A place to call [home]? [Vengeance!]

[pandora]

He stood at the edge, the very borderline of this new mares territory, just looking at it before he dared to venture further. The sun was warm, burning into the depths of his soft black coat as he stood there, making him drowsy as he looked at the land, tempted to fall asleep. But what if the lead mare of this land found him whilst he was sleeping? He had heard of her reputation, and knew that she did not take kindly to stallions, but he was quiet, he was extremely respectful of, and lovingly loyal towards females, and only wished to ask her for a home.

Striker knew that because of his 'dark' appearance, females and males alike tended to mistake him for a master, or nasty free roamer, when in fact, he was more innocent than most fillies. Not a pushover though, well, certainly not to other stallions, he might roll over to the wish of a mare though. But he knew that he had to make sure he made it clear to the mare that owned this land that he meant no harm. Carefully, he stepped forward over the boundary into her territory, nickering softly and quietly into the air, wondering for a response.

[[Vengeance]]

Lips tore gently at the grass as the mare walked down the length of canyon that was her new home. Perhaps it would grow to be more then a home, but a life, a love. Who needed stallions when she had the land? Letting her nostrils puff into a comfortable snort, a foreign scent entered the passages. Crown snatched up, painted body going motionless as she sniffed the air. A trespasser; a stallion no less. With a begrudging flick of her thorns, the lithe mare slid into a graceful canter, spotted bodice carried toward the dark figure standing on her horizon.

True, the herd needed members, but it had no use for stallions. Or at least, not yet. Vengeance was still on the fence about that, whether or not to let in just one stallion to produce foals and what not. These thoughts toyed with her mind as she approached the brute, taking a second to size him up as she slid down to a walk. There was a sickening twist in her stomach as she noticed his striking resemblance to Storm...Head was carried high, banner flicking cautiously as she gave a loud whinny in response to his own gentle nickers. "Why is it you have crossed into my home?" She questioned, her gaze held a lick of fire for this ebon stallion standing before her. He stood about equal in height, though with more muscle and athleticism to his frame, he was handsome but she ignored that thought completely. Nothing about her stance showed arrogance nor fear, just a subtle confidence, and a look of determination that he was not getting her land if that's what he'd come here for.

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[pandora]

His nares caught the scent of the moving fae as she travelled towards him, presumably having noticed his presence with her land. For a few minutes longer he continued to nicker very softly, and rather quietly, not wishing to disturb her much, only acquire her attention. It seemed that he had gotten her attention, as she was now before him, asking him bluntly why he was here, standing within the limitations of her land. Immediately so that she would know that he meant no harm, without losing an ounce of dignity, he lowered his head in the slightest, his ears tipped forward curiously towards her.

His choice of words would not be too hard for him at all, since he was naturally polite and courtious to others, he just relaxed and made sure to be himself. “I do not wish to challenge you for anything m’lady, just to ask whether you would allow me to come and live in your herd in your beautiful land.” Usually he spoke very little to others, not through being shy, he just didn’t say a lot, he had that quiet kind of beauty, but he knew not to be quiet in front of this mare, no doubt she would take it as an annoyance weakness. After all, most mistook his silence as rude or shyness.

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[[Vengeance]]

The first thing she noticed about him was his quiet composure and respectful manners. Luckily for him, she liked quiet and respectful, it always managed to impress her. Vengeance wasn't really the quiet type, she expressed herself when she wanted to, but sometimes she just wished she could keep her big mouth shut. Returning the gesture, she arched her neck to slight bow her head at him. The flowing tone of his voice made her auds perk with interest. So he wanted to join the herd. Sapphires moved slowly over his body, which denoted speed, strength and hardiness. Surely he would do well here, if she let him in.

"I hate to disappoint you stallion, but it's not that simple. I only accept those I believe I can trust not to steal my power and live within the rules. I would have to get to know you first." A faint smirk flickered over her lips. It wasn't that she didn't like him, but she wasn't going to say yes to just anyone. Walking to his side, she turned to face back into her lands. With a gentle inclination of her head, she asked, "Shall we walk and talk? My calling is Vengeance by the way." The paint mare kept a business-like edge to her, so what if she was a little guarded? That wasn't her fault. Striding over the grass on her long slender legs, Vengeance stayed at his side as she led the way into the deep canyon that was her home.

