Join The Herd...

[sassaboo]

~~If you have light characters that you plan to keep, please make sure you bring them to this land. Those who rp the leaders please post your character here, and while others post their characters, it will easier to introduce all of the new herd members to the leaders and then just post in the herd.~~

[W Smack]

Peachy hooves sifted easily through the hot, white sand. It took a while to get used to galloping on such strange terrain, but this magnificent stallion had been living in the deserts for longer than most. In fact, he was the alpha. You could tell by the way he held his head and ears high and the glint that shone in his deep brown eyes. Even his pelt gleamed with a special sheen today. His chestnut coat seemed golden in the intense sunlight that made even the alpha somewhat uncomfortable.

His nares opened wide as he watched the horizons. He knew that he was expecting new members soon - so he was waiting to greet them and accept them into his home. Now his ears twitched and he turned and looked behind him. He was also expecting the rest of his family sometime soon - his two mares, three children, and that strange little colt that had shown up not long ago. He whinnied, calling to them.

Just then, a young filly appeared over the sandy hill that Cal, himself, had just come down from. She whinnied giddily and scampered clumsily through the sand and down to her father.



"Daddy! Daddy!" she called, sending a dust cloud up behind her. She skidded to a halt and nuzzled her father in greeting. She was the spitting image of her father with a gleaming golden coat and a thick, white blaze. However, she did have a slight dusting of white speckles across her rump and her gleaming brown eyes with their gray specks showed influence from her mother.

"Where is your mother and the rest of the herd?" Cal asked in greeting to his daughter.

The one-year-old filly glanced behind her quizzically and muttered, "I don't know - but I thought they were right behind me." She shook her little head and her short mane flopped in a silly manner. "Oh, Daddy!" she cried again. "How many new members are coming?" Her soft brown eyes twinkled as she gazed up at her father expectantly.

Cal chuckled heartily. "I don't know, Calli," he replied. "We have to wait and see, of course." He shook his head and mused, "You young children never do have any patience, do you?"

[Mystery]

My lazy self trotted gracefully over the soft sand. Tail flicking back and forth, my eyes shined with happiness. Yet, there was a tinge of loneliness locked into the scowl on my face. The hot sun beat against my beautifully splattered coat. As I brought myself to stand on top of a rather large sand dune, I heard a piercing whinny calling out. Smiling, I knew that could be only one horse and that was Cal. Gathering up a faster pace, I slid down the sandy slope and nearly fell over once I stopped. Looking around for him, I spotted him off to the distance. Whinnying back, I glanced back to see if Brego was following me. Seeing his young face peeking over the hill, I motioned that his father was that way.

Approaching Cal, I glanced at my daughter, Calli. Bending my muzzle down, I nuzzled her fore head before looking at Cal once more. "Hey Cal." I said, soft smile on my face, I pressed my muzzle against his cheek. "New herd members?" I questioned with a look around the desert. It didn't seem like anyone was coming. . .But no one had to come just yet any way. I also wondered where Lily and Rose had wandered off too. Brego was tailing behind me and Zindelo was somewhere. Moving myself to stand beside Cal, I smiled at Calli before looking around the desert again.


Clumsily, Brego maneuvered his hooves over the sand. Snorting with every step, his mother had so gracefully moved over the steep hill. Frowning, he reached the top and looked down. Lifting his head high and ears up, he kept a straight face. One day, he wanted to rule this land like his father did now. Sliding down the slope, he trotted forth toward his parents and sister. "More herd members?!" Brego exclaimed with a roll of his eyes. All they needed was more shady herd members to mess things up. Seeing the stare from his mother, he folded his ears back and wrinkled his nose at her.

[W Smack]

Calli whinnied shrilly when she spotted her mother. When Belle nuzzled her she squelaed in happiness and pranced around her parents. She nickered to her twin brother playfully and stamped at the dusty sand below her. She snorted when he spoke and said, "Oh, come on, Brego! There's no need to have a sour mood! This will be fun!" She nipped him in a sisterly way and smiled.

