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This is a private role play between Feline_Insomnia and A i s l i n _ w y v e r n

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                          Nameless Beast
                          XXXXXXXXXI Don't Need Your Pity
                          Just try and tame me...

                          It was a sunny, clear day, only a light breeze swept over the land. It was just before mid-day, but already the open horse auction and sale was already bustling. People were still setting up paddocks and trailers, bringing in their fare; both equines of all breeds and backgrounds, as well accessories such as saddles, reins, blankets… It was an annual event, people from all over visited the event every year. Along with horse sales, there were informal shows, trainer advertisements.

                          It brought Thomas Jackson, a world renowned horse trainer, and his family every year. His family had made a fortune training and taming horses their owners had given up on, or simply owners who wanted a friendly, tamed equine. He'd never needed advertisements, he came to the auction every year to purchase a few horses, mostly younger individuals, to train for various events before putting them up for sale himself. People paid plenty of money for a horse personally trained by him. Of course, this year, he'd brought along his daughter, his prodigy, for whom he planned on leaving the family business to, for a specific reason. It was time for her to get another horse of her own, one she would pick out herself and train. In his mind, he wanted her to pick out a breed such as a Thoroughbred or Arabian, or similar breed. An elegant breed. But ultimately, the decision was hers… as long as he approved. He was the one with the checkbook, as it were.

                          "Alright princess, I'm going to see the yearlings Olsen brought this year on the west side of the park. I suggest you find Johnson and his gang, he's the one who brings all those Arabians every year. But just give me a call on my cell when you find one and I'll come find you alright?"
                          Thomas had just parked his truck, pulling a large horse trailer behind it, on the wide expanse of lawn devoted for parking and loading horses. Along with them was Erik, one of the ranch's hired hands that had worked with Thomas for nearly 15 years. Thomas was a tall, rather formidable man. An ex-marine, he'd come back from his time serving his country just in time when his own father decided to retire, though he'd chosen to continue to help selling and training up until the day he died 4 years ago. He had short, dark blonde hair, though typically it was hidden under a cowboy hat. Rough stubble covered much of his lower jaw. His skin was tanned from exposure, slightly wrinkled and leathery from countless years of working outside. He was in his mid-50's, though he was just as strong and able bodied as he'd been when he'd been in his twenties. Pale blue eyes watched the world. He was a tough man, he always had been. He rarely took no for an answer, but in his job field, one could never back down.

                          He kissed his daughter near her temple in farewell, before taking Erik and walking off. Thomas loved his daughter, she'd always been his world, even if he happened to be tough on her most of the time.

                          --------------------------------------------------------------------


                          Somewhere in the wide expanse of haphazardly set up paddocks, trailers, and stands, stood a single, shabbily put up paddock. The ground was bare, packed dirt, only a few straws of hay littered the ground. A poorly strung up bucket filled with water was in the corner. As it would seem the owner was no where to be found, and there was no one looking in on the single chestnut equine standing quietly in the paddock. However, a sign was tacked up on the gate, it read "Will accept best offer, bound for factory if not sold."

                          Standing in the middle of the paddock, his large head kept down as he sniffed at the ground, occasionally lipping at a stray piece of hay, was the horse in which the sign had indicated. He was a tall, muscular stallion of indecipherable breed; though the information sheet tagged up on the gate as well stated he was a ‘mustang mix’. Essentially, he was a mutt. High end trainers and breeders wouldn’t want him. The information sheet indicated that his age was unknown, though the steed looked to be young, in the prime of his life. He had no name, and his temperament was tagged as ‘wild and unbroken’, not suited for beginners.

                          As stated, he was a tall, well built horse. His deep chestnut coat was dust covered and ragged, it looked as though he hadn’t seen a brush or a bath in quite a while. His long legs were tipped in black, ending in unshod hoofs. Both his jet-black mane and tail were choppily cut, as though someone had let their small child take a scissors to them. Other than his black legs and chestnut coat, he had no other markings. Staring out at the world with a wild, cautious glint, were a pair of deep, liquid chocolate brown eyes. Along his straight back, rump and down his legs were a series of old scars disfiguring his otherwise unmarred coat. Listed on the information sheet, was that he’d come from several previous homes, because they’d given up on trying to tame him. He’d likely come from an abusive home, or two… but his entire history was unknown. It also stated that even when he could be calmed down enough to be shoed, the shoes always fell off at night for some unknown reason. The final line in his history stated that he could be calm and docile as any tamed horse most days, but as soon as he caught sight of any saddle or reins, even an innocent halter, could sent him into a rage.

                          The steed snorted, watching the crowd with wary eyes. He felt as though this might be his last shot at life, but he refused to give up and let some moron break him down, he’d fight for his life until the end. He didn’t know any better, he barely remembered a time when sunlight doomed him to the figure of a four-legged beast, why dawn and dust was filled with the agonizing, bone splitting pain of transforming from one form, to the other. No one would care if he died or lived, no one would miss him. No one ever had… why should that ever change.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


A beautiful afternoon indeed. Promptly stepping out of her father's truck, Alyx stretched her arms above her head and looked up at the cloudless sky. There was a light breeze in the air, and it toyed with whatever strands of her fiery red hair that had managed to escape being pulled back. And although she was excited to be here, at the auction, for her first time, it brought a sense of nostalgia. She was here to pick out another horse, on her own, since her other one, her favorite, had died just a few years prior. And while she missed him dearly, it was time for her to move on.

Being the daughter of a well-known horse trainer and tamer had its ups, but there were also downs; men always tried to befriend her, tried to get her attention, but she knew it was only because of her father's reputation. She would be following in his footsteps one day, and as such, she was expected to know the ropes of his business - the first step was choosing the right horse. Alyx barely heard what her father was saying to her, though she didn't need to; she knew where he wanted her to look, even the type of horse he wanted her to choose. But, she would choose one for herself, regardless if he approved.

