Herd Reunion

[Pavane]

Strawberry - male adolescent horse
Dandelion - female horse
Miel - female horse
Sunrise - male horse
Orion - male horse

---Grassy Plains---

Strawberry stands a ways from the bulk of the herd, he has grown a great deal and while not yet an adult his musculature is indeed impressive already. He browses the grass right now, his eyes half-lidded in a distant sort of expression while he eats. From time to time he glances around as if making sure everyone else is still nearby. His tail lazily sweeps from side to side while he munches, looking like he hasn't a care in the world. And really he doesn't, he has no responsiblities, he's grown big enough that so long as he keeps an eye out there isn't much to fear, he remains a member of the herd, all in all a pretty sweet deal for the adolescent stallion.

Dandelion shivers slightly from the chill of a nippy early winter breeze. She grazes heavily as well, having been through enough winters to know it may not be long before the waning grass is buried under several feet of snow.

Miel has found herself with roaming hooves for much of the summer, but now, with winter coming, she's drifted back toward the herd. She approaches from the southwest at an easy amble, pausing when she notes a particularly good-looking cump of grass to eat some. Winter's coming, after all, and while the smaller horse needs less food than some, it's still good to graze while she can.

Strawberry happens to notice the mare as she approtches from a southerly direction, once he has swallowed his whinnies at her from where he stands, letting her know he spotted her and alerting the others around him to the oft missing female's return. It's less an alert then a simple acknowlagement of her arrival. Then he dips his head again for another mouthful, his voice has deepened over the summer and spring considerably as well. Yes, Strawberry is very nearly an adult now.

Dandelion whinnies greetings to her herdmate as she approaches and casts a gaze to her son. "Long time, no see, Miel," she nickers. "How are you?" she asks as Miel gets near.

Miel lifts up her head at the sound of the calls, but she takes the time to chew before answering with more than a tail-flick. It's not like there's any hurry; the herd is unconcerned, and so is she. She whickers back, and takes another mouthful to chew as she continues to amble toward the herd. "Has been," she agrees. "I'm fine. How're you and the herd?"

Strawberry returns most of his focus to his eating, his ears do perk. If Strawberry has any vices at all it's listening in on the conversations of others. This he indulges in now, listing to his mother and the other mare talk while indulging his stomach. Hey, he's a big boy! Gotta pack on those extra pounds before a real bad cold snap comes. It takes a lot of food to fuel a frame like his as well. So for now he watches and listens until he either feels the need to add somethig or until he is addressed, it's really none of his business anyway.

Dandelion answers back, "Its been quiet. The herd has been ... scattered. A bit too much, I think, with winter upon us again."

The advantages of being small and wiry! Miel is already in pretty good shape for the winter, and it'll take less food for her to keep going than for the bigger horses of the herd. She doesn't seem to mind being spied on by Strawberry... it's not like this is a deep secret conversation, anyhow. "Summer made everyone a bit skittish. The fire, the sickness... wouldn't be surprised if some of them ran to other herds, or stopped thinking and got caught."

Strawberry rumbles softly at his mother's worrys only now intergecting a comment, "They'll come back Mom, or they've likely found some other herd like Miel says. If it's not one of those two things then they are likely already beyond help." He nods at the small horse before taking another bite, "Hello Miel...you got smaller."

Dandelion asks, "Have you seen other herd members lately?"

Miel snorts, amused. "You got bigger," she says to Strawberry. "Sure you aren't half draft? Maybe Sirocco's get?" Though, in truth, this herd has always tended toward the larger horses. Fewer mustangs, more escapees from the plough. She looks back to Dandelion, and gives a shrug with a toss of her mane. "Not many. Haven't been looking."

Strawberry chuckles a bit at Miel's ribbing of him, "I grew muscles, got a bit taller. Truth be told I've been trying to keep my marish figure. If I gotta fight sometime strength is all well and good, but strength coupled with speed and stamina is what is gonna give me an edge." Strawberry doesn't expound on just what he plans to be fighting, he gives the feeling of it being a just-in-case sort of plan. "As for who my dad is, only mom'd know the answer to that question." He then turns his eyes to his mother as he says this, and in a teasing tone asks, "So mom, is Sunrise really my daddy?"

Dandelion bobs her head. "Yes, Sunrise sired you ... but Orion is our herd stallion, and yours. Orion is your proper guardian," she nickers.

Miel snorts again, shaking her head at Strawberry. "You'll have to show me next time wolves come calling. I'm just a simple mare, don't understand those fancy words." She flicks her tail, smirking a bit, and tilts her head at the exchange between son and mother. "Is that Sunrise still hanging around, after he's gone and made his own competition?" She glances to Strawberry, making it clear what she means.

Strawberry nods at Miel's first statement, "I'd be happy ta show you my moves." He replies with a small smirk, then turning to listen to his mother he tosses his mane, "Orion saved me from that boar when I was little, I owe him alot. And I am not ungrateful for him saving my life when I was small and not yet come into my strength. But I am strong now, and maybe he is too, but I've begun to think that maybe he isn't quite as strong as I am." Strawberry says this matter-of-factly, there isn't the tone of a challange in his voice, just an observation, wether it is true or not remains to be seen. He can't hide the grin that comes to his face as Meil glances at him again after her second statement, Yes, he knew what she meant.

Sunrise is around, but as always keeping a safe distance. It can get frustrating some days, having to stay on the horizon rather than socializing with the herd. Still, it's the price for his choice of lifestyle. As it is, though, he's slowly making his way closer to the small group, close enough to hear his name mentioned in passing. "Talking about me or the turn of day?"

Dandelion snorts and shakes her head at her son. "My biggest complaint with Orion is his youth and experience, Strawberry. You need to earn and acquire experience of your own before you are ready to challenge a herd stallion. You are still a yearling," she reminds him. She nickers to Sunrise as he passes into range. "Yes, Sunrise, you're the neigh on everyone's lips as always," she mocks with a chuckle-nicker.

Oh, yes. Miel can see the resemblance... actually, more hear it, really. She smirks, and her tail swishes as she lowers her head to snag a little flower that's somehow managed to survive the frost and other horses. Half-icy, yes, but she still chews it contemplatively. Her ear flicks as she listens to Strawberry, and when she speaks, her tone is serious instead of the teasing of before. "Winter is one test of that. Wait until spring for others." During the winter, when the wolves and cougars start to think maybe horse is an easy meal, is not the time she'd like to see stallions challenging each other and maybe both ending up injured. Speaking of that resemblance... oh, hey. Here's Sunrise, up to his usual tricks. It's like she's never been gone! She tosses her mane, and smirks.

