A Trios Journey (private rp with wingfeather and tenebria)

[tenebria]

It was not long until the two reached the clearing, and it was with intense relief that Galmúr slid to a halt... for the first time BEHIND his mentor when they entered. He didn't question why he had not been tested this time in the travel, just taking it as a wonderful break. Lorcán's reasons were quite reasonable. His apprentice had been up for quite some hours, and would doubtless already be tired. He did not need him breaking down halfway through important training because he was exhausted.

Stormflash snorted "Sure, of course not" he said in a voice that made it clear he thought she was. "So here's what you do. I want to go in the forest. And I don't want any of your nosy friends poking into my business. You'll come with me. When we reach the forest, I want you to go in and find your bouncy old friend the donkey and keep him away while I have a stroll. That shouldn't be too hard for you, right?" he asked challengingly.

[wingfeather]

Treth's gaze turned in a different direction suddenly, Artemis looked over to where it seemed that he was, but she soon realized that he wasn't actually observing anything, ''where are we patrolling today Treth,'' she prompted. Treth broke from his reverie, though it seemed that he didn't here her question, ''Artemis what do you say about going on a lone patrol, well I shouldn't say lone since you will be going with another apprentice.'' Artemis was stunned, her body began quivering slightly. Treth laughed, ''whoa easy,'' he said laughing. Artemis took a deep breath and hoped her voice sounded steady, ''I.... get to patrol.... on my own?'' ''No, as I said, I will send another apprentice with you and it will be a trail very near the herd and well away from the wood.'' Artemis could not contain it, ''YES, I would absolutely LOVE that, I just can't believe it!!!'' Treth smiled, ''alright let's go find Raider.''

[Abbster]

Sugar blinked. Would she rather do nothing…or do something with a horse she didn’t like. “Yea, ok fine.” Sugar said. “I’ll do it.” She said, trotting towards the woods with Stormflash. “I will sneak through the woods, find Nacho, do whatever it is you need me to do with him, and…and then I just…stay there, till you come for me?” She asked, relaxing this was all probably a trap, and Sugar would end up sleeping in the forest.

[tenebria]

It was only when the buckskin apprentice had recovered from his elation and not having to race for his life for the training grounds, that he actually took in his surroundings. And when he did, he noticed with surprise the dark colt waiting for them in the shadows. "Galmúr, today you and Charger shall train together. He knows all basic moves, and most intermediate moves. I will stay, but do not expect me to step in and teach you. You are on your own, you must take all Charger's teaching" he said, nodding to the apprentice that moved towards them, pausing slightly as he heard the gray stallions words and gulping slightly. Wait, he was TEACHING his friend? Uh oh. He hadn't prepared himself for that. Did he remember everything?
Galmúr's ears pricked as he saw the colt and he smiled at him, then looked over in astonishment. Wait Charger was now his mentor for the day? How would that go? He glanced at him with a bit of apprehension, then resumed a slight smile. Well nonetheless, he would be learning. And fighting. All he needed.

Stormflash snorted again. "You didn't have a choice" he said scornfully, then took off at a swift trot away from the herd, staying slow for the filly as he needed her to keep up this time. "Sort of. You have to stay with Nacho. Just keep him occupied with you, and away from that glade of his. And yeah i'll come find you after" he said with a shrug.

[wingfeather]

Artemis was a little disappointed at having to go with Raider on the patrol, she would have much preferred Myth as she hadn't been able to talk lately with the other filly, and Artemis quite honestly thought Raider a little boring with his more deliberate speech and rather scholarly attitude. Though Treth on the other hoof, knew what he was doing and had figured that if he sent the two girls out all that would happen was a lot of taking and hardly any patrolling. They soon approached Danger and his apprentice, ''You ready Raider,'' Treth asked. ''Yep,'' the leopard appaloosa responded with an easy smile, he had been detailed about the days engagements at an earlier hour. ''Excellent,'' responded Treth, ''well, you know the trail, Artemis stay on the alert. I will most likely be here when you return.'' Both apprentices nodded and headed for the trail, as Treth began discussing scouting trails and rouge horses with Danger.

[Abbster]

Sugar snorted a bit, and eventually found Nacho. “Nacho!” She said. “Hi! Come on, I want you to tell me about these woods” she said to him, looking back at Stormflash, and noticing his grin. She snorted again and just disappeared with Nacho.

[tenebria]

Galmúr eyed Charger, then gave him a nod. "Ready when you are" he said with a slight grin. Charger stiffened at the implication that he wasn't ready, quickly stepping forward and giving a nod. "Of course" he said quickly. "We'll start off with uh" his mind blanked for a second before he remembered. "Let's start with the side shove trip" he said with a knowledgeable air. The bucksin's eyes narrowed for a moment before he got the picture in his mind. Seemed easy enough. "Alright, you try it on me" Charger said, seeing the look in his friends eyes. Galmúr frowned slightly, then gave a nod. "Prepare to be knocked over" he couldn't resist saying.

Stormflash led Sugar to the forest, then ducked into the trees as he waited for her to find the donkey and lead him away. Hearing her voice as she found him, he grinned, peeking out for a moment to give her a look, then waiting for them to move away. As soon as they had, he swiftly moved into the trees, heading for the center of the forest, where the stench of stallions was strongest.

[wingfeather]

Artemis trotted away with Raider, ''so,'' she asked after they were well on their way, ''I don't believe ive been on this trail yet, what is it called.'' Raider grinned, ''this ones easy to remember. We call it Novice's First. It is where you will take your first lone patrol, which should be soon at the rate you're going.'' Artemis smiled and nodded, the two fell into a somewhat awkward silence. Artemis tried again, ''how long have you been training for?'' ''About a year,'' was all the other yearling answered. After that Artemis gave up and resigned herself to observing her surroundings.

