Onok & Others

Above the watchful zorse, rolling clouds of gray stretched as far as the eye could see, and beneath them a checkered landscape of viridian evergreens, yellowing aspens, and burgundy-blushed maples painted the landscape. The scenery was breathtaking on their little side of the mountains, but the new bloom of colors was the season's parting gift before harder days would descend on the herd. Winter would be approaching before long, and food would grow scarce.

Onok gazed out over his family, from his growing children to his grazing mares. Though there was still a hole in his heart for the loss of Savannah, the band stallion held onto hope that she would one day be freed and would run wild with the herd again. For those that were with him now, Onok had to focus on their future and making sure they were as fit as could be before the cold temperatures and deep snows hit. To that end, he raised his chocolate-toned head and called out to his family in a hearty neigh. Callaquioa wasn't long in responding, letting a few leaves of clover fall from her lips as she cantered towards the big male.

Brennik was in the middle of a dust bath when his father called. Rolling to his side, the yearling colt rose to his hooves and gave his coat a hearty shake, sending a cloud of gray rising in the air about him. A second shake followed before he trotted along, following his mother's tracks to meet up with the two.

Moonlit Moor & Harthrou

A sharp whinny was Moonlit's response to the stallion, followed in short by the pounding of hooves as she sprinted from a meager patch of wild oats she'd been foraging and joined the small congregation. A slight bob of her head was given to Calla as she approached, taking this moment to assert herself above the younger mare, though the rest of her body language remained calm and friendly. "What's this all about then, Onok?"

Harth didn't exactly join the gathering, but he did linger nearby, restless and distracted.

Onok & Others

He greeted Callaquioa with a touch of his muzzle against her own, and a nod to Brennik when his son cantered near. He was indifferent to Moonlit's assertion over Calla, not being one to insert himself into the affairs of the mares as long as things didn't get too violent, and had a warm greeting in his gaze for the dark horse. "I want to lead the herd out to better foraging sites before the snows come. I know of a few nice places in the prairie, and it will do the herd good to get out and stretch their hooves."

Callaquioa shied back upon Moonlit's approach, conceding to the more experienced mare just as readily as she had to Xenarona. She dipped her head to lip at some yellowing grass before raising it back up, ears turned to Onok and Moonlit, "It's been so long since I've been out that way... do you think it's safe?"

"I'll help keep a watch out." Brennik offered, "Daga and Night have been teaching me some of their techniques."

The cervid themselves were not too far off from the group. Daga was in the corner of the meadow, scrubbing his newly de-velveted antlers against a sapling while Nightshade was resting on the edge of the meadow.

Moonlit Moor & Harthrou

Distant memories of her time in those endless fields came back to Moonlit. Some of them good, some of the bad... most of them lonely. Her words came after a moment of quiet thought, "A trip to the grasslands would be nice." The dark-haired mare raised her eyes to Onok, and then to the mountains they'd be passing through to reach the prairie beyond.

Harth nipped banefully at some greens with his ears flattened back, offering a visual response to how he felt about the proposed trip.

Onok & Others

"Your help would be appreciated." Onok returned to his son, even if he didn't expect the yearling to actually pull his weight in sentry duties today. He parted his maw to say more, wanting to encourage Brennik to spar more with his brothers, or engage them in some racing, but decided against it. The yearling was still trying to cope with the loss of Savannah, and the guilt he felt for his part in her capture, and Onok wasn't sure how to help other than letting the colt partake in these duties that were otherwise a bit past his maturity.

"Gather up, everyone!" Onok called out, raising his voice to a trumpet for all the herd to hear. And once everyone was close at hoof, with Daga and Nightshade closing up the rear, the stallion headed for the mountains.

Callaquioa trotted diligently after, with Brennik close at heel.