Strawberry shakes his head and the smile is gone from his face, "I'm not going to challange Orion, I never planned on it. I was just joking with you both." He turns and just before greeting his father he mutters softly, "I didn't mean to make it sound serious." Then he nods at Sunrise and snorts, "Hello Dad, surprised to see you venture so close, though maybe I shouldn't be." He lifts his head high and glances around, finding Orion clearly nowhere nearby.

Sunrise gives a quick little arch of neck and flag of tail, muscles standing out clearly under his golden hide. He looks a little shaggier than usual in his winter coat, but there's no mistaking his identity or intentions as he offers each mare a greeting nicker. "Glad to hear I don't have to be near to keep my reputation up to date," he retorts at Dandelion, sounding a bit like his reputation is one to be proud of. His son is offered a nicker as well, though one more reserved for other males than mares.

Dandelion nickers to Miel, "Hopefully, you'll stay. Winters can be brutally cold, and I think chances for surviving are increased if whomever is still in the herd stays close together." To Sunrise, she smirks. "Nah, Orion does a good job of writing your reputation for you."

Miel nods to Strawberry as he disclaims challenging, and gives herself a stretch and a full-body shake. She grazes for a moment longer as the others banter among themselves, taking a moment to chew before nodding to Dandelion. "Winter's a good time for company, so long as there's enough fodder to go around."

Strawberry falls silent as his parents begin to trade witty comments and digs, he listens attentively, truth be told he's rarely seen his parents together. He finds their interaction amusing to say the least, and for more then a moment wonders at the chances of his own birth. He then counts himself lucky to be around. He has known his mother more then his father, but Sunrise has had the off and on visit with him. Still, this is enlightening to the young stallion.

Sunrise grins mischievously at Dandelion, but then again, does he ever grin in any other way than one suggesting life is all a game? He gives the colt a quick once-over and nods. "Could do worse than showing off what kind of foal they'd be able to get," he muses, mostly to himself. Hopefully that's not all his son is to him, a walking billboard. "I trust both you lovely mares are well despite the horrid temperatures?" he continues, turning his head to face Miel.

A form is slowly making its way towards where the herd normally stays, seems the lead stallion is on his way back to check on everyone after a long trip around the edge of the 'border' that is considered herd land so to speak. His movement are steady as he trots along, tail flicking back and forth with a faint snort escaping him at times. Ears flick forward and his breath can been seen thanks to the cooler temperature all around. His gaze drifts over the few around, a loud greeting whinny escaping him as he moves closer.

Dandelion's muzzle lifts and she returns Orion's whinny with one of her own. Aww, is Sunrise going to retreat now? But the jibes were just getting fun ...

It's a family reunion! Miel takes another mouthful of grass, answering Sunrise's question about her status with a vaguely-amused snort and more sounds of crunching. She lifts her head at the sound of Orion's call, and after a bit more chewing she returns it.

Strawberry is more then a little amused by the brush off his dad gets from the two mares, then when the herd stallion appears he glances sidelong at his father. A little surprised not to simply see his tail as the older male rushes off. But then Orion just made himself known, Sunrise may not be staying much longer. He offers his own greeting back to the herd stallion as Orion draws nearer. " See ya around dad." He comments dryly to his father.

Sunrise narrows his eyes at the appearing shape of the herd stallion, and takes a couple of steps back to bring him out of the most immediate vicinity of the two mares. He's got no plans for a fight, no matter the outcome he'd lose. Defeat a herd stallion you get the herd and the responsibility, lose against him and you get humiliated. No, he's playing it safe.

Family reunion indeed. Orion does catch sight of Sunrise and watches him while he moves ever closer. His head lifts and ears perked forward while his tail lashes a bit higher across his flanks. He won't make a big fuss over Sunrise being here as long he behaves himself, the moment the other stallion tries to cause a problem the lead stallion will be kicking him to the curb so to speak. A warm smile is offered to Miel whom he paues next to. "Hello, how is everyone doing? Especially with winter upon us once again." A glance is offerd over to Starwberry and he offers a soft nicker to him glad to see him it would seem. His gaze turns over to Sunrise once he steps back, and a simple nod is offered to the other.. See he is being civil, much more then he needs to be.

Dandelion breaks the silence with a discussion of, what else, the weather? "I think this chill breeze signals winter's arrival," she comments. "Has there been any sign of Cliantha?" she asks. "We know how cold and brutal the winters can be ... the herd should huddle together, I think," she says, flicking her tail as a colder gust blusters through, casting the hairs of her mane and tail to one side.

"Winter. Winter is what brings us together..." She snorts. "There's something strange about that. Worst time of the year, and that's what it takes to make us have a chat." Not that she's one to talk, having spent much of the summer roaming out along faded trails and amid rocky outcrops. "Still. We all seem to have made it. That's a start." She smiles back to Orion, and her tail gives a slow sway before looking over to Dandelion. She gives no answer about Cliantha - not that _she'd_ have heard, anyway.

Sunrise sends Orion a wry smirk, eyes quickly moving from Dandelion to Strawberry and back once he's sure to have his attention. Oh yes, he's being civil as far as the rest are likely to seem, but there are multiple ways of being provocative. "Sorry," he replies to Dandelion's question. "Been keeping to myself - as I'm supposed to - and you are actually the first I've seen in ... at least since the trees still had leaves."

Strawberry nods to Orion as the older stallion arrives and surprisingly doesn't try to run Sunrise off. Strawberry offers no further comment himself however, mearly contenting himself with some light grazing and listening to the chatter from the others. He does eyeball his mother however with a look that speaks volumes. The weather? Really mom?

"I have not seeing Cliantha from over a moon now." Orion offeres while his tail flicks a few times, his gaze staying on Sunrise a few moments more before he pulls his attention away and back to Miel. "An yes it is good that we have made it, an can thus help one another during the winter." His gaze drift skywards and he takes in a few breaths of the passing breeze. "I suppose time will tell how bad of a winter we are to expect."

Dandelion looks concerned and asks, "Whom else besides us we five have been seen recently?"