Cal greeted his mate with a warm nuzzle and a short whicker of happiness. "It's good to see you," he told her. His deep brown eyes turned to the horizon once more as he muttered, "I actually don't know where everyone else is. I was getting a tad bit worried before you showed up." He turned and smiled once more to his mate and two children. "I'm sure they'll be coming soon, though. No need to worry."

[Spirit Dancer]

[x] Coming. [/x]

[abbydoodle96]

I didn't see anyone around, so I went searching for where everyone was, Tiger Lilly following behind me. After a few minutes, I found where they all were and walked up to them, nuzzling Cal. "Hey, Cal!" she said happily. I walked up to the other side of Cal, smiling. "What are we all waiting for?" Obviously, she had missed something.

I looked behind me as my daughter walked slowly up to the rest of the group. She had grown so much, and I was so proud of her. She had gotten a lot taller and was just growing up so fast.



Tiger Lilly walked up to Calli and nudged her, smiling. "Hey, Calli," she said, then looked over at Calli's twin brother, Brego. "And hey, Brego." She didn't know why they were all standing here, but they were waiting something. And because they were in the herd, they had to be there for anything that was happening.

[W Smack]

The alpha smiled and whinnied once more as his second mate and third child came towards them. "Hello, Rose," he greeted the chestnut mare. He nuzzled her warmly in greeting, just as he had to Belle. "Well, currently we're expecting some new herd members, so we're all waiting to greet them." He leaned down and nudged Tiger Lilly slightly and added, "It's good to see you've come."

Calli snorted and smiled kindly at her half-sister. "Hey, Lilly," she murmured. She stamped a hoof happily as her father explained about the new herd members. "I'm so excited!" she finally squealed. "I can't wait for them to get here!"

[Mystery]

"Sour is the opposite of my mood." Brego snapped to his sister. Seeing Lilly and Rose approach, his muscles tensed up in his body. Nipping Calli back, he smirked in a brotherly way. Moving away from the two fillies, he nodded to Lilly in greeting with a soft smile. He never really had been warm to any of his family members except for his mother and sometimes his father. Letting out a soft snort, he dug his hoof into the sand while listening to the adults converse.

I smiled softly at Cal's touch. Listening to his words, I smiled and chuckled softly. "There's never a need to worry, I'm always near by." I murmured before I heard Calli and Brego somewhat bickering. Rolling my eyes, I watched my twins and then Lilly appear. Turning my head to look for Rose, she had just come up to Cal's other side. "Hello Rose." I said politely before keeping my eye on Brego, knowing he had to be eavesdropping. "I wonder why all of a sudden, the other herds have to move here." I questions aloud to Cal and Rose. Cal must have an answer. . .

[W Smack]

Cal also watched Brego closely, though he didn't suspect eavesdropping. He was just worried for his son - he was just always so . . . moody. He loved his son so much, and he just wanted him to be happy, but the happy days were slowly slipping away. Calli, on the other hand, was most always in a chipper mood, so he worried little for her. He knew, though, that if Brego knew his father's worried emotions that he would most likely not like it, so Cal watched in silence and said nothing.
Cal turned back to Belle and Rose distractedly and muttered, "No, I don't know why all of the herds are merging." He paused for a second and added more animatedly, "But I am glad that we won't have to leave our home. At least none of us will lose our herd positions, right?" He smiled lightly and nickered in happiness.

[W Smack]

A lone filly wandered aimlessly through the deserts. It was much more heated here than in her old homelands. In the forests it had been cool beneath the green shade, but here there was no escape from the big, bright sun. Though through all of this heat the little gray filly shivered slightly. Though she held her head as high as she could - searching for the herd - she was alone and frightened. She had no idea where her parents were and she was beginning to feel worried. The last she had seen her mother and father, they had left promising her a new baby brother or sister soon. But they hadn't returned for so long, so she had decided to leave her old home and make her way here on her own.
Finally she caught the scent of the herd on the slight breeze and could make out their figures on the horizon. She trotted a bit quicker towards them, looking for any company she could find - strangers or no. However, she was quickly stopped in her tracks by a familiar scent and she perked her ears inquistively. "Mom?" she called out in surprise.