"Okay, dad." And with that, they both parted ways. Instead of heading in the direction her father pointed her, Alyx instead started to scan the area, amber eyes watching for something, anything that would catch her eye. Several of the stands seemed to be over-dressed and showy, and she greeted a few of the owners she knew as she pet the muzzle of a beautiful mare. She seemed nice, but for one reason or another, she wanted a challenge. She wanted to prove that she could tame a horse and train it; many of the horses seemed to be... easy, if that was the right word.

Just when she was about to have given up already, she finally spotted it. The ratty, shabby paddock caught her attention, and she carefully but quickly approached the stallion that occupied it. The owner was nowhere in sight, and it didn't look as if anyone had bothered to look at the poor creature. When she looked at the beast, she could see that he was worn, rugged; nothing compared to the sheen of the other stallions' manes. It didn't dispel her interest in the least, and, raising an eyebrow, she pulled the piece of paper that described him from the side of the paddock. Her eyes immediately landed on the sentence that read he would be sent to work in a factory if not sold, and by then, Alyx had made up her mind.

Pulling out her cell phone, she quickly dialed her father's number and told him to meet her by the lone paddock. She would be easy to spot, of course, and as soon as she shut her phone, the owner finally arrived. His expression conveyed that he was obviously perplexed, not to mention surprised, that she, of all people, was interested in the wild stallion. "Um, Miss? Are you actually interested in purchasing this stallion?" Alyx nodded once, and although he was still shocked, he could see that she was serious. "Just because he's "un-tame-able" doesn't mean he deserves to be sent to a factory," she muttered, looking up and waving as soon as her father came into view.
User Image
                          Nameless Beast
                          XXXXXXXXXI Don't Need Your Pity
                          Just try and tame me...

                          Dark eyes darted to the young woman who paused at the edge of his paddock, a sharp exhale of air blew up the dust around his muzzle before he finally raised his head high, attentive ears pivoted in her general direction as he scrapped his hoof over the bare ground. She stood around longer than he expected, studying a sheet of white tagged to his enclosure. People had been glancing at him all day, but no one had stopped… not like her. He snorted loudly, throwing up his head, as if laughing. Did she think she could save him? She wasn’t the first, but everyone before her had simply given up on him, he was useless, too wild, too stubborn… he wasn’t worth the time of anyone. His dark eyes never left her as she pulled out an electronic device, pressing it to her ear as she spoke, though not loud enough for him to hear her words. He had to admit, he was curious; but she seemed… soft. Would she try to tame him like all the others? She would fail, just like all the others before her, it never mattered how determined she could be, how stubborn or proud she was.

                          She'd give up on him, just like all the others. Good. He wouldn't give in to her, no matter how much she may plead or beg. There was no chance. He'd die fighting for his independence. He was still curious however, it had been a while since someone had taken a true interest in him. Slowly, he plodded his way closer, head raised high as he tentatively sniffed at the air.

                          Thomas was concerned to say the least, he didn’t know anyone who sold horses where Alyx had said she was. But maybe she'd found someone new, she had a good eye; just like him and the men and women before him. She was a good kid, he'd always been proud of her. She was exactly like her beloved mother, his late wife, just as stubborn and determined, just as beautiful… he was so grateful she didn’t succumb to the advances of men who had more than just her on their minds, but the money she would inherit, the business, everything. He'd never really had to worry about her, as long as she followed the path he'd paved for her. Taking Erik with him, having just made a purchase from a well-known Arabian breeder he was good friends with, he quickly made his way to the area she'd told him about. By the time he'd made his way to her, there was a firm, disapproving frown on his weathered, but handsome features.

                          Studious eyes immediately fled to the equine, he seemed like a strong individual, but the way he regarded the small group gathering near his enclosure clearly told him the steed was wild. He didn’t give a second look to the owner, his daughter, or the stallion as he plucked the information sheet from the gate and scanned it quickly. His frown only seemed to deepen as he cleared his throat, and handed the sheet to Erik, who was standing behind him. Erik was a tall man as well, sinewy and toned. He was around 30, dark blonde and green eyed; he'd worked with horses his entire life, and though he was married with a small daughter of his own, he'd long since been part of Thomas' family. He was just as knowledgeable with horses as Thomas was. Finally, Thomas looked to his daughter, still frowning. "You know we don't do pity or charity cases Alyx,"
                          But he could tell this could be a battle, that look in her eyes, it was the same look her mother got just before he'd lost a fight and donated part of his pasture to the aging, elderly or otherwise 'useless' horses that she'd always kept around. He'd Alyx's mother so much, but she'd always followed her heart, instead of her head.

                          "He's wild. If he were younger, maybe, maybe I'd give him a chance… but once they reach a certain age it's very hard to tame them. This is they type of horse those… animal shelter and welfare groups take. Not people in the business of training and selling. His pale blue eyes fled to the stallion, finding him only a foot away from the gate, regarding them with a wary, but curious eye. As soon as Thomas looked at him however, he snorted and tossed up his head. Again, he almost seemed to be laughing at the older male, before he turned sharply on his hind legs and cantered around the small enclosure; both tail and head held high. He came to a halt even nearer to the young woman, unable to ignore his curiosity. This could be his final chance, his final shot, he couldn’t just disregard her. With his side pressed against the paddock fence, he curiously reached out and bumped his nose against her shoulder; before quickly withdrawing as he watched her carefully for her reaction.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


She could tell they were going to argue; just by watching her father's expression, Alyx already knew that he did not want her to get the stallion. He thought it was a mistake, a hopeless case, but she would fight. She would argue with him; like her mother, she was stubborn, and refused to give up. "I can tame him, dad." Her voice was unwavering, and she leveled her gaze with his as she folded her arms across her chest. The owner didn't dare interrupt the two of them, so he simply stood aside and waited for them to figure it out. "I know he isn't the perfect stallion you want me to choose, but he seems to be more of a challenge than the rest of them." She meant no offense to the other owners, no disrespect, but she'd made up her mind, and she wasn't going to leave without the rugged stallion.

