.Z.O.R.R.O.

[wolf2]

<sup>.The fire roared across the homelands new to the friesian stag. As it danced upon the lands the stallion galloped with all his might. His forelock was blow back, exposing the z shaped mark on his forehead. The stallion looked back behind him, the fire's wicked laugh taunted him. It seemed to say, "You'll never escape me Zorro!", but the stallion was not ready to die just yet. He left footprints in the forest where the fires raged. Soon he hit sand, a beach. Surly he'd be safe here. The stag looked back behind him, the fire was still to close for his comfort. The stallion reared and trashed his legs out wildly, taunting the fire. He yelled along in a horrid cry, "I stare death and the eyes, and laugh in its face!" The stallion laughed himself forward with his powerful back haunches. He galloped straight into a wave, and as he reached the top of the wave...he saw kt. The perfect place to hide from the fire...and island. He cared not if others were on the island, it never crossed his mind...the stag had only one thing on his mind...survial.

.He swam in the salty waters of the deep ocean, wishing to get to the island...to safety. He grunted and used every bit of courage in his heart. Not a single stream of smoke danced above the island...so it must have alluded the fire. He could see it's beauty, its lush tropical forest, it's golden sands...and it made him want to go there more.

.Soon the stag dull daggers touched the wet sands of the shore, he had made it. He stood, head held high in the evening sun. His mane wet, and stuck to his body. His banner dripping, his feathers wet. The waves in his mane and tail were no longer present...but the stallion had made it. Deep eyes like muddy pools scanned the very inch of the island. He could smell others...and where there were mares ans stallions there were foals. Maybe there were foals around, some one who would see the stag for who he was...not was he appeared to be. He looked like a outlaw on the outside, with his bulky body and z mark...but the stallion was courageous and gentle. He reared, sending water droplets every where. he hit the earth and it shook, he let out a cry for others. Who inhabited the isle? The stallion wanted to know.

.Zorro was six years old know, clearly and adult. His features were big, for a bulky stag he was. His mane and tail were wavy and glossy. Below his forelock was a white z mark...that he had rather keep hidden. Zorro himself waited for another to appear from the heart of the island.</sup>

[Meg]

Windago.
Great steed of these lands.
Brave and gentle.

The lands had become engulfed with flames. He could stand here on his very land and look out and see the thick black smoke that curled and billowed over the main land. Mares had come to him earlier at a full gallop to tell him of the flames. They had seemed frightened, but as soon as they came before their gentle giant and felt his soft touch and gentle breath they knew they were safe. Now he stood upon the great cliff that only he and Oasis knew of. This cliff that stood out over the waves that crashed beneath it and was a great sight to see when the sun faded down. Now Windago stood there overlooking the waves to the mainland, worry in his eyes. The flames would not cross the waves to reach his family, but mainland horses would. His little island would soon be over populated by horses, and he would have to put "No Trespassing" signs up on the beaches. His eyes watered from the smoke, and his nares flared at the scent. His thick curly tressels blew back in the wind, his thick ebon neck flexing.

He heard a sound. Down on his beaches. Another. Already they had started to come. Before looking down he caught a slight familiarity of the scent. Friesian. Just like him. And a stag. Threat. Looking down quickly with his silvery brown eyes he studied the stag that stood on Windago's beach. His beach. Hot tempered anger flooded through his tall, muscular bodice as he narrowed his eyes at the stag that was facing opposite of him. The stag seemed to expect someone to come from the woods. Only mares would come from there, and they wouldn't come to a stranger stag unless their Windago was with him. Only Aurora would thunder out to meet this stranger that looked like Windago himself, but not really. This stag was younger and gave of the quivering scent of a youth.

