Setting Sun [Calum | Open]

[Ashleigh825]

CALUM ____________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | DUSK | ::.
.:: | OPEN THREAD | ::.

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The young dapple-grey colt trotted across the area proudly, his head held high as the cool spring breeze lifted his dark mane and sent his tail flying behind him like ribbons. Freedom! It was exhilarating and exciting for a little weanling like him! Calum reveled in the sheer glory of being able to sneak past his father and all the mares and break free of the herd long enough to go on a run by himself. Getting anything past his father was nearly impossible. Calum half-expected the muscled buckskin to suddenly gallop out from behind a thicket of trees, furious and foreboding.

He could already hear his long-winded lecture in his head. He knew exactly what Delmar would say if he caught the colt wandering around on his own so close to nightfall like this. "What were you thinking?!" he would shout in his thundering voice. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for any horse to wander about alone at night, let alone a mere child not even thirteen moons old?! You could have been eaten by a wolf or attacked by another herd!" Yes, Calum had heard all of these warnings before. He knew the herd was safe and leaving it was dangerous. He knew wolves wandered around at night, but the herd was also boring. Nothing ever happened... well, except that incident with Teheki back in the Fall, but that had been incredibly out of the ordinary.

I just want to explore a little and watch the sun set, the young colt reasoned with himself. I'll be back before it gets completely dark. No one will even notice I was gone. There was always such a lovely sunset in this area. Calum liked to watch the sun slowly sink as it painted the entire plain in shades of pink and purple, giving everything an unearthly beautiful glow. He liked to pretend his mother was watching that same sunset somewhere else and thinking about him.

He still didn't know why she had left and he had long since given up asking his father for answers. The only response he ever received was "It doesn't matter. She isn't coming back. Do not concern yourself with the past, Calum" Sometimes the other mares would talk about her; the quiet, ethereal dapple-grey beauty who had come and gone as quickly as a ghost caught in the breeze, but Delmar would silence the whispers with a harsh glare and Calum would hear no more of his mother.

He stood at the edge of a small cliff, gazing across the land at the vivid orange sun sinking slowly downward with pained eyes and a tight feeling in his chest. "Mother... why did you leave me?" he muttered quietly to the air.

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[Kate]

The spring breeze was pleasant as she walked along for the moment, breaking into a trot occasionally so she could flick her hooves and remind herself just how smooth and elegant she was no matter what she did. When she did so her long chestnut tresses shifted slightly in the wind and she imagined herself quite the little goddess moving around. All it took was one little colt telling her so the other day and now that was all she could imagine herself to be. it seemed so fitting now, she was obviously an unearthly beauty so why should she not be a creature who came from above the heavens? Or perhaps she was just an angel but that was still more beautiful and more fitting than merely another mare.
Though she couldn’t help but feel her beauty was even paled slightly from the sight of the beginning of that sunset that night as she slowed to a halt and watched. Her copper tail flicking over her hocks out of habit as she watched for a moment and took in its beauty. She knew she had to be careful because these were not her lands but they were the only ones she felt safe in for the moment. Even to her naive and stubborn mind she could feel like something was going to happen soon. It was in the air, like she could taste it though the air just tasted of air all the same. Her mind knew what she was sensing though and even she was on her guard.
Perhaps the danger was on this territory, she didn’t know. She shouldn’t like to stay here very long either way. She ventured a little further into these lands and caught sight of a little foal on its own and she stopped for a moment. Her mothering instincts hadn’t really kicked in yet and she wasn’t feeling particularly broody like some others she’d met. Still... she couldn’t leave this foal on its own. She’d had to run from some wolves at some point or another so he most certainly could not fend them off. She sped her walk up a little as she headed over to the little foal.
“I don’t think it’s very safe for you out here, little one.” She told him in her rich, honeyed tones though she was hardly an old one herself. She was just older. ”Where is your mother or herd?” She added, looking around for any sort of protector before returning her gaze to the little one in front of her.

[Ashleigh825]

CALUM ____________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | DUSK | ::.
.:: | DELILAH | ::.

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Calum's ears pricked up at the sound of a honey-smooth, female voice breaking the still silence of the moment. His first thought was that it was one of the mares from the herd sent out to bring him back and the little colt cringed as he slowly turned around, prepared for his father's furious lecture when he got back. How had he been found out so quickly?! He hadn't even been gone long enough for the shadows to lengthen! It wasn't fair! He just wanted to watch the sunset. What was so bad about that?

