[SerenWish]

Welcome to Cottonwood’s Grand Exploration Event!
Cottonwood riders, owners, and trainers from all over the land of Chicken Smoothie have been called in for the chance to take part in a fun and exciting event. It all started when I, Seren, went out surveying for some new mustang horses to adopt out, only to get lost and wind up in an area I had never seen before! (I am so very good at getting lost!) I hurried back to tell Teresa, and she agreed that we simply must explore this area. But it seems we were not the first- I found an old map in my wanderings with scribbled names for various locations in this expanse of land, which means that others may have been here before us, long ago.

It’s far too much land for one person to cover, so I thought- why not make it an event? So that’s where you come in, my lovelies!

I am opening up signups for people who think they (and their mount!) have what it takes to explore, study, and document their findings, so we can get to understand this place better. Let’s look at what this will entail:

In order to take place in this event, you must own a Cottonwood horse of suitable build and temperament for the job. (Drafts and Stallions are not the best choices- you want to look at geldings and mares, on light horse breeds.) If you need to borrow a mount, you will be allowed to do so, though you should have a close connection with your horse.
The event will probably span a few weeks in length. There will be “rounds” where each person will be given a response by me, detailing what is happening around them. You, as the rider, must make decisions on where to go, what to do, and make a choice.
How does this happen? Well, it’s very much like a roleplay. This means in order to take part, you must be comfortable with writing replies of 2-3 paragraphs, with good grammar, spelling, and punctuation use.

Anyone is welcome to try out! If you’re concerned about time, the event will be slow-paced, and so once you get in, you will get plenty of time, unless you feel you need to drop out.

As for the fun part….
Prizes
There are many prizes for you to take part in! There will be items, special companions, perhaps even a mysterious horse for you. Everyone will get SOMETHING.
There will also be awards given out in different categories: Intelligence, Agility, Speed, Stamina, and Courage. These reference your horse in particular: you will be given SIX POINTS to use as you wish to increase your horse’s stamina, speed, agility, intelligence, or courage. These can and will impact what occurs during your exploration! You can gain points in the event in different areas, and whoever’s horse has the highest in each category will win the award, as well as gain special prizes for the winners! (Yes, there are horses!)
(Please remember not to post on this thread yet, as it will be needed for the event, and so PM all questions and entries to me! I will be on every day to make sure you are fully comfortable with everything.)

[SerenWish]

Prizes and Awards

Awards

Courage
Heroic Award
Bombproof Award



Stamina
Marathon Award
Pony Express Award


Speed
Triple Crown Award
Quarter Mile Award


Agility
Pegasus Award
Olympian Award


Intelligence
Clever Hans Award
Cowhorse Award

[SerenWish]

FAQ
Do I need to make art to compete?
No, art is not required. If you're feeling inspired and have time, you're certainly welcome to (and it could add points) but it is not at all required or expected of you.

Can I make art for this event?
If you're interested in providing art for backgrounds for the event, I would appreciate extra enviorment pieces, and would be happy to work something out with you- simply PM me.

Entered Horse Skill Points Record

1.
A Feathered Kiss
Calvin Lore
Courage: 3
Stamina: 1
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 2

2.
Hombré
Cory Studier
Courage: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2

3.
Ripples in a River
Allie Meluki
Courage: 2
Stamina: 4
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1

4.
Vanessa Perez
Satunya Satu Suara Siren
Courage: 2
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 3

5.
Mona Lisa
Abbi Swans
Courage: 2
Stamina: 2
Speed: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

6.
Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe
Addison Mae Dennison
Courage: 2
Stamina: 2
Speed: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

7.
Simple Treasures
Leah Silver
Courage: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 2

8.
Russet Leaves
Imogen Doddes
Courage: 2
Stamina: 2
Speed: 3
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

9.
Old Blue Jeans
Erebus Gotzon
Courage: 3
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 2

10.
Escape from the Fire
Dakota Lake
Courage: 0
Stamina: 4
Speed: 1
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 1

11.
Masquerade
Emma Hunt
Courage: 2
Stamina: 3
Speed: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

12.
Give Me Novacaine
Quetzal Grey
Courage: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

13.
Sinners Cathedral
Oshunaria Wolfe
Courage: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

14.
Can't Catch Me
Alaska Rose Culver
Courage: 1
Stamina: 2
Speed: 2
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2

15.
The Fast and the Furious
Anna O'Reilly
Courage: 3
Stamina: 1
Speed: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

16.
Dun Gotta Run
Jamie LaValhauser
Courage: 3
Stamina: 2
Speed: 4
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1

17.
One Hit Wonder
Frost Rickto
Courage: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 4

18.
Victory of the Cats
Delvin Aislinn Flinnegan
Courage: 2
Stamina: 2
Speed: 1
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2

19.
Change In Direction
Noelle Ansell
Courage: 4
Stamina: 3
Speed: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 0

