Cinnamon Stick/*Man*

A man led a large mare into the ring and dropped the lead chain. The mare, who was called Freckles at home and Cinnamon Stick at the races, showed off her strength and beauty by running around the corral. She was a cold-blood, which became obvious if you noted her enormous size. But she was faster than she looked. Indeed, she was a racehorse. In her native Finland, she raced only with other Finnhorses, though her former owners bragged that she could outrun an Arabian without breaking a sweat. This, of course, was a bit of an exaggeration.

A man yelled to the crowd. "This is a real hot rod here. She's a beauty too! What can I get for such a wonderful creature?"

Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands saw the horse in the ring, she stopped at the edge and looked at the manalso in the ring. Her toned muscles ripled, her moonlight mane flowed gently in the breeze.

Fauve

Fauve could see the ring clearly from her enclosure. Several days had passed since Doyle had found it necessary to "teach her respect", and so she was relatively unwounded as she stepped forward on her sturdy Criollo hooves to watch. Remembering Hateya's words, she prayed silently to this "God" her friend was so fervent about. Prayed that Doyle would not find her, would not take her. If only his attention would not be attracted... so she remained very, very quiet, did not call out to either the tied mare or the other watching mare of the danger, only tossing her head and dancing about to express that they should run, and run fast. She was not sure whether to believe in Hateya's God... but right now, she would take whatever help she could get. Praying furiously, she watched.

Freya*Shantii

A shadow separated itself from the trees, sparing a glance to the poor, imprisoned mare before turning her attention back to the business at hand. She could do nothing for Fauve: the gate to her pen was locked tight, and barbed-wire and wooden post fencing rose almost 16 feet out of the ground. There was no way to help her escape.

Her red garments had done nothing to reduce her disguise with the forest, so sleek and sneaky she was, and the beads that tipped her thousand braids, usually left to hang free and click together, today were bound into a knot high on her head. Moving with the fluid grace of silence, she gestured to Shantii and started forward, coming up near the man, her bronze face tired, but with a sharp eye for quality. She'd spent most of the past week at the hospital, looking after Conan. His seizing had finally stopped, and his oxygen level was normal, but he'd yet to regain conciousness. It was only when a nurse came to her and told her she needed to leave, for her own sake, and that a nurse would stay with Conan in her place, that Freya had consented to take some time for herself. Her dull eyes looked up at Cinnamon Stick, looking her over with an energy that her body did not feel. Finally, she spoke softly, just above the murmur of the crowd. Five thousand, on the spot, if you'll give me a decent rope to take her on and a free way to go. She knew that the price was WAY over for the mare, excellent as she was, and the Trader in her rebelled, but she didn't care. She was too tired to bargain until she was senseless.

With a gesture, she called Shantii to her side. The albino came silently, reaching up to clasp the pouch that her mistress held down to her. Then, the dog trotted forward, dropping it at the man's feet. Then, Freya spoke again, still softly. In there are thirty thousand drane, which will transfer at any standard bank. It will add up to six thousand dollars when it is transferred. The extra thousand is for your trouble of exchanging it. Have we a bargain?

Cinnamon Stick/*Men*

Freckles watched Virgin Islands, now standing still. "Who are you?" She asked quizzically. Then she noticed Fauve out of the corner of her eye. She knew what the other mare wanted. She reared up and began running as fast as she could.

The man laughed. "Here's what I mean, folks. She's a racer." He figured that she was showing off, for he had not noticed Fauve. Then he was speechless when Freya spoke. Five thousand... "Deal!" He finally exclaimed, greedily taking the pouch that the dog gave to him. He motioned to another man. The other man corralled Freckles in a corner and grabbed the rope. He pulled her over to the gate and gestured to Freya. "Here's your horse, ma'am."

virgin Islands

Virgin Islands reared in suprise and horror. Her moonlight mane licked at the air. Her sharp daggars pawed at the air. She did not know what to do so she began trotting in cirlces, her beautifuly toned muscles rippled.

Freya*Shantii

Freya accepted the lead rope from the man with only a nod, and took to looking at her horse. A fast one, spirited for sure, but now on her guard because of the rough treatment of the men and the unease of the other horses.

After a few moments, the dark girl took to humming under her breath, a low and lilting tune that brought to mind images of soft waves and the smell of seaspray. Her touch on the lead rope was gentle, barely even a small pressure, as she clicked her tongue to Cinnamon Stick, voice escaping in a soft, almost melodic whisper of thick foreign accent that was hard to place. Come with me, and see the ocean... Run in the spray of the crashing waves. And sleep on the rolling back of the sea 'til the sun wakes you in the morning. As she murmured softly, she began to move slowly forward, her soft touch on the lead rein giving the mare a little tug to bring her forward, but gently.

Shantii walked along beside her mistress, keeping her eye up on the horse. It didn't seem as though Freckles was one to be ugly to one who hadn't harmed her, but the albino was taking no chances. Her purple eyes lay hard upon the mare, though her tail waved a little in a friendly way, not wanting to frighten the horse. Knowing by now that the horse was probably wondering why she did not speak reassurance, she opened her maw wide to reveal the ragged end of tongue. It was barely a stub of muscle, cut out by the master of the ship, whom Freya had confiscated her from, and provided her no sound at all. She waved her tail again, harder, to let the horse know that Freya had not done this, that the mare was in good hands now, and could relax.

Fauve

Watching, waiting... praying for...

And then a woman stepped forward, with a soft voice, and took Freckles' lead rein with a gentle hand. From her vantage point, Fauve sighed and relaxed. Though first impressions could be deceiving, at least this two-legger had not yet hurt the other mare. Maybe Freckles had a chance.

Now that the danger was past for Freckles, Fauve turned her attention to the ramping white mare. Quiet, please! She hissed. If you make such noise, you will attract the Darkness... And her face turned back to the house behind her pen, watching. Finally satisfied that Doyle was not coming, she spoke softly to the mare. If you value your life, your freedom... flee from this place as fast as the wind will bear you. And if you ever run across a pair of stallions... and odd sight yes, but a pair... a chestnut and a ruddy bay... Avi and Kiran... tell them you have spoken with the sister of the river, and that she lies in the place of peril. They will aid you in what you need, and then they will come to me.

Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands did not move, her eyes were wide and she did not calm down. She did not know what was happening. Value? My life? she asked herself a bit under her breath.

Fauve

Caught between trying to help both Virgin Islands and Phantom, she finished her words to Phantom and turned back to the white mare. Do you not see the marks on me? All made by human hands, by the hands of the Darkness! Don't let him catch you here! Flee! Indeed, she was quite covering in raised welts and thick white scars, barely an inch of her dappled-bay anatomy free of the marks of human treachery.

Freckles/Hateya

Freckles happily followed Freya, offering a few glances to the dog. "Hello." She said pleasantly. "I'm Freckles." She tried not to think about Shantii's tongue, or lack thereof.

Hateya stared at Virgin Islands. "You must run! He will find you!" She squealed.

Freya*Shantii

Freya continued to murmur softly to Freckles, leading her forward, and Shantii waved her tail more, finding that the horse was friendly. Soon, they were headed back to the Woodland Farm, where home would be.

Vigin Islands

Virgin Islands was so panicked now that she seemed ot not hear anything the others were saying. Suddenly she took off in the direct direction of the man!