Atop a Hill, Atop a Dreamer.

[Evita]

Evita, oh Evita. The ivory white mare elongated her stride across the vast plains of this dissimilar land. She halted, saving her pace atop a hill, looking down upon forests and valleys galore. She was a lone mare, a vix from an earth far away, absconding far from her own lines.

She was picky in a peculiar sense, perhaps a bit moody, but all as well, she was happy to please, glad to defend, and honorable to boot.

An elaborate shriek thrilled through her vocals. It was a mediocre place, one of peace, one of joy, and one of loneliness. Evita had traveled long and laborously, and when a herd animal is deprived of fellow brothers, one tends to lose sight of the necesary, perhaps becoming a bit delusional.

The day was glorious, the trees, the hills, the grassy plains rolled together as one. And now the pestered mare stood between them all as if to stand in their way; to provoke them. It was a studious task to graze there, alone once more. No sign of life but the greenery about her.

The white-stricken mare started her exasperant trot, now a canter. She stood presently upon another hilltop, batting her tail and squealing for home.

[Rage~+~Aros]

Say what you would, Aros was no fool. His herd was... minimal, at best. A party of one is not much fun at all. My dears it takes two to tango, and at the least three to keep the party moving. One... simply would not do. The black stag stood aloof, his velveteen muzzle to the grass. He wasn't really eating, but the blades gave off an interesting sensation between his jaws, so he played around with them whilst he thought. What would become of him, the last living descendant of the Prince Sciro, son of the great Lord Toric, and TRUE ruler of the lands, if he found no mares to hold amongst him? The dirty truth was.. he needed an heir. Not only that, he needed a herd. Both for power, for prognency, and for status. He needed to be able to easily combat his rivals, Soliel and Azur. Those two fools who strutted around like the owned the world! Laying claim to some exalted pedigree that was gained only through the decit and trickery of their pathetic ancestors! Aros called his feelings to a halt as his jaws had begun to grind in anger. He sighed deeply, and reminded himself of the task at hand. This memory was refreshed a little better, mind you, by a soft squeal he heard off in the distance... 'twas a mare, no doubt. Stags never seueal. And mares, do, only for a few reasons...

He raised his midnight skull in a flash, ears tuned in with radarish accuracy. It took his muzzle only a few moments to catch a whiff of her sweet scent, and with hardly a heartbeat's wait the muscular stag was cantering swiftly in her dirrection. As he rounded the hilltop, what more lovely thing could he spy than a snow-white mare, her rich vocals calling out wordlessly across the air. He slowed his strides evenly, pulling up at length just to the right of her. His eyes sparkled in deep, unreadable thought, and his breath came in short, deep inhilations.

Lovely fae... out here, and so alone?

He chuckled to himself, feeling his black neck pull itself into the stallionite arch that one of his kind couldn't help. A foreleg pawed the earth absentmindedly, as his gaze gave her form the once-over.

Well you neadn't fear any longer. You will now reside with me.

His rich voice played through the air like velvet, without a hint of doubt or concern that she might refuse. Mares simply didn't refuse him. And if they did.. they soon learnt their lesson. Let them try to be catty little wenches. It was nothing HE hadn't seen before, and wouldn't deal with swiftly. But, as she had done nothing disrespectful to him, Aros was.... polite... considering the circuimstances. His ears were pricked with keen intrest, and his leg pawed twice more before stamping, leaving his form poised as if there was nothing more interesting to him in all the world, than what this white mare was about to say. Of course.. it may not have been her words that he was so looking forward to, but it was just as well that she interpret it that way.

[Evita]

The vix perked up, it was not a tree forcing itself at her, nor a bush, for that is all that came into her vision the last few days. It was a stallion; a stallion opposite her. He was large, and ebon-coated. Evita backed, now on uneven footing, for she stood upon the precipice of the hill, and her hind legs now stood on a lower level than her fore.

The mare pulled her neck up at unrest. Her ears lay on her flowing mane as she studied the beast. No neigh or shrill ripped from her vocals, silence surrounded, but noise filled her mind as a catacomb of anxiety.

