself quickly, his train of thought colliding with his speech. Great, now he was a nervous wreck with a compulsive speech disorder.

He doubted he could salvage this situation, but he would try, "Yeah, my name is Aneurysm...Nice to meet you.....?"

[Dusty's Girl]

"It is nice to meet you. I am sorry if I have made you on edge. I just worry about my son." she said as her ears stayed where they were. RaineStorm wasn't sure what to do or even say, she could still hear Shade having a great time and soon when he had come out; he shook the extra water on her. Laughing, she playfully nipped at him, making him jump to one side. He was in a playful mood which was better than anything else.

Shade laughed as his mom nipped at him and he jumped out of the way. Prancing around, he tossed his head and stood tall and proud. "Look momma, I'm going to be a proud stallion." he said as he reared up, causing Raine Storm to laugh. "Yes you are my son."