{off the beaten path} genesis

[!DETOXi]

{{Neumi

NEUMI was beyond furious. Emily knew she hated to travel! What did the girl do? Pack her up for a long noisy, nauseating trailer ride to heaven knew where! No one could blame her really, for breaking away as soon as she'd been able. Considering her girl knew how much Umi hated travel, she was surprised there hadn't been more people holding on to her lead rope when the blindfold had been taken off. Nope, it had just been Emily and her trainer. Well, enough was enough gosh darn it. It was bad enough that to go to competitions she had to put up with those trailer rides. Emily had to be taught a lesson. That was why Neumi had broken free and booked it out of there as soon as there had been an opening. Oh, she would go back, well before dark too, but her girl needed to learn her lesson. Looking around at the canyon lands around her, she couldn't even begin to fathom what her girl wanted with this kind of place. It wasn't a competition, so why come here? If it was for the trails, there were plenty of nice trails back at the stable where Neumi's friends were. Who needed to come to a deadbeat place like this? All she could see was rocks, dust and a big crack in the sidewalk humans called a planet.

SNORTING ill-temperately, Neumi glared at the nearby river that was snaking through the canyon, flowing sluggishly. Once she broke away from Emily and dodged anyone else that tried to catch her, she'd galloped her blue roan legs off down some beaten down trail to the canyon bottom. Now her she was, quite alone standing a few yards from a sluggish little river. There was no sign of her human but Neumi wasn't worried. Her girl would come for her, and she knew the way back. What was annoying more than worrisome was the blasted lead rope still clipped to her blue nylon halter. The lead had been dragging when Neumi had been running away and was now thoroughly tangled in the bush Neumi was standing next to, wedged between the plant's main roots and a boulder. The more Neumi pulled, the more energy she wasted so, now she stood like a statue carved from fine blue stone looking at the river with a thoroughly bored expression on her face.

AFTER a while of just standing, Neumi flicked her tail from side to side, glaring down at the caught rope. Giving it an experimental tug, Neumi wasn't too surprised when it didn't come loose. Stomping her front left hoof, Neumi shifted her weight around a little, pondering how to get free. Sadly, the rope was stubbornly stuck, wedged in the rocks and tangled in the plant's thorny, stubbornly strong branches. Huffing impatiently, Neumi gave her head a shake, tail lashing now from side to side as she again tugged on the lead. It pulled her halter uncomfortably but didn't come free. She didn't bother trying to reach for the lead herself, knowing she'd just get a nose full of thorns for her trouble but the day was long, the sun hot even in the autumn and she wanted a drink. The river was just out of reach. Giving a snort of dismay, Neumi tried rearing up, she only got half way to her full possible rear, tugged back to earth when the lead didn't give. Wrenching her head to the right and then the left, Neumi levered all her weight backward, trying to tug the lead.

A few moments of straining occurred until a loud snap and sudden loss of weight on the other end had Neumi stumbling and nearly falling on the loose, sandy earth. She took a few staggering steps back before catching herself. Neumi shook her head, mane flopping, until she realized something and froze. She couldn't feel the all too familiar nylon on her face. Raising her head, Neumi didn't feel the pull of the rope. She looked at the plant. The thorny devil sat there in the dirt, Neumi's bright blue nylon halter snapped at one of the buckles sitting atop the plant, her lead rope coiled in a messy heap. For a moment, Neumi could only stand there and stare. The last time she had been without a halter had been when she'd still been nursing from her mother, and that time had been short lived. Lowering her head, Neumi ambled back toward the plant, nostrils flaring as she investigated the strangeness of what had just happened. She was...without her halter.

FROWNING slightly, Neumi thought back to her mother. 'Only bad horses don't have halters, because nobody wants them.' Those had been Splash's words when Neumi had asked why they always had to wear the halters. Did that mean she was a bad horse now? Would Emily be angry? Looking at the river and then back at her halter, Neumi sighed. Folding her limbs, she laid back down near the nasty thorny plant, looking wistfully at the river. Maybe if she was still here when Emily came, she wouldn't be mad and she'd give Neumi a halter back. She wasn't a bad horse, she'd just wanted to teach Emily a lesson about the trailers and how they were bad. Now she had no halter and by her mother's civilized standards, was a bad horse. Hopefully staying near it would make Emily see that it was an accident and she wasn't really bad. Laying her head in the dirt, Neumi sighed and settled in the wait for her girl.

[[H]yperion]

The world was barren and deserted. What remained of the once lush fields of grain, the rolling hills of long waving grass that danced in the wind, was blackened with disease and crumbling into the fruitless dirt; little more than dust. If there were at least some clouds that would shield one from the suns deadly rays, they too had fallen prey to sickness, leaving this world to fall into the grasping claws of oblivion. This was the hell he was subject to in his dreams. This was the hell he was subject to when awake. But to the obsidian Stallion, it was also his home. Forever conflicted, and dangerously alone, Hyperion was often the subject of his own confusion.

