Darkia & Coltrane

She was still stuck in this blasted pen. Coltrane was now 4 months old and slowly starting to eat the same as her. He also knew and understood this human was bad. She still hadn't seen a way out for either of them.

Coltrane ears would go back any time Ethan came around or any of his men and he would stay by his mothers side that was away from him.

Ethan

The pair's morning was interrupted by the telltale creak of the house door. Ethan strode out, moving briskly and with purpose towards the barn. Minutes later he emerged from the red building, carrying with him a long rope coiled over one shoulder, and a whip in the other.

Dip followed idly after his master, long tail swaying loosely as his eyes remained focused on Ethan's face and body, looking for any signal from his master. But the human had no commands for him today; it was the horses that he seemed intent upon. He walked up to the corral and unfastened the new locks that held the gate shut - an improvement on the old locks that had failed him - and stepped boldly into the circular arena...

Outside the corral, Dip sighed and sat back on his haunches.

Darkia

Darkia whole attention moves to him the moment he enters. She wants to rush him but that would pull her from Coltrane and she refused to do that. She instead makes it so Coltrane is between her and the fence line with no way for Ethan to Safely get to him. Her Ears go back and she snorts in his direction in warning. Her tail swishing side to side. She wouldn't move for the whip or the rope. She'd stand there and take it. Its alright son Ill die before he touches a hair on your body and your not ready to be weaned so he'd sentence you to death so I don't think he'd go that farShe said quietly back. She stomped a hoof at him.

Coltrane ears go back. Mom the bad man is backHe says to his mom as she now moves so he is between her and the fence line.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

A smaller truck was pulling into the lane as Ethan stepped into the corral, but the man paid no heed to this vehicle. To take his eyes off Darkia now was to invite death, and he wouldn't give her that satisfaction. No, he kept his cold eyes locked on her, noting the pinned ears and defensive stance as she put herself in front of her colt.

Dip peered in through the wide bars, watching with idle interest as his master took the rope in one hand land lashed it gently at Darkia's backside. "Stupid horse." He growled beneath his breath, jealous of all the attention Ethan had been paying Darkia and her son, and not taking him out hunting.

Darkia

Darkia let the rope lash her she did not budge only snorted at him and pawed the ground. I sense your jealousy get my son and I free then your pathetic human will be all yoursShe snorted.

Coltrane eyed the canine but remained by his mom and the fence.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

Ethan still paid no mind to the vehicle that had parked, or the tall, older fellow that clambered out of it with a large bag in hand. He was watching Darkia still, seeing the hoof dig into the ground and the nostrils flare as she snorted in defiance to him.

"Get it heated, but you might have to wait. This could take a while." When he raised his voice, Ethan still didn't look in Tom's direction. He lifted his hand and swung the rope again, lashing it a little more forcefully against her backlegs in an attempt to spook her forward. If she resisted this, the whip would be deployed next.

At the edge of the metal fencing, Dip huffed, "The only freedom you'll have is when you're dead and in my belly, just like all the other horses that disobeyed by master!"

Darkia

She refused to move despite the hit against her legs. She snorted t the canine Its a pity you seem like you make a nice fighter and a good pack mate for a wild pack. Too bad this thing has fear drilled into your headShe said. She saw the other man and had no clue what this man intended todo to her or to her foal. But Coltrane was her soul thought and she would defend him.

Coltrane ears were back. Mom where dad he could helpHe whispered so the canine wouldn't here.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

Tom scuttled off to the barn, leaving Ethan in the pen, showing no inch of fear for the horse that was many times his own weight and size. He stared her down like a wolf sizing up a wounded rabbit, showing every bit as much stubbornness as she was. He slung the rope one more time against Darkia's legs, but when she still refused to budge, he coiled the rope back over his shoulder and tightened his grip on the whip. With force, he lashed this against her backside, hard enough to leave a welt...

Dip scarcely flinched at the crack of sound the weapon made, having been well tried around guns. "I'd never be caught dead scrounging in the wild like a lowly cur. My place is with Ethan, helping him to subdue and eliminate vermin like yourself." Unlike Carbon, who'd broken the golden rule and fraternized with a wild wolf, Dip was not so easily swayed.

What Dip didn't hear was the whisper that Coltrane made to his mother, nor did he hear the anxious pawing of Harthrou in the barn, where he'd been confined whenever Ethan was busy. The stallion was not happy to see Tom, and growing more anxious for the safey of Darkia and his son - if only he know what was going on, or what was about to happen, the ebony horse wouldn't be standing so compliantly in his stall.

Darkia

Darkia snorted at the welt but did not move however her head lowered now. Her ears were back.Move with me Coltrane and keep me and the fence between youShe whispered and when he nodded she charged Ethan.

COltrane did exactly as his mother said and kept up with her keeping the fence and his mother between him never letting the human near him.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

His muscles tensed in anticipation as her head went down. His arm swung, sharp and steady, and a terrible -CRACK- rent the air the whip came down again, this time right for Darkia's sensitive face.

Whether it actually struck or not, the man had to dodge aside, waiting for the last moment before jump sharply to avoid those deadly hooves. He whirled around then, whip ready in one hand, while the other clutched at the coiled rope, just in case. If Darkia kept this up, he'd have to bail out of the corral before long, or risk a misstep and find himself on the wrong end of some very angry hooves.

As this was happening, Tom was ambling out of the barn, a short metal device in one hand, and a long power-cord trailing from the end of it.

