Post by Epona on Sept 19, 2010 3:33:30 GMT 8
I haven't written much recently so I'm going to try my hard at conjuring something up while I have some free time. Excuse me if it's a bit lacking, I need to brush up on my skills.
This could not be the land I had grown up in. Where, I wonder, have all the trees gone? And the rabbits that used to run underneath my feet when I passed by their holes. The grass crunched as I walked. The sound was empty and hollow, like that of a broken heart that has given up beating. This could not be the land I had once roamed with my herd.
This hill had been where my mother had stood, her chestnut mane and tail flowing lightly in the breeze. Her dark brown eyes had been ever watchful over the herd while my father was off scouting the borders. Though she was not the lead stallion, being lead mare gave her a lot of responsibilities as well. And she upheld them very well, in my opinion. I was supposed to take over the herd when my father decided it was the proper time. But then they had come. Those two-legged monsters riding their wagons and strapped to the back of my fellow mustang's backs, had come and ruined everything.
That day was a day that completely changed my world, turning everything upside down. I wish I could forget, but things like that don't just...disappear.
Clouds had gathered as the sun began to set. A thunderstorm was rolling in. The horses could smell it on the air, and it smelled sweet in so many ways. A drought had ravaged their grasslands and dried up the streams that had once flowed so strongly. The herd that called this expanse of land home was struggling just to get by. The lead stallion, Furthor, was stressed nearly to his limit with moving from one grazing spot to the next. They were getting dangerously close to lands owned by other herds and constantly moving was putting his family in danger of predators. He knew this rain would probably not help much, seeing as the ground was so dry a downpour would just cause more harm than good. But it was giving his herd members hope, and that is all he was worried about.
Thunder ripped through the air as the rain began to fall, gently at first and steadily becoming heavier. Through the sound of the downpour, a call ripped through the air, one of what seemed joy, mixed with pain and fear. An odd combination of emotions, yes, but due to the circumstance of the call, it was quite understandable. Furthor's head shot up, his ears quivering with anticipation as he waited for another call. When it came, he cried out to the sky in a large expression of excitement, and charged in the direction of the call. He bucked and kicked in happiness as he approached a large tree, the leaves and branches keeping the pregnant mare beneath them dry.
She stood with her head low, exhaustion in her soft, brown eyes, and her sides heaving. Sweat was lathered along her chestnut neck and her mane was clinging to her coat. Furthor could see the painful contractions ripping across her stomach. He wished her could help her but instead he stepped forward and touched his nose gently to her cheek. The chestnut mare pinned her ears in warning, telling him to back up. She appreciated his gesture but she did not want him touching her, or being that close to her, at this point in time.
"Caligo, is there anything I can do?" he asked, his large eyes full of concern for his lead mare. This was her first foal, and his first foal as well, and they were both frightened. Caligo shook her head fiercely, snorting with frustration as another contraction rippled painfully through her body. Furthor lowered his head slightly in disappointment and turned slowly away from the chestnut mare. "If you need me, just call." he said and he knew she had heard him.
Taking his place atop the hill again, he watched his herd through the heavy cover of the falling rain. It was hard enough to see his family in the darkness; the downpour was only making it harder. Furthor knew that Caligo could take care of herself. With that comfort of a thought, he descended the hill and joined his herd as they prepared to rest for the night.
-------
This could not be the land I had grown up in. Where, I wonder, have all the trees gone? And the rabbits that used to run underneath my feet when I passed by their holes. The grass crunched as I walked. The sound was empty and hollow, like that of a broken heart that has given up beating. This could not be the land I had once roamed with my herd.
This hill had been where my mother had stood, her chestnut mane and tail flowing lightly in the breeze. Her dark brown eyes had been ever watchful over the herd while my father was off scouting the borders. Though she was not the lead stallion, being lead mare gave her a lot of responsibilities as well. And she upheld them very well, in my opinion. I was supposed to take over the herd when my father decided it was the proper time. But then they had come. Those two-legged monsters riding their wagons and strapped to the back of my fellow mustang's backs, had come and ruined everything.
That day was a day that completely changed my world, turning everything upside down. I wish I could forget, but things like that don't just...disappear.
----------------
Clouds had gathered as the sun began to set. A thunderstorm was rolling in. The horses could smell it on the air, and it smelled sweet in so many ways. A drought had ravaged their grasslands and dried up the streams that had once flowed so strongly. The herd that called this expanse of land home was struggling just to get by. The lead stallion, Furthor, was stressed nearly to his limit with moving from one grazing spot to the next. They were getting dangerously close to lands owned by other herds and constantly moving was putting his family in danger of predators. He knew this rain would probably not help much, seeing as the ground was so dry a downpour would just cause more harm than good. But it was giving his herd members hope, and that is all he was worried about.
Thunder ripped through the air as the rain began to fall, gently at first and steadily becoming heavier. Through the sound of the downpour, a call ripped through the air, one of what seemed joy, mixed with pain and fear. An odd combination of emotions, yes, but due to the circumstance of the call, it was quite understandable. Furthor's head shot up, his ears quivering with anticipation as he waited for another call. When it came, he cried out to the sky in a large expression of excitement, and charged in the direction of the call. He bucked and kicked in happiness as he approached a large tree, the leaves and branches keeping the pregnant mare beneath them dry.
She stood with her head low, exhaustion in her soft, brown eyes, and her sides heaving. Sweat was lathered along her chestnut neck and her mane was clinging to her coat. Furthor could see the painful contractions ripping across her stomach. He wished her could help her but instead he stepped forward and touched his nose gently to her cheek. The chestnut mare pinned her ears in warning, telling him to back up. She appreciated his gesture but she did not want him touching her, or being that close to her, at this point in time.
"Caligo, is there anything I can do?" he asked, his large eyes full of concern for his lead mare. This was her first foal, and his first foal as well, and they were both frightened. Caligo shook her head fiercely, snorting with frustration as another contraction rippled painfully through her body. Furthor lowered his head slightly in disappointment and turned slowly away from the chestnut mare. "If you need me, just call." he said and he knew she had heard him.
Taking his place atop the hill again, he watched his herd through the heavy cover of the falling rain. It was hard enough to see his family in the darkness; the downpour was only making it harder. Furthor knew that Caligo could take care of herself. With that comfort of a thought, he descended the hill and joined his herd as they prepared to rest for the night.