Eclipse

Eclipse moved his masculine form forward from the bushes, far from quiet. His aim here was for food- and food only. It seems it was the closest place at the time, and besides, like any young horse, he was up for a challenge. Snorting dangerously, he put the first foot forward, and then, at a dash, leapt over the fence, into the sheep fields.

Nass & Northern Star

Nass snorted lightly, scenting the other stallion. He was not from around here, and that bothered the chestnut horse. Having been let out of his stall to wonder around the yard, Nass cantered after Eclipse, "Hey! What are you doing here?"

A Racking Horse mare trotted towards Nass while eyeing Eclipse with in interested gaze. She had been taken into the wild by a stallion once... only to be recaptured by the Ranch humans and brought back. And ever since her first taste of freedom, she longed to leave the humans. But she was so docile that she followed anyone who was willing to lead her, even if that meant the humans.

Eclipse

Eclipse snorted brutally, stopping in his tracks, listening to the bleating of sheep all about him. " Finding food- domestic, " Eclipse noted, not completely rude- but at least somewhat irritated by his finding out. His eyes met the mare for a moment, but flicked back to the current conversation.

Nass & Northern Star

Nass snorted, "You'll get caught by my masters if you stay here." He pointed out, ears pulled back in a bit of anger. "And this is our food; so unless you want to be a domestic, you'd better scat!"

Northern Star watched the two stallions, flicking her ground-length tail a bit and shaking her mane as a fly landed near it. After a moment, she spoke out, "It must be nice to be free."

Nass looked back suddenly, "Hey... don't think about that again! Mark wasn't too happy about you three leaving... he still hasn't found those other two mares yet."

Northern Star turned her head away, quietly ignoring the small stallion. She was rather shy.

Eclipse

" Not if you hadn't given me away first- 'scuse me, " Eclipse spoke defiantly. He was hungry- he could have just eaten grass- but after being in the bog all day, it wasn't quite enough. Besides- he was much too tired for that.

Nass & Northern Star

Nass stomped his hoof and took a few quick steps towards Eclipse, "Get out of here! Before I call for my master!" Nass had never fought another horse though, and his smaller size was not to his advantage. Still, he was tired of getting attacked, having mares stolen, and getting pushed around by others. This time, he'd try to stand up for himself.

Northern Star tilted her ebony muzzle to the wind, picking up the new stallion's scent more. Then she cantered daintily away towards a trough on the outside of the Barn. It was filled with hay and oats. Swishing her tail to keep away the biting insects, the mare began to eat.

Eclipse

Eclipse snorted grudgingly. Nipping softly at his shoulder.

" Listen- I'm hungry. Please- move, "

As the horse moved forward, an evident limp was noticed. That may have been his reason for coming here.

Stripes

The Zebra was wandering around after he had recently came here. His figure was smaller than an equine's but he had some unusual markings... Stripes, as his name would most likely indicate. He walked onto the ranch grounds, and looked around curiously. Soon he seen the horses by the barn and he sent out some zebra noises to them before trotting closer. He stopped at a distance to make sure they were friendly. He watched them but didn't say anything. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Eclipse

Eclipse turned his head, snorting briskly as he watched the..... well, whatever that thing was.

It wasn't that Eclipse was stupid, he was quite bright, he just wasn't learned enough to understand that the odd-looking horse was a zebra.

" Look at THAT, " he murmured under his breath. Either an insult, or an amazed tone implied.

Stripes

Stripes looked at the larger animal and snorted. Nobody else around here had anything unique about them... This was bad. "I'm taking that meant to be an insult?" he said, almost raising a brow questionably. Not more of this again. Oh well, he learned to live with it. But still, it was tireing. He took a step forward and shook his head. He didn't know whether that was an insult or just a tone of amazement.

Eclipse

" No- I think it's just unusual, is all. Are you- perhaps- a mixed breed? I imagine your coat is much easier to keep clean, " No- it was not an insult, it was curiousity and admiration.

Nass & Northern Star

Nass had snorted sharply and reared back from Eclipse, taking to avoidance rather than conflict. His ears were laid back still and an insult of his own was about to form when he spotted Stripes. Even Northern Star paused in her feeding to gauwk at the strangely-hued creature.

