Am I worth it? {open}

[Pink Rose]

Brown eyes searched their pen. The mare nickered and trotted to the gate. She yearned to run free. She wanted to kick the air and bounce. Faith whinnied and trotted around her pen, restless, but was she worth it? Was she worth it to train and to use. Would she be a good mother?, would she get into trouble? She didn't know. She never did. Faith finally layed down in the dirt, and tucked her legs up under her. She wanted to take a nap but couldn't, she knew if she didn't the cold air would surely freeze her. Well, maybe. She didn't know about that either. Was she stupid? Surely not. Faith watched the masters and mistresses pick their slaves, and she wondered if she would even become one.

[misty]

<sup>Phantom's Shadow had to remind herself several times why she had come here. You need more slaves, Phantom, you need more slaves. That was the phrase she repeated over and over to herself. The ebony mare was, simply put, freezing her tail off. It was times like these when she wanted a beta the most. Unfortunately, it took a lot to impress her, and no slave, free-roaming, or even master had ever made the powerful impression on her that would convince her to place the beast a the head of her bodyguard.

As she passed a large brute, Phantom grudgingly admitted - in her head - another need. The femme would have to find male slaves soon. Sighing, she went over the pros and cons, almost wishing pros would stop coming up. Stallions were more trouble than they were worth, but the were somehow essential to the growth of a herd. One good thing would come out of male slaves: Phantom could start raising slaves instead of claiming them.

Even wrapped up in her thoughts, the vixen noticed how sickly the slaves seemed. After a year of business, it seemed only the old and weak were left. They would never last through the winter, much less through heavy toil. One fact that bothered Phantom extremely was that many of the brujos were fit and healthy. Even though she had already told herself she needed males, Phantom would not forsake her prejudice yet. Ignoring all the brutes, she claimed the first mare that she saw.

She was a dainty palomino with large chestnut eyes. A pretty creature, indeed. Phantom's kissers formed a odd smirk as she thought this. The smirk was a mixture of pride, accomplishment, and taunting. It was as if she was ready to gloat about her good find to a skeptic. The black witch congratulated herself on finding a fae who would work so well as a broodmare. Now if she could only find a male that the palomino would consent to breed with. While other - male - masters would force a mare into a breeding, Phantom's soft spot for her gender allowed only free choice, though a limited free choice it was. Only stallions approved by Phantom's Shadow would be considered as suitors. A weak or ill foal was of no use to the herd, and Phantom would allow no freeloaders on her land.

"Faith," Phantom said, reading the small nameplate on the horse's pen, "follow me to your new home." The cold left no room for pomp or long greetings. Phantom wanted it short and sweet so she could get home as soon as possible. Lifting the latch delicately with her lips, the charcoal mare freed Faith. With a toss of her and a flick of her whipcord, she indicated that the femmora had better keep up or be left here. As they walked away, Phantom decided to get to know her slave more.

"Do you have any talents, Faith? What was your previous task, if any?"

As she spoke, tiny white flakes began to float down from the sky. Annoyed, Phantom shook them off as soon as they touched her coat. The vix had never liked the snow; too much white, and the snowflakes ruined the blackness of her pelt. Very thankful she was for her dark forest, with trees so dense, snow hardly ever touched the ground. With a small smile she thought of her waterfall and its rushing water that would never freeze. The pool under it never iced over either, a fact Phantom was very proud of. Water was available all year round, good for her growing herd.

Now if only she could get out of this blasted snow.</sup>

[Pink Rose]

Faith watched out of her pin, her tail swooshed behind her. Was she the only fit mare? She reared and let her front feet fit the groun with great force. Maybe someone would like that. She shook her mane and trotted around, trying to get the cold off her. When, all of a sudden, when she turned around, another mare was staring at her. Then she spoke. 'Faith, follow me to your new home.' Faith nodded quietly and walked after her, her excitement rising. She whinned and jumped the pen, without opening the gate. She was too excited. Although she was excited, her pride and also shyness wouldn' let her show too much of it. Faith held her head low, in respect to her leader.

"Yes my mistress, I may have some talents. I can jump high! I think I might be a good mother. And, I am not rebellious. I do not run away, maybe because I am too slow. You'd catch me. But it's not that, I just know I'd be in trouble if I ran off."

Faith snorted. She hated admitting she was slow, but she couldn't hide it was her mistress either? She wasn't slow like she couldn't run, but she was just a tad slower then most horses. She pawed the ground and shook her mane, she was restless. She wanted to get going as soon as she could. She couldn't bear seeing the poor slaves, dying ones, weak ones. She turned her head away, and stared at the ground. Faith knew, that to some masters, slaves her dirty scum. Faith liked her mistress' appearance. It had a beautiful look to it, it made her want to stare at it all day.

[misty]

<sup>Phantom listened carefully as Faith ticked off the list of her talents. At each one, she nodded approvingly. The slave was a jumper, good; she would be in good shape and might fetch a prize if Phantom set up a jumping competition. She had motherly instincts, another good thing, especially for what was planned for her future. However, the best thing Phantom's Shadow heard was that the fae would never run way: a priceless attribute.

"Faith, you are a gem among slaves. And be aware that I do not give praise lightly."

It was true that Phantom seldom gave out any uplifting comments. Right now, though, she was more giving thanks that she did not have to worry about a runaway than actually praising the mare. Still, she had said something good about Faith.

The black femme noticed that the palomino turned away from the slave pens. Glancing at them, Phantom could see why. In every pen lay a weak and dying horse. Some were broken and bleeding, others simply lay on the ground, having lost the will to live. It was a wonder that Faith was still here and not snatched up by some brute. Thankfully, new slaves would be coming any day now, and Phantom would have plenty of fresh, healthy horses to choose from. Then she would find a possible mate for Faith.</sup>

^{Ooc- If you want to, you can make a plot with someone who has a male slave. ;]}

[Pink Rose]

Sure.

Faith watched her new mistress with interest. She seemed to think of her as a treasure, oh well, no turning back. When her mistress spoke, she glowed with warmth. Someone had complimented her! Faith smiled back at her and looked at the ground. She wondered if Phantom would be a nice master. She couldn't tell now. Faith guessed she was a very good horse compared to other horses. She had to hold back a whinny of delight.

"Thank you m'lady. That was very kind of you."

Faith looked up, and then looked at the gate. She ignored most of her mistress' movement, for fear of doing something wrong. She stared at the gate grinning, no going back. She walked along. She wanted to say something, something. Faith didn't want Phantom to think badly of her! Her heart fluttered and she spoke softly. Her words floated out like music, it was easy to talk, but hard to find the words.

"Do you have any slaves at your land, m'lady?"