Windago snorted at the stag's call, his small auds ripping backward and lacing themselves upon his skull. This stag better not cause problems, Windago was in no mood to bring down another challenger. Abyss was the first, he had to take him down to own these lands. Then another came, and he wouldn't let anyone take his island until he lay dead in the waters, which won't happen for a while. He was only sixteen, not that old. Old was thirty-three, his father's age at which Windago was born. He had the tough blood of Friesian Warhorse's in his blood. Finally, with a billowing bugle that screamed out of the winds; much stronger and deeper then the stag on the beach's call, rang from his deep chest. Leaping down the cliff ledge and jumping like a mountain goat to each little nook in the cliff wall he landed behind the stag. This stag was a youth indeed. He looked to be about the age of five or six, Windago was older; therefore wiser and stronger.

He stepped gently on the slippery sands that he was used to since the Desert; a small difficult trot squeezing out of his long, thick stilts as they lifted and fell the large dinner plate hooves into golden sands. He circled and stood before the "look alike" steed. His long tumbling forelock falling over his magnificent silvery brown eyes. That was the difference between them, their eyes and the size. Windago stood just a hair taller, that was probably because of his long, uncut hooves that he had grown used to grinding away on the island's lava rocks but hadn't lately. He did a quivering grunt that sounded like wind running through a bamboo shaft; his skull lowering respectfully to the steed in a gentle bow. He always held respect for others, no matter why they showed up on his lands. Lifting his skull, he looked the steed in the eyes. His long tressels blowing in the wind behind his powerful bodice. Feathers that fell over his dinner plate sized hooves quivered in the breeze. That sharp scent of smoke cut through his nares, making him feel slightly dizzy for a second.

Flick his long tail over his rump, he stretched his boa out and breathed gently in the stag's nares, sniffing him intently as horses do when they are curious of each other. Soft nicker raised from his chest and a hind stilt lifted and smacked on the sand behind him. Not a warning. Just...Something. He remained sniffing the other, taking in his sights. Though he seemed young, he looked as though he had been through a lot. Like Windago, scars littered the steed's bodice, and Windago had just barely caught the sight of a "Z" marking on the steed's forehead as the wind pushed his forelock back. He was curious but didn't ask.

"Good day, sir. I am the knight that owns these blessed lands; Windago. Why does one as yourself wander upon my lands?"

He asked softly, he voice deep and rough as a stag of a draft, "big" horse breeding should be. He was also buzzing with questions of the stag's breeding. For all Windago could remember of the "Outside World" of humans was that Friesians were growing extinct and him and his father were one of the last few. Could he be related to the stranger that looked just like him? No. This stag was also probably here to;
A) Find refuge from the flames.
B) Find a home.
or C) Try to steal Windago's beloved home and family.
Windago hoped it was not C. He loved his home, and he didn't know if he could beat this stranger that held strength like himself. It would be the fairest battle Windago had ever had, but he didn't want to get into it. He was a peaceful horse, ask everyone around. He only resolved to war or battle if Mother Nature pushed him to the limits.

[wolf2]

<sup>.He heard the cry Emmited from another, a louder ,stronger cry. Zorro's ears pricked forward and his eyes darted around the woods, but he heard a thud behind him. He twirled his ears every where, trying to catch the least sound. Zorro prepared himself to wheel around and face the other, but the other stallion can in front of him. The stallion was of his very breed, but older. The midnight stallion Zorro allowed his elder to sniff him...for it was what horses do. His ears twitched to catch any sounds, and they caught the sound of the other's lyrics. He waited for a bit, thinking. He preferred to be around foals...for no one he felt understood him but foals. Soon his deep tones danced in his mouth, and he could hold the words back no longer.

"Tis' to flee from the taunting flames, and , dear sir, I am a rambler...going where I may. Looking, expanding my travels, and looking for some one who understands..."

.The stallion spoke truthful words, for he was a rambler...never in one place to long.

"My blessing, or my curse is Zorro..."

.A grin crossed his face. He was proud of his name, for his father had been named so.</sup>

[Crow'sia]

But God I fear the cold
Oh God I fear the cold.

