A New Addition [Delmar & Calum | Aella]

[Ashleigh825]

DELMAR & CALUM __________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | AFTERNOON | ::.
.:: | CALUM & AELLA | ::.

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Delmar took in a long, deep breath as the cool spring breeze rustled his dark mane. Finally, it was a peaceful period of sunlight. The large, buckskin stallion enjoyed it very much. He liked when things were quiet and orderly. He liked when his herd was content and grazing peacefully. Although he would never admit such weakness, Delmar felt a warm feeling settle in his chest when he watched his children whinny with glee and run about in play, bucking and frolicking about, carefree. That was the way it should be. Children should not have to worry about things like hunger, illness and predators. That was Delmar's burden to bear and he bore it happily. Seeing a strong, happy herd made his own sacrifices worth it. It was what a strong leader did.

He scanned the foals and mares, on the lookout for anyone out of place or any sign of discontent and his eyes rested on Aella. She was the newest addition to his herd and she was carrying Delmar's foal right now. She was on her own and Delmar's eyes narrowed just slightly in concern. Was she not adjusting well to the new herd? He had thought the other mares were welcoming towards her when he had introduced her to them. He hoped she wasn't feeling ill. The muscled stallion made to approach her and ask her how she was feeling, but Calum seemed to have grown bored playing with his siblings and beat him to it, reaching Aella first and staring up at her with wide, curious eyes.

"Why aren't you with the other mares, Aella? Are you sad?" he asked her innocently, trotting in a little circle before catching sight of her stomach and giving a snort of surprise. "Wow, you're getting really big! Maybe you're having TWO babies! Or one really really big one! Are you sure it's not going to grow up before it comes out?" he asked her, deadly serious in his infinite six moon old wisdom.

"Calum!" Delmar interjected sharply, trotting over, clearly exasperated. "I am sure Aella does not wish to be assaulted with such asinine inquiries. She has enough responsibility without you latching yourself to her," he told the colt sternly. He's as painfully blunt as his mother, he thought uncomfortably to himself.

Calum's head lowered and his eyes grew listless and droopy, suddenly feeling foolish when he had only wanted to try to make Aella feel better. "Sorry Father... sorry, Aella..." he muttered sullenly, letting his muzzle touch the tips of the blades of grass beneath his hooves. I can't do anything right... the dapple-grey colt sighed sadly to himself.

Delmar's expression did not soften, but the annoyed feeling in his chest did. Looking at the ghost of the one mare he had loved and lost was both painful and disturbing. "You should be playing with your brothers and sisters," he told him a little less harshly.

"Yes, Father..." the colt mumbled before walking away with sagging shoulders and his head down, leaving Delmar looking after him with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

I don't know what to do with you, Calum, the stallion thought with another uncomfortable pang of guilt before turning to Aella. "I apologise for him. He is one of the... bolder ones of the group. He doesn't always remember things like manners and etiquette." Neither did his mother. "Are you feeling well? I noticed you were not with the rest of the herd. I was concerned."
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[llcoyote]

Aella had been here for a while. She'd lost count of the times the moon and sun had risen and didn't care to count them anymore. They'd been happy enough days. The mares were...pleasent but she had the feeling that her loudness and excess energy put them off in a bad way. Truly she couldn't help it though. She was very bright and mature enough but sometimes she just needed to run. So hard that it was a strain on her lungs but relaxed her tense mind. Today she was enjoying the sun standing off to the side of the field to watch the other mares. When the sun was barely above the clouds and Delmar wasn't looking one of the mares had become irritated with her. She was telling Aella what to do and it didn't bother her too much but she wasn't at all listening. The bay had gotten too close for Aella's comfort and she had pinned her ears only to earn herself a nasty kick behind her ribs. It'd been almost too painful to bare and she'd been ill to her stomach ever since. The dapple mare ran away from the grouchy elderly mare and had stayed to the side.

Worry consumed her every thought. Should she let anyone know? That was the last thing she wanted. It was no way to get over the past. Ratting out someone for loosing their temper a bit. On the opposing side, what if something was wrong with her child? At the very worst it could be...dead. Her smoky ears pinned to her head in a sort of cringing disgust. Death was not something she accepted well like other horses. It sickened her to see, smell, speak, or even think of. No, her foal was not dead from such a silly thing and she refused to think that way. Her head came around to sniff at her ribs. It was silly, she knew after a while she couldn't really smell the foal, but in an odd way it made her feel connected. Along with the stray kick in her underbelly it told her there was still life. Life that was faced with the challenge of forming and becoming something--no some one. That made her proud and it eased her worries.

