Onok

Light had begun to filter back into the sky as morning rolled around. Pinks and purples blossomed along the edges of the clouds, painting a beautiful canvas above the swaying pines and lapping waves of the SunSet Beach terra. Onok was awake and alert, and in rather chipper spirits despite knowing that at least one of the mares wasn't likely to join him in his new home by the time the day was over, but he still had an hour or two to try and sway her mind before they'd depart for the Toklat Canyon.

The stallion's gaze lingered on Callaquioa for a long moment. He still had her scent in his nares, and after a spontaneous visit from the young mare in the early hours of the morning, she would strongly bear his own scent as well. Onok's sights fell on Xena next, and he quietly admired a pelt that he'd never in his life seen before; a contrasting dark and light, split evenly down either half of the mare, so that she looked like a completely different horse if viewed solely by either side. Her personality was strong, too - bold and confident, and unabashed in her beliefs. A prime contender for lead mare, for sure.

Callaquioa & Nightshade

Callaquioa continued to slumber as morning dawned in the Valley. Normally, she'd be up and awake by now, but yesterday had been eventful in more ways that one. The escape and subsequent run through the prairie had left her exhausted and reeling emotionally. And after being rescued and guided to safety by the first stallion she'd ever met aside from her father, Calla's feelings had gotten the better of her, and she'd slipped away from Xena during the night to be with the rugged new bachelor. Now she bore not only his scent, but a future generation.

Xenarona

When she woke and couldn't find calli she freaked when they returned she smelt him on her she didn't care if it was willing she was mad she snapped as t him ** pug headed stallion ** she bit at him now. ** Calli we are leaving now** she said her ears were back. She was in season but after this he'd have to fight her. ** If I ever see your face near calli again I'll kill you** the filly was barely of age carrying a foal so young was dangerous. ** And no calli you can't stay with him not now that you will have a foal you need protection of a herd something he can't give and at this point doesn't deserve.** She deliberately places herself between the two and would buck at him hard.

Xena

**and this here shows that you should still be with your natal band your father hasn't taught you how to be toward fillies. You took advantage of her in her exhaustion. You should feel horrible and know that this foal could potentially die due to her being young or worse. And if this foal survive I hope king is a good father and will step up to the mantle in raising it properly**

Onok

"She's no more a filly than I am a colt." Onok sternly defended, whilst keeping a solid gaze on Xenarona. Behind the stallion, his alabaster tassel swished once, and then again in a forceful sweep. It was a silent warning against the mare that she was overstepping her bounds in his land, and it was backed up by a sharp crash of a front hoof against the earth when she nipped at him. Still, he held back with his own ivories, and kept his auds pricked forward in a facade of calm determination, "Callaquoia can do what she wishes, and if that wish is to stay here with me and the father of her future foal, I will keep her safe."

With a wealth of patience, Onok made no move to try and separate Xena or Calla, recognizing the elder mare's aggression as a strong desire to protect her younger friend. That was something he could respect, and not fault her for. But if it came to protecting Callaquioa in his land, he would turn to tooth and hoof if need be.

Callaquioa & Nightshade

Xenarona had one thing right, she was young and perhaps a little too brash with her decisions. Courting Onok might not have been the smartest of moves, but her young mind had been filled with romance after being rescued by the rouge male, and she couldn't take back the deed. At first, she stood behind her friend as she raised hell with Onok, chastising him up and down for his foolishness. When Xena began to bite and Onok began to flash his tail and stomp his hoof, Calla could take no more.

"Wait!" She stepped aside, staying behind Xena but within clear eyesight of the stallion, "Please, don't fight over me. I've made my decision and I must live with them." Callaquioa lowered her head and dropped her gaze.

Xena

She heard calli she sighed ** he still could of made the right choice. He only proofed to me he is not worthy stallion. We are leaving** she said and nudge calli away now.

Onok

Onok used a harsh snort to garner the mares' attention, "Callaquioa will be staying here-" This was a determined statement, though there was a pause as he looked towards the younger mare in question, to ensure that's truly what she wanted. His dark eyes moved back to Xenarona, "Whether she decided to leave or not, my offer yesterday still stands. I can guide you to my uncle's land, and keep you safe from attack during the trek."