[Rage~+~Aros]

---so tired... will reply, promise---

[Promise Broken]

Soleil watched from a hill within he dark shade of a towering oak. His day bark coat glimmered dimly within the shadowy depths. He was not a menacing figure, but more of a handsome appearance. He was a slightly creature, with a form of power and menace that lined a kind and generous disposition for the opposite sex. He was slightly distorted by the appearance of the stallion, but showed it only through a generous perk within his ears and a glimmer of soft fire within his eyes. He went unnoticed, and quite and he observed for but a few mere moments before taking a few short steps. Illuminating the front torso of this beautiful form as the sun beat down upon a lustrous chocolate bay stallion. Soleil, a loner... a quiet wandering form. He was a presence to be cautious around, just as any stag. He tossed up his head and let loose a screaming vocal, that was neither challenge nor protest. In fact it was more of a presence announcer. He was declaring his existence for the first time to this other. He was a born leader, natural as some stallions were. He had the blood of a fighter and he had proof within the covered scars that lined his shoulders, withers, legs, and rump. He had a thick ragged scar that fell across his chest, from when he was a yearling and had unfortunately come across a lone starving coyote. He'd gotten lucky - a storm had come. However Soleil was older now and as he gazed down the hill toward the pair, he shrilled once more, in case his first call went unnoticed. the second vocal holding more power and demand, though still not a challenge.

He continued at a walk and soon had left the shade of the tree entirely. His dark black pistons scraping the grass and bending it down. The green stalks so fragile beneath him, yet so firm in their roots. It went to prove that power could be held within recess and did not need to be shown so openly at first. To be reserved, to be cunning, to keep quiet. It was the greatest strategy of all. Thus Soleil ceased his call and merely kept forward. He was interested in this lone mare, a mare so much like himself. A beauty that went about upon her own will and searched for a herd. Twas the only difference between the two beings. He did not search for mass, he searched for individuals to build mass. She meanwhile, was searching for a herd to form protective numbers. Not unexpected. There was a respect for her within Soleil's composure, but he was a stallion and he was not a lover, he was a respecter, with some love and heart within him. He was kind yes, but he knew his duty to his world and to himself. and until she was alleged to him, he had only one concern, the protection of his herd, and thus for now his only herd was himself. He had no other, which made his job that much easier.

He stopped his movement forward upon the knoll of a smaller mound of earth. The grass bending around his knees as the tall stalks brushed and tickled his hocks and forelegs. The wind blowing about his mane as he stood tall and straight. Quiet and intimidating in such a quiet unpredictable stance. He was neutral as of now, but he was intent on this mare. He'd watched and waited, perhaps too long. If a fight should come he wished it not. He'd fought many battles, with enemies far more dangerous than a fellow equine. The experience was never pleasant, and thus a fight was but a last reserve. Let pride play a part within the minds of other aggressive stallions. Soleil had learned that one needed not to intimidate with powerful movements and aggressive vocals. Not to react was a greater power, for it showed the coolness and clear thinking that kept one alive. For to remain unemotional proved that pride did not control the life and actions of the great bay stallion, Soleil.

[Rage~+~Aros]

Aros kept after the mare, his great black neck arching gracefully, as his long strides deleted the distance between them. He made no move to touch her, just yet. He was a bit forward, prehaps, but he had some respect for personal boundaries. The soft grass beneath his hooves bent aside, brushing them clear of debris. He tossed his head to her once.. twice.. a third time. It wasn't an aggressive move, but she was sure to understand through his body language, since words had had little effect on her, that he would not back away on this point. His midnight ears pricked with all the intrest in the world, and his equally dark eyes sparkled with some unreadable emotion. She seemed afraid, but Aros did little to quell her fear. With a sharp snort, he flicked his muzzle once more, aiming to brush it against her white hide, somewhere betwixt shoulder and neck.

My dear lady... is it possible that you refuse?

It would be better for her if she didn't, truley. He would make her if he had to, but it was always better to give them a chance or two. His smooth voice whispered to her, soothing and low. He ceased his advances on her snowcapped form, and instead fixed her with a gentle stare, his tail swaying softly in the breeze. He was about to make a further oration to her, when suddenly... a scent blew past him. His ears shot back instantly, and his equine gaze focused more rearward than fore, trying to locate the menace. There were only two stallions in this world with whom he had a rivalry. This smelled annoyingly like one of them.

His muscular form heaved an exaggerated sigh. If it was a fight this stag wanted, he would get one. What difference did one mare make, that he would be intruding upon the scene? Aros wasn't sure, but he wasn't about to surrender. It was obvious that he knew of the other's presence, but he appeared to shrug it off, outwardly returning to his expression of intrest in the white mare. Let him think that he wasn't aware, let his confidence grow... Aros would be ready.

I would advise against it, though you have every right to do as you please... and I the right to stop you.