Miel tilts her head, and nods. So it's not just her who's been wandering, apparently... Hmm. "Perhaps she found part of her old herd again." She did seem to miss them a great deal, after all.

Strawberry only now adds to the conversation, "It seems most of us have been wandering. At least I assume so. I've been mostly sleeping, eating, and training my body. So I really haven't noticed the way others come and go. Cliantha could have trotted right by me yesterday and I wouldn't have been able to tell you if it was her or some other mare." Strawberry swallows and then tosses his head, "I suppose if Orion wants me too I could go outside the herd borders and see if I can run some of them down. I'm not full sized yet, but I may be big enough." The youngest stallion offers with a rather bland expression.

Sunrise looks momentarily concerned, he's pretty sure he should have spotted at least one or two mares straying far enough from the herd to be lost, just by coincidence, but it's not an expression he cares to keep for long. "Don't bother," he nickers to the colt. "You have no idea where to start looking, you're as likely to find a bear den as whatever herd they got mixed up with. Especially in winter, the blizzards here get bad enough you can't even see your own tail while scratching your hip." Is that ... concern for the youngster? He must be getting old.

Orion nods as he hears Miel. "That is possible.. There was talk of some of them being not all that far away after all." He looks towards Starwberry, ears perking an he smirks a moment. "Not at all. If Cliantha wishes she will find a way back to the herd, if not we will not go looking for her.. At least not without some sign that she is nearby." He will not risk anyone in the herd to just go searching like that.

Dandelion hurrs authoritatively, in harmonious agreement with Sunrise and Orion on this with the extra authority of being his mother. "No, Strawberry, you are too young. Without Luna or other soothsayers, we have no way to predict a sudden storm upon us. Once winter has fallen, and it has today, the herd needs to stick together. Orion and Cliantha ... or whomever leads in her stead ... will guide the herd as they see fit to search, but keep the herd together. There's no sense in risking more getting lost to find those that are already lost."

Miel smirks a little. So much concern over the young stallion.... and he's probably just looking for a chance to prove himself. "Just wait until the storms start. They'll come running back gladly, just to stop shivering." She peers up at Strawberry, and then over at Orion. "Now that's a good use for a big stallion. Windbreaks!" She chuckles.

Sunrise thinks for a moment, then gives a toss of his head in a generally southern direction. "It's possible she went home to see if there was anything she could do for her birth herd after all that trouble, and just ... forgot to tell anyone." Doesn't sound too likely, a lead mare wouldn't forget to mention she's leaving the herd indefinitely, but it might serve to hold the colt in place. He smirks over at Miel, ears perking suggestively. "I'll gladly keep you covered from the wind." He shouldn't make such wordplays with the herd stallion standing nearby, probably.

Strawberry looks to his father, then to Orion, then at his mother as he is nearly unanimously voted to remain here, his offer to help turned gently aside he simply shrugs, "Well whatever you all think is best." He turns his face away from the biting wind for a moment before looking back at the group and tossing his mane to try and get it back into place again, "It'll be a pity if Cliantha decides to stay gone, I owe her. Can't really pay it back if she isn't around anymore." He remarks calmly before looking at his father again, "Hmmm..." is all he offers, he had no intention of going against the heard's decision, if he was the rebelious sort he'd have simply gone without asking.

Orion chuckles softly as he hears Miel and winks at her. "Of course.. Anytime." There is a pause and he sends a faint glance over towards Sunrise eyeing him a moment with a slight stomp of a hoof. Seems he wasn't too impessed with that comment. A slight nod is seen as he hears Strawberry. "I understand how you feel.. Perhaps we can do a little searching around the area together?"

Dandelion bobs her head. "A blizzard could strike tomorrow, or maybe not all winter, but the risk is great, so its best we stick together, never venture alone, always with a partner, preferrably with the herd as a whole. None of us should wander off too far alone, I think," she says. She glances at Miel. "Kind of silly, until others come, Miel and I are the only two mares," she remarks, trying to assess the herd situation. "For whatever my voice is worth, I vote the herd huddle and move about together, no one wandering out of sight of the rest, to try to find our scattered herdmates."

Miel snorts at Sunrise's suggestion - oh, she's sure he would. He'd just _love_ to - but smiles to Orion when he suggests the same thing, minus the being Sunrise. Er, the innuendo. Oh wait - same thing! She tilts her head to listen to the further discussion, and hmms. "If it's a harsh winter, we can make for the forest like we did my first winter here. More shelter... though more wolves."

Sunrise isn't trying to impress Orion, obviously. Why would he do that? He has no intent of challenging him, and he knows his place just outside the herd is safe - better him there to warn if a pack of hungry wolves show up, than the hungry pack of wolves. "Yes, you two head off, you can teach him a bit about being a stallion," he suggests, taking great care to be sufficiently vague about who he's addressing, Strawberry or Orion. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of the mares while you're away." Always that half-mocking tone like he doesn't really give a damn. He doesn't even seem particularly disappointed at Miel's obvious favoritism - that's just the way things are.

Strawberry cants his ears back and nods at Orion, "Well if you think it will do any good I'd be willing to help all I can. But Mom was right a bit ago when she pointed out that we don't know what direction any of them may have taken. Even wrose we don't know exactly when they disappeared either. There may be hoof prints or there may not be. And if Meil is right then it might be better to stay where we are in case any lost members of the herd come looking for us. And that would help concerve our strength if we had to fight off wolves or cougars later. If things degenerate to the point that I am having to help with that I don't think much of our chances." He states. Not trying to be wishy-washy, but some very good points have been made since he made his offer. He does eye the two older stallions, he's young, but he's not so young as to not catch every little innuendo and side comment. He glances at Miel and his mother and then rolls his eyes slightly, muttering something to himself under his breath. Who it's directed at is unclear, but it doesn't sound complementary.

Dandelion grunts, bends her ears back, and flicks her tail in frustration. "If we make for the forest, we'll be less likely to find herdmates versus the vast plains enabling us to see farther ... but we can shelter from the winter better," she finally says, shifting the subject from the stallions verbally tug-of-warring over the mares.

Orion nods to what Miel says on the forest. "Indeed.. The forest is a good place, though there is plenty of dangers there to say the least." Hearing Sunrise a faint snort is seen and he glances towards him thinly a moment, his ears lowering a hair and he steps forward a few steps with his head lowering a moment. "I never said I would be going far.." He states with a rather firm tone with a flick of his ear towards Dandelion and nods to Strawberry. "I understand..An we will figure something out."