"I'm not going to give up on him. Just because he's wild doesn't mean he doesn't deserve another chance." Her glower, although only half-hearted, still rested on her father's eyes, though when she felt the horse bump her shoulder, she turned to look at it curiously. He certainly was a proud creature; he even showed off a bit, as if he were taunting Alyx and her father. "Please?" Alyx frowned; she knew all too well that her father wouldn't, couldn't resist, even if they were equally stubborn. Like father, like daughter, she supposed.

Her smile returned only when she heard Thomas' defeated sigh, and the owner thanked them kindly after they began to lead the stallion back out to her father's truck. Alyx knew she'd made the right choice, and even if she couldn't tame him, she would eventually. She would prove her father wrong, and then maybe, maybe he would see that she could manage on her own, that she was ready to take on the business.

It was a short ride home, and the entire time she kept watching the stallion. There was something about him that drew her to him, and she didn't know why; she wasn't surprised that her father didn't feel the same way, though. He seemed calm, but of course, she was weary, thoughtful of what the piece of paper had said. She would need to let him adjust to the ranch before she tried anything - she would have to take it step by step, show the stallion that she meant no harm. Her father was silent on the way home, and Alyx followed with her stallion to the paddocks where the rest of the steed were kept.

"Thank you, dad." She gave her father a tender hug to show that she truly was grateful, and, turning to face the stallion once more, she gave him a gentle pat on the muzzle before she and her father disappeared into the house to eat lunch. Her older brother, Matt, greeted them with already made sandwiches. "How did the choosing of the stallion go?" He raised a curious eyebrow at his father's silent expression, then turned to Alyx as she smiled sheepishly. "I found a wild stallion that was going to be sent to the factory if he wasn't purchased. He's out in the paddocks, and I can show you after lunch."

----------------------------------

Matt shook his head; it was typical of his sister to get her way, but she was just like their mother. Stubborn, always wanting to give anyone and anything a second chance. He would have to keep a close eye on her as she tried to tame the beast, but if it was anything like what they described, then it would take a while.
User Image
                          Nameless Beast
                          XXXXXXXXXI Don't Need Your Pity
                          Just try and tame me...

                          Thomas’ expression didn’t change, it didn’t soften, it remained as tight and disapproving as ever even as his only daughter argued for her cause. As much as he wasn’t willing to back down, as much as he wanted to nudge her into looking around a little bit more, as soon as she uttered that single word ‘please’ he knew the battle was all over. His jaw tightened, before it relaxed and he sighed in defeat. ”Fine, who am I making the check out to?” His eyes fled to the owner, before gesturing to Erik to get in the paddock and hook a lead to the steeds worn black halter. As soon as his enclosure was breached the stallion shied away from the tall male, cantering away with his tail lifted, though his head was held level with his body. It took a handful of moments for Erik to get hold of the horses halter, mainly because the stallion kept ducking out of Erik’s reach. It seemed to be a game to him, every time he was able to evade Erik’s grasp he’d prance away with his head high, stop and turn to face the man as he lowered his head to watch him approach once more.

                          He wasn’t happy about being caught as they lead him out of the paddock and out of the auction grounds. On numerous times he’d pull in annoyance on the lead, shake his head, or come to a complete halt, after a while Thomas took firm hold of the steeds halter, tugging on it confidently to get the horse to keep going at a steady pace. However, this only seemed to make the stallion more ornery, as he pranced anxiously alongside them, snorting almost continually.

                          Thomas wasn’t exactly happy either, his silence easily portrayed this as they rode back to the ranch. The trailer held three new horses, Alyx’s wild steed, and two yearlings, an Arabian filly and Frisian colt. Upon arriving, Erik and another hand lead the spunky yearlings to the stables, and directed Alyx to lead her new stallion to a corral set up for exercising horses. It was a circular enclosure, with tall fence walls of strong, sturdy metal bars. A simple structure for shade was attached in one part; nothing but a simple overhang, just big enough to provide shelter from sun and rain. Water and feed buckets were strung up under the shelter. It was a temporary holding structure, until it was known how the horse would react in a stable. The owner wouldn’t have said much about the subject if he’d been asked.

                          When Alyx hugged him, Thomas’ expression finally softened somewhat. ”You’re welcome Princess… I just hope your right about him,” He regarded the snorting animal one last time before they headed back to their large home for lunch. Upon entering their home, Thomas took off his hat, hanging it up by the door as he rang his fingers through his short, dark blonde hair, before running his palm against the leg of his worn blue jeans. At Matt’s question, he didn’t reply, taking up a sandwich and biting into it. He let Alyx explain herself. He was wearing a black buttoned up shirt, tucked into a pair of worn blue jeans and cowboy boots. ”I want you to be careful with that Beast, both of you, but especially you Alyx,” He gave her a pointed look, putting more emphasis on her since she’d be working far more closely with the creature than anyone else. ”You should look into getting shoes on him eventually, or at least get Erik or one of the hands take a look at his hoofs… it looks like they haven’t been trimmed in a while. Thomas spoke just as he went into the kitchen for a drink, after which he’d probably disappear into his study for a few hours.

