Sound the Bugle

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Rana

Sound the bugle now - play it just for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart

I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here

The morning was cool as it normally was in the deserted place she was alone and wounded internally she had had everything taken from her and she had had a gruesome ten years. She had indeed been broken and she was more than that she still had the determination and the strong self. She had recently heard her mothers voice in her head 'dont give up' and it seemed to echo in her mind. She was sure it was just an illusion a figment of her imagination. She was distraught how could she have lost her self in her own emotion. She lifted her silver long slender neck and looked over head at the many hills and so forth and what lied beyond that the mountains the sounds of herds rejoicing in being a family and Rana had nothing now she was alone and wanting what everyone around her had had. She had had that once upon a time but man had indeed stolen that from her as well. The wind blew just right sending her tendrils of tassles beating against her forhead and her nostrils flared smelling the scent of water. She didnt have that far to go she hope she just wanted a home a home where she could be herself and be always safe and free from what lied beyond the Mists of Penori. She continued foreward in her destination she was tired and her silken silvery coat was lathered with sweat she had traveled many miles and had lost the precious weight she had been forced to pack on during her travels. Now she was in this luscious thriving land and knew it wouldnt take her long to rejuvenate herself to be somewhat like her former self. She let her meager body carry the bag of bones she was however when she lowered her head to the green emerald colored grass and tasted the sweetness of it she couldnt help but savor the taste. It was amazing she had never tasted such stuff that made her pig out and before she knew it she had a round belly that wasnt even full she stopped and headed for the stream her eyes traveling to the sun which was now setting she had wasted the day away munching down. She stepped into the lake and allowed the sun to hit the water just right making it shimmer brightly making her own coat of silver answer the waters shining brillance. Then she opened her dry lips and sipped the water very loudly letting the water quench her so long desired thirst. She slowly rehydrated herself. She looked down at her reflection and could barely recognize herself she was coated in sand from the Arabia desert. She shook her head and layed down in the water rinsing her body of the dirt and then done the same to her other side. She stood shaking her dripping pelt and she stepped from the water to the land and sighed she figured it best to move on now however she didnt want to leave.





Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light feat that I will - stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on

Then from on hight - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls - remember who your are
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow -Bryan Adams- Sound the Bugle Now

[Halo]

I CLAIM THIS POST AS MINE OWN! *STEALS IT* ^_^

[Halo]

The blue roan stallion shrieks playfully as he darts across the meadow, leaping into the cool embrace of the creek and barreling through its body with the water spraying up along his sweated sides. He bunny hops up on the bank, half shaking but never stopping as he continues his break-neck pace, breath heaving in his chest but a smile brimming on his expression you could say ear to ear. And yet...his freedom doesn’t seem complete.

He slows himself into a swift trot before laying on the brakes, dust clouding up around him before the wind takes it away. The stag shakes his head, the bit in his mouth jangling against his teeth and bothering his sore mouth. If only he could be rid of this bridle (he should have chosen a better time to escape). He turns his head around to chew at the final strap holding the saddle to his back, halfway through. He sighs a low-spirited gust of air out and lowers his head to nibble on some grass, ears flicking as they seek the sounds around him.

The sound of another in the running waters of the creek catches his attention and he lifts his head up to attention in a snapping motion, wide eyes looking about until they lay upon the pretty fae just a short distance from him. He takes a few steps forward and knickers softly in her direction, greeting her and asking her for her company. It’s been days since he had the companionship of another horse...
~Risk

[$*CrazyHick*$]

The noise of some off distant creature came quickly and before she knew it it was in the creek and it sounded very large. She turned her slender neck in time to see the large blue roan stallion he was indeed very handsome from what she could see. His calls to her were very soft and she gathered he was a light by just that and she shook her wet tassles the delicate tendrils sticking to her warming pelt. In the cool warmed humid air she let her harks twitch uwards showing the arch in her harks of a true arabian horse. Her tail came up as she took the last few step her neck up ears perked up as she touched his muzzle with her own in a horsey greeting. She noticed the bit and saddle and shook her head examining it. She spoke and it was light "seems your in a bit of a predicament" she laughed softly though it was somewhat a bit of amusement she had managed to remove herself of her bridle and saddle it had been very loose and she knew her rider would fall without much problem with her little buck which send him flying over her head and into a sand dune face first. She nickered softly and used her lips to get a firm hold on the strap of the bridle strap then used her strong powerful front teet she chewed the leather in half with ease letting the instrument fall to the ground. She backed up some with her dark chocolate orbs on him and let her banner swish patiently slapping at the annoying biting flies making her pelt twitch as she moved it slightly. She snorted and spoke and it was soft almost like an angel it had a almost faint ringing to it like a bugle perhaps. "Is it better now" She smiled and it was faint but it reached her eyes and seemed to make them glow with a friendly radiance.

