As Free as the Wind

[Freewind]

Today the blond pelted foal was wandering by himself on the wide open plains. His human keeper had encouraged him to go play with other horses, but he was afraid to. The blond foal hadn't been in close contact with other horses in so long. But today he took the advice. It was such nice weather, how could he not?

Feeling extra playful, he frolicked about in the tall grass and flowers, kicking up his hind hooves like bucking, rearing up the best he could, and even rolling around. He was unaware of the dangers of being out so alone and so open - no one had ever taught him. Today was too nice for dangers, anyway. The palomino nickered in a high pitched voiced ever so happily and chased the butterflies he scared up from the flowers. Sparrows which flew overhead he tried to race, but he fell on his face a lot from those long legs.

His curly white mane had all sorts of stems and flowers stuck in it from rolling around so much. Silently he wished for a playmate of his age, one that knew how to roll around and race. So far he hadn't seen any other horses. The palomino was curious as to were they all went. The land was extremely big, though. They could have been anywhere! He dismissed the though and trotted over to a patch of nice, soft green grass. It was munch time.

[Ximera]

Ximera wandered off of her prides' lands, and wandered into the Thunderhoof Plains. It was often you'd find Ximera prowling around, looking for food, exploring, or just trouble. As far as Ximera knew, she could go anywhere sense she was not on the best terms with Ironfang, but not exactly enemies, and neutral with the rest of the livelong worlds animals.

Shifting her large body mass through the plains, the silky grass weaving her body, engulfing it with silk. Ximera had no time to nip at the grass to get it off. A slow growl attacked her lungs as she found the young palomino, leaping and jumping with joy. How could the cub be so care free when danger threatened it's worst? No matter, Ximera would just eat the equine. It was it's own fault for playing with fire.

Inching closer, threatening the equine to run with a swift growl. What would the equine do? Run? Ha! Ximera was faster than a baby equine. Ximera had no fun these days, it was time for a meal in Roumeg, it would be about time. Throwing her head in the air, leaping up to her feet and would leap at the equine, hoping to get it to start running. The colt would trip sooner or later. Or, Ximera would bound after it.

[RANDOMNESS]

The lush grasslands offered much to the piebald mare. Food, lots of area to run in, and since the land was relatively flat, a perfect place to keep on the lookout for carnivores. Her black tail flicked in a sudden rush of wind which brought with it two distinct scents. One was of a young colt but there was no scent of a mother, instead it was in the company of a large cat. Swinging her ears back in utter aggression, Tempest turned her head towards the direction from which the wind had carried the scents and galloped off.

She spotted the palomino colt frolicking in the grass, but there wasn't any sign of the cat before she caught a glimpse of it inching closer to the young horse. Her nostrils flared and she neighed loudly before charging straight for the carnivore. Tempest stopped just as she neared and reared up to hit the ground close to the Roumeg cat. Her violent thrashing of hooves almost came close to breaking the cat's tail, but she was just planning to scare it off, it was the carnivore's choice to stay and fight.

[Ximera]

Began to stalk forward. Eyes widened as her tail was nearly smashed. "Fool!" She growled within deep hungry huffs. Leaping almost as soon as the mare had attacked. She wanted food and wanted it now, yet if she wanted food she'd have to risk her life alike for it. A roar splashed from her maw, as she leaped away and thrashed out in anger. Who was the mare, and why was it so foolish, like the equine frolicking upon the emerald field.

A growl spilled, showing anger. Hungry eyes began showing the deep hunger. Taking deep huffs, showing she would not give up. Tail hung low, curling around her leg in disappointment. Ears flattened against her head in disgust. Then, she had enough. Tail went numb, and began thrashing about. Spotting the nearest tree, she stared at the thrashing mare in . . . fear, but bravery.

Thrashing once more of her tail, her mass shook, turning as she leaped through the sky and landed inside the tree as birds flew furiously from their home, and other horses stared in agony, finding it shocking that the sabre had came into horse territory for food. Closing her light, pale blue eyes as she stared at the thrashing mare, still standing hidden within the tree.

[Freewind]

Had the little horse grown up around other horses, perhaps he would have known the dangers of being alone in the plains. Even adult horses didn't venture too far from other horses. It was at the last minute he caught the scent of the sabre and looked around, only to spot the gigantic creature stalking up upon him. The foal froze in fear. He had never seen such a big thing! And it's teeth were huge! Closer and closer the sabre came, and he couldn't get his long legs to move, no matter how hard he tried.

Thank the heavens for other horses on the plains. The thundering sound of hooves came from behind and drew closer, eventually snapping him out of his frozen state enough to fumble backwards and behind the large mare when she came to his rescue. Her sharp neigh made him crouch down into the tall grass. He didn't know why, but he did. Wide eyes watched as the twotoned mare stomped angrily at the big feline, threatening to crush her tail beneath those weapons of hoove she had.

