Kingdom Hunter (Open) [Contains Roans]

[Captain Stumpy]

It was ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Ichirou had wondered away from his own territory, His faithful nephew 10 strides behind saying nothing. To be expected from Ichirou's Personal slave. Well slave was a stretch of term, Mezura could leave when ever he wished, but he was well informed about how lethal being without a heard was (made more relevant from the death of his own mother) And how heart-broken Ichirou was if Mezurashii ever left, he could never forgive him.

Ichirou's stride slowed, his temper had calmed, what was his temper all about? his faithful mate and lead mare had produced another daughter. When all Ichirou had asked for was a son, to carry on his legacy. A daughter was completely unacceptable to take up such a roll. But Ichirou was on his 17th year, He was getting no younger and after several fights and wars he was feeling his age. He stopped to peer down into the river, seeing his own scarred reflection, Mezurashii kept back out of the way of the reflection. All he had to do was make sure The King had no troubles during his walk.

The black roan carried the colour like his mother, but that's where his looks ended, he was stronger built than Saburo, taller and instead of a star his face like his mum and uncles was filled with a thick blaze. He himself was the son of a monster, Born on the Island of Hunter's, he only escaped because of the love another stallion had for another roan mare a friend of his Dam's. Saburo had gone looking for Ichirou and Jirou. Mezurashii had gone with Ichirou's mare, while Ichirou and Saburo had gone for a talk. Ichirou was the only on to come back, Saburo had been attacked by a mountain-lion. Ichirou had been his only family since then. He was enlightened to know Jirou had been killed as well. His Mum was wrong about Jirou he was actually evil. It was Ichirou who had been brave enough to kill the chestnut-roan monster.

During both the roan horses time of reflection a murmur had caught them both off-guard. Ichirou shot Mezura a displeased look, before going ahead to investigate. Mezura followed silently. Before both stallions made it to there destination a yearling colt, Its eyes waterlogged, a few bite marks clear on its rump, jumped up from the long grasses. "Who are you?" Ichirou bellowed half taken back by the speed the colt rose. Mezura looked tense, the colt didn't answer. "Well?" Ichirou asked again.

"I don't have one" The colt answered, a silence passed while Ichirou looked the yearling up and down. judging its fitness, breeding, health. "And Why not?" Ichirou asked at last. "Where I was born colts can't say, they're worthless He only keeps his daughters, only the girls have value." Ichirou was rather drawn back from the statement, how could another stallion possibly value a filly over a colt? it made no sense. "Well' I'll call you Seiichi" Ichirou said holding out his chest, if Val cannot produce a worthy heir it made perfect sense to claim one for himself. and if there was a stallion stupid enough to believe his son was worthless compared to his daughters then that worked perfectly for Ichirou. "What do you mean?" The colt asked. Ichirou smiled "You see my boy, I've walked this world a long long time, but I've not had a son worth inheriting my knowledge and kingdom. If your willing to learn you could be my son instead" Ichirou's smile curled into a smirk. Seiichi's eyes glowed, "You mean it sir?" The colt asked then looked over to Mezurashii , who's emotion hadn't changed since the conversation started. Ichirou's eyes followed the colts. "This is Mezurashii, my nephew. He owes me his life, if you come with me Mezurashii will always be there to protect you and do as you ask" Ichirou smiled, Seiichi couldn't believe his luck. "And you must call me Dad Seiichi" Ichirou said waking up to the narrow chested yearling and hanging his head over his withers pulling the youngster into his chest for a welcoming hug.

Seiichi was tense at first then he relaxed into it, Ichirou pulled away leaving the colt wanting more. "Dad" Seiichi said trying out the words, Ichirou smiled warmly. "Mezurashii I want you to take Seiichi back to the territory, clean him up make sure he finds the good grass and soft sleeping spots. And Make sure Val is welcoming" [/b]"Sir"[/b] Mazura answered with a bow, he was a little concerned about leaving Ichirou out of the territory but he had to complete his order. The Black Roan came to stand beside the thinner looking bay roan colt. "Please come with me" Mezura asked, Seiichi gave Ichirou a rather worried look before following the black roan.

