{CAN BE CLOSED}

[flyff]

The sky overhead was a clear, cornflower blue, and completely cloudless. The trees were ablaze with absolutely beautiful, fiery colors. And although the air was clear and fine, the glorious weather seemed to be mocking a certain stallion's absolutely bitter mood.

A stout buckskin came into the Watering Hole at a brisk trot, as if he had a reason to be here and a place to go, a horse to meet. But he didn't. This entire jaunt was pointless, like the rest of his life seemed to be.

What was the point in life when you were a danger to those around you? What was the point of living and loving if those you loved were in danger of dying just because you knew them?

Farandi had recently had a bit of an outburst. He had been traveling with a mare named Confederate Rose, and she had been claimed by a stallion by the name of Eros, and Eros had also accepted Farandi into his herd.

He had just arrived at Far, Far Away Fields, his new home, when the voice came back with a vicious vengeance, since it had been forced into silence for so long.

Pensive, the stallion made sure he was as far away from the other horses as he could manage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A bay mare cantered into the Watering Hole, looking desperately in all directions around her, fierce amber irises raking the area. Catching on the stocky pinto figure she was searching for, she galloped gracefully today him but he immediately shied away.

[Swede]

ooc: Faradera could maybe trot along in a bit, as soon as I can get her out of Moving On.

[flyff]

[OOC: Kay good, cuz someone seriously needs to reply to this thread or else Farandi and Confederate Rose will get put up for adoption again >.>;]

[Swede]

ooc: might take a minute- people want to talk to Faradera, they won't let her leave lol

[Swede]

Faradera ambled in easily, but her mind was still whirling and she was just about ready to cry. Don't be ridiculous. You're old enough not to burst into tears every time someone upsets you. Look at L'eau, she's more in control than you are. Her tumultuous thoughts skidded to a screeching halt as she looked up and saw the pinto stallion and bay mare. "Hello," she said cautiously. She wasn't ready for more trouble. What she needed was healing, or perhaps solace. Something to make life less dark. That, and an aspirin. The black mare came to a slow halt, head raised in a friendly manner. She was no threat, unless, of course, they tried to harm L'eau. "Try" would be as far as they would get in that case- any further, and it would be over Faradera's dead body.

[manda]

L'eau trotted along beside Faradera. She nuzzled her lovingly when they stopped and nickered a little hello to the two other horses that Faradera said hello to. She stood right by Faradera's side when she noticed that one was a stallion. As of now she was not fond of stallions except maybe king, he seemed nice. She especially didn't like Rosemont. She pretty much despised him and Light. Light was a brat that couldn't make up her mind. one minute she was L'eau's best friend, then enemy, than nice again. She snorted almost silently to rid herself Light.

[flyff]

The buckskin stallion jumped about a foot in the air as a mare's voice reached his ears. He shook out his dark chocolate mane and set off at a brisk trot in the opposite direction, as if he hadn't heard her. It was best that she didn't think him some impolite rogue that had ignored her on purpose... then again, it would be even better if she didn't find out what type of rogue he truly was.

Farandi saw a little filly at the black mare's side as he looked briefly over one shoulder. Nightmares... or were they memories?... flashed through his mind, in which he attacked a filly that looked much like her...

He shook the thought out of his mind quickly, before it caused the voice to be back... but he was too late.

Oooooh, lookie there, Farandi! A mare and a filly! Let's see if we can take them, eh? Eh, Farandi? Then you'll get two mares, heeeheeheehahaha! The pinto attempted to shake the voice away like flies, but he knew it wouldn't work.

Yaaahahahaha! Ooooh, Farandi, you're no fun anymore! Oooooh, Farandi, don't be a good boy, no fun no funnnn!

Shut up shut up shut up! he roared mentally at it, twitching convulsively.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bay mare kept her bright amber eyes nervously on Farandi as he headed away. She gulped slightly, and then turned to the black mare and her little filly.