He was getting older now, and even though he was in his prime, it was clear to see that maybe, just maybe, he was starting to lose his mind. His thick black tail flicked in the dying wing wind, left and right, seeming to rid his form from something of utmost annoyance. In truth he was annoyed, the sight of that foul human structure moving through his territory was not one he had taken lightly. Brown pools had watched the following commotion, the spark of curiosity within them easy to see. He almost had a birds eye view, the rocky stack of disintegrating rocks in which he stood on serving an excellent watch post as it just out from the overhanging cliffs. He was often here, and had witnessed many humans using the path, in which two humans now scattered about their vehicle.

Snorting in disgust, the Stallion let his eye's wander elsewhere, following the frightened female till he couldn't see her any more. His front hoof's slammed the dirt again and again, his head jutting into the air with more loud snorts. What was she thinking? Going out there all on her domesticated own. There were things out here that her pampered little mind could not possibly fathom. Things that her lifeless orbs would not believe to see. No true horse was alive at the hands of the humans. They were just empty shells, obeying all that they are told.

With a quick kick from his hind legs, Hyperion trotted along the ridge until the femora came back into view. He paced back and forth, watching her as she fiddled with a thorny plant. A small smirk idled onto his lips as she struggled. With a bush. How pathetic these creatures were. If it wasn't for the humans and their blasted instruments, she wouldn't have been in this mess. Finally the mare broke free, and if the stallion could clap, he would have done so. His tail swirled again as he waited to see what she would now do with her 'freedom.' To his dismay, she just... lay down. Nostrils flared angrily, the stench of her fear still quite easy to taste. And within that quick second, Hyperion decided to take it upon himself to do something about it.

With that, the Stallion reared, his majestic form coupled with a forceful neigh was intimidating, and was bound to get her attention. He dropped, and did it again, his obsidian pelt shining like silk under the blazing sun. Each and every thick muscle rippled beneath his coat, his bodice unmatched by any other male out here. He didn't know how the female would react, but he hoped she ran. For he would follow suite, and maybe, she might just get a feel of being free.

[/center]

[!DETOXi]

A deep forceful neigh, the neigh of a stallion, brought Umi out of her thoughtful wanderings about Emily. Raising her grey head, the blue roan mare spotted a massive coal black stallion atop the ridge. He was rearing up, calling out to her. The wind kept catching his mane and the sunlight danced on a coat as finely kept as that of Charcoal, Charlie, her old stall neighbor before he got too old to jump anymore. His voice though, it sounded like he was trying to intimidate her. Not a lady to be pushed around, Neumi stood, rising herself to her full fifteen hands. Not impressive to some but good enough for her. She flung her head high and regarded the stallion with a snort. He had a wild spark in his eye and no halter in sight. He was no tame horse. He was wild, one of the riffraff her mother had warned her to avoid. She had said the wild horses were uncivilized, brutish and rude. As far as Neumi was concerned, that matched the description of about half the horses she competed against, all of them rude and haughty with their noses flung high in the air, so much so that she believed they'd drown if it rained. Still, he looked more intimidating than the other horses she'd ever met but, Neumi was anything but easily frightened. Stubborn was one of these characteristics.

SO, to show the stallion what was what, Neumi reared back. She kicked out her dark front legs and let out her own shrieking neigh before bringing her front hooves back to the dry earth. Tossing her head so her forelock was out of her eyes, Neumi snorted, shifting her weight a bit and waiting for the stallion to do something. She kept herself ready to flee, though she was loath to do so since it meant leaving her halter and making Emily mad, but she would do it if he got aggressive. Still, she wouldn't give in too quickly. She was a lady of her pride and dignity after all. Never in her life had she tucked her tail and run.

OFTEN at home she was one of the mares getting in the midst of a fight to break it up because she knew fighting made the humans unhappy. She didn't understand why, since it was natural for horses to sometimes push each other around, but she just knew it made them upset. Since her mother had told her to keep the people happy, she was never too busy to break up a few fighting yearlings or give a pair of nearby stallions an earful. If they wanted to be kept by the humans and be good horses, they had to behave, no matter how lusting they were. It also meant Neumi had no problem bucking if she didn't like how 'friendly' a stallion was getting. Just a few months ago Emily had put her in a secluded corral with a stallion for some reason. He'd tried to be 'friendly' and Neumi had had none of it. She'd promptly bit him every time he got close and kicked him a few times before the humans finally separated them. She hadn't been back to that corral or seen that stallion since.

STOMPING her hooves, Neumi kept her head flung high, the breeze catching a bit of her coal colored mane and tugging it lightly. She didn't move though, keeping her big brown eyes fixed on the looming stallion, waiting for him to do something. She doubted he'd come around just to look at her, he had to have some other motive. Part of Neumi was curious, seeing as he looked pretty well taken care of for a wild horse, but the other part of her wished Emily would hurry up and find her so the stallion would go away. After all, wasn't it true that wild horses hated humans because humans didn't want them and they were jealous? If he tried to hurt Emily though, the gloves would be off and Neumi would send him away limping and bleeding from every part of him she could reach.

