{off the beaten path} genesis

[[H]yperion]

The world around the stag seemed to slow, his audits picking up nothing other than the man's voice. He couldn't feel the breeze anymore, nor the heated sun on his thick back. His concentration was focused solely on the human in front of him, ever careful of what he was doing. Hyperion was not stupid, he could sense the calm in Jim. All his instincts screamed at him to run, his mind almost exploding under all the pressure. There was nothing to be afraid of from this man, but he just couldn't rid himself of that irritable nagging voice inside his head. 'Run. Run. Run.'

However Hype ignored the words, his defiant actions now seeming to ease as the man was just inches from him. Pulling something from his pocket, a brief wave of panic overcame the beast, and he kicked at the dirt and turned heel to flee. But all he could do was shuffle in the dirt, head swaying furiously at Jim. 'Calm down you big 'git.' he told himself, inching back toward Jim. It was then the smell of whatever he had gotten from his pocket hit his flaring nostrils. He snorted a few times, it was rather sharp smelling. He could tell it was his turn now, the man had played his part and it was all up to himself. Glancing at the halter that Jim had left on the ground, he wondered if he was ready. If he wasn't ready now, when would he be? He had done all this, for the sake of a better life, and he was still doubting it? What was wrong with him?

So many things had happened on this fruitful summer morning, being claimed wasn't something Hyperion just woke up and decided. But he had decided, a few minutes before, and he'd be damned if he chickened out now. Besides, although weird smelling, that item that lay in Jim's hand was rather intriguing. With one more tense glance at him, the stallion drew closer. This really was it. It seemed the man had liked him, after all he wasn't yelling or trying to hurt him. Maybe he would love him? He hadn't had any luck out here with love. None of his parents had loved him. Maybe he had to turn to the only enemy the wild horses had, just to receive that? So long he had wanted it, not that anyone ever knew about it. But didn't they all? Didn't they all need someone to love, and to love back?

A warm touch brought the stag out of his daydream, his lips cupped neatly in Jim's hand as he picked up the 'mint' with his tongue. He pulled away slightly, even if his hands were a bit rough, the touch was definitely welcomed- even if it was subconsciously. He fiddled with the item in his mouth, the taste was rather... peculiar. None the less, he quite fancied it, and nodded again with small delight. Moving closer to Jim, Hyperion's nose pushed at his pocket where he had retrieved the delicious morsel from. And he stayed in this position, head lowered well, tail swishing softly. It was an awkward show of submission, but submission none the less.

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[!DETOXi]

A knowing glint flickered in Neumi's dark brown eyes as she subtly watched the pair. Man and stallion seemed calm in each other's presence which only mildly surprised the blue roan mare. She wasn't surprised because deep down she knew all horses were drawn to affection and acts of kindness. She was surprised because he hadn't expected the stallion to stick around long enough to receive any sort of kindness. As soon as her human had called to her, she'd expected him to be long gone, thundering off to heaven knew where. Soon enough, he'd probably turn tail and do just that but at least he'd received some form of human kindness. Snuffling softly, Neumi turned to her girl, nudging her elbow. She was getting impatient. The sun was hot on her back and she was tired. The trip back to the stable wasn't necessarily something she was looking forward to but she wanted to be home, in her stall with her familiar companions, the sounds of the barn and a full bucket of grain. Emily would brush the dust from her coat, comb the mats from her mane and leave her with a hug and farewell mint. That was the flow of Neumi's life. Nudging her girl's arm a bit harder, Neumi looked pointedly at her dropped halter and lead. Evidently the girl was too entranced in what Jim and the stallion were doing. Oh if only she could roll her eyes! Snorting softly, Neumi moved away from her girl impatiently. Hooves thudding softly on the ground she ambled over slowly to Jim and the stallion but didn't pay them much mind. Lowering her head, she nudged her blue halter and snorted, nostrils flaring. Her movement seemed to have finally gotten some kind of attention.

