For the Love of a Family

[llcoyote]

Aella snorted, entering the clearing with her head head high. The echoing three beat rhythm of her hooves pounding through the air like a monotonous song. She was in no particular hurry to reach the middle of the meadow as she enjoyed the feeling of the swish and crunching of the dead browned grass against her legs and under her powerful hooves. She came to an abrupt halt and threw her head upwards. Her flaring but delicate nostrils tingled with an array of unfamiliar scents and she had to gulp down the lump of apprehension in her throat. When no danger seemed upon her she let out a loud snort and shook. Her thick dapple coat gleamed against the sun and quivered against the wind. It was cold here, but lately it was cold every where. She knew too little about the seasons for such things to be deeply understood by her. A deep breath filled her lungs to the point of a sharp sting before she launched into the air in a delicate but chaotic display of excitement. Her mane flew, her feet touched the ground only to leave it again, another stinging breath, a huge toss of the head and finally a loud whinny to signal her enthusiasm of her arrival. She stopped jumping and pawed the ground, her head still tossing but now only emitting soft nickers. Her tail lifted and friendly, a beaming signal to all stallions that she was here, energetic and more than ready to be claimed without too much of a fuss.

[Ashleigh825]

DELMAR ____________________

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.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | EARLY AFTERNOON | ::.
.:: | AELLA | ::.

Delmar sniffed the air with pleasure as he trotted into the area. His nose told him there were plenty of females ready for mating here. He knew there would be. The Claiming Meadow was always littered with mares in search of a mate in early Spring. It was the perfect opportunity for stallions to claim a few mares for themselves. Often, the mares he mated with would be happy to join her stallion's herd for protection. She would need a herd to protect her while she was with foal and when she weaned the newborn come next spring, after all. Even if the mares Delmar chose to pair with today chose not to join his herd, the mating season was still something the stallion enjoyed. He suspected all stallions enjoyed the mating season.

He wasn't worried about his herd today. Delmar had left one of the stronger mares in charge for just a while and they were not far away from the claiming meadow. If any trouble arose that she couldn't handle, Delmar could easily reach them to take on the danger and protect his herd. They would be fine. Delmar needed to focus on finding a mate today and that was what he planned to put all his energy towards.

His dark brown eyes scanned the females milling about with their tails held high, trying to look their best for potential mates. There were a few nice buckskins, a lovely gleaming white mare who already seemed to have a lineup in front of her and... hm. A rather striking dapple mare who still appeared to be alone. Delmar was fond of dapples. He had quite a few of them in his herd. If he was lucky, he could add another. He liked her very much.

With a snort and a handsome tossing of his mane, Delmar cantered towards her, showing off his rippling muscles with pride and holding his head up in the air proudly. He was the leader of the Creekfall herd and he would be noticed today, particularly by this lovely mare he had picked out of the crowd.

Slowing to a trot as he reached her and finally stopping in front of her, Delmar lowered his head slightly in greeting, giving the newly thawed ground a soft pawing with one of his front hooves. "I hope you haven't already been claimed," he told her in his low, smooth voice. "I thought I might claim you today if you hadn't been, already. My name is Delmar, the leader of the Creekfall herd," he told her.[/blockquote]

[llcoyote]

Aella snorted lifting her head from the grass. She chewed softly and surveyed the buckskin with little regaurd at first before lowering her muzzle and waving it a bit. "No. I haven't been claimed." She nickered lowly. Her shimmering smokey tail flicking against her flanks. "I am Aella." Her voice was low as she spoke. Her thick muscled neck was high and arched. Ever proud and stiff from slight worry. This stallion seemed kind enough...

She looked up to the hills of the meadow. Littered with mare and stallions alike seeking attention. She looked at him softly, her ears perking in his direction. "Where is this place you rule over?" She paused and nikered to him aproaching with her neck and head held high. She took in his sent and reveled with it, memorizing it since she planned to go with him. Her thick eyelids closed as a breaze came her way and blew her forelock around her face, the thick ashen hair falling in her deep brown eyes. Even though she planned to leave with him, to find a family, worry was not far from her mind. She wasn't about to fall into a trap. The thoughts swirled around like a wind storm about everything from trusting him, to turning tail and running. Her thick neck rippled as she shook her head. There were too many thoughts going on for her liking. Instead she decided to take it moment by moment. Thinking ahead never did anything for her anyway. She turned her hips until she was side by side, her muzzle still right by his shoulder.

[Ashleigh825]

DELMAR ____________________

[/font]

.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | EARLY AFTERNOON | ::.
.:: | AELLA | ::.

“Aella...” Delmar repeated, familiarizing himself with her name, since he was fairly certain she would choose to mate with him today. “That is a lovely name,” he murmured. She was more muscular than most mares, but she had a softness about her that Delmar liked. Her physical bulk meant she was less likely to suffer while she was with foal, as many mares did. He knew it was a natural part of herd life, and Delmar accepted this fact, but it didn't make it any less unpleasant to watch one of his mares suffer. He stayed with the mare when she was suffering and made his presence known to her, as that was really all he could do. It frustrated the stallion who liked to be in control of every situation. He had very little control in those situations.

