@spirit: accepted, but do be careful that you can’t have your mare and stallion in the same herd, and to avoid any possible horses that could be related having relations!
)
(Edit: edited my post for Dee bc I didn’t see Gleam’s reply)
Scylla
11 years•Lone mare• Sultry, bored• tagged: Corpse, Morgue, Charybdis, Brownie, Cookie• Heat stage 0
At his words, Scylla felt a stirring of amusement within her body. The brothers would indeed have their work cut out for them, if they all had to go together. If the brother managed to not fumble the bag with the two mares he was speaking to, it was a gathering of six, which was quite the sizable herd. With their looks and those numbers, any number of bachelors, old or young, would be sneaking around in their hopes to get a taste, to find a chink in the armor.
Before she could respond, however, he chuckled, and for a second, he seemed to break through all of his panic and whatever duty he thought he owed to his brother, and Scylla paused a moment, studying him carefully and wondering if she liked what she saw. He seemed a relatively simple stallion when he was allowed to be, with straightforward wants and needs but the willingness to put the effort in to get the work done. He was a decent stallion, as it were. But was it boring?
But then, the brother called, and Morgue all but locked up, his actions pausing as he did, all those emotions disappearing once more, and Scylla felt her intrigue flickering back into being. Why be so hung up about someone else if you claimed not to like them? His movements were strong and measured, a clear show that wanted an audience, so it was apparent that Scylla's actions had successfully tipped the scale. However, that did not mean the brother would be so easily rewarded. Every action he was putting on, Scylla had already measured, and she was waiting for the interesting. Chary had answered, so Scylla deigned to reply, simply flicking her tail as she turned her head away toward Morgue, reclaiming his attention whilst her sister was watching the show. "Distractable, aren't you?" She hummed, angling her head so that her breaths skirted across the sensitive skin of his ear.
Scylla did not mind company, but the younger one was clearly smitten with Morgue, and the stallion with them both, and it would be better for the situation if she gave it time to broil. As such, she watched how the younger mare stared at her, attempting to size her up before she spoke to Morgue directly. The choice was an obvious one, given how much Morgue seemed to encompass her attention, but it was unwise. If they did all become a herd, the dynamics within said herd would be what would get sorted out first, and there was always an impression to be made. All the same, it wasn't like neither she nor her sister were particularly traditional.
As such, seeing as she didn't get a greeting from those approaching except the stallion-which her sister had already done the onus of acknowledging-, there was nothing that held Scylla any longer. Turning back toward Corpse, Scylla raised her head imperiously, her expression carefully blank as she let her attention rest on him like a butterfly upon a blade of grass. And then, once more, she stepped away, creating some space between herself and Morgue, before turning away. In a swift, precise motion, she turned about, shifting a few steps away from the large crowd. In slight response to Corpse's show, she flicked her mane, the wavy hairs accentuating her movement and muscled neck as they danced through the air, before she dropped her head, letting herself graze once more, the picture of nonchalance. Curiously, she wondered how Morgue would react with her actions being a parallel of those she’d given him before-would he reassure his brother? Delight in the shared experience? Or something unexpected?
Charybdis
11 years• Lone mare• Excitable, invigorated • tagged: Corpse, Morgue, Scylla, Brownie, Cookie•heat stage 1
It was very rewarding, the way she could simply call for his attention and have it answered almost instantaneously, the way she could see his very body relaxing like putty under her touch before his brain even caught up. Chary stretched under the other's touch, letting out a low, approving huff as her ear twitched, catching his words.
His mouth was sweet too, and whilst that was more in Scylla's list of appreciated qualities, it didn't hurt, and Chary found her tail flagging at the mental image of the chaos. Oh, what fun that would be!
But then, a whinny. Chary's ears pricked, looking up as she saw the bay brother approaching in a slow canter. For a moment, she took it in, letting out a whicker in response to both him and the mares following behind him, since they seemed a little hesitant about how they would be received. It was clear he was showing off for them, after all, and so Chary took the time to appreciate his muscles, the way his mane flowed and his hooves hit the ground. It was a good first impression, if anything.
As she thought about that, however, she noted at the back of her mind that her current playmate had tensed, his actions stopping as his mind wandered again once more. Slight frustration pulling at her, Chary let out a snort, turning her head around to bump her forehead against his in a friendly, though not especially gentle manner. "You stopped." She pointed out accusingly, though in the back of her mind, she was aware that she had too. Perhaps he wanted to check out the other two mares first? Chary didn't mind sharing, but then he should at least tell her he was going to be somewhere else first.
Winter’s Détente (Dee)
8 years• Herd stallion: Jessaa• Happy, curious, protective• tagged: Jessaa, Wraith, Gleam.
The foal was a cautious one, which was good for her situation. When she looked up at the other horses, she stiffened, and part of Dee wondered if she was going to panic and flee. All the same, giving her more information wouldn't help now, and so Dee waited. Alone and young as she was, it was good to be cautious. Besides, it wasn’t as if they were pressed for time. As such, he grazed with Jessaa, though he continued to keep an eye out.
Given time and space, however, the filly showed what she could be, her thoughts catching up with her panic. After a moment, she pressed close to Wraith, and Dee nodded.
