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This RP is moved over from Discord, where it took place in December of 2021.
Jack had been staying in this woods for a few days, and he'd found it quite pleasant. Or at least more pleasant than he'd been expecting, at the very least. The woods were cool, the trees tall and the few other horses he'd met had been kind enough, though he hadn't gone out of his way to interact with them much.
Jack found himself at the edge of a lake, and the water looked inviting; he decided he could pause his wandering, at least for a little while, to have some water and listen to the woods around him, alive with birdsong and life.
((wc: 104))
Dea and #Teddy#
Candra had been working on scouting the herd territory and realized she was getting kind of thirsty. She was thankful that their was a lake on their territory. She headed in that direction, when she heard the sound of...drinking. Was one of the herd here, she wasn't sure. She got closer, seeing an unfamiliar orange stallion.
"Hello there,"she called out, deciding to be friendly to start. After all, she didn't know anything about him. It was possible he was just passing through. If he meant trouble, she would find out soon enough.
"Hello there,"she called out, deciding to be friendly to start. After all, she didn't know anything about him. It was possible he was just passing through. If he meant trouble, she would find out soon enough.
Jack's ears twitched at the sound of hoofbeats, but he didn't see where they were coming from until their owner announced herself.
She was pretty and purpley, the color of shadows in the moonlight, with what looked like stars in her hair. Jack had never met anyone like her before, and for a moment, he wasn't quite sure what to say or how to say it.
He didn't usually know what to say to others, really; it was just that he didn't want to embarrass himself any more than could be helped.
"Hello," Jack said, bowing his head to her in greeting. "My name is Jack," he said, looking back at her with curiosity. "I apologize if I am intruding on your lands."
((wc: 123))
Dea and #Teddy#
Candra was quiet as the stallion seemed to be searching for words, from the look of things. She was trying to decide still if he was someone who would be a problem or was a good stallion. He soon spoke up and bowed, she would say that was definitely a point in his favor. He even apologized to her and introduced himself.
"I am Candra, it is good to meet you, Jack. As for intruding, it actually is not my land. It belongs to the herd I am part of, but they are very kind,"she replied to him.
"I am Candra, it is good to meet you, Jack. As for intruding, it actually is not my land. It belongs to the herd I am part of, but they are very kind,"she replied to him.
Jack couldn't help the faint wave of anxiety that rippled through him when she confirmed that this land belonged to someone - several someones, in fact; a herd.
"I'm sure they are," Jack said, but the truth was, he had no way of knowing if they were very kind or not. He knew too well the cruelty of others, and he knew better than to take someone's word for something when he didn't know what their word was worth.
...But he was getting a bit tired, and this was a very pretty little lake...
"Do you think your herd would mind if I stayed here tonight?" Jack asked, almost shy. "I don't want to intrude," he added, "and if strangers are not welcome, I can of course respect your wishes, or the wishes of the herd. I mean no trouble."
The absolute last thing he needed was trouble - but Candra didn't look like she was trouble. She looked...nice. She sounded nice. Maybe she was telling the truth about her herd, and maybe Jack had just stumbled into a little bit of luck for once.
Maybe.
((wc: 184))
Dea and #Teddy#
Candra imagined he was a little worried when she admitted he was in a herd's territory. She knew that someone had eaten from the animals before, but that stallion had become part of the herd. However, the lake was for anyone who was thirsty who came through. As he spoke about how he was sure they were, she figured he had his doubts. After all it wouldn't be the first or last time anyone would think that way.
"I don't think they would mind, since you do seem like you could use somewhere nice to lay your head for the night. I will make sure they know you mean no harm and just want to crash here for the night. I will say, some people have chosen to stay,"she said gently. Even their own alphas had once upon a time, when it had all started with just a rest in the flowers.
"I don't think they would mind, since you do seem like you could use somewhere nice to lay your head for the night. I will make sure they know you mean no harm and just want to crash here for the night. I will say, some people have chosen to stay,"she said gently. Even their own alphas had once upon a time, when it had all started with just a rest in the flowers.
