Find me a Sunset. [Astrid]

[Deleted]

Stau

It was nearing the beginning transition from the High Noon sky to a time when the sunset claimed the skies. Currently, it hung with lazy ambition in the corner of the sky, still lighting up the land beneath it. He had spent the day earlier in the waters, on one of those rare occasions when he had the day pretty much to himself. It wasn't like he wasn't used to the heat or anything; in fact, it was always easier on him, even with a darker coat, in the spring and summer than when he started changing again. The waters were cool and relaxing, and he had waded in them until he nearly drifted to sleep.

It didn't feel right to waste a day doing nothing, and it was uncharacteristic of him in the first place to stray from his herd. But lately he'd felt the need to be off on his own, his his desert, seeing other things besides the Oasis. When Stau exited the waters, his body felt heavy under the transfer of weight and it almost crippled him in the instant -- but quickly he regained himself and pulled his body from the sea, hooves becoming clad in the damp sand that waves covered in rhythm. Since then, he'd merely been walking along the beach. There was no set pace, no ambition to find or do anything, and it felt rather odd. The sunlight warmed his olive-tainted back, and where salt water was sweat began to take residence, taking the salt and make it its own. It was probably a bad idea to wade in the main section of the sea: he should have found a small pool that had less salt content. But with a flick of his ear and a heaved sigh through the nostrils, Stau figured a good roll later would aid the oncoming predicament.

The stallion paused, hooves that once felt heavy from the added weight of packed earth now accustomed to the extra effort needed to move them solidly rooted to the ground. He craned his neck upward, eyes closed, and inhaled slowly. A breeze, almost on cue, rolled in and took his nearly-dry mane and tail in an effort to lead them away. He could smell the sand and salt, and the heat: his home. Chewing some and realizing from the sounds of suction and the feeling of dryness, Stau knew he would need to turn back toward the Oasis soon so he could rehydrate. Sea water was fine and all, but it was no substitute for fresh water -- and one could not drink it in hopes of quenching their thirst. It seemed like a wasted effort, having come out here to basically waste the day, but perhaps the reason he came so early was in preparation for the sunset that was due to cast its glow along the lands tonight. With an off cast glance as he figured his situation, the dark stallion barely nodded to himself in self-acknowledgement that staying here and waiting for the sunset would not hinder his life in the current circumstances.

But instead of standing in the middle of the sand where the sun could bake him, the stallion opted for a better solution. Along the beach were several variously-sized rocks and boulders, and some towered above horses even of his stature and height. Surely one of the larger ones would provide adequate shade while his body cooled and settled on a proper temperature. Plus, less heat meant more time without needing to drink -- at least, that made sense in his mind. Chewing again as he ducked his head for a hind turn toward the rocks, Stau set his gaze along the beach again and watched as the waves softly rolled in and away from the shore. Soon he'd see his sunset, and then return as the land cooled down to his herd for the night. They might have wondered where he'd been the entire day, but he was given the day to do with whatever he chose. Instead of gallivanting through the oasis and chatting with friends, Stau found it more appealing to enjoy his time alone. The stallion reached the beginning of a large collection of stone, and found a ridge that would be perfect for his interests. The stallion calmly started up the textured surface of the rocks, with practiced ease and made his way through the dips and crevices, knocking the sand from his hooves in his motion. As he finally heaved his body to the desired location, Stau looked out toward the sea at a new height before lying down, chewing once more, and resting.

Notes: Ahm. Enjoy? First post with him, yay! It'll get better, no worries. If it's unclear he's lying down on a little mountain of rockie-things under the shade of a rock that is kind of tall and made a ridge.

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

The north was her home; there was no way to deny this, and even Astrid most commonly found herself answering Orut whenever someone asked. The mare was an avid liar, however, so most of the time she would claim the free lands. The point is, a mare such as her is keen to stand out in her mother's homeland. While she had inherited her mother's fine frame, the bulging muscles tended to dilute those roots quite a bit. It was actually quite easy moving across the desert since her legs were more accustomed to the rugged terrain of the north.

It seemed that recently she had begun to doubt her sanity entirely. First she'd decided that exploring the north once again was a good idea, and all that got her was a couple of encounters with some stallions who thought they owned her just because she'd been up there all alone. The recollection of recent events made her sick to her stomach. If that was all they were keen on doing nowadays, then Astrid knew something had to change. Someone had to knock some sense into them. What had happened to the days of chivalry she had been told about? Maybe it had died long ago, or maybe those stories weren't true. They were told by mares who lived beneath stallions as if it were their only option, as if they were only alive to give children. Astrid had to believe that this was not true, that they had the potential for so much more than childbearing.

Astrid always saw herself as a force to be reckoned with, so why did so many ignore her? True, her attitude was not friendly in the slightest; it never had been. But every time she thought she could be of use for something, she'd been shot down or brushed aside. Such actions frustrated the mare greatly, only adding to her bitterness. Often times she found herself questioning her power and everything she had worked to achieve. All she wanted to know was if she was doing the right thing or not. She wanted to believe that there was purpose to all of the hard work she had to endure, but doubt often settled in.