Callaquioa & Nightshade

Calla was torn. She was so enamored by this brute, and now that she was carrying his foal, she felt even more compelled to stay with him in this exotic new land. On the other hoof though... she cherished her friend Xena, and dearly missed her mother and half-sister. She shook her head in frustration and shifted only a few steps under Xena's nudge before she planted her hooves and held firm, "Xena, I'm sorry.. I can't. I want to stay here. He's a good stallion, and he's different than father was."

Xena

She lunged at the stallion **she has no choice if she wants to survive along with the foals** she said. She looked to calli ** if you stay I stay and I become lead mare and he is not lead stallion we will find a true lead stallion . He can not protect you he is just like your father and will die like him. You need me and your mother if you want yourself and your foal survive. ** She said. ** If he agrees to step down from lead stallion and find a good stallion who doesn't take advantage of the young then we will stay I will be the lead here and find a good lead stallion. Otherwise you and I are going to toklat to be with a true lead stallion**

Xena

Additional ** and along with stepping down he'll have to challenge king for my daughter and your mother if your mother wants to come here cause king won't let the two go willingly** she said she would stay between calli and the stallion at all times. ** And lastly if your foal is a Colt he will learn from a much maturer stallion so he doesn't make your mistake**

Onok

Now his ears went back and he met her lunge, taking a bite to his front while snapping lightly at her shoulder and snaking his head in warning. "Mind your manners in my land." His voice thundered and a stern look encompassed his gaze. "I don't know why you think so little of me, I've been nothing but charitable to you and your friend. I have survived many seasons and have the skills and strength to defend my own land, and to care for a family. Callaquioa here is young, but she is mature and hardy enough to bare a foal - I would have rejected her offer if I thought otherwise."

His nostrils flared and he snaked his head again, moving into Xenarona's space to try and force her back, having reached the point where he felt he needed to assert his dominance and end the squabble. "You seem to already know my uncle, King. If that is the case, you would know that he would vouch for my sturdiness and character. I wouldn't steal any mare from him, nor force any into my harem against their will. It is you that's denying Calla's will, and treating her like a foal." Onok stopped and lifted his head a little, though his ears were still back and his neck tense, "I admire you, Xenarona. Your concern for your friend and your determination to see her safe are qualities of a good lead mare. King has no female lead in his band yet, nor do I - give up this fight against Callaquioa, and focus on your own ambitions."

Xena

Xena nostrils flare at him and she keeps herself between the two. I will not abandon Calli, you have only seen a max of 5 years probably less so don't tell me your seasoned. You are not or else you wouldn't of bred to her. Only stallions like her father do that. She said. Calli is coming with me. When you get a herd that can actually protect her and the foals then perhaps they can join you but we have already learned what happens when you only have one stallion and two mares with foals. The stallion dies to the big cats. They will come and you will die like her father did. So if you cannot accept my conditions then we will take our leave.She never flinched away from him what so ever not to his bite. She snapped her teeth at his face to keep him from getting to Calli. I am doing what is best for Calla right now. She will not stay here with just you and you cannot lead a herd till you learn what is right and what is wrong. She has never raised a foal and she is barely two years old. A mare should never have a foal before the age of three and even that is pushing it. She said. Where Calli stays I stay and my daughter stays. My daughter and Calli are best friends and my daughter will want t obe with her but King will not let her leave so really the only logical and safe thing to do is for Call to be with a herd that can protect her. You do not have the ability to do that you will only get yourself killed because I would expect you to die to safe her cause if those big cats come here that is what will happen at this rateShe said . She now moves to push Calla away from him. Come to Toklat when you got a decent herd only then will I be okay with Leaving Calla in your hooves not before then. She said. She would also get pregnant because Calla made need her to help nurse.

Callaquioa & Nightshade

"Onok, Xena, please.." Callaquioa quietly interjected as she sidestepped away from her friend and Onok both, putting herself in her own space as the debate between the two intensified, "I've made my decision to live with Onok. I spent over a year in the captivity of those foul cats and wolves, and this is my chance to make my own decision. For better or worse, I stand by my choices." Little did she know that it was two foals she would bear, with a third dying before it would meet its parents. But that was many seasons away, and the young mare was was still riding the euphoric thoughts of her wirlwind romance with Onok during the night.