Ichirou watched them off, he continued to stare long after they'd disappeared into the tree's. Now he was alone, well there was a sweet sent other than the colts lingering at the River, and true he could have just sent Mazura away but this seemed more innocent and distracted Val nicely. It was time for Ichirou to extend his Empire. He just had to find the perfect filly or too.

[Dusty's Girl]

Red Dawn had come into a new land, but when she lifted her head, she caught the scent of three horses; all males. Shaking her head, she looked back to her adopted daughter and motioned for the filly to stop. The mare had just stepped out into the light from the shadows; her coat gleamed from where the sun hit it; in a way she seemed to shimmer; but with her daughter behind her, she had to be careful to who was around them.
Walking father ahead of what she wanted, she could see a stallion standing there. Snorting, she lifted her head in an arch and smiled to herself. The last roan, the flashy blue roan, had been a major bad mistake. She wasn't about to do it twice, but sometimes that was a good stallion to have beside a mare; meant they were very protective of those around him.

As Red Dawn had advanced forward, Andella had started to venture forward as well, but she had to do it very quietly and quickly so that Red Dawn didn't notice that she was wondering around without her at her side. Mimicking Red Dawn, she lifted her head into the air to scent who was around, but at this point all she could tell was that there were three horses, but of what gender; she had no clue. Normally Andella never spooked at much, but when a noise startled her, she hightailed it over to Red Dawn.

Red Dawn had heard her daughter start off, but soon the sound of thundering hooves made her shake her head. "Andella, I told you to stay!" she snorted and nipped at the two and a half year filly. The filly had sighed and lowered her head to her mother. Yes she should have listened to her mother; but there was just to much in happening at this moment. Yet as Red Dawn lifted her head and arched it again as she neared the stallion even more.

[Swede]

The trio of mares had never involved themselves any more in Hero's war than was necessary; they had joined the stallion because a herd was always safest than being stray wanderers, and even though the later revelation that he was involved in a blood feud had made them wary, it still didn't seem to affect them. Hero's enemy was far away, and he took his battle to distant lands. The home territory had always been safe enough, and that was all they really asked for.

However, Hero's plans had apparently gone awry. It was not victory but chaos that ensued when the surviving warriors returned to the fields. Dagger drove out those who were loyal to the former ruler, and the mares had known that even though they were not as despised as Hero's kin, they would not be treated with kindness. Thus, Nazareth organized a stealthy retreat; the bay mare had always been the one who took charge whenever they were forced to be self-reliant, and had gathered together her sister Nineveh and their friend Kaara, with their foals in tow, and fled the territory on hidden paths. They did not know what had happened to the rest of the herd; their loyalties were firstly to themselves. Life is harsh enough as it is, without risking it for the sake of mares in a disbanded herd.

A few days had passed now, and they had been on their own, an unpleasant but not unfamiliar state of being. They were used to herds falling apart; the best one could do was move on. It was tiring though, particularly for the foals who had not been outside the territory before. Vashti, usually so gregarious, stuck close to Nazareth's side, plodding along in cautious boredom. Bethlehem wriggled between her mother and her aunt; the chocolate palomino filly was unnerved by every foreign sound. After her encounter with the cougar back home, every scent and shadow felt like a potential predator. Ghost was less concerned; the cremello colt trailed several paces behind the rest, wanting a break in the endless traveling but too stubborn and silent to make a vocal complaint. Kaara glanced back at her son on occasion, making sure he was keeping up, but otherwise just followed along quietly as ever. With the buckskin mare so shy and subdued, her son equally quiet, and Nineveh entirely mute, few words were exchanged over the hours.

As the river came into view, however, Vashti lifted her head eagerly. "Mama, I'm thirsty," the buckskin filly whined, looking up at Nazareth.