Perhaps that's why she was all the way out here. To figure out what she wanted.

This train of thought began to whirl in her head, and combining that with the desert's sun and the warm atmosphere, the mare began to grow rather parched. She hadn't noticed at first, but her strides began to falter every now and again. When was the last time she'd eaten? Why are mares supposed to act a certain way? The second thought distracted her from the first, forcing her to push her legs harder and harder. Soon enough she found her vision blurring, her eyes threatening to roll into the back of her skull. At this point she was moving along blindly. She wasn't really sure of where she was anyway, so it's not like her inability to see straight would hinder her in any way. Astrid did slow her pace somewhat, this perhaps being her only intelligent move since she first arrived in the desert.

Now she was certain her own ears had deceived her, for she could've sworn she heard water. At first she dismissed it to be her blood pumping within her, but as she slowed her pace even more, she began to notice an increase in the amount of stones and boulders in her path. She attempted trudging through them but found it extremely difficult, and she nearly slipped and fell on numerous occasions. She hadn't really realized that she'd reached the ocean's waters until she felt the waves brushing up against her hooves. The mare then became aware of how immensely hot she was. Sweat was practically pouring off of her, and she was burning. With one heavy sigh, she lowered herself to the ground and collapsed within reach of the waves. She remained there, the water sweeping over her.

_{ooc: let's just assume Stau's nearby but she didn't see him :'D}

[/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Stau

Perhaps coming to the top of these rocks with the intention of waiting out the sunset was not one of his greatest plans. He was less tired than he had thought, and soon he found himself in a daze simply staring out toward the sea. The blues in different shades clashing against one another did little to really entertain him. He could not wait til the skies were splashed in golden colors. The sands would nearly merge and the lands would look whole, and at the center a point of pure gold would encase the sun. It was something Stau found marveling.

A couple of flicks of his tail and a soft sigh, and Stau was looking along the shoreline again. It would probably still be quite some time, judging from the way the sun shone, until he could see his sunset. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to walk the shore again, or wade in the water; perhaps find something to eat, though he wasn't exactly hungry. A toss of his head and Stau was lifting himself from the cool rocks in a fluid motion, clicking his hooves across the rocks as he moved and steadied himself. In a moment, with somewhat splayed legs, inhaled and threw a solid shake through his body. A wuffle escaped his mouth, echoing the rumble within him. Licking his lips and chewing some, the stallion tried seeing through the strands and clumps of mane and forelock that intruded their way through his ears and into his line of vision. A bit of an aggravated toss of his head sent his hair into resetting itself, and the stallion flicked his chin to his chest in order to dispel them further.

With a soft snort, Stau somewhat clambered down the rocks. When his hooves reunited with the sand, he gave a soft tail flick before ambling off. He came straight up to the shoreline, watching the waves lazily come back and forth and cover his hooves as he stepped closer. They sucked his feet in, and once again his legs were heavier with the weight of packed sand. A quick glance off into the distance of the sea before turning along the shore was all the dark stallion gave for a farewell to his resting spot. He figured that, with the amount of time there seemed to be left before his sunset came, he should at least make some use of it. Not far from here was a small patch of trees and grasses, and another formation of shade so he wouldn't be out in the open like earlier. He had had a good rest, but at least in the vegetation he could focus on grazing and not on being still and sleeping.

He wondered momentarily what his herd was up to. His father was a grumpy man, but older and had the right to be. His caretaker had a lot on her hooves in caring for him, but Ahmed was there to help as well. The other members probably spent their time grazing and chatting among themselves, while guards kept watch of the Oasis so they could ward off any Outsiders. In that moment, he could not help but wonder if perhaps he was being watched as well. For his safety, if nothing else, of course. But the thought more irritated him than anything, and was soon cast off to follow the breeze that came in an effort to claim his mane again. The breezes were welcomed, and it was often interesting to watch them dance with the sands. They had a way of giving the sand life, allowing it to fly and spiral and move around the desert. Sometimes it caused problems, but for those native to the desert it was expected and understood.

He took a moment to scan his eyes along the desert, noting the waves of heat and how they skewed the horizon, and the dark birds who clung to the skies as though their lives depended on it. Some floated, while others appeared on a mission in the distance. And beside them lay the sun, bright and life-giving. He felt a prickle down his shoulder from anticipation of the sunset. Ah, but you must not be impatient. It ruins everything when you try to force something. Turning back to his original path, Stau found himself catching something in the air. It clung to his nostrils and then to his eyes. Not too far off, along the shore itself, was a figure -- a mound would probably be a more appropriate term -- lying in the middle of his soon-to-be path. Cocking his head slightly, the stallion contemplated. The scent was nothing specific because of its distance, but it was more an indicator of the presence of something. A washed up sea animal?