He said it lightly, tilting his head slightly and flicking his ebony tail to suggest that he had been kidding. Prehaps he hadn't, but she needn't know that. Why scare the poor thing? He shifted his weight slightly, his body preparing for a possible rush from their intruder. Even if Aros wasn't sure WHERE he was.. better safe than sorry.

[Promise Broken]

A careless breeze fell about teh dark bay form and a masculane figure step purposely forward, though non aggressive in appearance it was a false security this other seemed to have. Soleil was not ignorant, nor was he passive to extent. Noting the rival stallion made his blood curl and his ears flicker backwards. His head bent not in reverence, nor in submission. It was dare he say - a challanging move. His head thrust forward and his mane was sent askew with the sharp movement. The green shoots beneath him screamed in agony as he pressed them down, their roots bending beneath his massive weight. The weight of a powerful animal. Dark shrouded mohaghany eyes penetrated the sunlight abyss and landed upon the pearl white fea, and then upon the black. Anticipation seemed to ceap fromt he gallant stallion, named Soleil, but he did not rush in, nor make any sudden advancement; nigh he crept forward continually, a non traditional challange it be. A loner knew not the ritual of a stallion challange. For Soleil had not grown up to be within and see such ritualistic preliminaries. He knew only the stalking motion of the coyote, and he had learned his skill from them. From them he'd taken his wounds, from them... he'd learned to survive. He'd come across very few herds in his life, and thus very few stallions. He had but one way of fighting and that was the simple way of whatever it was to survive. He considered opening up a challange with a vocal, but decided not. Ignorance was bliss... for one to know Soleil, true intentions was to be a mind reader. It was no truth that Soleil was not at all a normal stallion. He had the same ideas and life styles as any other, he just played them out differently than most. The wind whistling past his head, his limbs carried him deliberately forward as he seemed to flow across the green tundra like a scent upon the breeze he drew nearer. Flowing elegantly with naught but a slow progressive walk. He need not any more. His mind a chaotic blur on occasion, was swift and smooth, all thoughts and memories combined into one single thread, with which he drew upon his actions and reason.

The loner, progressed on and came to halt when he was but a few simple meters from the pair. The other stallion was becaming pushy and was attempting to claimance the mare. He seemed almost, demanding and Soleil knew the emotion just as well. However, soleil was more generous, one could say and not as demanding as some might assume a stallion to be. His words, when spoken were harsh and often times cold. He wasn't much for equine companionship, but should he be allowed to choose his followers, all would be just as well. Thus with a single thought a low roar seemed to penetrated his mindly limits and scream and ripped upon the boundaries of sanity. What brough tout such a monster, made even the heaven's ponder. Soleil was no monster, but it was the thrill and adrenaline of a preliminary battle. A prelude to the coming events. He could see Aros, wanted this mare - wanted her bad, and thus it fueled him even more to wish to steal her from him.

However, he did not attack. He kept a challanging distance and waited, watching shoulder and haunch of the other, and predicting a reaction. Calculating a possible attack of every angle, not by him; but to be received from Aros. The wind played with his mane and tail and the black upon his pistons shimmered with a wet layer from the dew that lay upon the deeper blades that lay close to the earth; the soft water sprayed up upon his hocks with his movements through the green water-like plains.

A jay ripped through the sky and settled within the tree whose shade, Soleil had recently occupied. Soleil let his gaze pass from Aros to the jay and watched its silver blue wings beat the air with an ultimate freedom. What a precious thing, what a beautiful way of life. Why did some not appreciate that which was given? Soleil didn't know, nor did he complain. He took what was given and only asked the questions that concerned his survival. Why ask needless questions, and why speek useless words. One could speek so much clearly with the motion of the body. In fact the language of the bodice of a horse was much more powerful than any form of speech.

Soleil's ears swivelled back to Aros and stared with a unnatural calm. No fire, no apparant aggression. But Soleil had already laid upon a challange.

[Evita]

The mare backed as the stallion before her did. It was a steep hill, and from the morning dew was slippery, perhaps a bit muddy. Already on its precipice, Evita was now walking downhill, keeping one eye on the stallion in full sight, nothing else was important except that she kept a watchful eye on him. A flood plain could lie below her, and she would be unworried. She felt the soft brush upon her side, slow and menacing. Her creeping eye fell from the stally as she quickly fell to her knees. Still on the hill, Evita became low and vulnerable.