[[H]yperion]

Hyperion cursed her. He cursed her a million times. Of course she couldn't have just fled, or just stood there and submitted like a good little domestic that she was. No, instead she had rivaled his display with her own, challenging him. This might have been far from the truth, but Hype's mind did not work that way. The fact that she was trespassing, and human claimed was just the cherry on top of it all. He snorted in disgust once more, kicking out his forelegs, sending a cloud of dust and debris off the side of the cliff. She was wandering blind in a completely new environment, how foolish. How stupid.

Things always had a funny way of happening. One moment he was there, minding his own business, the next he was putting up with a petty fight that was just down the ridge. His massive frame shivered as he let out a devious snort. If she wanted to play, he was more than willing to take her on. He didn't intend on hurting her. Her brash thinking only led herself to believe that she might have actually been in some sort of trouble. His mind drifted for a moment as his orbs peered over the females form. Her dappled blue coat was a refreshing sight. She was thinner than he was, by but no means unhealthy. She was obviously one of the lucky ones. To have a human that actually fed her. This still didn't deter him from what he thought about humans though, and his smile vanished with a slight curl of his lip.

And just as quickly as he had appeared before her, the stallion vanished from view as he thrashed himself down the ridge. He reappeared just minutes later, his body glistening even more from sweating. He hadn't run far, but it was ridiculously hot today, and he had pushed himself hard to get to her fast. He had a crazy glint in his orbs as he charged at her, his mane and tail flew high in the wind like sinister banners behind him. He was a marvelous sight, and a frightening one.

The game had just begun, and it was her turn to make a move.

[!DETOXi]

SOMETHING akin to disapproval seemed to flare through the stallion's dark gaze as Neumi watched his reaction to her challenge. Apparently, just like tame equines didn't like wild ones, this wild one wasn't too fond of her. Funny, the feeling was mutual. Neumi tossed her head, nostrils flaring as she snorted softly, neck extended upward as she glared back at the ebony stag. When he wheeled away, Neumi's ears twitched. Was he just going to leave? Were there others around? Maybe he'd heard the humans? Straining her ears for hints of sound that might indicate her girl coming to collect her, Neumi was disappointed to hear nothing but the thrashing of breaking undergrowth. Snorting angrily, Neumi mentally cursed the black stallion for making so much noise until she realized the noise was getting louder. Shifting her weight uneasily, Neumi's eyes found the trail where it let out into the canyon bottom. It wasn't too far away but she didn't dare move away, as if her halter was still attached to her and hooked on the plant. Because they trail rode a lot, Neumi had been taught to be ground-tied so she would stand still even when her girl didn't tie her reins to a post. Maybe that was why she was so reluctant to move? Either way, the thrashing sounds were not accompanied by the staccato rap of the stallion's heavy hooves thudding on the dry canyon earth.

WITHIN minutes the black stag reappeared, making Neumi tense her slight frame. Swinging her head to the left, Umi's big brown eyes regarded him as he appeared in a whirl of black mane and a chorus of snorts. His big hooves left slight grooves in the earth when he stomped his hoof, a wild gleam in his dark eyes. The sun glinted on his black frame, accenting the powerfully coiled muscles. For a moment, Neumi was genuinely impressed. If someone stood him next to a few of Neumi's stall neighbors, he'd make them look shabby though she still maintained that if he was taken to a civilized competition, he'd be lost in a sea of fine equines. She may not have a pure pedigree, but Neumi at least had a girl to stroke her muzzle, rub her neck and coo encouraging words into her ears before they took to the ring. This stallion had none of that, none of the affection, none of the adoration, none of the bonds that made civilized horses so desirable. Poor pitiful soul.

LETTING out an echoing scream, the big stallion lunged at her. Neumi let out a loud snort, shying slightly before lunging to the right out of the stallion's path, kicking up her back legs to try and throw dust in his face. Prancing nervously, Neumi ducked her head low, blowing a heavy snort through her nostrils and shaking her mane. Hooves clopping on the stone, Umi tried to keep a distance between herself and the powerful stag, wary of letting him get to close. He looked like a possessed beast, eyes lit like flames, all hard muscle and coiled up power. For the first time since breaking free of her girl, Neumi felt true fear but shoved it away as best she could.

"WHAT is wrong with you?" Neumi snorted, shaking her mane and shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. Whisking her tail hard from left to right, Umi shook her head. "Didn't anyone ever teach you some manners? You big brute!"

NO wonder no one liked this stallion, he looked mean and he lunged at her in such a rude fashion. It wasn't quite as offensive as the stallion she'd been penned with, but Umi had a feeling she'd be giving this one a few bruises too. Neumi much preferred to gentler males, the ones that didn't try to get too friendly, the ones other stallions typically disapproved of. They were much more polite and civilized than this brutish stallion. Flinging her head high, Neumi glared at him disapprovingly, planting her hooves firmly, tail still swishing.