"Good afternoon, madam," Confederate Rose said lightly to the two of them, smiling and nodding courteously towards them. Her mind was racing as she thought of various excuses as to why her stallion had just blatantly ignored them, although she continued to watch Farandi as he twitched violently.

[Swede]

ooc: I hate safari. Tried downloading Firefox, but I'm computer illiterate so you can imagine how that worked out...

[Swede]

Faradera smiled wearily. "And a good afternoon to you as well. My name is Faradera, and this is L'eau, my daughter." Well, adoptive daughter. But she considered L'eau her own, and anyone could tell they weren't related. Her smile turned to a concerned look as the pinto stallion caught her eye again. She took a tentative step forward, and asked quietly, "Are you alright, sir?" She wasn't comfortable around other horses much, as all social interaction lately had been problematic, but she was tired of the old and ready for the new, a fresh start. Winter was here, and the ground was frosted over, and the coming season would be tough on her. She was born and bred in captivity, and could conquer any cross country course or dressage test put in front of her, but none of that was much use in the wild, except maybe to cross streams and such. But this stallion seemed to be troubled in some way. It piqued her curiosity, and though she was wary, she had difficulty believing harm of anyone. Even Rosemont wasn't too bad, as long as he kept his distance and avoided throwing his threats around.

[manda]

L'eau watched as the stallion started to twitch. She walked toward him and placed her muzzle on his leg to try and comfort him. If she was taller she would have put her muzzle on his neck, but she could only reach his leg. She didn't care that he was a stranger, but Faradera would probably tell her to get away. She looked up at him and spoke. "What's wrong?" She nuzzled his leg and tryed to get him better. She knew that something was making him feel bad and she wanted to make him feel better.

[flyff]

Confederate Rose jumped forward as the filly approached Farandi so brazenly, knowing it might nudge him into one of his... moods.

"Madam," she stammered nervously, "Th-... He... has not been feeling well... lately. We are afraid his illness might be..." For a moment, the bay mare stopped and tried to catch her stallion's eye for a moment, perhaps to verify her plan... but a moment later she decided she was afraid at what might be looking back.

"We are afraid his illness might be contagious, and I would... I'm sure we would both prefer you not approach him so directly, as we are not sure... what ails him. I thought a bit of fresh air might... help. A bit. It is a fine day for winter." Her voice trailed off after a moment, sure that her excuses were incredibly feeble.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The stallion twitched convulsive as the filly soft nose touched his leg, and the voice became stronger than ever.

Take her, take her now you idiot! She and her mother are no match for you, and what would Confederate Rose object to?

Shut up right now and go away! he blared mentally at the voice. To his surprise, it obeyed his commands, and after silence finally filled his head, nothing broke it.

Blinking surprisedly, he waited a few moments, but it still did not come back. Brief elation rushed through his body, although he knew it wouldn't last.

"Yump, ah've been feelin' a'mighty odd lately! S'awright, though, orful nice day fer winter, as she said!," he spoke cheerfully, stepping quickly around the filly.

[Swede]

Faradera raised her brow skeptically, but did not contest the matter. He was clearly in perfect physical health, but if they had something to hide, so be it. It seemed that the world was spun with deception these days. "L'eau, leave him alone if he is sick," she called softly. They did not seem to be foes, precisely, but neither were they clear friends... it was odd behavior, this. Then again, normal was difficult to define. She took a gentle step forward, not exactly closer, but just there, somehow. As she did so, she felt the heaviness in her belly and sighed. This foal was HERS, not Rosemont's, no matter what he claimed. And if she had her way, he would never see the foal. Ever. Unless the foal chose in its adulthood to find its father, but that was all up to fate. "Yes, it is a nice day," she murmured absent-mindedly, "Funny how the sun can be so bright on such a dark world..." she was only half-aware of saying this, lost in her thoughts.

