It seems he was evidently going to be tested on this day. His Mistress had been called up with the urgent need for help rounding up a bunch of wayward Ballator. Evidently it must have been some sort of grand try at escaping to have a party or something, since he felt that many of those on the list wouldn’t have any real desire to truly escape and return to the wild. No, many of them were too soft, too spoiled, and likely had never even been in the wild their entire life. But he had. And he was hardened by the harsh existence he had made, and because of that, he would spare no excuse for those that had broken the rules. CARATACUS ADALRICUS was always someone who followed the rules, because he had a firm respect for them. In the wild, rules were what kept you alive, and because of that, he couldn’t help but lose some respect for those that didn’t keep those rules.
Of course, some of those on the list had perhaps simply gotten out and had meant to return, or were off seeking prey or some sort, but that didn’t matter. His job was to round them up, whether he liked it or not, and he was going to do it. Hell or high water be damned. His first name on the list was ANGELUS SATANICA, whom he knew well, and thought of as a good friend. He found ANGELUS SATANICA grazing in a rather lovely patch of grass, in a clearing in the nearby woods, surrounded by lady friends. Nevertheless, rules were rules, and he told ANGELUS SATANICA that. Thankfully however, ANGELUS SATANICA’s respect for the CARATACUS ADALRICUS seemed to outweigh his desire to rebel and fight against returning to his stables. But since Adal wasn’t entirely sure he could trust a good few of the names on his list, he instead requested, politely, as ANGELUS SATANICA was being good about it all, that he stay with CARATACUS ADALRICUS while he began his search for the others.
The two of them talked as he went in search of his next horse, AYATO, and he learned that ANGELUS SATANICA had gone out only because of a certain trouble making stallion who tended to visit his home, pestering the mares there without mercy. CARATACUS ADALRICUS could understand why that would be frustrating, and therefore didn’t really discount him for his actions. After all, CARATACUS ADALRICUS had gone against the rules several times, mostly to go see his beloved mare, but he believed they were for good reasons. And as ANGELUS SATANICA had unknowingly reminded him of, it was not right to judge those whom he didn’t know their reasons for getting out. After walking for some time, both stallions encountered AYATO, whom was evidently seeking a romantic tryst with another oriental mare. However it seemed perhaps he’d been successful, and therefore it was time to go home.
CARATACUS ADALRICUS not so happily said as much, and though AYATO wanted to protest, he seemed to see the set look to CARATACUS ADALRICUS’s features, and knew that arguing would not be wise with the mountain stallion’s current mood. CARATACUS ADALRICUS did his best to make small talk, to at least keep the silence from being uncomfortable, and ANGELUS SATANICA seemed to appreciate his efforts, even going so far as to bring up other topics of conversation so that AYATO might be able to join as well. CARATACUS ADALRICUS knew how to put on a façade, though it was fraying around the edges. For he would much rather be home with his beloved mare than out gathering wayward Ballator. Nevertheless, at least the currently company of ANGELUS SATANICA and AYATO wasn’t annoying, so he wasn’t too peeved yet. When the other stallions asked who was next, CARATACUS ADALRICUS answered with a name, STELLIS SOMMIUM. He remembered meeting the mare, and she was quite sweet, so he wondered how or why she’d gotten out.
STELLIS SOMMIUM was found by a clear stream running through the forest, gazing a bit sadly at her reflection, as though something was troubling her. CARATACUS ADALRICUS gave her a gentle nuzzle, before gently telling her that he’d come to take her home. STELLIS SOMMIUM didn’t have a problem with that, and instead offered a small smile to him, nuzzling his shoulder, before taking her place amongst his growing group of people. First ANGELUS SATANICA, then AYATO, and now STELLIS SOMMIUM. He felt quite like a mother duck gathering all her lost ducklings. STELLIS SOMMIUM seemed to know where SILVI DE CUSTODEM was, telling them that he could be found a little ways in the distance, searching for some sort of bug that he was determined to find, given its unique appearance, and the fact that it was only out at night. SILVI DE CUSTODEM was the gentle sort who enjoyed knowledge and the like, so this was plausible to CARATACUS ADALRICUS. He thanked STELLIS SOMMIUM, and they all were on their way. Thankfully ANGELUS SATANICA was behaving himself on this night, and instead seemed to know that STELLIS SOMMIUM wouldn’t appreciate his flirtatious ways, and instead engaged her in intellectual conversation. Something about good technics for wooing a mare. He seemed genuinely interested, and not at all rude, so it seemed STELLIS SOMMIUM would humor him, even as AYATO would snort occasionally, finding the entire subject amusing.