20.
Joy in the Heart
Jessica Rob
Courage: 2
Stamina: 1
Speed: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence:2

[SerenWish]

The horses and riders had all been gathered up in a mass of twenty pairs, almost ready to depart to their randomized starting places. Seren Ismain, having hopped on top of Rough Rider, was pacing a bit in front of the group, counting heads and checking her list twice. Halting the excited gelding, she gave a grin and addressed them all.
“Welcome, riders, to Cottonwood’s Grand Exploration Event! We are here to have a good time and explore. A few rules before we begin…”
Rules
1. Though you are leaving in ‘groups’, this is a solitary event and you will be working only with your horse, and, in a rare case, Seren and Rough Rider. Don’t worry about other players- just have fun and focus yourself.
2. Please remain within the realms of realism- you do not need to be “boring”, but don’t get too crazy with the dramatics. There are only so many cliffs to roll off of, cougars to attack, or lost souls to save.
3. Please do not infer that you have found an item or equine. You are welcome to HINT at something you see/hear/smell, and of course you can get flowers, rocks, feathers, etc, on your own but prizes will crop up over the course of the event. (Same with skill points: I’ll award them as I go.)
4. Please do not complain about what you find! Everyone will get something.

Seren grinned, and tossed a small rock up into the air, before catching it and letting it sparkle in the sun. “You see that, ladies and gents? It’s not fool’s gold. In fact, this area has a nice amount of gold, that was never fully mined. Tiny nuggets of raw gold are scattered around this whole area. And we’ll trade you for it! That’s not the only thing we’ll trade for, either. We’re also looking for artifacts from when this area was first settled- if you find one, we’ll set up a trade. Trading for gold will occur at the end of the event, and we can promise to have some nice tack and….yes, maybe equine stock!
Also, please be careful everyone… we have no idea the full extent of what wildlife could live out there. We also know that there are springs of fresh water to drink from, but refrain from drinking from the river or lake. Stillwater Creek is safe to drink from. Be careful about what you- or your horse- eats. If you run into major trouble, use the radio we’ve provided.”
Seren made sure that everyone had their saddlebags with a basic first aid kit (for both humans and horses), extra water, a rough map of the area, with basic landmarks, a small radio, and a pair of apples.

She waved as four trailers rattled out to different areas, on rough paths that were the hardest the trucks could handle. The rest would be up to the riders.

Seren grinned again.
This was going to be fun.

[SerenWish]

Trading Post

Back at the smalll headquarters Seren set up, is a small tent where the Cottonwood Staff had set up a small booth. It also held the files of all the entries and some extra supplies, but most importantly for this, it held a small lockbox for any artifacts and gold that was going to a museum afterwards. As an incentive, Seren had set up a series of rewards for people who wanted to cash something in.

Artifacts
Old items and rare natural objects are desired by historians and scientists alike, and if you can provide proof of them, you have a good chance to get a reward! The value of objects differs, but you can turn objects in at the end of the event to see if they're worth anything.

Example:
Rare Bird Feather = One Gold Ore

Gold
Gold ore and nuggets are sprinkled around the area, which was hit only lightly by the Gold Rush over a century ago. By turning in the gold, you not only help Cottonwood and help provide funds to perserve this area for the wildlife, flora, and future riders/hikers/nature lovers, you can also get rewards for doing so.
Gold Nuggets= 2 Gold Ores


The Sketch Mini-Event
Many people have brought along sketchpads, notebooks, and drawing utensils, and that's just great! In fact, the CGEE now is offering a mini-event for those who love to draw! Sketch something (an animal, plant, or geological formation) that you and your horse have encountered on the ride, and after the event is done, we will pick a few winners and they will get to take home some extra prizes!

1st Prize
Specialized Custom and One Gold Nugget

2nd Prize
Mystery Horse and One Gold Nugget

3rd Prize
Mystery Horse and One Gold Ore

Honorable Mentions
One Gold Ore

[frostt.]

Event Tack Ref.
One Hit Wonder
Charlie
--------------
Gelding
8 years
Fjord
Red Dun "Rodblakk"
13.2 hands
Intelligent ~ Mischievous ~ Fierce ~ Self-Confident ~ Loving ~ Carefree

(Elizabeth) Frost Rickto
--------------
15 years
Brunette {Light Brown}
Blue/Green eyes
British {Lives in America}
Slight accent
5'6 feet
Wild ~ Outgoing ~ Caring ~ Defensive {At times} ~ Leader

Saddlebag #1
Water Bottles {x3} Turkey Sandwiches {x2} Pretzels {x2} Apples {x2} Oat Treats {x4} Carrots {x2}
Saddlebag #2
Rough map {x1} Basic First Aid Kit {x1} Radio {x1} Pencils {x6} Erasers {x3} Drawing Books/Notebooks {x2} Horse Brush {x1}