[manda]

L'eau looked at the stallion. "Oh, sorry about that. I hope you get better sir." L'eau nuzzled him gently one more time before she stepped away from him. She walked over to Faradera and sighed. She layed down on the ground. She knew that the stallion wasn't sick. He looked perfectly healthy, but maybe he really was sick, but just didn't show it on the outside. She wished that there were some other foals around for her to play with. She didn't see any foals and the adults wouldn't play with her so she just sat there. Maybe playing would make the stallion feel better. She walked over close to him. "Sir, would you like to play? Do you think it would make you feel better? It makes me feel better, but if you don't feel like playing, I understand." L'eau sighed and hoped that he would like to play.

[flyff]

The bay mare laughed lightly at the filly's bright and outgoing personality, although she was a bit nervous at how Farandi might handle this sudden interaction with such a young and innocent soul. "You must be proud of her," Confederate Rose said softly to the black mare, turning away to hide her slightly worried expression. It was strange, now that she thought of it... one almost thought they weren't related, for they looked nothing alike. And yet, they did share a true mother-daughter bond that was not the same with aunts or grandparents..

The young one could be an orphan that this mare adopted, Rose mused to herself, her eyebrows raised slightly as the mare murmured something to herself. However, Rose did not pry. As she had never been of high rank in a herd, she had long learned not to pry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The buckskin regarded the filly with slight curiosity, tilting his head first to one side, and then the other, like a curious little colt. However, after a few moments, a broad grin split his face.

"Weel, mah little lady, ah think a bit 'o playin' would do some good t'me ole sick self! What'd you want t'play then, tag maybe? D'you wanna see 'oo can run t'the other side 'o the Waterin' Hole first?" Farandi asked her, quite seriously. Rose let out a light laugh and shook her head, thinking remorsefully, He would have made a great father, if only...

[Swede]

Faradera smiled wistfully, watching L'eau interact with the stallion. Now that his twitching seemed to have petered off a bit, he had a very good-natured air about him. In answer to the bay mare, she said, "Oh yes. A finer filly I couldn't ask for. We are not blood-related, obviously, but I found her all alone when she was hardly more than a day or so old, I should think. From what I could gather, her mother was killed by cats. I do not think she ever understood that, poor thing... But as she had no mother, and I had no foal, we took to each other. I have never considered her anything but my own." This brought her thoughts back to the life inside her, the one whose arrival could spell disaster for both mother and foal.

Quite suddenly, she added, "But come, you never introduced yourself." She was curious, and eager to leave recent events where they belonged- in the past- by distracting herself with conversation, making new friends, perhaps finding a new home. Maybe. But not with just any stallion; her trust had been battered, and she was still wary. But it was kind of this pinto to entertain L'eau, as she had never really had any playmates. It gave Faradera a needed break as well.

[manda]

L'eau smiled at Farandi and nuzzled him gently. "Sure! Let's race!" L'eau sppoke happily as a big smile took up her face. "One.... two.... three.... GO!" L'eau shot of like a bullet as soon as she said go and ran toward the other end of the Watering Hole. L'eau liked the way the stallion talked, she found it funny, but she didn't want to seem rude by saying so, so she never mentioned it. She kept running, but she was only halfway there, well, more like a quarter of the way there. She would try to win, but the stallion had longer legs and even her head start would not ensure her win.

[flyff]

The bay mare smiled slightly, nodding. "Kind of you," she said softly. "Especially with winter coming on, I suppose, it would be hard to take care of a little foal... kind of your stallion, as well, to accept another's child into his herd. Although, I suppose, since she will one day be a beautiful mare, he wouldn't have minded." She finished with a slight air of teasing to her voice, although her sharp amber eyes still watched Farandi and the filly.

At the black mare's next question, she smiled and said lightly, "My name is Confederate Rose, and my stallion friend is Farandi." The mare bit her lip, as if it would stop the bitter thoughts rushing into her head. Oh, how she wished she could change her name! All it brought were those accursed memories of captivity...

