Post by Luna on Mar 25, 2010 15:54:11 GMT -5
OOC note: The leaders of Dorado have been conspicuously absent in the past few weeks. While we all have RL to attend to before RP, the herd has been stagnant as a result. This is the beginning of (hopefully) a tinyplot that will see the herd with new leadership.
Second OOC note at the bottom of the log.
Characters:
Nukpana - Mare
Luna - Mare
Currently standing in the only shelter she could find: the side of a small tree furthest from the prevailing wind, Nukpana stares off at the horizon with a thoughtful frown on her face. A thin layer of snow fell earlier, and though it's now mostly melted, everyone knows that its only a hint of what's to come. The thought of grazing a bit more while there is still time crossed her mind, but she has too many other things to think about and she's grown so tired of the dry winter grass.
Luna is in a foul mood if she ever was. She's been muttering obscenities at the weather for several days at this point,, even going so far as to practically snapping at the snowflakes earlier when they fell. Now she just stands there, taking as much shelter as she can from the tree. She's quiet, but still looking frustrated if not downright angry. Every few minutes she shifts, stomping a hoof hard into the ground or swishing her tail. She's cold, the wind has free reign of her tail and mane, and she's hating it - that much should be obvious.
What Luna is showing externally, Nukpana is feeling internally. She's generally not one to gripe and complain about things like the weather; it's something that must be borne and she's more than tough enough to bear it. But that doesn't mean she's okay with their present circumstances. Indeed, the way she looks off in the very far distance should be taken as a bad sign. At one of Luna's hoof stomps, Nukpana shakes her head and gives voice to her thought, "We could be in so many better places right now."
Luna shows off a new tendency the cold weather has brought to the surface; when she starts talking, it appears to simply be giving voice to whatever line of thought is currently occupying her mind. Thus, her response starts as such: "... of anyone, and they probably couldn't lead seahorses to water, not that they would ever ..." She stops, blinking a couple of times when she realizes she did it again. She sighs, shaking her head. "Sorry. Yes, you're right. And we SHOULD be. This is good grazing, but there's no grass in winter, nor any shelter." She raises her head a bit, staring off to the horizon, though at a different angle from the other mare. "A forest. Or caves. Anything that can keep wind and snow at bay. It's NOT THAT HARD!" Again her hindhoof thunders against the ground, splashing into the thawed snow.
Nodding her head, Nukpana is perfectly willing to voice what she's going to say next, but she gives a cautious glance around first to make sure that Luna will be the only one to hear. If it's something said between just the two of them she can deny it later if Luna decides to say it to the wrong ears. "I agree completely. I don't know /why/ nobody has challenged Starlight yet. I know she lost a foal and that's tough and she should be upset and all - I know. But this is getting ridiculous. I've half a mind to run off and manage through the winter on my own and only return just before my foal is born and hope the survivors accept my apology," she says, sounding dead serious.
Luna casts a similar glance over her shoulder. Nope, they're alone, and it's probably best that way. "Starlight barely had her cycle interrupted," she says in a low tone, eyes narrowing. "And she ended up expecting a foal from the stallion she prefers above any other. Hardly much to be sad about." Ouch, no sympathy there. It was a mating that didn't take, nothing more. "You'd do right to run and protect yourself and your unborn foal. It's what I'd do if I was a few summers younger. Sadly I'd be just as likely to succumb away from the herd as staying here." She takes a deep breath, looking off to the west, to the mountains. "We need caves, is what we do."
Any sympathy for Starlight's situation by Nukpana is actually feigned to at least give off the appearance that she cares. And so it's with mild surprise that she detects nothing of the same coming from Luna. Interesting, that! Glancing towards the mountains, Nukpana shakes her head, "I hear that there's a lot of cougars around those mountains. The forest would probably be better; I'd rather deal with wolves. Or at least anywhere there's more trees for shelter. Wouldn't be much food, but there won't be much of that anywhere unless the snow levels are light." And to judge by the coldness thus far, it's not going to be a light year. She doesn't comment at all on Luna's situation; what the old mare does is no concern of hers.
Luna doesn't really care if it'll be caves or forests or something else entirely. It'll certainly beat being the tallest thing in the area. "Cougars rarely hunt in groups," she points out simply. "Wolves are harder to avoid, though they'll both kill you dead if you encounter one." She sighs, muttering a quick succession of obscenities involving something about snow and her undertail. Good thing there're no foals about. "Starlight needs to realize she only remembers her summers here, not the winters," she finally continues the conversation. "Or so help me, I'll MAKE her remember."