Miel smirks at Sunrise's comment, and tosses her mane. "Hey, I know. You go find the other mares," she says to the bachelor, "...and then you'll have them all to yourself on the way back here." She grins a bit, and then tilts her head to listen to the further discussion of the forest. "It's too early to head that way anyhow. River's not frozen, and it's too cold to swim."

Sunrise smirks at Orion. "Oh, I thought you said they could be far away by now, surely you wouldn't only give a cursory check for your missing mares and then shrug them off as if they have no value to the herd?" His comment is quickly derailed by Miel, though, and he has to think fast to keep on the same track. "But then who would be here to watch out for dangers missed by the aloof one you call your herd stallion?" he continues to her. The thought is interesting, though. Perhaps if they haven't shown up by spring he'll actually go looking for them, there's no point for him to do that during the cold months. The weather is like the mares' mood, cold and unforgiving.

Dandelion snorts and laughs. "Yeah, I'm sure Cliantha would love attention from Sunrise," she whinny-laughs mockingly.

Strawberry rumbles thoughtfully in his chest before commenting, "I'd rather not go into the forest myself if given the option, to great a chance for a cougar or some other cat to drop on my back from a tree. Wouldn't it be better if we could find some bluff or rocky outcropping to shelter in the lee of? That would give us three routes of escape if wolves or something else came at us, and only one point above us to have to keep watch on. Rather then a whole bunch of branches." He shakes his head again, "But again you are the ones with experiance, I'll do whatever you decide is best. And if the others are gone then they are just gone. It gains us nothing to risk what we have left...sad as it is." Strawberry states flatly.

The mare's mood is not the only one affected by the weather it seems, as Orion is not amused by Sunrise's comments. "I said it was possible they was no where around here." He states with a thin tone as he eyes the older stallion thinly. "I was looking for them, which is one reason why I wasn't here having to listen to your constent comments." There is a slam of his front hoof while he moves forward, head lowered more and ears once again back upon his head. "If you keep ating like a colt I'm going to treat you like one Sunrise."

Sunrise cocks his head to the side at Orion's last remark. "And how is that, exactly?" he asks. "Overbearing, lenient, tolerant? I must say, you are a good role model for a future herd stallion." He even sounds sincere as he says that, but he wouldn't be who he is if he stopped talking there. Oh no, the rogue just has to add that little prick of a needle to his words. "Longing for colts of your own since you want to start treating me as one, too?"

Dandelion snorts, flattens her ears and rolls her eyes. "Both of you are behaving like colts!" she hurrs in frustration. She shakes her head, looks to Strawberry and explains, "Deer tend to fare better in the forest, as they are nimble and can escape by leaping over briars, and rely on agility whilst our strengths are our size, bulk, and galloping speed, so we tend to fare better in wider, more open areas. The trees offer protection from cold wind, but snow drifts can get dangerously deep near them, its easy to fall through a soft spot near a tree and be stuck in snow well over our heads."

Strawberry takes a few steps back from the other two stallions, seeing clearly long before arrival at the platform just where this crazytrain is headed. He does make the gesture of shouldering his mother aside and standing silently between her and the confrontation. Dandelion is likely to hear her son mutter softly, "Brainless and unforgivable..." His ears do cant towards his mother and he continues their conversation. "I imagined so, thats why I suggested the bluff or outcropping. But you are right, those are even more likely to develop deep drifts. I suppose our best option is just to turn our backs to the wind and stay in the open."

"Overbearing?.." Orion states with a snort. "I've dealt with you prancing around my herd acting like a stupid fool and treating them as such. I would call that very damn lenient of your actions." There is a slight pause an while Sunrise puts in his last jab the larger stallion is darting towards him rather quickly, with a great snort and snapping of powerful blunt teeth.

Like colts? Nah. They're acting like stallions. Miel snorts slightly, but all she does is take a step back out of the way. She's got no intention of getting between the larger males, even if she does have her favorite.

Sunrise looks like he got just what he wanted when Orion charges at him, the older stallion obviously having been ready for exactly such a frontal assault. He turns, giving his shoulder to take the brunt of the attack before rearing up, hooves flailing (mostly) harmlessly in the air in a warning display. "Well it's true, isn't it?" he taunts, making a show of looking around quickly. "No other colts here but mine." Well, on the positive end of the scale he's finally officially admitting paternity. That's ... something, I guess.

Dandelion reaches out with a forehoof to try and pull her son, standing between herself and the sparring stallions, farther away from their jousting. She flattens her ears, thoroughly unimpressed by their adolescent hooficuffs.

Dandelion's gesture is a bit pointless however. Strawberry has begun walking away from the spectacle. A deep rumble of disgust in his chest as he grumbles, "Idiocy." he seems to hold nothing but contempt for both the other stallions now. troting quite a ways away from them to resume eating. Let them beat one another brains out as far as he is concerned, he couldn't care less.

Orion doesn't pay any attentions to the others, his attention is solely on Sunrise now while he goes to bite and pull against the other stallion's shoulder while trying to slam his side upon Sunrise's as well. The hooves fliailing are seen and felt but he is not about to back down. His head pulls to the side and his backleg is sent flying towards Sunrise in a hard striking motion. "He may be your colt but this is my herd until I die or someone better then the likes of you try to take it from me!" He snorts out with a loud whinne escaping him. If Cliantha was still here there would have been other youngesters around, not that he is going to bring that up at the moment.

Sunrise is quick on his hooves, dancing sideways on his hindlegs even while bringing his forelegs back down on solid ground, and so the kick only grazes his hip, pulling a few hairs loose and leaving a mark, but without doing any real damage. "And what will be left then? The sons of other stallions you were neither strong, nor smart enough to keep from 'your' mares?" 'Your' is said with as much sarcasm as he can muster. He prances sideways, his neck arching so his muzzle practically touches his chest, muscles rippling under his hide. Not his usual showing off for mares, this is about proving his worth against another stallion.

Dandelion grunts in irritation ... maybe the stallions will do the mares a favor and bite or kick each other into mutual geldingdom. She grazes grass, her ears flat, not caring to witness their spectacle.

