CV | Love is a strange thing

Three days after Kirra met Void, her herd moved out of the meadow and towards the watering hole to the east. They were accompanied by two other mobs, one led by her father's cousin and the other by an unfamiliar stallion and a deep bay mare who was sister to the cousin's oldest mare. Although the herds did not mingle freely, having other eyes about made the trip easier on all of them.

In the summer, water was not so easy to come by. The best grazing - and sometimes, the only grazing - was many miles from the only replenishing water source in the valley. It was called the Summer Spring, due to the scarcity of water in the high temperatures, and was far to the south. To get there, the mobs would have to leave the high valleys where the grass grew for the windswept plateau, and cross rocky terrain and a small range to reach the valley where the spring lay. Little grew there, and what did was quickly eaten by those who came to drink, so they must immediately turn around and return to the high valleys to eat.

Kirra had made this trip countless times since the day of her birth, first as a newborn at her mother's side, and later as a wild yearling. As she grew, she had learned the importance of memorizing the routes and although she had never walked the trails alone, her aunt always taking the lead as she was the most experienced of their mob, she was confident that she could if need be. It was vital to learn the ways of the desert young, or separation from your mob would mean certain death rather than a merry reunion at the spring.

A brumby that paid attention was more likely to survive than one who didn't, and she was the daughter of Yarran, whose herd had never been captured by humans or their metal monsters. Among the herds in the area her father enjoyed a good reputation and was high ranking, due in part to his skill at evading capture. While other stallions had mares stolen from them and vanished themselves, he grew his mob and fathered more foals.

Today they did not need to venture all the way down to the spring to drink. There was a small pond that remained from the winter to the east of the high valley, sheltered by the great rocks there which blocked the sun from falling directly onto it. Where her aunt had learned of this secret water source, Kirra did not know, but every year she lead them there and every year it waited for them. So long as she had been alive, it had not failed.

To Kirra's surprise, as her herd left the high valleys they had a unusual tag along. Void left the other young mares in the valley to follow Kirra's herd, keeping a fair distance back so as not to irritate the stallions, but there nonetheless. His white mane on his black coat was unmistakable. Her father had noticed first, but only snorted loudly, and kept a closer eye on the young foals. While the fillies whispered to each other, Yindi, Kirra's mother, came up to her side. "It seems you have an admirer."

On her other side, Aranda snorted and when Kirra glanced her way she caught her sister rolling her eyes. Kirra didn't know what do to about her. Her sister was a pretty Bay Tovero, mostly white except for two patches of light brown along her topline. She had been very popular with the stallions, but Aranda had spent most of the spring rejecting suitors outright, often with more violence than strictly necessary. More than once she had kicked a stallion repeatedly, only for Kirra to find him quite polite when he tried courting her instead.

Yindi didn't say anything about Aranda's reaction, so Kirra decided to ignore her too. She wasn't really sure what to say anyway. "Void seems like a good stallion, don't you think?"

Her mother looked back, considering their distant follower. Void had stayed within eyesight of the herds so as not to get lost, but still kept a fair distance to not irritate the herd stallions. "He's certainly an unusual color, I'll give him that. Do you like him?"

"She likes every stallion in the desert," Aranda huffed, her ears back and tail swishing irritably.

"What's the matter with you?" Kirra demanded, her ears folding as well. "Even if I did like every stallion I saw, how is that worse than liking none of them?"

"It's different for you, Kirra," Aranda retorted, stamping a hoof sharply. "You're so pretty that no stallion would turn you down if you were interested. And you are."

Kirra didn't understand. Aranda was beautiful, a white so pure that she'd caught many stallions and rejected all of them. At this point, Kirra was sure that new stallions were being warned about Aranda's temper, as even the youngest bachelor was careful in approaching her and most herd stallions had given up altogether. "Is that what's wrong with you? Some stallion rejected you and now you do the same to others to, what, get back at him?"

"Rejected me?" Aranda's head went up, clearly offended. "None of these stallions are good enough for me. They all want to prance around showing off their pretty coats or pretend to fight father. I want someone who can actually protect me, not one of these fake colts that come around and say sweet words, hoping that they'll attract some empty-headed mare with no thought for her future."

"Most of the stallions you kicked out were nice stallions!" Kirra shook her head, upsetting her mane as she became angry. Aranda was being ridiculous, spouting nonsense that belonged to the Old Way, when strength alone determined which stallion would rule. All of that had been done away with generations ago, when they had been new to this land, and horses had grown stronger for it. Yes, some of the stallions had been rather coltish, and Kirra had no interest in mothering her stallion either, but there had been many more that were mature, including quite a few herd stallions.

"You shouldn't let your father hear you saying such things," Yindi agreed. She was not Aranda's mother, but she was a senior mare in the herd, and higher ranking than Aranda was. That gave her leave to correct the younger mare. "Do you mean to tell him that you would follow any stallion who could fight him and win?"

Aranda paused, almost looking contrite for a moment before pressing on. Kirra knew she loved and respected Yarran as much as Kirra herself did, but right now she wasn't acting like she did. "Father's different. Everyone knows he is."

"So you want to follow a stallion who can fight and get caught in the next roundup?" Kirra demanded, her own tail flicking back and forth now, irritation beginning to be more evident.

"You don't understand anything, Kirra! Or you, Yindi!"

"I understand that if we go back to what you want, we'll all be in danger. We'd be having foals from the stallion that killed father!" Kirra snorted.