Post 1
Heading West
Jumping town from the truck, Frost scanned around the brightly colored trees, searching for her mischievous gelding. Signing, she turned around to find him right behind her, falling back, she hit the ground with a THUD. "Charlie!' She exclaimed, climbing back to her feet. Charlie tilted his head and stared at her; she just knew he was trying not to die of laughter. Patting his head, Frost turned and climbed up into the (now dusty) saddle "C'mon buddy, lets go" she whispered to her horse. Fumbling the map around, Frost decided it was time to pick a direction (she was already behind) "Hmm all the other riders went North, East or West...so let's go SouUUTT....AHH! CHARLIE!" Clinging to the reins Frost attempted to lift her head as Charlie bolted off towards the mountains...I guess they decided to go West.

Realigning her thoughts, Frost scanned the hills. Not a single rider, how unusual she could have sworn at least one rider went this way as well, they must have changed their mind. Shrugging, she turned forward...mountains. Staring in awe she picked up her map and gently drew her finger across from her starting mark to where she believed they were now; about five miles from the red flags that were now only dots on the horizon. Looking up the mountains towered before her, a forest loomed to the South, and meadows covered the Eastern and Northern part of the range. "Nice choice, this much better than the forest" Frost whispered as she scratched the gelding's neck. He whinnied happily and increased his pace and they continued on towards the mountains. Clip clop clip clop....Charlie's hooves were the only sound Frost recognized, there was a slight breeze than whistled through the grass, and the sound of the occasional squirrel but nothing more....Frost drifted off to sleep.

Snorting awoke Frost from her slumber..."Charlie...? What..is it?" She blinked her eyes a few times before realizing that in front of her stood a creek; not very wide but still a creek. Charlie snorted again and pawed the ground, he wasn't a bit fan of water. "Ok ok, give me a minute" Climbing down from the saddle, Frost grabbed the reins and flipped them over the reluctant geldings head. "C'mon we're wasting time!" exclaimed Frost as she tugged on the reins, yet Charlie still refused to budge. Sighing Frost crouched down, cuped some water in her hands and held it out to her horse "See? It's not going to attack you." Charlie leaned forward and sniffed at the water, then splashed his muzzle around in it...resulting in a wet Frost. "Oh good grief...c'mon!" Grabbing the reins she crossed the creek and Charlie followed. Back in the saddle, Frost breathed deeply and enjoyed the fresh air....the mountains seemed close enough to touch.

Post 2

[Arrows]

Anna's [Arrows'] Headquarters
Anna O'Reilly with The Fast & The Furious "Crusader"

Anna: -Appearance-
Blonde ;; Brown Eyes ;; Sixteen ;; Female ;; Five Foot Seven
Rough Appearance

-Personality-
Adventurous ;; Stubborn ;; Courageous ;; Impatient ;; Cunning ;; Occasionally flirtatious ;; Fearless ;; Careless ;; Clever ;; Energetic

Crusader: -Appearance-
Chocolate Palomino Semi-Leopard Appaloosa ;; Five Years ;; Mare ;; Appaloosa ;; Sixteen Point Three Hands
This is her

-Personality-
Cooperative ;; Strong ;; Brave ;; Patient ;; Quick-witted ;; Loyal ;; Open book ;; Creative ;; Resourceful ;; Inquisitive

Points:
Courage: 3
Stamina: 1
Speed: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2

Daily Journey Journal:

Information:
If found, please return to:
Anna Marissa O'Reilly
2709 Turtleback Drive
1234567890
Buffalo, Wyoming
[Of course none of the information is mine; don't even think it's real besides the city and state.]

Doodles:
Silhouette

Post One
The ever-eager Anna O'Reilly was hyped for this trip. She was quite young, below college age. Getting her parents to agree had not been easy. The only reason they allowed her to go was because Cottonwood Ranch was so well-known and Crusader had been a horse there for a year or two.

The drive was uneventful except for the gentle jolts of the truck every now and then. She had stared out the window most of the time, watching the landscape change colors, like a rainbow. Anna had bobbed her leg up and down occasionally, energy flowing and ready to get outside. When she finally saw the green flags pop up, the girl smiled and wriggled in her seat, hoping other's to not notice her childlike excitement. She leapt from the truck, her green, muddy boots landing with a hard, solid thump. Anna raced to get to Crusader, not afraid to push past others - it was how she was; careless and fearless. Crusader chomped on a clump of alfalfa, jerking her head up briefly. Anna chuckled and reached to snatch her lead rope, tugging her out of the trailer. Anna wore long blue jeans that she made sure would cover up everything. They hung over her boots, always the most comfortable and easiest way that she liked. They were kept up by a silvery leather belt with a golden buckle saying, "Anna & Crusader" and "Gymkhana." Her shirt was a dashing deep blue with the outline of a horse and a quote saying, "Race on. Dream on. Fly on." Anna had a green Under Armour sweatshirt tied around her waist, and you could make out the words, simply, "Under Armour." Her hair was long and pulled into a tight fishtail braid, along with a fashionable headband to pull it together and keep it in its place. She had on no makeup and no jewelry of any sorts. A lucky rabbit's foot was clipped on her jeans loop, one she went nearly everywhere with. Despite her rather cool, calmer exterior, Anna was ready to burst from her excitement and her pieces of doubt.