''Well now, Sugar,'' Nacho said, raising his shaggy grey head from where he was grazing, he cocked his head to one side, ''tell ye about the woods,'' he said in a confused tone, though at the same time acutely watching Stormflash trot away, his eyes narrowed. Turning back to Sugar, his expression reverted back to its easy geniality, ''what is it you would like to know,'' he asked, although he was thoroughly disbelieving this whole thing. 

[Abbster]

Sugar shrugged. “I don’t know. When do you find it?” She asked. “How long have you lived in it, were there any other donkeys here?” She asked.

[tenebria]

Galmúr gave a focusing shake of his mane, then charged towards the dark bay who simply shifted himself to a strong position, looking rather confident. When he judged himself to be a good length away, he threw himself side ways, tensing himself up as he remembered his teachings. It was almost too late that he remembered to stick a leg out as well, hitting him and awkwardly thrusting out a leg. Charger, while prepared for the leg, was not prepared for the skill and power in which the basic maneuver was demonstrated, and stumbled back. The awkward leg thrust caught one of his front ones and he stumbled even more to the side, almost going down on one of his front knees before regaining his balance with a flush rising on his face. This wasn't how he'd expected it to go. Galmúr landed slightly heavily, as his leg had been thrust out awkwardly, but scrambled to a strong stance, looking over with surprise as he saw Charger picking himself up. "Not terrible, but that leg thrust was awkward" the dark bay apprentice said hurriedly with an air of knowledge. Galmúr gave a slightly disappointed frown, then nodded. He knew it had been. But he wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Stormflash was completely unaware that Nacho had seen him, fully believing he'd snuck away undetected. As soon as he was out of sight he sped up to a fearless canter, heading loudly towards the stallions.

[wingfeather]

Raider glanced at Artemis and drew in a deliberate breath, ''so uh, how do you like herd life so far?'' Artemis smiled, ''I love it,'' she gushed, ''all the horses are so nice, well most of them anyway, and it seems that we have adventures every day, I also absolutely LOVE scouting!'' Raider smiled, ''well I'm glad of it- Hey look deer.'' Artemis turned to the direction Raider was indicating, ''hmm strange that they're out this early,'' Raider mused, ''something must have disturbed them.'' The deer were not on the two apprentices' patrol so it did not disturb them too much, although they did take note so that they could add it to their report

Nacho was distracted from his musings momentarily by Sugar's questions, ''Weel now, it musta been... oh seven yers ago when I found this place, and I think that now ive lived here fer... two mebbe three yers, I don't know, they all start to kinda blend together once you live threw a lot o' em ye know. Hmm I don't reckon there was any other o' my kind livin' round these parts.... naw twas just the Swifthoof and that be all. Anyways I think I gotta go do my patrolling, the scouts an' warriors don't know all the nooks yeh know.''

Gareth became alert when he heard the sound of cracking undergrowth, he rolled his eyes, ''ugh more spies, when will these paranoid ponies ever let up!''

[Abbster]

Sugar blinked. Oh no! He was about to leave. Think fast! Sugar felt her brain swirling as she thought. COME ON SUGAR! THINK!!! Sugar said to herself. OH! “Wait! I have another question!” Sugar said. Sugar smiled a bit. “Uh….who was in the swift wood herd when you first arrived?” Sugar asked

[tenebria]

"Ok, do it again" Charger said, this time a slight look of apprehension crossing his face as he got a solid stance. Galmúr gave a determined nod, eyes narrowing slightly. Leaping forward, he raced towards the apprentice then swung himself sideways, flinging himself with a hard thrust into the apprentices side, and neatly sticking his front leg out at almost the perfect moment. It seemed to Charger that it happened in slow motion. He could see it coming, but the thrust was so strong he didn't have time to think about avoiding the leg, and before he knew it he stumbled to the side, his tripped front leg fumbling, and he fell to his knee on that leg. To his credit he quickly got back up, just as the buckskin was landing lightly, taking a few prancing steps to get his balance before checking in on his "mentor". Charger gulped slightly. Only the first teaching, and already he was being floored. This was harder than he had thought it would be! "That was a lot better. I don't think you need to practice that one anymore" he said hurriedly, searching for another that he would actually be able to defend.

Stormflash crashed through the brush without a care, his ears swiveling as he searched for sounds of the stallions. A few breezes here and there brought him their scent, and he knew he was on the right path. Suddenly a strong rebellious wind rushed from the left, with the strong particular scent of a stallion. A smirk came over his face. Ha, a guard? More like a tree hiding in a field. With confident strides he turned his direction to the sentry.

[wingfeather]

To Artemis's surprise Raider spoke up again, ''you, uh, you ever been to the south cliffs?'' Artemis thought a moment, running through all the places of the surrounding herd territory she visited, ''no I don't think so.'' ''You want to go sometime....the view is pretty nice....i...I think you would enjoy it.'' Artemis smiled at him, ''sure,'' she responded, though no really believing he ever would take her.

Nacho stopped walking, ''weel I do believe I remember Thunderheart of course, I right mighty stallion he was,'' Nacho was about to add how his son was not like him in any way, but decided to leave his opinion to himself, ''Thunderheart's daddy was alive too,'' the old donkey stared off into the distance, ''ah he was much like his son. Now, why is it that yeh are so suddenly interested with herd history?''

Scourge looked around then spotted the blue roan horse crashing through the shrubbery, he remembered the yearling from earlier the other day, what was he doing here?''

[Abbster]

Sugar felt awkward all of a sudden. "Oh....well....I.....I..." She stopped. "OK! Fine!" She said. "Stormflash wants me to distract you for whatever reason so he can do....something" Sugar said. "But he said if I told ANYONE he would have his mother exile me. Please, you can't tell him I told you." Sugar begged.