Even the breeze was warm.

The brown spotted mare sauntered around in a hurry, as if she had some secret destination to get to. She didn't. Cadhla was simply bored and felt the need to stretch her legs before she went mad. When she found herself standing alone in silence for too long, her mind began to wander to the drought, then to Sunna, then to all the deaths that had been witnessed. It was a dark place, one that Cadhla didn't wish to remain in.

It was either that, or she would begin to think about food, and that didn't help her current hunger.

Trotting, the appaloosa kicked up small flecks of dirt behind her, weaving past horses and hopping over branches. Some may think that she had finally lost it the way she was moving in the growing heat, but Cadhla didn't mind it very much, especially since she was suddenly preoccupied with a new quest.

Having spotted a familiar bay coat among the herd, she changed her route abruptly. "Sylph," she called, skipping up to the smaller mare. Sylph was a member of the herd who Cadhla was rather fond of. Her kindness and peacefulness was something that was respected. Indeed, Cadhla adored Sylph and her personality. They were similar in certain ways.

Having approached, Cadhla offered the opposite mare a gentle nudge with her nose in a greeting before stepping back. "How are you?" Pausing, she shook out her mane lightly before glancing around the surrounding area. "Did you get much sleep last night?" Cadhla knew that she didn't. Between the hunger and sounds of coyotes, there was little room to slumber. Her night was spent snapping awake to the sound of those creatures yipping away at having obtained some food.. A foal from the herd. The mere idea made Cadhla suppress a shudder. The poor thing..

Worry flashed in her eyes for a brief moment before her attention focused back onto Sylph, her tail swaying in attempt to fan herself.

Rastus stood upon a raised platform of land, his head held high and leg pointed in the air in an elegant manner. He was posing for an invisible audience, that much was clear, but that never stopped the stallion from looking his best, even in the midst of a drought.

Inhaling deeply, he shook his entire coat out, hooves tapping on the ground before moving forwards. His tail swayed calmly behind him and his mane bounced upon his head as he broke out into a slow trot, eyes looking around for somebody to converse with before pausing dead in his tracks.

Noting a spot of dirt upon his shoulder, Rastus frowned and trotted to a nearby tree, wiping it off with disgust before resuming his peaceful walk. Maintaining his coat was something that he made a habit to do. Now, he wouldn't call himself obsessive over it, he simply enjoys being clean. That, and showing off, but mainly being clean..

He was scouting around a few dozen meters away from the herd's main premises, only now returning to greet everybody. He wasn't gone for long, and yet he was expecting to be bombarded with an audience welcoming him back, so when he saw nobody rush over to him, a huff of disappointment was sounded. No matter, he would continue his trot, hoping to catch his father, Anil, sometime in the process.

Ah, but better yet, what graced his eyes was Asenath in the distance. Rastus was known to be rather annoying or obnoxious at times, perhaps even cocky, so it was no surprise that when he passed the mare, he offered a wink. "A sight for sore eyes," he spoke, attempting to butter her up before his eyes landed upon Sylph and Cadhla. "Er, do excuse me," he added on, now making his way towards them and ditching Asenath. What could he say? It was in his nature to be like this. "Ladies," he greeted, offering them a smile. "Sylph, you're positively glowing today, Cadhla, you as well." Getting comfortable, Rastus was about to converse before his eyes landed on more mares.

And just like that, Rastus sauntered away to his next victims like nothing.

Kage | 5 | Lone Mare | M: Open

Kage, a lone mare, stood stoically atop a miserable, flat boulder that laid in a field filled with nothing but dead grass and withering sagebrush as far as the eye could see. Even from afar, one could see the mare's black figure standing there, not moving an inch. A gentle breeze caressed Kage, causing her mane and tail to move along with the wind before it faded away into silence. However, the mare still did not move from where she stood staring off into the distance where what appeared to have once been a river laid, but there did not seem to be any water lingering in it from where the black-furred mare stood. Finally, Kage made a move, leaping down from the boulder that she'd been standing on and springing into a quick, bouncy trot, kicking up dust and small pebbles from the rocky terrain.

Even if they were half-blind, anybody could see Kage heading in the direction of the dried river from afar, since her purely black fur stuck out against the orange-ish color of the dry earth. Her trot was rather unsteady, with the emaciated mare stumbling and almost falling a few times, though, that was largely the terrain's fault. The rather small horse did not stop until she came to an abrupt stop a few feet away from where the river stood, no visible signs of life anywhere. In fact, from what Kage could pick up on, this seemed to be the place where many had taken their last breath. That was made clear as she walked into the river with caution.

"Ew," Kage muttered, her disgusted gaze falling apon the skull of an animal that lay by a small pool of brown, murky water. "There's no way that I can drink from that," Kage said to herself, walking past the puddle of water and the animal skull that was by it, causing the flies that were surrounding the bones to scatter. The mare had gained nothing from coming to this river which had most likely once been overflowing with clear, refreshing water and teeming with life. As the mare made her way across and eventually out of the river, she thought of what would happen to both herself and the herds of wild horses that lived around her area. Would they all be wiped out?