STELLIS SOMMIUM turned out to be right, as they rounded a bend in the forest and found themselves looking right at SILVI DE CUSTODEM as he rummaged with his nose through some leaves. He snorted when he realized he wasn’t alone anymore, and jumped a bit, making STELLIS SOMMIUM giggle. SILVI DE CUSTODEM smiled sheepishly, before apologizing profusely for being out and causing CARATACUS ADALRICUS to have to come look for him. He had found the bug he’d been looking for however, and thus was glad to have a guide back to where he was supposed to be. Thus far most of those he’d gathered up weren’t rulebreakers, but he knew those were to come. After all, he still had quite a list ahead of him, and therefore knew that at some point, he’d have to send horses on their way, lest he be tromping through this area with AYATO0 odd horses at his heels.
So with ANGELUS SATANICA, AYATO, STELLIS SOMMIUM and SILVI DE CUSTODEM in tow, he began his search for REGINA IMPERIUM. She didn’t seem the type to escape and go wander off on her own, but perhaps she had a good reason herself. CARATACUS ADALRICUS wasn’t all that inclined to care, however, and simply hoped she’d be able to be found quickly, so he could keep going. He was glad to hear ANGELUS SATANICA, AYATO, STELLIS SOMMIUM, and SILVI DE CUSTODEM immersed in conversation, the addition of SILVI DE CUSTODEM turning the topic more towards bugs and the like. ANGELUS SATANICA seemed to be enjoying himself, listing off all the bugs that sounded gross or weird, given that he didn’t seem to like bugs in general. STELLIS SOMMIUM shyly added that she liked bugs as a snack sometimes, of course only when nothing else was available to be eaten. SILVI DE CUSTODEM laughed at this, before agreeing, adding that bugs were a good source of protein if needed. SILVI DE CUSTODEM ended up on the topic of birds next, for there were some out at this time of night, calling to one another in the cacophony of the forest, and seemed enthralled with this.
CARATACUS ADALRICUS inwardly sighed and shook his head. At least they were behaving and seemingly enjoying themselves rather than being childish and complaining about his being the bad cop and bringing them all in. When he found REGINA IMPERIUM, she seemed rather off, as though something had been bothering her as well, and thus, once again, CARATACUS ADALRICUS seemed to decide to cut her some slack. REGINA IMPERIUM was quick to become immersed in the topic that SILVI DE CUSTODEM had brought up to ANGELUS SATANICA, AYATO, and STELLIS SOMMIUM, and therefore seemed to take REGINA IMPERIUM’s mind off things. Which was good, after all, since 1 wasn’t cruel and didn’t wish for anyone to be unhappy, except perhaps those that deserved it. And no one in this group of Ballator deserved to be unhappy. Since REGINA IMPERIUM seemed the most responsible of all the others (perhaps aside from AYATO), he told her to help them all get back to their homes. REGINA IMPERIUM didn’t seem to mind being given the responsibility of this, and remained to get all of their names.
They all spoke for a bit, helping with where their home was located, before REGINA IMPERIUM decided who would be taken home and to which home they’d go first. ANGELUS SATANICA, and AYATO were to go first, since they were located nearer to where the group was currently, then STELLIS SOMMIUM, and SILVI DE CUSTODEM, and finally REGINA IMPERIUM herself, as she lived perhaps the furthest from where the group currently was. She didn’t seem to mind however, as she actually seemed glad for this excuse to take her mind off of troubling thoughts. He knew everyone had those times, when everything just seemed to crash down at once, resulting either in a deep unsettling mood, or anger, as on his behalf. He bid ANGELUS SATANICA, AYATO, STELLIS SOMMIUM, SILVI DE CUSTODEM and REGINA IMPERIUM goodbye, and watched them move off towards home, wishing he himself could do the same. But no, he had a job to do, and he wasn’t even a quarter of the way through.