Words couldn't begin to express the reliefe he felt when the sandy colored cat leapt up and away into a tree. That meant safety for him, right? It meant the cat was scared of the mare, but it didn't leave, so that was bad. Up onto those legs he got and galloped a few yards away for his own safety. Freewind stopped at a safe distance, close enough to keep an eye on the mare who saved his life. There wasn't anything he could do but run if she were attacked, but mybe he could run to other horses and warn them all or something. For now he would just watch and wait, hoping the mare would run as well.

[Ximera]

Ximera raised a brow, slowly shifting as she reclined a roar and leaped from the tree and trotted off. "I'm to lazy anyways." She growled to herself as she padded off. She failed at it, but wouldn't admit it.

[RANDOMNESS]

The fiesty mare plastered her ears against her head and snorted loudly as the cat walked away. She pawed the ground and waited until the cat was out of sight and scent of them before the mare even thought of looking back. Dipping her head a bit, she turned to the blond colored foal and walked aways towards it before stopping short and nickering in greeting. Her black and white coat showed very few scars of past battles with such carnivores, but the damage she caused had been far worse that what she had endured from them so she didn't really notice if she had been wounded or not.

"You are lucky. That cat was hoping to have you as its supper and would most likely have succeeded in it. Well the danger has passed, it would be best for you to go to your mother. She must be worried."

[Beltane]

Beltane ambled onto the plains, tired from his weeks upon weeks of traveling from his far flung home across mountains, valleys, forest, plains, and deserts. The long journey had hardened his body, trimmed any fat, and had left him just a little too thin.

He was tired and thirsty, muscles twitching as he finally began to rest. Plodding along the blessedy even, soft ground, the brownish-grey stallion took stock of his surroundings in greater detail. This seemed a virtual paradise compared to much of the territory he had passed through. Lifting his weary head, he inhaled deeply, trying to catch wind of other animals.

Nickering quietly, he continued a slow and steady march deeper into the plains. His long, blue-black tail flicked every now-and-then, driving the persistant flies from his warm flesh. The wind rose from the south-east, bringing with it the scent of other horses. Beltane's heart leapt. Finally!

Kicking up his heels and exerting what little reserve energy he had left, the stallion launched himself into an excited canter, following the distinctly horse-y smells to their respective owners. Pulling himself together, he arched his neck as he approached the group; first impressions were usually the only impressions one kept and Beltane was not about to botch this most-important of introductions.

Permanently bloodshot eyes observed each equine present: Only two. A piebald mare (whose markings delighted the stallion who had only known others of his breed--all of them golden in color), and a young colt. Not the vast herd he had been hoping for, but still--two was better than none.

He caught a wiff of the recently departed Saber, grateful that the beast had left before he'd arrived--He would have loathed to have spent his first day in these pristine lands bathing in the blood of a lowly feline. Unmarred coat was a testament to his ability to fend off predators. As a leader of a rowdy group of bachelor males--who often found themselves in troubling situations--Beltane had spent much of his time chasing off those predators the younger males had mistakenly enraged.

Clacking his teeth to show he meant no threat to the two other horses, Beltane kept his head high and stepped forward, ears swiveling this way and that to make sure the cat was gone for good.

Satisfied that all was clear (he was impressed by the mare's protective reaction), Beltane introduced himself, at long last: "Well!" he exclaimed breathlessly, "An honor and a pleasure to greet you both. My name," he paused to dip his head, "is Beltane."

-cuddles Beltane 'cause he's so lurvly-

[Freewind]

The little palo sunk down even lower at the vicious feline's growl and didn't rise from the protective grass until the larger mare came to him. He was relieved she was okay now, and that the cat was gone. Once back up and stable on those knoby long legs, he smiled up to her tallness. It nearly made him fall back onto his little rear. Palomino's weren't especially tall horses, thus he wasa rather small foal.

"Freewind has no mother. Mother went away for long time." A nod was given, and his little blonde tail swished around, attempting to swat at a couple of flies that liked to nip at his warm and soft flesh. Because of the fact he was never raised around other horses, or had ever been around any others for that matter, he struggled speaking properly like a horse his age should. He knew his name from the human who called him that, and what language he did know he picked up from the clan's horses in the pens far away from him.

Soon other sounds came to his point ears and he turned to see what it was coming upon them. First it was the loud drum of a stallion's hooves, then the paws of a dog somewhere nearby. The stallion came upon them first, though. And Freewind was more than happy to see another horse, and this time a male! One of his own gender. Freewind didn't know, either, that stallions never really took place in the parenting. It was up to the mares until the foal was old enough, then if it was a boy they went off to the stallions, and if it was a girl she stayed with her mother. The two herds would meet time to time, a male would seek out a female to mate. however, in each one there was a pecking order.

Tiny hooves stomped playfully at the huge stallion. He nickered at him and wiggled around before leaping off to him. The danger had passed, so now it was time to play again!

[RANDOMNESS]

She turned her head towards the stallion and flashed a look of approval seeing as he had come with good intentions. She dipped her head in return at what she supposed was a horse custom when greeting others, "Mine`s Tempest."