"WELL? Have anything to say for yourself?" Neumi snapped. She wasn't in the finest of moods since being put in the trailer and this pushy overgrown mule wasn't helping her mood in the slightest. At first she'd been curious, now she was just thoroughly annoyed by his whole show of being a "big macho stallion". It reminded her bitterly of when the yearlings that were still stallions would be trying to push each other around and figure out who was the "lead stallion" of their little group. It had been funny then, but when they started trying to push around the fillies, Neumi had put a quick end to their silly game. Now she felt like she was playing it.

[[H]yperion]

Hyperion felt his hoofs crack into the rocky stone as he charged her. It was hard and lifeless, much like himself. The canyons weren't much to look at, but many horses spent their time here, or in their homes. But the male himself didn't have a place to call home, or even a companion to call a friend, or family. Most times he rather enjoyed it, other times not so much. Sometimes he wanted to find a wanderer such as himself, but so far all the other creatures seemed to have shied away from him. He scoffed at the thought, no fucking wonder. He was a freak, he didn't deserve company. His mother proved that when she left him. His father proved that when he abandoned him. And even his step mother jumped into the joke to raise him in a false sense of security. They say the past shapes a being. It did more than shape this brute, it mutilated him.


With another heavy snort, Hyperion drew himself out of his thoughtless wanderings to lay his orbs on the mare that stood just a few hoofs from him now. He slowed his gait slightly, flicking his heavy head upward, teasing her. And that's when she made her move. Lashing out at him with her well toned forelegs, she kicked and screamed back at him, flicking up dirt as she went. It was almost enough for him to think that she was truly capable of defending herself. Alas, she looked like a silly foul, playing with some sort of imaginary friend. He halted abruptly, his own cloud of dust flying in her direction. He couldn't help but chuckle as she threw insults at him, her frustration, and determination glowed from her own darkened orbs.

"What is wrong with me?"

He snorted, smashing the rock below with one heavy hoof.

"You're the one who asked for it. What? Big bad domesticated female can't take what she gives? Tut, tut."

He teased her, his voice was like a deep bass, only crackling slightly in distaste as he said domesticated. With his own tail flicking in annoyance, he dared to venture closer. He only halted once his huge head was dangerously close to her own. Pushing his nose a little closer, his large nostrils flare as he took in her scent, his body slightly trembling in response. It had been a long time since he had been so close to a female, and she was rather.... attractive he had to admit. Then again, anything would be attractive to a male after so long.

Only then did Hyperion pull away, almost prancing around her in a circular fashion. He loved to tease, he loved to push. It would seem that this mare didn't need much to break however, and he made a mental note to be extra careful. He wouldn't want one of those slender blue legs to ruin his figure.

[!DETOXi]

IF Neumi had eyebrows, they would be sky high as she regarded the 'big bad stally' as her girl would had called him. He was so full of hot air it was a wonder he stayed on the ground at all. Swishing her tail, Umi regarded him with a neutral expression as he drew closer, his masculine scent washing over her. Mentally she grimaced at it and hoped Emily would give her a thorough washing when this whole silly business was over. He smelled like old road kill, dusty and grimy. This close she could see the sweat on his pelt and was glad she was physically incapable of wrinkling her nose like Emily did when she smelled bad things. It also took quite a bit of self control for Umi to not lash out and give him a good nip for getting in her personal space. The only person allowed that close was Emily gosh darn it, what did people not understand about that? Was it really so hard to get or was this stallion just stupid? Umi would bet her next three days' worth of hay that he was just stupid. When he opened his big fat mouth, it confirmed Umi's suspicion. He had to be stupid. She hadn't given anything to this loser and never would. To show this, she gave a disgusted snort and sidled away from him, whisking her tail and giving him a look that would burn through steel.

"NOT in my worst nightmares big boy, back off," Umi sniped blandly, whisking her tail and clicking her hooves on the stone. "Go chase one of your easy whores. I've got higher standards and they all come with manners."

YEP, that was Umi, all guts and not enough fear. Her mother had warned her it would be the death of her but she was just too stubborn to heed her own good advice. She knew it was probably a bad idea to be so blunt with a loose cannon like this but frankly, she just couldn't make herself back down and be the passive little tame mare he expected. Nope, that just wasn't her. Never had been, never would be. She was a fighter, all competition and a strict set of standards about how others should act. The way this idiot was blundering about, throwing his weight around like he actually was somebody, was so far from frightening right now that Neumi didn't bother to check her irritation with him. Turning to regard the ebony-colored dork, Neumi ran an eye over him again now that they were closer. Yep, definitely wild. His mane had obviously never been combed, hooves never clipped or shoed and if the stench didn't give it away nothing would.

