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The storming steps of Nechako could be heard throughout the plains now, as he careened across the snow-covered landscape; his mane was wild behind him, his tail whipping with the wind. He had found this place on his own, this glorious and empty place; his daughters would grow up strong here, his sons would be the fastest and the strongest in all the world. Leaving the herd with Skoonka in charge had been a gamble, but it had paid off. This would be the new grazing ground for his harem. It would become the stuff of legend — and his name would be passed down through the ages.
But first, he had to return to them. His wives, his children. His potential usurper.
As the stallion eased up on his speed, he came to a clattering halt among the frozen grasses and began to examine his surroundings. It was dangerous to be alone. Nechako trusted himself, but he had already explored much of these plains, and he knew that wolves were frequent visitors. If he stayed away for too long he suspected that the herd would fall, his children would be driven out (at least Tseax, being a rival colt) and he would have no herd to return to.
Just as he was beginning to feel doubt overwhelm his enormous ego and subdue his burning pride, he saw the silhouette of his beloved @Atna across the way. The stallion loosed a snort, and as he shot towards her across the flatlands, he shook his mane triumphantly.
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The storming steps of Nechako could be heard throughout the plains now, as he careened across the snow-covered landscape; his mane was wild behind him, his tail whipping with the wind. He had found this place on his own, this glorious and empty place; his daughters would grow up strong here, his sons would be the fastest and the strongest in all the world. Leaving the herd with Skoonka in charge had been a gamble, but it had paid off. This would be the new grazing ground for his harem. It would become the stuff of legend — and his name would be passed down through the ages.
But first, he had to return to them. His wives, his children. His potential usurper.
As the stallion eased up on his speed, he came to a clattering halt among the frozen grasses and began to examine his surroundings. It was dangerous to be alone. Nechako trusted himself, but he had already explored much of these plains, and he knew that wolves were frequent visitors. If he stayed away for too long he suspected that the herd would fall, his children would be driven out (at least Tseax, being a rival colt) and he would have no herd to return to.
Just as he was beginning to feel doubt overwhelm his enormous ego and subdue his burning pride, he saw the silhouette of his beloved @Atna across the way. The stallion loosed a snort, and as he shot towards her across the flatlands, he shook his mane triumphantly.
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December 14, 2016, 06:38 PM
Atna was rather skeptical about these new lands Nechako kept heading off to explore but she trusted him nevertheless. She made sure the herd had enough grazing time especially now when food was scarcer. She longed for the fresh grass to return already. Her sandy tail flickered behind her, deciding to be positive and remind herself that at least the flies were gone with this weather. She grazed on the withered grasses, occasionally checking their surrounding and what Tseax was up to. Surely, they had Skoonka as their protector while Nechako was away, and even though he was good company she rather had their real protector around. He just joined and she was not sure what to think of this stallion.
Her head snapped up when the she could hear the rhythmic sound of Nechako's powerful gallop. Instantly she greeted him with a loud and long neigh that would carry over the distance between them. Though instead of running towards him she did let him come to her. After all he was going at a faster pace, with a little bit of patience and less effort from her side he would soon be with her. It was winter season so energy needed to be spared, especially for a female carrying a foal. She watched how he showed off. Atna wanted to roll her eyes but even she knew that she secretly liked his ego. It was what kept their herd together. She went down for another bite of grass while she waited. She could tell by the way he was moving that the stallion was pleased, perhaps pleased that these plains would be their new home after all. No more treacherous mountains they had to climb and descend. She was glad.
Her head snapped up when the she could hear the rhythmic sound of Nechako's powerful gallop. Instantly she greeted him with a loud and long neigh that would carry over the distance between them. Though instead of running towards him she did let him come to her. After all he was going at a faster pace, with a little bit of patience and less effort from her side he would soon be with her. It was winter season so energy needed to be spared, especially for a female carrying a foal. She watched how he showed off. Atna wanted to roll her eyes but even she knew that she secretly liked his ego. It was what kept their herd together. She went down for another bite of grass while she waited. She could tell by the way he was moving that the stallion was pleased, perhaps pleased that these plains would be their new home after all. No more treacherous mountains they had to climb and descend. She was glad.