Anna pulled out the blankets, the saddle, the bridle, the bell boots, the wraps, the breastcollar, reins, everything. Crusader's blankets were a lovely, deep shade of green with tribal makings - the pad and blanket were matching. The saddle was a deep western one with a brown set with rainbow stitching. Her bridal had a green, flower-like, gleaming bling bit on each of the sides at the top of it, with a Dogbone bit. The bell boots and wraps matched the blankets, and had a shiny, almost laminated coating on them. The breastcollar matched the bridle. And the reins were a neon green, an explosion! She heaved the equipment up and onto Crusader. Anna struggled with the saddle, tipping beneath it as she attempted to hoist it up. She skittered this way and that, her small shape having a hard time with her tall horse. The weight lifted as a young man, a driver, she supposed, pushed it onto her horse. Anna tugged her sleeves down, shaking out her arms and hardly nodding to the man. I didn't need help, she told herself. The girl strapped the breastcollar on and tugged many times on the girth, tightening it until it was sure to not fall off. Anna gentle removed Crusader's halter and stuck it into the near-full saddle bag, zipping it up and patting it. Then she grabbed her bridle and brought it to her mare's mouth, cradling her head with light, guiding hands. Crusader, letting the bit push on her gritted teeth for a couple of moments. Eventually, the Appy allowed her tough hold to falter and took the bit from Anna softly. Anna's soft hands looped the straps of the bridle over her ears, around her chin, tightened and strapped, and then stood back to admire her work.

The noises settled, the stomping settled. Her fellow explorers leapt onto their horses, clicking their heels to "start their engines."
Finally, She thought, watching the others part in various directions. Anna hoisted herself up into Crusader's saddle, who was alert and curious. Her eyes flitted every which way, and Anna took a deep breath. The sixteen-year-old was already feeling excited - yet maybe even nervous - jitters. "Shall we?" She murmured energetically. Crusader was oddly calm for a time like this; usually, she would be slightly jumpier, a bit more of a troublemaker. Now, she stood unmoving, silent. Anna shrugged it off, just wanting to get on her way. Always ready for an adventure, she tugged her horse east towards the rocks. Anna was so engrossed in looking around at everything, she nearly had her horse slam into a rock wall. Crusader began to drift out of the way as quick as she could, Anna skimming her knee and giving the slightest cringe as she jerked the reins. The young girl composed herself as quick as possible, reminding herself that she had to show she was mature enough, that she was just as ready as anyone older. No distractions and daydreaming. Anna gathered the reins and took a breath, glancing down the path she had chosen. You could see the path about a football field down, but then the jutting rocks were too thick and they blocked it. Luckily, Crusader was decently maneuverable; they'd find a way through. Anna's curiosity drove her forth, hoping to find what was on the other side of the narrow path. They headed farther away from the green shades, more towards the greys and browns. The rocks became closer, more intimidating. Anna grinned, even though even she felt a slight unease.
What an adventure!

- - -

Was it just her, or did the rocks seem to be tightening? Anna was able to touch the walls of the rocky "skyscrapers." Crusader gave the occasional sniff, seeming intrigued by this new territory. After picking their way through the rocks for several miles, the sun had sunk just a bit lower. Anna began to weave tighter, trying to see what was ahead while keeping herself in the saddle. Then, they came to a fork. On the right, the rocks were tighter. On left, they looking spacier, roomier. "Which way?" Anna sighed.

Post Two
She could hear the gurgling water of a more distant stream of river. Anna decided to head that direction in the end, liking the serene sound. Before she could move more than a few steps after gathering Crusader's reins and taking her to the side, the slightest gleam caught her sharp, young eyes. It instantly intrigued her, and she jerked Crusader to a stop, surprising the mare. Anna slid from her horse's back and asked her to "stand" sternly, backing up a few steps to see the shiny object. It was farther above her and Crusader, and it would be hard to get even while standing upon something. But Anna got the urge to go for it, for in her heart she knew it was something special, but her mind was sensible and told her she might get hurt. Risks are meant to be made. She quickly reassured herself, huffing. The young girl searched the face of the rock, but quickly realized it was sheer and there were hardly any close crevices to use as footholds. Anna walked closer to the rock, placing her hand upon it and absorbing its cool, slick feel. It was smooth and a deep color of gray. The girl carefully paced, eyeing it. Eventually, she noticed Crusader stomping her hoof with impatience, and carefully moved the mare away and tied her bridle reins tightly to a sturdy rock jutting out. Anna then ran as fast as she could, attempting almost anyone's first instinct. She jumped and slammed against the rock face, feebly trying to run at it. No surprise, it didn't work. In all of her huffing and puffing, she realized that she needed to find something tall enough to boost her to the ledge. What, though?