Strawberry likewise ignores the confrontation, the entire episode impacting him not at all, well besides freeing him of anything resebling respect for either of the adult males.

Orion rears up onto his hindhooves, large front hooves flying out towards Sunrise to strike hard upon the other stallion. Seems he is done with words and wants nothing more then to see Sunrise gone from his sight. Blunt teeth are snapped out again at the other stallion, this time for a ear while his head swings to the side.

At least one of the mares is keeping an eye on things. Miel's not overly concerned, and she's hardly frightened - about the only danger is one of the stallions accidentally falling on her, since neither would intentionally hurt a mare. This is between the two of them, and she's far enough back out of the way. Either way, the herd will go on...

Sunrise is an experienced fighter. Sparring against colts his own age when he was young, chasing off rivals for a couple of years when he did a stint as a herd stallion, then a couple of bachelor bands and finally here? Yeah, he knows how to fight. He rears up to meet Orion in the air, again giving him his side though this time to press in against him. It's hard to bite at someone leaning on you, and the most the other stallion's teeth are likely to find is his thick mane rather than an ear, especially when he holds his head up high to show just how big he really is.

Dandelion takes no part in the fight. "Don't tear up the sod," she complains in a cold tone, probably unhearable over grunts and hoof-clashings, grazing as hard as she can to build up bulk as the chill wind continues.

Strawberry has begun watching the fight now, but it's with a cold look in his eyes, finally muttering just loud enough to be heard by his mother and Meil, "Hmm, hopefully they'll kill each other...with any luck." Whats perhaps even more chilling then the fact that he said it, is that he both looks and sounds like he means it. It's an honest sentiment from the adolescent.

Orion has had his own expierence fighting, and then his just stubborn not wanting to give in, and he won't be starting that now. He shifts on his hooves, careful of his footing in the process. Once he has hold of a piece of Sunrise, even if its his mane he drops down to all four hooves and gives his head a good twist to the side while still olding onto the mane. Sunrise may act bigger then his size but Orion is bigger all around so he can push his weight around without trying to look big.

Miel snorts at Strawberry's comment. "Then you'd better be prepared to get that pretty hide of yours clawed, hadn't you?" After all, that's why a herd has stallions - to defend the mares, either as herd stallion or wider-ranging bachelor. While Miel isn't so unfond of them as Orion's dam was, she's still got a healthy dose of skepticism about the entire male sex, with limited (and partial) exceptions.

Sunrise also learned to fight dirty. Forced down on all fours with his head twisted around towards the other stallion he presses in against him, flank against flank, hip against hip - and kicks. Granted, he could put more damage behind it, it's not like his hindquarters lack for muscles, but he's not aiming to kill whether directly or indirectly through a broken leg. Still, hoof against leg is bound to hurt like hell, which is exactly what he's counting on to make the other stallion at the very least let go of him.

Instead of hoof against a thin part of Orion's leg is hits into a thicker area which does hurt but at least takes most of the blunt force. He does let go of Sunrise's mane, pulling his head back to try an slam his shoulder and neck into Sunrise to try and push him off balance in the process. He does a slight half step, not far enough away to give Sunrise to much room to land a better kick upon him though.

Strawberry flicks an ear at Miel and shakes his head, "Hm, It'd be worth it." Is his reply, his eyes cold and hard as he watches. unfased by the idea.

Miel simply snorts, and gives her mane a toss, lowering her head for another bite of grass.

Sunrise spins away from the other stallion, giving one last badly aimed kick backwards with both hooves before putting some distance to him, at least a few body lengths. He stops and turns, ready to take whatever else may be coming his way, but simultaneously not wanting to get into a bigger fight. As his pose way back suggested, any fight is going to be lose-lose for him even if ... no, when he wins.

Dandelion continues grazing, pseudo-ignoring the stallions aside from a continued ear-flat-backing and irritated grunts now and then.

Orion turns about, the last badly aimed kick grazes across his side while he eyes the other stallion. A snort escapes him and he paces forward, head lowered slightly and tail lashes about. He hears the muttering and murmurs from the others but doesn't give them a thought at the moment while he eyes Sunrise. "I suggest you get while you still can.." This said with a stomping of his front hooves.

Strawberry returns to his grazing as well, maintaining his air of disgust at the other two males, but feeling no need to comment on it. The entire ridiculous episode was completely and totally beyond forgiveness.

Sunrise snorts, two white clouds escaping his nostrils. "Fine," he snaps at the other stallion, tail lashing angrily as deep inside he can't entirely fight back the urge to fight over the two mares. "But you know I won't be far, and you know you'd rather have ME here, known and somewhat predictable, than a whole bachelor band sneaking up on your herd this spring." He snorts again, hoof scraping at the ground a couple of times before he turns, trotting off away from the group.

[Pavane]

Dandelion snorts. "Great way to pull the herd together," she grunts, tearing up muzzlefuls of waning grass.

Orion follows after a few steps, watching Sunrise thinly in the process. "I guess we're seen come spring." This said with a thin snappish tone. His tail lashes about behind him, ears slowly perking forward while he waits to see what Sunrise really might done as he scrapes across the ground. Another snort escapes him and he waits for the other to move off far enough before turning to move back towards the three. "I don't need your comments right now Dandelion." He states with a thin tone towards the mare, no he would never harm a mare but he is not going to allow them to walk all over him either. "Sunrise has been asking for that for a long time. IF he really chooses to be with this herd he can speak to me about it in a few days."

Strawberry says nothing now that things seem to have settled down, but he pointedly does not look at Orion, nor the retreating form of his own father. Instead he walks slowly over to the river and begins to engage in his favorate activity, admiring himself in the water. However his ears are canted backward to catch any discussion behind him.

Miel takes a sideways step, and a mouthful of grazing. She glances over to Dandelion, and her ears flit back briefly. "What herd? Perhaps you should ask Sunrise how many he's stolen away. He might keep them on an island somewhere."

Orion pauses once he is back next to Miel, a glance offered to his old friend and then he looks to Dandelion. Well Miel does have a point in the matter.. An is also proves that his allowed other stallions to pick away on his family. A glance is sent towards Starwberry before a faint sigh escapes him while he looks back to Miel. "Suppose that didn't go over too well hum?"

Dandelion remains flat-eared, not pleased with Orion, not that she's pleased with Sunrise, either. She grunts in irritation, returning none of Orion's words, except "And now we are four."

