Kage | 5 | Lone Mare | M: Soleil

Kage took her first step that'd bring her into the valley, which held the dried pond in it. However, as she took her second step, with rocks and small pebbles that Kage had kicked up from the ground rolling down the steep slope that she had to clamber down, she was regretting her decision to go down the valley this way. The slope which she had to make her way down was steep, and difficult for a horse to get down. Kage decided to move more nimbly, taking a couple of quick steps down which wasn't a great idea, in fact, the small black mare almost lost her footing, which wouldn't be the ideal situation for her. Kage had never been very sure-footed, and any horse could figure that out about her as she clumsily and unelegantly stumbled down the slope. It was enough of an unsightly scene to make anybody's eyes sore. Luckily, Kage managed to get down the slope, although the gorgeous mare was scathed. Small scrapes that were only visible by the scarlet red blood that trickled from them covered Kage's lower legs. Her flanks and underbelly were covered in dust, dirt, and bruises. Of course, Kage's hocks had already been covered in dried mud, blood, and grime, so they didn't look much different after the mare's venture down the valley. She barely looked like the beautiful, pure black horse that she was anymore.

Kage shook her coat, a cloud of dust enshrouding her. The cloud faded away as the small, dirty mare walked out of it, surpressing a sneeze. The pond wasn't too far now, and hopefully it still had some water lingering in it. If it didn't, then Kage would definitely be in a situation that was less than good. Kage let out a sharp neigh that almost sounded like a shriek to announce her arrival before bouncing into a light, graceful trot that looked like the opposite of when the mare had clumsily descended the valley. Kage's hooves kicked up clouds of dust when they hit the ground, but the black mare's elegant trot looked like that of a showhorse's. If only Kage's coat hadn't been so unkempt and unclean, then she'd truly look like a showpony, almost a small showhorse if only she could've been slightly taller. Kage had gotten her mother's small size of fourteen hh, while her father had stood at almost eighteen hh. Kage didn't understand why she couldn't have been bigger, but, she shook those thoughts out of her head as she approached the pond, coming to a stop as she came to the edge of it.

Although no horse would be able to see it from a distance, what was clearly visible from where Kage stood was a small puddle of water in the middle of the pond. It was only slightly murky, in fact, it almost looked clear. Definitely drinkable, Kage thought. She was about to go down into the pond to drink the water until she heard something that sounded like a horse clearing it's throat from behind her. Kage turned around and found herself looking at a pale cream colored mare with a dark, shaded, brown mane with somewhat of a ginger undertone and rust-colored edges. The newcomer stood in a tall, proud manner, but Kage didn't think that she had the stance of somebody who wanted to fight. No, in fact, she looked like she wanted to talk. Kage took a step forward, and nickered, "Hello," as a greeting to the new mare, a breeze blowing past Kage as she awaited the newcomer's reply.

His dark eyes briefly landed upon Rastus, offering the male a curt once-over before turning back to Sena. "Huh?" He mumbled, obviously distracted by Rastus and his conversation with Asenath. It wasn't that Lorcan didn't like Rastus exactly, simply didn't like how forward he was at times. Sometimes, his cheerfulness was not needed, especially when Lorcan was mourning. The last thing he needed was a: "Hey, cheer up! Turn that smile upside down!" It was corny and plain frustrating. There was nothing to smile about. There was nothing to be cheerful about. Lorcan was living in the midst of a drought, without a mother, and a father who hardly even knows who he is. Was that truly worth smiling about?

Grunting, the male released a small snort of frustration as he eyed Sena, motioning to Rastus silently to explain his annoyance. Rolling his eyes, he snorted once more before perking up slightly. "Maybe this night will be better. I sure hope it will be." If the elders and foals remained on the inner circle, then there should be no further losses. Besides, they were most likely still fixated upon their recent meal, that is, if they haven't finished it off already. Lorcan knew of how ravenous coyotes could be.