Slowly, Anna's eyes drifted to her bored Appaloosa. "Crusader," she said tentatively. "Would you like to help me with something?" She untied the mare's knotted reins and led her as close as she could to the rock, Crusader's dotted fur brushing its monotone surface. "Shh, little gal. We've done this before." Once more, she hoisted herself upon her horse, but did not settle into the deep saddle. Instead, Anna began to rise higher, using Crusader's body and the rock to support and steady herself. Her breaths were a bit more uneven, her blinking more rapid. Although while messing around with friends before Anna had stood wobbly on Crusader, this was more dangerous and important. If Anna fell and knocked herself out here, or God forbid Crusader spooked, what would become of them? The sixteen year old hadn't ever been this serious while doing silly tricks. Anna sighed as she stood at full height on Crusader. The mare was still beneath her, quiet and stoic. For once, Anna was grateful for that side of her horse. Anna's right hand slowly appeared, reaching higher and higher, hand coming up, up, up! She staggered when Crusader shifted to be more comfortable, and crashed against the rock instinctively to steady herself. Again, she brought up her hand slowly, struggling to regain her courage.

Anna's hand brushed against a cold, hard object. Stretching her fingers as far as she could, and wrapped her fingers around it, like it was a purse. With a hard pull, she went toppling with the object swinging above her. It was a bit larger than she believed. Anna didn't manage to catch her balance and fell off of Crusader, hitting the hard ground flat on her back. She tightened her grip on the object, gritting her teeth and pulling it up with her. Crusader had jumped slightly and moved out of Anna's way, but was fine besides that. Anna sighed and stumbled to her feet, bringing the object up to her face to look at it. "What is it?"

Post Three
She brought it close to her face, but was unable to see the exact object from the mud caked on it. Anna gave Crusader a drink and then dumped a bit of water on the object to see it better. When she scrubbed off the grime, she saw the beautiful necklace - a leather tie and a gold pendant. Anna ran her finger over the charm and then reached up into Crusader's saddle bag and took out the walkie-talkie. With a small burst of static noise, she phoned Seren. The conversation went like this:
"Seren?"

"Yes, this is Anna, right? Is something wrong?"

"Uh, no. Not really. I found this item on a ledge."

"Is it valuable?"

"I'm not sure. It looks like it might be. It's a necklace with a gold pendant and a leather tie; looks pretty old, too."

"Well if it's gold, it's probably worth something, and if it's old, even better! When you get back, bring it by the trading post and I'll see what it could be linked to!"

"Great! Thank you. I sure hope it's worth something , I went through a hassle to get it!"

'Sounds like it. Well, is there anything else you need? Some direction?"

"Not really. I can hear water, but besides that it's all calm on the trail."

"Sounds like you're between Stillwater Creek and Dryad's Run. Be careful, and stay safe. Luckily you won't run into any predators at this time of the day!"
- - -

Anna began to stick the necklace in the saddle back with the walkie-talkie as the noise stopped on the call, but paused. After carefully inspecting it, the sixteen year old wrapped it around the saddle horn securely, where she could watch the gold chain. She then mounted Crusader once more and walked on, remember what Seren said about where she was. After a short while of walking, Anna found herself beside a small stream that she walked alongside, hoping it was Stillwater Creek. wip

Inventory:
Saddle Bag Uno:
3 sandwhiches
10 total water bottles [5 for Anna, 5 for Crusader]
2 apples
3 carrots
1 peppermint
pocket knife
walkie-talkie
map
cell-phone
green tail markers [10-20]

Saddle Bag Dos:
first aid kit [x1 horse kit, x1 human kit]
journal
sketchbook
pen
pencil
eraser
camera
emergency rope
poncho
1 extra sweatshirt
2 extra jackets [1 heavy, 1 lighter]
rainboots
extra socks
Crusader's lead and halter

[lichenfeather]

Quetzal "Feather" Grey's Headquarters
--Accompanied by Give Me Novacaine--

Inventory;;
4 litres of water
Water Filter
Hoof Pick
Halter and leadrope
First aid kit
Headlamp
Windbreaker
Cell phone
Horse treats
Blanket
Various trail snacks
Old Doll

--First Day-- Heading West

I bent down, giving Nova a reassuring pat along her neck. My obnoxious mare simply snorted it off, tossing her head. As the other riders sauntered off in their various chosen directions, I waited, holding Nova back and scanning the directions. If we headed down to the stream, we risked encountering a deer, the one thing guaranteed to make Nova loose her mind. As a matter of fact, all were similar, in the promise of deer. It was prime habitat, up here. The air was clear, fresh and almost burned my nose as I inhaled. I'd been trapped too long in the city growing up, I guess. After some pondering, Nova grew fed up, prancing in small exasperated circles. Sighing, I pointed her due west, towards the towering mountains.