The young colt's frustration turned to surprise when he turned around to see that it wasn't a mare from his herd. She looked like she was alone. Calum vaguely wondered why he and his sire had been running into so many herdless mares lately. It was unnatural. Sometimes a group of mares would form their own herd, but they were usually taken over by a lead stallion soon enough. One single mare wandering around by herself was unheard of, but he and Delmar had been running into them left and right. It made Calum uneasy, because he knew it unsettled his sire and his sire was not one to be easily unsettled. What was going on that was splitting up the herds so drastically?

“I was just watching the sunset. My herd's not far, I promise!” Calum insisted to the mare, tossing his head in the general direction of where his herd ought to be. “Please don't bring me back and tell my sire! I'm not allowed to leave the herd and I'll get in trouble!” he pleaded, his dark eyes wide and begging.

His mother... Calum couldn't answer that question. He didn't know where she was. All he knew was that she left him when he was very small and she wasn't coming back. The loneliness and abandonment stung at his heart and Calum lowered his neck until his muzzle almost brushed against the blades of grass underneath his hooves. “I don't know where my dam is... she left a long time ago. I just have my sire and the herd. The other mares look after me,” he told her.

His eyes flicking upward to study the older horse curiously, Calum raised his head a little, shifting his weight slightly. “Why don't you have a herd? It's not safe to not have a herd. Mares should have herds,” he told her and suddenly, the little colt got a spectacular idea. His sire was always on the lookout for these lone mares wandering about to rope into the herd. If Calum could do a stallion's job and convince this mare to come back with him, Delmar would likely be so pleased with his son that he wouldn't get him in trouble for wandering off on his own. He might even be so impressed, he'd finally give Calum the love and approval he so desperately craved! “My sire's a good herd leader. You'd be safe with him.”

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[Kate]

She noted his cringe and it made her stop for a moment, sand coloured hooves stopping their movement and her chestnut head tilted to the side curiously. How could it be that just her voice disheartened him so? Was she not supposed to be wanted and adored? Treated like a goddess? She wasn’t so sure that she wanted to talk to this young foal anymore if he wasn’t at least willing to play along with her games. Look at her in awe or something. She was sure of herself but she still needed others to give her compliments quite often. She was a princess- didn’t they know?
She snorted slightly in amusement as his emotions then turned to surprise. ”I am not who you thought I was, I assume?”[/i] She asked with a shake of her head and a flick of her tail. Delilah was too impatient a creature to ever be able to stay still for very long. She wasn’t sure why exactly but that was just the way of things. She could never stay in one place too long, remain one thing too long. Perhaps it was because she wasn’t yet certain who she was, where she belonged in this world. She didn’t know- she was three! This was the time to have fun, not think about her placement in this world and the rising dangers she was semi-conscious of but dutiful to her nature chose to ignore.
”I trust you, you need not be so insistent. I’ve never been one for rules myself either. If you feel like watching the sunset then you should be able to.” She told him though it probably didn’t have his best interests at heart. It was just her philosophy. Come to think of it, this probably didn’t have her best interests at heart either...
She saddened and quietened herself appropriately at the colt’s revelation and she couldn’t help but reach forward and nudge him reassuringly. ”I’m sure you will see her again, she probably had good reasons.” She had had to leave her herd because she was of age so she had no relevant experience in that sense. But she was sure people were always good at heart, everyone had good in them. A naive and incorrect assumption but it was what she chose to believe and that was the end of that.
As he broached this new subject, her own head shot back and her ears found their way to rest against her neck. She was obviously not impressed by his questioning. ”I don’t have a herd because I don’t want one. I don’t want foals and I don’t want to spend my time just grazing when there are so many other things I could be doing or exploring. I’ve never had any trouble on my own, nothing will happen to me. You’re just a worrier and maybe you should return back to your herd if that’s how you feel about them.” She told him snappishly.
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[Ashleigh825]

CALUM ____________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | DUSK | ::.
.:: | DELILAH | ::.

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Calum started slightly at the complete turnaround in attitude from the young mare. She went from being amused to sympathetic to angry within the blink of an eye and it made the young foal nervous. Weren't mares supposed to be gentle and nurturing? All the mares in his herd were like that. They were all dams, after all. This mare looked rather young, though. Perhaps she wasn't yet a dam herself and that's why she wasn't as soft and nurturing as the mares Calum had grown up with... but... why was she angry with him? Had he said something wrong? He was only trying to help, but apparently, he had made a mess of it, somehow. This is why Father hates me, he thought sadly to himself. I can't do anything right. I'm just a big disappointment. Even Mother didn't want me.