She'd tried to give Delmar his space, even though she felt and insufferable pull to him. If it annoyed her inwardly it would certainly manifest and annoy him too. This day was different. The sun was at it's highest when she saw his eyes lock briefly with hers and narrow. Oh how she struggled not to panic. Did he know? Was he coming to scold her? Even worse, to send her away? Yes he'd promised never to do that to her but disruption in the herd wasn't something most stallions took lightly. Her thick lids closed tightly. His pace was agonizingly slow to her and she listened to every hoof beat so intently she didn't notice the little gray approach.

"Why aren't you with the other mares, Aella? Are you sad?" She heard him speak. His voice was nice and kind immediately drawing her attention. Was she sad? No sad wouldn't be the word. As she was about to speak her interrupted with another comment. This one about her...size would be the nice word. Two babies?! No she was certain she could not live through two foals. Twins were risky, and twins died. She'd seen it in her other herd many times. It was not a pretty sight. No matter how hard the dam tried or the stallion fought they would loose at least one of them. In a strange way it amused her. She nickered softly to the foal and blew a gust of air from her nostrils at him, "I'm fairly sure they cannot grow inside completely...but you never know." She paused, her eyes shining softly. "The world is full of possibilities, just when you think something will never happen it does and no one ever knows everything." She said softly. Let him think what he wanted, he was a foal, and who was she to tell him that he was wrong?

The conversation had distracted her from Delmar's approach and she flinched, spooking on the spot when he arrived. Partly from surprise and partly from his tone. It was hard, and laced with no softness. Much too much like her father used to sound when he was cross with her. Her large heart could be felt pounding against her ribs and heart girth. The mare cringed to herself hoping that she didn't seem stupid. She watched him scold Calum and felt a little guilty. He didn't know any better. He was far too young to know better. Aella worried slightly over the past few sun rises about him never quite acting like a foal. If he was born that way it was fine...but was he trying so desperately to impress his father that he would change his normal behavior so drastically.

She spoke up when he offered an apology, trying to be sensitive to the foal's feelings, "That's alright Calum, you haven't offend me at all...I really see no need for an apology. You were only asking a question." She took a breath and sighed deeply, relaxing onto her left hip and letting her right heel lift up to rest on the toe, "If you'd have been speaking maliciously then I'd have worried...but you weren't." Her heart was slightly heavy as she watched him walk solemnly away. Feeling as though it were her fault.

Her ashen ear swiveled to listen to Delmar, her expression softening from excited and guilty to relaxation. He apologized for his son, which she found amusing. "It's alright. He doesn't bother me in the slightest Delmar." She said quite boldly a yawn escaping her. Now it was decision time. Should she tell him? He had a right to know. Perhaps there was an easier way. Her lips got tight and her eyes closed for a long blink. She had an idea. One perhaps Calum could assist her with. She'd been wanting to get to know him anyway. Yes this could work. She would tell Delmar in a quick quiet fashion, hoping he didn't fully hear and try to call after Calum. Perhaps he would lend her a hand without even knowing it. That way her guilt of not telling him was cleared and the consequences could hopefully be avoided. "I'm well enough. Thank you for asking me...it means a lot" That part was true. It did mean a lot when any of them wanted to reach out and spend time with her. She said side stepping the stallion and very slowly taking a step toward Calum. "I was kicked by another mare in the stomach this morning but it's not big deal." Lie. It was a huge deal, it scared her to death. He didn't need to know. Without taking a breath she started slowly walking towards Calum. "Please don't go Calum I'd love if you kept me company." Again that was the truth, he seemed to have enough energy to rival hers. Still it was a means of avoiding a larger issue.

[Ashleigh825]

DELMAR & CALUM __________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | AFTERNOON | ::.
.:: | CALUM & AELLA | ::.

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Delmar's eyes only narrowed more in mingled confusion and concern when he saw the way Aella spooked at his arrival. Was she afraid he was going to hurt her? He knew she hadn't been here long, but he had thought she at least knew him well enough by now to know that he did not hurt his herd. She had already trusted him enough to mate with him, hadn't she? He protected his mares and foals. It was his job. Delmar knew not every herd leader saw their duty to their herd in the same way he did, but Delmar was not those herd leaders. He cared about each and every horse, male and female, big and small in this herd, even if he did not allow himself to show it on the outside. One could not afford to show too much personal attachment when one was a leader. It wasn't heartlessness so much as a sense of fairness; he wanted to treat everyone the same and sometimes, he had to make difficult decisions to benefit the herd as a whole, not only certain individuals.