Curious, Stau began in a quick-strided and fluid trot, ears forward and eyes fixed. It took him a few moments to break the distance in half, but as he neared and remembered to note the scent his pace slowed and a heat rose within his gut. Another horse. He hadn't encountered her scent before, which instantly put him on alert. Still a few meters away, the stallion halted with a raised tail, fully alert. Snorting loudly, Stau studied the mare. Anyone of non-familiar scent was an Outsider until proven otherwise, but this one was just.. lying there. Unsure of how to approach, the stallion decided the best way was to present himself. After all, he was the Prince of this land. As an Asil he had every right to tread where he pleased, and not be questioned for it. Any concern over offending a potential one of his own was quickly dispelled and Stau straightened himself before his voice rang:

"State your business here, Stranger."

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

The soothing waters began to fill her ears, and just as they were about to empty, the waves would refill them once again. While this made it incredibly difficult to hear anything around her, she felt no need to pay attention. Her only focus was on the gentle waves and how they were able to calm her. The mare had to wonder if there were some mystic qualities to this ocean, for this was something she had never felt before in her life. She briefly considered visiting coastal borders more often, wondering why she remained so fearful of this precious resource.

As the waters shifted back and forth, they mimicked a sort of clawing action. Pebbles and stones that just so happened to be caught in the current were pulled into the ocean and spat back out again, only to be drawn further and further into the expanse of water. While it was simple enough to move stones every which way, it was much harder for the waves to move a mare who had begun to sink into the sand somewhat. As rocks tumbled past the mare, she envisioned them leading a journey to the farthest depths of the ocean, pressed against one another at the bottom of the sea. Drowning.

As she lied there, she thought she sensed another nearby, though it was hard to tell with so much happening all at once. Childhood memories began to creep back into her mind. As they clawed at her skull, her stomach began to twist once again, and her knees would have likely been weak had she been standing. Her head jolted from the water, gasping for air as if she were clinging to life. No attention was given to the stallion as she pulled herself from the waves, skittering away to a place in the sand which the water could not touch. No attention was given to the weight of the water which clung to her frame. Her mane and tail dripped, leaving tiny little droplets in the dried sand beneath her hooves.

She was still breathing heavily when she raised her head, which had drooped between her legs in an attempt to catch her breath. This was her first chance to actually see the one who had attempted to speak to her. She hadn't heard him from the water in her ears, but as she gazed upon his frame, a switch immediately went off in her mind. Astrid wasn't impressed.

The first thought that came to her mind was that he sort of looked like her mother. An obvious assumption, she was from here. But he was tall like she was. Or, maybe she was just really small and thought she was huge. Astrid didn't know, and frankly, it didn't matter. An obvious problem almost immediately stood out to her: he looked like he owned the world. It was an essence she could pick out of any horse who thought himself better than everyone else. Quite obviously, this was something the mare could not stand, and also something she would not tolerate. He would get some respect if he deserved it. Until then, he was just like everybody else. Yet another mindless drone, raised to believe he could have everything he ever wanted just because.

So there she was, soaking wet, a little mentally unstable, and pretty freaking annoyed by this idiot who was staring at her. There wasn't much else to say. "What."

[/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Stau

In his years of life he had never come across a reaction like what the mare provided. His ears pricked back slightly and he nearly took a step as she shot up from the sand, eyes wild and caught up in something internal. It took but a moment for him to resume his position when he found she wasn't going to streak past him in a fit of unpredictable fear or something. Stau could only watch as she steadied herself, head to the ground at first, and regain her composure. His tail lightly motioned, part curiosity and part.. uncertainty. It took him a moment to assess her build, which further struck a questioning stance for him. But as she regained herself and rose her head any doubt was scattered at her tone. Her eyes were dark and offensive, and he was compelled to believe instantly that she wasn't from around here. Ears fell back slightly before inhaling as she spoke.

Blinking calmly, Stau tilted his face toward her. "Are you Asil?" His tail caught a breeze as it came, and the stallion inhaled once more. "Who are you, Stranger, and what were you doing on the shore? You appeared as though you were.. having an issue." Should this all turn out to be that she were Shaquu scum, his words would have been tainted. He wasn't entirely sure, however, for the outsiders he had met were easily recognizable.

Nevertheless, all unknown horses are Outsiders unless otherwise proven. It was a point in fact. It was tradition. Anything outside of their lineage was incapable of living with Nature's graces alongside them. They were weak, they died off. Asil were strong, and pure. Tradition was something that was born into all Asil, something that could not be replicated. As he looked at this shaken mare, Stau began to grow suspicious of her origin.

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

With a furrowed brow she watched as his composure faltered and nearly crumbled to pieces. All because of a single word. In a moment of pride, the mare nearly grinned to herself. Nearly. Mustn't get overly cocky, my dear. Her stare regained its usual annoyed glare as he barraged her with questions, the first throwing her into an even more confused state. Asil? What the hell did that even mean? She would've insulted his dumb little vocabulary had he not continued, having the nerve to suggest that she had problems. While that could very well be true (and even she was aware of this), a pompous animal like him had no right to tread in the recesses of her psyche. Perhaps if he had kept to the simple introduction he wouldn't be about to get an earful from a stressed mare. Well, to be honest this would be coming to him either way. At least now she had a reason to be angry.