With an anxious snort, Calum shook his head and trotted up to the mare, desperate not to have someone else mad at him. The little foal didn't know what he'd done wrong, but he wanted to fix it. Nudging her foreleg with his muzzle, the dapple-grey colt looked up at her with wide, pleading eyes. “I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you mad. I was just trying to help. I don't know what I did wrong, but I'm sorry,” he begged for forgiveness like the typical small child he was. He should have known better. He was just a baby. Why did he think he could do his sire's job? He hated him. It must be for good reason.

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{{ OOC: I'm sorry this is such a short reply compared to yours. I usually try to match word counts, but nothing was coming to me for some reason and I figured a short post was better than no post at all. }}

[Kate]

She felt bad the moment that she had snapped at the little foal and he started, maybe he didn’t understand why she was so upset. She didn’t understand why, perhaps she was just being a mare or the constant defending that she felt she had to do about her choice to forego a herd for now while she explored the playground that was the world for a little while longer was not seen as wise by everyone. But the mare was a stubborn one and she felt like it was the right thing to do. Perhaps not for the right reasons (she just saw a reason to play a little longer and ignore the responsibility that came from having a foal with you always) but it would make her grow up a little. She’d never been good at doing what someone wanted no matter how nicely they asked if it meant that it would result in something that she did not want.
Delilah watched him trot up to her, not sure what to make of him now. He was cute though, she wouldn’t deny that. Seeing him so upset just made her feel even worse. ”You didn’t do anything wrong, not really,” she promised him. She reached down to give him a reassuring little nuzzle just in case he needed some more consolation. She wasn’t sure what he needed so she just did what her instincts told her to do and she just hoped it was the right thing. ”So, did you enjoy the sunset?” She asked him gently, trying to transfer his mind to some happier things. She wasn’t sure why she felt so sensitive around him. Normally she’d have just asked to play- foals never minded playing while others her age were more preoccupied with being as mature as possible. Delilah was in no way ready for that yet.
ooc;; Don't worry about it. xD My muse isn't all that great at the moment either.

[Ashleigh825]

CALUM ____________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | DUSK | ::.
.:: | DELILAH | ::.

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Oh good. She's not really mad at me, Calum consoled himself when the mare assured him he hadn't done anything wrong. That was a big relief for a little child like him. Calum wondered to himself why he always seemed to make horses mad wherever he went. He didn't mean to. He tried to make his sire happy. He tried to get along with his brothers and sisters. He tried to listen to the mares and do what they said. He tried to be a good colt, but for some reason, Calum always found himself being yelled at. Maybe he just didn't fit in. Maybe he didn't belong in his herd, like his dam hadn't belonged...

These thoughts made the little colt's chest tighten painfully and he lowered his head with a soft sigh that made his lips quiver. “Well, that's good,” he told the pretty mare, looking up at her again after a moment. “Usually, everyone's always mad at me for something, especially Father. I don't like making anyone mad,” he pouted, flicking an ear.

She asked him about the sunset and the colt lifted his head, his eyes seeming to grin at her. “Uh huh!” he told her eagerly, beginning to prance in place, holding his tail high. “I mean, I sort of missed some of it talking to you, but that's okay, because you're really nice,” he told her brightly, beginning to trot with high steps in a wide circle in front of her. “My name is Calum, by the way. What's yours?” he asked her curiously, excited to be making a new friend, even if she was a grown up. She didn't seem like the boring grown ups in his herd, anyway. She was fun and she didn't scold him for wanting to have fun like the grown ups in his herd did.

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[Kate]

She could sense his relief and it released any tension that had been in the air so the good deed seemed to benefit her as well. She hadn’t really been aware of any tension but once it was gone she realised that it had been there. It made her briefly wonder what else she had that she didn’t know was there and whether or not it was a good idea to lose it. She guessed that she would never know what it was like until she lost something and it was far, far too late to regain it. It was a saddening thought and she wasn’t so sure that she liked it. So she didn’t dwell on that and instead returned her attention to the foal in front of her.
Delilah liked this little foal because her maturity level wasn’t really much higher than his, she liked still to frolick in fields and discover things and she didn’t like to have serious conversations or deal with the fact that not everything could be a game. ”I’ve never really made anyone mad before and I’m sure you don’t either. I don’t really remembering making my father mad when I was younger.” She said before cutting the story of how she’d been so adorable that she’d gotten her own way and absolutely anything that she could ever want. Delilah was learning a little better about when things were acceptable to say and rubbing in this little colt’s face she was everything her family had ever wanted was not the way to go.
”I’m sorry I made you miss some of it but maybe- maybe we could come see it again sometime if you’re allowed to of course. And thank you,” she said, glowing like always at any compliment thrown her way. Perhaps he didn’t call her pretty or beautiful but she was happy with being called nice. Nice was good. And he probably wasn’t old enough to know entirely how to play the compliment game and fawn over her. Maybe he’d play with her instead because she never had any playmates her size. ”My name’s Delilah, and Calum’s a nice little name you’ve got.” She told him, snorting in amusement as he trotted around and she pranced a little because it made her want to play.
Finally she decided to hell with it and began to play chase after him. She was pretty slow as she trotted however because he was smaller than her. She knew he would in time outgrow her- but for now she had the longer legs and quicker stride. Delilah was certain he’d want to play and would know she was only playing.