Her ears swivled around to the gentle trotting of a canine. She turned her head to better see that it was a dog, like the ones the humans kept around for sheep and cattle. Not much of a threat to her or the others, Tempest nodded in recognition of the animal to inform it that he had been seen and she looked back at her own company.

The blond foal was already getting aquianted with the stallion as she could see and was glad to see the cat`s attack before didn`t effect him at all. Flicking her black and white tail to rid herself of some annoying flies, Tempest moved forward, white hooves easing her forward at a leisurely pace. It was somehow sad to see that the foal had no mother, but the scent of humans was present on his coat so she knew he was cared for. At least she wouldn`t have to look after him for a long while before moving along.

[Beltane]

Beltane looked back and forth from palomino colt to the strangely colored mare. He nodded as she introduced herself and noted that the little one was far too concerned with coltish romping to bother with introductions. He took a moment to reminisce happily on his former family--a band of young stallions who were not above play similar to that of the colt.

Beltane oblidged the youth with a playful nudge against his side, ready for a game of tag should the child wish to. While Beltane was certainly no brood mare, he did enjoy being around the little ones, playing with them, and showing them the great wide world--at least as much as he knew about it.

For the moment, he returned his attention to the mare, now known as Tempest. "Wonderful, wonderful. Tell me, Tempest, are there many horses in this land marked such as you are? I must admit, my own relations are much more... plain."

[teh crappy post. Blegh. sorreh. ]

[Freewind]

He squeked as he was nudged playfully and stomped around some more while his curly tail flipped this way and that. The foal then bounded off a couple feets, and caught sight of more butterflies. Immediatly he was distracted again and went chasing after them, though ended up running in circles because there were so many! his legs got all tied up, and down he went with a little grunt.

No matter, he thought. And up he got again. Certainly there was something he could race around here? Birds, snakes, or perhaps that dog in the distance would like to race him. So, he ran back between the mare and stallion towards the dog not too far away until he was right in it's way, nickering happily at it and tossing his head. "Run!" He exclaimed, though unsure if the dog could understand. Most dogs in the man villages never understood the horses speech.

[Rickshaw]

He sat down, taking in the horses scent. Watching the butterflies the equine had chased, watching him then later and not to soon, stumble on his face. A chuckle expanded from his maw, almost taking this show as repeated episodes, or a rerun. The colt was much more amusing then the silent crowd behind him. Too bad, all that fun was not really fun-- without myself, anyways. He mumbled to himself, watching the colt not with interest and a locked gaze. As the colt went down, it was quite a laugh but not willing to chuckle for an episode of the unknown horses.

Wait. The pup was running over to him and nickering something, only catching the wind drift, "Run!" A little highish low tingling voice with a neigh hiding the actual voice. The dog lifted, oh, so it was game time. Quickly Rickshaw bounded to his paws, lifting his head as the equine padded to wards him in a pacing run. Leaping, he ran for his life afraid the get stomped by the horse.

[RANDOMNESS]

Shaking her head ever so slightly, Tempest responded much to her knowledge, "I can't be sure. I've only just arrived here not more than an hour or so and have only met the blond colt. I'm just a wandering mare, nothing more, nothing less." She flicked her tail and raised her head a bit to watch the foal gallop towards the canine she acknowledged earlier. Tilting her ears forward to listen to the young horse's playful neigh and drew them back to hear the wind blowing behind her.

Her body tensed up and nostrils flared to test the air. However the air held no scent and no sound other than the whistling grass and she calmed down. Every few seconds she would check the wind again to make sure there wasn't any other carnivores lurking around.

[Beltane]

"Ah," Beltane uttered, nodding his head at Tempest. "I suppose we shall have to wait and see if more of your decor show up." His voice was light-hearted and was normally so. Beltane had little use for the usual heavy-handed, brooding nature of so many other stallions. Despite his tumultuous childhood, his life had been quite blessed.

Turning his head to keep an eye on the playful colt, Beltane mused over the apparent vacancy of these pristine lands. Odd, he thought to himself, that such premium territory would be left unclaimed and largely uninhabited. Beltane was a social creature and had often felt the absence of other horses during his travels. At least here there were two of his kind--it was more company than he'd enjoyed in quite some time.

He had distinctly smelled the mark of humans upon the little one, and their claiming of the colt troubled him. In the lands of his birth, humans had little use or inclination toward taming horses. The herds of the desert were incredibly fleet-footed and clever. Few human traps could contain them for long and human tricks rarely worked. Beltane did not hate humans, however, he simply did not approve of their self-assumed dominion over other creatures.

Stomping a single foot upon the ground, Beltane returned his wandering attention to the mare.

"I apologize for my inattentiveness--I am simply tired. If you'll excuse me," he dipped his head and turned to wander off and follow his nose toward the damp smell of mud (which would invariably lead to water), then to eat, and finally to rest his fatigued body.