Astrid was sure that if she did not defend herself now, then she would never be able to do so again. She was already glaring at him. "I don't think you're in a position to be able to make such an assumption. I'm fine." How dare he. Even though he couldn't have known her entire life's story, there are better ways of asking if someone was alright. Try 'are you okay?' for starters. Don't flat-out say someone has problems. That's just downright insulting.

The fact that he showed the slightest bit of pity really ticked her off. "And I don't have to tell you anything. It was a free ocean last time I checked." Astrid likely would've dismissed him then and there, had he not intrigued her with his dumb little vocabulary. That slight hint of curiosity from her mother's side really was going to be the death of her someday. The mare squinted, eyeing him with a puzzled expression. "I'm not even sure if you're making up words because you're insane or you think you can just say whatever you want and expect someone else to understand." The mare shook her head in a disappointed manner. This was an extremely poor attempt at trying to speak to someone. The worst she'd ever come across, that was for sure.

[/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Stau

Her glare met him and he nearly braced himself, but at hearing her a coldness met his composure. I understand. It was the defining moment, nothing she could take back now. She's one of them.

Stau's eyes grew a bit dark as he lowered his head a little when she continued screaming toward him with such offensive disrespect. It would have further irked him, and perhaps it did, but a fact hit him in her first words and it would not unlatch itself. Lashing his tail and tilting his head up slightly, the dark stallion eyed her and could not help the sneer that crossed his lips, the fire inside his throat, the way his ears dropped and then sprung forward in knowing. "So it's true, then." He nearly stifled a chuckle.

"Those outside of the Asil really can't live without Nature's graces, let alone in our Desert." Stau's tail lashed along his back as he took from his stagnant pose and drew up feet away from her, not stopping. Casting his gaze to the side, he took a moment where it appeared he hesitated about stopping to speak to her; it was brushed off, then, and instead he walked past her with his tail lightly raised, the sunlight gleaming off of his olive-like skin, dark face holding slit and darkened eyes. "You are not welcome here."

If there was a justifiable reason why he didn't chase her off then, he couldn't place it. Perhaps it was, in finding out she was not of his origin, that he knew then and there she wasn't allowed to be spoken to. He wasn't allowed to give her his attention, and she did not deserve a conversation -- nor for him to continue talking to or at her. Snorting roughly, the stallion looked up at the sky and paused, forgetting about her entirely. I still have some time before my sunset comes. The next spot of shade was not far off, and it was hidden from others and likely someone of such.. vile upbringing could not follow him should they choose to. But it was still a good distance, and he wouldn't give the outsider the chance to learn more of his haunts. If she persisted, he would be forced to chase her off. Horses were allowed to wander the desert and die here, but it was only the place of Asil, those touched by Nature's grace, to live here.

Today turned out to be a good day after all, aside from the pleasure he knew he'd find in watching his sunset in due time. He was once more reminded how tradition never lied, how it was the oath and very thing keeping those worthy alive. Seeing that pitiful mare, simply washed up and losing her mind in his home, was simply the direct result of Nature dealing with those who were unworthy and weak. In leaving, he was allowing Her to finish the task She started. Who was he to get in the way of those who graced his blood in purity?

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

At least the mare could admit that she held some sort of power over him. Admittedly, it felt good. Though the fact that she was frightening could've been somewhat unsettling, Astrid truly did not care. Intimidation was intimidation, and it didn't matter how it was utilized as long is it proved to be effective.

What would've been a premature victory rapidly turned sour. Astrid had to stop herself and take a moment to really assess what he'd just said, just to be sure that there wasn't any water still clogging up her hearing. She could've sworn he just implied that she was somehow impure because she had to endure hardships ― hardships which, by the way, she was not responsible for ― and because of that, she did not deserve to be in the desert. Astrid could honestly care less about the whole impure concept, for she believed it to be just as idiotic as a mare who believed she had no control over her own life. The aspect that deemed her unfit for desert exploration, however, managed to spark her upcoming retort.

To make matters worse, he turned his attention away from her, as if his words were actually justifiable. Astrid may not have had a firm belief in something, but she did know that when someone decided they could make a smart remark and think they could get away with it without being held accountable, they would most definitely have something coming for them. In this case, that something would be Astrid. The mare was still somewhat shocked that he even had the nerve to say such things, so there was a brief amount of time between her scoff and her plunge into pure, genuine anger.

The mare's first move consisted of a couple of innocent steps forward. She briefly became aware of the bits of sand caked to her hooves, but quickly learned to ignore the slight annoyance. Her voice followed soon after, the bitter words stinging against her own tongue. "Excuse me?" Astrid's words stopped grown stallions in their tracks. Surely it would do the same for this poor waste of skin. "Who the hell do you think you are?" This was no longer some idiot who thought he could get the best of her just because he was bigger than she; this was personal.