JIM, whom was busy unwrapping another striped mint, didn't notice her at first. He offered the second treat to the stallion until he felt Neumi's head brush his leg. Looking down, he turned his hand from the stallion to Neumi. She felt his slightly rough hand rest on her head between her eyes and raised her head a bit, nudging the halter with her hoof. Finally he seemed to understand. Reaching down, he inspected the halter as he picked it up. Neumi held still as he slipped the straps back over her ears and fitted it to her face. She would have sighed in content if she hadn't been in other company.

"THERE ya go pretty girl, all fixed up," Jim murmured, rubbing his hand against her neck, gathering the lead around his hand. He looked at the stallion. "What about you big fella? You want to come along?" He raised the end of the lead that was gathered around his arm, just holding it in midair, making no move to go toward the stallion with it.

NEUMI regarded the suspended lead and then looked at the stallion. "I think he wants you to go with us," Umi nickered.

TRUTHFULLY, she'd never seen Jim do this but, she could almost imagine what the human was getting at and she wasn't sure if she liked it. Without another halter and lead, they'd have no way to guide the stallion. If she was guessing right...Jim wanted to tie the end of her lead rope around his neck and have her guide him. That was going to be a pleasant experience. Still, if it made the humans happy, she would do it...for now. So, she stood quietly, watching the stallion expectantly, waiting for him to wheel around and bolt at the mention of a rope. Wild horses really were big babies. As long as you didn't pull too hard, the ropes didn't hurt, they were just so the humans could teach him which way to go and when. Eventually he might get a halter like hers which was much more comfortable since the leads didn't pull as hard. Although, looking at him now Umi had a hard time imagining him with a saddle on his back, bridle on his face and bit in his mouth, accepting it all calmly after being washed and brushed. It would be odd indeed.

"COME on big guy, I'm not gonna hurt you," Jim murmured, one hand resting on Neumi's neck, the other holding the end of the lead.

SHIFTING her head a bit so she could meet the stallion's gaze, she offered a little smile. "It's not so bad."

[[H]yperion]

Any fear that resided in the black stag slowly seeped from his form as one tender touch from Jim broke his concentration on the pocket of mints. He shifted his neck away from his hand, but Jim placed it there again, whispering soft words into his ear. After a few more defiant gestures, Hyperion allowed the mans hand scale the length of his neck. It felt utterly strange, yet undeniably nice.

Brown eyes sparkled as he spotted another mint reappear from his other hand, and the stags nose followed it keenly. He had to pause though, suddenly realizing that it wasn't just him and the human anymore. The female had returned, and with a somewhat happy nicker, she accepted the mint from Jim. He didn't dare to look at Umi in the eye's. Although she hadn't chased him off, perhaps she might have thought he was trying to steal the human from her. Why couldn't he just get his own human? But she had spoken of other family and friends back at her 'home.' If they had other horses, surely they would have room for one more? This situation might have been a hell of a lot easier if the filly and himself had gotten off on the right hoof. He wouldn't want to go back there, and be made ridicule of by all her friends. Out here was different, you never had to see them again, what one doesn't know wont hurt them right? There, he would be stuck, unable to escape. And then shit would hit the fan, and he would definitely be more trouble than what he was worth. Sadly that wasn't so, and for another brief moment, Hyperion wondered if he should really go through with it.

The stallion shifted his weight uneasily as Jim gestured with the lead. Umi seemed to love it, all the other tamed ones loved it, he could too. Nibbling softly on the end of it, Hyperion got a feel of the material. That's when his eyes met the filly's. He sensed her a little calmer, as though a different horse was standing before him. She whispered to him softly too, but he was not sure if she really wanted to say what she did. None the less, he didn't want to go back now. Stepping closer to her, Hyperion nudged Jim with his nose. It might have been a little too rough, as Jim steady himself against his side. It wasn't his fault, he didn't know how to interact with them.

He stood still, silent, eyes focused on the filly as he felt the rope slide slowly over the top of his neck. His foreleg stomped in response, his defiant thoughts still screaming at him. But with a few pats and more cooing from the man, the rope was now firmly attached.