Excited, my mare leapt forwards, cantering a few steps before realizing she didn't have to, and slowing to a gentle trot. After I made no move to keep her in that, she dropped her head and meandered along, making attempts to snatch at the various vegetation along the way. I yawned a little, then urged her back into her gentle trot, if only as an attempt to prevent her from eating the grasses.

--First Day-- The Animal in the Trees

The tiny sparrow swooped, finally dive-bombing us, and getting Nova between her ears. Now, Nova has never been one for small birds, but hey, at least it wasn't a deer. As she rolled her eyes and tossed her head in obvious discomfort, I tried to calm her. It was then that all hell broke loose. Perhaps the wind changed, or perhaps she saw it in a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision, but whatever it was, she knew it was trouble. A scream of fear lanced through my ears, coming from my now rearing mare. Her hooves arced to the the wide open blue sky, unearthly screeches escaping her body. The moment she touched down, she began to bolt.

Hooves tearing up the grass, clods of mud and gravel raining down on us, pelting her chest and legs, my back and her rump. Wrenching her head forwards, she pulled loose the reins, which now flapped about her, only adding to her frenzied bolt. The ground was growing steadily more rocky, and bits of shale lodged themselves into her tender frog. A boulder the size of a small bike reared it's ugly head in front of us, and Nova took a flying leap, landing on loose rock on the other side. Skittering, sliding, both of us panting, Nova finally calmed. Grabbing hold of the reins, I moved a hand over her neck, chest, and rump. Dismounting, I checked her legs, girth and face. After dislodging a few stones from her hooves, and ensuring she was not injured, I gave a gasp of relief, using the same boulder to help hoist myself back onto her back. She whickered, turning her head around to give me a look that said 'why have we stopped?'

--First Day-- Stranger Sounds

Breathing heavily, I reached down, stroking her neck with a reassuring hand. "It's okay, my girl." I murmured, leaning my cheek onto her sweaty neck. Just then, a white face popped up. Nova snorted, recoiling, coiled and taught, ready to spring. Luckily, she looked before she sprang, and noticed it was not a killer deer, but a goat of some sort. Immedietly, she relaxed, tossing her head as if to say 'I was just testing you.' Just as we relaxed, beginning to head upwards, to see what we could see at the top off the cliff. It was then the gunshot rang out, far off, but close enough to send Nova shivering into hysterics. It was around this time I was starting to realize Nova may not have been the best mare to take on this great exploration. Although she was one of my two trail horses, she was easily disturbed, and, currently sweating and trembling, was having a stressful experience. Quietly, whispering soft words of comfort into her ear, I gently guiding her down the mountain and away from the new sounds, sights and smells. What I had seen in the distance was a small pond, where we could go and rest. Nova could drink and relax, and I could calm myself down.

We continued quietly towards the pond, both of us too exhausted to notice the bird song, or the soft grass. The pond was in sight, the promise of refreshing water enough to send Nova into a jittery trot beneath me, craning her muzzle forwards to the pond.

--First Day-- Forgotten Toy

The creek burbled and chirped with gleeful abandon. The crystal clear water spoke of refreshment and relaxation, so it was with a light heart I swung down from my light English saddle, keeping a hand on her reins yet allowing her to drink from the cool, glacial liquid. I too crouched down, washing dust and sweat from my face. As I gazed at Nova, who was now quietly consuming the water, I felt my heart warm. Despite her rather skittish tendencies, she held so much promise. As long as we did not run in on any deer, I knew we would be fine. Standing up from where I’d crouched at the edge of the creek, I gave her shoulder a reassuring pat, to which she turned her head and snorted at me. I decided it would not hurt to allow Nova some time to recover, so I clipped her halter on over her bridle, loosing up the straps of both her bridle and girth. Taking the lead rope from my pack, I tied Nova to a nearby tree, allowing her room to roam yet keeping an eye on my pinto mare, just in case she spooked herself. As I headed over to a large boulder to rest, something caught my eyes.

Leaning down, I found an old doll, tattered and sun-bleached, yet clearly old, and in surprisingly good condition. My heart ached in my chest, as I imagined the poor girl who had somehow forgotten a beloved toy. Gently, cradling the doll as I would a baby, I brought it over to Nova, who, after a good sniff and the conclusion it was not food, promptly ignored it, preferring to chomp at the fertile grass by the creek. Smiling slightly, I slipped the doll into my saddlebag, deciding it would be best to hold onto it for now, and figure out its value later.

