crash; and burn!

[bonfire]

if you can't take the heat.....

He had always loved to run. Such a wild, graceful, erratic motion had always piqued his interest and made his legs burn. The thrill of the chase! The stallion arched his neck, dripping his muzzle low while his tail went up like a flag, a warning, this beast is moving quite quickly!

His long chestnut legs pumped like pistons, straining with effort but all the while loving the work. Chest heaved, lungs sore within the deep, safe, cavern, but still willing to continue this beautiful dance. He rolled easily through his gait, poll low but always bobbing with excitement. His ears had long since vanished within his mane, his forelock tipped back and fluttering free.

Bonfire began to collect himself, letting out a low grunt as he tucked his forelegs, body vaulting skywards as he soared over a bush. A laugh rumbled in his throat, rich and sweet like honey. He locked his haunches, dipping them low as he slid to a perfect Quarter Horse stop. A smile danced across his crimson lips, chocolate eyes will and vibrant. A stallion in his prime!

A bellow rumbled in his throat, finally escaping through his teeth as he reared back, striking out violently but oh so gracefully. He balanced mid-air for a moment, the wind caressing his sweaty hide while gravity coaxed him back towards the ground. He landed with a dull thud, twitching his ears and looking for something remotely interesting. But after a high speed chase, everything around him slowed to a boring crawl. The grass no longer swayed quickly to and fro, but rather arched and bended like a snail. The leaves didn't rustle loudly any longer, it was a dull roar in the back of his mind.

He yawned, lips writhing back as his teeth were bared for a sweet instant before falling back into the darkness that was his muzzle. His white head swayed slowly in the breeze, trying to gain the upper hand and somehow gather some depth perception. Nothing grabbed his interest, save for the small bush that waved wildly in the wind, small and defenseless and alone in the plains.

The stallion rolled quickly on his haunches, tossing his head as moved at a long-strided, floating trot towards the shrub. He mowed through it like a bulldozer, his skin rippling as the waxy leaves pricked at his skin, enjoying the odd sensation. Fanning his tail like an Arabian the stag loped in a wide circle, thrashing out with his hind legs like the wild beast he was. A loud cry of excitement rang true in his throat, his head pitched back as he sang his joyful song.

Calling, calling he threw his head down, his stride slowing until he finally came to a halt, poll still dipped below his withers. Flaring his nostrils he jerked his cranium skywards, tucking his muzzle to his throat as he began to retreat, moving in a slow, elegant waltz. His ears flicked forward and he began to move forward at a trot, strides small and springy, head high and alert.

He didn't know what it was called, but he knew that many years ago horses performed with humans atop their backs. Stories, rumors still hung in the air about man, and a few proud equines still clung to their ancestry, passing along the tales of man and his saddle. That was something that interested him, a wild longing to see it with his own eyes, feel it with his own skin, this crazy thing that wanted to ride him!

His thoughts had consumed him, his body taken over by the thirst that burned in his throat, auto-pilot to the nearest water source. His hooves began to click and clatter against the smooth stones of the river and he was soon stifle deep in the cool, rushing water. It bit at his skin like flies, the heat leaving his body and being replaced by a cold, empty burn that left him longing and sore. He lowered his lips and drank, eyes slipping shut in the sudden calm, senses dulled as he focused on not being swept away by the current.

He could hear the erratic bubbling of the liquid, the crashing of stone against stone, the soft whisper of the wind as it caressed his ears, the voice of a long lost lover, the one he never had. He smiled wistfully, a rogue, a renegade had no room for mares in his heart. He had to be bitter and cold like the winter that steals his health and eventually his life...

then get outta my way!

word count: 773
status: complete
muse: somewhere, but not here
other: started this puppy at school o3o

[Dahlia]

Sometimes a Girl's Gotta do..

Dahlia didn't really like venturing far from the Hills; it was by far her favorite place to run and the place where she felt the safest. There she was in-control and unafraid. But any time she ventured out..There was always a skittering of nerves along her spine, just a tickle of something that made her just a teensie bit antsy. Perhaps it was just that she knew her rank meant nothing beyond her own domain; She was a female and therefore would be measured by many as having less importance than a stallion. But, no, she refused to accept that.

Coarse, dark tendrils of hair danced in the slipstream created by her fast pace; tail held aloft and streaming with the whistle of wind. Dust and debris floated up in her wake, kicked up by flashing and darting hooves. There was something exhilerating about running where the danger was higher; where she knew there was every chance of something going wrong. Some might say she was asking for trouble; they might say that she even wanted it, but the truth was..