"Easy boy." Jim whispered, offering the stallion another mint as he gently tug on the lead. The sensation was weird as Hyperion felt himself drift forward. How was he doing that? His heart thundered inside his massive chest, another wave of panic raising it' ugly head. Hyperion resisted, pulling himself back, bringing Umi back with him. If a horse could be claustrophobic, the stag would be at this moment. It suddenly felt as the the instrument around his neck was choking him, how could Umi like such a thing? He trotted uncomfortably around the mare, snorting and making a stupid scene. He guessed that the whole charade really wasn't for him. He would never know love, and the sooner he realized that, the better.

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[!DETOXi]

STANDING still and quiet, Neumi waited while Jim began to slowly work the rope over the stallion's neck and secure it, murmuring softly and offering a mint from time to time. Keeping her head in a neutral position, hanging low about level with her withers, the blue roan regarded the scene with cool brown eyes. The stable would be in an uproar when they found out a wild horse came back with her. It would be a struggle to get him to fit in but, though she'd been angry at him before, she didn't feel so bad now. He was giving it a try which was way more than most wild horses would do. Now, she had a feeling she was seeing bits of what few others would ever be allowed to see. He'd probably never be a competition horse, at least, not that Neumi could see. There were a few other horses like him at the stable that did dressage but she had trouble seeing this male prancing in time, moving gracefully and quietly. It'd probably be too slow for him, he'd never enjoy it. At least, Neumi didn't think so. Then again, he'd been surprising her a lot today so, who really knew one way or the other? Either way, she used her posture to try and show him that this was okay, that the ropes were annoying at times but not necessarily bad if you didn't fight them.

HER example didn't seem to help him much because a moment after Jim had secured the knot, the stallion was shifting nervously. Umi raised her head a little, snuffling softly, mildly confused as he pranced in place for a second. Then, he was moving back, dragging her with him. Neumi raised her head and tugged back, planting her hooves with a snort of annoyance. Sadly, he was stronger so she slid forward a few inches before she could plant herself firmly enough not to move again. Before she could ask what had gotten into him, the stallion was circling her, huffing nervously and acting as twitchy as a lovestruck colt. Flicking her ears, Neumi shook her head, mane flopping back and forth on her neck, her traditional show of impatience.

"WHAT are you doing?" Neumi asked, turning her head this way and that to follow the stag's circling. "The ropes don't hurt if you don't fight them."

GIVING a gentle tug, Neumi took three steps toward Jim, trying to tug the black stag along with her to show him that if he just kept up, the rope wasn't bad. Plus, she didn't particularly feel like being dragged up and down the canyon by some airheaded stallion. She was sick of the place as it was, no need to prolong her visit.

"I know it probably feels funny but it's not bad and we don't stay on ropes all the time. Just relax."

IT was like talking to a horse about to go into their first show. Neumi remembered meeting a nervous young bay the last time she'd been taken to a jumping competition. The horse had been twitchy and flighty all day while waiting for her number to be called. Neumi had finally gotten sick of it and had to talk to the silly thing down from her nerves. The younger horse hadn't done particularly well in the rankings but she hadn't done horribly. She'd nicked a few poles but other than that, she hadn't been impossible, just nerve-sick. Personally, Neumi couldn't remember being nervous when she was younger, but then again she was a competitive horse. She liked the contest, liked the rivalry of the other horses, liked focusing completely on the feeling of flying as she went over a jump. That probably helped her deal with the stresses more than anything, though the trailer trips often made her quite cranky.

GIVING another tug, Neumi made a firm decision. With or without this big brute, she was getting out of the canyon and going home. The halter had broken once, it could break again if he pulled hard enough, though she might just have to kick him if he did becaue the contraption was connected to her face. Turning, Neumi slowly began to make her way toward the canyon path where Emily stood. She'd either drag the stallion with her or have to fight with him until the halter broke, that was all there was to it. She was sick of this place and ready to go home, even if it meant doing it in a noisy trailer. Heck, who knows? Maybe with another horse it wouldn't be so bad? Not that she was looking forward to this big brute's company if he didn't chill out and stop fidgeting like a yearling. She could sympathize because he was new to the ropes, but she wasn't going completely soft.