{ Søɳɢ øf Ƭɦɛ Ɖɛsɛʀʈ } Official DAM RP

[Bast-et]

Valiant
Crush- Arsenic
Affiliation- Hamseen
Mood- serious/troubled/determined
With- Arsenic
Rank- mare
Location- Desert- dust devils

Valiant nodded in approval to Arsenic's declaration. The first step to making this rescue easy would be getting the filly to help herself. As it was, they herd stood little chance of finding them in the desert's messy tantrum. As the winds whipped around the couple, Valiant snorted in annoyance. She couldn't stand the feel of sand being ingrained in her coat, and the wind tying her long hair in knots. She could feel the grit in her throat and sand in her eyes. Traveling in a dust devil, even in the center, was miserable.
"They couldn't have gone far in one of these." Valiant responded, "They are horrid- and don't last very long."
The mini twister they stood in faded out, even as three more spun into being between the dunes.
"Surely with a young filly, they could not stay hidden long in one. Although they make a great distraction, and they are readily available should they need to hide again... But sooner or later the winds will die, and they had better be far from here by then, or we will find them. So maybe it would be better for us to circle the storms and wait for the rougue to make his escape into open sand while he counts on our attention being focused on the devils. Surely your mother and Bander can handle the rougue if Fawn should cry out?"
Of course, there was always that chance they would get away... But Valiant was sick of losing herd mates to the sands. Just try Rougue. There's no where you can hide, and no way to keep Fawn from returning once she decides she misses her home.

[Desmond]

[♈]
[Outskirts/Near small oasis; Tagging Kyzaria.]

Aries turned, flicking his tail casually as he headed away from the oasis. It wouldn't do to have his plans overheard. He had learned the hard way that too often, someone unwanted is listening... ready to rat out his plans to those that he would not want to learn of them. "Come with me. I cannot explain here, we're too close to our target and might be overheard. My son is currently trying to get into contact with this herd. I'd rather not have to run in and rescue his sorry hide." He headed to an oasis he knew sat outside of the hard's borders, careful to not create a dustcloud. It would be best to move at a walking pace... just good strategy. And it would give him time to come up with questions for his new companion.

"I am curious - what would a daughter of one of my Brothers be doing out here? Surely Thanatos has requests of you?"

[❄]
[Coming toward Rimal Oasis; Tagging anyone willing to approach him.]

Yalda walked toward the oasis from the northwest border. He'd been patrolling all day, and hadn't found much of interest, other than the very distant dustclouds that announced the presence of something running, but they didn't seem close enough to be of too much worry. He'd still be ready to report it, though, just in case.

He whinnied softly and bucked his head, started by something moving out of the corner of his eye. Jumping to face it, he came face to face with-!

... A lizard scampered away, just as startled as he was, and dove beneath a rock. Yalda could have kicked himself for his paranoia... but, then again, no one else was going to watch his back so far out from the main lands.

[❦]
[Outskirts; Tagging no one in particular.]

Belladonna stood, staring out from the cliff-like dune her father had told her to watch from. She was the lookout of this mission, too young to do much of anything other than that particular job. She'd watched Cyanide disappear into the oasis and her father disappear with the dark mustang that he had battled. Some part of her was angry about this... but then the rest of her was okay with it. Let him get distracted, she thought. It would benefit her and her brother for him to have a new pet to bruise, shred and throw to the ground.

She lowered her head, watching for another sign of her brother. He'd been in the oasis for a long time... had he even been noticed yet? Or was he better at camouflage than Aries had suspected? The trio knew he wasn't very good at being hidden... so this much silence worried her.

She made a mental tally of the mustangs she had noticed wandering around. There were a couple that looked vaguely familiar... but from where, she couldn't recall - faces were not her strongest point. But that red and white speck that she'd watched fleetingly interested her greatly. Who were they and why did she think she knew them?

[☠]
[Inner Hamseen Oasis; Tagging anyone willing to discover him.]

Cyanide stood at the water's edge, his jaw dripping. He hadn't yet taken a drink, instead only pretending to do so to give him a cover story. He wondered if his father's ideas on how the oases were protected was true; would they come running if they knew he, an outsider, was standing so close to their water source? He shook out his long mane, glancing at his reflection before once again acting as if he were taking another drink. He wanted to make his father proud of him... but how could he do that without the world cooperating?