CARATACUS ADALRICUS thought for a moment before remembering his next name on the list, TEMPERANCE. TEMPERANCE seemed quite the kind mare herself when he’d met her briefly before, and therefore he figured she’d be easy enough to convince to come along and behave. He’d wandered from the woods now out onto the plains, and sighed at the thought of trying to find his quarry here. At least it was open and rolling, so they’d hopefully stand out like sore thumbs. He could hope. He traveled for perhaps half an hour more before finding TEMPERANCE, who actually seemed quite lost, explaining that she’d only wished to go out for a short walk, but had lost track of time and found herself here, lost beyond hope. However he’d been right in his thought that TEMPERANCE was quite nice, and she apologized profusely for being a bother and having been cause for CARATACUS ADALRICUS to have to come out and find her. Her sincerity made him not mind so much, as both he and TEMPERANCE continued with the search for the next of the list, REBALLATIS COLUMBA.
He sighed inwardly once more, but at least she was very grateful and nice about it all, and therefore he didn’t mind so much. She reminded CARATACUS ADALRICUS a bit of his beloved mare, and that was always a surefire way to soften his mood. TEMPERANCE seemed eager at the idea of a Ballator hunt, and said she had seen a horse looking like REBELLATIS COLUMBA not too long ago, while she’d been trying to find a way back. REBALLATIS COLUMBA had seemed immersed in a conversation with TERRA MILITIS, so CARATACUS ADALRICUS hoped that they’d still be together, so that would mean two birds, one stone. He made light conversation with TEMPERANCE, so that she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, though he was of course, uncomfortable. A stallion of few words, being made to talk so much made him antsy, and on the verge of being aggressive.
It made him glad to know that REBELLATIS COLUMBA and TERRA MILITIS, who were indeed still together, talking animatedly, were content to follow along behind him and continue their conversation. It was of stars or something, and whether or not they were the spirits of Ballator ancestors or not. This seemed immensely interesting to TEMPERANCE herself, and she all too happily joined in. With TEMPERANCE, REBELLATIS COLUMBA, and TERRA MILITIS in tow, chattering happily behind him, he started his search for PRINCE CHARMING. He knew PRINCE CHARMING all too well, having hunted with him in the past, and imaged he could likely be found trying to flirt with another mare. He wasn’t entirely all that smart, as he’d noted before, and so when he found him, he was quite amusingly trying to flirt with, surprisingly yes, a mare, though she seemed anything but receptive to his advances. PRINCE CHARMING didn’t seem to know that he was aiming for a beating from NIGER CATTUS, the wild cat Ballator of whom CARATACUS ADALRICUS knew well enough to be wary of. From his time in her company, that brief while ago, CARATACUS ADALRICUS knew well enough that NIGER CATTUS was a mare to truly be feared. Either lucky or unluckily however, PRINCE CHARMING seemed blissfully ignorant to the danger he was in, and continued to persist, trying to woo her, most likely, despite how much NIGER CATTUS clearly was against that idea.
He was going a bit out of order on his list, but he didn’t really care, so long as they all were found and sent home, out of his hair, so to speak, he’d be happy. NIGER CATTUS growled at CARATACUS ADALRICUS as he told her she’d be heading home, but she seemed eager to get away from the persistent PRINCE CHARMING, and thus was almost eagerly asking if perhaps she could lead the others home. She pointedly ignored PRINCE CHARMING, and thus, taking pity on her, surprisingly, CARATACUS ADALRICUS asked if she could take TEMPERANCE, REBELLATIS COLUMBA, and TERRA MILITIS to their respective home. Seemingly glad at this, NIGER CATTUS jumped at the chance, and after grudgingly asking the others for their names and where they lived, she all but took off with the three in tow. So that left CARATACUS ADALRICUS with PRINCE CHARMING, but at least it was just PRINCE CHARMING, and without a mare to try and impress, well, he seemed pretty complacent and easygoing. Thankfully. Before continuing however, he decided he should probably take a break, simply because he was only a third of the way through his list, and he figured he shouldn’t be too snappish when he went for them, as that would surely not help his cause.
