Post by Sohtoh on Feb 7, 2010 2:14:35 GMT -5
Starring:
Cloudshadow - Female Horse
Lootah - Male Horse
Setting:
Wind-Swept Lowlands
---------
After having taken off from the old mare, Luna, to follow after the new dun mare, Mitexi, Lootah had become a bit.. distracted. Though the painted stalion carried on at a quick pace, his ivory hooves thundering through the landscape and announcing his presence, something else was in the air; a smell that offered a grin to appear across his flesh-toned muzzle. Quickly, Lootah took a sharp turn in a different direction, and followed the scent, white mane and tail flicking around in his self-induced breeze that he created with his galloping. It didn't take very long for him to catch sight of /another/ horse, and better yet, one he hadn't met before. Two new arrivals in one day? This pleased the male greatly, and though he was far off yet, he let out a welcoming whinny as he picked up the pace even more.
Cloudshadow isn't a complete newcomer to the area, she's just been away for a good while. All the same, she knows things can change for the drastic in less time than she's been gone. She isn't particularly surprised to have found the scents of other horses, nor to hear one approaching. Ears perk diligently at the sound of hooves, and when she spots the horse they're attached to a moment later she stares, posture somewhat rigid. It's only when he narrows the distance between them that she moves, abruptly scuffing a hoof against the earth in a cautious warning and pivoting her footing a little to face him. Dark eyes fix on the strange stallion and she watches him closely. "Evening." She utters in a half-business, half-casual tone. No need to be too uptight, but she's not about to let her guard down completely around an unfamiliar male.
Still a good distance away, Lootah isn't so far off that he can't see the scuff of earth that the female gave, and thus, his pace slows to that of a mild paced canter, slowing further to a trot, and then a prancing, show-offy walk as he came up to her side. "Good evening to you, as well." He says this smoothly, holding his head and tail up proudly and tossing his head a few times in welcome to her. "I've not seen you around here before, miss." He says kindly, respecting her space but still a bit close. The painted stallion looks over the mare briefly, and his grin widens. "My name is Lootah; it's a pleasure to meet you."
The mare tolerates his proximity for now, and uses it to get a better look at him and snuffle a bit more of his scent. "I'm Cloudshadow." She replies, letting her ears swivel this way and that, though one is always fixed attentively on Lootah. She considers her next words for a moment as she guages his character, still observing him. "Are you a part of the Sagebrush herd? Or have they moved on?" Her gaze makes a quick scan along the horizon, where no other equines are vible at least for the moment, before resting on him again.
Though it hadn't worked in his favor last time, Lootah smiles at the name, and uses one of his better lines. "Cloudshadow, hmm?" He questions at first, and continues on. "A beautiful name for a beautiful mare." Keeping himself in front of her for better conversational body language, he flicks his tail this way and that, letting his head shake at her question of his herd. "I'm afraid the Sagebrush have moved on.. though, one of it's former members, some others, and I.. we are beginning a new herd. You are more than welcome, and in fact, encouraged, to join us."
Cloudshadow manages to maintain her silence for a moment after the compliment... but can't keep a snicker from escaping, giving a little shake of her head. The few redstone beads hanging from her mane, some of the last remnants of her time in captivity, clack together softly. "Please... No need for flattery so soon! There will be plenty of time for that. If I decide to stay, that is." She lacks the look of those naive, easily-wooed phillies just entering adulthood. There's a sharpness in her eyes, a wariness, but also a twinkle of humor and a hint of mischief. She's sizing the stallion up of course -- it won't be a matter of persuasion. He'll have to -prove- to her that he's compitent if he plans on being -her- leader, or her equal for that matter. "Have you ever lead a herd before?" Her tone has softened to something more casual, though the context of the question still suggests business, without a doubt.
The flattery didn't work out this time either, but there was a more pleasant reaction with this one than with the other mustang, Mitexi. In fact, he joins on on the snicker as well, and takes a few steps closer, feeling as though he could. With her eyes on him, he feels confident; knowing that he was a strong stallion, with strength, stamina, and wits all in one. Keeping his head held tall, he quirks his head at the 'if' insinuation, and lets out a chuff of breath. Then came the question, and he blinked once or twice, but was honest with her. "I have not." There was no defending himself from it, either. No, 'but I have..' or anything. This one.. he'd rather not let in on his questionable past just yet.