"I know," Nazareth answered, nudging the filly forward, "We're all going to have a drink. Just be careful not to fall in, the current can sweep you off your hooves if you aren't careful." Vashti wriggled and trotted forward to the water's edge; the grass was clear from the river to the rest of the group, so it seemed safe enough. She lowered her head promptly and sniffed at the gently flowing water, before dipping her muzzle in; it was surprisingly cold, but felt wonderful in her parched mouth. Bethlehem peered at her sister anxiously, wanting to join her but unwilling to leave the safety bubble between Nazareth and Nineveh. As the group drew closer, however, she dared skip ahead a few steps, halting on the bank to watch the water flow past.

Kaara backed up a little and nudged Ghost forward. "The girls are getting a drink, why don't you join them?" she said lovingly. Her foals were the sole joy in her life; she had lost one in the past and never wanted it to happen again. Luckily, despite his reserved behavior, he was strong and healthy, and as bright-eyed as any foal really- just a bit quiet, and a little bit more of a loner than the others. He still liked his sisters though, and strode to join them. Once certain that Nazareth was keeping an eye on things, Kaara lowered her head to graze, glad of a little break in the wandering- though knowing their luck, it would probably continue soon enough.

Nineveh stared into space, neither grazing nor drinking; Nazareth could never really tell if her sister was lost in thought or just blanked out. She had been perfectly normal as a filly, but one day simply stopped talking. That had been years ago; she could clearly understand others, and often interacted in other ways, but not a word had passed her lips in a decade. Shrugging, Nazareth snatched a bite of grass, chewing contemplatively as she scanned the surroundings. It seemed they were alone for the- no, wait. Farther upstream she could see some distant figures, clearly horses, several of them. They were far enough to not be a matter of immediate concern; as long as they didn't attack, it didn't really matter. Right now her only priority was keeping her little group safe, which was tough enough when roaming in the wilderness on their own. Eventually they would need a herd, someplace safe, with a stallion to protect them; but after the disaster that had been Hero, Nazareth was a bit wary.




(OOC: I know technically the kids are like two years old by now, or at least yearlings, but I'm just going to keep them as foals this year since they never really got much RPing done as foals with that thread being so slow)

[Captain Stumpy]

Ichirou raised his head to the sound of scuffling hooves. At a glance he thought Jirou had returned once again, (it wouldn't be the first time that bast*rd returned from the dead) But that was just a initial look, when that horrific idea passed it didn't take long for Ichirou to realise these strawberry roans where both ladies. "Ladies" Ichirou said, giving a nod of his head. He walked towards the two with a calm pace and a warm smile. "youngsters, never do as they're told do they?" He said with a light chuckle. He'd witnessed the younger of the two get a little scolding. In the back of his mind he was thinking how he would have corrected such insolent behaviour. Well his offspring wouldn't have been foolish enough to act against his words.

Ichirou stopped a few strides short of the pair, It was a nice novelty to be in the company of mares he didn't know. "I'm Ichirou" He said giving his name brought a smile to his ageing face, especially when he was faced with a younger beauty. He couldn't help but wonder where the stallion who would undoubtedly own such a pretty pair could be. Subtly he took in a deep breath, nothing. He couldn't catch a wiff of adult stallion. However a sent hovering over the running water told him of more mares upstream. It was his lucky day, assuming he could convince the mares he was worth joining, not a problem for him usually. but before he had his own little minions keeping the mares in line. He needed a new tactic for keeping mares in his presence now.

"My Dear" Ichirou said, his head high with pride. "What are you two doing so far away from the safety of a herd?" he questioned, a well practiced charm hung off his words. He fought the urge to check and make sure the other mares where still in the area, he couldn't determine how many there were, but they had foals with them, if the youngsters where tired, he had plenty of time to make small talk with the Strawberry roan, and catch those mares before they attempted to leave.