Darkia

Darkia had begun visiting hath. Even though she probably shouldn't right now. However it was to late as she was grooming him she felt her water Break. She snorted and pawed the ground

Ethan & Others

During their clandestine visits, Harthrou's attachment to Darkia began to grow. Truly, she was the first horse outside of his earlier years that he ever liked, much less began to have deeper feelings for. And little by little, she broke down the rusted walls of isolation he'd kept himself hidden behind, and a slightly less volatile version of his personality began to shine through.

Today, Harthrou was outside of the stables thanks to Silver Trace. After Tommy had disappeared inside Ethan's cabin for the final time last winter, his granddaughter had taken up the mantle of resident rascal and habitually released Harthrou (and occasionally Hydra, when Ben visisted)from the barn. As he stood beside Darkia and returned the grooming, he was startled by her sudden snort and breaking water. "Are you.. okay?"

What Harth didn't realize was that his secret meetings with Darkia hadn't gone undetected. Ethan was perfectly aware of these rendezvous, and had been waiting for just such an occasion to make his move. With motion detectors having already alerted him of Darkia's presence on the property, all Ethan had to do now was get the best vantage point window in his house, watch and wait for Darkia to drop the foal, then swoop in to collect them both.

Darkia

She hoped to get him to leave here. "Foal" she said as she soon laid down, rolled a few times and then there was a colt at her feet and she cleaned him

Harthrou & Ethan

Harth snorted now, stepping back from Darkia when she gave him that answer. "Do you.. need help? ....or?" He really had no idea what to do. How could he even help with this? When she laid down, the only thing he could think of was how vulnerable the mare was, and how dangerous it would be for a new foal. Another snort, this one sharp and pitched, was given as the stallion turned about with sudden determination and began to gallop across the backyard, heading for Carbon. He'd gather the dogs, and make sure they helped to protect Darkia and the foal, whether they wanted to or not.

Unfortunately, that left Darkia alone for a few precious minutes. In that time, Ethan had already left the house with all the materials he needed. Across the yard he went, moving swiftly in Darkia's direction. He watched her like a hawk as he approached, noting every shift in her body language, and what her state of health was like after delivering her foal. "Are you going to make this easy for me, or difficult?" The voice was flat and monotoned - neither cheerful nor threatening, and yet somehow exceedingly unnerving. With a long rope coiled in one hand, his approach slowed as he waited to see what Darkia's first reaction would be...

Darkia

Her nostrils flared she wanted to call harth back but she focused on her colt as the little Colt began to fight to get to his feet as he did her ears twitched and went back. She immediately placed herself between her colt and him and reared up lashing out in his direction

Harthrou & Ethan

Her defensiveness was predicted by Ethan, who was happy to see that she appeared to be in decent health with no obviously complications from her delivery. He had no further words for the mare when she threw her daggers at him, and was plenty wise enough to keep himself far from those potentially deadly weapons. Continuing to watch her movements, he timed his own carefully, and swung the looped end of a lasso for her head just as she was dropping her front hooves back to the ground...

Darkia

She snorts and twists as the lasso landed on her neck. She arches her neck and then rears up again

Her colt Coltrane meanwhile stood there on wobbly legs

Ethan & Others

When Darkia reared back, Ethan threw his weight back, pulling sharply and with sudden force on the rope, trying to upset her balance and bring her hooves back to the ground. The tall fellow was exceptionally strong, but he knew he wasn't going to be pulling any horse around against their will. Rather, he was aiming to tire her out, or get her moving in the direction he wanted. Using the opposite end of the rope, he whipped it around and lashed it out against her side, trying to spook Darkia into moving forward towards the nearby corral she'd once been caged in.

Darkia

Darkia stayed up for a few more seconds beefore she came down with a thud. Her eyes caught the site of the corral she had been in as she moved to the side to avoid the rope. All the while super aware of where her colt was who needed to nurse. Coltrane was watching her wanting to go for food but her hooves and that thing on her neck kept the newborn where he was. Her ears flat back now as she made to bolt forward at Ethan. Problem was her colt was not up to running off so she couldn't even think of leaving yet. She always made sure she was between this human and her foal.

Ethan & Others

Eyes scarcely blinking, the man's gaze remained fastened on the unwilling mare. For every ounce of resistance she gave him, he gave it right back with harsh tugs against the rope. And when she'd had enough and came charging at him, Ethan stood his ground, defiantly planting his feet as several hundred pounds of furious equine came raging his way.

At the last possible moment, he leaped aside, tucking and rolling back to avoid any flailing hooves, and was on his feet at the tail end of the roll, with the rope still firmly in hand. With so much slack on the rope now, he rushed to the side and attempted to move in a semi-circle around the horse, dragging the slackened rope with him to try and tangle up her legs and bring her down quickly...