To Xenarona, Calla raised her pale eyes, "I know you're worried about me after all we've been through, but you don't have to protect me anymore. And if Onok knows the stallion of the other herd, we can still see each other often."

Resting on the cliff above them all, Nightshade listened with idle curiosity to the debate that raged below him. It made little difference to the elder buck what the mares decided, as long as he had a home to bed down in, and an ally rather than an overseer to keep him company.

Onok

Onok's muscles tensed, and his pistons quivered in preparation for action. If Callaquioa hadn't stepped briskly away from her friend just then, he'd have rushed forward to chase Xena aside and prevent her from herding the younger mare out of his land. Tension rose in his posture, "You don't know me, and I don't believe you know my family either, Xenarona. I know you speak out of concern for your friend, but you should take time to get to know me before you spout these lies and assumptions. I've fended many dangerous beasts from my old herd, kept an eye on the mares, and ensured their safety. I know what I'm doing, and I have the strength and practice to lead a herd." He raised his dial, slowly pulling it up from his threatening stance in hopes of allaying any further aggression between he and Xena, "Calla is old enough to bare a foal, even if it will be her first time. We have ample land to graze, fresh water to drink, and forests to shield us from bad weather. She'll be safe and well cared for her, as will her child."

Xena

Her nostrils flared** then I will stay and I will be the lead here. You will follow my lead. You can't defend against more then one big cat stallion there will be more then one that comes. Ad I will get my daughter from king whether he likes it or not. She isn't safe here wit only one other horse your a fool if you think that. And don't tell me a mate if she is old enough she is not. I will stay you will give m we a foal so I can help her nurse. 2 year ol mares tend to not develop a lot of milk for the foal.she needs older experienced mares to guide her through this and you are neither ** she didn't want to stay with this Colt but she wasn't leaving calla here where those big cats will kill onok and take her back. Nothing Onok could say will make her leave if calla stayed she stayed and she would lead the herd. So atleast they would have one seasoned leader.

Onok

When Xenarona relented, Onok exhaled a long, quiet sigh. He never enjoyed arguing with the mares, and hated even more to use tooth and flint against them. He bobbed his dial in a short bow, and huffed a second breath through his broad nostrils, trying to release the tension that had built up so suddenly within him. "I would be honored to have you as the lead mare of our land, and to give you a foal."

The draft mix took a step back and relaxed his posture, "I won't stand between you and any other mares that decide to reside here with us; a mare's business is her own, as long as you don't attempt to chase any of them out against their will." The business of bringing Kacheska here might be a little tricky, depending on how his uncle reacted, but as long as Xena's child wanted to be in his herd, Onok would do what he could to make that happen. "As lead, you are free to organize and guide the rest of the mares, and I won't interfere unless you ask."

Xena

She also planned on making sure he kept his distance from Calla a nd she would do her best to guide the foal if colt in the right direction. Because breeding a two year old is a no no. Three year old is iffy as well but not beyond doing. Calla would be very lucky to give birth to health foals. Next time do not ever breed a two year old No matter what they say it is too dangerous.She said with a snort. If King would not release her daughter then she herself would fight king. But she also use to be good friends with him and hoped he would do so willingly.

Onok

"As I said, I would never had bred Calla if I thought she was too young. I'm not that kind of stallion." Onok assured, his vocals now carrying no hint of tension. "If you'd like, I can still escort you to the Toklat Canyon to see your family, and inform King of our arrangement. I'd like to take the time to visit my mother and sister as well." It had been some time since he'd seen Cloudbreaker and Sarada, and wanted to make sure both were still doing well with one less stallion in the herd.

Xena

She snorted Then you thought wrong because she is too youngShe said.Yes I must collect my daughter unless that is where she wants to be but I doubt it once she knows Calla is aliveShe said with a snort. Was she happy with Onok no far from that and there was no way he would get near her daughter. Course she would be in for a shock of her life when she finds out King wasn't the stallion she use to know.

Onok

The stallion nodded in agreement, "Only if she wants to join us." As with Callaquioa, he'd defend Kacheska's desire to stay where she wanted, whether it was with King's band or his own. And if it came down to it, he felt ready to defend himself and his actions, if things got dicey between he and his uncle.

"I can lead the way if you'd like." Onok had taken a few steps out from the alcove, moving away from Xena and Calla, and turning his dial to the steep hill they'd come down from.