Strawberry preens as he turns this way and that, looking at his reflection, all the while his tail flicks back and forth as he attempts to decide something internally, On the one hoof he owes Orion and Cliantha his life, something the young stallion takes very seriously. On the other hoof he has lost all respect for the very stallion he owes. And when he really thinks about it, it was not the fight that killed that respect, it was the sheer macho stupidity of it. Strawberry's gratitude currently wars with the revulsion he feels towards the other two stallions. And as he looks at his own reflection the young male finds himself on the cusp of a very huge decision...does he wish to remain in this sort of company?

Miel lifts her head and gives a mane-tossing sort of shrug, looking to Orion. "I've seen worse." She smiles slightly - apparently not all her wandering has been alone, and she's seen another herds in that time. Other stallions... no wonder things are tense here, with more stallions around than mares.

Orion offers a soft smile back to Miel and noses at her neck friendly like before casting a glance to Dandelion. "An.. what would you have me do then Dandelion? I'm the lead stallion after all, I can not allow the other stallion's to walk all over me and get away with everything." He states with a faint tone before glancing towards Strawberry.

Dandelion snorts. "Foals respond to arguments with fights. I would hope for a bit more maturity from one who purports to be our leader, but ... I guess I set my standards too high. You may be big physically, but in maturity and behavior, you still make me think colt!"

Strawberry half turns his head and looks back at Orion with one eye, glaring. It's not a challanging look, but one of mingled disappointment and anger. He opens his mouth when the older stallion makes eye contact, then he shuts it, deciding not to say...whatever it was he was going to say and instead goes back to looking at his own reflection with a snort of derision.

Orion is quiet as she hears Dandelion, a slight glance sent the ground as it sounds like something his mother would say. A faint breath escapes him. "I suppose we can't all be as /perfect/ as you Dandelion." He states with a thin tone towards the mare watching her madly for a few moments. "If you have such a problem being with me perhaps you would like to go off with Sunrise then?" There is something that is keeping Dandelion here other then him after all. He casts a slight glance towards Strawberry catching the glare and lifts a brow. "Speak your mind Strawberry, I never stopped you before."

Miel arches her neck slightly at Orion's nuzzle, and though her ears flick to Dandelion's words and Orion's retort, she doesn't speak.

Dandelion snorts, "So you would exile me, too!?" she stammers. Her ears flatten even more tightly from irritation to anger. She neighs a string of equine cursewords, turning to face Orion, rearing onto her own hindlegs and slamming down her forelegs thunderously. "Watch your words, colt! I will not harbor threats, nor will I abide suicidal orders from you!" she whinnies in a furious tone. "If you want me to leave the herd, you will have to kill me!"

Strawberry starts to turn, ready to speak, then he pauses at his mother's outburst and looks towards Orion with a touch of surprise in his expression. Saying only for the moment, "What I have to say to you can wait..."

Orion watches Dandelion a moment and lifts a brow. "You have to be kidding me.. I did not exile Sunrise, and I an't exiling you." He points out with a thin tone and snort. He shifts on his hooves and pushes himself in front of Miel while the other mare goes about rearing up, his ears lowering. "I suppose it can." Is said to Strawberry while his mother pitches a fit.

Miel snorts, lifting up her head. "What happened to 'Foals respond to arguments with fights'?" she asks the rearing and stamping Dandelion, her ears back against her head in a scowl. She doesn't approach - Orion can handle any actual violence, she's sure.

Dandelion is certainly not much of a physical threat, being a full three hands shorter than Orion, but shows no signs of backing down. "Then DO NOT ASK ME TO LEAVE. It is NOT your place to eject a mare from a herd. Your place here is TEMPORARY. I've been with this herd YEARS before you were foaled, I HELPED FOUND THIS HERD, and if I EVER hear of you throwing your weight to boss a herd mare around, I will take that as an attack on all the mares of the herd!" She stomps a forehoof, her nostrils flaring.

Strawberry watches the exchange, his eyebrows doing their best to crawl further and further up his forehead with every passing second. They look almost to have set course to join up with his mane. It's been a /long/ time since he has seen any of the herd mares this mad. He truly wonders for a moment if there might not be a second fight tonight.

Orion just blinks as he watches Dandelion.. "I think someone needs a time out.." He states with a thin tone while watching as Dandelion kicks and bucks around like a mad thing. "You are the one that is acting like a filly." This said with a rather even tone and a slight sigh escaping him in the process. "You have been here for a long time Dandelion.. AND again I did not atually mean for you to leave, it would be nice if you could actually listen to what someone said instead of making up words for what you want." He says with a sigh escaping him now. "You take it how ever you like Dandelion..I have never ONCE hurt a mare in this herd, and I never will. So you can attack me with words or your hooves all you want but I still wouldn't harm you."

Miel actually outright laughs at Dandelion. "So take yourself - and whatever of the herd will follow you - to another stallion, if you don't like this one. That's all he said, and it's true so far as it goes. Mares follow other mares they consider wise. The stallions follow the mares." That's the way it's always been.

Strawberry shakes his head and turns to canter away, looking back over his shoulder to the other stallion, "Orion, will you speak with me in private?" he continues walking away from the mares stopping only when he is far enough away that they cannot hear him. Then he mutters to himself while waiting for the elder stallion to join him, "At this rate I'll be the only herd member not to get into a brawl tonight..."

Orion is quiet for a moment and looks to Miel before nosing at her softly and turns to look towards Strawberry. "I'll be back in a moment." This is said to Miel before he follows after the younger male. His tail flicks a few times as he trots along before pauses a short space from Strawberry. "What is it that you want to say?"

Miel nods to Orion, and stays where she is, keeping a wary eye on Dandelion though she doesn't otherwise approach the other mare. Just... watches.

Strawberry is no longer looking angry at the lead stallion, he just shakes his head, "I have a few things to say to you, But the very first thing I have to ask is why did you attack Sunrise?" He very notibly no longer refers to the stallion as his dad, "I realize you were angry, and I realize you were trying to save face. But Orion what you have to always keep in mind is, Sunrise is an idiot. A well known idiot. He's more of a joke then a threat. In fighting him you lost face rather then saving it. That was ugly, I don't mean the actual fighting. Both of you were more skilled then I am, I've never been in a fight before in my life myself. Thats not what I am commenting on. What was ugly was the way you let him bait you, he wanted to fight you, he wanted to manipulate you. And you let him, he got exactly what he wanted."