Ears perking, he took in her next words revolving around the drought, eyes lowering at the thought. Sena was one that Lorcan could speak freely to about death. Her and Asenath. They had both suffered losses and he was open towards them. Atolos and his other full sister, Morrigan? He didn't feel close enough to speak with them yet. In fact, he had been avoiding them if anything, but that was to end today. He would approach his father, and soon. Maybe he'd even go against Asenath's advice and approach him after conversing with Sena.

Lorcan had glanced towards his father, noticing him strolling away from Anil. He looked.. Unreadable, as if his face held several different emotions. Perhaps it wasn't the best time to approach after all.. But with the herd, would he have another shot without having to interrupt? Being the Lead Stallion, Lorcan knew how busy his father was. Surely he wouldn't be busy enough to speak with him, right?

"The herd needs some good after all of this misery," he added on to Sena's words about the drought, noting how he had gone silent with thought. Almost as if sensing her nostalgia when it came to the past valley, he nudged her gently, offering a gentle look. "Maybe we'll find a new home. A better one. One with eternal meadows and rivers that never grew empty. One with a forest nearby for shade as well. Can't you just picture it already?" Lorcan had to admit, he didn't have much hope, but there was still time. Having mere fantasies was what kept him going. "Do you think there will be flowers there?" Pausing, his mood dropped once more. It was a stupid thing, him rambling on about a fake meadow, so he quieted, harsh reality setting in. There wasn't much of anything here, nothing but dead foliage and no running water.

Releasing a huff, his mood shifted once more before his tone quieted as his eyes landed upon Atolos again. "I'm going to speak with him today. To try and.. bond." Sena was well aware of the strained relationship that Lorcan had with his father, if it was even considered a relationship. All he ever shared with him was a brief glance and nod, if even that. Besides, changing the conversation helped keep his mind off of the water, and he hoped it would help Sena as well. Thinking about it only made the ache for water worse.

He studied his friend for a moment, head tilted slightly before his tone lowered, voice becoming gentler. "How are you, anyways?" He was sure Sena knew what he meant. He was asking how she was dealing with the loss of her mother. He was checking up on her. Lorcan knew that he disliked it when others did it to him, but with Sena, he felt that it was different. It wasn't fake sympathy or pity. It was someone who had shared the same experience at the same time. They had to support one another, right?

Filly | • | 2 Months | • | Foal | • | Mentions

Aine, Sylph, Cadhla [All Directly]

Asteria trotted eagerly in the proximity, albeit feeling a bit skittish and nervous, of where the herd currently was. Her ears were proudly set up and forward, head held up with pride yet she couldn't help the small lingering feeling of nervousness in the pit of her stomach. Whatever she heard at night definitely had not been normal, as the alarm and grief she had seen from some of the other members at such a grim kind of noise had told her it wasn't good news despite how eerie yet beautiful the howls were, powerful and somewhat triumphant. Even as the feeling of nervousness mixed with excitement and slight dread at finding out what exactly had transpired that night swirled inside of her stomach, nevertheless the answer she received it was more action than whatever had happened as of recent with just weary traveling alongside the dried out river that couldn't even offer an ounce of water to anyone

If she wanted answers, Asteria had no doubt that her mother, as wise as she was would be able to answer a good majority of them or give her some words that would be able to satisfy her need for discovery having the last few days be bland. The most she had seen was a shriveled plant every once in a while or the occasional tree, one having some strange patterned bark she had easily dismissed. The other foals and yearlings also helped to provide her some entertainment, but as recent she had been wanting a little more excitement than running around. God forbid she approach any of the older horses, as while she had tried multiple times at the start of the drought, the lack of water seemed to have dimmed moods and shortened tempers, yet one horse she would always approach without fear no matter how snappy or bad of a mood she might be in was her mother

For Asteria had found an easy joy she had when the drought was practically non-existent and still held, and it was the fact she took joy in the moments the two would spend together whenever the moment may present itself to her to brighten the old mares mood or get her to indulge her in some sort of story or tale of adventure. Speaking of which, finding her pacing around the outskirts of where the herd was currently standing for a while, doing barely anything to help calm her nerves and energy she finally decided to seek out the one horse she was looking for. Standing still and taking a moment to gaze around with slightly narrowed eyes due to the sun's rays bearing down upon her and the rest of the herd, she gave herself a small shake to clear off any clinging dust before setting out at a trot to where she spotted the beautiful brown and white mare