Darkia

When the whip was coming down she swung around her hind end taking the hit but her hind hooves shooting out in a buck straight for him.

Coltrane kept himself near his mother and away from the human.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

Darkia would feel some satisfying contact of hoof against flesh when one of her daggers clipped the man's arm. It wasn't enough to throw him off balance or send him to the ground, but it would surely leave a nasty bruise. For all that it must have hurt though, the tall fellow never once let out a yell or curse. He took the hit and ducked seemlessly to the side, lashing out without pause against her sensitive belly...

Tom was approaching the corral now, on the opposite end from where Ethan stood. The cord that trailed after him nearly reached its end before he came to a stop and leaned against the metal fencing. "Damn Ethan, is this one really worth it? Might be easier making horse steak out of this mare, and finish rearing that colt yourself." His comments got no response from his companion though; Ethan had to maintain focus on Darkia, lest he wanted to get kicked again. That left Tom to fiddle with the metal object he had in hand; a simple length of iron with a fancy design at one end, and a cord trailing behind it. The fancy end was a bright, glowing orange, and it was this end that he stuck through the corral, trying to tag Coltrane's flank in order to brand him...

Darkia

Darkia wasn't only focused on Ethan so when Tom approached and she saw something coming through the fence toward her son she moved. The brand connecting to her thigh instead and she snorted and kickd out at the fencing. This man was aiming to hurt her son! This now really enraged her and prooved her point these men were no good. She began trotting in a circle now refusing to let either of them near her son.

Coltrane smelt burning flesh when his mother took what ever that was on the pole. His lip raised in fleming response. Mom what they do to you? That was meant for me wasn't it?HE called out wanting his father he was scared.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

The scent of burnt hair and flesh filled the air, along with a curse from Tom and a pointed glare from Ethan when the wrong horse was branded. Tom stepped hastily back as the hoof slammed against the fence, even if the bars protected him from any chance of getting hit. "Damn horse, seriously Ethan? You're never going to break this mare, you might as well put her down and rear the blasted colt yourself." But again, there was no response from Ethan, and Tom didn't push it. Grumbling to himself, he eyed up the equine pair again, and angled the brand through the bars once more, waiting for a chance to catch Coltrane's side with the red-hot metal...

Ethan continued to harass Darkia, turning the whip against her flank, or against her face if she dared make a charge at him. His goal was to keep her moving, and wear her out.

A loud commotion came from the barn now. A squeal and then a snort sounded, along the the clatter of items falling about on the floor. A few moments later Harthrou came stepping out of the building, limping slightly and carrying his tail high. Dust rose from the ground where he pawed at the dried earth, and then like a wild thing charged across the yard, head lowered and dark maw parting as he rushed headlong towards Tom...

Coltrane

As he heardd his father he unknowningly got his hip against the iron and he gave a shriek of pain. He moved away in fear and pain. DAD!He whinnied.

Darkia heard her son's squal of pain and she knew she couldn't get the one who branded him but now ignoring the whip and rope she charged Ethan completely aiming to run him over not allowing him to get free. Ifh e gets out her and Coltrane would follow him out those gates.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

Tom had no time to celebrate his victory over branding Coltrane. A furious stallion was barrelling down on him, and he did not have the agility of Ethan. "Harth, stop! Dammit, Etha-"

The big fellow tried to jump aside, but Harth was on him in an instant, bowling the man to the ground. "Stay away from my son!" The words might be lost on the humans, but the stallion's angry message was crystal clear.

Ethan had the presence of mind to shout at Harth, commanding the enraged horse to stop, but those firm words fell on deaf ears. The situation was quickly unraveling. Ethan himself was again forced to dodge a charging Darkia, and managed this feat with years of practice to back him up. But when a flurry of whips did nothing to slow her down, Ethan knew he had to bail before his luck ran out. Timing his moves, he scrambled to unlock the pen after the mare's last charge, and slipped out as quickly as he could manage...

Darkia

She saw there chance with Coltrane right by her despite his pain she made to run right after Ethan this time just aiming for freedom

Ethan, Tom, & Others

While Tom was scrambling on the ground, trying to avoid Harth's enraged hooves, Ethan was whirling around on nimble legs and throwing himself at the gate, trying to slam it shut before Darkia had a chance rush out with her son. But the mare had been so hot on his heels, the gate would end up bouncing against her instead of slamming firmly shut, and bruises aside, the mare would find herself on the outside of the corral...

Darkia

She snorted as her and Coltrane finally burst out of the corral. Harth forget him comeShe said spinning around. She still didn't want to leave him behind either.

Coltrane stayed with his mother as she moved.

Ethan, Tom, & Others

Harth abandoned the bloodied Tom and galloped to Darkia's side. A small limp still marred his movements, but hardly slowed him down.

"I'm sorry Darkia, I should have helped sooner." The words left him breathlessly as he smelt the acrid odor of burnt hair and flesh. His dark gaze hastened towards Ethan now, harks perked at the man's harsh noises. He was ordering Harthrou to come forward, but the stallion refused, and stood instead by Darkia and Coltrane, ready to follow them.

Darkia

She watched Ethan and snorted at him.Better late then neverShe said and turned and ran now. She wasn't sure if they should go to the haunters or find a herd right now she just wanted to get out of here. Coltrane followed

Ethan, Tom, & Others

Harthrou gave a huff in agreement. Using every fiber of his self control, he resisted the commands of Ethan, and galloped behind Darkia and Coltrane, making sure they were safe as they made their escape.