Jack smiled faintly and bowed his head in thanks once more. "I'm sure they have," Jack said, glancing around them at the forest, the birds, the lake. "This is a beautiful place to call home." He smile widened a little, but he couldn't help the sadness in his eyes; home. What a concept.
"How long have you lived here?" Jack asked, turning his attention back to Candra. "Were you born to this herd?"
((wc: 73))
Dea and #Teddy#
Candra allowed him to get a good look around, it really was a beautiful place. She enjoyed living here and knew that most of the herd did too. There were some that were usually out on the move, but this was home, even for them. She looked over to see some sadness in his eyes, did he not have a home?
"I have lived here most of my life, ever since I wandered here myself as a young filly. They took me in and gave me a home,"she nodded.
"I have lived here most of my life, ever since I wandered here myself as a young filly. They took me in and gave me a home,"she nodded.
Jack's smile widened; he had a special place in his heart for foals, and anyplace that took in little lost souls was a good place as far as he was concerned.
"That was very kind of them," Jack said. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, a little softer, "Did your family not have a home themselves? I don't mean to pry, but...little fillies should not be wandering out in this world on their own, glad though it was for you to find this place."
((wc: 85))
Dea and #Teddy#
"It was very kind of them, I was glad they took me in. As for my family, I honestly do not know what happened to them. I was separated from them during some really bad weather. I tried to find them, but couldn't. I found this herd instead. The alphas understood and said they would take care of me,"Candra explained. She had looked down softly, thinking of that harrowing night.
Jack approached her, but caught himself before he got too close and invaded her space.
"I'm sorry," Jack said softly. "I didn't mean to bring up painful memories, but thank you for sharing that with me." Jack smiled a little, apologetically and reassuringly. "Have you ventured far from your herd lands since? Or do you like to stay close?"
((wc: 59))
Dea and #Teddy#
She took a deep breath, as she looked over to him. She saw him kind of pause as he got closer to where she was. Had she done something that he didn't dare coming closer? No, she couldn't imagine that was the case. She heard him apologize for bringing it up and she gave him a gentle smile. Then heard his question and she thought of how to answer.
"I usually stick close to the herd. It is my family and I like to make sure that it is safe. Once in awhile, I may go a bit further, but not too far," Candra answered.
"I usually stick close to the herd. It is my family and I like to make sure that it is safe. Once in awhile, I may go a bit further, but not too far," Candra answered.
"I understand that," Jack said with a little nod. If he had a home like this, he wouldn't see much need to leave it either, probably.
He had more questions, but he kept himself from asking them; he didn't want to seem too nosy, it was just that he was fascinated by other people's experiences.
"What sort of threats do you guard against?" Jack asked instead. "Is there much trouble here?"
((wc: 71))
Dea and #Teddy#
Candra was again struck with the thought that he might not have a home. She wanted to say he could stay longer than the night, if he wanted to. However, she didn't want to assume, when he might have a very nice home of his own. However, she hated to think he might not have a place to call home.
"Usually wild animals who might cause harm or to make sure nature does not take our home. Sometimes it is against uncharmed walkers or evil kalona who might come through. We don't get much trouble usually, but sometimes there is some," Candra admitted.
"Usually wild animals who might cause harm or to make sure nature does not take our home. Sometimes it is against uncharmed walkers or evil kalona who might come through. We don't get much trouble usually, but sometimes there is some," Candra admitted.
Jack nodded somberly at the mention of evil Soquili. "I'm glad," he said, "that your herd is safer than not." He knew all too well what harm evil could bring upon a peaceful little herd like this.
The silence that fell between them was comfortable, and after a few moments, he bucked up his courage to ask, "I don't mean to be...rude, but...are those...stars? In your hair?"
((wc: 67))
"I am too, I think our alphas felt it would be good for those who become part of the herd to feel safe and protected. We do have one of our walkers who..well, his daughter causes trouble,"she told him. She never would have thought she would be comfortable with walkers around, but the ones in their herd were amazing.
"Oh, yes, yes they are. Or..well, at least hair accessories that are like the stars. Some of my favorite items,"she admitted with a smile.