                          Left alone, the steed took a moment to look around his surroundings. It looked… expensive and luxurious. The stables were sprawling, perfectly painted and maintained. The ranch was expansive, plenty of horses were boarded in the stables; both horses that were being trained by Thomas and his hired hands, and those who were simply boarded here, perhaps as a midway point between being bought and sold. There were plenty of training enclosures, and a large, sprawling pasture that was rich in luscious green grass. His own enclosure was sparse, if he stuck his head through one of the bars he’d be able to reach grass, but it was boring… far nicer than many of the previous homes he’d have. He wanted to go into that pasture however, to race over the hills and between the trees… it felt like a lifetime since he’d last been allowed to stretch his legs like that. He huffed, looking out over the relaxed atmosphere of the ranch’s activities. Likely, as soon as that older man, the girls father, wanted to get down to business, things would move at a faster pace. He seemed like the type who ran this place with an iron fist. His assumption was correct, there was little that escaped Thomas’ gaze. He was known to work himself from sun up to sun down.

                          Exploring his small, but still roomy enclosure, he inspected the gate; it was easily unlocked with human fingers, but the spaces between the bars of the fence were large enough for a man to pass through them. Lucky for him, perhaps at night he’d be able to find shelter from the cool night air.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


It was all the same to her, the way her father treated her, but she'd come to expect it. His words didn't bother her in the least; he was her father, after all, and he was only looking out for her best interests. After all, who knew how dangerous the wild stallion could be? It didn't seem to be too happy about being led away; that much was obvious when she'd watched Erik try to hook a lead to his halter. It was hard not to laugh, and although the stallion was stubborn, she hoped that, well, he would be happy, especially since their ranch was so large. "I will be careful, Dad." Alyx smiled, and Matt reflected it with a grin as soon as Thomas vanished into his study. "A wild steed, eh? How long did it take to crack dad's resolution to get him to buy it?" He laughed, though Alyx only shook her head with a glare before she headed outside.

Matt, though only a few years older than she, was just the same; he kept a protective eye out for her, and although he chose a different path than she had, he still knew quite a bit about training and taming horses. Unlike her, too, his hair was a muddy brown color; no one would have guessed that they were siblings, especially since they looked so different from one another. She walked out to where she had left the stallion, brother tagging along with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

When they first arrived, the steed's startled whinny seemed to startle Matt in turn, and he immediately stepped in front of Alyx in case he started to panic even more. Alyx simply walked past him, ignoring the tense note in his voice when he called her name. She carefully approached the stallion, showing that she wasn't going to do any harm, before she opened the door to his cell and led him out, step by step. "After what I briefly read on the paper, it seems like he's been through a lot." She frowned, but soon enough, Matt stepped over and gave the stallion a gentle pat on the muzzle before he began to observe the creature. "Dad was right about looking at his hoofs, though... they look beaten." When she was sure she had finished his "examination", or at least when she got tired of him muttering to himself, she rolled her eyes, unclasped the lead, and let the stallion run free for a while.

"The only problem is - will he let anyone clean his hoofs and put on new shoes?" Clearly lost in thought, Alyx vanished into another barn, deciding it wouldn't hurt to pull out one of the younglings her father had purchased just a few hours ago. The Arabian filly was gentle, patient with her, and after she'd managed to get the saddle on her, Alyx swiftly mounted the filly and strode out to the corral. Matt raised a curious eyebrow at his sister, arms folded across his chest as he watched her. "You're not going to try and saddle him right away?" Alyx shook her head, nudging the filly into an easy canter around the prairie. "It'll be better to start out slow. Give him some freedom, let him get comfortable with humans." It was definitely going to take some work; the first step would be the most difficult, of course. She wanted the stallion to trust her, and when he finally came back into view, she led the Arabian over towards a few jumps before dismounting.

Since the Arabian was a youngling, she started out easy; first, Alyx led her through the jumps, one by one, until she was sure she could manage on her own. She watched with a gentle smile as it jumped over each obstacle, trotting back to her so that Alyx could pet her muzzle. Being amongst these creatures calmed Alyx, cleared her mind whenever she felt troubled. If she didn't feel like speaking, she would always go out to the stalls, pick out a steed, and ride it for a while. The fresh air was nice, too, so she tried to spend as much time as she could outdoors.
User Image
                          Nameless Beast
                          XXXXXXXXXI Don't Need Your Pity
                          Just try and tame me...

                          The stallion lifted his head out of his empty feed bucket when he heard footsteps approaching his corral, his muzzle quivering slightly, though he had found no food in the empty bucket. He wasn’t all that hungry anyways, traveling always made him anxious, and he still wasn’t too sure how comfortable he was in this new place. He was glad everyone was leaving him alone, word about him seemed to have traveled to the handful of hired hands that worked the ranch, as they kept their distance from his cozy little enclosure as well. His alert ears flicked towards them as he saw the girl and an unknown man approaching his corral, and he snorted, not alone for long enough. As she approached him he stood his ground, his entire frame tense as his ears flicked back lightly against his skull; easily portraying his annoyance. A loud snort was expelled as she clipped a lead onto his halter and lead him forward, he was hesitant to move, but he moved forward with an exasperated flick of his tail.

                          However, when the unknown male touched his muzzle he nickered and pushed the unwanted hand away. His tail continued to flick in an irritated manner, likely catching the unknown man in the head a couple of times as he looked him over. Overall, the stallion was strong and healthy, though the old scars that covered his hindquarters and legs revealed a likely troubled past. As soon as he was released he shied away from the pair, unshod hooves thundering beneath him as he cantered a distance away, lowering his head as he sniffed at the grass; though there wasn’t a moment that he didn’t take his eyes off the pair. He was grazing selectively when the girl came back, this time atop a young horse. He raised his head, his ears pressed against his skull as he stared the girl and her horse down. What a stupid, spineless beast. Letting herself being lead around like a mindless drone… The thoughts floated slowly through his mind, they always seemed to be more coherent in his two legged form.