December 14, 2016, 06:48 PM
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Her call roused in him a greater need to run, and so his pushed beyond his limit. His golden hide gleamed beneath the winter sun as he danced around her, foolish, like a colt experiencing their first snowfall. Breath pealed from his flared nostrils as he went; Nechako resembled a great golden locomotive, his legs churning through the fresh snow, his lungs heaving breath after breath. When he stopped he was shining with sweat.
After a few moments to catch his breath, he paced towards Atna and extended his nose, greeting her with a touch of his soft cheek to her own. The smallest of glances landed upon her round belly and the stallion chuckled, pleased to see his wife in such a fat and happy state of being. Soon they would have one more to add to the family, and Nechako could not be more proud.
But, thinking of children, the beast turned his attention away from Atna for a split second and let his ears search for signs of Tseax and Nisga. He briefly thought of Skoonka as well, and his face creased with a tiny crunch of worry.
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Her call roused in him a greater need to run, and so his pushed beyond his limit. His golden hide gleamed beneath the winter sun as he danced around her, foolish, like a colt experiencing their first snowfall. Breath pealed from his flared nostrils as he went; Nechako resembled a great golden locomotive, his legs churning through the fresh snow, his lungs heaving breath after breath. When he stopped he was shining with sweat.
After a few moments to catch his breath, he paced towards Atna and extended his nose, greeting her with a touch of his soft cheek to her own. The smallest of glances landed upon her round belly and the stallion chuckled, pleased to see his wife in such a fat and happy state of being. Soon they would have one more to add to the family, and Nechako could not be more proud.
But, thinking of children, the beast turned his attention away from Atna for a split second and let his ears search for signs of Tseax and Nisga. He briefly thought of Skoonka as well, and his face creased with a tiny crunch of worry.
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December 14, 2016, 07:03 PM
Anta snorted in disapproval with the stallion exhausting himself with his crazy bucks and wild jumps. She went back to graze again while he was giving his whole display. She noted the gleam of sweat through his thick winter coat. Another snort came from her. Her hoof scraped over the freshly fallen snow to make the grasses appear.
She lifted her head when the golden boy approached her. He greeted her kindly with light touches. Her lip moved over his neck, giving him a soft tickle. She noticed his attention was not on her though and instantly had her teeth sunken into his neck. It was not an actual bite, more a good nip. Her tail flickered playfully behind her. She liked it when he admired her, because of course as the lead mare she should be admired.
"I assume we are staying here?," she asked him to be sure. She did not know these lands, so leading to fresh grounds could be difficult. Luckily these plains seemed wide spread. Though she did hope that somewhere along the foot of those mountains where some salt and mineral disposals. She would need the extra nutrients if this foal was going to live through winter.
She lifted her head when the golden boy approached her. He greeted her kindly with light touches. Her lip moved over his neck, giving him a soft tickle. She noticed his attention was not on her though and instantly had her teeth sunken into his neck. It was not an actual bite, more a good nip. Her tail flickered playfully behind her. She liked it when he admired her, because of course as the lead mare she should be admired.
"I assume we are staying here?," she asked him to be sure. She did not know these lands, so leading to fresh grounds could be difficult. Luckily these plains seemed wide spread. Though she did hope that somewhere along the foot of those mountains where some salt and mineral disposals. She would need the extra nutrients if this foal was going to live through winter.
December 15, 2016, 12:57 AM
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The wind began to bite at his skin. He felt it keenly, for his sweat was swiftly cooling across his flesh. It was a good thing he had wives to keep him warm, then. Her nip across his thick neck was a sign of her irritation with him, but Nechako knew she was not entirely serious. This wife of his was hard to please sometimes, she was far more rational than himself. They made a good team together — one of the reasons he had chosen her to lead beside him. Yes, it was foolish of him to waste the energy. More foolish to get himself so riled up and hot, for the winter winds would make short work of him; he could easily catch a cold, at the very least weakening his body and inviting Skoonka's attack.