"How on earth do I get myself into these messes...?" He sighed, gently kicking a tiny pebble into the water."This isn't how it was supposed to work...."

[Ralonica Thorondor]

Kyzaria
With Aries
Mood: Planning the destruction of the herds and oasises. Let's just say that she's feeling evil. Mwahahaha.
Location: Inner Hamseen Herd territory
She is crushing on no-one

I follow Aries, making sure to step softly and not create a trail or a sign that we had been here. I prick my ears up as I hear his question. "It's strange that you would ask that, Aries." I say, pausing thoughtfully. "No. Thanatos didn't really stay around. I followed him for a distance, but I think he's the type who would rather work alone." I look into the sky, the clear blue sky, and it's almost like I see them - my family, breif moments. I shake my mane, focussing my attention back to Aries. "Of course, my main concerns were slipping away from my family. My mother. It was almost expected that I would stick around, join a nearby herd. But that was the opposite of my intentions." A tingle runs down my spine, and I resist the temptation to shiver. "But it would have been harder if I was an only foal. I had a twin sister, you see. She helped cause distraction, and when the time came, I could slip away without being noticed." I smile slyly, then suddenly realise how much I've said. You fool! Mentally, I kick myself for giving so much away about myself.

"What about you? How did you come to be here at this time? And what about your offspring?" I ask, looking inquisitively at him, but at the same time trying to hide a smug smile. Maybe I can forgive myself for my rashness if I can glean some information from the stallion.

[Desmond]

[♈]
[Outskirts/Near small oasis; Tagging Kyzaria.]

Aries hmmm'd, deep in thought. "True, I suppose he wouldn't care for company, now would he?" Shaking out his heavy mane, he flipped his forelock to the other side of his face to better see Kyzaria. As much as his rare and beautiful features were prized, the weight and sheer length of all of that hair was still a little cumbersome, in battle and out, and got annoying at the worst of times. "You made a wise choice. Herds intend to foster weak mindsets and even weaker bodies - A strong mustang should be able to fend off predators without issue. Herds depends on each other... and when just a few strings are plucked... they come tumbling down." Dodging a loosely-built dune, he nickered, momentarily relishing in a favorite memory of his.

"I came here because no herd wants to be in contact with one such as myself, let alone have one in their ranks. My heir and daughter... well. They are my soldiers and shadows. They do as I tell them, when and where I tell them to. They're obiedient to me, for the most part, if their uselessness does not get in the way." Aries smirked, proud of his skill in dancing around questions and offering only trivial or redundant information. It was one of the things that had saved him once before, when he was foolish and full of recklessness.

[Chasing Dreams]

Mood: Angry and Depressed
Herd: Hamseen Herd
Rank: Stallion
Crush: none

B a n d e r

Bander gave Nightlock a hell of a look. His narrowed eye's and ears pinned to the back of his head made him look like a little pouting foal. Completely ignoring Nightlock, Bander raced to the nearest dust devil. "Lets start looking in this one." He said and dove into it. Sand started to cover his body, stinging his eyes, which were all ready filled with sand. "FAWN! You better listen to Arsenic, he's your leader!"

A whirl of sand flew into Bander's mouth, choking him. He coughed up a mouth-full of sand. Spitting it everywhere. "Dam* sand..." Bander muttered. His tail swishing back and forth as he searched through the sand.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mood: scared
Herd: Hamseen Herd
Rank: Foal
Crush: none
Location: On the other side of the dust devils.

F A W N

Fawn heard Arsenic's yell. She hesitated, looking up at Shadow, and back to where she came from. He must have been close to them. And by know Fawn was getting a little worried, was Shadow taking this game a little... too far? Arsenic sounded really serious. Without warning Fawn turned to head back to the Hamseen oasis. "I'M HERE! HERE I AM! HELP!" Fawn couldn't believe she was just a stupid fool to have run off with a stranger. Her eye's searched for the familiar figure of her brother. Where was he? Where's Arsenic. Fawn just kept on running in the opposite direction that she had came in. Panic poured into her veins. She didn't know if she could any farther. She'd all ready pushed herself to get out here? And now back? It seemed almost impossible.