Orion is quiet while he looks to Strawberry, a ear twitching forward a moment and he seems unsure what to say before his gaze drifts off after Sunrise a moment. "Yes I was angrey and yes I knew what he was doing Strawberry." This said with a soft tone and sigh escaping him while he looks back to the younger horse. "There is only so far a horse can be pushed before he fights back an I hope you understand that. Sunrise is allowed back, I would never force someone out but he must understand that we need one another and goading someone into fighting them is not the manner or way that is needed in this herd. Its not healthy." There is a pause. "I lost face a long time ago, my mother made sure of it. Now my only goal is to keep this herd safe from outside and inside threats."

Dandelion glares at Orion. "First you ask me to leave, then call me a filly for calling you out on it?! What weeds have you been eating, colt!?" She glares to Miel, "You stay out of this. Stallions who push mares around and ask them to leave their own herd don't belong in the herd. I won't be pushed around by Orion /or/ Sunrise. It is /not/ Orion's place to order nor even ask me to leave. Its up to him if he wants to throw Sunrise out, but it is /not/ up to him to throw me out. We're down to four now. Do you really think Orion is right to insist I leave my own herd so its just he and you? The herd is NOT his property to attack or drive apart whenever he gets in a huff!"

Strawberry is quiet, listening to Orion patiently, then he says something that would be shocking without a doubt, "That is your decision, I will not argue with you, but were it me..." He doesn't finish as his mother begins shouting at first Orion again, then turns her Ire on Miel.

Miel shakes her head. "You're overreacting," she says to Dandelion, still calm. "He suggested, if you were unhappy, you could leave /him/. You could find a herd stallion more to your liking. If the herd is yours... you can do that. The herd is a thing of mares, not stallions. So... mare. What do you want? Do you wish this stallion gone? Who will you choose to defend us instead?"

Orion ears lower as he hears Dandelion. "If it was you.. I know you would not act as such yes?" A soft smile is offered to Starwberry and he lowers his head a moment. "You are a better horse then me then my dear Strawberry. What is done is done, there is no going back. One must strive to improve themselves and make it better." As for the mares, he listens but he does not respond to the tantrum acting mare.

Dandelion snorts. "Did you even listen to his words? He told me to leave! He didn't ask me if I wanted to! There are no other herds. Most of our herd is scattered and endangered. What I want doesn't matter ... winter is setting in, but Orion is drivine members to scatter more. I don't get to choose whom I wish to defend us, and its not as though there are any decent-minded ones to pick from. Every horse needs to stick together in the winter, but instead its pick and choose which ever ones Orion wants to stay or go. That is NOT his place."

Strawberry gives a small sigh and he lowers his own head to look into Orion's eyes very seriously, a hardness in his eyes, "You did the best you could Orion. My father is to put it bluntly, dumber then a rock. You cannot make him see /anything/ and I do not foresee him growing smarter anytime soon. Granted he has his uses, but even those are limited. I am not better then you or anyone else, You are an intelligent stallion Orion, and unlike my dad you can see past all the pretty prancing little mares. But what you lack is control. Control of your emotions, and that is the root of losing control of everything else. Thats the only thing crippling you as a leader, a little extra self control and no one would be shouting or fighting or talking about who is going to be exiled and who is going to be lead stallion. But you are right, if we are to move forward we must all improve ourselves, I need to learn to fight so I can be of use to the herd, and you need to learn when to hold back your temper."

"I listened. Did you?" asks Miel. "Orion ordered you nothing. He said if you disliked him, you might like Sunrise better. You liked him well enough to bear his colt, after all." She snorts. "Sunrise is no member of this herd. He has never been a member of this herd. Not when Nukpana led it, nor when Cliantha did. Who of this herd has Orion driven away?"

Orion is quiet for a few moments as he listens to Strawberry, a soft hum escaping him before a slight smile is seen. "You are smarter beyond your years Strawberry." This said softly to him and a slow nod soon seen. "I have an idea then.. I will teach you the ways of fighting and how other ways you can help the herd, if you can help me to deal with my temper when it trys to get the better of me?" This questioned with a soft tone. His ears witch with each comment from the mares, following the conversation even though not in it.

Dandelion shakes her head. "At no point did he say that. /I/ most definitely heard what he said to me. 'If I don't like him' is your putting words in his mouth he did not say. /I/ am not leaving this herd unles Cliantha orders me out. She's the only one who may. I don't know why she's away, but Orion is giving me a sense of it," she snorts. "I am the one calling for the herd to pull together, or did you miss that part? Or the part where Orion told him to leave? Or the part where Orion physically attacked? We've lost too many herd members already, now we're down to four. Four!" she repeats, her ears still flat.

Strawberry actually chuckles softly at Orion's proposal and nods, "Yes well, I was raised away from my father. Luckily I got my mom's brains and didn't get the temper of either of my parents. I'm not just another pretty face." He jokes before tossing his mane, "But yes, that sounds like a good plan. We have a deal, I'll help you all i can, and I'll attempt to be a good student. Now perhaps we should head back over there and I'll try to calm my mother down before we have the mares biting and kicking at each other." He laughs softly, of course the females were no where near coming to blows. But Strawberry was trying to lighten Orion's mood.

"When did Cliantha declare Sunrise part of this herd?" asks Miel. "Last _I_ heard he was a rogue bachelor. So tell me, when did that change?" She gives her mane a toss, and Dandelion a steady stare.

Orion chuckles and nods to Strawberry. "Well if you can calm her down your better then I.. I'm afraid anything I say will backfire at this time." He offers while looking over towards the two mares once more, a slight grin seen.. He bets on Miel winning if it came to a fight.. But they have been friends forever..

Dandelion says, "Sunrise was invited to hang around the herd before Orion was even foaled. Dorado has a history before Cliantha. I hope now is not a history past her ... but Orion is shrinking the herd. I do not think that is good for the herd, but leaving would only endanger me and lessen the herd's strength even more. Until we find Cliantha, whereupon I will gladly relinquish the title, I am Alpha Mare. I can't tell Orion what to go do with himself, but it doesn't much matter anyway since there are only four of us. We /must/ stick together. I can't force you to stay in the herd, but I would certainly will not threaten you nor ask you to leave."