[pandora]

Though of course he was always quiet and respectful by nature, he knew to be himself, as he had heard many things about this mare, and had formed the opinion that she would not take hidden secrets lightly, especially from a stallion. But he was not weak in his character, he let her know this, without showing any dominance or malice, that was not his intention. He smiled in quiet appreciation of what she said to him, he would have been extremely surprised if she would have taken him with those words alone, but he had been unable to think of anything else to start the conversation rolling.

Giving a slight nod of his own, he lifted his tail briefly to flick at the bugs around his back legs, but it was quickly, though unhurriedly, lowered back to where it had been laying against his legs. "Striker." Ah, he was back to using as few words as possible, back to his more quiet self, though really, even when he spoke a lot, he didn't sound like a chatterbox like some others did. It quickly occurred to him that this fae would wish to know more than his name, a name said nothing of you. "What would you like to know first?" He asked her softly, his voice betraying that he was patient and peaceful as he walked with her slowly, awaiting her first question of him.

[[Vengeance]]

Small hooves fell lightly over the grassy earth. The grass itself was thin and below was mostly reddusty dirt. Black canyon wasn't known for it's marvelous grazing,t hat was for certain, but it was enough for a herd alone. Vengeance let her legs carry her back the way she'd came, heading in no direction in particular. She allowed Striker to answer with his name, another chilling similarity, before she ventured with what she wished to know. What did she want to know? What pieces of information would lead her to better evaluate his potential as the herd stallion? Honestly, only time could answer that. Deciding to get the simple preliminaries out of the way, she just gave a casual shake of her crest and answered, "How old are you?" Vengeance wasn't intent on letting in a young stallion. They were just little sacks of hormones with minimal place in her world.

Still, the demeanor of Striker left her mildly puzzled. He was laid back and easy going, obviously content to just take things as they come for now. Nothing about him suggested dominence or power, no animosity or some hot-headed fighting spirit. Not much about him was stallion-like at all, probably a good thing in the mare's company. Vengeance suspected, however, that something ran deeper in him then this teddy-bear nature. Even if that wasn't the case, she was satisfied with him. There was some curiosity of where he came from that made him like this. Vengeance wanted to know everything about him, but that wasn't quite fair, for he knew little of her. They would start out slow. Keeping one ear looped back at him, bright eyes kept on his dark bay figure so she could watch as he replied.

[pandora]

The silence that was between them whilst he waited for her to ask him her first question was peaceful, not awkward like it could be between some. Perhaps that was because that he was never one to talk a lot, so if he were not to find the silence awkward and annoying, then neither may she. Saying nothing, he saw his name register something with her, and although he was curious, it was not his place to ask, and so he said nothing, he was the one being questioned at that moment in time anyway, it would have not looked good if he appeared nosey to her. Which he wasn’t, he was just a little curious.

His age, it was a nice and simple thing to answer with, though he was sure she did not want anyone too young, he knew from experience how annoying they could be. Though he himself, when he had been young, had been completely quiet, apart from a couple of months where he was provoked into being frustrated and on edge all the time. But he had already gotten that out of his system, and that was why she would see what she did in front of her, the calm, more mature stag that he was now. “Eight years m’lady.” Striker knew that the respectful ‘names’ horses called others who were higher up than them bothered some, though he would wait to let her tell him if she did not like it.

He lifted his head up a little bit to stop an ache from setting in at the base of his neck, he hadn’t slept for longer than a few minutes for days, and although worn out, it wasn’t showing on the outside. Striker did not have an opinion on whether or not his nature and way to go about things was to do with where he came from, but he assumed so, when he saw the hazardous and silly nature of some other stallions. It was partly why he had thought to ask this mare to join her herd, he wanted nothing more than to be at peace in his life, he didn’t care whether he protected mares or kept away from them, though of course…he did develop affections for some over time.

Something did run deeper in him than the placid personality that he showed to others the majority of the time. But it was like it would be for any other animal, every so often he would become a little moody, or a little unhappy in the slightest, but if she wished, or if she let him, he would leave for the time that he wouldn’t be perfectly placid for her. Striker was not a push over slave though, he was obedient, no…loyal would be more accurate. Though he was not possessive, far from it, if a mare, or stag for that matter, wished for it, he would protect them, or at least support them. Vengeance would find this out in time though, he doubted she could afford to just take his word for it. He noticed the watch that she had on him, and though he had one aud flicked into her direction, awaiting more questions, or even just comments, otherwise he was content to walk.

