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 Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 2:17 pm
Ears forward and tail up love loped across the rolling hills of his territory. Well, his and Carnivore's territory. He came up short when he made it to the border. His mind saying he could take whatever came his way if he crossed. but his hooves wouldn't go forward.
How would he like it if someone came onto his territory? He he flicked his ears considering. He had to seriously contemplate what he was going to do. He stomped his foot. He honestly didn't need to cross. And yet something pulled him. He tossed his head and trotted across.
He almost expected booby traps to go off. But, when they didn't, love moved on into the new territory.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 2:29 pm
 Gawain had let his hooves wander this morning. There was a break in his lessons, the ones he shared with his siblings and other members of the herd, and so the colt had decided to explore. He wouldn't go far of course, the lands beyond the herds territory was unsafe. Yet if he was going to one day become a Lunar Guardian one day then he would have to overcome fear and learn not only these lands the herd dwelt in but those outside of it as well. And so the tan colored colt, who so closely resembled his father in many ways, made his way to the border.
Above him in the trees Herne, his fathers owl, kept watch on the boy. Normally the owl stayed close to Maponus, but as soon as Gawain had left the central grove he had taken to wing and followed the colt. If anything bad happened, then Herne would alert the others. For now however the owl seemed content to let the foal explore, knowing that the spirits would keep him safe within these lands.
The colt trotted along the lush grass, noting where the trees were, he knew the thick stand of forest looked nearly impenetrable from outside but to those of the herd they could tell where the breaks were and used those hidden entrances to their advantage. If evil could not get into the grove then the herd would be safe. Movement ahead caught his attention and Gawain brought his hooves to a stop. There was a strange horse up ahead. Herne flew down to a lower branch, so that he would be closer to the colt but did not usher his back into the safety of the trees just yet, though the owls eyes remained on the stranger.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 2:41 pm
Love lowered his head and lipped at the grass. Maybe he had just needed to get out of his territory so he could think. He felt so calm here... like nothing could touch him. He nibbled the grass and then looked up to freeze.
It was hard to believe a small colt such as the one in front of love, could make horse of Love Stories' size freeze in mid step. Love stories swallowed and took in the situation. He saw the owl and he saw the foal. What he didn't see, scared him most. There was no one who would attack.. that must mean that they were behind that impenetrable wall of trees.
He raised his head to and alert position and sniffed. While his senses weren't the best... he could detect that the foal in front of him was from this herd... So... why did they send out there young first? He called a greeting across the meadow. "Hello!"
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:09 pm
Gawain watched the stallion for a few moments. He didn't look threatening, other than the fact that he was extremely large compared to him. His eyes moved to Herne for a moment. The owl merely ruffled his feathers and then looked towards the stallion again. Well if Herne didn't object to him speaking with the stallion then neither would his parents. Gawain took a few steps forward so that he would be nearer the stallion but still kept a bit of distance between them just in case he needed to make a quick getaway.
His head tipped to the side as he inspected the stranger. The stallion had a pelt on his back, not all that different from the one his parents had, though certainly not as big or impressive as the one his father wore. "Hello." He finally said after a few moments. Well now what? He hadn't exactly ever met an outsider before, the herd was pretty secluded after all. "Where are you from?" Gawain finally asked, certainly he wasn't from the herd, but just how far had the stallion traveled in order to reach this area.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:23 pm
Love tossed his head and took the foal talking back as an ok to come closer. He lifted one large hoof after the other and moved toward the foal. He lowered his head carefully. Where was he from? An indian Village? Spain? or the breeder in England? "Im a loner... just passing through." He nodded and then looked over his shoulder just to make sure no one was closing in around him.
"My name is Love Stories..." He pawed the ground uncomfortably. "What is this land?" It just had a sense of calm to it that he hadn't felt from a place, ever before.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:29 pm
As the stallion took a few steps forward Gawain stood tall and still. He would not show fear in front of this stranger, well not unless there was need to be. With Herne here to watch and act as a warning sign Gawain was able to remain relaxed. His head bobbed a bit in greeting as the stallion introduced himself. "I am Gawain." He knew he should have properly introduced himself, with herd title and all, but his father had also taught him to only do so to those who could be trusted and as of yet he wasn't sure if this stallion could be completely.