“Well, I am glad he did not offend you,” Delmar told her with a slight lowering of his head in respect, still eyeing her intently. Something wasn't right. He could feel it. “He is too blunt for his own good, I'm afraid.” No, Calum hadn't been the cause of her discomfort. She was already off by herself before the foal had approached her in the first place. There was something else. I wish she would trust me, he thought to himself, concerned. Aella was more... tactful than Niamh had been but her reluctance to trust Delmar no matter what he did to make her feel at home and comfortable was all too familiar to him. Delmar had to wonder if Niamh had ever really trusted him at all and whether or not that was his fault. The thought that she had never loved him like he had loved her scarred the guarded stallion deeply, no matter how fiercely he insisted Niamh had been just another mare and that she was in the past and forgotten about. He would never forget her. He had Calum as a constant reminder of her.

Aella quietly thanked him for his concern and the buckskin gave a soft snort. “Of course. It is my job to make sure you're comfortable, Aella. I would like you to know that you may approach me if you ever have need of me. That is what a herd leader does.” Perhaps she just wasn't sure of where the boundaries were. Delmar hoped that was the only issue. It could be confusing and unsettling moving to a new herd. Not all herd leaders were the same. Not every herd functioned in exactly the same way, but Delmar wanted Aella to know she was safe here and that she was wanted.

Delmar's concern quickly turned to anger when Aella told him about what had happened that morning. He gave an agitated toss of his head and snorted louder, pawing at the ground irritably with his fore hoof. “That is unacceptable,” he told her gruffly. “I will not tolerate such behaviour from foals, let alone full-grown mares. Which of the mares hurt you? I assure you she will be dealt with,” he told her, his entire face tense and his eyes nearly narrowed to slits. His mares attacking each other. Aella was carrying a foal in her belly, too. He wouldn't stand for such obnoxious and dangerous behaviour. “I apologise if the other mares have not been making you feel welcomed, Aella. That is upsetting to hear. I hope our foal was not harmed,” he told her, resisting the urge to trot over to Aella's side and touch his muzzle to her swollen belly. No, that would show too much emotion; make him too vulnerable. Delmar couldn't afford to be vulnerable. He had to remain kind, but distanced. He would be dealing with the unruly mare who had hurt Aella later.

No longer paying attention to the conversation between the two adults since his sire had sent him away, Calum's ears only perked up when Aella called out to him, asking him to come back. The little dapple colt turned his head to look back at her, his ears swiveled in her direction before giving a small buck of glee and bounding over again, his eyes bright and alert. “Really? You would?” he asked her. None of the other mares asked Calum to keep them company. They only told him to stay with them to keep him out of trouble. They didn't really want him around because they enjoyed his company. The little colt felt very important and useful all of a sudden. It was a strange feeling for him... strange, but wonderful, he decided.

He turned to look at Delmar pleadingly. “Aella wants me to stay. Can I? Please?” he begged. Delmar gave his son a disgruntled look, still upset over the news about Aella.

“Do not beg, Calum. It is childish,” he scolded. When would the boy ever learn how to conduct himself properly? It seemed like anything Delmar told him simply went in one ear and straight out the other. Just like his mother. He had half a mind to override Aella's wish to have him there and send him away again because clearly, he was not capable of listening to his elders and behaving himself, but his presence seemed to make Aella happy. From the look of it, the sweet-tempered mare wasn't adjusting well to the herd and Calum appeared to cheer her up. Delmar wanted Aella to be happy. If she was happy and content, the foal inside her had a better chance of surviving. He supposed he would allow it... for Aella's sake. “You may stay as long as you are not a bother to Aella. If she bids you to leave, you will do so. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Father,” Calum agreed instantly, far too happy to be put off by his sire's stern tone. With a small whinny, Calum trotted up to Aella and affectionately butted his head against her side. “You won't make me leave, right, Aella? I promise I won't bother you,” he told her before jumping back with a start. “It kicked!” he exclaimed in absolute shock before hurriedly pressing his head to her belly again. “Maybe it's playing inside your belly, Aella. Do you think it's a colt or a filly? I hope it's a colt. Fillies are boring. They never want to do fun things. I want to play with him when he's born,” he told her, still trying to listen for the foal inside Aella, as though he might be able to determine its gender if he listened hard enough.

“Calum...” Delmar gave an exasperated sigh, shaking his head.
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[llcoyote]

Aella groaned inwardly. Delmar seemed insistent that Calum was a bother to her when in fact he made her quite happy. Of course most foals did that, especially when they were so young. How she wished life could always be like that. Frolicking without worry of danger. Then there was the conflict of emotions, and morals and other silly things that yearling's down to foals seemed to not even be aware of. She did not have that luxury. The world had given her a hard awakening as a child but instead of making her increasingly strong and Dependant, the experiences in her past only solidified the intense desire to be in the safety of a herd.

