Rayven

It's never a nice thing, being taken from your home. That's exactly how it all went down, to. One moment, Rayven was minding her own business with the herd when a chopper flew over head. Panic, mayhem, fleeing.... She really couldn't remember much after that. She saw another horse, but there was... a human on his back. All she could think was run. She followed this other horse, along with a few of her herd mates. Then all of a sudden... Jam packed. It was dark, and there were seven horses all in one tight area. Hours upon hours she could feel the earth moving beneath her, she felt as though se were going to be sick. They stopped every now and then, but never any food or water was given to them. They just drove for hours and hours when suddenly.... They stopped. The doors opened, everyone panicked and ran all at once. Rayven was kicked, first in the leg, then the chest as everyone scrambled for their freedom. She stumbled out of the trailer, dazed and confused just in time to see the tails of the other horses disappear over a small hill. The humans climbed back into the truck and drove off, leaving Ravyn standing here, in a new place, all alone. The mare snorted, taking in her surroundings. What do I do? Where do I go? Her ears flickering back and forth, she hobbled a bit forward then stood, deciding that maybe for now she should just rest. Recooperate. Start anew in the morning after she had a bit of rest in her system.

Angel

There was another lot. Angel could hear them within the metal contraption attached to the human monster. The young mare stood several hills over, minding her own business, tearing at the lush summer grass of the prairie. Her nostrils quivered as she observed, her instincts burning into her senses to take flight and leave the humans behind. They couldn't be trusted. Humans did nothing but purge and destroy, take and never give back. It was the humans that captured her dam. It was humans that ran her herd for miles until her lead stallion, her sire, broke his leg. Angel knew the destructive tendencies of humans, and she didn't like them.

But Angel knew this lot was simply a release. For some unexplainable reason, humans were bringing more and more horses into the valley. Perhaps to freshen the bloodlines, Angel mused. In-breeding wasn't uncoming amongst the wild horses of the valley. It bred for weakness, and many of the horses never made it past their fifth spring. Angel, luckily, was the daughter of a wild horse and a freed mare. Her bloodlines were safe.

Flicking her ebony tail, Angel watched the horses charge from their cage. They took off, dashing into the vast lands of the valley. But one horse stood amongst the prairie grass. She was afraid. Who wouldn't be? Angel took a few steps forward, her dappled dun coat crawling with curiosity. This mare was afraid...but she hadn't fleed like the rest of the mad lot. So she was an ounce bold.

Lifting her head, Angel gave a friendly whinny. She hoped not to frighten off the mare. Rather, she wanted to pick the brains of Ravyn and discover what was really going on with these humans.

Ravyn

Ravyn turned her babydoll head in the direction of the whinny, knowing it was none of the herd that she had been with. Cautiously she gave a nicker back. Her buckskin paint frame shimmered in the falling sun as she started walking towards Angel. Ears moved to and fro, always cautious. New lands. You never knew what might jump out and get you. In Oregon, there were no wolves to jump out at you, mountain lions where she came from were few and far between.... Which was why her herd had been relocated. The mustangs there had no actual predators to hunt them. As she neared the other mare she gave a nod. Hello. She murmured softly. She had a pretty voice, like a cool breeze on a warm summer night. Her blue eyes watched the other mare, judging her reaction to a new comer to the valley.

Angel

Angel looked on with little judgement. How had Angel felt when she was left alone, years ago? The shuttering pain of loneliness reverberated against Angel's nerves, striking a flurry of unwanted images. Sighing heavily, Angel tried to shovel these emotions away. The past was where it was, in the past. She was determined to keep those sorrows there. Instead, Angel shifted her focus unto Ravyn. Lowering her neck, Angel showed that she was not in a hunt for dominance. Some horses, upon seeing such a fresh newcomer, would bolt and bully. But not Angel. She was not of that nature.