[Halo]

At first he felt a little embarrassed by her statement, one fore going back as it tries to get him to move away out of shame, but she comes even closer and with ease bites through the mane strap (which he had not been able to reach or rub loose). Oh! You cannot know the relief he feels to be rid of the tether. The ruined bridle slips from off his head and lands with a clamor of metal and a thump, the fur that was beneath the contraption thinned and his skin looking somewhat raw from the constant discomfort. He works his jaws about to test the vindication of their new freedom. The wince is apparent on his face to find his mouth is sorer than he had at first thought.

He smiles gently and leans his muzzle forward to lightly lip her maw in appreciation before trying out speaking. “Thank you...been trying to get rid for almost a week,” he says, his voice slurring somewhat in the unfamiliarity of this sensation, his eyes showing his embarrassment. To be rid of that problem, he turns his neck around again to his side, chewing with renewed, frantic determination until the tight strap literally snaps. With a shake the western saddle and pad fall to the ground and he sighs with relief.

“You don’t know how good that feels,” he whispers, is overall expression showing the completeness of his liberation. “My name’s Risk...” he says, stepping closer so he can touch his nose to her neck, to drink in deeply her scent. His whole body looks near shaking with excitement and he can’t resist nibbling on her tresses in a display of utmost friendliness.
~Risk

(OOC: Blah..it stinks…)

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Seeing adoubly she had made him extremely happy with the removal of his bit and bridle she smiled. She looked over the raw marks and frowned slightly it looked bad but it would heal over she hoped otherwise he would have a bad lines on his facial features. She watched him work his jaws probably getting the feeling back in them she knew it was probably sore and he could eat but not like he should his mouth she surmised would be sore from one to three days. "Your welcome and it seems you had human handlers as well" she said softly. She backed up some letting him remove himself of the saddle and saddle pad hearing the thump of it sliding off his sweat sides. Her nostrils flared at the salty scent of his sweat hit her nose and she shook her head slightly it wasnt that it smelled back she just like the smell of it. She allowed him to approach her being not moving just her eyes watching him with utmost curiousity. She stood still letting. "Yea I know how good it feels and I know you skin is happy to breath again it needs it" she said softly. His nose on her neck made her want to shudder to relinguish her self control she just wanted to nuzzle him she was just so used to being alone and just wanted to be in companionship of this stallion maybe it was feelings or just hormones she didnt know. She nickered softly to him nibbling on his withers delicatly with her soft lips.

[Halo]

Risk would not have minded if she had set to nuzzling him, considering himself a sort of affectionate guy. Besides, the thought crossed his mind as well. His feet dance in place beneath him when she nips, not hurt but enthusiastic as he gives in to his desire and buries his face against her damp mane, snuggling close to her and his brain not catching up to warn him that she might not approve of taking this liberty. But he so can’t help himself, he’s a social bug!

“I’m sorry!” he blurts out and steps back, suddenly remembering himself and hoping to cover it up quickly. “Yeah...I...accidently dropped my rider way back and...never went back.” Okay, so it was completely by accident, he had meant to get the man off. But getting scared and doing what he did wasn’t expected and so that part could be considered the accident. Right? He pushes the feelings of guilt behind. They had always treated him well, but...he always knew there was something better, he guesses.

He realizes his expression describes the process of his drifting off into thought and picks his attention back up. He can be a little absent-minded at times. “I didn’t catch your name, Miss…uhhh..” He pauses, looking at her expectantly, ears perked forward amongst messed black strands, eager to hear her voice again...it’s so...pretty and musical...not like the rough and tough working gals back home (not that they weren’t nice...but Risk has always preferred the soft dams).
~Risk