The mare momentarily paused, setting aside a brief moment in order to develop a thought. Astrid usually didn't use positive tones when speaking in general, but he hadn't responded to kindly to her, so she supposed she could try something new. She almost found herself smiling, laughing even. Calmly (perhaps too calm for a mare like her), she said, "If you're going to say something, then might I suggest you say it to my face? I believe it would be easier for me to rearrange it with you standing right in front of me." Astrid found she quite liked the tone. It seemed to accentuate her emotions.

[/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Stau

The sun, though lower in the sky than earlier, still kept the desert full of the normal heat. The rays hit and soaked into his coat, a light coat of sweat mixing with the salt from his visit with the ocean before. Because of this, his dark fur glistened as he moved, his mane falling and moving with the wind in thicker strands and curled pieces. Though the heat would be intense for most horses, pure Asil were accustomed to it. Even he, though being of darker coloration than his brethren, felt at home and comfortable under the cloudless skies. The clay earth whisped under his hooves as he walked, rolling and circling, and floating upward. Some of the dust clung to his legs, but most of it escaped into the air only when his hooves released them. Stau continued walking, but paused to look along the horizon again. Once more, the birds of prey stalked the skies and kept them clear of any disturbances. Trees off in the distanced kept the horizon from being entirely flat and seemingly barren, but also taunted and invited outsiders into its trap. Once inside the desert, it was easy to be lost.

And once lost, you were at the mercy of Nature herself. Outsiders were unworthy beings, made too heavily-set to deal with the lifestyle of the clay lands. They were merciless, and trained and raised the sons and daughters from its soil. After all, nothing less could be expected from Baahir except the same in those who rightfully lived there. Tradition deemed that Nature selected those strong enough to survive. Those who were too weak were not allowed to live on, and should not be aided in their endeavors of trying to live and face against Nature. When at a disadvantage of that sort, it was only noble to accept your reality and move onto a land that accepted and took on your weaker shell. It was just how things went, the cycle of things. The tradition. Asil bred to Asil to further the line, enhance the survivors and aid Nature in empowering those who deserved Her grace. It was only polite and in their best interests to remove anything unworthy. Getting attached was the first and most deadly sign of being sucked into their taint. Nature was unyielding. Her sons and daughters needed to follow the laws of tradition or face her wrath for their sins. It was how order, and balance, and life were sustained. It is tradition. It is life. It is everything.

It is everything.

The stallion found himself opening his eyes, chewing slightly and realizing his saliva got a bit more sticky. He would need water soon, to keep fit and on top of his game. He had allowed himself, in standing and gazing upon his home, to drift into himself and think of thoughts better suited for a cooler location. His shoulder twitched and his ears pricked as distant thrumming sound echoed. It got louder, more persistent, and Stau couldn't help but wonder what it was.

And in an instant he was jolted back by her voice: sharp and then very, very calm. It was for but a moment, but a sly smile curled at the end of his lip. It reminded him, the tone, of how a mare scolded her colts for being naughty and disrespecting the rules before understanding them. How when they ran off and were tracked down and greeted by their mother's warm smile, her voice would be so calm and deadly but untraceable at their ages. They'd be welcomed back but softly reprimanded; wouldn't even know what hit them. They would understand how it worked, how things lived and died, how to remain worthy. The would learn of Tradition, the very essence of their being. Of the rifts in the world, how even if they chose to leave the desert they must never break from the cords that bound them to their families. How they were not placed above their Tradition: should they break unbreakable laws, they would too be tainted. It was how life was, and they were shown weak. The family of the tainted were looked down upon for their actions, for allowing and breeding such weakness into the Asil blood. In result, usually mates were broken up and mares sent to a stronger, more proven leader of great blood. Stallions were not killed, but rather banished or moved to a lower rank where they would prove their worth once again.

Baahir was about survival. The weak died, the strong lived. Nature was cruel, but so were her children.

Stau glanced quickly at her, long enough to watch her finish speaking and register her words. He would give her no such courtesy. She was scum, low. Unhealthy. Tainted. But something..

Stau shook his head abruptly, and inwardly scorned himself. Lashing his tail along his back in a swift movement, the dark stallion turned away from her and continued walking. And though he bit his tongue afterward and clenched his teeth, he could not help but to utter back to her: "You have no lineage here, you need to leave," as he continued, what could questionably be heard, "It's for your own good."

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

Astrid was well used to dealing with imbeciles; with all of the things she tended to say out of frustration, she certainly had to be. The mare put herself in danger dozens of times, and she wasn't sure what she would've done in the past if she wasn't so strong. With stallions, there tended to be a pattern: they'd say something she didn't particularly like, she'd respond negatively, and they'd lash out. At this point, Astrid was waiting for the final constituent, yet it never came. The mare had been watching Stau like a hawk, waiting patiently for that one muscle twitch that would ultimately thrust him into an assault. The mare soon discovered, however, that such a retaliation would not take place.

