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Post by tenebria on Mar 16, 2024 16:44:46 GMT -8
Galmúr gave a swift nod, tossing his mane as he awaited the next command eagerly. He was certainly not at all energy depleted, as Charger noticed with a despairing glance. He had thought this day would be fun... but he was having major second thoughts. "Right, so, let's do the Swinging pendulum thrusts. You can practice on the log" he said as he suddenly remembered the move. Perfect! He got back some of his confidence and moved towards the log, the buckskin swiftly following. "Alright pull the log back for me" he directed. Galmúr moved to the back and obediently pulled the log back by the vines, holding it until Charger nodded at him, then releasing it. The dark bay was facing forwards, and then suddenly reared as the log swung towards him, thrusting out with well practiced precision, and powering the log away from him with an enormous amount of energy.
Stormflash crashed through the brush with a rather impudent confidence, his eyes catching sight of the stallions coat in the trees. Leaping over the brush he skidded to a halt, giving the stallion an imperious look. This was not the leader of the group. He gave a dismissing snort. "Where's that leader of yours?" he asked bluntly.
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Post by wingfeather on Mar 16, 2024 17:08:36 GMT -8
Artemis and Raider finished their patrol in good time and made their reports to their mentors, taking care to mention the fact of the deer, but neither horse seemed concerned, ''probably just Nacho out on his rounds,'' was all Treth had to say about it.
Nacho looked at her his face registered no surprise, in fact he actually forced a smile, but his mind was working overtime, why was that young horse always getting into trouble, ghethought despairingly. ''Now Sugar,'' he wasn't going to say that Stormflash was not capable of exiling her, he knew the sway the young horse had overs mother's opinion, ''do you know why he is going into the forest?''
Scourge sneered at the young horse, ''what does a young colt like you want with im,'' his voice equally impudent. But Gareth had already heard the commotion and had quickly came to where the two horses were speaking. His eyes lit up when he saw the roan, ah I had nearly forgotten about him, Gareth thought with glee. ''Stand down Scourge,'' he commanded, ''this is probably one of the only horses in the entire herd who actually has some brains. Now what brings you here uh, what was your name?''
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Post by Abbster on Mar 16, 2024 17:11:24 GMT -8
Sugar shook her head. "He didn't tell me, just that he would find me if I told anyone" Sugar told Nacho. "Nacho, you can't let his mother exile me" She said.
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Post by tenebria on Mar 16, 2024 18:53:05 GMT -8
The log whizzed in front of Galmúr's face, jerking at the end of the vines and heading back for the dark bay, who was somehow facing the opposite direction now, and raising himself up in a strong buck, his back legs thrusting out and connecting with a solid lighter thunk. The buckskin's eyes widened slightly, impressed. Now THIS seemed a challenge! Charger was breathing slightly from the swift spin, stepping back as the log swung gently to a stop, then giving his fellow apprentice a nod. "Ok, you're turn! The spin is the hardest part" he said reassuringly.
Stormflash snorted at the stallion barring his way, and was about to give him some very cutting remarks, when he heard the deeper voice of the lead stallion speak. Flicking his tail disrespectfully to the sentry, he turned to the lead. "Stormflash" he said with a, what he thought was grown up, nod of his head, then he snorted again. "It seems you've had trouble finding brains for your own band too" he said, turning to give the other stallion a look of disgust before turning back to the leader. "I was actually here to speak to you. I think together, we can help each other get what we want" he said with a narrowing of his eyes, a slight sneering grin slipping onto his muzzle.
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Post by wingfeather on Mar 17, 2024 11:18:44 GMT -8
After the report, both apprentices were allowed to rest and were allowed to graze for a little while. They both stood not far apart and ate in silence.
Nacho smiled kindly, ''oh no, I won't allow anything like that t' happen. Don't ye worry. But I do wonder at what he could be doing, perhaps I should go and discreetly inform some of the stallions.''
Gareth looked at the blue roan, hmm quite a level of pride doesn't he? Well I must be sure to remember this. ''What ''we'' both want? What is it exactly that you want.'' He was quite amused at the air of confidence that the young horse assumed upon himself.
