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Post by Dahlia on Mar 18, 2009 15:16:19 GMT -8
One beat..
Two beats..
Three..
Dahlia's heart thundered in her ears, matching the rhythm of her hooves as she seemed to soar over the grassy hillside she called home. The wind whistled past her in cool rivers, caressing the gleaming hide covering her flexing, straining muscles. It was a beautiful and natural sight; grace and poetry in motion. This was a natural, normal sight of course. And yet only a small part of the whole of the lands that belonged to the wild horses.
Running was, to Dahlia, the best feeling in the world. She felt invincible when she ran, as though no one could stop her or challenge her. There were no problems when she ran. Nothing to frighten or worry or make her sad.. The world was simpler, bathed in sunshine and contentment. It helped her to let all of her stresses and worries go..She always felt better after a run, more able to deal with whatever curves life threw her.
There was time enough for all of that, though. For now there was just the running and the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears.
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Post by Midnight on Mar 18, 2009 16:10:20 GMT -8
It was a nice day. Midnight generally didn't leave the mountains, which had been her home since birth, but today she had decided she needed to get a break from the rocky crevasses of her home land. So she had decided to take a small walk. Her hoof-steps were light and soft as she trotted toward the boundary that was between her home and Dahlia's. She thought it was rather odd that she had never met the fellow lead mare. It was her own fault, she knew, for always being busy, but all the same, it was rude to just not ever greet.
Midnight hesitated at the invisible line that ran between the hills and the mountains. She had never crossed that line before. Her parents had forbidden it when she had been a small filly. She looked up and looked across the grassy hills that stretched on for miles. She took a hesitant step forward. And then another. Glancing around, she suddenly broke into a gallop. This time her hooves slammed into the ground with a thump, which felt so soft compared to the rocks of her home.
Her mane whipped back in forth in the wind and she let out a soft whinny of pleasure. She loved running. It was probably one of her favorite things to do. And out here, with no rocks and boulders to dodge, it was easy and fun.
Suddenly her ears perked forward as she heard the sound of another horse running toward her. She slowed and listened, and sure enough she detected the sound of hoof beats. She titled her head to the side and waited.
Perhaps it was a horse in Dahlia's herd who could lead her to her. That would be easier than running through this whole place trying to find the lead mare. That was one of the things that both The Mountains and The Hills had in common. They were both led by lead mares rather than lead stallions.
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Post by Dahlia on Mar 18, 2009 16:28:01 GMT -8
Dahlia had never thought much about her relations, or lack of, with other herds. She knew that her father had often made efforts to keep the peace between his and other herds and prevent as much theft and killing off of foals by predators, though he had at times been met by suspicion. In the back of her mind Dahlia knew that it would probably have been wise to develop at least a basic friendship with other leaders yet she had never taken the time to do so. It was an error on her part that needed to be seen too, particularly in the case of Midnight. The other lead mare would be a valuable ally, and one who she knew could understand the stress of leading a herd when it was generally accepted that only stallions held the highest positions.
She tossed her head and let the wind lift her mane from her neck as she poured speed into her step, hooves thundering across the hilly land so familiar and beloved to the mare. A happy whinny escaped her as she let the joy of the run course through her. That is, until she heard the sound of other hoof beats than her own and knew she was no longer alone..and that whoever else had arrived was coming from the wrong way to belong to her herd.
Slowing gradually to a lope, she headed in the direction from which the hoof beats came, keeping an eye out for the source. Once the strange mare came into her view, she further slowed to a walk. Her head was held high, ears perked and swiveling, as she continued her approach, calling out a greeting.
"Hello, stranger."
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Post by Midnight on Mar 19, 2009 19:11:56 GMT -8
Midnight stood quietly, her head held high. Her expression was weary as she listened to the sound of approaching hoof-beats. Probably the mare, from the sound. Stallions tended to make more noise than mares when they moved.
As it turned out, she was right. It only took moments for a brown mare to come into view. Midnight was standing near the top of a small, slopping hill, her mane moving gently with a passing-by breeze. The other mare was about a hand taller than she was, a Frisian, from the looks of it. Midnight herself was a pitch black Arabian. Average height. And a small white fleck on her fore-head.
As the mare called out a greeting, Midnight dipped her head quickly and replied in kind, "Hello," she said with a small smile. Her tail flicked to the side for a moment, making a swishing sound. Midnight studied the other mare for a moment and then added, "I'm Midnight, lead mare of The Mountains."
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Post by Dahlia on Mar 19, 2009 21:10:12 GMT -8
Dahlia was used to strangers just wandering into the Hills. It had been a pretty common occurrence when she'd first gained control of the herd and though it had slowed down a bit since then it still never surprised her. So while she hadn't expected a visitor, she reacted with a calm curiosity rather than the wariness or hostility she was sure some in her position might have reacted with.
She approached within a few feet before coming to a halt, tail swaying at her flanks in a deceptively lazy arc. Since this was her home, she kept her head held regally high. Her authority would have to be recognized, of course, but her gaze was still warm and not at all irritated or holding any trace of conceit about her position which she only emphasized strictly because she didn't know the other mare's purpose there and certainly didn't welcome trouble.