Eclipse

Eclipse stepped forward with a polite bow of his head for a moment- and continued with the soft limp of his too the feed bins. Starving.

Nass & Northern Star

Nass was obviously very upset, but again, he was still not wanting conflict. "Oh fine, eat the stuff! But you're gonna get captured!" The small stallion stamped his hoof again in irritation, then suddenly brought his head up. His master was here!

Northern Star moved over so Eclipse to access the feeding big as well.

Stripes

Stripes watched Eclipse go for the food. He was slightly confused at this. Why would a wild horse ever go so close to a human home and try to get food from the horses when the ground has it all over? And for free? "You don't need to sacrifice your freedom for food, I hope you know. The ground is covered in grass." he said, pounding a hoof and lowering his head to lip up some of the green blades. He didn't care whether or not he was captured. He had lived with humans before he came to the Valley. He slowly eased forward a bit more, watching and wondering if and when a human was really going to come.

Eclipse

Stripes didn't understand. Grazing took alot of walking- Eclipse could only do so much, and lately- he'd been feeling sick and empty. It was the fault of that coil, some foolish human had left out.

" It's not enough.... " Eclipse murmured through greedy mouthfuls- obviously extremely hungry. Not yet at the point of starving. His coat was a mess of late. He didn't have the time or the strength to take care of it, and he'd let it become quite a mess. Especially his mane. As the human came closer, Eclipse raised his head and took a step back. He hadn't expected the threat to come back to them.

Mark, Nass, & Northern Star

Mark came running around from the other side of the Barn, where he had been leading a new mare to her stall. Nass's commotion had gotten his attention; but Mark wasn't prepared for the sight before him!

"What in the..." He murmured under his breath, spotting Eclipse and Stripes. Very slowly, he began to approach Stripes, who was closest to him, trying to decern whether the zebra was tame or not.

Nass tossed his nead and nickered to his master, "There he is!" He cantered happily to the man and nudged his hip. His nostrils flared and he tried to pick up the scent of carrots; but alas, he could not. Mark had no treats for him this time.

Mark patted his horse's head then gentle shoved him away, "Hold on, Boy, Hold on. We have guests." He whispered, his eyes staying on Stripes and Eclipse.

Northern Star lifted her head, bits of hay falling from her ebony muzzle. Her ears went back at first before she pulled them forward.

Stripes

Stripes pulled his head back a bit but soon realized this human wasn't posing as a threat. But he took a step back, but his ears were still forward, curious of this new human. He had lived on a farm before, so he was indeed used to them. He sighed and watched Mark with great interest, tail swishing around. His neck extended outward as his nose quivered, trying to pick up the human's scent better.

Eclipse

Eclipse watched Nass' display of affection in disgust- sneering bluntly. Of course- he hadn't even wanted to have to stoop to the levels of stealing from the humans. Yes- he realised this was stealing. He stepped back a few paces, his leg aching with each backward movement.

Mark, Nass, & Northern Star

Mark stepped closer now, trying to see if he could pat Stripes on the head, or at least touch him. "Oh, and what's this?" his attention flickered to Eclipse, seeing it pained him to move. He also didn't look in very good shape. Turning his head back, Mark called to his son for help, while trying not to frighten the two strangers.

Nass perked his ears forward and held his head up, feeling much more confident in himself with his master here. "Hey, why don't you let my master help you? You could have all the food you want and be safe from predators." Well... they weren't always that safe from predators; but it was safer than the wild.

Eclipse

Eclipse didn't exactly understand what he was agreeing to as he spoke- he was too busy moving his hooves uneasily, and anxiously to look in depth. He didn't realize it was a permanent arrangement. Besides- he was still sketchy about being touched by the man. Or any human. He raised his head, cocking his ears as he stared down at the man and Stripes, still keeping his respective distance. He probably wouldn't be able to help putting up a bit of a fight. He was frightened, but he wouldn't admit it.

Stripes

Stripes snorted as he allowed Mark to pat his head. He enjoyed the caressment, but soon pulled away, standing still as his nose quivered to take in the different scents. He snorted again before turning away from the party and bolting away, out of the Ranch lands. His legs may be shorter than a horses', but he was as fast as a purebred Thoroughbred. He proved that before. His incredible swiftness carried him away, out of the sights of anyone that was there before.