Strawberry walks past Orion with a nod, his tail lightly flicking the slightly older, more then slightly taller stallion. "I'll try to simmer things down before they boil over..." as he trots back towards the arguing mares his ears flick, he picks things out that could exacerbate the situation, and others that could calm things down. His mother boldly claiming she was the Alpha mare might not help calm things down, But stating that she would never make Miel leave was good right? He rolled his eyes as he drew neer and muttered to himself, "And -I'm- suppose to be the immature, overly-dramatic one around here..." but he smiles and steps over to stand beside his mother and calmly nicker at both the mares, "Ladies, can I speak for a moment?"

Miel snorts derisively. "I've been with this herd four years, Dandelion. I saw Orion foaled." She gives the other mare a steady look, and then shakes her mane. "If others follow you, then I suppose you are lead mare." With that, she turns, and starts moving away at her steady, ambling pace - not a dash, nothing so impetuous, but a step suitable for long traveling and covering great distances. She doesn't look back, not even when Strawberry speaks.

Orion follows along next to Strawberry, he blinks at the comments from Dandelion, his ears lowering thought he keeps himself quiet and takes in a faint breath while hanging back. If Miel was sent away.. He would leave as well mind you, his tail lashes and soon he looks to his longtime friend and then to Strawberry. "I'll speak with Miel.." This said as he turns and follows after the leaving mare, as a steady pace it would seem.

Dandelion snorts and shakes her head. "What is with this herd!? So its throw me out or everyone leaves?" She snorts in frustration. She sighs sadly and nuzzles her son. "I'm sorry, Strawberry ... herd politics are ugly. I don't think its wise to throw anyone out nor wander off ... but I'm not a very good leader. I can't make anyone play nice. I can't make them think about what's best for all. We've lost a lost of members who have wandered off alone in winters past, including your half-sister," she nickers sadly. "No one seems to care about this or think about it except me." She neckhugs her son tenderly. "No matter what, Strawberry, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

Strawberry rumbles softly, a laugh and he hugs his mother back nuzzling into her mane, "Oh mom, we'll keep each other safe. I'm not the little foal I once was." He blinks and looks surprised, "I had a half-sister?" He is for a moment distracted then he shakes his head and focuses on the task at hoof. "I think we all just need a short break mom, to take a deep breath and calm down. What happened was ugly, discusting. But somehow it ballooned out into all this mess. A lot of it is Dad's fault, granted it takes two to fight. Orion is partially to blame also. Tempers got out of control because Dad was running those flapping lips of his. What matters now is that cooler heads prevail. We all need eachother. And that means that while we may not forget, we at least have to forgive. The alternative is you and I going off and trying to start a new herd while Orion and Meil start another. You know Dad wouldn't want any part of leading a herd."

Dandelion nods sadly to Orion's question. "Yes, sired by Sirocco, Orion's predecessor. She wanted to do our own thing ... the herd was then as it is now, so many wandering off to do her own thing, I thought nothing of it ... but winter got her," Dandelion neighs sadly. Its /both/ of their fault, but especially Orion for taking a verbal argument physical and threatening your dad to leave. I ... I can't be a lead mare to a herd you lead," she says to her son, followed by an awkward silence. "Besides which, we need more horses together in one herd, not disparate herds. More horses in a herd is a stronger herd. Yes, I know your dad refuses to lead a herd. He could put Orion in his place if he chose to, but ... he doesn't want to. Orion threatened him, and I won't forget that. Cool heads need to lead herds, not hotheads."

Strawberry listens to the story of his sister, then he nuzzles and hugs his mother once more, "I'm sorry mom. I promise that won't happen to me." when she remarks about not being able to be lead mare he questions, "Why couldn't you be lead mare?" He wasn't thinking romanticly, Strawberry was thinking tacticly at the moment. "I am going to try to help Orion with his temper, but it seems like he's not the only one in the herd who could use a little anger management. In return Orion is going to teach me to fight and do other things to be of more use to the herd. And just between you and I I am thinking of asking dad to teach me to fight also. The more I know the stronger I will become. And I am almost full size, just a little more bulk, and once I learn what I am doing I'll be the equal of any of the other stallions." He nods, "But you are right, the more of us there are the stronger we are. No horse is an island."

Dandelion says, "The lead mare should be someone who leads, who can bring the herd together." She looks after Miel departing. "They just seem to run away from me," she nickers with a sigh. "Instead they'd rather play their stupid political games, exile those they don't want. Don't wander off too far to find your father ... Orion threatened him, so he'll probably be more distant." She sighs, hanging her head low. "I don't know what to do now. We're down to fights and threats and exiles. This isn't right. This isn't right at all."

Strawberry gently noses her mane and bumps his nose under her chin trying to perk her up, "No, it's not right, but this is what we have got. And we have to make the best of it we can. That or head further south to a warmer area like the birds do. Hollyhock has told me there are lots of birds who go south and that if you go far enough there are lands that just get cool in the winter, no snow. And you are a good leader mom, you just need to try a little harder to remain calm. And I would support you if you wanted to try to form a new herd further south." He nickers softly, "I won't wander far. If Dad wanders off entirely I'll just let him go."

Dandelion flicks her ears. "Birds can fly farther than we can go," she says. "The mountains are south of us, and they can get very trecherous in winter. Being a good leader is something you do, Strawberry, and means being able to get people with different ideas on how to run a herd together, to cooperate on one plan. I can't even get Orion or Miel to agree the herd should stick together for survival ... that means I am not a good leader, honey." She whuffles and nibblegrooms her son's mane.

Strawberry closes his eyes as his mane is groomed and he lips at her shoulder, still trying to be a comfort, "Any skill can be learned mom, getting upset about anything only makes what you are upset about worse." He sighs then leans in to press close to her with his shoulder, nipping her neck, "But whatever we decide to do mom I'll be by your side. We just need to start thinking about ideas."

Dandelion says, "My only idea is what I said ... let's stick together, and roam together to try to find the others in the herd. Hopefully, we'll find our herdmates and get something of a herd back together to huddle together during the winter."

Strawberry nods and nuzzles her with a rumble in his chest, "Then that is what we will do. Do you want to head out now? The longer we wait the colder the trails become."

Dandelion huddles close to her son in the chilly wind. "Yes, let's stay together for now."