Well, this was it: she was returning from the mating grounds. So shouldn't she be happier? But there was definitely an unmistakable scowl on her face and her normally sparkling green eyes were dark to go along with her dark thoughts. There was a new being growing deep in her stomach, but it had not gone as plan. In another way, it was not Knight's. She had been viciously raped and then, on top of it all, she had lost her mate, Knight, too.
And now she had no idea where her daughter was. She had returned to the forests in a panic, but Isabella was nowhere to be found. That was why now Michelle walked through the strange lands with her head hung low and her feet dragging through the burning sand below.
However, she was shocked out of her melencholy when she heard a familiar voice. "Izzy?" she asked, perking her ears as well. Her eyes fell upon her daughter and she almost cried out in surprise and happiness. "Bella!" she cried again. "Oh, Bella, could it really be you?" She rushed forward and embraced her daughter in a horsey hug. "Oh, Bella, I thought I'd lost you forever! I'm so glad you're here!"

"Well, when you and Daddy didn't come back home, I decided that I'd come here on my own," Isabella replied, nuzzling her mother lovingly. "So?" she asked. "Where's Daddy? And when can I expect a new brother or sister?" Isabella was frightened as her mother's eyes darkened once more. "Mom?" she asked in a softer tone. "Mom, what's wrong?"

Michelle shook her head slightly in silence. "Listen, Izzy, things didn't go quite as well as your father and I had planned." She sighed heavily and finally said, "While I was waiting for your father in the mating grounds, I came across another strange stallion." Michelle suddenly choked on her words, but she quickly regained herself and added, "And he was very nice. He . . . well, he decided that he wanted to be the father of your new sibling instead of Knight. I tried to stop him, Bella, but he was too strong . . ."

Isabella watched as tears ran freely from her mother's eyes and her heart went out her her. She nuzzled her again and muttered, "Oh, mama, I don't care if my new brother or sister is really my whole sibling or not. As long as you and Daddy are ok." She paused and added, "Daddy is ok with all of this, right?"

Michelle smiled weakly through her tears and said, "Your father understands that what happened was not my fault. I don't know what will happen with this new foal, but whatever comes about your father and I will still love each other. And will still love you."

Isabella smiled lovingly up at her mother. "Well, enough with this nonsense," she declared in a very adult tone for her age. "Let's go meet our new herd members." So, on that note, the duo walked slowly towards the herd members. Isabella could tell that Michelle was still tired and a bit weary of meeting new equines, so she held her head even higher than before, determined to be strong for her mother's sake, if nothing else.

((OOC: Geez, I just realized how awkward it's going to be to roleplay four horses here . . . ))

[Mystery]

His ear flicked sideways, careful to measure out the sound he thought he was hearing. It was talking and not from the horses that stood in front of him. Lifting head up from the lowered, sulking position he had been in, young senses listened in; catching a scent that was very unfamiliar. Furrowing his brow, he turned his body around and started to trot off toward the smells that he knew weren't anyone that belonged, yet. Swishing lengthy tail about, he kept his head up and sparkling honey grey eyes to a sand dune, where he expected the new horses to be. Going up to the top of a small sand dune, he saw two horses in fact. One was smaller the other, Brego assumed mother and foal. Turning to look back at his father, he neighed before trotting up to the grey colored horses. They werent as stocky as a breed as his mother was, but looked more elegant. Brego could tell they were an entirely different breed then him. "Hi miss," he spoke, looking over to Michelle, "are you from one of the other herds?" Brego wasn't usually this social, but they were new and he wanted to prove that maybe someday, he could be King of a land. Eyes shifting over to the solid grey filly once or twice before settling on the older one.

My eyes quickly turned as my son started to trot off in a direction away from me. Watching carefully, I saw him stop for a moment and neigh out to his father. "I hope none of us lose our positions because here come some new ones." I muttered, following suit of my son, curiousity getting the best of me. Getting to the top of the small sand dune swiftly, I saw my son conversing with a mare and filly. Pursing my lips, I moved no further and Cal came along. New members weren't my business and Brego had gone a little too far without Cal making sure they were ok first. But how harmful could a mare and filly be, light ones too? Rolling my eyes, I came up behind Brego and nipped at his flank before smiling sweetly to Michelle. "Hello dear, I'm Bell and this here is my son, Brego. I apologize if he was being rude." My voice light and airy, my eyes going over both equines before noticing the mare was a little bigger then most. /Where's your knight in shining armor missy?/ I thought, knowing if I said it out loud, I most likely would get labeled for rude.