Yes, cautious was wise. But if they got the opportunity and privilege to travel together through the seasons, Dee hoped he would be able to see the filly playful. As she spoke, Dee’s heart broke, filling anew with a fierce protectiveness that burned. Who had dared say such a thing to their own child? But such anger would be misplaced in such a situation, and so Dee held back, instead letting out a comforting nicker. “You have the potential to be many things, little one, but you are not and will never be a burden.”
Now that she was calmer, he spoke, low and slow so as not to overwhelm her further. "There's no need to worry. I will not allow anyone to harm those who travel with me."
With the agreement, the paint mare almost seemed to glow with her joy, softening even further. Watching their interactions, Dee couldn't help a smile. Whether Gleam knew it or not, she'd chosen a strong mother.
It was now that Wraith pushed herself up, and Dee let out a gentle whicker as the mare stretched her neck toward him in greeting. He brought his muzzle close, breathing in her scent and letting her acclimatize to his own at her own time. The scent confirmed what he already knew- she was alone. He gently brought his head back, knowing she'd wish to scent Jessaa as well. "You know our names, but regretfully, I must have missed both of yours. What are your names?" He paused, unsure for a moment, before he continued. He wanted to ask how they both lost their herds, but knowing it could be a sensitive topic, he left it alone, simply making an open ended statement that the other could simply take at face value if the memory was too painful. "There seem to be many of us alone this year, unfortunately."
Seeing the foal look at him, wary, Dee lowered his head gently, keeping his ears forward and friendly so the foal wouldn’t think he was trying to shake or bite. Then, he paused, letting Gleam choose if she wanted to close the distance. With these kinds of things, it was best to let the other set the pace.
A Forgotten Tale (Memory)
6 years• Herd mare• Reassured, comforted• Tagged: Leo• Heat stage 2
When he spoke, Memory looked up curiously, listening to him. It sounded like he'd gotten a little mixed up, given that her colt was barely a month old, but it was heartening nonetheless. At his words, she nodded, letting out a small nicker of agreement.
When he spoke of other mares, Memory looked over curiously, spotting two red mares surrounding a blood bay, their colours a splash of rust across the green of the meadow that seemed an almost ominous portent of foreboding. She swallowed, looking at all the horses that were a collection of colour and chaos. He looked over with her, and Memory waited as he took in the scene, evaluating it with his own eyes in turn. When he looked over, she nodded at his observation. "Would you like to try, then?"
At his own words, she spotted a darker stallion heading towards the mare group as well. It seemed that he wasn't the only one that felt that way, but given how large the group was, they'd possibly still be able to get a few others to join them if they wanted to. And so, Memory shrugged, looking over at Leopard trustingly. "I'm okay following you wherever you're going."
Rituals Under Twilight (Voodoo)
3 years•Lone mare• Celebratory, energetic• Tagged: Celeste, Poltergeist, Madeira, Eclipse, Boucanier• Heat stage 0
Celeste. Her friend's name was Celeste. Though Voodoo was curious to know the others' names too, she especially wished to know her racing companion, which was only enforced by how the darker mare responded to her, ready to leap into action as quickly as she was. It was only further enforced by how she responded, making Voodoo's ears prick up in excitement and curiosity. Where with others she always had to tone herself down, having associated the pleasantness of company with the dreariness of self-control, her new friend was like a breath of fresh air, and she was basking in it like a snake in the sun.
Voodoo nodded emaphatically at Celeste's words, about to reply when she heard footsteps approaching. Casually, she swivelled around curiously, then taking in the sight of a stallion. Immediately, Voodoo felt herself stand a little straighter, grow a little more aware when she regarded the other horses, though she let out a curious nicker. He approached loudly enough, and his tone was kind. All the same, though Voodoo had a happy go lucky personality, she knew better than to not have at least a little bit more of a guard against stallions. Whilst she was always willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, she also wasn't about to look away without reason. "We chanced upon each other, really, but it's always nice to meet new faces. What's your name?"
When he recognised Madeira, Voodoo let out a curious sound, and when Madeira answered, Voodoo's head lifted higher in surprise. Madeira's father! Looking between them with the knowledge, she could not kind of see the resemblance, but she also didn't know if she would have assumed it upon first glance. Their ages looked pretty close though, so perhaps he had her when he was a bachelor stallion, zipping in and out of herds to cover as many as one possibly could. But she recognised him. For a foal to grow up knowing their stallion meant at least a relatively stable family unit, which was surprising. The others seemed a little unsure, Eclipse pinning her ears slightly in warning, and Voodoo pawed at the ground, feeling all the different emotions those around her had roiling through her and building up in her as well.
But also, was this a family affair? Were they here to catch up? Voodoo dithered for a while, unsure if she was supposed to stay and start a conversation, or if she should perhaps give the two some space. Unsure, she stepped toward Celeste, shaking out her mane and reaching out for the other mare's support and company. The other mare was taking the lead, stretching out her neck in a remarkably neutral way, and Voodoo's ears stayed pricked towards her friend. Though she'd just met the other, she trusted the other's judgement implicitly. The other mares she wanted to know, but Voodoo already knew that she'd be following Celeste if the other chose to go.
But then, the stallion was stepping back, and Voodoo cocked her head. A stallion backing away when such a prize was before them? It was a confusing concept, to say the least.
