Will Life Accept A Stallion? [[Light]]

[Spark]

OoC// I'm changing Sweet Sacrifice's alliance. I think I have enough Darks, lol.

The muscles rippled under the stallion's varnish coat as he galloped over hills and through valleys. He moved with the swiftness of the rabbit and the speed of a cheetah. He lived for this. The wind whipping his mane and tail like brilliant banners in a storm. Slowly, his gait moved down a few notches to a trot, and then a walk. Here, Sweet Sacrifice was looking for a herd. He needed one, and badly.

As a colt, he had heard many a story about the fued between the Lights and the Darks. From what his dam had told him, he was a Light. And maybe it fit him. Who knew. Though he had been taught that it was bad to show emotion, he did not care much. Sacrifice was kind to mares and foals, yet quite aggressive towards stallions. Was he really meant to be a Light? He did not know, but...maybe. Right now he had to focus on finding a herd.

Sweet Sacrifice walked to a large tree and stood under the shade. He dipped his head, pulling up grass by its roots and chewing slowly. The stallion was hungry, but right now his mind was on finding a herd. He chewed more, then swallowed the pulpy concoction. Sacrifice dipped his head once more, pulling up more grass and eating.

[Shadow]

((I might just have a little herd for him soon. Once Arian and Mizu (and Jubal; though he's a bit young for such decisions. . lol) decide on a terra to settle on, they might come visit Sacrifice. )

[Spark]

OoC//

Okay, thanks. =)

[Shadow]

The dragonfly dipped toward the earth, then paused, hovering tantalizingly close to the ground. Pouncing quickly, a small colt dove at the insect. Moments before he could touch it, the dragonfly zipped away. Unwilling to allow his "playmate" to escape, Jubal dashed heedlessly after the swift winged creature.

The colt's dam, Arianrhod, was grazing quietly. She lifted her head on occassion to watch his play with a loving gaze. For a brief few minutes, she dropped her muzzle back to the ground to graze a little more. It was in that split second that her son abruptly took off. The Thoroughbred mare raised her head at the sound of quick-tempoed beats upon the ground in time to see Jubal racing away after an insect. Not daring to call for fear of drawing unwanted attention upon them, Arian simply took off after him at a gallop.

Unaware of the panic he'd caused in his dam, Jubal pursued the dragonfly, following it's darting path as quickly as his young legs could carry him. He paid little attention to his surroundings, thus he did not notice when he approached the place where a lone stallion was grazing.

[Spark]

Sweet Sacrifice did not react to the sound of quick hoof beats. Just more horses moving on to their new homes, he supposed. Maybe just another loner galloping in search of a horse that would take him or her into a nice herd. His muzzle was at the ground, ripping up more grass. He chewed with his head down, until he noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye.

The stallion jerked his head up, staring at a little foal galloping after a dragonfly. Sacrifice shook his head, laughter bright in his dark eyes. He did not notice that the foal was being followed by a mare, full grown. And so he just dropped his head to graze more. The foal would not pester him much, so he figured he could be left in peace.

But then he sensed another presence. The stallion lifted his head to see a mare following the little foal. Ah, a mother trying to keep her foal in sight without drawing major attention. He had seen his mother do this exact same thing with his brothers and sisters. Especially with his sister Blanca. She was the most wanderous filly of all; and the most disobedient. But, alas, that was a long time ago. Before the herd was rounded up by wranglers.

[Shadow]

Jubal, absorbed in the thrill of pursuit, did not notice the nearby stallion. Nor did he realize that his mother was worriedly chasing after him. His whole mind and body was concentrated on following the erratic flight of the dragonfly. It flitted up and down, side to side, never still for a moment. A brief snort burst from the colt, frustrated that he had yet to catch the quick-moving insect.

Arian galloped hard, but slowed swiftly as she noticed a varnish-pelted stallion. She eyed in with nervous wariness, body tense in preparation for responding to whatever he might do at her arrival. A quick glance informed her of where Jubal was and she carefully placed herself between her son and the stranger, though still walking toward Jubal. She kept sending covert glances toward the stallion, wary of any suspicious movements. The Thoroughbred mare wanted to get her son away before the stranger could do him any harm.

[Spark]

Sacrifice stared at the mare out of the corner of his eye. She was looking at him in an odd way. The Andalusian lifted his head once more to gaze at her through heavy eyelashes. A quiet snort escaped his flared nostriles, and he took in her scent. The Thoroughbred smelled like a Light, but he could not be for sure. He took one step closer, then thought better of it. Sacrifice stood in place, not wanting to frighten the mare or her foal.

Sweet Sacrifice knew that mares did not expect stallions to be kind to a foal that was not their own, and he did not want her to think of him as one of those stallions. The Andalusian swished his tail in annoyance. Was there a way he could get her to trust him? He could use the advantage. She was probably in a herd, and if he was lucky, he could be invited into the herd as well. Although, he knew how slim his chances were.

"I won't hurt your colt, if that's what you're thinking,"He spoke in a low tone, so as not to frighten her by speaking to loudly and suddenly. That would probably ruin everything. Sacrifice kept his head down, his lips to the lush grass as he pretended to continue with his grazing. He purposely swished his tail in a relaxed manner, looking as if he were at lesure and just swishing away the pesky flies.