                          He didn’t go too far, but now that he was out of his corral he didn’t exactly want to go back. He kept his distance from the girl and the male, lowering his head and snorting in a threatening manner if either of them got too close, before he turned and pranced quickly away. He knew eventually he’d have to be put back however, it was safer in a fenced area, at least for him. When he transformed at night, he would have preferred being behind some sort of barrier or fence, as it left him in a weaken, exhausted state for an hour or more.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


Matt wasn't too sure about the wild stallion; he certainly had personality, but just as he was watched, he, too, kept a close eye on him. It was as if the steed challenged both he and Alyx, dared them to try and get too close while he was roaming. He had never encountered any domestic creature that acted the way the stallion did, and it troubled him as he watched the red-headed female lead the Arabian filly back into the stall. She nodded only once to him, and soon enough, she had mounted another horse; one that was older, more experienced, and stronger. Matt was ready to help if she needed it, as were the stable hands, though they were more reluctant to approach the wild stallion.

Since the stallion had presumably left the corral and was too far away for them, Alyx knew what had to be done. She gripped a lengthy rope in her right hand, and she met the gaze of the stallion before she had the stallion, one of her father's favorites, trot over to where he was. "Be careful, Alyx." She'd watched her father rope in not yet tame horses when they went too far away from the corral, and although it looked easy enough, she knew too well that it wasn't.

What could she do? If she managed to get the rope around his neck, he could easily stampede away from her, and either drag her with or pull the rope from her grip. She carefully contemplated this, and even though she could hear him making small, angered sounds, she ignored them as she quickly knotted the rope. And then she tried; she knew she wouldn't have gotten it on her first try, for he had easily dodged it. The mare she rode followed without having to be urged on, but Alyx again failed to secure the rope around the stallions neck, and even Matt could tell she was frustrated. She had to show him who was boss, that even though she felt sorry for him, he would eventually need to listen. She wasn't going to let anyone, not even a wild steed, show her up.

Tightening her grip around the mare's belly, she started off in a canter towards the horse, rope high above her head as she slowly began to swing it. She had to get it; by now, her father had to have had word about her trying to bring the stallion back on their grounds. And, her third try was the charm, but she couldn't feel good about it; not yet. Alyx gently, but firmly, tugged on the rope as soon as it went around his neck, and before he could get too far, she quickly, and perhaps foolishly, jumped onto his back.
User Image
                          Nameless Beast
                          XXXXXXXXXI Don't Need Your Pity
                          Just try and tame me...

                          [[Try to keep the powering-playing of my character to an absolute minimum please :] ]]

                          He stood his ground as the girl looked at him, tail raised and his entire body tense; ready to jump in a moments notice. He'd noticed the rope right away; he'd been chased down and roped countless times before. But the way she held herself, the way she held the rope easily told him she was inexperienced. The stallion tossed his head, as if to laugh, as she slowly made her way over to him, atop a different horse. Snorting, he pawed the ground, tossing his head as he lifted his front legs off the ground by only a foot, kicking out his hoofs as he let a loud, threatening sound escape his vocals; if he couldn’t shake the rider, than at least he could shake her mount. He'd found that some tamed horses were easily to threaten than their trainers.

                          She kept coming however. He snorted, annoyed with her determination. She wanted to break him, tame his spirit, turn him into a spineless drone just like the rest of the horses. He'd rather die. He had to respect her spirit however, she didn’t seem keen on giving up; there was no hesitance in her movements as far as he could tell. But he'd break her down, he knew he would. Once the rider and mare got close enough the stallion quickly shied away, just in time to avoid the rope she'd thrown; he felt it strike against his flank before falling away. He gave another toss of his head, quickly cantering away; though his ears were flicked backwards as he listened to the pairs movement. Again, just as the pair got closer he watched the girl toss the rope again, but he easily evaded it. He almost felt sorry for her, almost, but at the same time he was beginning to get increasingly frustrated and irritated. Even through her second failed attempt to rope him, she continued to follow him. Snorting, the stallion whipped around to face the pair, his intelligent eyes hard with irritation. But this time, he was met with her swinging the rope above her head, and he wasn’t able to move fast enough this time as he felt the rough rope slip around his muscular neck before tightening.

                          Almost immediately his eyes turned angry, his ears pinned back against his skull and an angry series of snorts fled his flared nostrils. As if that weren't enough, she started tugging on the rope, as if he were nothing but a stubborn puppy dog. It was infuriating, and demeaning. When her mount sidled up next to him, he reached out to place a angry, domineering n** on her neck… but before he could he felt an unwanted weight and pressure on his back. His entire body went stiff as his muscles rippled beneath his dusty coat as he quickly backed up a couple of steps; he'd never been so surprised by someone hopping on with no warning. He'd been ridden, or attempted to be ridden, before. It had almost always ended badly for the rider. For a moment he seemed calm, but he was merely confused. Once he realized that the girl had jumped from her mount, onto his back, it was a different story. His ears were still pinned tightly against his skull, and he turned in a tight circle, bringing his head back in attempt to n** at her legs to get her off. Dispite his hard attitude, and his wild, stubborn nature he wasn’t bad. He never wished to purposefully hard anyone… but once he got past a certain point, instinct took over and he began to lose part of himself, for the time being. He always came back after he'd calmed. But he was always fighting animal instinct when he was trapped in this four legged form, it was just a matter of keeping track of how strong it was fighting against him.