Darkia

Her nostrils we're flared and she was exhausted. Her motherly instincts however kept her going til she found herself falling on her side. Now fear really struck as she tried to right herself but the rope tangled her legs . As she had fallen she had released an unearthly like scream. Her legs tried desperately to free themselves.

Coltrane was standing splay lagged as he began toward his mother a bit clumsy

Ethan & Others

Like a spider ensnaring its prey, Ethan pulled tight on the rope and circled her again, dragging the length of it through her legs in a bid to fully tangle and lash them together so that she couldn't get up. He stopped when he was behind her, facing her back where he'd be safe from her flailing hooves while she was laying on her side. There he stripped his jacket off and tried to sling it around her face to cover her eyes, while trying to use the sleeves to tie the jacket in place...

It was around this time that Harthrou came thundering back to find his love laying on the ground, limbs tangled and Ethan hovering over her like a hungry jackal. And not a few yards away from this scene, a still-glistening Coltrane struggle to make his first stand on new legs. The stallion balked, stomping a hoof into the ground, not sure what to do.

He looked from his newborn son to Ethan again, and then trumpeted in alarm, "Ethan, leave her alone!" His legs seemed to move against his own will as he rushed forward, charging headlong at Ethan, only to break away a few paces from the man when he was given a lethal look by the fellow. Harth tossed his head and circled back to Coltrane, where he stood and pawed nervously at the ground.

Darkia

Her nostrils we're flailing her legs kicking but she could not right herself. She heard harth. Then her eyes were covered her legs stopped flailing but her nostrils still flared

Ethan & Others

Once Darkia was contained, Ethan was up and moving towards the struggling foal, his long legs carrying him in determined, confident strides.

Harthrou balked and stamped a hoof into the dirt once more. "Ethan, wait...!" But his words fell unregistered on Ethan's ears, and even though the man could easily read the stallion's defensive body language, he ignored those signs as if Harth were little more than a errant puppy in his way. "Ethan!" A harsh snort and laced back ears did nothing to slow or deter his master, and Harth found himself unable to raise a hoof or turn his teeth against the human.

Upon reaching Coltrane, Ethan aimed to scoop the newly born horse up and carry him into the corral, where he'd place the youngster at the far end of the pen...

Darkia

She could not untangle her legs and when he approached her son her rage got even more. She screamed and struggled harder her head flailing about hitting the ground. The rope slightly cutting into her legs.

Coltrane had no clue what was gong on as the man picked him up and put him further from his mother. He tried to move back toward her.

Ethan & Others

Ethan manhandled the newly born Coltrane, doing his best to contain the bundle of flailing limbs and still-wet fur as the youngster did his best to escape back to his mother. And when Coltrane tried to leave, Ethan pressed him to the ground, placing a knee against the colt's shoulder and chest as he removed his shirt and draped it over the foal's eyes to hopefully keep him in place.

He was up again after that, striding swiftly through the open gate and back towards the screaming Darkia. Again approaching from the back of the thrashing mare to avoid her hooves, he did his best to pull the rope away from her limbs before removing the jacket from her head, freeing her eyes to see that her colt was now at the back end of the corral...

Carbon and the others gathered nearby, watching in curiosity as all of this played out. Carbon in particular kept an ear perked in his master's direction, waiting for an signal or command that he mind be needed. For Harth's part, the riled up stallion simply couldn't bring himself to charge Ethan. He pawed at the ground and briefly charged at the very dogs he'd asked to help, then circled back around to move closer to Darkia.

Darkia

Her colt was Al her mind was on Coltrane. As soon as her legs were free she was up ears back she charged Ethan one more time before seeing her colt and racing for him despite in her mind she knew what would happen. If this human be able to tame her he'd be wrong.she nosed the close away and began sniffing her colt over
Despite her own face being bruised and bloody from her own thrashing.

Ethan & Others

Ethan had readied himself for the charge, having been around Darkia enough in the past to have a pretty good feel for her temperament. He deftly sprinted aside when she came at him, and prepared himself to run for the barn if she kept at it, but thankfully her maternal instincts pulled her in another direction. When she ran for the corral, he ghosted after her, long legs carrying him rapidly across the trampled ground.

A solid -CLANK- resounded as the gate slammed close shortly after the mare ran through it. The two latches were fastened, and a combination padlock snapped over one of them as added insurance. After Axis and Cloudbreaker's jailbreak a few seasons ago, Ethan would not be easily robbed of his mare again.

In the background, Harth continued to pace and paw about, unable to go against Ethan, but feeling this new and uncomfortable sensation of regret at seeing Darkia and his son being imprisoned. The Marwari snorted and tossed his head, but his fit was ignored by Ethan. The man stood in front of the corral, one arm draped against the top rail as he watched Darkia and Coltrane, keen eyes looking for any injuries that might need tended.

