Dancer is herd hunting...

[rochbereth]

The pretty mare Dancer trotted across leaf covered forests and brown meadows, weary with her journeys. She gazed about looking for a stallion. The ground began to slope upwards, and she slowed to a tired walk. A couple of plump does and a big stag browsed nearby. Dancer tossed her fine head, shaking her mane. Pretty deer! She kept going, hoping to find somewhere to stay before nightfall. Water trickled by in a little creek, and she paused when she reached it to dip her dark head into it. What chilly water, she thought. Better get used to it, it is bound to get colder! Dancer snorted, nibbled a wisp of grass, and kept walking. Would she find a herd, ever?

[Hidden]

Nikko spotted a mare wandering around, looking lost. He followed her for a few steps but then left and walked a wide circle in the trees. Their shadows giving him cover. When she stopped to drink by a creek, thats when he made his move. He walked out of the forest, exposing a dark bay horse. His one white sock jumped from his dark colored coat. "Hello mare." His tone was harsh, his eyes glistened, but his head moved into a bow. "May I ask the name of the lovely maiden standing in front of me?"

He eyed her. Then slowly started walked around in a circle, looking at her. Yes, she would make a nice addition to his herd. When he got to her face again, he bent down and took a drink from the river. With his head up, he waited for an answer.

[breyercrazy]

Silverpelt raced through the trees, followed by Aleta, and slowed as the scent, no wait, two scents! (he noted) were stronger. He slowed, breathing deeply, gazing about. A very pretty paint mare was walking, and a bay stallion was emerging, to speak with her. Silverpelt sniffed deeply, and screamed! Dark stallion! And, sniff sniff, was that a light mare? Indeed, he thought happily. He trotted out, not wanting to fight but would if he had to. Instead, he spoke softly, friendly, he hoped. Greetings! You are a light mare, yes? I am Silverpelt, the resident light stallion of these hills. He turned towards the dark stallion and pinned his ears. This is the first time i have encountered a Dark stallion. I do not wish to fight, but i certainly will if i must! And do not dare think of stealing Aleta! He rose and shook his mane, glaring at the Dark stallion, and waited for the reply.

[rochbereth]

Dancer, frightened, lightly reared in fright as the dark horse revealed himself, then as the grey stallion and dapple mare trotted into the clearing. She was startled, but calmed herself, slowing her swiftly beating heart. She recognized the opportunity for what it was: the chance to join a herd. She gazed hard at both the Dark stallion, whom she feared, and the Light stallion. Dancer spoke softly. Err, hello. It is a pleasure to meet you, Silverpelt. She spoke siftly as she sidled nearer the Light stallion, such a handsome grey horse he was. I am Dancer. She pranced in place, shaking her tail. I would like to go with one of you, but i would prefer mine own kind, Light. Still, whatever is neccesary, i suppose. She blushed.

[Hidden]

Nikko pranced in place a bit. Her white patches gleamed in the sunlight. His dark color gleamed a bit, and his muscles rippled. "I am Nikko. Also known as Hidden Knight." He eyed the grey horse as the light mare sided with him. He blew out. Fine, don't be nice. He laughed inside, at himself. He blew out again - nostrils flaring.

The sun grew at its highest point. The trees sway a bit with the breeze, doing a dance. All four shadows grew smaller. The grass, was uniformed. Small beads of dew still on them - the sun hadn't chased them away yet. He stood. It was aqward so he spoke. "Ya know, You havn't gotten to know me yet." A heavy laugh fell out of his maw.

[breyercrazy]

Silverpelt pranced before the graceful paint mare. He swung his mane about, and spoke. I am pleased to meet you, Dancer. Perhaps you would like to hear of my home, yes? I live in the mountains, above us. We will spend winter in the spacious cave, then go around here, for spring grazing, to fatten up and let the grass by the cave grow thickly. We spend summers near the cave, and autumn by it, or a little below it. It is very beautiful there. Then he turned to the dark stallion, Nikko. You may as well tell us about yourself and your lands, before anything else is decided.