However, after a moment, she shook the thoughts resolutely from her head. The past was behind her. She had been free, living in the wild, for almost a year now, at Sunshine River. This was her home. Not that stuffy stable. Not anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Farandi roared with laughter as he tore across the Watering Hole. However, halfway across, he "accidentally" tripped over a rock that had somehow gotten in his path, that he had, for some reason, forgotten to gallop around. He just managed to catch himself before he went plummeting down to earth, but the rambunctious filly was already so far ahead of him that he decided to forfeit.

"Oooh," he moaned piteously, "Ah give up! Yawl are far too fast fer me!"

[Swede]

Faradera's eyes hardened. "That stallion was too preoccupied with visions of conquest and glamor to pay any attention to an adopted filly not of his own blood. A curse on him!" She spat out the bitter words angrily. Then, the scarred black mare sighed. "But L'eau needs a father," she continued softly, "As does this little one... if I have my way, that idiot will never see his foal." Ha, a maniacal little voice taunted in her mind, Of course he won't! Not alive, anyway. Because you know, my dear; you know what that horse was too stupid to believe: this time, you will die. No humans to help this time, oh no. But we'll enjoy that death, won't we? What good is life, anyway. If you aren't suffering, those around you are. Which is just as bad... She shook her head. "Welll, it is a pleasure to meet you two. I've been lucky to find friends out here, but I still long for home... I'm not born to survive out here. It's tough." And of course, the wilderness was a constant reminder of what had brought her here: that fateful accident, where she lost her best friend and her younger sister, her human owners who loved her, and everything she was used to. The mare smiled at Farandi's acting. This company was good for L'eau. Faradera loved her, but she could not expect to fulfilll roles as both mother and playmate.

[manda]

L'eau smiled and turned around after she beat Farandi to the other side of the Watering Hole. She galloped back to himand giggled. She nuzzled him and then spoke sweetly. "If you want we can race again. This time you can have a head start. Or, if you don't want to race then we can play tag." L'eau pranced around a bit very happily. She nuzzled Farandi and nipped at him gently. She was unaware that Farandi could be dangerous because he was being so nice. She thought that he could only be nice, but she could be wrong.

[ooc: if you want then Farandi can go insane right now ]

[flyff]

The bay mare bit her lip slightly, but did not ask again, as her dark-coated companion obviously didn't enjoy speaking about it.

"I hope that you and both of your little ones will turn out to be all right," she said with a soft smile, touching her nose, a bit tentatively, to the black mare. "If you ever really need a place to stay, or if you've fallen ill, or anything... please, please feel free to go down to Far, Far Away Fields and come to the terra of Eros's herd. I am not the lead mare, but you will find me there to vouch for you, and Eros is a fairly kind stallion... I've no doubt he would take in a mare if she was in need." Considering her companion's experiences thus far with stallions were probably not the best, judging from her response to Confederate Rose's comment, Rose was a bit nervous as to how this invitation would be received... so nervous, in fact, that she forgot to keep her eye on Farandi.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It came without warning.

The filly nuzzled him affectionately, and warmth rushed through his heart. For perhaps the first, or second, time in his life, he was regarded as a safe horse to be around... his companion was not suspicious, or afraid... merely affectionate. She trusted him. She liked him.

But then the voice took its chance to pounce, and in a breath it took control. The true Farandi had no chance. And all that echoed through his head, so loud that he couldn't fit a single sound in edgewise, was the voice, squealing out encouragement.

GET 'EM FARANDI! YOU GET 'EM!

The buckskin's eyes and expression darkened alarmingly, and he reared, kicking, bucking, screaming into the sky. Powerful, hard hooves lashed out at the filly before him... he charged at her, no doubt intending to kill.

[Swede]

Faradera looked softly into Confederate Rose's eyes. She was grateful for the offer, and was about to say so, but then things went flying out of control. Farandi went insane.