Dahlia had a rebellious, adventure-seeking streak. She wanted to experience the new, the fresh, and the frightening. Of course, she wanted to come out unscathed and victorious if she could. But she still wanted the experiences, even while she feared them. So there she was. The Wandering fields; where she knew many a rogue might be. Perhaps she could find a friend to coerce into her herd; perhaps she couldn't. But it wasn't that which mattered to her.

A sound startled her; the high, joyful whinny of a stallion was music to her ears. A sweet, lilting melody of joy and exhaltation- and a requiem of jangling nerves and tangled intentions. But she went toward the voice; there was no hesitation in her hoof-steps as she loped in the direction from which the sound had come and the cheerful babble of the river. Both called to her with equal fervor.

Now that she had halted her gallop, heat had settled its opressive hold upon her. Warmth filled her muscles, held in by her sleek coat. Her throat was dry and parched, her heart still beating out the fast rap-rap-rap caused by the exhertion. For caution's sake she would approach the river slowly, picking her way along the stony bankbed with care. She meant to be more silent until she could get a feel for the stallion's temperament, but fate has a way of ruining the best laid plans, does it not?

Entirely without intention, she alerted the stallion to her presence as she sent a stone skittering along other stones to land with a heavy plop in the shallows of the river.

What a Girl's Gotta Do..

((Hope you don't mind if I join.))

[bonfire]

if you can't take the heat.....

He remained in the water, enjoying the feeling as the cool liquid pricked at his hot skin. It was a delightful sensation, the odd and longing burn left behind when hot and cold meet, that sent chills raking up his spine. He gave his tail a quick flick of offense as a small fish nipped at his heels, backing up with hooves clicking and sliding on the smooth stones of the river bottom.

He thrust his muzzle beneath the surface, flaring his nostrils and arching his neck. The liquid lapped at his sides and chest as he stood against the current, leaning forward on his limbs so as not to be swept away by the river itself. It caressed his legs and tickled his skin, gentle but firm in reprimand.

He remained in the river for several moments, eyes shut and simply enjoying the calm... perhaps before the metaphoric storm, he mused. He flicked his fiery tail and began to clamber for traction, his legs moving quickly as he struggled to find his footing. The wind shifted suddenly, blowing the scent of female into his nostrils. He jerked to attention just a stone came crashing against his barrel. He let out a low grunt as the rock plopped into the water, such disrespect! He turned to face the source, dark eyes calming as it met the soft form of the Friesian.

"Oh, hello, sweet mare." He said, his tone whimsical and light. "Why on Earth were you trying to sneak up on me, Dahlia of the Hills? Queen of the Plain? Mistress of Night... Stop when you find one you like." He smiled, dragging his body from the river.

His eyes raked quickly over her form, drinking in her presence like fine wine. Her pelt, a deep chocolate pulled taut against her fine, light frame. Eyes the same color, deep and intelligent but gentle and sweet. She was taller than he, by a minute two inches, but built all the lighter than him. She was unsoiled by white markings, younger by a few winters, bitter winters that he did not miss, and she should never have to live.

Shaking his poll quickly the stallion gave his tail a swift lash against his hocks, the water whipping away. His forelock and mane clung to his forehead and neck for dear life, his pelt a deep crimson from the moisture. Bonfire pranced in place for a moment, flinging the water from his legs and dotting the grasses like early morning dew. His chin dripped slowly and steadily like a light, evening rain.

"Pardon me, you must be thinking 'who on earth is he, and how does he know my name?' I'm Bonfire." He added, his tone deep and calm as he let his head drop to be even with his withers. He was content in the presence of the mare, her sweet scent easing the ache in his heart.

then get outta my way!

word count: 499
status: complete
muse: -crickets-
other: Sorry it's so horrible, next time will be better. >->'

[Dahlia]

Dahlia jerked to a stop as she locked eyes with the flame-colored stallion, embarrassed guilt suffusing her as she watched him. Embarrassment, of course, was due to the fact that she had been caught sneaking up on him and guilt was because she had inadvertently hit him with the rock she had struck in her attempt at a covert approach.

"My most sincere apologies, dear stallion. I did not mean to be so rude."she apologized in soft, gentle tones as she ducked her head a bit, a silky lock of her mane falling forward over one equally dark eye. Her head did not stay down long; it was against her nature to let embarrassment or any other emotion hold sway for too long. Particularly when she did not know how the stallion would take meek and apologetic behavior, however sincere.

The softest of giggles left her lips as he expounded the few nicknames he seemed to come up with in the space of a heartbeat, a twinkle of glee and warmth in her chocolate-hued orbs as she watched him. She looked him over much the same as he did her, intrigued by the stranger who seemed to know her without introduction. "I rather like Queen of the Plain, though I imagine my herd would say the title is more encouragement than I need; I am bossy enough."