"GOING out on a limb here, I'm gonna say you wander around out here on your own, right? I know for a fact if I was as messy as you, or smelled as bad, I wouldn't go anywhere near another horse for fear of killing them!" Neumi spoke coolly, her brown eyes glinting, neck arched just so that she could give him her best "you are lower than the dirt I walk on" look. Normally that look was saved for her rivals in competition, but, she'd let him get a taste of it since he was the only one around.

[[H]yperion]

Well, well, well, what had he stumbled upon here? At first Hyperion had thought she was stupid, and almost brave. But now, he was beginning to think of her nothing less than a child. She snapped and whined at him, flicking her body in all sorts of vain ways. Making dangerous accusations that if he was any more crazy, he might just have done. Yes, he was a bastard, but never had ever, taken advantage of a female. A flicker of anger glistened in his orbs, what sort of filthy pig did such a thing. What sort of filthy pig actively thought that all males were like that.

With an annoyed snort, Hyperion decided that he didn't like her at all. She was all words, not to mention insulting words. For all she knew he could have been there to help her back to her ugly human. Not that he got a clear look at her owner, then again he didn't try all that hard. Any chance of that was by now blown out of the water. He stopped his prancing as she moved away, his tense frame at a standstill. For a moment, he thought she had finished shooting her mouth off. But no, he was wrong. Something he hardly ever was. He pondered on just leaving her be, angry orbs still following her almost curiously. He truly felt like her father at this point, the urge to spank her for being so annoying childish was thick in his thoughts.

"Ease up, female. There is no need for such a foul display. Even if I did want to take you, you would have surely turned me off by now."

He stated coldly. Why did the domestic's think they were so high and mighty? Because they got locked up at night, and forced to do things during the day? Because they submitted like weak, petty excuses for horses? They were all the same.

"Are you satisfied? By blatantly insulting others, do you actually feel better about yourself? About your perfectly groomed, foul shampoo smelling self? This is what real horse look and smell like. Not pampered human assets."

He hissed at her. He even doubted she would actually understand what he meant by assets. But one day she would, when they finally sent her away to the meat factory.

[/center]

[!DETOXi]

OH if Neumi was human her head would be hurting from keeping her eyebrows up so high. This guy really did thing he was somebody didn't he? What a poor misled little colt. Oh well. It wasn't Neumi's job to educate him, though she didn't mind charity. Evidently this "I'm so big and bad" stallion thought he was better than her because he smelled horribly, had no affection from anyone and roamed around without a purpose. How sad. She'd met miniature ponies with more of a purpose in life than this guy and those were too small for humans to even ride! At least they got attention, got loving pets and humans cooed over their short stature. It wasn't the same adoration Neumi got when she pranced out of a show ring but if it made them happy, it was all well and good as long as they didn't completely steal the spotlight. Either way, this guy was completely addle-brained, that was for sure. Gazing blandly at him, she mildly wondered if he'd been abused or something, maybe knocked on the head when he was little. Evidently he thought hot words and acting like a cranky colt was going to get him somewhere with her, prove a point perhaps. All it was doing was making it harder and harder for her not to laugh in his face and call him the idiot he was.

"I see," Neumi nickered easily, meeting his gaze without a flinch. "I don't see myself as necessarily better than you, my dear lonely one. I see myself as someone with a purpose, with affectionate, safety and food even in winter. Frown and sneer at that all you'd like but let's see what you have." Neumi smiled coyly as she circled him lazily, eyeing him up and down, tensed in case he chose to lunge but outwardly looking relaxed. Finally she stopped in front of him again, smirking. "You're all alone in a desolate canyon, you smell like a raccoon that's been dead for three weeks, you're covered in grit and grime and to round off the list: You. Have. No. Purpose. No competition, no friends, no family, nothing. Now, I don't know if having those things makes me better or not but hey, at least it helps me pass the time."

SWISHING her tail lazily, the blue roan mare offered a cheery little smile to the black stag. "Now, go on, tell me I'm weak when I guarantee you couldn't do half the things I can. Tell me I'm pathetic because I like having a little girl that'll tell me she loves me, pet my neck and be my friend. Tell me I'm a shell because I spend my days in a pasture with good friends. Tell me I'm shameful because I put up with a bit in my mouth, a saddle on my back and a halter on my face." Turning to brush away an annoying fly from her flank with her velvet muzzle, Neumi turned back to the stag with another little smirk. "Am I close? I hope I am, mother always claimed I was good at guessing games."

IN her eyes, Neumi saw wild horses as pathetic in their own right and strong in other ways. They were strong because they hacked through harsh winters year after year but, really that was where their strength ended. When it came down to it, they couldn't tolerate ropes, halters and bits. They couldn't bear carrying a human or wearing a saddle, they couldn't be patient enough to stand while a human washed them or shoed them. They were scared by petty things like a human that wanted nothing more than to bring them into the fold. Neumi had seen horses before that were like that, either because they were abused or freshly caught off the range. They were impatient, evil tempered and more than intent on hurting someone. Their insane need for violence blew Neumi away and infuriated her, along with the rest of the herd. No one wanted their human or any human hurt because it made all the humans unhappy, thus the horses were unhappy. It was all a senseless cycle.

