Sleepy Fox Hollow [M] The Ballad of Lonely Bear

all welcome!

Though the copper-toned filly dozed peacefully amongst the unfurling ferns, her mother paced nearby, attempt to distract herself by grazing on the fiddleheads, though she knew her appetite was for something else. She muttered to herself quietly, uttering the names of Breedmasters as she named them, one by one. 

@Selenia, bless her heart, was shooed away with pinned ears and a high-pitched squeal. A flirting whip of her tail was all she could give as a means of communication as she sought space- knowing her herdmate would understand. 

It was for @Colosseum that she cried out, though her shrill tone would carry and attract the attention of any capable of supplicating her demands. Their herd stallion had defended his position once before- and she would have him do the same again, should another arrive and challenge for his breeding claim. 

And if none- then the dark roan would easily suffice.

the call pierced the meadow—shrill, sharp, unmistakable.

colosseum lifted his head at once. ears pricked. muscles tensed beneath his thick hide, the sun glinting off the dark sheen of his flank. breath puffed out in a huff as his eyes cut toward the voice that summoned him.

he moved without hesitation. a slow, commanding gait that turned to a trot, then to a thunderous lope across the glade. ferns parted beneath the weight of his hooves. earth trembled faintly in his wake.

he came to a halt with a snort, heavy and resonant. nostrils flared. his dark tail flicked as he surveyed her, the pacing, the need etched in the curve of her back and the set of her jaw.

he stepped close.

no words—none needed.

he lowered his massive head, nudging her shoulder with a gentle but firm touch. a breath huffed into her mane. then another nudge.

he moved, nose raking along her abdomen, her hip bone. my mare. 

his stance hardened, then. muscles rippling, tail lashing. he showed her the girth of his neck, look at how i provide!, all the whilst he kept a close look beyond the borders.

cameo! <3

the earpin was automatic; selenia smoothed it out and gathered pippin closer to the napping filly. 

when maplesmoke had come to claim her, fancy had watched silverbirch, and it would be the same for her.

buckskin mare planted herself between foals and foray, nipping new grass in short bites.

not long, not long before her own time came. colosseum had proven to be a strong protector. but stallions in this band often did not live or stay to see their own foals.

in the meantime, if the filly woke hungry, selenia would nurse her too, keeping the little ones away from the weighted tread and flashing heels of equine courtship.