Her question came next — sounding both skeptical and rhetorical to his ears, which pivoted eagerly towards her voice.
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The wind began to bite at his skin. He felt it keenly, for his sweat was swiftly cooling across his flesh. It was a good thing he had wives to keep him warm, then. Her nip across his thick neck was a sign of her irritation with him, but Nechako knew she was not entirely serious. This wife of his was hard to please sometimes, she was far more rational than himself. They made a good team together — one of the reasons he had chosen her to lead beside him. Yes, it was foolish of him to waste the energy. More foolish to get himself so riled up and hot, for the winter winds would make short work of him; he could easily catch a cold, at the very least weakening his body and inviting Skoonka's attack.
Her question came next — sounding both skeptical and rhetorical to his ears, which pivoted eagerly towards her voice.
Yes,his voice reverberated in a puff of warm air, and as it drifted like a cloud, it faded in to her fine mane.
Wife, do you doubt me?Although his voice was deep it was affected by a slight surprise, for he never would have thought Atna to be the nervous one. It might have taken him time to convince Kuzkwa, but not Atna. This too worried him.
Am I not the strongest, the fastest? We ran together, and one day Tseax will run with us — beyond us, hopefully.Nechako nosed at her plump sides with great care, as if to whisper sweet nothings to the plainsrunners of the future.
Or perhaps this one.
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December 15, 2016, 04:15 AM
Atna watched the stallion. The smell of his sweat did enthuse her, it reminded her of the warm summer months, and the days in spring where he had to work hard to keep their herd together. The winter were always more quiet seeing that getting food was a main priority. She realized it was getting colder, hopefully the stallion wouldn't catch a cold.
The male instantly let out a snort when he questioned her about doubting him. "Never." Atna was loyal to her stallion. She doubted her son would stay loyal to his father. Perhaps Tseax would surprise her but her son had perhaps a too much of his father's ego. She could see him join a bachelor herd or instantly try and make his own once he was a two year old. Yet maybe her assumptions were wrong. "You are. Otherwise I would be following another stallion," she pointed out plainly.
The mare's ears turned on her head when the male was close to her rounded belly. Listening to the stallion's was doing close to her rounded side and keeping her attention on the world around them as he was distracted by her. Still she loved the attention. "I just wanted to make sure because I dislike you being away, alone." But this night he would be there with them and that comforted the mare. With two stallions protecting them she did feel safer in these new lands.
The male instantly let out a snort when he questioned her about doubting him. "Never." Atna was loyal to her stallion. She doubted her son would stay loyal to his father. Perhaps Tseax would surprise her but her son had perhaps a too much of his father's ego. She could see him join a bachelor herd or instantly try and make his own once he was a two year old. Yet maybe her assumptions were wrong. "You are. Otherwise I would be following another stallion," she pointed out plainly.
The mare's ears turned on her head when the male was close to her rounded belly. Listening to the stallion's was doing close to her rounded side and keeping her attention on the world around them as he was distracted by her. Still she loved the attention. "I just wanted to make sure because I dislike you being away, alone." But this night he would be there with them and that comforted the mare. With two stallions protecting them she did feel safer in these new lands.
December 15, 2016, 01:38 PM
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Nechako was lucky to have such a fine wife. She cared for things he thought nothing of, which made her an asset. Where he was weak, she was strong. Together they could bring the next generation in to the world, a generation that would spread their story and pass them in to history. Nechako feared being forgotten; he wished to live on in the stories of elders and in the minds of children, for that was immortality. He wanted to be so great and powerful that none could rival him, but many would try. It began with chosing the perfect mares for his harem — and he had done that. In finding Atna and Kuzkwa, he ensured the prosperity of his bloodline and the endlessness of his spirit.