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Rana leaned into his touched as he buried his muzzle into her sweet smelling mane and coat. She pawed the ground lightly making small scruff marks in the ground after all she had slender leg meant for speed not much for brute strength though dont let it fool you cause she could hold her own though she wasnt much for fights she was more along the lines of lover not fighter like the French. She felt her skin twitching lightly as she felt his whisker brush her skin. Her eyes were bright and vribrant full of that arabian pride and spirit. Rana was so terribly enjoying herself and being in the company of another horse or so she though however her mind caught back up with her and she frowned she didnt want to come off as a loose woman. So she let him move first her lips pulling at his mane in a manner of playfulness. She laughed and it was soft her harks twitching every which a way "its Rana Mr. Risk" she said with a chuckle. She side stepped feeling his uncomfortableness and snorted lightly clearing her nasle passages od dirt and other worldy debri. The gusts of wind was slowly drying her pelt making it shimmer like t hat of brilliant silver showing off the small rainbow colors but it was just a mirage of the sun. She shook her head making her tassles flick back and forth her tail beating the biting blood sucking flies from her legs then she stopped her hind legs fully relieved of the flies for atleast a moment. Her nostrils flared as she sniffed of him and his scent was so natural so male that it increased her heartrate for no apparent reason. His touch made her skin crawl and vibrate up and down her spine but it wasnt bad it was indeed pleasureable to say the least. She moved shaking her head lightly to clear her inappropriate thoughts.

[Halo]

"Just Risk is fine," he says with a bright smile as he continues with a laugh, "I've never been a mister my whole life. And that's a long time." His tail flicks up to relieve his underbelly of a bug pinching at his unprotected flesh, getting the satisfaction of slapping it away. But it's more of a ritual of habit as he barely feels the sting and bite of the nasty insects around him, so focused on only this new stranger before him. New and beautiful. Damn, he's gotta get his head on straight and stop thinking like this.

He stomps his feet and he metal shoes on his feet clink together, but he's so used to it he doesn't even recognize it. They'd come off eventually, after the time has come and gone when the farrier usually replaced them and trims his feet. And then they'll be worn naturally upon the rocks of the earth and he'll finally complete his return to the ways of his ancestors. It would be nice to experience this with someone of like experience...

There he goes again.

"So, Rana...you're alone? Must be pretty hard," he sympathizes, stepping in again and brushing his nose on her withers to chase away a horsefly that had thought to burrow into her pretty skin. He snorts in its direction as it hovers and he glares at it in warning until it decides to seek better (less protected) prey. "I'll probably have to find a herd or something. I don't know much about surviving on my own. Always had my food brought to me and someone to point me in a direction. But I guess you understand that, huh?"
~Risk

[$*CrazyHick*$]

She couldnt help but laugh her sweet laugh and toss her head slightly. She snorted letting him get rid of the soon to be annoying horse fly. Her grey hooves were already chipping but the rocks and other such things kept them clean and partly shapened. "Hmm ok Risk" she said beaming at him wholeheartedly. She looked at him and raised a questioning eyebrow looking for an answer for that difficult quetion why was she alone? Did anyone want her? Was she a bad creation? Rana didnt know the answers so she winged it and you could seriously tell by the thinking expression on her face. She smiled though it didnt reach her dark chocolatlky rich eyes. "Yes I am alone. No its not hard just really dumb its stupid to travel alone, but you see I never found anyone on my travels well....that is except for you. She looked at him as he continued on his voice so attracting her harks wer perked and erect twitching to the sounds of his pitches in his vocals. She smiled "do you think we could find a home together I mean I made a friend and I want to continue to still be that" She said. She figured out what she was telling probably wasnt the brightest thing then she said "but please dont take it the wrong way I am not hitting on you by all means I just feel protected by you is all and I have sought for companionship and finally found it I hope "yes I perfectly know what you mean being hand fed it made me lazy." She looked him over thinking she had just screwed up their friendship and some way that her heart beat faster and she couldnt really breath it was like a fake panic attack but she calmed as she began to his the wheels ticking in his intelligent mind she knew he was smart. She gave him a flirtacious smile he knew she wanted him but that was besides the point she didnt want him to think her loose cause she wasnt she was the maidenly horse waiting to be ravaged and taken away fom this dreadful hell of being alone.

[Halo]

Oh, no! He’d never think a degrading thought like that about any mare. He’s a true southern gentleman: holds doors open, dips his nose down when greeting a lady, never cusses in front of mares and foals... His mama raised him up proper and got a nip on the rump if he stepped out of a moral line. So it sort of stuck. Though right now he is trying so desperately to control the unwholesome thoughts about Rana that should not be present amongst his clean and upright morality; maybe it’s his daddy’s blood catching up with him (he was a city boy charmed by a country lady’s strong competence).

He is half listening as he tries not to fidget in place, lest she know of his discomfort and mock him, hoping she doesn’t see the nervous way he licks his lips when he catches a look at the flirtatious smile of hers. She’s much different than the rest and dang is it getting to him. Oh, he’s had himself a few of the pretty fillies back home, when one of the young stable hands forgot themselves and pastured him with some of those attractive fems. And you know a guy can’t resist all that temptation, especially when she’s swinging her hips and flaunting those muscled curves at him and making it downright difficult to keep his cool.

