The Horse Games
#1
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It's a beautiful afternoon! Coeus would just love a riding partner...

Word Count → 530


When Coeus had first entered the stables, he had felt warm and welcome. The emotion had played into Becca when he had led her into her first night in Casa de Cavalieri. Since then, both of them had become more comfortable with the world around them and had become quite jovial. Coeus had even found a library which he had spent the good part of the morning in, devouring a few yellow paged novels. After so much reading, he was ready for a change of scenery and to get out of the buildings that surrounded him. Still he felt a slight twinge of anxiety pass over him when he entered a building, fearing that they would crash onto him for sure. Luckily, such a thing had not happened.


The young wolf approached his calm, dappled grey mare tenderly, stroking her nose gently, whispering a few words of greeting. Her big brown eyes looked back into his and he felt comforted and relieved that she seemed to be content. She definitely did not have the fear that the building was about to collapse onto her. Coeus smiled, he knew nothing could phase her, even on the days they walked for many hours, her tireless energy and dutiful evenness provided a rock for him to rely on. Turning away from her sloped face, he began gathering her worn tack. She didn't require much, a simple bridle was enough and a thin saddle was all he needed for her gently sloped back. "You know Becca, sometimes I think you're smarter than I am, and I am pretty smart." She gave a soft whinny, as if protesting his last statement. Coeus chuckled merrily, "You're right, you're right, have to be all humble for the virtuous Becca." Her head tossed once and it was the end of discussion.


The young wolf smirked to himself and began steadily gearing her up for their upcoming ride. She lowered her head for the bridle and remained still for Coeus to place the light saddle upon her back. In return for her behavior, Coeus seemed to summon an apple from behind his back and give it to her with a half bow. The mare's ears angled toward the luperci and she shifted readily, reaching out to take the sweet morsel from his outstretched palm. Apples were her very favorite treat and since a rich apple tree grew just outside, he would often return with the gleaming fruit to present to his beloved horse.


Though Coeus devoted most of his attention to Becca, he noticed that there were several other horses that boarded in the stables. Some were communal and the others were owned by his pack mates. He had not met them all, but liked them nonetheless. Each horse present looked the picture of health and very well cared for. Even Becca enjoyed their company, greeting them with neighs and would often groom her neighbors affectionately. It made Coeus even more confident that he had made the right decision. And without further wait, he brought Becca out of her stall, making the last adjustments to the tack.


Code by the Mentors; photo courtesy to Astrid Walter

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#2
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i thought it said "the hunger games" and I lol'd. let the horse games begin...

Word Count → 536


Alyssum sighed as she stepped out the courthouse, preparing herself for what was coming. Ever since she moved into the building and stopped sleeping in the trees in the nearby forest, her companions, particularly her mare, had been complaining about her lack of company at night. Because of that, she allowed Macbeth to nest in her room, though she had to sneak him into the courthouse, since she was unsure if anyone would like the idea of a bird inside of the building, but Antebellum was a whole different story. She doubted she had the ability to get the horse into her room without anyone noticing, and was certain there wasn’t enough space to even accommodate all three of them despite the horse’s claim that there would be.

She decided to resort to a different direction that the mare did not want to go in: sleeping in the stables. Bella tried to explain that she was too “hardened” to sleep in a shelter that was Luperci-made, and insisted that she would rather sleep out by herself than to cozy up like a soft horse would do. But, after picking out a stall and chiseling her name on a plaque of wood, the deed was done. After that, the mare silently complied with Alyssum, allowing her to lead her to her stall and closing the door in front of her, though kept giving her a dramatic look as if she was betrayed. The de Fonte knew that she would get over herself soon and decided she needed to start sleeping with her kind again. The woman began to thought that perhaps Antebellum saw herself above the horses, and needed to learn to be respectful since she was new, and that would only happen if the horses put her in her place themselves sooner or later.

Despite her silence, Alyssum was sure it was not long before she would hear how unfair she was being. She walked into the stables, rubbing her eyes while murmuring nonsense in premeditation for the stress that the mare would surely bring, and after dragging her fingers over her face and muzzle she realized that she was not alone. “Hello, there,” she greeted, giving a crooked smile to the man and his horse, and hoped he did not think anything of her as she quickly removed her hands from her face. But, she did not think much of it, and stepped over to the stall where the glaring mare stared at her with baneful eyes.

“Name’s Alyssum,” she continued to say as she opened the gate, allowing the palomino mare to step out, the horse snuffling and sniffling childishly about how awful it was in there, and patted her back. “And, this damsel in distress is Antebellum.” She stopped her moping for a moment to let out a sharp snort, though she went back to her huffing a moment later. The coywolf woman noted that the man was dressing up his own mare, and had to ask, “Are you going out for a ride, too? Mind if I come with; it would be nice if I had someone to talk to besides this sad filly.” Again, another angry sniff followed after her words.