[[Vengeance]]

There he goes being all respectful again, it just made a faint flicker of a smile cross V's lips. Calling her m'lady. She decided she liked it. After all, it didn't really seem right for him to call her Vengeance. That kind of word just didn't seem to have a place in his quiet vocabulary. Besides, being called a lady seemed almost secretly romantic, even if she wouldn't let herself think that. The mare found his quiet nature soothing, Striker was making her relax and let down herself. It was a refreshing change from the usual. Never stopping with her little walk, Vengeance let her pace slacken, becoing a little more leisurely than a journey towards some destination. She was in no hurry to reach the canyon, and they still had some information to find out.

"Well I guess we have that in common, Striker." Her tone was of slight indifference, with just a touch of playful amusement. Both of them had aged eight years, a rarity it seemed anymore. All the other horses around were two and three, just barely adults. Sometimes Vengeance felt quite lonely in her maturity. Perhaps a stallion like Striker was just what she needed around here. Snorting, she shook the ebony forelock from her eyes. I don't need anyone. The herd is what needs him. Muscles of her curvature flexed as she turned to him, pale sapphire eyes watching the bay male as he walked at her side. Pondering if she should open up the conversation to whatever he wanted to talk about. She wasn't a big fan of just exchanging simple questions like his name, how old he was, or why he was here. None of that really mattered did it? She wanted to see some of the real him...

"So what do you want to tell me about yourself? Tell me anything, I don't care. And then you can ask me whatever you want." Smirking the tiniest bit, she let her eyes dance with the freedom of expression. Wondering what little bit of information he would choose to tell her. Striker had ensnared her interest, and that was really all that mattered.

[pandora]

Sensing something, he felt that perhaps she did like the little names that he used sometimes, though unless a slave or completely submissive person, they could be overdone. Talking in a respectful way was more an art form than a way of being. Though obviously the change had occurred, he didn’t really notice as he walked that she had relaxed quite a bit whilst walking next to him, he wasn’t paying close attention to her as if she were bacteria under a microscope or something. His own pace had not changed, it was as slack as it had started off being, and he himself was relaxed as he moved, casually observing his surroundings only for basic safety reasons.

At her reply, he lifted his head a little, thinking over the words for a few moments before looking over at her, showing how the simple information intrigued him. He had also experienced the exceptionally young, and the fact that they seemed to be around everywhere at this time. He let his gaze drop back to the grass and the other surroundings like it had been before, thinking quietly, musing over things as he waited with extreme and never ending patience for another question or muse of her own. Within reason he was quite an open person, though he didn’t blabber all about himself all the time, the entire world did not revolve around him. And even if it had, he might have found it annoying.

His quiet eyes flashed across to her beautiful form briefly when she asked him to reveal something of his own choice to her. Though he knew that possibly whatever he said could mean the difference from being accepted and denied, he did not think with the arrogance of a stallion who assumed he would be accepted, nor did he move with the dejection of a stallion who assumed and feared they would be denied. Striker did think that she was a beautiful and sightly mare, though he would not say it for the moment, she would no doubt assume that he was trying to woo her into being his mate, rather than merely delivering her a compliment. What to pick from all the things he had to pick from!

He thought for a while about saying something like he was free and unattached, but then again if he were not, why would he be here? And after a little longer, he decided on saying something of his history, to show the trust, not dependence as such though, that he would be willing to put in her. “When I was born, I was not a free roamer, my mother was a slave of a particular herd, and my father the master of it. She was kind, but quiet, and never dared to step up to him, though I can hardly blame her, it isn’t an easy thing to do.” Striker wondered what his point was, maybe he was just showing her that he was not a crusader as such, but didn’t take nicely to harsh treatment of mares. “The usual shufflings happened, masters changed, but when the last one died, and we all had the chance at freedom, I was one of the very few who took it.” There. He didn’t sound sad or annoying fearful of what he had told her, they were facts.

She had offered, and although he didn’t want to push deep into her history or anything, he was curious, and thought of something worthy to ask her. Amusement showed over his velvet lips for a moment as several different things crossed his mind, some of them probably best to be left for later. He then thought of something. “What do you think of foals? Whether or not they are your own.” Okay,…random, but still, his soft tone made it very obvious that he did not feel that she had to answer him, only that it was something he could ask her, out of the millions of questions available.

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