Not this again. If she had to swim through the chilling waters of that damned ocean one more time Mesmerize Psychro could have thrown herself off a cliff. Fortunately there were none around, as she’d just left them the other day leaving a deranged mare and a rambling fool to their bidding, catching few words on her depart. From there, Mes had idly slid down the cliff side where she could and frolicked about in the waters before, poking at them and daring the ocean to wash her away. It was ironic, because it just might do that now.

All around her water lashed at the mare’s sides. She’d taken a mad dive into the cool liquid from the beach as flames slowly began to engulf the territory. At a distance she could see it enveloping the land and throwing up sparks in the trees; at any given moment the demon would have caught up with her. Mother Nature was good like that. She closed her eyes and began to swim blindly; the current was weak today and didn’t take her too off course. She should have stayed on land, the torment of fire, the desolation of masses; it could have been a beautiful thing, were she there to witness it. But instead water threatened to swallow her up, perhaps this was thrill enough.

Eventually her feet found the soft cushion of sand and welcoming it she fled from the otherworldly lagoon. Breathing heavily she turned to face the mainland, squinting to see the ritual of flames in the sun’s light (I skimmed, it’s day I hope. I mean, Zorro could clearly see, so I’m assuming). In a way it was sad, years of history and establishment were about to be destroyed, of course they were horses, and it were a way of life. Mes jerked her head towards another object though; listening not to the dull lisp of gentle waves but to the deeper voices of what she knew must be stallions (or hormonally challenged mares). Down the beach, two similar dark figures were standing, and while she’d take little interest in them, when trespassing on this island again they’d surely take notice of her.

I’d rather stay the flames.
Have God take me from the cold.

[wolf2]

<sup>.The colt wondered down the shore. He had seen smoke far away, and began to worry. His emerald pools darted every where for any sign of life. The painted colt was so caught up in looking around, he walked straight into Zorro's leg. As Desperado looked up at the two large stallions, his small heart throbbed. Each of them could easily kill him. He backed away a few feet, his ears hung in a floppy manner. His eyes showed regret. Who were these horses? He looked around, and saw another. The colt's heart began to pound. He looked at the ocean, and felt relief of some short, for he saw a phantom figure. He was the only one who could see her, to his knowlege...but before he could make out who it was...it vanished. The phantom had been his mother. Desperado then looked back up at the two stags.

.Zorro awaited for his elder to speak. The sight of a colt caught his eye. He watched the colt as he plowed into his leg, then backed away and looked around. A smile crept across his muzzle. A foal...some one who could understand Zorro's nature. He looked back at the other darkened stag...only to look back at the colt.

"Well, Look a there. What's your name son?"

He spoke kindly to the colt, then glanced at another equine...but didn't say a word. He only looked back to the colt. Zorro then looked back at the newer equine, and lifted his eyes, but the colt had stolen his attention. His banner slapped his sides, ridding of some water. The stag shook his forelock away, exposing the z mark fully.</sup>

[Meg]

His auds pricked forward and a sigh was released from his tired body. Good. This stag was no threat. He was just a friendly stag placed on Windago's lands by the flames. He smiled gently and stepped back, relaxing a hind talon, peace coming to his overcrowded mind. He watched the flames curl and smoke at the mainlands; his attention drawn away for a moment until it was brought back by the steed's speech that wasn't directed at him. Lacing his fluffy black auds up and the tips touching he looked down.

A foal? No, not just a foal, a coltine. He tilted his large skull; he didn't know he had children on his lands, he had thought they had all vanished. There was once a time that children overpopulated the land, and now they had grown thin here. He tilted his skull back to the normal postion. Strangly enough he felt he had heard about this young coltine though... Desperado that was the colt's name. Now Windago remembered.

Mircale; his daughter had come to him with the news of a small coltine of the name Desperado that had washed onto his lands. Windago had told her that he was too busy to overlook the young man, and told her just to take care of him and in time he would look at him. Time had passed and he forgot all about him; now he saw him, he barely remembered him. He spoke up for the boy, answering Zorro's question.