Instead, Angel loosened her body and took a few paces towards Ravyn. "I guess I should welcome you to the valley..." Angel warmly called to the young mare, smiling softly. As much of a greeting as it was, Angel knew she couldn't sugarcoat the situation. Ravyn had just been through hell, and thrust into the unknown. No matter the warm words, Angel couldn't change the ordeal. "It's not a bad place, once you get used to it..."

Ravyn

Her blue eyes showed a tinge of sadness before it gave way to nothingness. But it's not home either. She murmured softly. Heaving a sigh she looked around. It really wasn't to bad... Long grass, a bit dead from the hot weather but still plenty of it. She could smell water not to far away. Birds tweeted and twittered about in the trees. She could get used to it here if she just gave it a chance. My name is Ravyn. I come from the Steens Mountain herd.... She turned her head in the direction the other horses had run. Well. I was part of the Steens mountain herd. The herd itself was widely known in Oregon as the Hollywood Herd of mustangs due to all their flashy colors, the paints, palominos buckskins... The mare definetly had flash about her.

Angel

For the hell she had been through, Ravyn was coping well, Angel observed. Her emotions depleted into nothingness, an emotion that more or less shocked Angel. Most mares would be beside themselves over such an incident, but Ravyn let it go. Perhaps, Angel inwardly mused, that was for the better. Those who dwelled on the terror of past events could not carry on with life well. Moving on was the best option for survival. "I'm Angel. It's short for some useless human name, but I'm not their captive, so I don't bother remembering it." The mare introduced, bobbing her head so that her forelock bounced. She cocked her head, gazing at Ravyn with a touch of sympathy at her words. The past tense made Angel's heart sink, realizing the touch of hurt in the mare's voice. "Life hurts in the past tense, huh?" Angel murmured, flicking her ears.

Angel turned her muzzle towards the direction of Ravyn's herd as well, flaring her nostrils thoughtfully. "So why didn't you follow them?" Angel quizzed innocently.

Ravyn

A faint smile crossed her lips. Why follow others who were more then willing to leave me behind? Her tail twitched and her eyes drifted up noting the sun was going down. Life hurt, but that's why you needed to learn to get back up on your feet and move on with your life. Tell me about this place, Angel. No predators where she was from, but the sting of a predatory scent was here. It smelled canine, foreign to her as it were. She had smelled dogs before. But this was stronger. Sharper. Had more of a bite to it. Then there was the scent of humans, felines... This place certainly smelled dangerous. Not like home.

Angel

The mare gave a twitch when called upon to describe the valley. Where did a horse start? Harsh winters, hellish summers. The seasons were just the surface of this place. Predators were abundant, and some un-natural to the area lived here. And then there was the humans. Angel could never comprehend the rhyme or reason behind their actions. Some were kind, some were violent, some were as dumb as a rock. Angel flicked her tail with annoyance at the thought of them, expressing a sigh. With a faint grin, she looked at Ravyn. "Where do I start?" Angel remarked. "There's a lot of predators here. More than you'll see anywhere else. Lots of wolves, and wild cats, and other beasts. If you encounter any, pick flight over fight. They come in groups, and there's no hope."

Angel hated to sound like a coward, but it was just instinct. She had seen plenty of audacious colts try to fight off predators, and only to succumb to nasty fates. It was easier to play it safe and run. A horse could out-stamina most of the predators in the valley. But not out fight.

Ravyn

The mare was quiet for a moment as she pondered Angel's words. Do you have a herd? Ravyn asked quietly. Even if the other mare didn't, at least maybe Ravyn could hang around her for a bit, get to know the valley before setting off on her own. The sun had fallen completely now, leaving the painted mustang mare and her... Friend in asolute darkness if not for the full moon above them. Noises became louder of that of the predators. A wolf howled, causing Ravyn's head to shoot up and eyes began searching the tree lines. A cat called, an owl hooted. She was starting to feel a tad nervous after Angel's words. She didn't particulary care for the idea of being eaten.