So he was a traveler merely passing through. With a quick glance at Herne, who bobbed his head in approval of the foal talking about the herd Gawain refocused on the stallion before him. "These are the lands of the Followers of the Moon, a herd run by my father and mother." He was proud of that, of his heritage, of the fact that he was the son the the Astral Walkers. The herd and it's beliefs were as important to him as the air he took in with each breath. "Do you truly not belong to a herd?" The concept of a loner was confusing to him. All along he had been told that a lone horse could not survive long, that is why the herd was so close, to protect all the members and ensure the ways of the Followers never died.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:42 pm
Love watched the horse look from the owl and back to himself. Maybe he had crossed over into wonderland where owls were the heads of herds. This thought amused him greatly and he snorted. However it occurred to him that the foal was talking. He twitched his ears.
He nodded his head in respect. "So are you set to lead the herd after your father?" It was just a simple question. He had never known a herd format. Shaking his head no he spoke. "No... I belong to no herd..."
He glanced back to the trees. "Are you alone out here? Foals of your age and stature... shouldn't be out by themselves... " He tossed his head and then remembered the owl. "Oh... and who is your friend?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:49 pm
"If the Spirits say so then I may lead the herd after my parents. It is not up to me." The Spirits decided everything, if they thought him better for another position and chose another to lead the herd then he would accept that openly. He would serve the herd however the Spirits chose, oh yes he would love to be a Lunar Guardian, in fact felt like he was born for the role, but it wasn't up to him.
Gawain gave his head a bit of a shake. "No I am not alone." The Spirits were with him after all, as long as he was on herd land he would never be truly alone. "The Spirits watch over me, as does Herne." He pointed to the owl with his muzzle. "He is my father's companion, but he watches over my siblings and I when needed." He looked towards the bird, but the owl seemed to have settled down to wait out the conversation, though his eyes remained open and focused in case any danger were to come. It would take but a single call from the owl to bring the entire herd charging forward to protect Gawain if needed.
"Is it hard to live on your own?" Gawain couldn't imagine it. How did one live when not surrounded by others, taking in their protection, knowledge and friendship.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:58 pm
"Spirits?" Was this boy delusional? He mentally went back in his mind. Hadn't the indians had a spirit? Or two or three? "Its not up to you?" He felt very much like a rare bird he had seen in the village that simply repeated what the person spoke. He shook his head. "Thats a load of-" he broke off and glanced at the owl. " Im sorry... but a horse makes its own fate... No greater being... if you get into a fight and die... its because you got in a fight... If you become leader... its because you work for it."
Tossing his head in agitation he sighed. "Its not the easiest life to live... but it is not a hard thing to accomplish." He flicked his tail relaxing again. "You remember to eat and remember to train... find a good mare... and then life is fine." He was still working on finding a good mare. He shifted uncomfortably. Was Carnivore his good mare?
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 4:07 pm
Gawain gave his head a firm shake. "No, the Spirits are our guides. They know what destiny awaits us all and we cannot disobey them." Doing that would have dire consequences for not only the individual but possibly the herd as well. "If I were to get in a fight and die then it would be a decision of the Spirits, not because I chose to fight." Certainly this horse was a non-believer, or at least had never encountered such beliefs as this before. He glanced at Herne, the owls eyes were on Love and his pupils were wide, almost as his he was in a state of disbelief over the stallions words. "It is the way of the herd, and one should not question it." Clearly this colt was well educated in his herds ways or else he would never speak so confidently and knowledgeable about this.
Gawain bobbed his head as he listened to Love. He had been told before, by the elders that life as a lone horse was challenging, but certainly not impossible. After all Love was standing before him now and the stallion seemed to be in good shape and health considering he lived alone. "If you have a mare with you...then you do not live alone." The colt pointed out quite matter of factly.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 4:32 pm
Love shook his head. "So if i was to go hold my head under the water till i pass out and die... it is because your precious spirits told me to?" He couldn't believe he was aving this conversation with a foal. "Not question it? Its your life... how could you not question it?"