Ears twisting at Luna's words, Nukpana glances her way with a thoughful expression. "Are you saying that /you/ would challenge her?" she asks, wanting to hear it said outright if that is the case. She doesn't sound at all upset by the general idea, though there is a definate hint that she's skeptical of Luna being the one in that case. Though Nukpana is unhappy with their situation as well, the thought of challenging Starlight herself hasn't crossed her mind at all. Not that she's at all loyal to Starlight right now, not by a long shot.
Luna takes in a deep breath, but the chill air makes her cough rather than continue her tirade. "Someone should, that's for certain," she growls in anger when the coughing fit subsides. "Though I wouldn't back down from smacking her head with a hoof or two if it'd make her see reason." She tosses her head, indicating the wide open plains. "We are easy prey here. We'll be exhausted not just from the hunger pangs of winter, but from standing against the wind and cold with no shelter. Give it a cycle and a pack of wolves would kill off this entire herd with ease." She turns a bit, tail flicking angrily. She's survived too much to sit and wait for the end like this. "But even if I challenge her, I'm no fool. This is going to be a hard winter, and I'm an old mare. The herd would be worse off if I took away leadership from Starlight and then perished days later." She's sounding awfully relaxed and resigned about that prospect.
"You're right," Nukpana nods in agreement, "Someone should. Though I must admit that most of the mares would probably make a worse replacement: too young, too old, too weak, too stupid." Of course, she's none of those, but even as she mentally reviews the mares of the herd, she's not on the list. There's no way that she'd even dream of challenging Starlight herself; otherwise she'd have done that rather than coming up with plans to leave the herd for the season.
Luna starts on another rant, spurred on by the truth of the other mare's words. "This is a herd of followers. Which is fine, of course, when the herd has someone who would take lead. Who would take responsibility. But Starlight ... Starlight wants to live the life that was taken away from her, everything else be damned!" She'd spit if she could. The more she thinks about it, the less she thinks of the herd's lead mare. "You know, the two of us should just take off to shelter, see who follows ..." She pauses, turning her head to look at the other mare through one eye. "Or ask who would follow. You're neither weak nor stupid, they might listen to you." In better weather she'd point out the lack of leadership experience, but now's REALLY not the time for that. There's a first time for everything, after all.
Actually, Nukpana would probably make a fine leader even without experience. She has a good head on her shoulders and wouldn't refuse help with something like that. However, "Me? I'm not at all interested in leading other mares!" she says with a tone of finality, "I have no desire to worry about other horse's problems and be expected to solve them. I'd rather live alone! Except..." She shakes her head, hide twitching as if bothered by an insect even though there's definately none of those left. She was going to say her foal, but how much she cares about that has always been negotiable.
Luna nods. While it's not the response she was hoping for, she can certainly understand not wanting to lead. It's not like she's terribly keen on it either, but if it's what it takes ... "I'd hate leaving behind those who still think Starlight deserves their loyalty," she says slowly, looking over her shoulder in the rough direction of where she last saw the so-called lead mare. Days ago. "Politics," she mutters under her breath, then returns her gaze to her co-conspirator. "Except what?" she prods, trying to sound gentle about it though her mood and the weather both act to make that hard. "Except you don't want your foal to grow up all alone, with just you for company? Foals, if anyone, do deserve a herd to grow up in."
Nodding to that, Nukpana adds, "It'd be irresponsible of me too. Living alone is a risk that I'm willing to take for myself, but to ask that of a foal..." She snorts, shaking her head. She's always been a bit conflicted about her upcoming foal; how much she actually cares for its well-being changes from day to day. Today is a good day. But as for anything else, she doesn't really care. What would happen to the other mares doesn't really bother her: her ties to the other mares have always been rather loose.
Luna looks doubtful, uncertain, possibly even conflicted. She remembers trying to be a good leader for a herd while she had a newborn foal by her side, and it wasn't easy. "Not something I'd recommend," she says slowly, thinking. "If nothing else because the foal needs someone to look over her, and then you'd never get to sleep." She shifts her weight, hooves splashing in half-snow, half-water. "We could divide duties," she suggests. "You have the youth I do not, and I have the experience gained by old age that you lack. Together we could probably lead whoever wants to get out of the elements and into shelter." She fakes a bit of a smile. "We can leave the stallions behind if you prefer."