"Desperado. My daughter adopted him somewhat."

He said softly. He was sad that he had forgotten about this child, he felt bad. Like an old man crouching down to a babe, he bent his knees and came down to Desperado's height. Nudging him softly, he blew over him. "I'm so sorry. I'm Windago, I believe you have been looking for me?" He whispered into Desperado's ears softly for only him to hear. Smiling, he stood up and his gaze washed the beach.

"Palm trees...Sand...Mare climbing out of water... Sand...Waves..More sand..WAIT!" His eyes had zoomed right over her, now they focused in on a mare that looked harassed by the waves and the flames. She looked pissed off and not happy to be here. A frown dotted his mug, she looked really angry that Mother Nature had forced her to touch bay here. A whinny stretched out to her, calling her over if he must. He was curious as to how bad the flames were on the mainland and whom she was.
[Occ; Weakness.]

[Crow'sia]

Let me talk to you;

Mes could see another animal in the horizon of her young vision. As she shook her body removing the excess water (which now began to evaporate, sapping heat from her flesh) she took a small step towards it, inevitably a foal, and stopped suddenly. Why did this compel her? Their voices rang in her ears and agitated as the mare was, she cracked a smile. This would be rather easy, she assumed, certainly she’d be allowed to stay a short time. After all, would they send her to her death in front of a child? Mes was surprised however to see a small register of shock on one of the stallions faces when he now looked and called over to her. Had she given the wrong idea? Had she gotten the wrong idea? Perhaps if she raised her ears in a more charitable and friendly manner…

The mare’s ginger body glistening as it dry, she acknowledged his shout trotting rather merrily over almost as though her spirits had lightened. In the girl’s head however a ravenous group of foreigners solicit for her attention. She knew she couldn’t ignore them for long of course, these particular inhabitants would grow to become malevolent if she offended them in such a way. Such fun to fabricate your own problems! Yet despite this she found an old line sliding through her head, they would consider it a gift, too proud of their own work: “You are very different Psychro, remember that, you will always be different.” She shook her head to clear the image that seemed burned into her retina. You’re not here you will go away. I don’t want to talk today. Nothing was there though, surely she must be breaking.

Raising her eyes to the black stallion who was indeed much larger than herself (she ignored the other two for now), Mes took a small breath and a second to decide on her address. Nothing too formal, and nothing to harsh. She needed to play this right. Maybe she did need assistance. "Heya. Um, you probably know why I’m here, guess it’s obvious." That ended a little forced, she’d need to practice.

I just need to talk.


EDIT; I really should be more careful about coding, because Mes actually says something but it looked like a thought. -annoyed at self-

[wolf2]

<sup>T.he colt looked up as the two black giants looked at him. One of them had asked him his name...but the other had answered for him. How did this other stallion know Desperado's name? he listened to his words...this was Miracle's father...the lead stallion. The colt's ears pricked up and marveled at the giant steed. The stallion was huge, and seemed as if he could kill a man with a single kick. The colt listened as Windalgo whispered...he was sorry? The colt felt no reason for him to be sorry. His rare emerald pools twinkled as he looked at the two ebonys'...they seemed to be heroes in the colt's mind.
D.esperado reared to try and whisper in the giant's ear...but atlas even standing he was too small. He tried to stretch out his neck, but this caused him to loose balance. The colt fell to the earth. Desperado just lie there, his green pools closed. He looked up at Windalgo and Zorro and smiled.

"Heh..."

T.hat was all the colt could say, feeling embarrassed. Desperado soon saw another come up. A mare he had never seen before...


Z.orro listened to the colt's name, Desperado...it discribed the colt. He noticed the colt had green eyes...something very rare. Zorro also heard the term, adopted somewhat...and knew something had to have happen to the colt's mother. He knew how it felt to explain...so he would let the colt talk on his own time.

