08-12-2011, 10:48 AM
WC: 917
OOC: Approaching the Halcyon Mountain range, near Salsola and Drifter bay, just passed the Pictou River. The plains haven't opened up yet as they are still in the forest. I think they might settle in the Drifter Bay area, so some association with both Salsola and Inferni would be good.
The sun was no longer warming their backs like usual. Instead the temperature was steadily dropping, causing both of the canines to wrinkle their noses in discomfort. The little fluffy white female shook herself and dropped the reins onto her horse’s neck, letting him walk on the trail without guidance. Turning in her saddle, she popped open one of the saddle packs and pulled out a large cloak. The inside was lined with mule deer fur and the outside was water proofed deer skin. Shaking it loose, she let all the dust from their travels fly free before swinging it around her shoulders. There was a tie around the chest, which she knotted immediately. The hood piece, an addition made after they started riding into the cooler areas, was made of a few armadillo shells, and lined with rabbit fur. It was supremely warm and kept the heat from escaping her head.
Duke snorted and bobbed his head wildly, ears pinning back as Wayne’s mare nipped at his flanks. Dixie heard her companion growl softly and pat the large mare’s neck, trying to calm her down. The horses were not used to this terrain or the shifting weather, nor the flora and fauna that they were now experiencing. A few times there had been spooks and panics, causing the large creatures to freak out and throw fits. This was possibly a warning towards another episode, so the little woman nudged Duke’s flanks with her feet and encouraged him to speed up a little, get away from the mare that constantly annoyed him. It worked for a while, the only sounds coming from the breathing and hoof beats sounding off the tall trees surrounding the trail. And then all hell broke loose when a blood curdling scream ripped through the forest.
Wayne yelled out for Dixie to run and she heard him coming up fast, the sounds of Gypsy’s big hooves thundering up the path. She growled and kicked Duke into action, leaning forward to encourage her stallion to run faster. No matter how fast they were going, it wasn’t enough. Not thirty feet down the trail a huge cat flew out of a tree and partly landed on Duke’s backside. Its big claws from one paw ripped through his tough skin, tearing open wide cuts, causing the horse to scream in pain and rear up. The cat roared again and swiped at his legs, trying to knock the big beast over. Dixie had fallen off, landing in a pile of leaves and sticks, pulling both of her knives from the cloak wrapped around her body. Growling heavily, she ran towards the cat, ready to slice its guts out.
The girl yelped when she felt two large arms wrap around her middle and pull her body back against a hard chest, holding her tight while she struggled to get free. Wayne nipped at her ear roughly and growled for her to sit still and watch. To her amazement, Gypsy was helping Duke in turning the attack around on the mountain lion. Both horses kicked and stomped at the feline, their eyes rolling with fear and hatred, nostrils flaring wildly. It didn’t take many minutes for the horses to stomp the cat into a bloody pulp. One of Gypsy’s huge back hooves caught it in the head and Dixie winced back into Wayne’s chest when she heard the loud crunch. Blood poured from the cat’s eyes and ears and its body fell limp, totally lifeless. The male nuzzled her head and sighed, ”See what they can do when the other is bein’ threatened? No matter how much they may annoy each other, they are a herd, and herd mates take care of one another; just like I will always take care of you, sweetheart.”
Dixie smiled and turned, hugging Wayne tight before breaking away and running over to Duke. She caught his reins and pulled until the stallion followed her off to the side of the trail. Taking her flask of water off the saddle, she poured all the liquid over the cuts on his backside, rinsing the blood away. ”Wayne…I need you to hold him for me while I sew this up. He ain’t gonna like this very much.” She sighed and tossed the reins to her friend and took out some thread and a needle. Hopping up onto his back, the girl leaned over, almost laying down over the saddle and got ready. With the first push of the needle through the ripped flesh, Duke whinnied and shifted nervously, his hips twitching with the urge to throw his rider. She made soft noises and rubbed the spot above his tail gently.
After a while he calmed down and allowed her to sew up all four rips, pulling the skin together tightly. When she was done doing that, she hopped down and put the remaining thread and needle away. ”If you put your packs on Duke and the cat on Gypsy…we can walk for a while. They deserve a break.” Wayne frowned and looked at the horses and the dead feline for a while before nodding and pulling Gypsy over to Duke. While Dixie transferred the rather light packs to her horse, the male grunted and growled as he lifted the cougar up onto the paint mare’s back. She snorted and stomped her hooves in displeasure, but allowed him to strap the feline to the saddle. Dixie smiled at Wayne and nodded towards the trail, starting their walk again.