Ears perking as Luna's words, Nukpana says, "That sounds a bit better, I suppose," though her tone still sounds doubtful. But though the idea of no stallions causes a smile, Nukpana has to shake her head, "As nice as that sounds, the other mares wouldn't have it. And we'd be seen as fair game for any random stallion that wandered by." The whole idea of talking about how it might be done has Nukpana uneasy, because even speaking hypothetically about it makes it seem too likely to happen. But after hesitating a moment she allows that, "I suppose if anyone wished to come with me, then I wouldn't stop them. But if I'm looked upon as a leader, it would be strictly until someone else can do it - anyone. Even Starlight if she gets her act together."
Luna nods a bit. Don't worry, she feels really awkward about planting the seeds of dissent like this. Going up against a herd's lead mare, it's not something done easily. Hopefully she can make it happen without a fight, though. "I wholeheartedly agree. I've had my share of being a leader, but if it is the difference between certain death and a chance at surviving ..." There's a quick shrug of her shoulders, hardly more than a nervous twitch. "Probably the best way of going about it is not to make Starlight feel threatened, or she'll lash out." She thinks for a moment, staring off into the distance. "Spread the rumor we'll be leaving north, to the forests, in search of shelter. Invite anyone who wishes to come with us to do so." She gives a bit of a nod. "That way Starlight won't feel that she's being challenged until her herd is suddenly gone."
Nodding slowly, Nukpana adds, "I know I could best her in a fight, if it came to that." And the way she says that makes it clear that at least in her own mind that's a given. "But it would risk my foal, and I have no reason to do this without it," she says, "So it's best if it's peacefully done. And I'm sure that many of the other mares would join us if they knew of that option. They can't be blind to how harsh the weather will be here in another moon."
Luna shakes her head. Only the youngest wouldn't be aware of how dangerous the weather was about to become. She can see it, the heavy, dark clouds in the distance. She knows it's gonna be a really bad one. "I'll spread the word, then," she sighs, bowing her head. "Even if I don't feel good about taking a herd away from Starlight again, it's for the best for the herd."
OOC note: Since it can be kinda hard to match online times, if you're in the herd, you can safely assume either Luna or Nukpana will be contacting you during these days, so feel free to RP as if that has already happened. When the time comes to move it would be nice if we can get as many herd members as possible online.
Second OOC note at the bottom of the log.
Characters:
Nukpana - Mare
Luna - Mare
Currently standing in the only shelter she could find: the side of a small tree furthest from the prevailing wind, Nukpana stares off at the horizon with a thoughtful frown on her face. A thin layer of snow fell earlier, and though it's now mostly melted, everyone knows that its only a hint of what's to come. The thought of grazing a bit more while there is still time crossed her mind, but she has too many other things to think about and she's grown so tired of the dry winter grass.
Luna is in a foul mood if she ever was. She's been muttering obscenities at the weather for several days at this point,, even going so far as to practically snapping at the snowflakes earlier when they fell. Now she just stands there, taking as much shelter as she can from the tree. She's quiet, but still looking frustrated if not downright angry. Every few minutes she shifts, stomping a hoof hard into the ground or swishing her tail. She's cold, the wind has free reign of her tail and mane, and she's hating it - that much should be obvious.
What Luna is showing externally, Nukpana is feeling internally. She's generally not one to gripe and complain about things like the weather; it's something that must be borne and she's more than tough enough to bear it. But that doesn't mean she's okay with their present circumstances. Indeed, the way she looks off in the very far distance should be taken as a bad sign. At one of Luna's hoof stomps, Nukpana shakes her head and gives voice to her thought, "We could be in so many better places right now."
Luna shows off a new tendency the cold weather has brought to the surface; when she starts talking, it appears to simply be giving voice to whatever line of thought is currently occupying her mind. Thus, her response starts as such: "... of anyone, and they probably couldn't lead seahorses to water, not that they would ever ..." She stops, blinking a couple of times when she realizes she did it again. She sighs, shaking her head. "Sorry. Yes, you're right. And we SHOULD be. This is good grazing, but there's no grass in winter, nor any shelter." She raises her head a bit, staring off to the horizon, though at a different angle from the other mare. "A forest. Or caves. Anything that can keep wind and snow at bay. It's NOT THAT HARD!" Again her hindhoof thunders against the ground, splashing into the thawed snow.