Naturally, she was alittle startled to find out who Midnight was. But, she was also happy for the chance to meet her, glad that she had decided to visit. Smiling, she tipped her head respectfully before bringing it back up to its normal arc. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Midnight." she said cheerfully, sincerely meaning it. "I'm Dahlia; the Hills' lead mare.." |
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Post by Midnight on Mar 20, 2009 15:09:41 GMT -8
What a coincidence. This was easier than she had anticipated. It wasn't normally done, walking uninvited into other horses' territories. But it would appear that she had run into the right mare. And she hadn't even been here for that long.
The black Arabian looked around her. The Hills was a nice place. Spring had finally come and the snow was gone. She tossed her head as if to shake off a fly and then turned her head to look at Dahlia again.
Midnight smiled, "Glad to make your acquaintance," she said. "I was actually only coming by because I had realized that I had been a little lax in my duties and had forgotten to introduce myself. We are neighbors after all," she added. Her tail swayed back and forth ever so slightly.
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Post by Dahlia on Mar 27, 2009 11:38:56 GMT -8
The irony of the situation was interesting to Dahlia; just when she'd been thinking about paying a visit to the Mountain's lead mare she showed up. Not that she minded at all, despite how unusual it was for one leader to just traipse onto another's land. She idly scuffed a hoof along the shifting grasses as she studied the other mare for a moment.
"It is an interesting coincidence," she admitted. "I was just thinking the same earlier. Had you not shown up, I probably would have made the effort to visit and introduce myself soon." [/i][/blockquote] |
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Post by Midnight on Mar 28, 2009 8:35:35 GMT -8
Midnight smiled, "Indeed, it is. I know that usually we don't tresspass but I didn't know how else to contact you." The black mare shifted her weight a bit and looked at Dahlia with a small smile. The breeze that blew felt nice against her coat as it brushed through her mane
"Well seeing as I'm here I might as well pass on some information. A pack of wolves has been hunting in the mountains. They killed two foals. Luckily we chased them off, but they fled into your territory. I thought I would just worn you of that," she said, her dark eyes looking around again.
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Post by Dahlia on Mar 30, 2009 19:05:19 GMT -8
"I completely understand. There is really no other way to contact anyone else, without seeking them out directly."Dahlia responded in dulcet, calm tones. One hoof idly scuffed through the grass as she stood facing the other mare, content to linger and talk while the chance remained. The breezes felt nice against her coat and through her mane, and while it was a fairly common occurrence across the rolling hills, it wasn't often that she just stopped to enjoy the scenery and company.
The calm instantly dissipated once the warning penetrated her senses, however."Wolves..I see.."she frowned. Though she hadn't heard any howls or caught sight of any of the furred beasts creeping around, she was instantly worried for her herd. And, naturally, she was sorry for the loss of the two foals in Midnight's herd. That was the worst loss to greive in her opinion.
"I'm grateful for the warning. We'll have a better chance of surviving the attacks without losing foals now that we are for-warned.' [ |
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Post by Midnight on Mar 30, 2009 22:31:00 GMT -8
Midnight nodded in agreement as Dahlia said that the only way to contact anyone here was to seek them out directly. She nodded again, absent mindedly as the other lead mare said that they would be safer now that they had been for-warned. Midnight was trying to decide on what to do next.
Her tail flicked at a fly that had landed on her back. For a moment she was silent. She wasn't quiet sure whether she should go leave and return to her herd, or if that would be rude and that she should stay here and talk. But what else was she to say? She had come and met the lead mare of The Hills and had warned her about the wolves.
At a bit of a loss, she said the only thing that she could think of. "So how is your herd? Any trouble?" she asked. What else was she to ask? She hardly knew this mare at all, definitely not well enough to ask her any personal questions. The only logical thing she could think of was asking her how her herd was.
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Post by Dahlia on Apr 1, 2009 15:16:19 GMT -8
"The herd is doing very well, actually.There was a bit of expected trouble in the beginning, but things have calmed down." she responded to Midnight's question. There wasn't much else to talk about, she knew, that wouldn't be far too personal for having just met one another for the first time. Nor was there anything in particular that Dahlia wanted to know about.
"And yours?
Standing quietly, she huffed out a breath to force tendrils of her mane out of her eyes. Now knowing about the wolves in her territory, she couldn't fully relax and she continuously let her gaze roam over the hills warily. [/i][/size][/blockquote] |
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Post by Midnight on Apr 3, 2009 18:23:29 GMT -8
Midnight nodded, and smiled, "Thats good," she said, "Well, everythings been fine. I've heard that a rogue stallion has been wandering around but I personally haven't run into him yet. Besides the wolves, nothing out of the ordinary has been going on."
There wasn't any point to dawdling. This was just wasting time and she knew that Dahlia had better things to do as well. With a small smile Midnight said, "You probably have some things to do so I won't hold you up any longer."
With that she turned but then swivled her head to the side to look back at Dahlia, "It was nice meeting you though!" she whinnided.
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Post by Dahlia on Apr 4, 2009 7:28:40 GMT -8
Dahlia smiled softly and nodded, "I'm glad to hear that things are going well. I'm sure your rogue will show up sooner or later, or move on. They always do."she said cheerfully.
Though she was enjoying the conversation, there were other things that she needed to attend to and she was sure that it was the same for Midnight. But, she didn't want to be rude and hurry her guest into leaving. Thus she was relieved when Midnight seemed willing to go on her own since she was beginning to get a bit antsy with just standing around, leaving her herd unattended when there were wolves lurking about.
"Yes, I do. And it was a pleasure meeting you too."she responded sincerely, before turning away as well and heading in the opposite direction to Midnight. |
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