Love smirked."I guess you have a point" He shrugged. "But until the time is that i find a good mare... im still living alone?" He flicked his tail."But i guess i don't count as a loner as a good friend of mine is currently traveling with me...." He thought about it and then looked around.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 4:52 pm
"Those who do not follow the Spirits can not blame them when doing something as foolish as that." The colt replied, though there was a slight smile on his maw. "The Spirits can be angered by questions or by denying their wishes. Have you not had someone in the past guide you? Tell you what to do? Certainly you did and you did as you were told." Perhaps not all of the time, but this may make the stallion rethink his words. He wondered if this stallion believed that he always chose the direction to travel and thought that it was his decision alone. Surely there were forces directing the stallions hooves even if he didn't believe it.
At Love's mention of traveling with a friend Gawain glanced about, yet he could not see another in the area. "I do not see your friend. Is he horse or a Spirit?" Even though the stallion seemed to not believe in spirits it may be possibly that his companion was much like a spirit, traveling with him, silently guiding but never seen. It had not taken long for the herd to realize that one of the foals was not where they should have been. So they split up, checking all of the groves, within the trees and some, such as himself, slipped outside the forest border to see if Gawain was there. Alaunus old, by far the oldest of the herd, and could not run about looking for the foal. But he would not stand by while the other searched, so he made the slow journey outside of the trees and after a short while looking came across Gawain - and the colt was talking to a stranger.
Alaunus trotted to the colt, the movement jarring his old bones but he had to ensure Gawain was safe. Though the moment he saw Herne was there the old stallion could blow a sigh of relief. "Oh thank the Spirits you are alright." He said as he came to a stop beside the colt. "You must not wander like this Blessed Sprout." Then he turned his attention to the other stallion. "Greetings traveler. I am Alaunus, Grove Keeper of the Followers of The Moon. I must thank you for keeping Gawain safe for us, he is a curious little foal." Then again what foal wasn't curious at some point in their young life.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:11 pm
Love shook his head. "No...i guess i just needed some alone time. " He sighed. "Carnivore is a horse... and he is back..." He glanced over his shoulder. "That way a bit." Drawing himself up he watched as the old stallion came up.
He flicked his ears as he listened to the names that were spoken. He nodded his head. "He didn't seem to be getting in much trouble... He was just enlightening me on the ways of your herd."
Shaking his head he pawed the ground. "My name is love stories...Nice to meet you Alaunus."
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:39 pm
A horse named Carnivore? The colt looked off in the direction Love indicated, but he saw no other horse, obviously Love had walked quite a distance from his companion. So he was a lone horse who wasn't truly alone because he traveled with another, yet that other horse wasn't with him because he wished to be alone for a while. The world outside the safety of the grow sure was a strange one.
His ears swiveled at the old horses approach and Gawain dipped his head in respect. "I am sorry Grove Walker, I did not mean to cause anyone to worry. Herne is with me and had been keeping me safe." He knew the owl would never let anything happen to him and since Herne had seemed to accept the other stallions presence than that meant no harm would befall him. "Love was telling me about his life as a lone horse." Gawain had found it fascinating and yet a somewhat frightening prospect at the same time.
Alaunus gave the colt a small bump with his muzzle. "It is alright young one, the Spirits watch you closely." And indeed Herne's presence did ensure the boy would remain safe for as long as he were outside the trees. "Love Stories." He repeated the name and bobbed his head lightly in greeting. So Gawain had been spreading the knowledge of the herd to this stranger, very well then, it was good for others to know what the herd stood for.
A strong gust of wind suddenly blew upon the three horses. Alaunus closed his eyes for a moment, listening to what the Spirits wished to tell him. It was shocking to say the least. His eyes snapped open and he looked upon Love once more. "You travel with death at your side, yet you do not seem bothered by it. Those creatures are not natural. Heed my warning, no good will come from their presence." The rumors of the Hell Herd had managed to reach even their secluded herd, but this stallion did not look to be a member of it, and yet, his smell spoke that he traveled with one and the Spirits had confirmed just that.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:48 pm
Love snorted at the stallion. The foal was put from his mind. "No...I travel with a friend." He flicked his tail. He had no reason to feel he needed to defend carnivore. But for some reason he did.
He flicked his tail. "And let me guess." Love glanced at the foal. "Your spirits talk to you?" He shook his head and pawed the ground. "How can they tell you what you already know... I smell of carnivore...and that is how you knew." Love didn't do well with what he couldn't prove...He tossed his head. "I do not believe you..."
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