((Woah, you guys... I missed a lot, huh? But I read it over, no fear. Wow... I'm touched. I didn't know Bandit would turn out to be that important. :3 I feel special. And LostGosling, if there was an awww button, mine would already be broken.))
((OhmiGodohmiGodohmiGod I just accidentally hit the refresh button! I lost all my work I had like, a really long post.... I won't have time to type something that long again, I have to go to school soon and I won't have time at all! Oh my God, I am an idiot. A foolish bumbling blonde idiot. I'll edit this post and add Bandit when I can, but it'll probably be after school. I'm so sorry.))
Bandit
Mistrust danced in Bandit’s rose-hued eyes, darkening their shining color and laying back her ears. Her head lifted higher on an arched neck as more and more equids walked up to join, one dainty foreleg lifting higher than the others for a moment. Automatically she sidestepped closer to the river, feeling the cool beckon of its glittering shallows wet and pull at the end of her tail. The river, where her slender but firm legs would prove to be stronger than they looked as they cut through the current. She was uncomfortable among so many others, their presence setting her into escape mode. Into survival mode. If there was one thing Bandit couldn't stand, it was crowds.
All these thoughts flashed through her loner’s mind in a split second, but the smooth roll of Halo’s voice stopped her, and she remembered her place with a shudder, the bright, sunlight day, robin’s egg blue sky and sparkling river confusing her for a moment, so different than the place in her thoughts... But she shook those thoughts aside. I’m a strange one, she mused sadly. Knowing well the difference of being lonely and being alone, yet after a time lonely with no company to keep… but when there is a herd around me, I’m uncomfortable. A wry little smile quirked up the corners of her mouth, and her rose-hued eyes were sad for a moment before her ever-present mask of whatever emotion was the most appropriate for the moment covered it up.
The tension emanating from Canad again caught her attention, and one ear, as they relaxed, swiveled in Halo’s direction. Bandit shifted her feet uneasily, wondering and worrying, but it wasn’t her place to say anything. And when Canad’s tense, murmured response to Halo’s cheerful, brazen voice reached her ears sent the rest of the herd drifting nervously away… it hit her. Her heart dropped in disbelief and terror, mouth opening in a soundless cry of No!
This is because of me. They’re going to fight over me. No. Please, please no. Desperately, she caught Halo’s shimmering golden gaze like it as a life saver, a beacon to lead her through the darkness. Afraid, she longed to brush his side with the tip of her tail, once again feel his warm breath in her ear sending shivers down her spine, hear his laughter. Bandit knew he would not win, with his leg, against a stallion that was fresh and strong, let alone the lead stallion himself. “Don’t go,” she breathed desperately, willing him to just turn away, and her heart longed for a simpler solution. But he was already too far away to hear her. And she was angry suddenly, angry at herself for causing this, angry at Canad for doing this, angry at Halo for agreeing, angry at his hurt leg. She snapped viciously at a fly that came too close. But the heat of the fury faded, and all she was left with was worry, fear, and guilt. Her ears lay back, eyes wide as they followed Halo when he entered the river, nearing Canad. The weight of the water darkening Halo’s pale auburn coat, and Bandit took notice of the fact he seemed to be favoring his leg. Because the water soothed it? Or because it was hurting him. Her heart gave a stab of worry, anxiety. This can’t be happening. Her mind spun desperately, searching for a loophole. Halo was almost there. And then it reached her.
Desperately she stepped forward, gazing after the two stallions and opening her mouth to call out. She knew that if she asked, pleaded with them, that they would not fight this day. But something stopped her. If Bandit was anything, she had a strong sense of honor, and the line between right and wrong. If she stopped them now to save Halo until he was healed, he would be humiliated; and it would just become worse between the two. This had to be settled now. It was not good, not good at all to have dissention in the ranks, and an argument, however petty or serious it was, between the two highest-ranking stallions. It must be done. This can't be happening. Not over me.
Bandit turned quickly and cantered shakily away from the river and up the face of a short incline, fiercely blinking back tears she hoped the two hadn’t seen.
((Edit: Hah. Nannynannybooboo, I beat you, stupid timer. And now, I will be late for school. *runs off*))