With an explosive energy that surprised her, she covered the distance between them in just a few swift, long strides, planting herself between the mad stallion and her beloved little filly. Hopefully, she had gotten there before L'eau was seriously injured. She did not flinch away from the charging buckskin. Her life was worth little- L'eau's, so much. "Touch her, Farandi, and I will kill you. I swear it on my own useless life." Her voice held the full threat of a mother's wrath. You might have dealings with stallions, my dear horse, but you have never seen a mother when her foal is threatened. She could not understand this sudden change, and got the impression that it was not intentional. But she would not let down her guard until he was either sane, or dead by her own hoof.

[Swede]

ooc: Can we skip manda, just once? I have a whole tragic post for Faradera's baby written out in my head, and I want her to foal as soon as this is taken care of...

[manda]

ooc: I would have have no problem with you skipping me, go ahead. I can't post right now seeing as I am at school. I can post around 4 or 5 P.M. today, because of softball, but no earlier. Bye!

[flyff]

[OOC: Well, since Mandaroo's back, we might as well just wait for her to post. Patience is a virtue, eh?]

[Swede]

ooc: One that I lack...

[manda]

L'eau let out a startled and frightened scream. Why was her friend now trying to kill her? Had she made him angry? L'eau was stunned for a while and wondered what was going on. She was frozen from fear, but when Faradera came she knew what to do. L'eau gained movement of her legs again and ran for her life. She reached Confederate Rose and stood behind her. She didn't know Confederate Rose, but she was a mare and she seemed nice so L'eau hid behind her and watched Faradera and Farandi.

[flyff]

The cold-eyed stallion bellowed out a laugh at the black mare's words. "Insolent mare!" he roared, his voice cold and sharp, much unlike Farandi's lilting, gentle speech. "You think is Farandi? No, Farandi is weak, weak and soft, far too weak and soft to be competent at anything! If anything is going to get done, it is I who is forced to step in! What a fool he is, worrying about things like love and friends and family... I need him not! He is only an obstacle in my path! If you know what's good for you, you will surrender yourself and your filly to me, for I doubt you could lay a scratch on me!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bay mare shifted slightly to shield the little filly from view. Her heart pounded and her mind raced. What to do, what to do... Faradera will be killed is she makes one move more! Breathing deeply, Confederate Rose braved a step forward.

"Farandi!" she cried desperately. "Farandi, please! Please don't do this!" The buckskin roared and reared and bucked ferociously. He was a most interesting sight to behold, for he bellowed out randomly in different types of speech...

"Ah swear on mah life, yawl...!"
"Desperate fool! Disobey me n-...!"
"Don't yew even...!"
"You are NOTHING W-...!"
Above it all rose Confederate Rose's keening cry.

[Swede]

Faradera almost stepped back in confusion, but stood her ground. It was starting to make sense and yet getting murkier all the time... some sort of alter-ego problem? Whatever it was, there were two horses in one body, where there was only room for one. And for all their sakes, that one would have to be the true Farandi, the laughing stallion who had entertained L'eau, not the cold-blooded killer. "Farandi is not weak," she said, feeling surprisingly calm. So this it, then- sink or swim. Live or die. And she was fairly ambivalent to both. In a firm, fearless voice, she continued, "He is just as strong as you in body, seeing that's all you share in common, but in heart and mind he so much more powerful. Just as you say, he is capable of feeling love- I have felt both love and hate, and it's the former that is so much stronger. I believe in Farandi." Somehow, Farandi would have to regain control. Not just for Confederate Rose's sake, or L'eau's, or her own, but for himself.

[manda]

L'eau was confused by it all so she just stayed with Confederate Rose. She whinnined a quiet whinny to Farandi and Faradera. She looked at Confederate Rose and spoke quietly. "What is wrong with Farandi? Why is he acting this way? I'm scared." L'eau's last two words 'I'm scared' were sait very quietly, even quieter than the rest of her speaking. She stood hiddden away from sight and hoped that Farandi would be okay. She wanted to help, but she didn't know how.

[Swede]

ooc: ... flyff? Your presence is requested