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Post by Abbster on Mar 17, 2024 11:27:46 GMT -8
Sugar blinked. She hadn't thought of that. "Nacho!" Sugar said suddenly. "I figured out what he's doing!!" She said, looking at him, as her eyes grew wide. "Oh.....Oh no.....this is bad.....this is really bad, right?" Sugar asked. "I think he's with the stallions!!" Sugar said. "This is bad!!" She said again. "I can't do anything about it though, and if you go over to the stallions then Stormflash will figure out I told you, and then he'll get angry with me and tell his mother and she'll then exile me, and then Stormflash will come after me and make me pay" Sugar said, her heart pounding, her mind spinning. "What are we gonna do?" She asked him
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Post by tenebria on Mar 17, 2024 16:46:10 GMT -8
Galmúr paused for a moment then gave a nod "Looks like quite a handy maneuver" he commented as he moved into place, steadying himself and eyeing the log. Charger gave a nod "Oh it is! Although I haven't won with it yet" he said with a frown, then shrugged, moving to the log and pulling back on the vines, glancing at his fellow apprentice to be sure he was ready, then letting it go gently. The buckskin focused on the moving log as it swung towards him. Swiftly he reared, balancing his weight, and thrust out strongly with his hooves. They connected with a satisfying thud against the log and sent it catapulting backwards. As soon as his hooves made contact, Galmúr dropped to the ground and pivoted as fast as he could, looking over his shoulder to see the log swinging back towards him already. He was off balanced as he swiftly bucked outwards, his hooves landing a bit too hard on the log and letting out a resounding crack, and one again sending it flying backwards. He landed a bit awkwardly, and had to move forwards a few paces to center himself. Charger gave a slight nod as he grabbed the log to slow it down. "Not bad for your first try, just remember to pivot as fast as you can, you have to make it an instinctive movement. And the second hit is a lot softer than the first" he added. "Ok, lets do it again!" he said cheerfully, moving to pull the log back. Galmúr had known that his movements had been much less instinctive, and he'd hit too hard, but as it was his first try he gave himself a bit of leeway. With another firm nod he swung himself around, ready to begin again.
Stormflash gave a slight snort "Well as you noticed, all the horses in my herd are rather brainless. But they seem to have a notion in their heads that respect is not necessary, even for one of my station" he said confidingly. "What I want, is to get them to realize I am their future lead stallion. It seems SOME have trouble comprehending the fact" he said with narrowed eyes, a certain golden buckskin coming to mind.
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Post by wingfeather on Mar 19, 2024 12:50:22 GMT -8
After Artemis had rested some and had eaten her fill she felt even more energetic than she did in the morning. She began getting a little antsy and trotted up to Treth, ''what's next today,'' she asked eagerly. Treth looked down at her and smiled, if only he still had that kind of energy, ''we are going to patrol, of course, I sent Nebula on forest patrol earlier this morning and she returned not very long ago saying all was clear, except that the stallions are really stinking up our forest,'' he said wrinkling his muzzle, ''they should be out of here either today or tomarow,'' Treth looked out to the distant forest, ''I hope.''
Nacho's big donkey ears flattened in a floppy way, ''the stallions, o' course! Why dint I think o' that! Well thought Sugar. Hmm, well I don't think much harm will be done to him, if anything them stallions will jest drive im off,'' he said eyeing the forest behind him.
Gareth tsked his tongue, but inside he was rather amused at the horses elevated self opinion, ''so you're saying you want to instill a sort of awe in their minds? A kind of fearful respect. You don't want any possibility of future challenge,'' he asked feeling the young roan out.
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Post by Abbster on Mar 19, 2024 13:47:42 GMT -8
Sugar nodded to Nacho a bit, but she still couldn't stop thinking. "What if he leads the stallions to our herd?" She asked him. "What do we do then?'
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Post by tenebria on Mar 19, 2024 15:46:08 GMT -8
(will be skipping slightly in the day with Galmúr, most likely he will be caught up to Artemis's time at this point)
Galmúr trained hard for the next hour or so, his legs not as sore as they had been in previous times, but he did find his mind becoming slightly foggy with tiredness. His mentor noticed this as his movements lagged slightly, Charger swiftly taking him down with a basic leg trip. "Enough for now, Charger, you may return to your mentor, I am sure he wishes to get on patrol with you." he said, abruptly stepping out from the shadows. Charger looked over and dipped his head "Of course, Lorcán, Thank you for allowing me to teach Galmúr" he said politely. Galmúr grinned at him "Thanks Charger! You're a good teacher" he said with a friendly look. Lorcán gave a satisfied snort "I agree, you will be a good mentor" he said with a sudden gruff complimentary attitude. Charger's eyes widened with a shocked look, then he grinned in a pleased manner, dipping his head again before spinning and racing into the forest, swiftly disappearing.
Stormflash gave a slight snort "Well that WOULD be my wish certainly, but at this point I simply wish it to be an awe, I do not mind if it instilled by fear of me or not... at least not with the older horses" he said with a slight sneer as he spoke. The older ones needed to be brainwashed and tricked, as he had found with his mother. "But with the younger class, yes, fear must be brought to them to result in obedience." he said, then swished his tail in impatience at the small talk. "Now... I have a plan that could help both of us now, and certainly in the long run" he said, eyes narrowing.