                          A loud whinny burst from his vocals as the brute reared high; kicking out his hoofs in anger, his eyes flashing. She'd have to hold on pretty tight if she didn’t want to get thrown off. Instinct told him to do everything possible to get this threat off his back, to run, and to fight back if he were cornered. His front limbs came back down to earth with a thud, and it didn’t matter if she'd happened to stay on or not as he bolted forward; hoofs thundering deafeningly over the green grass.

                          -----------------------------------------


                          Meanwhile, while Alyx had still been on her own horse, attempting to rope down the wild stallion, Erik had come up beside Matt; curious as to what the other male had been standing around, staring at. As well, he'd noticed the stallions corral was empty and he felt slight anxiety as to what Alyx had decided to do. "What- she's never roped a horse has she?"
                          Though he'd asked Matt, he knew the answer. He took out his phone, flipping it open as he pressed it to his ear as he glanced at Thomas' oldest child. "Hey Thomas, Um… Alyx's brute is out in the pasture, she's tryin' t' rope him, but I think we're gonna need a few hands to round him up and get him back in the-oh god- Erik froze as he watched, almost in slow motion, as Alyx jumped on the stallion's back. Before he knew it, he was watching helplessly as the stallion reared, before bolting off even before he'd had all 4 legs on the ground.

                          Thomas' voice could nearly be heard through the phone as he demanded to know what happened, but Erik didn’t respond. Thomas hung up, on his way down to the pasture where they were.

                          -----------------------------------------


                          As soon as he was off at a full gallop, feeling his hooves thundering over the uneven ground, feeling the breeze tug at his hair, he felt as though he couldn't stop. He'd been cramped up for so long, for years he'd been unable to stretch his legs like this. He was making his way around the perimeter of the pasture, eventually he'd make it back to the gate of the pasture where he'd started out at. But he would be exhausted, as exhilarating as the run was, it was extremely tiring for a horse that hadn't been exercised properly for a long time.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


"Alyx!" She could barely hear her older brother's voice over the whinny that came from the stallion, and before she could react, he bolted forward with such momentum that she was surprised she'd been able to hold on. Alyx's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, fingers tangled as gently as possible in his mane as she squeezed her eyes shut. The panic of the stable-hands was obvious, though there was nothing she could do at this point until the stallion calmed down. She could also hear her brother's shouting somewhere off in the distance, but she didn't dare look up; at least not yet.

When Alyx finally opened her eyes, everything looked as if it were rushing by. The wind whipped her hair around her face, and she could see the stable hands grouped off in the distance, clearly keeping an eye out for a chance to grab her off the steed and on safe, solid ground. But, she didn't want to get off. A rush of adrenaline pumped through her veins, and she sat up, though she still had a good grip on the rope and the stallion's mane.

She couldn't remember a time she'd ridden a horse galloping along the pasture; it was exhilarating, refreshing, and a smile curved the corners of her lips up as she looked at the area around her. As he galloped under the trees, she easily dodged most of the branches as they whipped at her cheeks, but she didn't care. Alyx felt happier than she could remember, her smile evident to the others as the steed soon came to a halt near where she had let him go.

"Have you lost your mind? You could have been-" Matt paused, mid-scold, when he noticed that Alyx was smiling of all things. She carefully dismounted the stallion with shaky legs, and after a few attempts, she managed to get him to follow her back to his corral. She could tell that he was exhausted, but he seemed to be a bit more calm after the long run. Her arms and legs already felt tense, and she gave his muzzle a gentle pat before she faced her brother's angered expression. "You could have been seriously injured! You were lucky enough that you could hold on while he was going that fast!" Alyx winced, a sheepish smile on her lips as the mare returned to her side. "I know it's crazy, and stupid, but it was exhilarating. I haven't rode that fast in ages."

Surprisingly calm after the entire fiasco, Alyx led the mare back into its own corral, removed the saddle, and fed her a carrot before she joined her brother's side again.
User Image
                          Nameless Beast
                          XXXXXXXXXI Don't Need Your Pity
                          Just try and tame me...

                          The stallion ran until he felt as though his lungs would explode, sweat slicked his coat, and his breath came in heavy gasps. By the time he made it back to the gate leading out of the pasture, where he’d first taken off, his long legs felt as heavy as lead, it felt as though boulders were tied to his head, making it heavier. He snorted, before he felt the pressure being lifted off his back, quickly realizing that he had not thrown his unwanted rider, but she’d managed to hang on for the entire ride. If he hadn’t been so utterly exhausted, he might had considered giving her a nice shove to show how much he had appreciated her little ride. But he was just too tired, foam covered his lips as he continued to breath loudly, his head lowered in exhaustion as he felt her tugging on the rope that was still around his neck. He resisted, but eventually he dragged himself after her, slowly plodding over to the minimal shelter structure in his corral once he’d been released into the structure.

                          He dipped his muzzle into the water bucket, taking in a few slow drinks before he moved to lean against the fence, keeping his head down as he breathed heavily.

                          Erik had taken off as soon as Alyx and the stallion had galloped off, disappearing over a small hill in the pasture. By the time Alyx had returned the wild, but exhausted stallion to his corral, the 30 year old had returned with a hastily saddled quarterback, Thomas was hurrying along aside them. Erik frowned as he looked to the corral, once more housing the exhausted steed, to Alyx, who was standing nearby with the mare she’d been riding before. Thomas had obviously been debriefed, as his extremely concerned expression, with to complete relief, to anger. ”Alyx!”
                          His voice commanded attention, Erik was frowning worriedly, gently stroking his quarterbacks muzzle before leading it back to the stables to take off the saddle. Thomas only had to take a few strides to reach his daughter, and as upset as he was, there was frightened relief shining in his eyes. ”What in the world were you thinking?! You could have been killed, or injured! Roping a wild stallion like him is a last option, you get the hands to round him up. Alyx, as long as that beast is on my property, he’s still under my authority. He’s a wild stallion, he hurts you, he’s gone. Do you understand me? The safety of his family, and his workers, always came first. He’d never hesitate to get rid of a horse he considered untamable. Perhaps he could be swayed into letting the stallion run free in a pasture, or a sectioned off strip of land on their expansive acreage; much like her mother had run when she’d been alive.

