Username: klovesugar2
Kennel: Etched Argent OasisShow Name: Bleak Barrow Downs
Call Name: Rou
Collar color: Steel
Sex: Female
Writing: Tensions were high that night, an uncertain, nervous energy stirring in the chilled desert air. They had guests today, a modest little group who's sought their hospitality until a freak sandstorm died down. Tourists, they claimed. Potential thieves, the two hissan murmured to one another, exchanging a look. The dark veil of a nearing witching hour would be the time to strike, should paranoia prove true, leading to the now. Mira sat within Rosie's stall, the pale ivory canine keeping a close eye on the most mild-mannered of their three charges, the one least likely to defend herself should anything untoward actually occur. While the lone stallion terrified the hired hands as a matter of playful routine, and Lynx was belligerent on the best of days... The amber dun mare was known as the sweetheart of the stable for a reason, and far, far too trusting for her own good.
Untested as it was, there was no guarantee that the naïve mare wouldn't just walk off with the strangers if they asked her nicely.
It made the two canine guards twitch, just a bit.
Which was why after patrolling the grounds and once more warning the other two equines to be on guard, Rou found herself padding forward on silent paws towards the last occupied stall. Some manner of commotion caused bone white ears to prick as a low growl gave way to a rumbling bark, familiar, Mira's, the sort of warning that should precede swift retribution delivered with utmost prejudice. A tall shadow shifted in the dark, as claws scrambled amidst a bed of straw and yipping growls filled the once silent air. Rou's lips pulled back in a mute snarl, bolting towards the clamor with all the haste a small hissan could muster when their wards were threatened- a not inconsiderable nor unimpressive pace. Her heart beat a thunderous tempo within her, justified wrath swelling as something crashed within the stall and the younger canine let out a sudden yelp, seemingly pained. A rumbling growl grew from somewhere deep in her chest, building rapidly as she finally reached the merle mare and pale pup's location. Darting under the thick green rope that separated her stall from the rest of the hallway, the pied canine let loose with a bellowing bark which would sooner seem at home from a far larger beast. An equine shrilled out a startled squeal, a hissan yelped, something clattered and pale paws met wet straw, yet no scent of copper nor stranger filled the air.
Sight having never been her strong suit and even less so in this gloom, pale ears swiveled and a dark nose drank deeply of the desert night. Shadows shifted around her, two pale blobs and a dark lump on the ground. Three rapid heartbeats, two slowly calming, three breathing bodies- just her, Mira, and Rosie. No copper scent. No stranger scent. No heavy human scent other than that of the last hand to of worked with the merle mare, many hours ago. The dark lump was too small for a man, unless it was a young man-pup, and there had been none of those in their visitors' group. Slowly, her suspicions as to what had been occurring before her arrival began to shift. Not relaxing just yet, the palest of the trio gingerly slunk towards the dark lump, lips curled and sharp teeth barred. Once she came close enough to observe it even in the dark hues of midnight however, her maintained aggression bled away. It was a bucket, a water bucket. Likely dislodged from its hook somehow- and yes, a swift glance revealed that there was no dark lump on the wall where there ought to be one. It was Rosie's bucket. Not a man, not a stranger, not a thief in the night. Pale ears flattened in irritation as the dots connected.
Her fellow guard had probably been fooling around, entertaining the mare in a bid to keep her from stressing over their visitors to the point of potential colic, and had most likely accidently upended the bucket in her mounting enthusiasm.
Chuffing lightly in irritation at the entire misunderstanding, Rou padded closer to the smaller of the pale shapes before licking an apologetic stripe across her fellow guardian's crown. Reciprocating the gesture in easy, accepting, forgiveness, Mira's attention was swiftly returned to reassuring the merle mare that she was alright. Watching the pair for a moment, Rou blinked, realizing that it was entirely likely that the pair had bonded while she'd been out patrolling. The pair had always been rather close, one a dreamer wishing to protect, and the other a dreamer needing to be protected- the only malik in the stable at the moment who really
needed the additional protection a personal hissan offered... However they hadn't fully clicked yet, at least not before tonight.
Suddenly feeling like she was intruding upon an incredibly personal moment the longer she remained, it was a slightly shaken and somewhat sheepish canine who swept out of the stall like a ghost, unnoticed by the pair quietly doting upon one another- taking turns assuring the other that they were indeed alright after the unexpected scare. Slinking off into the night, Rou resumed her patrol more adamant than ever that not a single soul would reach her wards. After all, not only did she have three equines to guard, but the newly bonded pair deserved some time to themselves. All the more so considering Rou had already so very rudely interrupted them once tonight.
Nothing more disturbed the quiet peace of the desert night, until dawn once more deigned to break across the sprawling sky.
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