After about half an hour of relaxation by the creek-side, I rebridled Nova, ensuring to tighten her girth and saddle. Getting back on my now calm mare, we made our way over the creek, Nova trotting into the clear water with no hesitation. Her earlier trauma seemed to have been forgotten I reflected, as together we came up on the other bank.

[Timey]

name
Emma Hunt
bio
5'4 - Brown Hair - Hazel Eyes - Freckles - Blue Hoodie And Jeans
main inventory
Water, Snacks, Binoculars, Radio, Compass
picked up
3 Blue Feathers, 1 Gold Nugget

courage: 2
stamina: 3
speed: 1
agility: 2
intelligence: 2

name
Masquerade
appearance
Sooty Buckskin Sabino
breed
American Paint Horse
age
4 Years
height
15.3 hh

The rest of the riders at the green starting post had already gone their separate ways, leaving Emma and Masquerade to decide where they would head first. Masquerade was feverishly chomping down on the grass under the trees which was apparently somehow much better than the grass in the paddocks back at the ranch. Emma was sitting high in the saddle, busy examining the map and trying to figure out a direction.

"Well...We're quite a ways away from where I want to go. Maybe there's an abandoned mind shaft or two out in the canyon. What says you, girl?" The teen asked her mount. All she got in reply was obnoxiously loud crunching and a snort.

"Your contribution was much appreciated Masky." Emma sighed, rolling her eyes. Masquerade gave a loud whinny in response, meandering a little further down the path. "Well...I do hear what sounds like running water in...This direction.." Emma murmured, pointing south. Masquerade's ears swiveled at her rider's voice. "That might be our best bet for now. Might as well get a lay of the land before we actually set out. I want to try and get to that ghost town soon. Come on girl! Giddy up!" Emma shouted excitedly, folding up the map and placing it into the saddle bag. Masquerade's head shot up, and she took off down the tried up creek bed, also curious to see what new sights lay on the road ahead.


As they came to a stop at the stream, Emma surveyed the surroundings. The sun broke through the tree branches in fragments, dotting the ground around them. Masquerade seemed pretty intent on getting a drink from the stream, so Emma walked her closer before dismounting to take a quick look at the tracks by the water. Masquerade lowered her head to the water, taking a long drink and watching some trout swim around nearby. Emma walked around the tracks, taking a look at what she could see besides deer.

There wasn't much, but she did notice some smaller paw prints near the water's edge. Raccoon possibly. She also recognized a few silver colored moths that seemed to like to frequent muddy areas. Emma used to chase them around the lake shore all the time when she was on fishing trips with her dad when she was little.

That's when a flash of blue caught her eye from across the stream, and she looked up to notice a cluster of feathers stuck in the grass on the other side of the stream, and blue just so happened to be her favorite color. Oh she felt sorry for the fate the original wearer of the feathers might have met, but it was nature. There would certainly be no harm in picking up a feather or three to take home...

Emma climbed back up into the saddle and urged Masquerade across the river. The rainbow trout darted away into a shady area in the water at the sudden disturbance. When they reached the other side Emma hopped off again, pulling three feathers out of the grass and carefully slipped them into her pocket before climbing back into the saddle.

Now that souvenirs were taken care of, it was time to start back off once more. "Come on girl!" Emma exclaimed, and Masquerade sprang back into action, eager to see what other strange sights and smells this land had in store for her.


Emma was quick to notice the trees beginning to thin out, a wide expanse of meadow slowly coming into view. Masquerade's ears perked and she gave a small whinny. There was a seemingly endless field right before her, and she wanted to get right to galloping across it with this new energy in her step. It would be a welcome change from the pastures back at Manteca Creek. However it seemed Emma wasn't ready to let the mare go gallivanting across the meadow just yet, as she brought Masquerade to a stop, unfolding the map once more to check where they were.

Emma scanned over the map until she found a particular area where the forest faded out into the meadow, and decided that's where they were either at or very close too. Her eyes drifted over the map and landed on their original destination; the ghost town and the desert beyond it. She quickly folded up the map, and placed it back in the saddlebags, grinning.

"Come on Masky! Let's go play renegade for a while." Emma called out, urging the sooty mare into a gallop, riding in the direction of the ghost town. Masquerade responded immediately, and Emma had to keep her from running all out across the field. They still had to conserve their energy. It was going to be quite a journey, and there was still so much to explore in this land.


"MASKY WE GONNA BE RIIICCHHH!!!" Emma exclaimed in her best (worst) excited prospector voice. Masky simply looked at her with a tired expression that clearly said "You're insane." Emma didn't bother to scold her, more concerned about jumping out of the saddle and picking up the gold nugget and setting it into her pack. After she clasped the pack closed again she hopped back into the saddle before looking back over the vast desert below them.

And right here was one of the toughest choices of her life.