[abbydoodle96]

Silver Knight walked into the desert lands, looking around for Michelle and Isabella, who he had not seen in a long time. He sighed and stood there, looking around in the large group of equines to see if they were there. He began to walk closer, regretting ever losing Michelle, his dear Bella, and the unborn foal he would adopt as his own. Then...he saw them. He galloped over to them and nuzzled Michelle.

Rose Bud saw the newcomers and put a welcoming smile across her face. So this was what they had been waiting for. Three newcomers. That's it?She walked up to the three new equines. "Hello," she said. "I'm Rose Bud, the Alphess of these lands."

Tiger Lilly stood there with Calli and watched as three newcomers entered the land. They all seemed to know each other. "Calli, look," she said. "Another foal."

[W Smack]

Cal smiled after his son, not minding that he had led the way to greet the newcomers. Brego would be the alpha one day, after all, and he would need to learn how to greet others and be a bit more social. Cal trotted slowly after his son and Belle, gazin gat the new members carefully but with enough warmth to welcome them. "Well, hello," he greeted them. "My name is Calamazoo, alpha of these lands. You can call me Cal, if you wish." He nuzzled Belle softly on her shoulder, hearing her comment about losing positions. He said nothing, but he knew in his heart that he was slightly worried, too.
His attention immidiately turned back to the newcomers as another stallion walked up and joined the mare and filly. Cal nodded as respectfully as possible to the stallion and repeated himself by saying, "Hello, I am the alpha of these lands: Cal. And what's your name?" Cal turned and smiled as Rose joined them and introduced herself.

Michelle smiled kindly at the colt before her. "Well, hello," she greeted him. "Yes, we come from another place. We used to live in the forests." Michelle couldn't help but sigh sadly as she gazed around her new home: the empty, desolate deserts. She had loved the beauty of her old home, and now she would never see it again. Her somewhat dulled green eyes glanced up to notice that another mare had come her way. "Hello," she muttered, still somewhat in a daze. "My name is Michelle, and this is my daughter, Isabella. It's nice to meet you, Belle." She smiled down to the colt and added, "And you, too, Brego. He wasn't being rude at all. Quite a polite little colt."
Michelle's thoughts immidiately came to a halt when out of nowhere, Knight came galloping towards her. "Knight?" she asked curiously, her breath catching in her chest. "Knight!" she called once more. Soon he was nuzzling her and she was completely oblivious to all other equines. "Oh, Knight, I thought I'd lost you again!" she cried in a frenzy.

Isabella nodded to Brego kindly and greeted him and Belle as modestly and politely as possible. However, she couldn't repress herself when she caught sight of her father. "Daddy!" she cried, just as excitedly as her mother. "Daddy, you came, too!" Isabella was suddenly overcome with joy knowing that her family was together once more. She didn't care that they were in a new land with a bunch of equines that she'd never met before, or that the foal growing within her mother wasn't her true brother or sister. All she cared about was that she and her family were reunited once more.

Calli perked her ears as her half-sister suddenly said her name. Her brown eyes moved next to the newcomers. A mare, filly, and stallion. "I wonder if they're the only ones?" she muttered thoughtfully. "Maybe that filly will be a new friend!" she suddenly exclaimed, completely excited. "Let's go introduce herselves!" She trotted slowly towards the small group that was her family. "Hello," she said, mostly to the filly, but also to the mare and stalllion. "My name is Calli!"

[Spirit Dancer]

Royal blue hues watch placidly as everyone morphed into one big herd. It was obvious what was going on; the lands were uniting under one ruler, instead of numerous ones. Maybe we'd be stronger that way, maybe not. It seemed more like a trail run than anything right now. Either way, I was feeling more off-the-wall than anything. These newcomers and the original herd members meshed in so perfectly, without missing a single beat. As I always had a problem, especially trying to keep a conversation alive.