Cloudshadow's history could be considered questionable, but she's not any more eager to pry into his past than to reveal her own. She's just interested in his experience, savvy to determine his worth. It's not something that will make itself known through questioning, at least not completely. He seems confident and strong, but she has yet to be really convinced of his intelligence, or courage or clearheadedness in the face of danger. She's fair, though. She'll give him a chance, if he should be capable enough to take it. She offers a delicate smile, that twinkle still in her eyes. "You've got a steep trail ahead of you, then, Lootah. I hope you can rise to the challenge." She gives a humorous little snort. "And I hope you have a good lead mare."
Perhaps some day he would come clean about his past to this particular mare, but all in all, he didn't need to at the moment. He didn't need to anger her with his previous treatment of mares that he stole, but he would be honest with her and tell her, one day. Hopefully in the same situations that he'd told others who were curious enough to know; with a private, one on one conversation in which each equid got to know the other. The smile she gave was reciprocated, and he took one final step towards her, and nodded his head. "I'm quite aware of the challenges I face, but I look forward to overcoming them." Confident words to suit a confident stallion. Lootah then motioned his head elsewhere. "Since you know the name of the last herd, maybe I wouldn't be wrong in assuming that you would know Starilght?" He questions, and grins a bit coyly. "She is my lead mare."
The roan mare's ears tune in at the name, and she tosses her head in a nod. "We met, some seasons ago. It was at a hard time for her, as I remember. I hope she's come upon better times since." Even having known her for a short time, Cloudshadow was impressed by Starlight's resilience. She at least may be a worthy leader, and if she sees something in this particular stallion then there may be more to him than this first impression has allowed. "Very well. If it suits you and your mistress, I may stay. Then again, I do have a purpose outside of these lands. I can't promise my full devotion to a herd until I feel that purpose is fulfilled."
"Ah, good." He nods, and his expression becomes solmen at the mention of Starlight's past. She'd shared bits and pieces with him, and it seemed like she had indeed gone through a lot. "She was hesitant to join myself and another mare, but since we've gained her leadership, our numbers have grown almost daily." Saying this with a smile, he finally notices the red beads in her mane, and blinks, suddenly a bit cautious, though he doesn't outwardly show it. It's only when she mentions an outside purpose that his head raises a bit /too/ high, and he lets out a snort. "Your purpose.. wouldn't be to the two-leggeds, would it?"
Cloudshadow doesn't immediately answer, a few seconds of heavy air hanging between them for a few seconds. Her ears tilt back for a second, betraying that she's a little taken aback at his assumption. She's quick to get over it, her eyes becoming a bit steely, a flash of determination in her features. 'My purpose involves them." She admits, lifting her own head resolutely. "I look forward to the day when I can leave them in my past." She shifts her weight, side-stepping away from him slightly, casting her gaze away from him and along the ground, making herself a little more distant. Clearly this is a topic she's not eager to discuss in detail.
The silence was pretty deafening, and a step forward was taken during it. However, when Cloudshadow admitted that her purpose did involve the two-legged's, his brows furrowed and he took a step back. Recoiling, though he hadn't quite meant to, as if she carried a plague with her or something. "I see. Well.." he began, and let out a heavy sigh. Cloudshadow could not become a thriving herd member due to her own obligations, but also, he would not want to risk the safety of the other mares. Though the language barrier between the species was great enough to prevent any real danger, he didn't want her leading any of them to the herd. "Carry on with it until you are freed. You are welcome here, so long as you do not reveal our presence here." The last bit was said a bit roughly, but Lootah had been kind enough to her to not sound aggressive.
The rougher tone induces another backwards tilt of her ears, and she scuffs a hoof again almost indignantly. "Of course." She replies, a sternness in her own voice. "I wouldn't do anything to put others at risk of the two-leggeds. Not unless they chose such a risk of their own will." Cloudshadow doesn't know if she'll be able to complete the task at hand without help, but to ask for it is more than she can bring herself to do, especially to ask help of a stranger. Folly as it may seem, she'll pursue it on her own if she must. She keeps her gaze low, as if contemplating grazing, but for the moment does not partake, finding her situation enough to digest for the moment.