[Ralonica Thorondor]

Kyzaria
With Aries
Mood: Planning the destruction of the herds and oasises. Let's just say that she's feeling evil. Mwahahaha.
Location: Inner Hamseen Herd territory
She is crushing on no-one

I stare at Aries. I stare at him long and hard. Then, I look straight ahead, and keep on walking. "But what kept your foals from staying in their birthplaces, with their dams?" I say, mumbling, almost blankly. I keep on walking, trying to sort out my thoughts in my head.

[-wild-]

Mood - Thoughtful
Crush - None currently
Rank - Second in Command
With - Devajara | Kufikiria | Piru
Location - Inside Rimal Territory

.:C o n A r t i s t:.

Connor looked to both sides of him now to see that there were two Mustangs in their territory. Connor looked to Devajara,"Look now there is two.." He watched as a mare build with long hair began to run and another calm looking Stallion build with short hair was outside the territory. He looked back at Devajara to tell him that he would run after the mare, he was sure the leader could handle a stallion better than him. He galloped after the mare to see what she was up too, she may be no threat but she may also mean danger...

Mood - Thoughtful and adventurous
Crush - None currently
Rank - Loner
Tagging - Yalda
Location - Nearing Rimal herd territory.

~Serelle~

As Serelle was inside the Rimal herd territory she saw the outline of a male. At first she thought it may have been her father but as she neared she discovered that it was a lighter coloured mustang quite like her own coat only slightly different. She approached him calmly to seem like she meant no harm or disruption. As she was no more than about a foot away from him she began to speak, "Hello there," She said in a soft voice. "I am Serelle, and I believe my father might be here?" She looked up at the stallion hopefully.

[Nellas]

{. Location; Rimal main oasis
{. Tags; Kukufira, Con Artist, Devajara
{. Rank; Loner

{. Pirukendea .}

A quiet, descending series of gentle whickers caught at the stallions ears and he turned his head, the hot desert sun shining down onto his stormy coat, dark in a place of heat and light. A flash of bright movement shone through the tangle of vines and leaves and Pirukendea’s interest was piqued. Stepping forwards slightly a delicate mare came into view and he recognized her as the one he’d scented earlier; yet his second impression of her was of beauty; her coat was a soft creamy beige of sorts with white spots; she was like an ethereal spirit, with her pale colours and the natural grace of a mare. Immediately a phrase came into mind; she floated through the night on a wisp of silent breeze. He had never seen a coat like hers, no, never before. How unique she was, like a rose in the desert. Yet he realized his glance had turned into stare and his gaze shifted away for a split second before flitting back to meet her eyes again, muttering a quick “Hello,” before dipping his head to crop a mouthful of grass. Oh, how sweet and delicious on his tongue. Piru had almost forgotten the taste of real oasis grass.

Soft hoof-beats met his attention and Piru raised his head slightly, watching two stallions gradually approaching with the intelligent light of his deep cerise eyes. His ears pricked to a point and he did not back up as they advanced; however he recognized he was in their territory, for one was obviously the leader, and acknowledged his power status with a dip of his head, bending one foreleg graciously in a small salute of sorts. He outwardly was calm, cool and collected, polite as he nodded respect to the two, but his heart was thrumming with nerves. Piru’s toned lean muscles were built for endurance, not speed, and he fought only when he had to. His real skill was tracking; he knew that if these two stallions wanted to hurt him, they might as well just get it over with. His gaze skimmed guardedly over the two strangers and he unconsciously took a little step in front of the creamy mare; he may be shy with the mares but he wouldn’t wish any harm to come upon any of them. One stallion had the calmly expectant bearing of a leader, and Piru didn’t need the other stallion’s complementing mood to confirm it. They didn’t appear threatening, but one could never tell, and he didn’t want to take chances.

“My name is Pirukendea,” he said clearly, raising his fine dark head just slightly with a hint of pride. For once, the words slipping from his mouth were smooth and collected. “I am a travelling loner wanting only the next source of food,” he continued, “-and I apologize to have caused a disturbance. When I came upon your land I merely needed a drink, nourishment and rest, and I was not previously aware this territory had been taken.” He spoke with what he hoped was a calm and confident air; his voice was its usual soft-spoken huskiness but he sounded at least a touch less nervous than he felt, and he almost surprised himself with the words that might have sounded sophisticated and smart had they come from another desert mustang.