NONETHELESS, horses from the range were still intent on being difficult. They bucked, kicked and pulled the reins like yearlings that had yet to learn better. It was pathetic to see adult horses acting so shamefully when Neumi had been dealing with it since she was big enough to ride. It made her ashamed to be a horse in all honesty. Often the herd would gather and watch when a new one was being tamed, neighing advice or trying to calm them when they got too wild. Wild horses were too dumb to heed the advice. If they just did what the humans wanted, the riding crop and ropes wouldn't be such a problem because the humans wouldn't be as inclined to use them. Stupid wild horses. Just as stupid as the one standing in front of her.

[[H]yperion]

If Hyperion could drop his jaw in utter shock, he would have done so with ease. This mare was more mentally fucking retarded than he was. In all his years, he had never met such an incompetent, smart arsed soul like hers. He shook his head in utter disgust and confusion as to why she was so intent on defending her pitiful self when he hadn't even attacked it in the first place.

Placing a few hoofs backward, the Stallion decided he didn't really want to be anywhere near her. Not that he was afraid, for he could easily hold his own if she decided to go bat shit insane on him. He didn't want her to infect him with her delusional theories. Another thing that made his large brain rattle, was the fact that she had blatantly shoved his lack of family and friends in his face. It struck him as odd, to wonder how on earth she could of known, and, to throw it in his face in such a way without good reason for doing so.

Her attitude toward him made him realize something else. Himself. He was literally staring in a mirror. He had never cared for anyone's opinion, but watching her now chipped away at him in such a way, he doubted he'd recover. No wonder he had no one. No wonder he was such a miserable bastard. If this was the way he acted toward others, there was no hope for him. Another devious smile rolled onto his features. As much as he hated the female, he thanked her silently inside. It seemed fate had finally opened up its arms to welcome him in. Just because she was going to die in all her miserable glory, didn't mean he had to. Sure, it wasn't going to be easy, and he wouldn't change in one day, but this was the day- the fanfare that would start it all.

The stag lowered his head toward the mare, in an awkward bow of sorts. She had one this fight, which was only really her fight anyway. She had gotten all worked up for no reason, and could have pushed away something. God knows what that something could have been, but hell, all Hyperion was thinking now was running. Running as far away from this broken soul as he could. There was no need for words, he had nothing to say. How could he? She had said it all. Answered his own questions that weren't even his in the own place. Insulted all that he was just for the sake of getting her point across. She really was pitiful.

And with a click from his back legs, the stag turned to trot away. But with a flick of his head, he paused, glaring back at her with changed eyes. Hopefully these would be his last words to her, and he could be rid of her presence forever. Knowing her however, it would not be.

"Good fucking luck, your going to need it."

[/center]

[!DETOXi]

"NAY! Where are you girl? Neumi! Come on out girl, I'm sorry about the trailer, come on!"

WHATEVER nonsense the stallion had been spewing was instantly lost on the blue roan as her ears perked, head raising. Her girl. Letting out a shrill whiny in reply, Umi couldn't quite stop herself from rising halfway up on her back legs before dropping back to earth. She heard the distant scuffle of boots. Riding boots. Her girl. Neumi whinnied again before starting forward. Shooting past the black stag without so much as a backward glance, Neumi abandoned her halter, lead and the stallion. She scaled the ridge, muscles rippling smoothly under her unevenly colored pelt, mane brushing against her arched neck. At the top of the canyon, Neumi caught sight of her girl, blond hair still tied back, still dressed for riding, jogging toward her with her trainer not far behind. Neumi instantly forgot about the bastard in the canyon. If she was capable, she would have been grinning, more than happy to have her girl back. It looked like Emily had learned her lesson too, since she started running toward Neumi, something she only did when upset. Umi knew she'd be forced back into the trailer but she could forgive it since it would take her back to the stable where equines were sane and normal. Away from the weirdo in the shadows.

TROTTING elegantly, as if she hadn't missed Emily at all, Neumi approached. She let the girl hug her neck and stood quietly while the trainer approached, hands stuffed in his pockets. She eyed his hands curiously, wondering if he'd have any mints. Her unasked question was answered when Emily produced one, holding it in the flat of her palm for Neumi to collect. Whickering softly, Neumi swished her tail and arched her neck, butting her nose against Emily's chest, making the girl giggle.

"FINALLY found you, good girl Nay, good girl Umi," Emily cooed, repeating her words again and again as Neumi listened impassively, flicking her ears and tail to show her girl she was happy to be back. The trainer touching her face made her turn her head.

"LOST her halter...wonder if its down in the canyon?" the man said, patting Neumi's neck and running a hand along her shoulder blades and then following her muscles down her leg. "I'll go check for it, her legs look ok. She'll need a cleaning soon though, she's got mud and dust all over."