Emma was horribly torn now. The path down into the desert was right in front of them, and they'd already found a gold nugget in the area before even starting down. But...If they continued on down, the ghost town was just a little way's off. And the idea of visiting a ghost town was just far too tempting to resist....

Emma turned Masquerade to continue on down the cliff side, unsure if they'd missed out on more gold or not. The rider sent her mare into a gallop before she could change her mind.

[cooper.]

Delvin Aislinn Flinnegan
height: 5' 9"
weight: 125 pounds
eyes: hazel
horse: victory

post one:
I rode in the truck, waiting for us to arrive at the blue starting point. I wasn't honestly sure where I'd go from there. I looked out the window and smiled softly before I closed my eyes and sat quietly for a while before the truck came to a halt. I climbed out of the truck and whistled the low cello tune I used to play around Victory when she was younger. Victory had grown to like it and would always come to me if I hummed it or whistled it. I smiled brightly as my mare moved towards me from the small group of the blue rider's horses. "Hey, Vic." I murmured as a pulled her out of the group. Everybody knew my mare as Victory, except me. Even if you had a nickname I was one to shorten it about three or four letters. Victory was just one of my victims of name shortening. I mounted my mare happily as I rode to the starting posts. I looked to the south and the west, the foothills did not seem of interest to me, but the forest was like my second home, if I was there the nerves would go away. I then looked to the north and to the east, the mountains were also of interest, water ran downhill and was always where it was most green. The pines did not entrance me very much, for I felt that it was wrong to go that way. I motioned Victory towards the north, if it came down to it I could always turn and head west. We rode quietly together, I scanned the ground occasionally between the time that I spent looking up and looking around. I smiled as we heard running water and watched as Victory's ears perked up and she whinnied in excitement. "Take me to the water, dear Vic." I whispered as I leaned more on her neck and just watched the ground go by, I glanced around for the bronze shine of ancient artifacts or dull sandy brown of old clay pots or the glimmer of gold. I smiled as Victory stopped quietly at the edge of the water. I dismounted her quietly and moved the bit from her mouth so she could drink from the stream, when she decided she was done drinking she nudged me forcefully, causing me to stumble and for my right foot to go into the water and hit something hard. "Ouch, Vic. Could you try to nudge me a little nicer next time?" I said in a warning tone. She gave me an apologetic look and hit what I hit my foot on with her hoof. It was a blue tinted pebble that had streaks of green and orange. I smiled softly and picked it up. "Hey, next time, try and find some gold love." I said jokingly as I moved the pebble around in my hand. It was the size of a small skipping stone and was as smooth as my leather boots. I slipped it into my saddle bags. "We'll keep it." I mounted her again. "Take me to the land of the Faeries." I smirked as Victory trotted happily along the stream and up the mountain.

18. cooper.
Delvin Aislinn Flinnegan & Victory
The sheer path had broken off towards the mountain stream the pair had discovered, sparkling in the morning light, fresh from the hidden water of the highlands. It was clean, clear, and safe to drink- unlike the contaminated lowland water, this was as fresh as water could get, other than rainwater perhaps. Even though they were in the midst of summer, the water was shockingly cold, fed from the snow of the mountains- snow that still gripped to light in some of the shadowy section of the peaks. A raptor of some kind circled far above their heads, gliding on thermals in a dipping manner. Buzzard, hawk, or eagle? Hard to tell from this distance. They did have a gorgeous view of the rest of the land. It was so untouched by human-kind. It was dangerous, but beautiful. And in the morning light, maybe it did feel a little magical.
Give it up for a marmot to ruin the moment. The fat, furry rodent scrambled across the rock, furiously dragging a branch with small buds on it. Its golden belly dragged a bit on the ground, and it suddenly churred and jolted, staring at the pair as they made its way past it. How rude, blocking its way, especially when there were raptors about.

post two:


For post two, keep it in mind c: ignore the pink dots please, done by me, in ink, very proud of it

Delvin watched as they passed a marmot who seemed to have a somewhat irritated expression across his face. She quietly clung to Victory as they started to go upward for she found that the feeling of her mare's coarse fur calmed her nerves. "Well, Victory, watch ahead and I'll search for treasures." Delvin said with a smirk. Delvin smiled as the made their way towards Haspy's Peak. The duo loved the higher altitude, especially when they went to train, because the air would challenge the pairs lungs and they wouldn't generally gain more endurance. Though they couldn't train at the peak they would always find the spot where the challenge was great but the land was easy. "We're not training today girl, just riding." Delvin told the young mare as she suddenly started to remember the days when Victory was just a yearling. The day that accosted Delvin's thoughts with warmth and memories was the day that Victory had decided to stop resisting the halter and had trotted straight up to Delvin from the banks of Mirror Lake. With that thought in mind Delvin contemplated heading towards the famous lake itself, but had ultimately decided to keep traveling up the beautiful mountain with Victory.