“My lands extend from Creekfall to Sunfall,” he told Aella with a graceful bow of his head. “It is a relatively peaceful area with plenty of water and grazing. On the rare occasion that danger does arise, I protect my herd fiercely. I can provide you with the same comfort and protection if you'll come with me after today.” he informed her, his long black tail swishing back and forth casually. “That is, if you'll have me today,” he added, taking in her strong, sturdy frame with pleasure.

Yes, she would make a nice addition to his herd and more foals were always an asset. Aella and her foal would be well-protected and cared for amongst the Horses of Creekfall should Delmar succeed in getting her with foal today.[/blockquote]

[llcoyote]

Aella snorted softly, the air flowing and causing her nostrils to flare and wiggle a little. Her whiskers vibrating in the wind. "Thank you Delmar." She whispered softly, giving a slow deliberate blink. If she would have him? Why would she refuse. Given the opportunity she did ponder the stallion quite a bit.
His frame was thick and tall. Any taller and she was sure he'd break any chosen mare. Her lean but powerful body could not be so easily broken, but still. He seemed calm and distant which unnerved her slightly. Aella needed a family, she would not be happy with a herd that would simply tolerate her presence and not share affections with her. That wouldn't be good enough for her.
Her black hoof tip pawed against the ground and she nickered in invitation. She'd take the chance, what other choice did she have? Her smokey tail lifted and swished, catching in the resistant and slightly warm breeze. Her tail then lifted up and she turned her hips. The sound of clipping hooves rang through the air and she tilted her ears back. "If you will never depart and leave me alone to fend and protect my foal alone, I will accept your invitation gladly." Her ears pinned at the first part of her sentence. She didn't like the idea of being used and left, it would not happen to her. She wouldn't tolerate of allow it. A soft sigh blew through her lips and she watched him out of her right eye, waiting for his next move anxiously. This would be her first foal and she prayed the spirits would bless her in both realms of health and motherhood. It was a chance she was willing and eager to take.

[Ashleigh825]

DELMAR ____________________

[/font]

.:: | SPRING | ::.
.:: | EARLY AFTERNOON | ::.
.:: | AELLA | ::.

What a strange request from a mare, Delmar thought to himself. Of course he would not leave her to fend for herself after mating with her. For one thing, it didn't benefit him. He needed mares and foals in his herd. His lands were extensive, but he still had a relatively small group. He needed more horses in his herd if he wanted to eliminate the threat of being taken over by another stallion. For another, any lead stallion who took advantage of his mares and abused or abandoned them was not fit to govern himself, let alone anyone else. Delmar had never forced any mare into or out of his herd. Not even Niamh, whom he had loved like no other. He could have forced her to stay. He could have used his size and strength to beat her down and make her stay with him and Calum, but she would only have grown to resent him and he wouldn't deserve her, anyway, so he had let her go. He had let her go at the cost of his heart.

Closing his eyes for a moment to will the stabbing pain in his chest away, Delmar returned himself to the present moment, here with Aella, whom he was going to get with foal and bring back to his herd. “I will do no such thing to you, Aella. I am a stallion of my word and I do not treat my mares that way,” he assured her. No, Aella and her foal would be safe with him.

Having accepted him as her stallion, Delmar prepared himself to claim her, reaching forward with his thick, muscular neck to sniff underneath her raised tail. She was ready for him. Tossing his head back a few times, Delmar trotted around behind her and reared up on his hind legs, mounting the strong young mare with an excited snort.

When he was finished and satisfied that the mating would result in a foal, Delmar released himself from her, returning to stand on all fours, his dark tail swishing back and forth contentedly. “If you are ready to depart, I can take you to my herd,” he told her. “You will be welcomed and treated like family amongst the other mares, I promise you.”[/blockquote]

[llcoyote]

Aella snorted softly as the stallion dismounted her body and watched with tense interest as he began to walk away. With calculating eyes she watched his stride, it was long and each hoof print seemed to cover the other, telling her he probably moved with extremely large gaits. She'd always had the a large range of motion and covered the ground with eager feet, even if her mind disagreed. Her muzzle came around to touch her own side and she blew a gust of air into the swirling dapples. She was going to be a mother. Of all the ways she'd thought it may happen, this...spontaneous was not included in them. It was no matter to her though. She was happy with the transaction between them and was willing to follow. Her own hooves thumped against the hard ground with clear intent even as they dug slightly into the thawed ground, leaving a clear trail behind. Not that anyone was going to follow after the pair. Her right hind struck against the ground and she nicked, bursting from a walk into a steady left beat canter. Of course she'd slow down if he wasn't up for the speed. Aella couldn't just stand the slow paced life. She wanted to see the world zoom and fly around her, engrossed in the color and light. It fascinated her. Worry was the last things on her mind. Especially any worry about other mares. She did want a herd and a family to bond and be close to but the lands sounded large enough that she could avoid who she needed to and get space that she required. She passed the stallion, her head high and her smokey mane flowing in the bright sun. With a second thought she turned her head towards her over her shoulder and whinnied, asking him without words to match her pace.