THE man walked away, heading probably toward the canyon but Neumi didn't bother to look after him until she thought about the stallion. Was he still down in the canyon? She raised her head, looking back, shifting a little to get a better view of the man jogging toward the trail that led to the bottom. If the stallion was still down there, how would he react to a man? Neumi took a step to follow, curious, but Emily grabbed her mane.

"NO girl, stay here, he'll be right back."

NEUMI ignored Emily and tugged her mane out of the girl's grip and walked slowly toward the canyon's trailhead, peering down to see the man beginning to make his descent. Looking around though, there was just enough shadow in the canyon that she couldn't see if what's his name was still lurking down there somewhere. If he hurt a human, Neumi would make sure he regretted it, or at least try to. He'd probably run away squealing like a frightened piglet. Still, she stopped at the top of the trail and let Emily hold her mane but kept a keen eye on her trainer.

[[H]yperion]

As the stag trotted away, the mare trotted away herself. His own ears swiveled at the sound of her humans call, but his large head stayed facing his current direction. She left without another word, and he nodded in satisfaction. At least she had taken the hint.

It was then his ears moved again, the sound of the crumbling stone underhoof echoing inside them once again. Was she serious? Was she that fucking mental to come back for more? With an agitated neigh, Hyperion whirled around to face her. She had to be taught a lesson. But wait, to his surprise, it wasn't the mare at all, but one of the humans he had seen before. Nostrils flared as he took in the mans scent, it was putrid. Cocking his head though, the stag watched the man fiddle around the bushes. He was looking for something. And just like a light bulb, Hypes mind clicked with an idea. Did he really just think what he thought he did? No, he couldn't possibly, could he?

Prancing tensely on the spot, Hyperion had only a few seconds to make up his mind. Should he go with them? He knew the female would hate the idea, but she didn't matter at this point. She was long gone from his thoughts, washed away like dirt in a river. He found himself wondering what it would be like to be claimed. He could have everything the female said he couldn't have. Friends, perhaps even a family. There was only one thing stopping him. Would they even want him? Umi had made it quite clear that they wouldn't, but who was she to know? He had decided only minutes before to change, but would he have really? Maybe this was his only chance.

With that, the stallion reared. His mind was blank at this point, possibly because he could not fathom what he was about to get himself into. He put on another majestic display, kicking out his thick legs and flicking his head in a wild, yet intriguing fashion. The man would definitely see him. He really did look fabulous for a wild horse, even if he did smell and was really, really under-groomed. With a bit of patience, and practice, he could bet his life he could be just as good as the mare at whatever she did. But that wasn't his priority at the moment, it was putting up such a display, that maybe the human would realize his potential.

His brown orbs glowed feverishly, he still had time to run. And he would run, whether or not the man accepted him. He had to, it was only natural. He trotted for him, his stance almost regal-like. With more neighing and rearing, Hyperion was sure the human had taken notice.

Another game had started, and like before, it was the other players turn to make a move.

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[!DETOXi]

PEERING into the canyon, Neumi took a small step forward, craning her neck. Emily stroked her arched neck, murmuring something that Neumi didn't catch, probably asking what she was looking for. Since the silly humans couldn't understand her, Umi didn't bother trying to tell her. Instead, she kept looking down into the canyon for some sign of the oddball she'd somehow stumbled upon. All she could see was her trainer tugging at the bush, a flash of blue every now and then telling her he'd found her halter and was trying to wrestle it away from the thorny bush. Neumi was glad he'd found it, she felt odd without it. Having worn a halter since she was quite young, not having one made her feel...bare, vulnerable. Without it, no humans would know she belonged to anyone except for Emily and her trainer. Apart from her mother's words about bad horses not having halters, that was the main reason she had been loath to abandon it earlier before the black stallion came across her. She would have waited there for days before leaving it, and probably then she wouldn't have gone easily, often returning. There was just some oddity in her that felt bare without the halter.

DOWN in the canyon though, her trainer, a man named Jim if she remembered right, straightened up slowly. He was looking over his shoulder and then turning slowly, staring intently at something. Neumi tugged slightly on Emily's hold, wanting to go back into the canyon. If the stallion tried to hurt Jim, she wouldn't be able to catch him in time to make him regret it.

"DID you find it?" Emily called, one hand resting on Neumi's neck, the other tangled in her mane.

JIM didn't look at them. Neumi shifted her weight nervously, nostrils flaring. 'Say something', Neumi thought impatiently.

THE man however did not. He simply angled his head a little, raising one hand slowly, the halter and lead hanging limp in his other hand. Neumi strained and then finally broke away from Emily. Slowly she trekked a few yards down the trail until she saw what Jim was looking at. Just as she had suspected, the stallion was still there. She stopped as soon as she spotted him, the sound of Emily next to her seeming loud in the quiet of the canyon. Emily froze when she peered around Neumi to see the black stag. Umi looked at her trainer and then at the stallion, her tail swinging once before going still. She wasn't sure what the stallion was doing but it made her curious. She perked her ears up and snuffled softly to get his attention.