                          The older male took in a breath. ”No horse is worth the health of my family. He knew his words would likely make her upset, but Thomas had always been on to get straight to the point. He grasped her shoulder lightly, if she let him.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


What had she been thinking? It'd been impulse to jump on the stallion's back before he could run away; and to be honest, she could have gotten injured either way. If she had simply held the rope, he would have pulled her off the mare, and riding on his back - she could have gotten seriously injured as well. And even though Alyx could tell that her father was relieved, she didn't dare meet his gaze as he scolded her, just as Matt had. Her brother didn't dare interject, and instead disappeared into their home to cook himself and his sister something up for dinner. She was upset, of course, and when she finally found her voice, she wasn't sure she could use it.
"I..." Alyx hesitated when Thomas grasped her shoulder, and she frowned, feeling her own resolve break. The fear she should have felt hammered at her heart, and she shook her head. "I... understand." She'd tried to prove herself in precisely the wrong way, and for what? To worry her family?

Without another word, Alyx silently made her way into the home, shoulders slumped in shame as she heard the stable hands whisper to one another. It bothered her, of course, but she hadn't the energy to tell them off. Not this time. As she pushed open the door, the strong waft of chicken and herbs hit her nose, but she wasn't hungry. Matt couldn't even call out her name as she vanished up the stairs, and he frowned before he resumed finishing their dinner.

-------------------------------------------

He'd left a plate for Thomas in his study, and it was well after sunset that Matt dared to check on Alyx. He carried a tray, a steaming plate of the food he'd made for her as well as a mug of her favorite tea. The worst she could do was kick him out, and as he carefully nudged the door open, he could see her sitting on the windowsill, looking out over the pasture. Her eyes were red from crying, and as soon as he set the tray down, he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I know you want to prove yourself to dad, but today... it was too close a call." His voice was gentle, and he brushed her red hair aside so he could look her in the eye. "Though, I have to admit I'm a bit envious; I've been wanting to ride that fast for a long time as well." Matt was relieved to see her smile at least, and he set the tray next to her so that she would eat something. She'd been up here for hours, and he could hear her stomach growl as he placed a light kiss on her forehead. "Eat up, kiddo."

Alyx had lost track of time, and she could have sworn she'd fallen asleep crying next to her window before Matt appeared with food. She was ashamed, of course, and wiping her tear-stained cheeks, she finally looked down at the plate. Her stomach growled again, and she took a few bites of the chicken breast and rice. Whomever decided to date him, who truly loved him for him, and not for his family's money, would be lucky. A man who could cook... it was every woman's dream, and Alyx smiled as she stretched out her arms and moved the tray to her desk. She'd been listening to quiet music, though it had stopped quite a while ago. The sun had set, and she figured it would be a good time to take a nice, steamy bath to relax her tensed muscles.
User Image
                          All I Remember...
                          XXXXXXXXXIs Waiting For This Echo to End
                          Just try and tame me...

                          Thomas sighed, letting his hand fall to his side as he watched Alyx trudge back to the house. He shot a few sharp looks at a few of the whispering hired hands. He felt bad for scolding her, but she could just be so hard headed sometimes! But that’s what he loved about her, it meant that she wasn’t one to easily give up… she had to keep that if she wanted to make it out in the cut throat world. She just needed to be smart about it. She was learning, but he was just as confident as ever that she would be just a strong a leader as he was in the world of horse training. He looked over to the corral that housed that wild stallion of hers, finding the steed was staring at him, his expression was oddly cold. There was something about that horse that seemed off… Having a lifetimes worth of experience around horses, he could tell that this one was incredibly intelligent, almost more intelligent than any equine he’d come in contact with. He doubted he would even try to tame that beast, Alyx had a lot of guts to give it a try.

                          He gave a small shake of his head as he turned away, heading to the stables, knowing he had some work done training a horse or two for a few hours before he called it a night. It had certainly been a hectic day already. He was gone until a hour before sunset, passing by the new stallions corral; pausing for a moment as he watched the steed pace around the corral. He seemed restless, like a dog or cat right before a bad storm. He glanced up at the clear sky, there was no storm coming. He would have thought a race through the field would have calmed him for the night, but apparently not. When the stallion noticed him standing there he stopped, pinning his ears back against his skull as he snorted threateningly, pawing at the ground as if he were preparing to charge. No, Thomas didn’t like this one, there was a wild glint in his eye that would be hard to break, there was no respect in the way he watched humans. He was glad Alyx hadn’t been quick to name him, that would mean she’d grown attached to him. He’d always warned both of his children never to grow too attached to a new animal too soon; one never knew if the animal had too many irresolvable problems and couldn’t be kept.