[Shadow]

Finely-shaped ears twisted at the sound of a quiet snort from the stallion and Arian halted. Pinpointing Jubal's location and assuring herself that he was safe, she halted and turned to face the stranger. Her ears, pricked to catch any and all suspicious sounds, flattened slightly as he took a step towards her. The experiences the Thoroughbred had in her past with stallions were not ones that were conducive to trusting any of that gender.

Jubal watched in disappointment as the dragonfly skimmed across a small brook and darted out of sight. Turning, the colt trotted slowly back to his dam. When he noticed that they were not alone, his liquid brown eyes went wide and he pressed himself close to his dam's side. His mother's distrust of stallions since the time he had been very small had been communicated to him in a lively terror of any stallion. Not to mention that the encounter with Lazuli, having ended badly, had increased that terror. A shiver of fear shook the small colt and he pressed himself even closer to his mother, watching the stallion with fear-filled eyes.

Arian paused long enough to nose her son reassuringly, then turned her attention to the stallion as he spoke. The mare's ears twisted from one position to another; it was clear she was not comfortable with the situation. Her eyes narrowed warily. 'Why should I trust the words of a stranger?' And of a stallion, no less. she added internally.

Mizu was the first stranger Arian had trusted in a long time, nor was she entirely sure why. The truth of the matter was that Mizu had gotten close through the single weak spot in the walls Arian had built around herself. By befriending Jubal and having that friendship reciprocated, Mizu had done the unthinkable and succeeded in gaining Arian's trust. Such would be a much harder task for a stallion. . . .

[Spark]

A giant head swung from side to side as he shook his head in dissappointment. He knew it. Mares never trusted lone stallions. Or most stallions, for that matter. Another hoof stamped into the grass, but he stayed in place. It would be difficult for him to get this mare to trust him, if it even would happen at all.

Finally, Sacrifice lifted his head to gaze into the mare's eyes. "I am not like normal stallions," he said, as though reading her thought that she added to her question. "I do not harm foals. They are precious to life and are life itsself. I believe it is wrong to do harm to something to young and necessary to our world. And mares are also important. I will never harm a mare nor foal, only stallions when necessary."

He was trying to show her that he was not much of a fighter. He was sometimes...but that was only towards stallions. And only stallions that challenged him, for the matter. Sacrifice would never dream of hurting a mare or foal. He really did believe they were too precious to life for anything to happen to them. That is why he grieved so much at the loss of his favorite son.

[Shadow]

Arianrhod's Thoroughbred figure was tensed, ready for action the moment any indication for such was made. Though other mares would likely be disarmed by the stud's words of reassurance, Arian was far from a normal mare. Her experiences in life had taught her a strong distrust of any stallion. The most recent dealings with stallions had not gone well and she saw no reason why this one would not likely end up the same.

Arian could feel Jubal relax minimally at the stallion's gentle words, but she remained tensed and wary. So he was different from other stallions. In what way? Did that simply mean he was more cunning in the methods he chose to harm mares and foals? He seemed to indicate that he was not much of a fighter, but it could well be a lie.

Surprisingly, it was Jubal that broke the tense silence. 'You not hur' me?'

Muscles bunched and the mare felt rage flood her at the very thought of anyone harming her son. Anyone who dared would have to face her; and an angry mother is a very dangerous opponent.

[Spark]

Sweet Sacrifice lifted his head, gazing gently into the small colt's eyes. "Of course not," he nickered in a gentle, soothing tone. If the mare was angry, he did not want the colt angry. Or, more importantly, he did not want the colt to be scared of him. His gaze moved up to the Thoroughbred mare.

"I know you do not trust me. You're making it obvious. But I am Sweet Sacrifice, Lead Stallion of the Kotbak herd. Well...I was, anyway. What might your name, and your son's, be?" The Andalusian dipped his head in formal greeting. He was trying to atleast be polite and show some respect and manners. Although...dignity was one thing he was not showing. But, for some reason, Sacrifice just didn't care.

He wanted to prove that not all stallions were bad, or as some mares called them, 'evil'. The Andalusian was an oddball when being compared to most stallions. If he were stuck in a pen with many stallions and only one mare, he would stick out. Sacrifice would probably be the only stallion trying to just talk to her instead of force breed or sweet talk her.

But, of corse, the Thoroughbred did not know this. And she probably would not for quite some time.

[Shadow]

Though Jubal's shy nature would usually cause him to react to another's gaze by hiding his face, the colt managed to meet the stallion's gaze. The gentleness of the stallion's eyes helped to calm him and with the intuition of the young, he knew that Sacrifice spoke the truth.

Arian was not so easily convinced. She'd met too many stallions who were only interested in her for her capability in bearing foals. So far, she had not met any who were interested in her for her personality; in who she was. Nor did it seem to her that she ever would. Still, the Thoroughbred had no intention of being rude.

'I am Arianrhod and my son is Jubal.' she introduced, nodding to her colt as she introduced him.