Yet, none of them seem to hold a candle to Rana softness. Little does she know how she is just trying him crazy just…just…standing there! Her words are a hollow background noise, still heard by not quite given the attention they should have been getting, as he stares and attempts to make it look like he’s not. So he feigns disinterest, which is spoiled by the subtle glances along her sleek frame. As her lips stop moving and her lyrics fade, his cool restraint breaks and he steps forward to touch his maw against her, giving her muzzle a quick kiss.

He cusses under his breath as he pulls away, stomping his foot and glaring with honey pools down at the dust cloud formed from the frustrated gesture. “I’m sorry,” he mutters and weaves around her silver bodice, closing his eyes tightly so he wouldn’t admire her all the while he passes her. ’d**n, d**n, d**n, Risk! Look what you did! Ruined a good thing you had going here. Ruined it. Gentleman, bah! You’re just a sleaze...'
~Risk

(OOC: Go ahead and catch him…he’s just embarrassed and thinks she’ll be made. )

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Rana watched him with intrigued interest not sure but she knew he was thinking very strongly. Her eyes grew worried but when he stepped towards her and hesitated she waited feeling the need to close her eyes hoping to god he wouldnt do something drastic. She took this time to say a meger prayer but it was for him just for him nothing else nothing but just about him was it not obvious that she wanted him.

While she stood waiting she couldnt help but go back to the day she was born it was hot and dark but her mother stood out among the stars he beautiful sleek grey coat and it was just amazing to one at such an age. Her mother where was she now probably dead like most of the horses she had met along her years as a weanling. The days had drug on and on and she enjoyed looking at the sunsets and sunrises with her mother but though she knew even as she stood that her life would be cut away from this beautiful mare in front of her. Why was it her? Why did it have to be her? Did she really deserve such a hard life just to be with someone she loved so dear to her heart did it just have to be so heart wrenching? The day had come when her mother and she had been out star gazing they came for her mainly and she had tried to escape but it didnt help if she was only days old and not quite capable at moving her legs all that well. The next thing she knew she had felt a stinging sensation in her rump and upon seeing the dart her life went to darkness the last thing she remembering was her mother fighting for her life and the sound of gunfire making Rana snap back to what was real before her...Risk.

In truth Rana was haunted by her past never realizing what really happened but she was sure she didnt want to know. She shook her thoughts out of her head and looked to Risk he was still standing there as though considering something that was truely hard for him to cope with and she was positive she wanted to know what he was considering to do but then he stepped foreward and she stood silently considering her option and then he touched her and it immediatly sent waves of electricity through her body making everyend point of her tingle and reac and then he kissed her and her eyes widened so wide she couldnt relish what it would ever to do her but this was above average and she was so happy she had just recieved her first kiss from the one she likes. When he stomped his foot it awoke her from her trancelike state and she arched an eyebrow not knowing what was going on in his head. When he move past her not taking her in she shook her head and smiled. She turned her bodice making it shimmer and walked behind him running her maw up the length of his spinal column and then she nipped on his wither softly. She relished the feel of his warm skin on her and then she went on up. She made it to his shoulder then lowered her head to his broad chest brining her head up to meet under his neck where she nuzzled him in a friendly loving manner. "Please dont go its ok I want you to love me unless you dont want me then I am fine with being friends but when I saw you I didnt want to be just friends. I"m sorry I'm just rambling" she said softly closing her eyes trying to wish away every stupid thing she had just said knowing she had probably ruined her chance with him forever. She slowly very slowly pulled away from him not really wanting to then she raised her eyes to meet his wanting to know what feeling he hid behind them. She knew he liked her but to how much did he like her. "Risk I..." she cut off in mid sentence She was about to pronounce her true feeling for him but she wanted to wait.

[Halo]

He’s in the middle of cursing his whole being to the depths of some place very deep and dark, where he can just curl up and die from frustrated shame. He thinks he might still be plagued by the picture memory of her figure, her pretty face, the recording of her beautiful song voice, even in death. They aren’t something you can so easily forget. And to add to the confusion he isn’t sure how or what he should be feeling. He feels something, yes, but would it be anything like love, or even strong like? He’s never been in love before. All his ‘love’ affairs had been for physical attraction and she deserves so much more than that.

He feels her warm maw run up the length of his spine and his freezes stiffly in place, eyes widening with surprise. She makes her way farther along his side to nibble his shoulder and then there is a nuzzle against his thick neck and he gulps. She speaks and he feels his insides goo’ing up as they threaten to melt in reaction to her voice. What should he say back? God she’s being so silly...she doesn’t even know him and she’d give herself over to a complete stranger.