Kage shook her head, trying to get her mind off of all of those disturbing thoughts that swirled around in her brain. Right now, she had to focus on getting water and shade. Luckily for her, as soon as Kage climbed out of the river, her eyes fell apon a tree. It's bark was rough and had a likely chance of giving the mare a splinter if she rubbed on it, and it's leaves were draping due to the fact that it was dying, but regardless, it provided the mare with an opportunity to get out of the sun and rest for a bit. With a heavy sigh, Kage walked into the shade of the withering tree, hoping to find water so that she could make it through another day.

Naga || 8 || Herd Mare || M: Keanu, Others (Ind)

The dark mare moved silently through the herd, focusing her eyes on the horizon to prevent swaying steps. Her eyes were bloodshot and her body was caked in dust and dried mud, making her appear more of a flaxen chestnut. A dreary brown flaxen chestnut. Her ears twitched back and forth; the screeches of those forsaken creatures still echoed in her ears. She still didn't know whose foal had fallen victim. She didn't want to know.

She was a mother herself; Naga couldn't bear the thought of losing her own son. Keanu was still so little, but he was strong. He would make it. Speaking of Keanu, where had he run off to?

Momentary panic was replaced by resolve and slight irritation. Naga shook herself off until she resembled her natural coloration once more and picked up her pace to free the remaining dirt. It may have been a mistake. Her nearly black fur began to absorb the heat quicker than it had when she was dusty, though it trapped less of the disgusting warmth.

Now she would be covered in some odd mud made from sweat and dirt. She grimaced at the thought.

"Keanu," she called in a low voice. It had a tired drawl to it, but the mare made sure it was loud enough to reach the whole of the herd. If that colt hadn't stayed in the center like she'd told him to, so help her--

But Keanu was a good horse. He was stubborn and adventurous, yes, but what foal wasn't? Naga thought back regretfully to the previous year's foals. A set of twins, but neither had lived long. She'd delivered early, and neither of the two were strong enough to get up quickly. The harsh life the herd led took a toll on them, and they had passed. At least it hadn't been by coyotes.

A pang of sadness hit her as she wondered whether their bodies were ravaged, or if they had ben able to rest in peace. Naga jolted away from such thoughts and shook herself out before calling again, "Keanu!"

Neamh || 3 || Herd Mare || M: Open

Cold. So cold.

The screams of ravenous coyotes slit through the silence of the night in the near distance. The final cry of the foal still ran through her head, over and over again.

The night air felt more frigid than a blizzard. The moon hung in a cloudless sky, yet the stars were still dimmed by the thick layer of dust hanging in the air.

Heavens above, would there be no end to this living hell? Neamh subconsciously pinned her ears and closed her eyes, head becoming heavier with the lack of sleep.

They'd already lost so much. So many. And now a foal, who had barely begun life, was violently ripped from it. She'd been too slow.

Too slow. Surely, if she had been faster, she could have taken down at least two of the mangy creatures. Maybe the foal would have lived. If only she could go back in time and walk with the little one.

Neamh opened her eyes again and moved with heavy footsteps to the edge of the herd, once again pricking her ears and watching with dead eyes. The guilt was overwhelming, and yet, deep down, she knew it wasn't her fault. She would have gotten them both killed.

And yet, that snide little voice continued to whisper, It's all your fault, you stupid animal. If only you were bigger. Stronger. More like your herdmates. The tobiano mare released a long sigh and lowered her head again. How much more of this could they take?

Ouranos || 4 || Herd Stallion || M : Inessa, River, Atolos (Ind)

The pale roan trudged through the dead grass, taking a halfhearted nibble here and there as he moved. The night had not been kind to any of them, and he had a feeling his father would be moving them again soon. It would not be safe to stay in an area where predators had tasted horse. Ouranos was sure they would only become more brazen. Perhaps next time it would be his sister.

That thought was met with a fierce conviction that no such thing would ever happen to little River. His steps hardened as he picked up his pace until he came to a halt beside his mother and sister. He moved his muzzle to Inessa's shoulder and mumbled a tired greeting before asking, "How are you?"

He dipped his pale head to River's darker one and added, "And how is my favorite sibling?"

It was true that River was his only full sibling, but even out of his half-brothers and sisters, she was still the favorite. He had more reason, and more desire, to keep her safe. Especially now. Oh how he hoped she wouldn't be perpetually traumatized by the night's events. That would kill him.

"I found a green patch of grass over by the edge, up front," he offered Inessa. Green was a long stretch, though. "Less brown" would have been a more accurate description. Slightly less crunchy, maybe a bit more substance to it. Meager, but an improvement. Maybe they were close to the river.