Sunny Valley is no more. There is only Twilight Falls.

---

NEW HERD RULES

The lead stallion is not to be disputed with unless he is very obviously making a bad decision. Likewise, the lead mare should receive the same respect.

The words of the lead pair are law.

Outside relations with bachelors are prohibited. Family ties are more lenient. But no bebes with strangers.

Mares found with foal by an outside stallion will be punished unless they were previously granted permission to have said foal. Mares pregnant by Sunny Valley stallions are fine this time around.

A direct order from a lead is to be followed immediately. The safety of the herd could be in jeopardy, and all herd members must listen.

Foals are not to wander off at all. Yearlings still need adult supervision.

Colts who do not wish to stay within the herd will be booted at 3 years of age.

Herd stallions may breed within the herd.

The role of lead stallion may be challenged for by a herd stallion or bachelor, but if they lose, the former are banished from the herd. Bachelors are already not accepted without invitations.

Lone horses, both mares and stallions, may join the herd. This must be agreed upon by both leads and their seconds. Banished individuals may never rejoin.

NEW HERD RANK SHEET

Lead Stallion: Orion -- 9 -- WIP Pg 5 -- Imperial Sands

Lead Mare: Astraea -- 12.25 -- Pg 4 High Hills Pack

Lieutenant: Buckeye -- 10 -- Pg 2 Weeds

Deputy: Reserved for Spellbound

Herd Mares:

Herd Stallions:

Dez -- 6 -- Pg 2 -- Rising Shadows

Yearlings:

Foals:

--

OUTSIDE RANKS

Banished Lead Stallion: Aragorn -- 8 -- Pg 6-- Artcherryontop

Banished Lieutenant: Nikos -- 6 -- Pg 3 -- Imperial Sands

Banished Herd Stallions:

Dorin -- 11 -- Pg 8 -- queen.

Lone Mares: (CLOSED)

Bachelors:

Reserved for Ultima

Buckeye's sensitive lips ruffled the frozen grass, idly searching for some early sprout of clover or chickweed. His dark ears stayed upright as he casually browsed, and he kept at least half his attention on the breeze in case any late predator took advantage of the dark predawn and attempted an attack on the sleeping horses or heavily pregnant mares.

The lietenant's wandering took him around the foaling field, giving the resting mares a respectful berth, until the grass under his hard hooves gave way to fallen pine needles and mulched leaves from last fall. The musty smell overwhelmed Buckeye for a moment, reminding him of his first autumn nearly a decade ago. He paused to savor the scent for a moment before continuing back towards the bulk of his herd, making a mental note to check the apple trees when the sun rose. Any fruit left would be far too rotten but who knew, maybe a perfect apple somehow avoided the withering winter.

He trotted towards the others and let out a soft grunt to check if anyone else was awake. Buckeye's shedding coat rippled as he shook off frost and quietly stamped the cold from his short legs as he waited for a reply.

Astraea and Apollo || As: 12 Years & 3 Months; Ap: 2 Months || As: Mare; Ap: Colt || M: Twilight Falls Herd, Buckeye, Blake, Adria

A soft and distant grunt is what causes the dark bay mare to stir, of all things. A snort rumbles from her nostrils - a sign of clear annoyance - as her ears perk up. She lifts her head from where she lay, giving it a good shake to rid herself of any stubborn frost that stuck her mane. Her one-sided gaze shifts to the light bay dun foal sleeping soundly beside her. His head rested on her flank as his breathing took place at every beat between her own.

The mare nickers gently to her sleeping son, nudging him with the end of her snot. “Apollo. Apollo. Wake up sweet one, it’s time to get up for the day,” her voice as soft as silk flows through the air as a gentle tune. If she would have been born a bird, singing would be her profession.

The young colt groans, his head flopping to the grass beneath as a slightly rough thump. He buries his head in the green blanket, quietly speaking, “But I don’t want to get up yet. I’m so comfy!”

Astraea chuckles gently at her foal's behavior, nudging him again. “Too tired to set a good example to the other herd members?”

This gets him going. He jumps to his feet - faster than any horse could blink. His tail wags slightly at the prospect of setting an example.

“Apollo, reporting for duty, ma’am!” The young colt shouts. His mother quickly hushes him, glancing at the rest of the sleeping mares. The colt flinches, whispering a small “sorry”.

The bay mare chuckles once more, leaning over to lick some of the frost off the young male’s pelt. “You’re fine my dear. How about you go run off and wake some of the older foals and their mothers up? Not the pregnant ones, though. They need their rest.”

“Yes ma’am,” Apollo prances off, passing a certain stallion along the way, “Morning Buckeye!” The young colt whisper-yells and he canters off.

Astraea chuckles once more at her colt's behavior before carefully stepping over to the lieutenant. “Good morning, Buckeye. Is everything alright,” she asks, tilting her head as she waits for an answer.

On the other side of the herd, Apollo is waking up any foals and mares with foals he comes across. He wakes up mares and their offspring left and right, getting any upset and tired groans in his wake. He apologies to each and every one of them, telling them that he was only doing as his mother asked.