As for the stallion, Evita returned her stare to him, deciding his demeaning questions were as of now, in her position, unnecessary to answer.

[Rage~+~Aros]

Aros snorted in frustration as the white fea continued to back away from him. He was tempted to give her a nip of warning. Someting sharp enough to get her attention, but still light enough to keep the skin intact. He turned his head breifly back, not expecting to see anything, only to check for that scent he had previously caught. His suprise was great, then, when his gaze fell upon a bay stag, moving slowly towards them. Great.
The black arab turned his back on the fea, though he kept one shapely ear trained on her in case she thought it the time to flee. His gaze glared at this intruder, who seemed to mirror no reaction. Strange... Aros's ears laid themselves back upon his skull, daring the dark stallion to come closer... just one step... His tail cracked behind him like a bullwhip, an audiable mirror to the creackling flame of rage building up in his black gaze. As if it wasn't enough disrespect to him to intrude when he was so obviously busy.. but to stand there like a dunce and do nothing but that... just stand... Aros was frankly unsure how to react.

Do you have a problem, or are you just enjoying the view?

He spat, head lowering in obvious aggression. He flicked his tail back carelessly, hopefully to brush against the white mare.. to assure her that he wasn't finished with her yet. His hooves planted firmly in the earth, and his entire form tensed in anticipation. Every fiber of his muscles was bunched.. poised... ready... seeming to whisper:bring. it. on.

Ooc; How corny of me lol

[Promise Broken]

Soleil merely stood and his tial flicked with moderate annoyance. The words, that would have stung his pride, only rebounded leaving but a bruise upon his ego. Yet silent he remained, uninterested in beral comunication. He needed none and so he circled back, moving around this other, keeping a safe distance, always watching, shoulders - haunches, shoulders - haunches. Movement? No, just reaction. His mind was constantly ticking, thinking, evaluating, all methodical, no emotion, no anger apparant except for a glimmer of enticipation. The preliminary to a battle. A mask of dark expectance outlined his features, yet he remained outwardly passive as he stoked his rage and anger. THe needed elements of a victory. Using the others' reaction as an added fuel, it powered Soleil. Call him odd, if one might, but his oddness kept him alive. Brought him the scars, yes, but kept him breathing and intact.

He walked, slowly, deliberately. Moving so, backing here, closing there. Drawing out, then in... methodical - his plan developing his cunning growing, his power was within his elements. Within his thought. Not a brute he was... nay a brute, but something different, something masked by the form of a powerful bay figure. Though he had not a great height upon him, it meant nothing. So silent he stayed his movements constant, all with a point, sometimes his circle drew him close to the mare, yet he touched her not, though close he came.

[Evita]

The mare watched the two stallions, now rising to her feet. It was much trouble still standing upon the slippery marsh below her; it was either backing up further unto the steepness, or closer to the stallions. What's the worst they could do? Evita took a step closer, standing on the pinicle of the hill with the other two, now watching them each closely, expecting now a fight. Am I truly worthy of that? No stallion should fight over me. She was yet to talk, but at this point in time, was it really necesary? The mare batted her tail, her ears slightly hovering her frame.

Again, Evita was a picky mare! Was it a soft and sympathetic, yet strong and burly stallion she wished for, or a blunt yet strong and burly stallion. The mare let a slow yet exasperant snort emerge from her nose. The decision was truly not up to her, and seeing how close the unknown stallions had brough themselves, what was to happen was surely expected by her.

[Rage~+~Aros]

The black stag held his temper in check, just barely. How dare such a brute as this bay stalk up as if he owned the day, then procede to glide around the mare.. Aros's mare, as if he was the smoothest thing on four legs? It was time, he felt, to knock someone off of his pedastel. Ebony form tensed, and his weight shifted back onto his musuclar haunches, holding the posture breifly before exceuting a half rear, and pivoting back to face the white. Why did she still refuse to speak? Did every equine nowadays feel that they were too good to open their sorry mouths in convorsation? Or were they jsut too stupid? He tossed his head in aggression and demanding, and moved to the mare's side in two easy trotting strides. He pinned his ears viciously, pressing hard against his skull. The tail, that had been set into motion at the first sight of this adversary, slashed all the harder through the air, and his eyes burned malignant holes into the hide of the other stallion.

Back off! If you're going to take her from me, do it like the stag you apparently are!