At that thought, I let my gaze comb through everyone; memorizing faces and connecting them to names. Only when my gaze locks onto Knight, do I scowl. My mother left because of him, conceived and bore me, and then died. He would be the last one to see any friendliness from me. For now, I would be civil, only because the rules forced me to and because I was too young to take any action.

[x] Eek. It's horrible, but I had to post Zindelo before I forgot about him. xD [/x]

[W Smack]

Out of all the commotion that these three newcomers had made, Cal found it hard to focus. His ears drifted backwards slightly as his attention wandered and he suddenly noticed the young colt, Zindelo, hovering not too far away. Cal nickered to him, inviting him to come and greet the others - but not forcing him too. He perked his ears in the colt's direction. He felt bad for the poor orphan. He had come here to find a family to live with and ever since his arrival, he had been pretty much ignored in all of the drama that Cal and his family had been having. However, Cal was determined to be a better alpha. Now that his two loves were somewhat content and his herd was growing he was going to be the best leader there ever was. Plus, with five little ones in the lands the herd was sure to grow and develop in time.

[abbydoodle96]

Knight smiled as his love and his young daughter greeted him with such excitment. He nuzzled his daughter, but then his attention turned to the equines who were already there. "I am Silver Knight, Michelle's mate and the father of little Isabella," he introduced himself. "I just want to tell you that I mean no harm to your herd. We will cause no trouble."

Rose Bud smiled sweetly at the little family. This herd was starting to grow. She wondered if anyone else would show up, or if it was only these three. "Welcome to the Deserts, all of you," she said. "Don't worry, the Deserts are great once you get used them."

Lilly followed Calli over to the new foal and nickered a greeting to her, and the other two. "Hi," she said sweetly to them all. "I'm Tiger Lilly, but you can call me Lilly. Everyone else does."

[Mystery]

"Good, Brego usually is a catty one." I said in a casual, conversation voice. A smile crossing my lips as I finally knew the name of the mare and filly. My muscles clenched as I felt Cal nuzzle my shoulder, but I relaxed instantly, knowing I had nothing to worry about. Nuzzling him back along his neck, I tried not to let myself glare over to Rose. She had suddenly just barged in and I thought it was quite rude. Watching everyone approach, I froze up again at the new stallion's arrival. Snorting, I looked him over and a ear flicked back. Glancing over to Zindelo, the look in his eyes was one I knew fairly well. Ignoring for now, I looked back to the three new ones. They seemed nice enough, but any stallion that could take over Cal's position made me uncomfortable.

His eyes moved over to Isabella, her grey pelt was so eye catching to him. Stepping back at Knight galloped, Brego's ears pressed against his head. Flicking his tail back and forth, he nodded back to Isabella and decided to walk away. He tried the social thing and it seemed it just wasn't working. As his hooves dug into the sand, he passed by Zindelo without a single look to him or anyone else. Walking over the sand dune, he trotted up to the oasis and took a long and good drink of the refreshing water.

[W Smack]

Cal smiled and nodded politely, though still slightly reserved, and said, "It's nice to meet you, Silver Knight. Well, I assure you that you and your family are welcome here." Cal grinned slightly as Rose mentioned the Desert's notorious weather. He remembered when he first claimed these lands - though the heat was never too troublesome for him - and he had worried about creating a family here of his own. Though now, surrounded by those he loved, and even more equines that were brand new to the herd, he couldn't believe how foolish he had been to doubt the land's - and his own - potential.
Cal leaned down and nuzzled his two daughters as they approached. He twitched an ear in Brego's direction as he moved away, but he didn't make any move to follow him. Cal knew his own son's tendencies to want to be alone by now, and you couldn't blame Brego from wanting to be away from the tight knot of equines that were quickly growing in number. He snorted slightly at Belle's comment and said jokingly, "Brego? Catty? Surely you must be thinking of the wrong colt!"

Michelle vaugley heard the words being spoken around her, but for the most part her attention was drawn to Knight. Oh, how excited she was to see him! And at the same time depressingly troubled. They needed to talk - and soon. This baby growing within her would be birthed next season, and what would Knight and this new herd do then? Her now dulled green eyes gazed worriedly at Knight, waiting for the oppurtunity when they could be alone.