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Post by wingfeather on Mar 21, 2024 11:56:37 GMT -8
Artemis and Treth were just about to leave on a patrol when Earl the Norwegian came trotting up. Artemis didn't know the small pony very well for he seems to ALWAYS br on patrol, and indeed he was. Earl was always asked Treth if he could go on patrols and whenever the lead scout told him he should take a break, he would always insist that he was fine and that he wanted to go. Earl started his report to Treth, he had been patrolling the western border and found all to be quiet, Treth answered to him, ''Excellent work Earl, now I insist you take a rest,'' Earl looked as if he were going to protest but Treth forestalled him with a sever glance, ''you are one of my best scouts Earl, I can't have anything happen to you.'' Earl nodded and walked away after being dismissed.
Nacho gave Sugar a kind smile, '' don't ye worry. That wont happen if I gots anything to say about it,'' he assured her. ''But I do think we must inform someone.... let's put this before Lorcán, he's wise and isn't swayed by other horse's words. Come, we'll go find him.''
Gareth raised an eyebrow, this yearling had a plan.... he didn't really believe any of the roan's ideas would amount to much, but they might help Gareth meet his own ends, ''what do you have in mind,'' he asked nonchalantly.
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Post by Abbster on Mar 21, 2024 12:05:20 GMT -8
"NO!!" Sugar said. "We can't do that" She said. "Uh....Stormflash told me I had to wait until he came to get me to return back to the herd" Sugar said, pawing at the ground. "If we tell Lorcan then he'll know I told you and then he'll make sure his mother exiles me for sure!!" Sugar said
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Post by tenebria on Mar 21, 2024 12:40:25 GMT -8
Lorcán turned to his apprentice "You may rest for a few moments, graze and drink from the nearby stream, I just go and be sure patrols are in order" he said, spinning and leaping into the forest after Charger. Galmúr barely had time to nod in response, then gave a mildly relieved sigh. The early patrol was catching up with him, and he gave a slightly tired shake of his mane before trotting off towards the sound of water. Perhaps that could wake him more.
Stormflash gave a sly smile as the stallion asked for his plan. Perfect. He would tell him.... well rather most of the plan. "I shall put it forth plainly" he said, then glanced back to the other stallions shifting nearby "You have quite a strong band with you, but it is by no means enough to infiltrate the herd. Our warriors and scouts are keeping strong vigilance, and the head warrior is frustratingly unstoppable." he said with a slight scowl. "As such, your idea of taking over this territory will not be at all achievable at this time. So here is my idea. If you have not moved on in a days time, the warriors will no doubt come to take you. I suggest slipping around them just as they enter the forest, and seemingly band together to attack the herd. This of course will not be your true objective, as you could become swiftly overwhelmed. I shall rush out to meet you, and have a "private" conversation with you, after which you and your band will turn and head to the south. You shall keep yourselves hidden and gather more numbers of rogue stallions, of which I assure you there are many in this region. You shall wait until I come of age to inherit leadership of this herd. Once I do, I shall allow you to sweep down, and together we shall rule this entire region, and the entire herd" he said, eyes gleaming with the idea of such power. Of course he wasn't actually planning on sharing any sort of power with any other stallion... but at this time it would not be wise on his part to let the older stallion know that.
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Post by wingfeather on Mar 21, 2024 17:35:04 GMT -8
Treth shook his head as he and Artemis made their way toward their next patrol trail, ''that horse,'' he snorted, ''ever since he lost his mate he's never been the same. Always asking for work, and after he's finished he just asks for more,'' Treth shook his head again, ''he says it takes his mind off things and I don't blame him,'' he sighed, ''the fellow just has too find something to live for again.'' Artemis turned her head and looked back at the stocky Norwegian half heartedly eating some grass, she felt very sorry for Earl, maybe she would spend some time with him sometime soon.
''Hmm, maybe yer right young'un,'' he snorted and blew his mane from his eyes, ''maybe it would be best to wait for im here,'' he waggled his ears a bit, ''those stallions'll probably chase im off anyway.''
Gareth listened to all the young roan had to say with rapt interest, hmm this might actually work, of course he had no intention of ever leading beside this young upstart, ''that plan seems sound,'' he said slowly, ''and I do believe me and my fellows would be able to gather a few more like us..... when do you plan on putting this into effect?''
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Post by Abbster on Mar 21, 2024 17:38:02 GMT -8
“Please Nacho. Please. You can’t tell Stormflash I told you about his plan.” Sugar begged. “I love this herd. I don’t want to be exiled from it” she whispered, pawing at the ground. “I know a lot of the herd may not like me, but we’ve only been here a few days. I just want to earn the herds respect” Sugar said. “Please Nacho. Don’t tell Stormflash”
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