                          ------------------------------------------------------


                          By sunset, Thomas had retired to his study, as he often did after a long day. Only Matt or Alyx could convince him to come out to have a family dinner, and usually that only happened when the woman he’d been seeing for about a year, Marion, came to eat with them. He’d lost his wife, Alyx and Matt’s mother, more than 6 years ago, and had only started dating again a year and a half ago. Though he wasn’t thinking about marriage yet, he found he enjoyed Marion’s company. She was the complete opposite of his late wife. Valerie, his late wife, had been down to earth, stubborn beyond all reason, outdoorsy, friendly, loving and humorous. She hadn’t come from a family of money, she’d grown up in a middle-class family, with 5 siblings, and had spent her summers on the a relatives farm working with dairy cows and horses. Marion was more sophisticated, her family was deeply ingrained in the oil industry. She had little experience on any sort of farm or ranch, she never wanted to get her perfectly manicured hands dirty; though on occasion Thomas had convinced her to go out on a horse ride with him. She could come off as snooty, and little ‘high on her horse’, but Thomas had found her warm, and refreshing. She was intelligent and well educated, and enjoyed the finer things in life.

                          The stallion found he was in an incredibly foul mood. He was intensely annoyed with that-that girl. How dare she! Anytime an individual, whether it be a hired hand, or even one of the two farm dogs, came even within a couple of feet of his enclosure, or had the gall to lean against the rails he reared or bucked, made a ruckus of noise, or charged the fence if they didn’t leave quick enough. He could tell when sunset was coming, he became restless, anxious and paranoid. His hide twitched, and his tail flicked as if he were covered with countless biting flies. He knew what was coming, the paralyzing pain, the exhausting effort that came with transforming, something he’d never had control over. It just happened, at the exact same time it always did.

                          He wished he were in a more protected area, a stall with impenetrable walls. But that never happened the first couple of nights in a new home. They always thought he’d hate being cooped up… and typically he did. But he’d always felt safer when he had studier walls when he was transforming. Usually, if it were possible, he’d break out of whatever enclosure he was in, either by jumping the fence or unlocking it when no one was around to miss him; however, the locking mechanism was just a little too hard to get to, and too complicated for his horse lips. So he’d just have to stay here, and perhaps after a while they’d stable him at night… that would probably mean he’d have to be on better behavior however, something he wasn’t overly willing to do.

                          As if a timer had gone off, as soon as the sun had disappeared behind the horizon the stallion had stopped pacing, pausing under the shelter, hiding under the shadow of night, and was leaning heavily against the fence, his sides heaving as he struggled to take in enough breath. Sweat already covered his hide, and his head hung low with eyes closed weakly. His long, strong legs quivered with the onset of weakness, before they buckled beneath him and he rolled onto his side; stretching out his large frame.

                          He was visibly gasping, he couldn’t get enough air, and soon enough his entire body seemed to be twitching and seizing; though under the cover of darkness, it probably appeared as though he were simply laying down. Now he couldn’t breathe, and his entire body went tense as blinding pain spread like fire through every vein, muscle and nerve. He could feel his bones breaking, moving and rearranging, his muscles pulling and ripping. Things were changing, rearranging nerves, bones, muscles. Organs were shrinking. The transformation was short and silent, the most painful experience he would have to go through again in near 12 hours. It left him in a smaller frame, his human body. He laid on his side, his entire body shaking with shock and lingering pain. His breath still came in gasps, filling his lungs with air. He was weakened, and sweat shown across his bare, naked, frame.

                          He was clearly a grown man, in his mid-twenties. He was quite tall, standing at a proud and charming 6’2, with a built and toned framed, though he was no where near being bulky or over-built. His skin was a fair olive tone, free of blemishes, but the scars that had marred his hide as an equine, still marred his skin in this form; old, white and pale pink scars stretched across his back, thighs, legs and arms. Where he had been a handsome horse, his features were still handsomely chiseled, though still hardened with a pained past, and a recently painful experience. Staring out at the world were a pair of liquid brown eyes, the same intelligent eyes that had watched the world as a horse. A mop of messy, uneven cut locks of raven black covered his head; it looked as though he’d trimmed them himself, without a care of how they looked. He hated having long hair, and when he cut his hair, it was short in both forms.

                          His entire body was drained, it was a struggle to pull himself into a sitting position; breathing heavy as a low groan escaped his lips. A small shiver ran up his spine as a cool night breeze washed over his sweat-dampened skin. He kept a watch out however, the last thing he wanted was to be stumbled upon… if he noticed any sign of someone coming, he slipped through the bars of the corral to disappear behind the stables.


                          I dare you
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. Alyx Marie Jackson
xxxxxxxDon't Tell Me Who I Am


She had taken her time bathing, and when Alyx had finished, her bathroom was filled with steam. Wiping an arm across the mirror, she frowned when she spotted a few, although healed, scratches from her "ride". The branches had taken their toll on her otherwise fair, lightly tanned skin, but she simply shrugged it off as she changed into a pair of light pajamas; capris and a tanktop. The cool air in her room was refreshing, and she figured it wouldn't hurt to take a short stroll outside before she went to sleep, as she usually did. Alyx never seemed to mind the cool night air, even less so if it was raining outside. She loved the outdoors as her mother had, and so she quietly tiptoed down stairs and went outside.

The grass tickled her bare feet, and she wandered towards each corral, petting each horse as they, too, readied to sleep for the night. Her last stop was the corral where the wild stallion was kept, but when she arrived, she quickly discovered that the latch had come undone, and the stallion had left. Alyx checked again just in case, and when there was, in fact, no sight or sound of the stallion, she scowled and ran back to the house as quickly as she could.

"Dad, the stallion... it's gone." Alyx was clearly upset, but at the moment, she was more frustrated than anything. Matt came in upon hearing her exasperated outburst, a sleepy look in his eyes. "Gone? Are you sure?" Alyx glared at her brother, then looked at their father again. Would it be alright? She knew it wasn't supposed to rain, but for whatever reason, she still worried. Matt rolled his eyes, and placed a brief hand on her shoulder. "We can look for him in the morning, sis. He can't have gone too far, right, dad?"

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