“I can’t...” he begins, squeezing his eyes shut as he pauses to take in a careful breath, “...I can’t dishonor you like that,” he mutters. “I’m just a country bumpkin, plain and ordinary,” he tries to explain. And to him it is true. Such a classy and tasteful lady, she outclasses him by a long shot. She needs a refined gentleman of sophistication, not a hick who has made a living wallowing in the dirt and chasing cattle around from dawn till dusk; he must reek of cows and mud and her association with him would just ruin her appeal to everyone else, drag her down more than one social level.

“You wouldn’t be happy with me, Miss Rana. Don’t get saddled with anyone but the best.” His blue roan coat twitches beneath a nervous itch though no insect had dared land upon him. Risk’s head lowers in disgrace, honey browns turned away from her self-consciously. His whole frame seems to wilt beneath a weight of humiliation, his legs trembling slightly with the strain of the tenseness of his muscles. “Dang, woman...” he mutters, drawing in a shaky inhalation of breath.
~Risk

[$*CrazyHick*$]

She was deeply truely hurt by what came out of his mouth the next he didnt want her he hated her he didnt want to be with her. She turned her head a bit disgraced. She felt lower than the slaves in the dark herds. She turned her head was she really that distastful to him but she wasnt going to give up that arabian blood that ran deep in her veins drove her on. She had fallen hard for this stelle colored stag but really his blue seemed steele and she wasnt sure how he was going to react she wanted him but she didnt want to give up their friendship.

She walked up to him blocking his way her brown eyes watching him though they were glazed with pain for his denial of her. She spoke and it sounded hurt. "Risk I like you and I dont care how you were raised all I care is that I...love you and that I want to be with you forever on end I dont know where this feeling came from." She lowered her ears to where they were drooping. "I'm sorry that I wasted your time with my fantasies" she said. "Your not plain and ordinary to me you are a strong compassionate somebody" she said.

She turned from him her body language saying she wasnt what he needed. She gave one last glance and kept walking but she stopped she was giving him space she wasnt going to chase him like a love struck filly. She spoke but it was so soft like the song of the wind and it carried hopefully to him. "but you are the best especially to me...." She felt so humiliated if she could blush she would be super red at the moment.

[Halo]

Would you forgive me if I feel this way,
We just met, tell me that’s okay.
So take this feeling, make it grow,
Never let it, never let it go!

Would you mind if I bared my soul,
If I came right out and said you’re beautiful.
Cause there’s something here I just can’t explain,
I feel I’m diving into driving rain.

She didn’t understand, she took his words and ran in an entirely different direction than where he had meant them to go. It wasn’t she who was wasting his time. In fact it’s the other way around, him wasting hers, keeping her here when she could be enjoying life instead of being hurt by him. He wishes she could realize his words were not meant as a rejection, nor a denial of her personally. How can he explain without digging himself a deeper grave. But...she’s leaving, he won’t get the chance.

He gulps down the whimper that wants to quaver pitiful upon his lips, bracing himself before lifting his legs into a clumsy trot, his gait habitually inept spawned from his feelings of incompetency that are brewing in him at that very moment. “Miss Rana, wait!” he calls out desperately, turning the sloppy trot around in front of her and stopping dead in his tracks, standing like a rock to bare her path forward, remembering the steady stance to take when his rider had roped a calf, holding the rope taut faithfully with no motion towards any other desire.

“You misunderstand me, Miss Rana,” he says, it sounds almost like a whine, his eyes soft and sad. “I’m not good at these things; I’m far from being any sort of romantic. Please forgive me. Where I come from the girls are tough as nails, they work alongside the guys and sometimes we forget the beauties they really are inside. Everything we do is just...we don’t do things with emotion, but with rough, rock hard sense, that’s what we’re taught.” He turns his head away, biting his lip until he can feel the familiar copper taste of blood on his tongue.

“I don’t want to treat you like that. You deserve more in a relationship than to only be treated in a physical way. I’m just worried that I won’t be able to give more than what I am.” He sighs and shakes his head, his dark mane flopping messily on his neck. “I’m a to the point sort of guy, I’ve always been. A lady needs someone tender, not just someone with brute strength. I’m not putting a good word in for myself, am I?
~Risk

I feel my sense, running wild,
I can’t resist your, sweet sweet smile.
So take this feeling, make it grow,
Never let it, never let it go.

No don’t let go...