Not only was she disappointed, but she was also quite confused. Rarely had she met a horse who did not respond negatively to her challenge. The neutrality of his reply disturbed her at first, momentarily aware of the fact that her insides were churning. She didn't know how to respond to this. Usually everything had been so clear, so predictable. Not this time. She couldn't accept the fact that he could just insult her and walk away; usually there was some sort of fighting in between first. There was always a victor, and it was usually Astrid. But here, she felt as though she had lost in a bigger way than ever before. It was a different sort of loss, one which could not be reached physically. Losing to a meaty brute was one thing, but losing to this...this cockroach was just downright embarrassing. It was also unacceptable. Giving in to him was like throwing in the towel, and it was the last thing in the world Astrid would do.

He just needed to be pushed a little further, she decided. Every horse had cracks that another could easily break into. Astrid just needed to try harder.

"See, that's where you're mistaken." Her annunciation was sharp; the mare meant business. "I do have lineage here. My very own mother was a southerner; although I could see now why she decided to leave. You're probably the sorriest excuse of a horse that I've ever seen. My mother didn't like weaklings." In Astrid's mind, such information was only to be reserved for those she was intimate with, but she was so frustrated with this twig that she had to somehow find a way to one-up him.

_{ooc: short because astrid isn't as conflicted as stau is :''''D also i stink.}

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[Deleted]

Stau

Stau's shoulder twitched at looking to the skies, noting the location of the sun. It won't be too long from now, Pricking his ears back momentarily, he also noted her presence once more. I've been wasting more of the day away. It wouldn't be long from now when he'd have to turn back to the beach so he could be surrounded in the skies, and the dark stallion pondered whether it would be best to turn back now and just wait it out.

But the Shaquu is back there, He could act as though she were far away, but in reality she was merely a few meters. Lowering his head and exhaling with a light lash of his tail, the black stallion tried to clear his head. You're starting to behave scornfully, Stau. This is not your nature, you are a Prince. Tradition dictates your actions and to allow such weakness would make you unworthy of Kingship in the later time. He knew this, but admitting it was something that was... hard to swallow. He was not weak, and Tradition was the driving point for his existence. His entire culture.

He had thought he could simply walk away and be done with the Shaquu, but she felt the need to continue pestering her. On any other day he might have been more harsh, might have completely ignored her, might have chased her off himself; but perhaps it was because he had enjoyed his day and was awaiting the sunset, and he did not want to taint his thoughts with the Unhealthy. Something prickled in the back of his mind and taunted otherwise, but he pushed it aside. When she retaliated with that same cut-throat tone, the stallion pricked his ears back to her in scornful interest. As she spoke, his steps slowed and his head raised. The words that followed sent a fire into his stomach. She had no right to belittle his culture, being the taint she was -- and then claim to own heritage?! That's why she's different.

It took Stau a few moments of struggle to conjure his response. Shaquu scum were worthless and unfit, unhealthy, tainted; deserved the least amount of respect and needed to make themselves unseen by the eyes of Asil. Half-blooded beings... Stau could not recall encountering one in his time, but he had heard of them. He had heard of the tainted connection between Asil and Shaquu, how their foals were wretched and impure. It was the ultimate betrayal, choosing a being so low over their own culture of pure equine. That could only say something about this mare's mother, then. Instead of uncontrollable rage, Stau felt a prickling curiosity. What about these unfit creatures would a being so pure to be Asil find so alluring? How could one dare place Tradition on any lower ranking than of utmost importance? The thought baffled him, and in the pit of his stomach it frustrated him. These creatures were without Nature's grace, without the means to live in the desert and without the means to be honored. The places outside of the desert were more forgiving, but Baahir ensured only Asil reined supreme. This was her birth-home, an honored land where her laws were valued.

After the moments, Stau turned on his haunches in a fluid motion and cast a slit gaze to her from the side. "You are Abhal? Half-blooded?" He took the opportunity to study her frame once more, noting the coloration and the odd color of her mane and tail. His eyes slit even more for a moment in realizing she could pass for Kehilan. But with a stamp of his foot upon remembering her past words, the stallion pinned his ears and lightly hissed to her. "Bite your tongue! Asil are not weak, we do not die in these lands. We do not get lost, wander," Turning more away from her, he added: "Wind up at the shoreline like washed up sea life." The sunlight glistened along his coat as he moved, contouring to his body and bringing out the odd coloring of his skin. Soon it would change as the sun continued setting, soon the skies would darken and would erupt. Soon his sunset would emerge.

"I have never met a Half-blooded before, I'll give you the courtesy of that. Tradition dictates you do not belong here either, though the Asil in you should strengthen your blood. Perhaps that is why you did not die today."