Nodding her head, Nukpana is perfectly willing to voice what she's going to say next, but she gives a cautious glance around first to make sure that Luna will be the only one to hear. If it's something said between just the two of them she can deny it later if Luna decides to say it to the wrong ears. "I agree completely. I don't know /why/ nobody has challenged Starlight yet. I know she lost a foal and that's tough and she should be upset and all - I know. But this is getting ridiculous. I've half a mind to run off and manage through the winter on my own and only return just before my foal is born and hope the survivors accept my apology," she says, sounding dead serious.
Luna casts a similar glance over her shoulder. Nope, they're alone, and it's probably best that way. "Starlight barely had her cycle interrupted," she says in a low tone, eyes narrowing. "And she ended up expecting a foal from the stallion she prefers above any other. Hardly much to be sad about." Ouch, no sympathy there. It was a mating that didn't take, nothing more. "You'd do right to run and protect yourself and your unborn foal. It's what I'd do if I was a few summers younger. Sadly I'd be just as likely to succumb away from the herd as staying here." She takes a deep breath, looking off to the west, to the mountains. "We need caves, is what we do."
Any sympathy for Starlight's situation by Nukpana is actually feigned to at least give off the appearance that she cares. And so it's with mild surprise that she detects nothing of the same coming from Luna. Interesting, that! Glancing towards the mountains, Nukpana shakes her head, "I hear that there's a lot of cougars around those mountains. The forest would probably be better; I'd rather deal with wolves. Or at least anywhere there's more trees for shelter. Wouldn't be much food, but there won't be much of that anywhere unless the snow levels are light." And to judge by the coldness thus far, it's not going to be a light year. She doesn't comment at all on Luna's situation; what the old mare does is no concern of hers.
Luna doesn't really care if it'll be caves or forests or something else entirely. It'll certainly beat being the tallest thing in the area. "Cougars rarely hunt in groups," she points out simply. "Wolves are harder to avoid, though they'll both kill you dead if you encounter one." She sighs, muttering a quick succession of obscenities involving something about snow and her undertail. Good thing there're no foals about. "Starlight needs to realize she only remembers her summers here, not the winters," she finally continues the conversation. "Or so help me, I'll MAKE her remember."
Ears twisting at Luna's words, Nukpana glances her way with a thoughful expression. "Are you saying that /you/ would challenge her?" she asks, wanting to hear it said outright if that is the case. She doesn't sound at all upset by the general idea, though there is a definate hint that she's skeptical of Luna being the one in that case. Though Nukpana is unhappy with their situation as well, the thought of challenging Starlight herself hasn't crossed her mind at all. Not that she's at all loyal to Starlight right now, not by a long shot.
Luna takes in a deep breath, but the chill air makes her cough rather than continue her tirade. "Someone should, that's for certain," she growls in anger when the coughing fit subsides. "Though I wouldn't back down from smacking her head with a hoof or two if it'd make her see reason." She tosses her head, indicating the wide open plains. "We are easy prey here. We'll be exhausted not just from the hunger pangs of winter, but from standing against the wind and cold with no shelter. Give it a cycle and a pack of wolves would kill off this entire herd with ease." She turns a bit, tail flicking angrily. She's survived too much to sit and wait for the end like this. "But even if I challenge her, I'm no fool. This is going to be a hard winter, and I'm an old mare. The herd would be worse off if I took away leadership from Starlight and then perished days later." She's sounding awfully relaxed and resigned about that prospect.
"You're right," Nukpana nods in agreement, "Someone should. Though I must admit that most of the mares would probably make a worse replacement: too young, too old, too weak, too stupid." Of course, she's none of those, but even as she mentally reviews the mares of the herd, she's not on the list. There's no way that she'd even dream of challenging Starlight herself; otherwise she'd have done that rather than coming up with plans to leave the herd for the season.
Luna starts on another rant, spurred on by the truth of the other mare's words. "This is a herd of followers. Which is fine, of course, when the herd has someone who would take lead. Who would take responsibility. But Starlight ... Starlight wants to live the life that was taken away from her, everything else be damned!" She'd spit if she could. The more she thinks about it, the less she thinks of the herd's lead mare. "You know, the two of us should just take off to shelter, see who follows ..." She pauses, turning her head to look at the other mare through one eye. "Or ask who would follow. You're neither weak nor stupid, they might listen to you." In better weather she'd point out the lack of leadership experience, but now's REALLY not the time for that. There's a first time for everything, after all.