"THAT man is nice, don't hurt him, he won't try to touch you unless you let him," Neumi said, voice soft, a stark contrast to her earlier snide sarcasm, bad mood dissipating now that Emily was with her.

LOWERING her head a little, Neumi turned her head to Emily, nuzzling her girl's shoulder. She pretended not to watch the man and stallion, instead making it look like she was nibbling at Emily's sleeve. The humans were tense, surprised no doubt by the appearance of a wild stallion, but Jim looked curious more than anything. Neumi hoped the stallion wouldn't hurt him. She had just gotten out of a sour mood and didn't feel much like chasing him down for revenge.

THE trainer took a step forward, one hand still reaching up when Neumi heard him speak. "Hey there, what's a handsome fella like you doin' down here?" Jim spoke softly, voice a bit gruff from age but it was a voice Neumi liked well enough. She flicked her ears but remained turned toward her girl, making sure she didn't try to dart out and make trouble by accident. Jim could handle horses but her girl, though nearly grown, was still a filly that needed watching. Idly, Neumi wondered if the stallion would understand Jim's tone as being friendly.

[[H]yperion]

The stag was nervous. His coat flicked quickly in numerous areas, the tension was almost suffocating. He had ceased his eye-catching display, and just resorted to standing a few feet away from the man. His hooves still clipped at the dirt in an almost defiant way, which was only natural. In all his life he could have been feeling what he never thought he would have. Fear. He did not hear Umi's soft words, only Jim's, which he did not understand at first. He wasn't screaming, or waving his arms like many other men he had seen who had tried to capture him. He was just... standing there. Was it a trick?

Hyperion was confused. Did he really want to do this? Yes. Yes he did. He had to. This man could be his only chance at a normal, loving life. The stag nodded his head forcefully, kicking his hooves. He dared not to venture closer. The man would have to come to him. He didn't know what to do. Eyes peered up at the mare and the other human, what was she thinking? He was surprised she hadn't chased him off after realizing he was still here. Unable to stand still for any longer, Hyperion let go of his frustrations by pacing short circles. He would wait and see what the man would do next, and then decide if he could trust him.

[/center]

[!DETOXi]

FROM the corner of her eye, Neumi watched the curious interaction of man and stallion. Jim was simply standing still, hand raised, her lead and halter in his limp hand while the stag paced nervously. He had an odd look on his face. Under the guise of snorting her forelock out of her eyes, she got a better look at him before turning back to Emily. He looked...nervous, like he was about to be sick from it. Somewhere deep down, deep deep down, Neumi could sympathize a little. She knew what fear tasted like but she also knew all too well how good humans were at soothing it away. Sure, she'd heard horror stories about humans that inspired fear but never in her life had Neumi met one. Her humans had all soothed away her frights, smoothing their hands over her coat and cooing gentle reassurances and words of affection. That was what Emily did anyway, even when they lost or when Neumi had tripped up on a jump and fallen. Her leg had hurt horribly but a few words from Emily and she was willing to get up and limp out of the ring. It was the strange way of humans and somewhere deep down, yet again deep deep down, Neumi hoped this stallion would feel it too. She might say "I told you so" later, but for right now she kept quiet.

WATCHING as subtly as possible, she observed as Jim's fingers loosened on the halter and lead. They slithered back to the ground with the quiet jingle of the buckles. Neumi resisted the urge to snort. Yet again, her things were left in the dust. Oh well. Jim began to talk softly, Neumi didn't bother to listen to what he said, observing only his tone. It was calm and relaxed, focused on the stallion but its effect seeping into Neumi as well. She relaxed, lowering her head to nibble some errant grass while still quietly observing. Jim was moving forward toward the stallion, talking, one hand still raised. He would take a step, pause, and slowly take another. It was a tedious process that she had observed many times in the breaking in of new horses, though other humans usually did it. Though Umi knew Jim worked with other horses, she had never seen him actually working with anyone other than her. She trusted the man but she didn't quite trust the black stallion.

'BE good to him or else,' Neumi threatened in her mind, glancing at the stallion. Emily shifted beside her, causing Neumi to turn her head and bump the human with her muzzle hard enough for her to take a step back. Errant filly.

A few yards away, Jim stood still and angled his head to one side, lowering his hand to about shoulder or mid-chest height. There was a good three feet at least between him and the big stallion. Head to one side a little, the man regarded the black stallion. "You keep an eye on our little girl over there? I bet you get awful lonesome down here," Jim said. With his other hand he reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a white and red striped peppermint. That, of all things, got Neumi's full attention making her raise her head and look at Jim as he held it out toward the stallion.

BLESS her girl when Neumi found her own candy being offer to her by Emily. Huffing in thanks, Neumi delicately took her treat from Emily's palm, crunching the candy and looking back to see if the stallion would do the same. Peppermints were what had brought Neumi to Emily because she'd been curious about the smell. Now she often enjoyed them as a treat after a good training session or good competition. Sometimes, if Emily was particularly generous, the mints would be gifted for no good reason.