"Again, I must apologize. I do not normally skulk about. But, I have learned that its best to approach with caution when there are strangers about. Not many are as gentlemanly as you seem to be, dear stallion." she said gently, greatly soothed by his demeanor and enjoying speaking with him. Males quite often made her nervous- most likely because she always felt they threatened her freedom and position- but oddly enough, Bonfire set her at ease.

"I admit I am curious. My own neighbors quite often have no clue who I am on first glance. I find it very intriguing that you know me so quickly, Bonfire. May I ask how?"


((I think it's very nice, especially compared to my own posts. No need to apologize at all ^.^))

[bonfire]

if you can't take the heat.....

The stallion rocked back on his haunches for a moment, swaying to and fro to remove the ache from his limbs. He tested each leg, bringing it up to his barrel before letting it drop, moving to the next one. He loved taking a bath after he ran but it always left his legs sore and feeble, like jelly left in the sun.

A grin danced upon his lips as the mare giggled, his heart singing in a moment of euphoria. He had made her laugh! He responded with a faint chuckle of his own, giving his head a quick toss of glee. It felt so wonderful to interact with another, he had forgotten the bittersweet feeling that tugged at his heart after being left behind. Plenty of fish in the sea, they had said! He cast his gaze away from the femme for a moment, not wanting to taint her image with his dark thoughts.

As she spoke he glanced towards her again, ears pricked forward and lips pursed, ready to respond. He was thinking, what to say, what to say! If she says this, I can remark wittily that... No, that won't do!

Bonfire's eyes cast skywards for an instant, watching as a lazy white cloud floated in the blue sky. It was a fine day to meet another, even if she left with curses on her lips and her ears pinned back he would remember the way that her pelt glistened like a jewel. Her vocals went silent and he lifted his head, bobbing it as he began to speak.

"When there is a mare as fine as yourself with no lead stallion by her side, word gets around." He purred, taking a light, gentle step forward. He tilted his head to the side, lips pulled in a smile as he ventured closer, closer... He halted a few feet from her, longing to reach out and touch her, nuzzle her, groom her withers, to be touched in return.

He had, in fact, heard about her from several wandering bachelors, older stallions that had lost their herds. They had approached him, offering to travel with them for some time and he had accepted. They wandered for several months, telling one another stories of their old herds, sharing their wisdom with the much younger Bonfire. He had listened intently, eyes wide as they spoke of epic battles, dances under the moonlight with their beloved, they opened their hearts for him to read like a book. Never had he met such kindness.

then get outta my way!

word count: 433
status: complete
muse: -crickets-
other: Sorry that this one's even worse. D:

[Dahlia]

She found her gaze riveted to the stallion, her attention fixed intently so that she could not even think to tear her gaze away. He was certainly worth watching: not only was he a fine and handsome stallion, but she was also intrigued by his demeanor. In her past experiences with stallions they always seemed to look down their noses at her lack of a stallion at her side, some even going so far as to presume that they could be that stallion. It had always been a very off-putting attitude and was perhaps the main reason that Dahlia had not sought a companion for herself; she was afraid that any stallion she chose would usurp her position and strip away her freedom as so many seemed inclined to do.

Bonfire seemed different to her. If his tone were any indication, he seemed at the least to be respectful, even if perhaps the tiniest bit mocking, though she did not know that was the case and thought that she may only be slightly oversensitive. At any rate she found him charming and was happy with his company, finding herself yearning to be closer and to know more about this unique male.

A soft smile curved her lips as she watched his reaction to her giggles, glad that her reaction had seemed to please him. It truly was a fine day, and getting better by the moment in her estimation.

"I suppose it would.."she agreed softly, dipping her head a bit in embarassed pleasure at his comment. She knew that word did get around about herself and her neighbor, Midnight, being that the two of them ran their herds with no stallions at their side. That sometimes bothered her, but at the moment her irritation at gossip faded under the glow of happiness his compliment stirred.

She did not shy away as he approached, instead even going so far as to take a few steps nearer to him though she kept the few feet between them, not wanting to overstep any boundaries. Other than those stallions who had initially opposed her taking control of the herd and the occasional rude passerby, she had very little experience with the male of the species and wasn't quite sure how to express her muddled but certainly positive feelings toward him.

Still, she tried to express her thoughts as best she could. "I suppose in this case, I'm glad to be the subject of gossip. I am happy to have crossed paths with you; I've never met such a fine stallion as yourself. And certainly not one who would consider my lack of a companion anything other than an unfortunate mistake needing correction."

[/color]

Truth be told, Dahlia would accept nothing less than one who could at least respect her determination to lead and care for her herd, even if they did not really understand it. She wanted a true partner and companion- not a stallion whose will she would have to bow and cater to.[/size][/blockquote]