"Good day, seinor'"

He spoke to the colt in a tongue he knew a little of. Then as he was about to speak, he noticed the colt looking away. Another equine come down the beach, the one he saw earlier. As she came close...Zorro saw she paid no mind to him.</sup>

[guess who]

bump

[ashleigh04]

The coconut trees hid her golden bodice, she watched for a while as newcomers entered the island and horses greeted them. She had been unsocial for days and began to gallop towards them. She had heard rumour of lands errupting a light. The flames sometimes burning a horses to death... alive. She shuddered at the thought of the flames and she could feel heat rising above her crown. A figure of imagination.
She steadied herself as she soon halted near a black fresian. Smiling she lifted her head high to make her seem not as shy as she could be. Opening her mouth she spoke. I am Espirit, a new mare to these lands. Have you escaped the rumoured fire? She cocked her head to one side as she turned to fill her bearings. Mares, stallions. A few horses were here. Some she regonised others not like this handsome fresian.

She looked at his face as she caught glimpse of a white marking. Peering closer she knew it was a zed. Wondering if she had ever seen a horse with such a peculiar marking she spotted Windago. She turned to face him a few paces off and kicked up her front legs whinnying her high pitched shrill. She clambered down though gracefully as if in slow-motion and smiled. Then turning her bodice towards the other black stag' the newcomer she awaited a hopeful answer.

[wolf2]

^{.†. Zorro .†..†. A legend in the making .†.}

<sup>†. Zorro noticed the golden mare that emerged from the island. Another island equine he figured. This mare was shining with beauty though, and it made the stallion a bit nervous to have two mare around. You could say he wasn't a ladies man. Her name matched her beauty. He nodded at her question, but he found his self taking a step back as she peered at his mark.

†."Yes, senorita'..."

†. He looked at the colt, who was gazing up at him. He winked at the colt, feeling a bond already for the colt. Maybe he could help raise the colt. Zorro looked back to Espirit, and didn't recall giving her his name.

†."I am Zorro..."

†. He spoke softly and watched her. She was quite the stunning mare.</sup>

^{.†. Desperado .†..†. The young mystery .†.}

<sup>†. The colt saw the mare come around, but was caught up with the new stallion. He saw the mark on his forehead, and gasped...this stallion was cool. The colt stretched out his neck and sniffed the stallion's feathery hooves. He nipped at the feathers on his legs...couriously. Then he looked up at her face. He found Zorro to be huge, just like Windalgo. Bother were ebony, and huge...and the colt found himself amazed by them. Maybe he could stick around with Zorro and Windalgo some times. The colt walked under Zorro's belly, and smelled it. Zorro felt the colt, but stood still...understanding his curious ways.
Desperado walked out from under Zorro, and walked over to Windalgo. The colt looked up at his face, but saw no marking.

†."How come Zorro has a mark...and you don't?"</sup>


[.†. No muse....stinky post.†.]

[ashleigh04]

Zorro... She whispered so it was only herself who could hear. Dropping down her maw she nudged the foal and smiled. And where do you come from little man? She lifted her crown once again and though about what Zorro had just said. Was he italian? Excuse me Zorro she said smiling her long eye lashes a-fluttering. Forgive me if i speak wrongly but are you an italian horse? Again i am sorry i do not quite know accents. she said trailing off shyly. She looked over her slim shoulder to see if Windago had noticed her yet. Obviously not. She hoped the gastly flamed wouldn't reach the island, where else would she go? And she had just settled.
Her thoughts ran back to Wynne. The first mare she had ever seen on the island and how she had suddenly disappeared. She'd have to ask Windago about that but now was not the time. She had company.

Z for Zorro she thought wondering if that was the reason his mother dubbed him the way she did. Sounds... foreign but in a good way. Espirit... She wandered why her mother called her that. Though she would never get the chance to ask her since she died while giving birth. Her brother always described her to look just like Espirit. In color and in height.

[Meg]

Windago.
Rain on those..
Who try to hide.