Atna worried for them both. Sometimes he thought she was too cautious, but he never would speak ill of her. She would be a good mother to Tseax and to this new child, teaching them the ways of their people and the taboos that came along with them. The value of the herd versus the lone wanderer — for horses were not like most animals. They were social like other mammals, but they were herd-locked in their mentality. Nechako knew the great value of the herd although he tested the limits often.
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Nechako was lucky to have such a fine wife. She cared for things he thought nothing of, which made her an asset. Where he was weak, she was strong. Together they could bring the next generation in to the world, a generation that would spread their story and pass them in to history. Nechako feared being forgotten; he wished to live on in the stories of elders and in the minds of children, for that was immortality. He wanted to be so great and powerful that none could rival him, but many would try. It began with chosing the perfect mares for his harem — and he had done that. In finding Atna and Kuzkwa, he ensured the prosperity of his bloodline and the endlessness of his spirit.
Atna worried for them both. Sometimes he thought she was too cautious, but he never would speak ill of her. She would be a good mother to Tseax and to this new child, teaching them the ways of their people and the taboos that came along with them. The value of the herd versus the lone wanderer — for horses were not like most animals. They were social like other mammals, but they were herd-locked in their mentality. Nechako knew the great value of the herd although he tested the limits often.
I do not go away for long,he corrected, sounding self-assured as usual. The stallion began to groom at his wife's mane with his teeth, carefully nibbling at tiny debris that had tangled among the hairs, and occasionally doting upon her with some scratching for the spots of her neck she could not reach.
And you have Skoonka to protect you. Soon Tseax will mature and he will protect you too. All is well, my wife.
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December 15, 2016, 02:05 PM
Atna had a different mentality about leaving the herd. As a mare being alone was frightening. She was a feisty little lady and not scared to let anyone know what she would think. Still, she wouldn't want to be out there on her own exploring. She wanted the safety in numbers. Plus she would worry about her son and what he would do if she wasn't around to keep an eye on the little rascal. It was strange to her that Nachako had such wanderlust.
"To me it is long," she admitted but all was well now seeing the stallion was nibbling her at all the right places. Her head sagged a bit, eyes closing. This were definitely the perks of being the lead mare, Kuzkwa wasn't being groomed the first or being greeted the first. Atna would make sure of that. The mare snorted when the other mentioned Skoonka, not sure what to think of him yet. He could be good company at times, but he was also brass and mouthy. "All is well," she repeated in agreement, starting to nibble Nachako back on the spots that he liked.
"To me it is long," she admitted but all was well now seeing the stallion was nibbling her at all the right places. Her head sagged a bit, eyes closing. This were definitely the perks of being the lead mare, Kuzkwa wasn't being groomed the first or being greeted the first. Atna would make sure of that. The mare snorted when the other mentioned Skoonka, not sure what to think of him yet. He could be good company at times, but he was also brass and mouthy. "All is well," she repeated in agreement, starting to nibble Nachako back on the spots that he liked.
December 20, 2016, 02:07 PM
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Having placated the worries of his beloved, Nechako knew it was time to mosey along to the next — to find Kuzkwa and see how she fared, or perhaps one of the children. Enough time had been spent fawning over Atna's voluptuous curves, idling and dreaming of the future. He did not entirely wish to leave her, but too long at her side would send the wrong message to the others, should they be watching. He picked his exit carefully; Nechako's soft nose brushed against Atna's belly, and he reached to the small of her back to give it a loving scratch, and then he departed from her side.
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Having placated the worries of his beloved, Nechako knew it was time to mosey along to the next — to find Kuzkwa and see how she fared, or perhaps one of the children. Enough time had been spent fawning over Atna's voluptuous curves, idling and dreaming of the future. He did not entirely wish to leave her, but too long at her side would send the wrong message to the others, should they be watching. He picked his exit carefully; Nechako's soft nose brushed against Atna's belly, and he reached to the small of her back to give it a loving scratch, and then he departed from her side.
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