[lichenfeather]

Location: Main Oasis of the Rimal Herd
Love Interest: None
Mood: Agitated, Wary
Rank: Loner
Tags: Conner, Devaraja and Piru

A rustle of the bushes alerted Kufikiria to the stallion removing himself from the tangle of the bush. She raised her head to meet his eyes, the fire in her own blazing. She looking him over once, twice then once more before she took a step back. He was staring. Tossing her head she returned her attention to the approaching pair, her eyes still blazing. As they grew closer she stood stock still, unmoving, as if she were a rock. When the blue stallion bent his leg in a half salute she gave an inward sigh. This one is as dull as they all are. She looked over them, eyeing them with a dark gaze. Her eyes betrayed nothing other than the fire that blazed in her heart. When the blue stallion stepped in front of her, as if to guard her from the pair her ears fell flat against her neck. With a single dark look she turned away, her tail sweeping around her body.

The small one is the leader, the other the loyal followerer. Lightly giving a small smile to the trio Kufikiria stretched her long legs, her powerful body preparing to run. She was not frightend, no, not at all, simply annoyed, as if the stallions thought she could not look after herself. Pirukendea. The stallion had just told the others his name. Kufikiria turned back, eyes still guarded. Her creamy tail was slightly arched, and her mane cascaded down her neck, lightly hanging.She allowed herself to sigh, a barly audible sound. She was now standing at the side of Pirukendea. Offering no name, the mare simply watched and waited.

[Temperance.]

Mood: Angry/Anxious
Location: Chasing after Fawn and a rogue
Rank: Lead Stallion
Herd: Hamseen Herd
Love Interest: Valiant
Tags: Valiant

{ A R S E N I C }

The sun beat down in its own unrelenting way, scorching the earth and causing beads of sweat to form on the silver bay stallions' back and face. A single drop slid down his forehead, trickling down his face until he let out a soft snort and shook his head to dispel it. The hot desert sand felt oddly comforting on his hooves, it had been a long time since he had faced such...adventure, and he was rather surprised to find that he relished the thought of tearing into this loner, of experiencing danger in a way he hadn't felt in a long while.

A sudden impulsiveness beat through him, followed by a heady feeling of power. HE was the lead stallion, charged with protecting and defending his herd members. So the thought of some upstart rogue spiriting one of his members away, a young filly no less, set his blood roaring through him. Suddenly Valiant beside him seemed almost...insignificant. He had a responsibility here, a duty, and the sudden rush of an unexpected sense of pride filled him.

Despite everything, despite how he had been raised, Arsenic had genuinely come to care for his herdmates, they weren't all exactly the types that he'd naturally choose to converse or spend time with, but they were all a part of the herd and that connected them on some kind of deeper level.

So he stood in the midst of the desert, with dust devils whipping past him violently, while Valiant herself attempted running through one, and found himself shaken and awed by the bizarre change within himself. He realized, coming slowly out of his self-induced daze, that Valiant had called the storms "horrid" and was stating out a very levelheaded thought. In fact he was about to agree with her and reply when a small, shrill, voice shrieked out above the wind.

Fawn.

She suddenly sounded somewhat panicked, and a wave of unusual paternal feelings assaulted him, an illogical protectiveness and desire to protect her. His nostrils flared violently, and his ruby eyes glittered with deadly intent.

"Change of plans." He growled out to Valiant, eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'll go find that rogue and...deal with him. You can snatch Fawn up and take her back to her brother." He looked at her, with caution and a tinge of worry in his eyes, "It might be dangerous for you though....are you up to it?" He hoped she realized how much trust he was placing in her, to leave Fawn in Valiant's care, to leave such a precious part of his herd to her, he just hoped that she could see how much he trusted her already, that she might appreciate the gesture.

However there was no time to wait for her response. Grimly setting his jaw, Arsenic vaulted forward towards the location of the voice, very near to them honestly, he was going to end this.

Sure enough he passed over a dune and saw the little filly charging recklessly about. "FAWN! A WHITE MARE WILL TAKE YOU TO BANDER, DON'T BE AFRAID OF HER." He called urgently to her, and then he turned his furious stare on the dark rogue.

"You chose the wrong herd to mess with rogue." He snarled, rearing and pawing the earth in a definite challenge.


{I'll add Nightlock's response in a bit C;}