Her eyes roamed over to Delmar, watching her with his intense stare. She couldn't say he frightened her too much. No she wasn't at all thinking he'd hurt her but the possibility of being shunned or cast out of the herd was always there if you upset the leader. However Delmar didn't seem the type who lost his temper or control of a situation very easily. Aella was very thankful for that. In almost every conversation he had with her, he'd told her she was safe and welcomed, giving her hope that he wanted her around. Her father was a nice enough stallion, but had been nothing like Delmar. Passionate, loud, and a little poor tempered the steel gray had never been the greatest leader and perhaps in the end it caused their downfall. On the other hand, when he wasn't angry he was always forth coming about his adoration for you...and particularly her mother. Even in a large herd he was always more lenient to the dapple palomino. She shook her head, possibly looking like she was bothered by flies when it was no more than inner thoughts. No, she didn't want to think about her mother. It would only make her upset.

Speaking of upset the dappled mare quickly realized that her plan of simply spitting out her words and changing the subject had not detoured Delmar's anger at all. "No...really it's fine. I'm sure they are trying very hard to adjust to me." She defended, though she couldn't for the life of her see why she was doing so. She shrugged it onto the fact that if they didn't like her now, then they certainly wouldn't be fond of her if she ratted them out to get in trouble. "Delmar I apologize it wasn't her fault I've been told I'm quite...." What was the word she was looking for? "Insufferable...and over baring" Aella sighed, "And a trifle annoying. She simply wanted me to stop..." Her lips pursed tight in thought. What had she been doing that was so terrible? Yes she had been ignoring the bay but was it really worth endangering the child inside her? Still with little courage about her Aella tried to cover the old bay's mistake. She was sure that was all it was, a mistake. " It really is fine." She said softly until...he made the remark about the foal being OK. Her gut twisted into knots inside of her. It'd been what she worried about all along. Her head drooped low and around to sniff her own side again. Our [/b] baby. It was wonderful and dreadful at the same time. "I...I've been worrying about that." She whispered, trying not to sound so upset over the matter but honestly how was she supposed to respond? She couldn't just trot around and say it was fine. Nothing about it was fine. She could only pray to the great spirits above that they'd have mercy on her child. She looked at him, her brown eyes large and intent. In all fairness she knew it wasn't right to expect him to have any answers of things beyond either of their control...but she did so need to comfort in that moment. Sadness welled in her chest like a beaver dam being over taken with a surge of water, as though she'd break any second. It wasn't even as though she could simply have another foal. Nothing could replace a life lost.

Her attention turned to Calum. So happy to even stay with her for a moment. Again Delmar's hard tone speaking to his son made her sigh softly. In her eyes he'd done nothing wrong yet again but who was she to tell him how to conduct his children? Still, they would most likely have a problem if he insisted on being so hard on her child. Well...maybe not, someone would have to instill discipline because she did poorly at that area. Perhaps because she didn't like to be disciplined herself. Her mood picked up when Delmar, albeit reluctantly, allowed Calum to stay. She responded to the foals whinny with one of her own. Even as she tried to make it quiet she was still unintentionally loud as she called back to him.

She felt his small head on her side, butting at her and nickered softly, happy for the physical contact. Her hoof pawed the ground and she even let him sway her a little, careful not to loose her actual balance. "You're a strong little colt aren't you?" She whispered lowly. "No. You're always free to spend time with me Calum, never think I don't want you about." She said, a happy twinkling in her eye. When he jumped, she jumped, wondering what had caused his start, head high, looking around for any sort of danger until he spoke. Again a soft nicker of amusement left her lips. "Yes, it's been very active for the past while...it's the only thing that drives off any worry I have." As soon as the words left her she wanted to suck them back down her throat. Luckily Calum kept talking and masked her slipped words. "I'm not sure what it is but I'm not sure I like what you're implying, "She teased with mock offense, pinning her ears, "I was very fun as a filly." She unpinned her ears and nipped his forelock, trying to let him know she was only teasing, "Actually I do believe I was ever more trying back then." If she'd had the ability to chuckle at herself she would have. A devilish idea came to her as he pressed his head against her to listen, she shifted her weight, shoving him very lightly. Her ashen ear turned to Delmar, one turning to focus on Calum, splitting her attention between the two stallions. Her eyes met Delmar's watching them, hoping to at least share the moment through eye contact. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't care at all the sex of her child, she was very happy simply having one. However she'd have to make a point to stay closer to these two. She felt a strong pull toward them, they made her happy and at peace, it was something she hadn't felt in a long time.