[Ashleigh825]

CALUM ____________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | DUSK | ::.
.:: | DELILAH | ::.

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Calum eyed Delilah with wide eyes, completely shocked at her statement. “Really? You never made anyone mad before? Ever?” The concept boggled the little foal's mind. How was that even possible? She was so much older than he was, too. She'd had a lot more time to make mistakes and get other horses mad at her. Calum was only six moons old and it seemed like he upset someone every single day, especially his sire. It felt like no matter how hard Calum tried, Delmar was never satisfied. There was always something Calum was doing wrong. Always. “You must be perfect, then,” he concluded, still eyeing Delilah with awe-filled eyes. There was no other explanation for it in his mind.

She apologised for taking his attention away from the sunset and Calum gave an amused little snort, shaking his head for a moment; partly to get rid of the mosquitoes that had come out now that the sun was down and seemed to enjoy pestering his ears, and partly to disagree with Delilah's apology. “Oh, don't be sorry! I said it was okay... and really? You want to spend time with me again?” he asked her with excitement, as though he wasn't accustomed to anyone ever wanting to spend any time with him at all. He wasn't, really. At least not among the adults in his herd. He got along with most of his siblings just fine... most of the time, anyway. “That would be so much fun, but... I don't think I'll be allowed,” he suddenly remembered, his head and neck lowering glumly. “I had to sneak away from the mares and my sire to watch the sunset tonight.” Maybe I can sneak back here again? he dared to think to himself. It was possible... unlikely, but possible.

Delilah introduced herself and Calum's demeanour brightened again, his ears pricking forward as he lifted his head to look at her. “Thanks! Delilah's a pretty name, too. There's a mare named Delilah in our herd, but she's not like you at all. She's old and cranky,” he told her, shaking his head with a snort and stamping a hoof to express his distaste for the elderly mare who shared the same name as his new playmate.

A playmate! How exciting, Calum thought as the older mare began to chase after him at a slow trot. With a shrill whinny of excitement, the dapple-grey colt took off at a fast canter, kicking his hind legs out in a lively buck. “You can't catch me!” he called back to Delilah in a sing-songy, teasing tone.

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[Kate]

”Hmm, maybe some people have thought in the past that they were mad or annoyed with me but then they probably just realised that they’re not actually mad at me but just jealous of things I have or they’ve realised that actually I wasn’t wrong and they were. I don’t know,” she replied quite simply and matter-of-factly. It was exactly how she saw things in life and exactly how they were. She was always right, everyone else was always wrong. ”Yeah, I guess I am perfect.” Delilah replied, her eyes shining in happiness as finally someone else recognised that she was perfect and wonderful. The way he looked at her made her happy and she wondered if she could keep this foal permanently as a minion or something. Just to top up her confidence and remind her she was perfect.
She’d never had her apology rejected before but she didn’t mind his rejection since it just proved that she was right! ”Of course I do! I don’t like lots of the other grown up horses, they don’t like playing. Like the second they turn two that that’s it! No more games because they want to have foals and graze all day and do pretty much nothing else. Do you know how boring that is? Really boring!” She exclaimed, ranting to this little foal who had no idea most likely what she was talking about. ”Oh. That’s quite sad. I hope you can sneak back to see me soon anyway. Maybe you could sneak away again before the sun sets again? I don’t know how long I’ll be staying around here.” She said musingly.
”Well, I should hope that you don’t find me cranky!” Shaking her head slightly in distress while Calum stamped his hoof. Then he was off and she was following after him. ”Oh yes I can!” She told him in the same sort of tone as she broke into a canter and chased after him. She didn’t try to catch him for a little while before so he could think he was doing good before she put on a burst of speed and stretched her elegant little neck out to nudge him gently as they ran.