"Good, I like the way you think." He says, and prances around the mare carefully, not wanting to get too close so that she could kick at him if she didn't like his circling, but he wasn't being aggressive. He was just taking a better look. He'd seen a few horses who'd spent time with the two-leggeds, and they were always adorned with odd trinkets. "I'm sorry that you have to go back to them.. I would like to help you escape some day, if you would accept my help." Of course, the probability that he would get caught as well was quite high, but part of being the lead stallion included sacrifices. Not that /he'd/ get caught, himself. A fleet-footed, strong stallion like Lootah would never be caught by man.
Most of Cloudshadow's trinkets are gone by now. The warpaint has worn off, the marks of saddle and rein are faded and the feathers once tied into her mane have frayed away. Even the scars that she gained have faded, nearly invisible in her dark coat. She eyes the male again as he circles, her tail flicking as she listens to his offer, one that she was not expecting. "I couldn't ask such a thing. The danger is nothing to underestimate. I've seen that mistake made more than once." A pained look crosses her face briefly, but only hardens into more determination. "Anyway. It's not I that needs help escaping. Not anymore." She lifts her head again proudly, looking momentarily victorious with that sharp gleam in her eyes again. With a sudden brisk movement she steps off and begins to trot away towards the heart of the lowlands, a vigorous spring in her step. "Good night!" She calls the simple farewell without looking back, beads clacking softly again with her movement as she disappears into the descending veil of evening.
Lootah was far more curious about Cloudshadow's time with the two-leggeds than he let on. He wanted to know why she was kept, how she was treated, and what she was supposed to do for them. He'd seen a few times, a two-legged upon a horse's back. It was so unnatural loooking to him, and it fueled a bout of rage that he almost let slip from his mind. The painted stallion ended his prance when he was at a die, and nodded his head. If she didn't want his help now, he understood, and he wouldn't push himself too near her just yet, but he did smirk arrogantly. So arrogantly in fact, that words weren't needed. It was obvious that he thought he was invincible to the two-leggeds. The look in her eye was met with a tilt of his head, and shortly afterward, she began to trot off. Lootah stared off at her, but finally let out a chuckle, and called out as well, "Good night, and don't be too much of a stranger.
Cloudshadow - Female Horse
Lootah - Male Horse
Setting:
Wind-Swept Lowlands
---------
After having taken off from the old mare, Luna, to follow after the new dun mare, Mitexi, Lootah had become a bit.. distracted. Though the painted stalion carried on at a quick pace, his ivory hooves thundering through the landscape and announcing his presence, something else was in the air; a smell that offered a grin to appear across his flesh-toned muzzle. Quickly, Lootah took a sharp turn in a different direction, and followed the scent, white mane and tail flicking around in his self-induced breeze that he created with his galloping. It didn't take very long for him to catch sight of /another/ horse, and better yet, one he hadn't met before. Two new arrivals in one day? This pleased the male greatly, and though he was far off yet, he let out a welcoming whinny as he picked up the pace even more.
Cloudshadow isn't a complete newcomer to the area, she's just been away for a good while. All the same, she knows things can change for the drastic in less time than she's been gone. She isn't particularly surprised to have found the scents of other horses, nor to hear one approaching. Ears perk diligently at the sound of hooves, and when she spots the horse they're attached to a moment later she stares, posture somewhat rigid. It's only when he narrows the distance between them that she moves, abruptly scuffing a hoof against the earth in a cautious warning and pivoting her footing a little to face him. Dark eyes fix on the strange stallion and she watches him closely. "Evening." She utters in a half-business, half-casual tone. No need to be too uptight, but she's not about to let her guard down completely around an unfamiliar male.
Still a good distance away, Lootah isn't so far off that he can't see the scuff of earth that the female gave, and thus, his pace slows to that of a mild paced canter, slowing further to a trot, and then a prancing, show-offy walk as he came up to her side. "Good evening to you, as well." He says this smoothly, holding his head and tail up proudly and tossing his head a few times in welcome to her. "I've not seen you around here before, miss." He says kindly, respecting her space but still a bit close. The painted stallion looks over the mare briefly, and his grin widens. "My name is Lootah; it's a pleasure to meet you."