[rochbereth]

Dancer politely listened, intrigued, to the tale the grey Light stallion spun, of his homeland. It sounded beautiful, and interesting. That, that sounds like a lovely place to live! She turned, after speaking, towards the deep dark bay she was instinctly fearful of. She squashed her fear deep inside of her, knowing she had to be sensible. Hothead stallions certainly were not sensible. And she was bound and determined to live with a stallion, even if it had to be a dark stallion. Dancer spoke softly: Oh yes, do tell about yourself! What do your herdlands look like? Are they pretty? She swished her flowing tail, awaiting a reply from the shadowy stallion.

[Hidden]

Nikko waited, barely. He stomped his foot at the light stallion turned towards him. He snorted. My land? My land is as beautiful as it can get...on the dark side. It has a tall mountain. There is a tiny entrance into a cave. It grows and grows until you hit a giant room. Outside of the cave, there is a little stream. About 100 paces away. It runs down from the top of the mountain. We have trees for shade. We have lots of grass too. The stallion stopped. He thought of something else to say, but didn't think of a word. He dipped his head, showing that he was done talking.

[breyercrazy]

Silverpelt shivered, shaking his tail as light snowflakes began to fall, growing thicker and wetter every minute. He gazed at the Dark stallion. Incredible, he snorted, that sounds very like my herdlands, and i know i was in this area first. But then, the liklihood of more caves is quite possible. He gazed at the dark storming sky, full of thick grey clouds sending cold, thick, wet snow, which was quickly covering everything exposed. Silverpelt shook off the thick snow covering that had formed, and snorted as another layer thickened. Well, we had better finish this, so we can go to our prospective caves and warm ourselves. I think she should come with me. He bowed his head respectfully towards Dancer, and continued, Because she is Light and i am quite sure there are many Dark mares out there. You may have all of them, and so saying, he reared and tossed his fine gray head. Decide, and quickly! I will fight, if i must. Silverpelt screamed a challenge when he had finished, pinning his ears and stomping the bitterly cold snow, ready to fight if he must, reviewing all his fighting style, and what he knew about the Dark horses, and hoping Aleta would aid him, though he did not want her to get hurt. He whispered to her if anything would happen to him, that she would please race away.

[rochbereth]

Dancer awoke from a deep sleep, and saw the stallions snoring. She shook the snow from her back and felt the deep chill of a January winter day. She softly tip toed closer to the big grey stallion who was Light like her. He really was quite something, she thought.
Dancer softly rubbed her muzzle next to Silverpelt's and spoke very softly. Silverpelt? Are you awake? Wake up! She gently swished him with her soft tail, now sadly wettened and matted. I think we should run while that Dark stallion is asleep. Dancer snorted and bumped her fine head into Silverpelt's big sturdy one. Come on, let's go! She paused for a moment. I don't know which way to go. Come and show me!

[breyercrazy]

Silverpelt awoke from his slumber raring to do something, but when he felt Dancer's touches, and heard her words, he realized she had thought of a brilliant way to get out of the situation. He gazed long and hard at the snoozing Dark stallion. Silverpelt leapt out of his snowy cocoon, shaking snow out of his slick wet mane and tail, and shivered in the bitter winds.
My dear Dancer, you have quite a bright idea, i like it! He began to stretch, and warm himself up. Come, before we begin, stretch and warm up for the trip! Having done so, he began to walk and trot northwards, though the going was slow. The heavy work kept them alive, though. It kept their hearts beating hard, pushing blood, life giving blood, though their bodies, and the blood, faired with their moving about, warmed them. Silverpelt started to recognize snowcovered landmarks, and excitement began to build. We are close! So close to the cave!He kept walking and trotting through the trees, drawing close to a certain cave, and another special mare within.

[rochbereth]

Dancer raced right behind the handsome grey stallion, after she had walked and trotted for a while. Her heart was pounding, her mind was excited, her hooves were swift. Dancer was so happy, she felt she was flying as they sped along. Dodging trees, she occasionally lost sight of the guiding stallion, but as she kept running straight, he always came in sight again. Dancer noted a particularily large fallen log, and watched it coming closer, as Silverpelt leapled over with ease, she carefully came to it. Dancer leaped high into the air, and happily made it over that massive fallen trunk. Wheee!!!!! She whinnied as she landed, roughly on the land. She beheld Silverpelt resting a moment, waiting for her to recover her breath. Then they were off, shooting throuhg the trees like the comets shoot through space.Dancer noted that Silverpelt was increasingly excited, she was sure they were close, so close to the promised cave.