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 Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:23 pm
 The sun's rays chased the darkness and shadows away as dawn's brush painted the sky a myriad of hues. The light pinks and oranges chased the cobalts and violet of night away. Javera wasn't often up so early as to be able to watch this, her favorite of nature's displays, but with the coming of late fall, the dawn came later as night lasted longer. She admired the light as it set the few leafy trees ablaze. Their fall finery glowing like fire, but without the heat.
As winter approached, and she was forced further and further from her comfortable feeding areas, 'Vera found herself needing to leave the comfort of the familiar earlier and earlier if she was to return each night. She was a lone mare without a herd, protected by the kindness of a two-legger who she knew would let her be free if she found somewhere to belong. But that was crux of the matter, wasn't it?
She didn't really belong anywhere did she?
With a soft sigh the dark mare heaved her form up, legs swaying just a little as they weren't yet awake, and prepared to face yet another long day of wandering, looking for some food and perhaps a spot of company as well. With a last lingering glance at the sun as it finally peeked over the mountain tops, Javera was on her way.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:41 am
 Perhaps the thing about Hawkbit was his wandering. It drove his father absolutely crazy when he was younger, and now that he was old enough to find a herd of his own, settle down, sire some young, it was driving him crazy. Had he simply not come to terms with his own aging? Or did his wanderlust stem from some deeper thing? He knew he wasn't getting younger, and now, he was in what could be considered the prime of his life. But instead of leading a herd, as he'd been told was his destiny, he spent his time galloping over the plains and through the foothills, letting whimsy be his only guide. This was probably not healthy behavior. Where was he today? Far from his ancestral lands, and even farther from the patch of ground he tended to call his home range. He'd been roaming for how long now? Five, six, seven days? He could feel the mats in his mane, the burrs in his fur. When he turned his head to look behind him, he could see his flyspecked hide spattered with mud. He was a mess, and he knew it. And he still hadn't found any deep sense of personal satisfaction from roaming this far. He sighed to himself. Just what was it that he was looking for to begin with? A cool, slow breeze brought the scent of another horse brought some temporary closure to Hawkbit's sense of ennui. He wheeled around, searching for sight of the stranger. Scanning the distance, he saw her in front of him. She was a mare, a dark-coated mare. She looked healthy, and though she was fine-boned, she appeared to be well muscled. If she was out here alone, it was probably of her own volition. Mares like that weren't abandoned by their herds. Holding his ears at attention to demonstrate interest, not aggression, he raised his lips and whinnied a loud greeting, establishing a confident presence. If his posture wasn't enough, his demeanor would certainly be adequate to convey his intentions. If these lands were a rogue mare's territory, he'd be respectful enough not to intrude... but if she was scouting it out for a herd, he'd be leaving. He was certainly not in the mood for a fight today.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:44 am
Though the day already promised to be sunny, bright, and beautiful, there was a feeling of pensiveness. A thoughtfulness and care that impressed itself on Javera. It would soon be time to start heading south with her two-legger, and as she noted the chill in the air thought it wasn't soon enough. Though she was idly noting her surroundings, her head was off in the clouds, following a bucnh of empty thoughts and dreams.
The wind shifted slightly, bearing the scent of another forcing her from her silent contemplations. A male. She breathed in the scent, learning it, as she looked around for the stranger. She held herself confidently, hoping that he wasn't out looking for a fight.
Eyes caught sight of the sturdy, strong looking appaloosa. His ears showed an interest, and his body stated he was peaceful (for now) so 'Vera allowed herself to relax somewhat as she trotted daintily over.
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Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:32 am
Although the urge to graze was strong, Hawkbit was enough of a gentleman and, in some senses, a politician to know that it was incredibly impolite to graze on another herd's territory without permission, especially if it was a large herd. They worked hard to defend it, and every mouthful of stolen grass was grass stolen from the mouths of foals. Gods, if his father hadn't driven that into his head enough when he was young...
His mind returned to the present as the mare's hoofbeats got nearer. He watched very carefully as the female approached, searching her body language for clues about exactly where he was trespassing. She carried herself easily and lightly; this was not a war charge. And she didn't seem to be looking for a personal fight, either, which, honestly, was good. Her body makeup was far more refined and delicate than his, and the stocky stallion hated fighting with mares. He wasn't afraid, just... what was the word? Chivalrous. Or chauvinistic, depending on how one wanted to look at it. But either way, if these were her herd's lands, she'd correctly assessed that he was no threat to her or to them. As she neared him, he snorted in acknowledgment and greeting. "Good day," he said in a reserved tone, the kind appropriate for strangers. "I am Hawkbit. Are these your herd's lands that I am passing through?" Best to be direct, really.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:19 pm
Javera stopped short, pulling her head back in surprise at the blunt statement. She'd wandered here to this particular stretch of land, knowing that it was in a sense a neutral zone, belonging to no herd in particular and thus was safe for those like herself belonging to no herd. She thought that every mustang in the area would know that. Then she tilted her head slightly. Perhaps he wasn't from around, which would explain his lack of knowledge.
She laughed lightly, without a trace of mockery. It was refreshing to find honesty and such a polite temper in a foreigner. " A fine day indeed," she returned, though the sun had yet to even come close to its zenith. The day was shaping up to be fine indeed. "I'm Javera."
She would have to correct his assumption about her belonging to a herd, but how to do so without being impolite was the dilemma she was faced with. The manners that were ingrained in her since foalhood suggested that being direct was probably the best way. "These lands are somewhat a no-mustang's land, a buffer zone between the herds, so I would say you are not intruding." She smiled softly. " And I am a wanderer, probably a bit like yourself. I belong to no herd."
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