With any revolution of the bay monster near him, Aros lashed out with furious jaws, though he was always careful not to come too near the dangerous rearlegs. He was no idiot. Angry, prehaps, but he too had fighting experience. Prehaps his hide was not marred with scarrs to prove it, but that was an even greater testimant to his abilities, was it not? He stamped the earth harshly with a foreleg, keeping his black eyes dead-set on the other. What sort of arrogant fool was this that would stalk around, as if he was some sort of predator? He could pretend all he wanted, but equines were built to behave a certain way.. and that was not it.

His muslces tensed, always ready to dodge a kick or charge. Backing only a tiny bit, he pressed his own hide against the mare's, as his way of being certain she hadn't moved.

When this is over, my dear, I expect you'll at least tell me your name.

He muttered to her, half joking, and half tense. He wasn't too worried about the other stallion, to be quite honest. Upstarts like these came all too often, and soon learned their place.

[Evita]

Evita watched the stallions gamble and bicker. She swatted her tail, ears wandering to and fro. As the black stallion embraced himself upon her side, the mare side-stepped, but after that, stood content. She nipped at his mane, knowing his way of capturing her. She was retained and quiet, quite happy and had a safe gesture.

She had been claimed before, in other herds, much more agressively, and likewise she acted. The mare watched the other stallion. They had both wanted her, wanted to retain the soul within, but who would conquer?

The mare let a shrill call slip from her vocals, one of little meaning, only vitality on her part.

[Promise Broken]

Soleil stopped his rotation. Never getting close enough to be struck, thus not being close enough to strike he had had intention to take the mare from him, but watching his obvious aggression. Soleil looked to the skies as though he didn't really care, as though unriled by the stallion harsh words and the attitude and reaction to Soleil's existance.

He noted the moon that lay barely sightable within the blue, teh rare occasion when the sun was not so bright as to discard the moons essence from the sky. Thus soleil was a visible presence, made known by the lack of the sun. He was the moon upon the sky as cold as the space it laid within. Soleil was not riled by the sun's fire that touched upon its surface to make him glow. Thus when the sun should move so as to Block the moon's image, he would do nothing but wiat till nightfall when the sun had little power than to sulk upon a rim of the world that was unknown to this destined realm.

Soleil turned his attention back to the pair. So intent Aros seemed to be on keeping this one white mare... so many other there were. So many unclaimed and alone still out there to wander. Soleil could not lie, he'd seen many and even laid his scent upon a few, perhaps this mare was not worth the effort. soleil was no coward and had confidence that he could claim a victory, yet... The day was early and he had no real intention to be laid upon by the teeth of another. As he had thought before there were many other faes out upon the world that he could lay claim to. Thus... he was nolonger interested. Yet - he could not just walk away in silence. So he spoke, his words, low - cold and holding a venomous note that was more dangerous than any roar. Like slow poison it seeped across the distance between the two warring stallions.

|| I speak not in words - silence and cunning is far more dangerous than the lions roar and strength ||

Soleil paused, his head held high, his pride was not in his words at all, but in the way he held himself. He had great pride in his cunning and tactical abilities. He was strong in mind, he not need be in body. Thus he turned away, as if he been but playing a game. The flicker of his tail, had hardly moved, though now it did as though to mock the great Aros.

|| If the mare means so much to you... The only interest I have - is to steal her from you in the future, when u think you have her safetly within your harem ||

Soleil finished as he returned to the crest he had come from. Looking back once to make sure his words stuck upon a wound like salt fromt he sea. Finishing his rebuttal he continued over the crest, leaving mare and stallion behind, without hardly a care, nor blow to his pride.

[Rage~+~Aros]

Aros's gaze narrowed wickedly as the bay brute sauntered off. I speak not in words - silence and cunning is far more dangerous than the lions roar and strength he had said, hah! If words mean so little to you, my precious wit, then why bother explaining this to me? Aros flipped his head after the retreating form, as if continuing to push him away, to drive him off. He had threatened to steal this whitecapped mare later on? Then bring it on you filthy brute, it would take more than empty threats and pathetic stances to frighten this ebon-tinted stag. He snapped his jaws in the air twice, and snoted deep and full. Aros was fully convinced (Wheather or not this be true) that this other had been afraid of him, and this was a retreat. He turned his back on the brown botherer, reconcentrating his efforts on his newfound fea.

This is the last time I will be so nice, princess. What's your name?

His voice carried a threatening edge, though his stance and demeanor seemed calm enough. She would answer him, this time. After all what good would simply standing there do? None. And he was certain she would answer, if not for his sake.. then for her own.

Its crap. Don't hate