Notes: Okey, just so you know: he calls her "Abhal" in the term of natives in relation to Half-blooded horses, which is neutral and in his tongue non-offensive. He then changes it so she can understand his context in the end, since she is not native. He's kind of conflicted still because now he knows what she is, but Stau is deeply rooted to his Tradition, the way he has been raised, so it's going to be interesting to see how he continues to respond to her. xD

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

Never in her life had she encountered such a defiant creature, and while any other time she would have found herself attempting to get into his head, the fact that he twisted and warped their conversation into instantaneous denial was perhaps what angered Astrid the most. She wasn't used to stallions who held themselves at very high standards, usually being so able to stumble across the scum of the homeland. Now that she had crossed paths with someone so completely different from everyone else, she wasn't completely sure as to how the situation should be handled. This confusion was really only adding to her anger.

While his terminology grew less and less confusing, she couldn't quite figure out why he was making such a big deal over it. So, her father had been from Orut, and her mother Baahir. Was it really something to get all worked up over? Had she been able to slow the slightest bit of compassion, perhaps she would have been able to see just how important this was to the stallion. Alas, Astrid had abandoned all such ideals when she was young. Since then it has left her hardened on the inside, somewhat blinded to any of the softer emotions. In other words, she still thought he was sort of stupid, and thus she was going to treat him exactly how he should be treated.

But seriously, was he kidding? Of course someone who was built for this land was going to be able to survive on it, that's part of the reason she was so fortunate for her bloodlines. She nearly laughed at the concept that she was to be considered weaker than he. Strength was not something to be measured by blood. At the end of the day, whoever could kick the hardest was usually the victor. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me." All of this nonsense was completely unbelievable to Astrid, and yet the she could see that he held the words which were spewing from his mouth to be true.

Having grown rather tired of talking to his back, Astrid marched right on over to where he had drifted, circling around him until she had come to a point where she was practically face-to-face. As usual, her expression was angry; eyes narrowed, teeth practically grinding. Hoo, was she ready to give him hell. "First off," she began, her head tilted slightly to the side so that a single eye could stare him down. "I highly doubt you can assess someone's strength from what sort of blood courses through their veins. Your flimsy frame wouldn't last three minutes up north, I can guarantee that." She momentarily paused, certain that his tiny brain would need a moment to process such information. "Second, all I'm getting from you right now is a bunch of crap. The reason I didn't die, the reason I don't die is because I have worked very hard to make myself stronger. I've seen things you can't even imagine and faced the foes of your worst nightmares."

It was then that the mare inched closer to him, violating his personal space. She lifted her chin, looking over him like the lowlife he really was. It was saddening, seeing how little the brainwashed really knew about how the world worked. "You think I'm weak? I'd like to see you break my neck."

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[Deleted]

Stau

It was getting closer, the sun was now nearing the horizon and soon the blue would taint in blood, signaling the sun's ritual of slumber. Stau readily awaited the moment, but still lingered in the fact that he wasn't alone. He would need to be alone to enjoy his sunset, even if it meant running her off. The idea of it pricked in his gut, and his stomach tossed in conflict over how to handle the situation at hand. Flicking his ears back to her as she began to speak, she made it very clear that she would not be leaving so easily. The stallion's eyes slit as she mocked him further, and his back singed; he could not tell if it were from the heat of the sun, or from the fact that someone not of Asil blood could find the right in trying to mock the ones pure of blood.

One moment she was where he had placed her, away from his body and to his back; the next, she had marched to face him square. Such blatant and challenging language both irked and confused the stallion. He'd never met an outsider quite like her, and he could not help but attribute it to the Asil that ran through her veins. As she spoke, jabbing at his frame in such a way that made his ears fall back, he was continually reminded of the tone and how she approached him, and in the haze of it all it wasn't a Half-blooded he was talking to; she was so direct and fierce, and determined: the fire burned so strongly in her behavior that the line between Asil and Half-blooded seemed to blur for her. Stau could not help but hold a scornful curiosity for it all, but he refused to taint tradition in such horrid thoughts. He bit back a retort at the jab of his build, instead lashing his tail along his back and remembering he should not be speaking to a lesser being. But he could not stop the rebellious thoughts and shot a quick glance to her body, noting similar features. The sharp stare, grit teeth, and rock-like stance were certainly comparable to an angered mare of Asil. Perhaps to any mare, seeing as he'd not been forced to spend this much time around an Outsider.

Forced? You're too weak to make her leave! That's why it's been so much time. You're being disgraceful and if someone saw this your father would have your head.

The dark horse's eyes slit, missing part of her next words. Weak. He returned to her speaking of his tradition as though it were something not to respect. This gesture immediately set his stomach churning, and his eyes fixated on hers for the moment. She continued, and instead of doing something his father probably would have, he continued to stand there. Weak.

He could hear a crack in her voice as she continued, and when he spoke of how she'd seen and been through things his imagination could not dream of, Stau hit a crack. The stallion's dark, slit eyes closed for a moment, and stamped his hind leg. His ears fell back tighter and Stau pulled his chin closer to his neck. She does not deserve an outburst from you, to shed blood across the land in such a manner would be further disgraceful. But Stau did not expect her to do as she continued. The earthen-colored mare inched closer to him, and sent his shoulder in a twitch. His own teeth grit and as she spoke, the olive-skinned stallion had had enough. "You are not worth this." He could barely hear the bit about her challenging him to break her neck, for in that instant he pushed into her in a forward motion and knocked alongside her, walking away from where she now stood and exhaling softly.