Isabella's little gray ears perked as the colt that she had first been introduced started to meander away. She gazed curiously at him, completely fascinated. Soon she, too, began to walk slowly away from the large herd. She knew that her mother would notice soon, and she knew that Brego, too, probably knew of her hovering presence, but she still stayed a few paces behind him, watching from a slight distance. Finally, she trotted up to him amiably and asked in a jolly manner, "Where are you going?" She found herself engrossed in his strange, speckled chestnut coat and she found that she had to tear her brown-green eyes away from it to look once more at his face.

Calli snorted slightly as she noticed the two foals breaking away from the rest of the group. She wanted to follow after them and see what fun was to be had, but she saw the familiar pinned ears of her brother and was immidiately drawn back to the new herdmembers. She smiled and shook her head playfully as her father leaned down to nuzzle her, then joined Lilly's side once more. "I'm so bored," she murmured thoughtlessly as she gazed around the empty terrain with dull eyes. Suddenly her attention settled on the lone colt, Zindelo, who she had not spoken to in a long time. "Hey!" she suddenly cried. "Let's go play with Zindelo! He looks like he could use some cheering up!" She nipped her half-sister playfully and then cantered a tight circle around the group before heading towards the lone colt.

[Mystery]

"I don't think I am," I smiled when Cal looked my way and spoke. Letting an ear turn Brego's way as he shifted out of the picture, I unintentionally frowned. I was getting tired of him just walking away once things got a little too friendly for him. Snorting to myself, I lashed my tail in Cal's direction, a playful and loving lash. Turning my frown upside down, I looked back around to the group. My eyes then watched Isabella trot off after Brego. he has another thing coming if she expects Brego to play," I chuckled and lightly shook my head. Deep down, I knew Brego would be more startled and frightened then angered by being interrupted of his solitude.

he sound of uneasy hooves moving behind him made him steer away from the oasis. Keeping up his trot, one ear lifted to listen to her voice. Pursing his lips, Brego disliked the jolliness in her voice. "Where ever I want to go," he muttered back at Isabella, tilting his head back so she could possibly hear better. Whisking his growing tail out, he would soon be able to call himself a stallion, and he couldn't wait. Snorting, he shook out his chestnut speckled coat before picking his pace back up. Filling in his lungs, he could feel himself tiring and getting over heated. Turning back to the oasis, he splashed into the shallow waters. Letting the water drench his coat, he looked over to the grey filly. Grey Hazel eyes stared as well at the filly's grey coat. Turning his eyes away, he dipped his muzzle into the water and splashed water over his back.

[W Smack]

Isabella came to a halt and watched attentively as Brego raced away. Her brown-green eyes never strayed from his form even though the haze from the sun made his figure ripple slightly as he grew farther away. Soon he was making his way back towards her and he splashed in the pool of water to the filly's left. He wasn't much older than herself, but Isabella was surprised at how mature he looked already. She giggled as she watched him splash and stepped into the cool waters herself. Her smile widened as she noticed his eyes on her and she trotted playfully forward. "Well, what are you doing, then?" she decided to ask, since he hadn't really answered her first question.

Cal flicked his tail playfully back at Belle, also vaugly watching curiously as his son and the new filly moved towards the oasis. "Well," he sighed slightly, speaking to the new couple once more. "I'll leave you to get aquainted with the lands. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask." He nodded formally to Silver Knight and Michelle, smiled towards Belle and Rose, then began to move away. Near the oasis there was a sun bleached dead tree. It didn't provide much shade, but he took what he could in these lands. He relaxed, leaning slightly on the tree's pale bark and his chocolate-brown eyes wandered towards the frolicking foals . . .

Michelle nodded and smiled thankfully to the stallion. She was happy to be introduced to everyone and so warmly greeted, but right now she was glad that the crowd was beginning to disperse. She looked to her side and suddenly realized that Isabella was gone. She looked up in a frenzy, but eventually spotted her daughter splashing through the waters of the oasis with the nice colt that she had met just minutes before. She smiled slightly, glad that her daughter was happy, but the smile faded as she turned her eyes back to her mate. "Knight," she muttered softly. "Can I talk to you?"