Young and the Restless (open)

[<3Kodi]

Merci giggled as water splashed toward Shamrock thanks to Stetson. Her flaxen tail swished back and forth, crimson eyes bright with amusement as she watched the pinto become drenched, or at least his front half was drenched. Shamrock shook his head, droplets of water flying from his ears, mane and nose, brown eyes blinking water from his optics. Merci fluttered her long lashes and nuzzled her muzzle against Stetson's neck. "My hero!" she neighed happily.

Shamrock snorted in mock unhappiness and shook his head again chasing more water from his mane. "Just you wait Stet, I'll get you back for that." His mock hurt didn't last, melting to his amusement. Glancing at Merci, Sham smirked, swinging his chestnut tail. "Look at that, lucky guy gets all the girls. Always the quiet ones." Shamrock let out a fake groan as he ambled out of the water to the bank, swiveling his ears and chuckling to himself.

Blushing, Merci glanced shyly at Stetson and then frowned at Shamrock. "You're just jealous" she giggled. Looking over at Stet she swished her tail and headed out of the creek too though she made sure to step on the firmer, more stable rocks to subtly show Stet where to walk without making it obvious. As she reached the bank however, Merci's little harks flicked up as a deep bellowing neigh rang through the summer air form somewhere across the field Merci had come across. She sighed and looked over at Shamrock and Stetson, looking disappointed.

"That's my dad. I have to go. Maybe we'll see each other again?"

Shamrock smiled and looked from Stetson to Merci. Being slightly older and once the son of a herd horse, he knew it was unlikely. If he did go with Stetson and was accepted to the Symphony Falls herd, it was unlikely they'd meet Merci again especially since she was the Western Heiress. "Sure" he said nonetheless, bumping his muzzle against her neck lightly.

Merci looked over at Stet and touched her muzzle against his. "Don't always be scared of the water ok Stet? Somebody's gotta protect me from that big brute over there." She flicked her tail at Shamrock whom faked offense.

[Halo]

Stetson blushes slightly at the nuzzle and Merci’s exclamation, a shy smile up his muzzle and eyes bashfully turned away...even if it’s all in play. He follows Sham and the filly out of the water, stepping unconsciously where she does, but stopping with one hoof on the bank when the adult’s call meets his ears. His harks perk forward and his own disappointment invades the joyous look that had been written across his whole visage; goodbyes are not fun. They were just starting to have fun, it’s not fair. But, oh well, who said life is fair?

Still, he tries not to frown and puts on a happy face when she addresses him, adding a small bump of his nose against hers when she nudges him. “I’ll try,” he assures, giggling at Shamrock’s expression and puffing out his chest slightly. “I’ll always protect you,” he announces proudly and finishing stepping out of the water, an unbidden shake coming over him as he does. And maybe one day he’ll be strong enough to actually live up to that; who knows…maybe his leg will get better, but he wouldn’t get his hopes up.
~Stetson

[<3Kodi]

Merci smiled for Stet and Sham though she felt sad about leaving them. Still, she hadn't seen her father much for a while and she really was becoming a daddy's girl. Besides, Banshee would be throwing a howling fit if Merci didn't get home soon, unscathed and in her father's company. Banshee was just like that sometimes and Merci loved her for it. Swishing her flaxen tail as a final goodbye the long-legged filly turned and set off at a canter toward her father's call. The open field flashed past in a blur and as she reached the trees the heavy thudding sound of larger, heavier hooves fell into step beside her, the graceful ebony form of her father coming in alongside her as they cantered for home. Fantom didn't ask where she'd been or who she'd been with, why she'd run off or why she wasn't with Papercut or Knives. It just wasn't like him and for cone, Merci was glad for her father's quiet ways.

Watching her go, Shamrock felt heavy-hearted as he stood beside his friend. He watched her canter off, still half worried a wolf would jump out of the field and swallow her. Luckily, no such thing happened and the young quarter horse was able to relax and watch as a larger but amazingly similar equine came up beside Merci and they headed west toward the downs. Turning away, Shamrock looked over at his companion, then looking up at the sky.

"Maybe it's time we head to the falls" Sham suggested. "I still have to talk to the herd leader and I don't want you getting in trouble."

Who knew? Maybe Stet had strict parents that wanted him home well before nightfall? Sham's parents had been like that before his world had been torn apart. That, and wolves moved around a lot at night and that always made Shamrock jumpy. Maybe if they were safe in a herdland, regardless of if he actually met Halo or not, Sham might still be a little safer. He didn't want to make a bad impression and make everyone think he had kidnapped Stet or something like that anyway.

[Halo]

The silver roan, too, watches Merci hurry off, joined by the larger equine (from this distance a larger version of their friend), and then disappearing into the west together. He can’t help but to feel the weight in his chest and the knot in his stomach, sad to see his new friend leave so soon. Hopefully they would meet again, to play and have fun as they did today, to build on the short time they had together. But for now, his turns as Shamrock addresses him, he has a responsibility to get this friend to a home. That is enough to brace him and put a smile back on his face.

“Yeah, my Dad’s a big worry-wart,” he says with a small laugh, turning his nose in a southern direction and taking a few slow steps forward, waiting for Sham to fall into step with him. “You’ll like it there, though, everybody is so nice.” Stet bobs his head in agreement with himself, carrying on, “And there is fields and fields of grass to eat and a lake to play in, and-and...well, you’ll see.” The colt turns to look at his older companion. He just knows, without a doubt, that Shamrock will love it there. Another thing he knows is that there is no way he can be disappointed by a turn-down from Jynxed Halo.

He flicks his ears and picks his stilts up into his hopping trot, the short strands of his mane blowing back slightly as he hastens forward. Now he’s just as eager to see Sham get accepted as his companion must be. They’ll have so much fun! His mother and father will love his painted pal too, and Shamrock will never have to be alone again; Stetson will see to that.
~Stetson

(OOC: You can post here or Symphony Falls…whatever you like. ^_^)