Eventually, the colt spies another foal - this one with a snowy white pelt, dawning with a black crescent moon shape on their forehead. From what the dun could tell, it was a fellow colt. Beside him is an inky black female, presumably his mother. However, the young colt could not tell if they were awake or not from where he stood. So, he trots over to them to wake them up, if they are not already so.

Buckeye - 10 - M: Astrae, Noche, Apollo

Buckeye let out a noise of amusement as the colt darted away too fast for him to return the greeting.

"Everything's fine," Buckeye replied to Astrae, keeping his voice low. "Looks like it'll be a fine clear day."

He dipped his head at Noche in reply before moving on again. The lieutenant drew in a quiet sniff to check for any sour scent of illness or tang of blood. It was the season of foaling and he didn't want to be caught unaware by a weakness in the herd. He didn't find any trouble during his rounds and slipped out to clearer grounds as more horses stirred.

Buckeye drew to a stop on a small hill overlooking the others, watching his herdmates slowly wake up or begin to graze. A cold breeze leftover from winter tossed his mane around, the rest of the stallion still as a statue for a long moment. He wanted to race the wind through the frost-bitten grass and fling his hooves around wildly to celebrate spring, but that could wait until everyone was awake and safe and he could use playing with the foals as an excuse for his childish behavior.

Alsie // Heard Mare // Twilight Falls // Mentions: Open

Alsie trotted into the forest the frost hanging upon her muzzle and mane making both areas shimmer. Her muscles rippled as her large hooves navigated the terrain with ease her head low as she pinned her ears flat. Alsie was a nice mare... unless of course it was this time of year. Then she didnt want to be bothered by the stallions.. Especially now with the growing agony filling her lower abodmen.

Snorting softly and breathlessly she found a nice area to lay down seculded from the herd and prying gaze of others. Alsies knees hit the ground first before she lowered the rest of her body. Her body rolling so that she was upon her side, nostrils flaring and sides rippling was a dead give away of what was to come...

Though little did Alsie know there was a different sort of creature watching from the shadows. A creature smart enough to know to wait till after the exhausting birth to strike.

A low pitched squeal left Alsies lips as she kicked her hind legs slightly her neck flexing insinctivly. The Labor had lasted nearly an hour before she had left the herd. Now it was time. But, something wasnt quite right the foal barely moved as she struggled.

Panting with exhuastion Alsie pushed the foal out upon the frost bitten earth. Her body soaked in sweat as she raised her head up and struggled to her hooves. A down mare was a dead mare... but, so was a down foal.

"Young one.."

Alsie nickered gently as she cleaned the foals body.. all she got was a slight ear twitch its heart beat faint. Pawing the ground beside it gently she continued to groom it. Though the sound of a branch snapping had her spinning carefully to meet the threat.

one pair of golden eyes watched her a feline growl leaving the bushes. Alsie reared her powerful hoovies striking the air. Her foal wasnt dead yet.. how dare this beast attack. Pinning her ears she lunged at the bush the cat leaping up to attach its claws to Alsies Shoulders. This cat was a juvinille... where was its parental figure.

A weak cry filled her ears as she half reared tearing herself from its claws only to turn and see her foal... limp in the jaws of the adult cat. A fowl trick to play as Alsie charge forwards towards the adult feline her mind hazed with grief. The foal had been weak to begin with... and never would have survived Alsie knew this logically.

Weight upon her back and the dull pain of claws barely stopped her and she stomped and kicked at adult the feline. It was only when she felt teeth that she swung her mighty head to bite and throw down the juvenile upon her back.

"Get away!"

She squealed angrily as she stood infront of her gasping foal. The felines retreated but, not far. They would take the foal once the mare left.

Alsie lay down with her foal her head resting upon its body. She stayed like this till the foal fell still.. finally breathing its last. It was only then that Alsie returned to the herd, bloody, and foal less.

Aragorn // Previous Lead stallion // Sunny Valley // Mentions: open

Aragorns coat rippled as he followed the familiar scent tails of his mares. The ones he had stolen from him. His dark gaze calm as he moved. Aragorns fine frame moved with a natural grace as he stayed far enough behind not to be detected by the other stallions.

He wanted his mares back and simply wouldnt allow this to continue. He was plotting his take back. Aragorn knew now the way the other fought as he hadnt been him self the day that he had lost. He had had to much going on at the time of the fight.

Snorting softly he raised his head to the sky, it was a chilly spring morning.. so chilly you could see ones breath upon the misty air. Pinning his ears Aragorn looked in the direction the herd went and began to move around it in a very wide circle. He was like a phantom sometimes seen but, only when he wished to show you. Many thought Orion had killed him but the wounds had healed, but when he was done with that other stallion... well they would likely need some sort of blessing.. but, then Orions mare would be left unprotected which Aragorn would never want.. so maybe just maybe he wouldnt take it that far.

However, making sure his mares where safe was his first priority... Aragorn didnt really want orions mares but, only to simply take back his own. He Had had a managible herd one he could easily take care of with the assitance of his second in command.