an evening alone __.

[Ivy]

The sun was dipping below the horizon and any horses out in the meadow were withdrawing to their territory, or into the wooded area to find somewhere for the night ahead. All except for one, who walked alone through the deserted pasture. The chestnut mare's pelt glowed brilliantly in the evening light, appearing almost crimson in colour as she was bathed in the warm rays. Down her face ran a white blaze, and white markings could be seen on all four of her legs. She was surprisingly clean for a wild horse, her mane and tail had a satin-like quality as it drifted gently in a soft breeze which rustled the grass. She tossed her head to remove her long forelock from her eyes. A small oddity to the mare had now been revealed. While one eye was a dark chocolate colour, the other was a stark icy blue. Ember was the name the mare's mother had given her at birth, and certainly in this light, she did have a fiery glow.

Ember thoughtfully drew the air into her lungs, picking out the scents of dew just beginning to form, as well as the dissipating smell of other horses. She couldn't see any of them anymore but, at a glance to the trees in the distance, who was to say she was really alone? The chestnut mare flicked her ears in the direction of the trees for a few seconds as she walked but she couldn’t hear anything unusual. Just the wind in the leaves and the occasional creak of branches. Satisfied with whatever she'd been looking for, the young mustang drew to a halt and lowered her muzzle to the green blades at her hooves. She took a bite of the grass and lifted her head to chew the mouthful while she looked ahead of her, her mismatched eyes eventually drifting upwards to look at the pink tinged clouds in to evening sky above. A flock of birds flew overhead, and Ember couldn't help but feel almost home-sick as she watched them.

[llcoyote]

[glow=red,2,300]Rhys[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow][glow=white,2,300] Marriage is the tomb of love[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow]

A stallion never tires of new company. That is what the obsidian stallion stallion had concluded. If not then why would he constantly return to this place? Esspecially when half the mares that came to this meadow were grumpy and denied the company of a stallion. Though his herd was growing fast. He hadn't seen another like it. From ponies to drafts life on the beach sands was diverse and blooming. A foal had been born, one if not two on the way. Even though the lands had been scattered with a powerful flood, even though they held little splendor to look at, and even though the territory was ruled by hostile waves and swarms of flies, a herd stood growing and strong on the banks.

The steed arched his neck and snorted. His mane would blow in the wind if not for the thick, heavy sand that caked in his mane and tail. He was not a clean stallion. The rugged and hard look of the wild had over grown and erased all traces of the Spanish bull dodging horse and breeding stallion he'd once been. His forelock was matted in places with sand and had grown so long it reached to the bottom of his thick sloping jaw. His whiskers had grown out, and the clean cut shave that once adorned him was destroyed by londer hairs. The spring hadn't yet caused him to loose ALL of his winter fur. Thick inky lashes had grown in to protect his murky brown eyes from the sand. He was not a large stallion, only around 16 hands at the most, but he was compact. His muscles were strong and rounded from his previous life, and the large amount of activity he endured in life's current stage kept him bulky. A vain stud, Rhys was not shy to admit he was gorgeous. Straight to the point was the best way to go.

The night sky had fallen slower today and an array of horses had left at a much later time than they usually did. Rhys should have been getting home, to watch his lands over at night and to rest, but being naturally self centered he desired a few more moments of rest. All of the mares he'd seen today were claimed and he would not be bothered with something so petty as to fight over a mare he didn't yet know. How he detested fighting. No, while he may be tempermental, hot headed, and cocky Rhys would wait until he had no other choice but to fight. He sighed, the wind was still, and the meadow was quiet. Maybe that's why he lived by the sea, Rhys didn't like quiet. With a final grunt he struck into a canter towards home, tossing his ebony mane and sending waved hair in every which way... but only 12 strides towards the hill Rhys stopped. There was a lone mare standing in the tall green grass, eating contently. A beautiful chestnut with a blue eye. Ghost eyed is what the men in Spain used to call it. Such horses were bad luck... and usually sold for meat. He however did not bask in such silly superstitions and trotted briskly towards her. His approach was straight and to the point. When he was only a few paces away from her he stopped and sniffed the air, eyes narrowing. Then he looked at the mare, she was gorgeous. "You do know even the strongest mares do not fare wll alone when the night comes to these meadows?" He asked, nothing but softness was in his voice. He didn't want her to think he was judging her reasons for being here. "Wolves are popular in this meadow, as well as not such friendly stallions... Are you alone my friend?" He asked, arching his bulky neck and nickering lowly. "Please... tell me your name." He said in a quiet tone, no need to let anyone else know he was here.

[glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow][glow=white,2,300] The same principle which forbids me to lie does not allow me to tell the truth.[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow]

[Ivy]

Her ears twitched suddenly, she'd heard a noise. Ember turned her head as her ears swivelled, tracking the direction it was coming for. Her eyes finally landed upon a large, imposing black stallion who was moving at a canter through the meadow. She continued to watch the stranger until she realised he was now looking at her too. It was a bit of an awkward stare, at least for her. Ember looked away, but her ears stayed trained on him. It was then she realised the sounds of his hooves on the ground were growing louder. 'Closer?' she asked herself. Turning her head again her thoughts were confirmed as now the stallion was standing but a few meters away. The chestnut mare's muscles tensed, she was cautious. Then the stallion spoke to her in a somewhat soft, yet still strongly masculine voice. What he said was true, of course, but she had wanted to come here in the evening when it wasn't as hot in the direct sunlight. She'd been willing to risk the chance of predators, and now she thought about it, it did seem like a foolish choice.

Ember nodded at his words ''Well it certainly looks I’m alone, doesn't it?'' she said with a small smile and she relaxed her stance ever so slightly. ''Ember...'' she answered, flicking her ears attentively as she heard the pitch of his voice change to a quieter tone. She wondered why, did he not want others to know he was speaking her? Or was he simply keeping the noise down so as not to attract predators. Maybe even, he didn't want to intimidate her. It could be either, or perhaps a mixture of them all. She wasn't inclined to ask him. Ember flicked her tail, swatting a small fly that had landed on her flank. ''..and what do I call you?'' the chestnut mare continued her flow of speech, her voice soft and courteous. She didn't want to leave a bad impression with him of course, she didn't even know the male who stood before her! Now both her ears flicked forward and fixed on the black stallion, awaiting a reply.

[llcoyote]

[glow=red,2,300]Rhys[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow][glow=white,2,300] Marriage is the tomb of love[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow]

The stud watched her, feeling the awkard squirming in his gut. "I am Rhys lead stallion of the beaches..." He trailed off and lifted his large melanoid head toward his homeland. Ember, it fit. Rhys had a thing for chestnuts. He tossed his head back in her direction and watched the mare with a heavy curiousity. There wasn't any singular emotion he could pin on her. She didn't seem nervous, but she didn't seem bold or seducting like other mares were to him. She had no reason for her to be angry with him... yet. Unless simply watching her had sturred up some form of distain for him.

A heavy hoof lifted from the ground and stompped hard against the earth. "You never did quite answer my question." He said lightly, not wanting to sound as though he were scolding her. Rhys was rarely a voice of reason. Still an unprotected mare made him uneasy. Perhaps if she lived in the desert, where few wolves chose to roam, then it wouldn't be much cause for worry. Inwardly the steed snorted. Truely he'd turned into a pathetic creature. Worrying of horses that were not even his to worry over! It wasn't normal for him... yet ever since coming here he found himself actually forming connections and even... loving, his mares. "Why are you here alone? And do you seek a place to stay?" Technically he just added that last part, but what ever. His thick obsidian tail swayed gently against his side as the last of the light started to disapear from the meadow. Reguardless of the mare's decision... Rhys had to go home soon.

[glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow][glow=white,2,300] The same principle which forbids me to lie does not allow me to tell the truth.[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/glow]