Actually, Nukpana would probably make a fine leader even without experience. She has a good head on her shoulders and wouldn't refuse help with something like that. However, "Me? I'm not at all interested in leading other mares!" she says with a tone of finality, "I have no desire to worry about other horse's problems and be expected to solve them. I'd rather live alone! Except..." She shakes her head, hide twitching as if bothered by an insect even though there's definately none of those left. She was going to say her foal, but how much she cares about that has always been negotiable.
Luna nods. While it's not the response she was hoping for, she can certainly understand not wanting to lead. It's not like she's terribly keen on it either, but if it's what it takes ... "I'd hate leaving behind those who still think Starlight deserves their loyalty," she says slowly, looking over her shoulder in the rough direction of where she last saw the so-called lead mare. Days ago. "Politics," she mutters under her breath, then returns her gaze to her co-conspirator. "Except what?" she prods, trying to sound gentle about it though her mood and the weather both act to make that hard. "Except you don't want your foal to grow up all alone, with just you for company? Foals, if anyone, do deserve a herd to grow up in."
Nodding to that, Nukpana adds, "It'd be irresponsible of me too. Living alone is a risk that I'm willing to take for myself, but to ask that of a foal..." She snorts, shaking her head. She's always been a bit conflicted about her upcoming foal; how much she actually cares for its well-being changes from day to day. Today is a good day. But as for anything else, she doesn't really care. What would happen to the other mares doesn't really bother her: her ties to the other mares have always been rather loose.
Luna looks doubtful, uncertain, possibly even conflicted. She remembers trying to be a good leader for a herd while she had a newborn foal by her side, and it wasn't easy. "Not something I'd recommend," she says slowly, thinking. "If nothing else because the foal needs someone to look over her, and then you'd never get to sleep." She shifts her weight, hooves splashing in half-snow, half-water. "We could divide duties," she suggests. "You have the youth I do not, and I have the experience gained by old age that you lack. Together we could probably lead whoever wants to get out of the elements and into shelter." She fakes a bit of a smile. "We can leave the stallions behind if you prefer."
Ears perking as Luna's words, Nukpana says, "That sounds a bit better, I suppose," though her tone still sounds doubtful. But though the idea of no stallions causes a smile, Nukpana has to shake her head, "As nice as that sounds, the other mares wouldn't have it. And we'd be seen as fair game for any random stallion that wandered by." The whole idea of talking about how it might be done has Nukpana uneasy, because even speaking hypothetically about it makes it seem too likely to happen. But after hesitating a moment she allows that, "I suppose if anyone wished to come with me, then I wouldn't stop them. But if I'm looked upon as a leader, it would be strictly until someone else can do it - anyone. Even Starlight if she gets her act together."
Luna nods a bit. Don't worry, she feels really awkward about planting the seeds of dissent like this. Going up against a herd's lead mare, it's not something done easily. Hopefully she can make it happen without a fight, though. "I wholeheartedly agree. I've had my share of being a leader, but if it is the difference between certain death and a chance at surviving ..." There's a quick shrug of her shoulders, hardly more than a nervous twitch. "Probably the best way of going about it is not to make Starlight feel threatened, or she'll lash out." She thinks for a moment, staring off into the distance. "Spread the rumor we'll be leaving north, to the forests, in search of shelter. Invite anyone who wishes to come with us to do so." She gives a bit of a nod. "That way Starlight won't feel that she's being challenged until her herd is suddenly gone."
Nodding slowly, Nukpana adds, "I know I could best her in a fight, if it came to that." And the way she says that makes it clear that at least in her own mind that's a given. "But it would risk my foal, and I have no reason to do this without it," she says, "So it's best if it's peacefully done. And I'm sure that many of the other mares would join us if they knew of that option. They can't be blind to how harsh the weather will be here in another moon."
Luna shakes her head. Only the youngest wouldn't be aware of how dangerous the weather was about to become. She can see it, the heavy, dark clouds in the distance. She knows it's gonna be a really bad one. "I'll spread the word, then," she sighs, bowing her head. "Even if I don't feel good about taking a herd away from Starlight again, it's for the best for the herd."
OOC note: Since it can be kinda hard to match online times, if you're in the herd, you can safely assume either Luna or Nukpana will be contacting you during these days, so feel free to RP as if that has already happened. When the time comes to move it would be nice if we can get as many herd members as possible online.