OOC: Approaching the Halcyon Mountain range, near Salsola and Drifter bay, just passed the Pictou River. The plains haven't opened up yet as they are still in the forest. I think they might settle in the Drifter Bay area, so some association with both Salsola and Inferni would be good.
The sun was no longer warming their backs like usual. Instead the temperature was steadily dropping, causing both of the canines to wrinkle their noses in discomfort. The little fluffy white female shook herself and dropped the reins onto her horse’s neck, letting him walk on the trail without guidance. Turning in her saddle, she popped open one of the saddle packs and pulled out a large cloak. The inside was lined with mule deer fur and the outside was water proofed deer skin. Shaking it loose, she let all the dust from their travels fly free before swinging it around her shoulders. There was a tie around the chest, which she knotted immediately. The hood piece, an addition made after they started riding into the cooler areas, was made of a few armadillo shells, and lined with rabbit fur. It was supremely warm and kept the heat from escaping her head.
Duke snorted and bobbed his head wildly, ears pinning back as Wayne’s mare nipped at his flanks. Dixie heard her companion growl softly and pat the large mare’s neck, trying to calm her down. The horses were not used to this terrain or the shifting weather, nor the flora and fauna that they were now experiencing. A few times there had been spooks and panics, causing the large creatures to freak out and throw fits. This was possibly a warning towards another episode, so the little woman nudged Duke’s flanks with her feet and encouraged him to speed up a little, get away from the mare that constantly annoyed him. It worked for a while, the only sounds coming from the breathing and hoof beats sounding off the tall trees surrounding the trail. And then all hell broke loose when a blood curdling scream ripped through the forest.
Wayne yelled out for Dixie to run and she heard him coming up fast, the sounds of Gypsy’s big hooves thundering up the path. She growled and kicked Duke into action, leaning forward to encourage her stallion to run faster. No matter how fast they were going, it wasn’t enough. Not thirty feet down the trail a huge cat flew out of a tree and partly landed on Duke’s backside. Its big claws from one paw ripped through his tough skin, tearing open wide cuts, causing the horse to scream in pain and rear up. The cat roared again and swiped at his legs, trying to knock the big beast over. Dixie had fallen off, landing in a pile of leaves and sticks, pulling both of her knives from the cloak wrapped around her body. Growling heavily, she ran towards the cat, ready to slice its guts out.
The girl yelped when she felt two large arms wrap around her middle and pull her body back against a hard chest, holding her tight while she struggled to get free. Wayne nipped at her ear roughly and growled for her to sit still and watch. To her amazement, Gypsy was helping Duke in turning the attack around on the mountain lion. Both horses kicked and stomped at the feline, their eyes rolling with fear and hatred, nostrils flaring wildly. It didn’t take many minutes for the horses to stomp the cat into a bloody pulp. One of Gypsy’s huge back hooves caught it in the head and Dixie winced back into Wayne’s chest when she heard the loud crunch. Blood poured from the cat’s eyes and ears and its body fell limp, totally lifeless. The male nuzzled her head and sighed, ”See what they can do when the other is bein’ threatened? No matter how much they may annoy each other, they are a herd, and herd mates take care of one another; just like I will always take care of you, sweetheart.”
Dixie smiled and turned, hugging Wayne tight before breaking away and running over to Duke. She caught his reins and pulled until the stallion followed her off to the side of the trail. Taking her flask of water off the saddle, she poured all the liquid over the cuts on his backside, rinsing the blood away. ”Wayne…I need you to hold him for me while I sew this up. He ain’t gonna like this very much.” She sighed and tossed the reins to her friend and took out some thread and a needle. Hopping up onto his back, the girl leaned over, almost laying down over the saddle and got ready. With the first push of the needle through the ripped flesh, Duke whinnied and shifted nervously, his hips twitching with the urge to throw his rider. She made soft noises and rubbed the spot above his tail gently.
After a while he calmed down and allowed her to sew up all four rips, pulling the skin together tightly. When she was done doing that, she hopped down and put the remaining thread and needle away. ”If you put your packs on Duke and the cat on Gypsy…we can walk for a while. They deserve a break.” Wayne frowned and looked at the horses and the dead feline for a while before nodding and pulling Gypsy over to Duke. While Dixie transferred the rather light packs to her horse, the male grunted and growled as he lifted the cougar up onto the paint mare’s back. She snorted and stomped her hooves in displeasure, but allowed him to strap the feline to the saddle. Dixie smiled at Wayne and nodded towards the trail, starting their walk again.