Asteria also spotted Sylph, the rich bay colored mare which she found pleasure to trying to stir a conversation with, and Cadhla, the white coated mare with rusty brown spots across her coat that while a little hesitant at first to approach her, in the end she had tried to ask for a story or two from her. The filly made a small nicker once close enough in proximity to the three, head dipping a little bit in greeting to them as her ears flicked from being thrown forward and attentive to facing behind her for a moment and forward again. Taking a breath, Asteria brought her head high and stance confident. "Greetings," she started, glancing to the side where her mother stood to make sure she did that right before continuing. "Mother, if I could ask a question about last night?"

Nysa

Mare || 5 years || Herd mare || M: Open

The silver mare had stood alone from the herd. Socialization wasn’t something she was into, if this mare was going to lead the herd she needed to distance herself from its members so she wouldn’t be grieved for if she left. Not that she would be if she left now, Nysa had never established strong relationships with many of the herd members and was glad for it. She was planning on leaving and didn’t want to be tied down. She had originally come to the herd with her mother for protection when the lead stallion in her previous harem could not provide it. It was nice at first, but she felt out of place among so many horses, back in her old herd she grew up with smaller numbers and the horses were closer together because of it. It was her mother’s wish to join a larger group anyways since, she had always been such a social creature, Nysa had been to, but it was harder to make friends in such an established herd.

She still felt a stranger in the herd when her mother died, now that nothing was holding her back from leaving, she decided to look for a chance to escape the larger numbers. Nysa did want to start a family, so she had started looking for a bachelor to leave with, but now she was even looking for a lone mare to join. It made her nervous to stay in one barren place for so long, and the herd seemed to move so slow. All she wanted to do was find a place to settle down, someplace with enough water and maybe a few other horses. A small group that she could become friends with and live out the rest of her life in company with.

Nysa snapped out of her daydream to face the much harsher reality. The heat was rising as the day went on and so far she hadn’t seen any sign of lone horses. A small part of her just wanted to leave and not look back, but that was impossible. Some stallion might wonder why a herd mare was wandering off and decide to question her, and leaving by herself would be dangerous, she had relied on the herd stallion’s protection for too long and she didn’t know if she would be able to cope on her own.

She let out a tired sigh and lowered to head to pick at a weed, Nysa did her best to choke down the prickly, sour-tasting morsel. It’s not like she had a choice, the food supply was so limited if she didn’t eat this she would starve, and the young mare didn’t want to give up yet. She flicked her ears and strained to listen to someone’s conversation but gave up as she was too far away.

Nysa raised her head to look beyond the herd, she was itching to leave and hoped Atolos would decide to move the herd soon. It felt as if there was too much more ground to cover before they would reach their new home, and it wouldn’t help to sit around and converse in this waterless landscape, letting the heat eat away at their strength. Shaking her head Nysa let her gaze unfocus for a brief second, relaxing before deciding her next moves.

The roan stallion took another step forward, towards the other male, face drawn tight and in an almost-frown. Any form of expression was rare on his features, face normally blank to follow his detached, monotone existence. Truly, he had nothing but bad news to share with the Lead Stallion.

The sight of Naga, a mare that mothered one of his foals, approaching had him lifting his head higher and ears pinning. She had chosen a very bad time. He saw Atolos react in a similarly bad fashion, and had been preparing to turn his body away in a clear sign that this was not the time for whatever she had come to discuss, when her words caught his attention.

"I do not have a way to tell him," was all he said, turning a swift look down to his son. At three weeks old, the colt was a small creature. Was he old enough to learn about death? It didn't matter, he would learn eventually. Everyone learned, and horses, especially stallions, must not be strangers to death. "I am not present enough to know the best way to tell him," Anil prayed she would understand what he meant. I am too detached to tell him, is what he meant. He knew he was monotone, that he was detached from those around him in an almost worrying way, but it had been the way he had lived almost his entire life.