The mare tolerates his proximity for now, and uses it to get a better look at him and snuffle a bit more of his scent. "I'm Cloudshadow." She replies, letting her ears swivel this way and that, though one is always fixed attentively on Lootah. She considers her next words for a moment as she guages his character, still observing him. "Are you a part of the Sagebrush herd? Or have they moved on?" Her gaze makes a quick scan along the horizon, where no other equines are vible at least for the moment, before resting on him again.
Though it hadn't worked in his favor last time, Lootah smiles at the name, and uses one of his better lines. "Cloudshadow, hmm?" He questions at first, and continues on. "A beautiful name for a beautiful mare." Keeping himself in front of her for better conversational body language, he flicks his tail this way and that, letting his head shake at her question of his herd. "I'm afraid the Sagebrush have moved on.. though, one of it's former members, some others, and I.. we are beginning a new herd. You are more than welcome, and in fact, encouraged, to join us."
Cloudshadow manages to maintain her silence for a moment after the compliment... but can't keep a snicker from escaping, giving a little shake of her head. The few redstone beads hanging from her mane, some of the last remnants of her time in captivity, clack together softly. "Please... No need for flattery so soon! There will be plenty of time for that. If I decide to stay, that is." She lacks the look of those naive, easily-wooed phillies just entering adulthood. There's a sharpness in her eyes, a wariness, but also a twinkle of humor and a hint of mischief. She's sizing the stallion up of course -- it won't be a matter of persuasion. He'll have to -prove- to her that he's compitent if he plans on being -her- leader, or her equal for that matter. "Have you ever lead a herd before?" Her tone has softened to something more casual, though the context of the question still suggests business, without a doubt.
The flattery didn't work out this time either, but there was a more pleasant reaction with this one than with the other mustang, Mitexi. In fact, he joins on on the snicker as well, and takes a few steps closer, feeling as though he could. With her eyes on him, he feels confident; knowing that he was a strong stallion, with strength, stamina, and wits all in one. Keeping his head held tall, he quirks his head at the 'if' insinuation, and lets out a chuff of breath. Then came the question, and he blinked once or twice, but was honest with her. "I have not." There was no defending himself from it, either. No, 'but I have..' or anything. This one.. he'd rather not let in on his questionable past just yet.
Cloudshadow's history could be considered questionable, but she's not any more eager to pry into his past than to reveal her own. She's just interested in his experience, savvy to determine his worth. It's not something that will make itself known through questioning, at least not completely. He seems confident and strong, but she has yet to be really convinced of his intelligence, or courage or clearheadedness in the face of danger. She's fair, though. She'll give him a chance, if he should be capable enough to take it. She offers a delicate smile, that twinkle still in her eyes. "You've got a steep trail ahead of you, then, Lootah. I hope you can rise to the challenge." She gives a humorous little snort. "And I hope you have a good lead mare."
Perhaps some day he would come clean about his past to this particular mare, but all in all, he didn't need to at the moment. He didn't need to anger her with his previous treatment of mares that he stole, but he would be honest with her and tell her, one day. Hopefully in the same situations that he'd told others who were curious enough to know; with a private, one on one conversation in which each equid got to know the other. The smile she gave was reciprocated, and he took one final step towards her, and nodded his head. "I'm quite aware of the challenges I face, but I look forward to overcoming them." Confident words to suit a confident stallion. Lootah then motioned his head elsewhere. "Since you know the name of the last herd, maybe I wouldn't be wrong in assuming that you would know Starilght?" He questions, and grins a bit coyly. "She is my lead mare."
The roan mare's ears tune in at the name, and she tosses her head in a nod. "We met, some seasons ago. It was at a hard time for her, as I remember. I hope she's come upon better times since." Even having known her for a short time, Cloudshadow was impressed by Starlight's resilience. She at least may be a worthy leader, and if she sees something in this particular stallion then there may be more to him than this first impression has allowed. "Very well. If it suits you and your mistress, I may stay. Then again, I do have a purpose outside of these lands. I can't promise my full devotion to a herd until I feel that purpose is fulfilled."