Darkia

HEr nostrils were flaring as she heard the clank. But she let her son nurse when he was done she ran at the fence line snapping her teeth at him her ears back. She had a cut on the side of her face and her left lower leg was bleeding. your human will die if he comes near our childShe said to Harth.

Ethan & Others

After giving the mother and son a critical look over from the relative safety of the other side of the corral, Ethan was satisfied that none of Darkia's wounds appeared to be too serious. At least, not serious enough to warrant him jumping into the corral to try and treat them when she was this wound up. More importantly, the foal looked to be a good shape and was actively nursing, and that was the man's main concern.

Harth stood tensely nearby, tail raised and muscles taunt. "I... we can't stop him." The anxious snort came as Ethan turned on his heel and began to stride away from the corral, walking past the anxious Harth without a twitch of concern about the powerful stallion. And he was right in his confidence; Harthrou made no move against the man, and watched helplessly as the tall fellow continued on down the yard and towards his house. Harth's words followed after him as he responded to Darkia, "Do you know how many have tried to kill him over the years? None have succeeded, and many have died as a result, or..." His dark eyes rose to meet the mare's, where she was locked away for the second time in the corral.

Darkia

She snorted. I will die before he touches Coltrane and the Haunters will continue to assault him and he will loose all his mongrel canines to itShe Said though part of her did not know if the haunters would come for her this time. This had been her choice to risk coming here she knew what could happen but Harth wouldn't leave and she loved him. Coltrane will not be subjected to slavery he is wild and will always be wild and freeShe snorted. Even if she had to stay behind in slavery if it meant her son got his freedom.

Coltrane was oblivious to this as he yet to understand a word that was being said.

Harthrou

Harth stepped towards the corral, eyes upon his son as Darkia's fierce words met his curly auds. Doubt lingered in his heart as he thought about the Haunters and their various attacks upon this place, and how his master might respond to the next assault. "I don't know..." The uncertainty carried in his voice as he whispered this, but with a sudden shake of his head, he cast those dire thoughts away and raised his dial. With some defiance, the stallion responded, "No, Coltrane will be free. If we work together, we can ensure that - but it will take some time and effort."

He bobbed his head over the edge of the metal fencing, nares flaring as he tried to take in the scent of his son and Darkia. "If Coltrane can earn Ethan's trust like I have, he won't be locked away in a corral, or bound in the barn - he won't have to fight his way out or risk injury. When the time is right, he can simply walk away from this place, and have his freedom."

Darkia

Snorted That human ain't getting near our son ever. I will die before he doesShe said in response to Coltrane getting Ethans trust. That man don't deserver anything but death and our son will learn to bite his hand any time he comes near here. She said. Beause in order for Coltrane to earn Ethans trust meant he couldn't see her attacking Ethan and that was not gonna happen she would always attack that man.

Harthrou

"I get how you feel." Harthrou tried, even though his point of view was radically different from Darkia's, "But you've got to think of what's best for Coltrane. If Ethan doesn't get what he wants... it could be bad, for both of you. Just entertain the human, until Coltrane's old enough to make a break for it. I-" Harthrou thought hard, trying to piece together some plan to secure his son's eventual freedom, "-I can go see what other herds there are out there. And maybe, I mean - if you bide your time, I'm sure they're be an opportunity for your to escape as well. And I'll do whatever I can to help with that."

Darkia

She would escape with her son.

**What's best for our son is for the three of us to get out of here. **

She said with a snort. She would not play nice with this human. It went against her nature and it would break her entire being.

**My son, our son will learn from tomorrow on to fight for what is right to bite this man to kick him. He will be a true horse**

She said. **You need to run free harth, this two legged does not deserve you no two legged deserve us**

Harthrou

His curly ears perked, swiveling forward at Darkia's words. '..the three of us..' He'd never really been part of a herd, not since his younger days, and only briefly at that. It felt so strange now to hear himself being included in such a thing, and he couldn't shake the sudden yearning that trembled through his spirit.

The stallion's dark orbs rose, moving from Darkia to the house where Ethan had disappeared into. The thought of leaving him seemed so foreign and frightening. And yet, the thought of being free with Darkia and Coltrane felt suddenly so natural and free. Harth huffed a quiet breath of air and lipped absently at the rough metal bars of the corral, "I want that too. But Ethan... he is the smartest hunter I know. It wouldn't be safe, for any of us."

Darkia

She watched him. ** If that human actually cared he'd let us be free including you, we will outsmart him. He will never win the war. He may win a battle but not this war** she said.

Harthrou

'If he cared...' That curious line lingered in his thoughts, though Harthrou knew without asking himself that Ethan didn't really 'care' for any his his animals in a bonded sort of way. Not many of them, anyway. And that again had him considering a life with Darkia, with someone who actually... would care? Quietly, the stallion murmured, "Maybe" And there was a slender tone of hope in his voice.