Distanced again, his back angled to her but exposing more of his side, Stau bowed his neck over and looked back to her with slightly slit eyes. "You do not come into my home, disgrace my tradition, my culture, and expect to be heard. You, being unfit to live in the Baahir, have no right." Lashing his tail along his sides as he tilted his chin downward and finally looked her dead in the eye, Stau felt a burning sensation in his throat. "You have a fire within you, one I've not seen, but you are not Asil. You share blood but you cannot --" Stau paused, frustration building in his stomach from the pulsing thoughts of how disgraceful he was acting in speaking to her. After a short huff, the stallion raised his head and glared at her. "tradition dictates you are worthless!"

He couldn't understand it. Here he was, the perfect Prince to the perfect land, part of a perfect herd -- but all that he could see before him was a disgraceful, weak son who was giving honor to an outsider because she was the first Half-blooded he'd encountered. A taunting warmth prickled in the back of his mind once more, but he pushed it aside. She needed to leave, he needed to clear his mind. She was tainting him. Stau opened his eyes to catch a glimpse of how the light hit her skin and his head shot up in shock, looking to the skies. He could see the sun beckoning the horizon, entering the final stages before the sunset would ensue. He glanced back at her, and a sickening cold train of thought entered his mind once more.

Turning away from her, Stau exhaled and gave up. "You think you've faced Nightmares beyond my imagination. Faced foes of indomitable strength and surpassed them. You find yourself the right to stand on your own, even though your blood defies you. My Nightmares are different from what you believe."

The skies began to invite the taint, and soon his sunset would be born.

[skibbereenfarms]

ASTRID
―the valiant

A gentle sigh escaped her lips, and although it barely shook the mare, she could feel it rattling her core. Astrid was one to argue with anyone who didn't sit with her right, and certainly this time she had been justified in doing so, but there was something else that just wasn't clicking. Instead of offering her satisfaction, it gave her a sour feeling in her gut. Suddenly she became aware of all else around her, tuning out the disturbance that stood before her. She could hear the humming of the late afternoon, see the vivid reds and oranges consuming the sky. Her eyes were heavy with the weight of what she'd seen, the tiredness slowly beginning to whittle her away. For a moment, it seemed as though she would soon fade to dust, becoming nothing more than a bit of sand stuck in the hooves of a lowlife like him.

The ringing of her own blood in her ears consumed her quickly, and she had no choice but to return to reality, lest she wish to be swallowed whole. The tiredness of her frame dissipated, almost like she had been renewed right before his eyes. Her neck and spine straightened, and she was right back into her soldiering position. Her head gave a slight twitch as she was sucked back into the world, this tough world that always set her beneath everyone else. The very idea otherwise would have been enough to fuel her, and yet she had been left with a kind of emptiness that could never be filled with harsh words and violence. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to try.

She cared not for his slight physical gesture, nor for his counter-argument. Defending herself was not the issue at hand; at least not yet. Astrid doubted this encounter would escalate that far, judging by how he seemed to continuously brush her aside. Despite this, she would most definitely be leaving a mark somewhere in that skull of his. It likely would not be one which another could physically see. After all, certain thoughts and ideas have had tendencies to break a beast down from the inside, and although it wasn't always the most satisfying way of witnessing demise, it certainly escalated as the end of it all drew closer.

The last thing she would ever do was tell a stranger about who she was. Hell, she wouldn't expose such memories to the few she was well-acquainted with. However, she has discovered that warping her own past has proven successful, so she figured she could do so here as well. While her stories were grossly exaggerated and partially fiction, the look in her eyes always seemed to assure others that her words were true. "My own half-brother was responsible for the brutal murder of our family. After pushing my father off a cliff, he stomped my youngest sister's head in. He tried to break my legs." These words came with a calm, almost soothing tone. Such a story was apparently too easy to tell. "Nightmare does not even begin to describe what I have bore witness to." Her voice slumped suddenly, almost suggesting she desired the least bit of sympathy. She remembered who stood before her, however, and straightened up once more.

She wasn't sure if she was simply growing bored or felt weakened, but Astrid's desire to leave was growing. She wasn't just going to do so without a word (she always had to have the final word. Always), so she quickly concocted a few choice words and an insult to depart with. "I hope you choose to stay in your desert for the rest of your days. Not only is it a dangerous world out there ― one which you likely would not be able to thrive in ― there are many dangers which you could not even dream of witnessing. One of them just so happens to be me." The mare discovered she had been staring off into the distance, speaking to the wind. Immediately she spun her head around, eyes narrowed. "Meaning, if you ever decide to step out of your cute little comfort zone, I will find you."

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