The bay roan stallion's entire body tensed at the question aimed towards Atolos, flared nostrils being his only facial shift. That was not an appropriate question, and certainly not so soon after the death of Sunna. He remained silent as the Lead Stallion spoke, merely nodding his head at the words. Many other stallions would have reacted significantly worse than he had, and he turned a blank stare towards Naga.

"Choose a better time next time," he stated, voice flat, the words clearly an order. "And do not ask such personal questions. The Deceased Lead Mare is a touchy subject for everyone, especially for Atolos and his family." The stallion turned a careful eye towards Keanu, and took a step towards the dark mare, lowering his head so that only she would hear his words.

"I love my children, Naga, I do, but I have duties to the herd. I am the Lieutenant, I cannot put the needs or wants of one horse over the needs or wants of the herd." He leaned back, lifting his head and locking his gaze onto Atolos. "If you still wish to talk, come find me after I'm done. I have important things to discuss with the Lead Stallion."

The goliath creature didn't wait for a response before he turned his body and went after the pale stallion, quickly arriving at his side and matching his strides. He could practically feel the sour mood coming off of his friend, and, even though he avoided touching the other, he stepped a little closer, offering his existence in his space.

"You handled that well," he said, meaning more than just the conversation with Naga. Atolos had handled this entire thing very, very well. Another stallion would have cracked under the pressure of taking care of the herd, his children, and his grief. "Very well." He added, allowing a large pause before he dropped the bad news.

"I saw no signs of water when I scouted ahead," he said simply, keeping his gaze forward.

Mare | • | 5 Years | • | Lone Mare | • | Mentions

Kage

Soleil perked up a little at the greeting she had received from the mare in return, savoring her moment of hearing another's voice before preparing herself for her attitude to possibly chase her off like any of the other horses she had tried talking to before. Unsure, but still willing to try and make conversation, Soleil looked briefly to the side, feeling hesitant, before finally taking a breath and trying to keep her confident stance from crumbling. "Ah-, um, hi." The ghostly pale mare was able to say past how socially awkward she felt when her anger and snide attitude left only leaving a gaping hole that was her normal social interaction instincts. She took to pawing the ground, letting her eyes travel past the beautiful black mare before her in favor of not making eye contact and let her mind drift to thinking about the clouds that were greedily holding all the rain to themselves, letting her mind paint a picture of a vast rainstorm coming to the land and all of a sudden shades of emerald springing from the ground restoring the grass that was once so vast and the crystal ponds and rivers she used to drink from.

How she would give anything to feel the familiar drops of cold water fall upon the earth once again and hear as they chorused as they fell, the sound nothing like the horribly eerie yet sickenly triumphant sounds of a coyote celebrating their first meal in a while or the dreadful dead silence that seemed to follow her wherever she may set her hoof. Then a bit of anger began to slowly bubble in the pits of her stomach for what she and some others were being put through, and her tail flicked in slight annoyance as she surprised suddenly giving an outburst to startle whoever the mare in front of her may be. "It's… this situation isn't exactly ideal isn't it?" Soleil mentally kicked herself for sounding so stupid, so desperate for a conversation.

She hated emotions sometimes, especially the more awkward or degrading ones that put her into situations like these when it was just so much easier to be angry and lash out with her words when speaking or letting someone else lead the conversation and adding in her own witty remarks and side comments in pure spite or just to vent some boiling anger and frustration. She didn't even know why she was always angry, she just was. And that also irritated her. Deciding she might as well try and act civil and be polite, as the mare did nothing to be rude or anger her at all, Soleile shook her head a bit to clear it of dust and hopefully make it feel cooler (it didn't) before dipping her head in greetings to her. "You can call me…" she trailed off once more, debating whether to use a fake name or her real one, "Soleil, just call me Soleil." If she was to talk to someone she might as well make it proper considering she doubted the god forsaken sun wanted any of them to live much longer at this rate