07-03-2011, 02:39 PM
He was tired- exhausted in fact. The day had been long and arduous, he'd slept the night before propped against a tree with an orphaned foal in his lap. It most certainly hadnt been the most comfortable of sleeps he'd had in a long while. The little black and white filly was tethered tightly to the tree they had claimed as temporary shelter, along with the magnificent beast he had managed to coax his way. It had been a lot easier than he'd first thought. He'd found the dark brute wandering close to the stream not too far away. He managed to get close and with a flurry had thrown a rope over the horses head. Expecting a struggle the male had dug his heels in and pulled. But it seemed the horse was already domesticated. He came easily and in his own time, pushing his face into Saul's chest when he was close enough to stop. It was clear he was a high spirited horse, but the days spent alone had worked on him. And just like that, two horses had come to him willingly. Admittedly he had picked the little filly up and moved her away from the carcass of her dead mother. But after that she had stayed with him, for comfort and warmth and food. And the male was clearly from a trader gone astray.
Still, the agouti male felt no shame in taking the horse home. If someone was careless enough to let him wander off, that was their loss. He'd named them, plucking two names from his head that had stuck. Hermes for the male and Arete for the little filly. He was going to rest this evening and set off early morning to get back home for the afternoon. He still had much to do and didnt want to waste any more time. He would have to carry the filly- she was far too frail and weak from lack of food and sleep to even hold herself upright. It would take longer, but it had to be done. For now the agouti male rested, eating another large strip of deer meat for his supper. It was nothing like fresh meat, but he couldnt exactly carry that about in a sack with him, could he?
A rustling in the bushes ahead of him made him start and turn. He had been leaning against the tree that had become his base, Arete by his knees, gently resting her head against his leg. Hermes stood a few yards away, tethered to the tree with one of the other ropes he'd bought. Standing and laying the sleeping foal's head on the ground, Saul stepped forward. At the same time, the bushes parted and a female walked out. He wouldnt have recognised her if her eyes hadnt been seeking the bushes, and hence he caught their gaze. Her body had changed, her attitude had changed, but her eyes were the same. His baby cousin, just a little bit grown up. He gasped and flew forward, a smile on his lips. "Eclipse!" He called, letting her know her cousin was here also.
Still, the agouti male felt no shame in taking the horse home. If someone was careless enough to let him wander off, that was their loss. He'd named them, plucking two names from his head that had stuck. Hermes for the male and Arete for the little filly. He was going to rest this evening and set off early morning to get back home for the afternoon. He still had much to do and didnt want to waste any more time. He would have to carry the filly- she was far too frail and weak from lack of food and sleep to even hold herself upright. It would take longer, but it had to be done. For now the agouti male rested, eating another large strip of deer meat for his supper. It was nothing like fresh meat, but he couldnt exactly carry that about in a sack with him, could he?
A rustling in the bushes ahead of him made him start and turn. He had been leaning against the tree that had become his base, Arete by his knees, gently resting her head against his leg. Hermes stood a few yards away, tethered to the tree with one of the other ropes he'd bought. Standing and laying the sleeping foal's head on the ground, Saul stepped forward. At the same time, the bushes parted and a female walked out. He wouldnt have recognised her if her eyes hadnt been seeking the bushes, and hence he caught their gaze. Her body had changed, her attitude had changed, but her eyes were the same. His baby cousin, just a little bit grown up. He gasped and flew forward, a smile on his lips. "Eclipse!" He called, letting her know her cousin was here also.