He saw Espirit come from the forest lands of the isle, and a grin appeared on his mug. She had been rather...Unsocial lately. He could see the flame that sparked in her eyes as she looked rather hungerily upon Zorro, and to his surprise, he saw it return in Zorro's rather nervous eyes. He noted Zorro was not a ladies man, just a steed who like to be with foals. He heard the quiver of young Desperado's vocals, and his heart broke as he looked down. "How come Zorro has a mark...and you don't?" They echoed in his auds. He watched rather...sadly you could say as the young colt took more interest in the steed then him that stood before him. Zorro was a legend to young colts, it was obvious. Heartbreak came to Teddy Bear. He was no longer the one everyone looked up to, it shown in his rare silvery brown eyes for a moment, then he masked it. Putting a grin on his mug, a fake grin, he answered the colt's words;

"Because he was born with a rare marking that most stags are unfortunate to be born with. That is why it is rare, Desperado."

He said softly. Looking out over the waves, he nickered softly. There was something he missed, and he didn't know what yet.
[[occ; no muse! Gotta go!]]

[ashleigh04]

Looking over to see Windago she smiled but she saw the smile slide from his face when the young'un mentioned why didn't he have a marking like that. She clicked her heels into a fast paced walk and stood in front of Windago. Nuzzling him on the maw in a friendly manner she whispered... Your the one I look upto on this island... and she walked back over to Zorro. Peering over to see Windago's reaction.

Looking down again at the small colt she laughed quietly. And looks like you have an admirer! Or two... as she was thinking. Zorro's fresian body was huge compared to her dainty arabian body. Some said she was an anglo but she though she was more than that. Searching far out into the distance she glanced as she thought she saw light spread onto the island. Rearing madly, her orbs filled themselves white until she realised she had just been seeing things and that she was safe here. Though she didn't feel it. She stepped a little closer to Zorro so she knew she had that warmth and safety of a mighty stag'

[wolf2]

^{.†. Zorro .†..†. A legend in the making .†.}

<sup>†. Zorro let out a small giggle when the mare spoke. He caught his giggle and scolded himself in his mind. Why did he giggle in the first place? He didn't find it funny...The ebony stag's wavy mane sat still. His banner doing the same. The white z showed plainly, and for the first time he didn't care.

†."No Espirit, it is Spaniard I believe. My mother taught it to me..."

†.The ebony stag let a small horsey grin show. He heard the colt talk to Windalgo, a wider grin crossed his maw. Until of course he saw the sadness in the old stag pools. he knew though, the colt found interest in them both. He looked at the colt with soft eyes, he felt like he was the colt's father...but he knew he wasn't. Beautiful lyrics crossed his ears, and he turned back to the golden mare. He found himself looking straight onto her pools, and he almost dropped his jaw. He could feel droplets of sweat breaking out on him. He tired to speak, but he couldn't...what was his deal!

†."May-Maybe I-I-I Do Sen-Senorita...I mean Espirit..."</sup>

^{.†. Desperado .†..†. The young mystery .†.}

<sup>†. The colt looked nodded at the old stallion's words. His painted hide twitched, and he slapped his sides with his small banner. The colt's emerald pools look into the old stag's for a moment, and then the colt looked down. He sniffed Windalgo's feathered hoof, and then slightly attempted to tug as the feathers...but decided he better not. He walked around Windago many times, making himself dizzy, but the colt was curious. He reared, tempting the smell Windago's face...but the colt found himself to short to do as he pleased. Desperado heard his belly grumble and complain, wanting food, but at the moment he could care less. He did a chopping running walk until he was a few feet away. Then he looked over the two black stallions. Then he trotted back to Windalgo.

†."You think I could spent the day with you?"

†.One of the colt's ears were pointed forward and the other back as he ask Windago...not sure what his answer would be.</sup>


[.†.I think Zorro has a soft spoke for Espirit! Tehe.†.]