goodnight boys, goodnight ― laqueta

[skibbereenfarms]

TIOGA
―the bandit king

The Grove usually brought back many memories for the stallion, though one in particular tended to stand out in his mind each time he payed a visit. The spring day couldn't have been any more perfect, and for this he was quite fortunate. The memory had brought him to a drizzly spring evening, and with a new era about to dawn, he needed to begin developing some more charitable memories. Tioga could distinctly recall huddling with his brothers in the rain, passionately debating their course of action. Fed up with the doings of the old King Angus, it was here that Tioga and the others decided that they were going to liberate the horses of Drulan and save them from tyranny. At that point, their intentions were nothing but good. Pure. Innocent. They did not know what life was like outside of the herd, yet they decided that they would group together beyond the borders and begin fighting for their rights. It had all gone downhill from there, but at that point in time, the two-year-olds felt like gods.

Tioga let a sigh escape with the passing wind. Of course he realized now how foolish his childhood antics were, how little he knew about the way things were supposed to be run. He considered this to be the reason why he had taken up the Kingship in his former home. He wanted to see if things really had to be run they way they were, or if the ruler truly was to blame. With the days passing since his claim, the Bandit King decided that he was right in rebelling. His intentions were good, he was just too young to realize what sort of havoc he was really wreaking.

He never really thought about the young horses he'd manipulated, mainly because each of them had ended up abandoning him once the bandits began to fall apart. Tioga simply assumed they'd forgiven and forgot him, afterward going on to live their own lives. If he ever encountered one of them again, he would surely feel some form of guilt. After all, most of the things he did were, to him, massive mistakes. He had learned to move past those days, however, and now he was a proud stallion with nothing to offer except respect and protection.

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[rhianna4554]

I remembered little of anything before my second birthday other than a few vague faces who I presumed were my parents. The only memories I did have were those of my protector and guide. I remembered well the first time I had met Tioga. I remembered how scared I had been when I was taken during my visit to Drulan Woods but oddly he was not one of the ones I was scared of. With time he had guided me showing me that rulers and those with power were not to be trusted when there was no equality in a herd. My trust was given to him completely and closed off to others. Perhaps it was no surprise I stuck near him but out of sight even when all the others left and his group of bandits finally fully disbanded. I was lost if he was not near the warmth his presence offered was barred to me. I had followed him back to Drulan Woods and watched in the shadows as he had claimed the land. His choice to crown himself king brought some confusion because after all he had condoned such things but my faith in him had outweighed it. He had never led me apart or betrayed my trust before so there had to be a good reason for his decision.

Since his declaration I had distanced myself a little more comfortable enough in my environment now that his scent was everywhere to be more on my own. Inside his kingdom I was safe even if I was never to see him again and in their own way the ancient trees offered a similar feeling of comfort. For some reason I had wandered to the border today back to where my life had changed so drastically. For a while I had been alone content in the solitude with the faint traces of my king filling my nostrils and the sounds of nature around me. Something had shifted however at one point…a slightest stir in the wind the caught my attention. He is coming. Ears pricked at the faint words puzzlement stirring as I slowly scanned my surrounding noticing the rustling as leaves danced overhead. Had I imagined the voice or was it my own subconscious talking? Or were the stories really true? My speculations were halted as the same words persisted once more a stir of the wind bringing in a fresh barrage of scents. His included…and it was strong. Anticipation stirring I slinked into the shadows hiding myself and my pale coat from view those mix matched orbs of mine scanning intently for any sign of him. I did not have to wait long. The sight of him had the faintest of sighs escaping relief and warmth spreading through me with the relief being born from the fact that he looked well. I watched him silently for a while unsure about revealing myself but eventually I took a step forward and then another. My approach was silent my body easing from the shadows slowly my movements managing to be graceful despite the fact that I was no dainty Arabian. I chose not to speak instead I simply watched even when I eased to a stop a little way away.

[skibbereenfarms]

TIOGA
―the bandit king

Being so in-tune with his forest in addition to his awareness of everything around him, it was easy for the Bandit King to tell that he was no longer alone. A number of things alerted him to this new presence: the sudden change in atmosphere, the faint scent, and even his own intuition could have been the source of this information. Had he been in his youth again, Tioga knew he likely would've fled the scene. Such nonsense would not be tolerated now, for he was a proper King and was responsible for his own actions. Instead, the stallion held his head high and began sniffing, intending to focus in on whatever it was that had decided to disturb his peace.

He began to turn toward where he believed this transgressor would be when he stopped dead in his tracks. Could it have been? Tioga could not shake a sense of familiarity with this presence, like he had known it for years in his life. He momentarily considered a brother, a former bandit who had finally returned home after years of exile, but the thought was quickly tossed aside. If it had been a fellow bandit, the feeling would have been different. He would know if it was one of them by the way they snuck up on him; he could never forget their unique ways even if he tried. No, this was something else. Someone else. Admittedly he was slightly disappointed, for he would have loved to see his old mates again, but his curiosity here held firm.

There was a second option, but the stallion found it very hard to consider. Surely every beast did something they were not proud of, and Tioga was not exempt from this concept. There were quite a few Drulan foals and yearlings that ended up in his possession in order to take his revenge on the King, and he could recall saying awful things to them, shaping their still-developing minds to believe that the system was corrupt, that a monarchy could not properly take care of them. He could see how wrong he was then, and that all it took was a proper ruler. Drulan deserved a now kind soul like Tioga. Angus had never been fit for the throne. Still, this did not change what he had done to the young ones who had been in the Bandits' custody. There were quite a few of them who had stuck around until the end, taking the Bandits' words as gospel. They were probably the last ones anyone would want to be listening to, what with being so naïve. But those young ones did, and they likely ruined their own futures in the process.

Tioga thought he had been the last one to have known the Bandits' way of life, but apparently he was mistaken. If this was one of the horses he'd kidnapped, everything he had now could be compromised. Tioga was not going to take this lightly. He had a duty to uphold.

Standing tall, Tioga addressed the presence. The last thing he wanted was to be brought back into that world for the sake of another. He was a changed horse. "State yer business, stranger."

[/blockquote]

[rhianna4554]

I had thought I had revealed myself but subconsciously I had returned to the shadows once more hiding myself from his view. I did not know why which confused me and in turn…frightened me. Never before had I hesitated to approach my bandit king…so why was I now? Was it because he had made himself king of Drulan Woods and in doing so gone against what he had preached? I hated how the doubt crept through me but having never experienced it I was helpless to stop it. It was his voice that saved my mind from being torn apart by it and I took strength from the familiar sound. That voice would never lead me astray. Even with me being set on revealing myself I still took my time like I always did because although I trusted him with my life I preferred remaining unseen. Eventually however I was standing before him mix matched orbs watching him with nothing but warmth in that gaze. I could not help but wonder however if he remembered me still…if he would recognize me. I hoped so…god I hoped so.

The idea that he might not was too painful and I was unable to prevent a tremor running through my warm blood frame. “I have no business of my own other than to serve my bandit king once more as he sees fit.” My voice was naturally relatively quiet and this time the volume of the words was no different…but the words held soft tender warmth which was reserved only for him. He was after all the only one I could trust…the only one who deserved my trust. Shifting my weight slightly I couldn’t help but once more examine him at the same time fighting the yearning to touch him silently. “You look well my lord…” It was an absentminded comment the warm lyrics laced with traces of relief which I could not and would not deny.