Code by the Mentors; photo courtesy to Olli38

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#3
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ooc here

Word Count → 364


Coeus was nearly surprised by the entrance of the canine. He hadn't expected anyone in the warmth of the afternoon, many were snoozing the heat of the day away or devoted in work that took their time. Being relatively new, he enjoyed the luxury of having very little to do. Searching out new activities was becoming wearisome, though there were things he hadn't even touched on yet. He smiled, "I'm Coeus, it's nice to meet you." The canine seemed to be a friendly sort though her mare, Antebellum, seemed rather put out about something. Coeus understood bits of what the mare was attempting to communicate and let out a polite chuckle. "I would enjoy your company, so would Becca, she loves meeting new friends." He stroked his muzzle tenderly and allowed her to follow him out of the stables.


Already, she seemed thrilled to be out of the stables. Even though they were spacious it did not compare to the life she was used to of roaming the forest and the hills. When she had calmed herself and looked around, Coeus hopped onto her back, he weight practically unnoticed by the sturdy mare. Though she wore tack, it was usually unnecessary, as he only used to the reigns to direct her when he was going quietly. "So, my friend, where would you like to ride this fine afternoon? Antebellum looks like she could tear up the countryside and come home ready to win a race." Alyssum seemed to be more than competent with her horse. It wasn't often that a rider went completely bare backed, though he could tell that they shared an understanding that riveled him and Becca.


Having grown up with the dappled mare, he had never known her absence. Through the months of solitude they shared, they had learned to understand each other fairly well. Of course, they did not speak philosophy or politics, it was enough to convey emotion and desire. Becca had always been his anchor, when he was afraid, she stood unrelenting in her bravery, though she was wise enough to know when bravery was foolish.


Code by the Mentors; photo courtesy to Astrid Walter

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#4
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occ here

Word Count → 400


She smiled back as she saw that Coeus was of the friendly sorts instead of the less… joyous ones. She knew how to deal with hostile pack mates, having running into quite a few back in Inferni and managed to get away unscathed with her quickly adapted silver tongue, but it was always better to meet someone whom was in a good mood. “As it is for me,” she agreed when he spoke of the nice meeting. While Alyssum was glad to see someone new, the mare was ignorant of their existence, too proud and otherwise uncaring, though it came off as her being seemingly oblivious. The woman wanted to scold her for her attitude, but held it back as she followed the man out of the building with the mare tailing behind her.

Again, Antebellum remained unfazed until Coeus began to mention her, hearing her name and perking up at the words “tear” and “win”. “It doesn’t really matter to me. Where would you like to go?” she replied as she pulled herself up onto her horse, settling easily on her back. Then, the coywolf rolled her eyes and said teasingly. “And, don’t flatter her too much, or it’ll all go to her head. Though, I would have to say it’s true; she’s a powerful thing, and her confidence only makes its worse.” As if to prove her point, the mare had become straighter than she was in the stall, and held herself in a bold regard. “But, she’s a good horse in the end,” she added, as a slight hint that she should behave herself. The mare merely acted dumb and continued to puff out her chest.

“Becca isn’t too shabby herself,” Alyssum commented as she glanced over at the dappled creature and her rider. “She looks like she could win a few races against some competitors.” With a soft neigh, Bella gently tossed her head and eyed the woman. She formed a bigger grin on her face at the horse’s words, and explained, “Though Antebellum doesn’t think she’s a match for her.” She did not add, though, but she could not help but agree with the palomino; she’d ridden the mare long enough to know she was a force to be reckoned with, and was a pretty fast horse when she wasn’t carrying too much. She herself did not believe that Becca would be trouble for her.

Code by the Mentors; photo courtesy to Olli38

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#5
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ooc here

Word Count → 350+


Coeus glanced between the coywolf and her horse, he could see the communication going between them and the eyes that watched his own horse. Shifting in his saddle, he peered into the sky and seemed to be judging the wind. He had only briefly gone through the territory, lopping through the pack lands to just get a sense of it all. "Strega's Bay would be an easy march for two able mares and it would be nice to see the water again." He took Asslyum's words and did not overly compliment the mare. Coeus had seen Antebellum straighten herself along with the general indifference to the wolf or the horse's presence. The Timber Wolf realized that his homely mare was not a racer, nor prone to feats of speed. Her build reflected draft work, owing to her tireless energy.


He did not want to instill conflict simply over the condition of their mounts. Though his brows did bunch together as they seemed to share a small joke between them. Both horses were in immaculate condition. In addition, it was no use to get prickled over words that went unsaid. In the end, he did add, "Becca isn't one for speed, it's all muscle in her frame." Coeus patted her broad shoulder, "No doubt Antebellum is a force to reckoned with but Becca knows her way around heavy lifting." The dappled mare snorted slightly, she seemed to communicate that she did not wish him to say something he regretted. With a slight edge to the glint in his orange eyes, he willed Becca forward with a tight lipped smile. "Shall we be going? Wouldn't want the sun to set before we even start out."


The day was beautiful and slightly breezy. He was glad for the wind, without it the bright sun would be rather overpowering, especially for his thickly furred frame. Though he'd only known one summer before when he was much younger, he recalled the smothering days that forced him to seek shelter in water or underground. His fur was a curse in summer months, but a blessing during winter.


Code by the Mentors; photo courtesy to Astrid Walter

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