A bolt of panic shot through him when Flame spoke to him - he still wasn't used to horses being near him without hurting him. He quenched it quickly, though, and masked his emotions. He still didn't know how to take compliments, either. "Yeah, well, I figured I'd better watch the ground since everyone else is staring at the sky expecting something to happen that may or may not happen. This is the current threat." He nodded at the human who was now much too close to the herd. Maybe I should lead him away from the herd. "I'm going to try and lead the human away from the herd since everyone else is too stupid to notice an immediate threat. If the human tries to capture a horse, he'll have no issues with it." He started forward, ignoring the pain in his shoulder and limping as little as possible as he started walking towards the human.

Morrigan | Human | M - Herds, Baltix

Morrigan had finished tacking up Adonis and left the barn at a walk. Once she was past the road and onto grass, she urged the stallion into a gallop to cross the hill. Hooves beat into soil, chunks of dirt and grass thrown into the air as they covered ground. Morrigan brought Adonis to a stop just outside of the range of the two herds. Close enough to observe with binoculars, but enough distance to run if they needed to. She rubbed the blood bay's mane, greatful as always for his adaptive behavior.

As she took her time to observe the interactions between the horses, she noticed something odd about the gate of one of the mares. An apricot mare, who looked fairly young, had a leg that bent at an awkward angle. Sifting through her saddle bag quickly, Morrigan grabbed her binoculars and brought them to her face. Her fears were correct, the poor mare definitely had an old injury.

The wind whipped through Corvan's mane as he rushed past his daughter, arriving at the small group of trees that was their finish line. He circled the trees, bringing his speed down to a trot, then a walk. He moved his attention to Evela, who had just come to stop a a yard from the trees. She panted, shaking her head in frustration. Corvan gleamed, remembering how she felt so confident that she could win. "Not so energetic now, huh? Maybe next time you'll come a little closer to defeating me." He teased as he walked towards his daughter, who had now stopped panting and looked at him fiercely. She was about to reply when he turned his attention to some movements a good distance away. Tensing, he took a few steps closer, and realized it was a human. Memories of the hunters filled his mind as he turned towards Evela. "Evela, go back to the rest of the herd. I will follow close behind you." He said in a worried voice, trying to keep her attention off the human.

Evela had raced alongside her father, feeling hopeful that she would actually win. However, just before they reached the trees, he pulled in front of her. He wasn't even trying! He was just trying to humor me! Evela thought in dismay as she came to a stop. Panting a little, she gave Corvan an angry look, and was about to say something when he had turned his attention on another thing. She stood still, noticing how her father's expression grew worried as he turned back to her. When he told her to go back, she nodded, too confused to reply. She whirled around, and began to trot towards the rest of the herd. Why is my father so nervous? What could be so bad that he would react like that? She wondered as she started cantering, her increased speed caused by her unease.

He picked up his pace, wincing a little at the pain in his shoulder. He headed on a diagonal line past the human, hoping to draw the human's attention away from the herd & to him. He noticed a mountain herd stallion, Corvan? , watching, and he pinned his ears. Come on, come on! Move away from my herd already!

~

Dusty glanced at the sky. The clouds were darkening. Maybe it will rain. She spotted Stormfire moving in a diagonal line past a human on a blood bay stallion, and a Mountain Herd stallion with a foal. She felt a small drop of wetness land on her back. She huffed and felt as small drops of rain began coming down. The rain steadily thickened until it was nice pitter-patter. I can't believe it's raining. Hopefully it'll make some of the grass come back.

"hey stormfire!" epona trotted over and nickered a greeting" its good to have some rain back" she let the rain wash the dirt off making her coat shine

I love the rain it feels lovely, maybe the grass will grow back sooner "phoenix its raining!" she spinned and kicked up her heels loving the feeling of the cold rain trinkle down her back

look at them out there, so carefree and happy, even the lack of food doesn't bother them, If only I could go closer and talk to her then I could see if we were related she sighed and ripped up grass and whined at the pain in her stomach and felt herself back in the past "Hail i have been thinking...lets run away together just you and me" the stallion pranced around and nipped her rump knowing it was still sore from earlier "I can't epona is like a sister to me, I can't leave her " hail sighed and started cleaning him" the drought is terrible and My herd is leaving, I can't be without you!" his eyes filled with a watery stare " I will see you again I swear!" she nuzzled him" if its a girl I want to name it corona" hail bent down too rip up a strand of grass"if it's a boy I want it to be monarch " he snuffled and bent his head in her mane"I need to go hail...they will be looking for me" with that he turned and trotted away

"stormfire whats going on? " she bent her head and stared at the horse and rider oooh how she was itching for a fight her leg was lifted slightly ready to spin and kick them"What to you want" she pawed the ground and glared at the strange horse and human" leave before I decide Im to bored with life and take a little kick at you"

He shifted uneasily, still not used to having allies. Plus, he was supposed to protect them, not have them help him. He stepped slightly in front of the mare. "It's nothing much. The human is just too close for comfort, that's all. And so far, trying to lead them away from the herd hasn't worked." His voice was quiet and scratchy, but low and filled with menace. Don't show that you're hurt, and don't show that you're itching so much for a fight. Don't let them know anything. He glared at the human for a moment, then sighed. "You're Epona, right?"

"yeah im epona and honestly im itching for a fight, a strange herd comes and bosses us around and then humans are coming out?!" epona shuffled her feet and gave off a calm look as if daunting them to come and try something"everybody has seen you limping....are you okay?" epona looked around and gently licked the dirt off his shoulder, she turned and itched her leg making it seem like she didn't know anything"they are too close for comfort and....something seems wrong with hail, I don't want any humans to come, if they do I'll gladly kick them into yesterday" she snorted and pranced around