"Ah, good." He nods, and his expression becomes solmen at the mention of Starlight's past. She'd shared bits and pieces with him, and it seemed like she had indeed gone through a lot. "She was hesitant to join myself and another mare, but since we've gained her leadership, our numbers have grown almost daily." Saying this with a smile, he finally notices the red beads in her mane, and blinks, suddenly a bit cautious, though he doesn't outwardly show it. It's only when she mentions an outside purpose that his head raises a bit /too/ high, and he lets out a snort. "Your purpose.. wouldn't be to the two-leggeds, would it?"
Cloudshadow doesn't immediately answer, a few seconds of heavy air hanging between them for a few seconds. Her ears tilt back for a second, betraying that she's a little taken aback at his assumption. She's quick to get over it, her eyes becoming a bit steely, a flash of determination in her features. 'My purpose involves them." She admits, lifting her own head resolutely. "I look forward to the day when I can leave them in my past." She shifts her weight, side-stepping away from him slightly, casting her gaze away from him and along the ground, making herself a little more distant. Clearly this is a topic she's not eager to discuss in detail.
The silence was pretty deafening, and a step forward was taken during it. However, when Cloudshadow admitted that her purpose did involve the two-legged's, his brows furrowed and he took a step back. Recoiling, though he hadn't quite meant to, as if she carried a plague with her or something. "I see. Well.." he began, and let out a heavy sigh. Cloudshadow could not become a thriving herd member due to her own obligations, but also, he would not want to risk the safety of the other mares. Though the language barrier between the species was great enough to prevent any real danger, he didn't want her leading any of them to the herd. "Carry on with it until you are freed. You are welcome here, so long as you do not reveal our presence here." The last bit was said a bit roughly, but Lootah had been kind enough to her to not sound aggressive.
The rougher tone induces another backwards tilt of her ears, and she scuffs a hoof again almost indignantly. "Of course." She replies, a sternness in her own voice. "I wouldn't do anything to put others at risk of the two-leggeds. Not unless they chose such a risk of their own will." Cloudshadow doesn't know if she'll be able to complete the task at hand without help, but to ask for it is more than she can bring herself to do, especially to ask help of a stranger. Folly as it may seem, she'll pursue it on her own if she must. She keeps her gaze low, as if contemplating grazing, but for the moment does not partake, finding her situation enough to digest for the moment.
"Good, I like the way you think." He says, and prances around the mare carefully, not wanting to get too close so that she could kick at him if she didn't like his circling, but he wasn't being aggressive. He was just taking a better look. He'd seen a few horses who'd spent time with the two-leggeds, and they were always adorned with odd trinkets. "I'm sorry that you have to go back to them.. I would like to help you escape some day, if you would accept my help." Of course, the probability that he would get caught as well was quite high, but part of being the lead stallion included sacrifices. Not that /he'd/ get caught, himself. A fleet-footed, strong stallion like Lootah would never be caught by man.
Most of Cloudshadow's trinkets are gone by now. The warpaint has worn off, the marks of saddle and rein are faded and the feathers once tied into her mane have frayed away. Even the scars that she gained have faded, nearly invisible in her dark coat. She eyes the male again as he circles, her tail flicking as she listens to his offer, one that she was not expecting. "I couldn't ask such a thing. The danger is nothing to underestimate. I've seen that mistake made more than once." A pained look crosses her face briefly, but only hardens into more determination. "Anyway. It's not I that needs help escaping. Not anymore." She lifts her head again proudly, looking momentarily victorious with that sharp gleam in her eyes again. With a sudden brisk movement she steps off and begins to trot away towards the heart of the lowlands, a vigorous spring in her step. "Good night!" She calls the simple farewell without looking back, beads clacking softly again with her movement as she disappears into the descending veil of evening.
Lootah was far more curious about Cloudshadow's time with the two-leggeds than he let on. He wanted to know why she was kept, how she was treated, and what she was supposed to do for them. He'd seen a few times, a two-legged upon a horse's back. It was so unnatural loooking to him, and it fueled a bout of rage that he almost let slip from his mind. The painted stallion ended his prance when he was at a die, and nodded his head. If she didn't want his help now, he understood, and he wouldn't push himself too near her just yet, but he did smirk arrogantly. So arrogantly in fact, that words weren't needed. It was obvious that he thought he was invincible to the two-leggeds. The look in her eye was met with a tilt of his head, and shortly afterward, she began to trot off. Lootah stared off at her, but finally let out a chuckle, and called out as well, "Good night, and don't be too much of a stranger.