Aranda opened her mouth to reply, but Yindi cut her off, and she didn't dare try to speak over the older mare. Aranda got a way with a lot, due to her mother's rank, but if push came to shove she knew that the adults mares could throw their weight around. Few horses would do so unless communications broke down within the herd, but there was always the threat. And Aranda wasn't being very tactful right now. "What I understand if that if you don't choose a stallion, then you'll be in Yarran's herd forever. Is that what you want?"

"I won't be," Aranda slowed, falling back in the line of horses to where Yarraman and some of the younger colts were. Yindi and Kirra watched her go, saying nothing to restart the conversation until she had gone. Better not to continue with that line of conversation. Aranda's problems did not belong to either of them. They were for her parents to deal with, as she wasn't quite an adult yet.

Yindi waited until she was no longer walking beside them to continue. "Aranda will learn with time, as we all do. But you, Kirra, do you like this Void? He certainly likes you, if he's given up on the valleys to follow us into the unknown. There were plenty of mares back there he could have stayed with."

Kirra considered this. When she was younger she would have been embarrassed, as she had with the colt's flirting last year. Now she was contemplative. "He's kind and gentle. Back in the valley, he didn't harass the foals or young fillies and he let me eat first. And he found a patch of flowers under the shade of a pine that no one else had noticed. I think he'd make a good stallion."

"I'm glad," Yindi leaned into her, bumping their shoulders together. "I've always wanted you to be happy. I know sometimes fillies stay with their mothers forever, but you were always the adventurous type. A good stallion and healthy foals, that's all I ever wanted for you."  

"I love you, mother," Kirra leaned into her, the mares sharing their weight between them. She would miss her father's herd. Her friends who she had known all her life and the mother who had always supported her. She would miss her father too, always watchful and willing to risk his own life for that of his mares or foals. But life went on, and she must leave if she wanted foals, just as her father before her had. Mares rarely rose in rank inside their birth herd. They, like the young stallions, must risk the unknown if they wished to further their bloodline.

Yindi sighed heavily. "And I you, my dear."

It was dusk by the time they reached the little pool, and while they waited, watched over by Kirra's father, her aunt went to investigate. Finding the water suitable, she motioned them forward. Not one of the three herds bothered to wait for anything more, trusting the word of a lead mare. If the water had been fouled or undrinkable, she would have turned away. The walk back would be exhausting, but it was better than dying from drinking it.

That was part of the reason why lead mares were lead mares, because they were old enough or experienced enough to know what was dangerous. A lead mare was the highest ranking mare in the herd, not she was not always the one to decide where they went. Instead, she was the one to keep the members happy and broker any disagreements, and to provide aid to the ill or injured. She would help mares birth their foals and work to keep them all safe.

Water wasn't wasted here, and even the young foals knew not to clamber into it and muddy the surface, but the herds took their time. Soon they would return to the high valley and go without water for days. While they were here, it was important to drink as much as they could. By benefit of her father's high rank, Kirra's herd took the center spot, while the others remained on the edges to drink or wait until they left. Yarran drank last, with the last of his mares, and kept watch over them in the meantime. He was worried about predators for the small foals as well as other stallions, despite this area being very safe it was still spring and young foals were tempting for predators.

They settled into a familiar patch of trees near the water for the night, prepared to begin walking again in the morning, but unwilling to risk the narrow trails in the dark. Kirra kept an eye on the water, and eventually it cleared enough that Void came up to drink. He took his time, keeping an eye out for mares or the other stallions and giving anyone still lingering near the water a wide berth. A bachelor stallion approaching another stallion's mares could prompt a fight in a way that a herd stallion might not. Usually a herd stallion was nearby because his own mares were there, often even mingled with another herd, while a bachelor had no such excuse. The only reason they had to approach mares was usually to steal them.

As she watched, Yarraman trotted forward, making a challenge, and the two stallions sparred a short way from the water, the few mares still there moving off towards their mobs, and Yarran watching closely. Void was five or six, an adult stallion with much more strength than the half-grown (and half as old) Yarraman. Rather than bullying Yarraman, he sparred lightly, holding back when he kicked and being careful not to get in his face. When he grabbed Yarraman's mane when the colt over reached, he left no bite marks on his neck. Kirra had to wonder if her brother was taking his own measure of the stallion who had trailed them so far. At the end of it, Yarraman came back to the mob unharmed and in good spirits, ignoring their father's pointed stare.

He was a good stallion, Kirra had told her mother, and he was proving it. There were plenty of immature stallions out searching for mares. Some were cruel to their mares without meaning to be, and others lost any mares they managed to gain very quickly. They failed to create alliances, and often created ill will between neighboring herds due to their egos and lack of tact. Although Void was a stranger to them and mostly unwanted, he was demonstrating an intelligence and kindness that would serve him well as a herd stallion. That was why, when Kirra snuck off later that night, no one said anything to her or alerted Yarran to her being missing. Her father would not approve of her wandering off at night, but the mares of the herd knew what it was like to be young and in love.

Void was waiting for her through the patch of trees, standing in the moonlight and looking out over the desert. When he heard her approaching he turned to look, tensing, but relaxed when he saw her. A stallion on his own was in danger of being harassed by dingos, or driven off by herd stallions or other, ambitious bachelors. Young stallions would often form bachelor bands to keep themselves safer, but as they grew older they grew less comfortable without mares and foals of their own. As she approached, his gaze traveled over her shoulders to the small grove of trees where the herd had sheltered for the night. "Does your father know you're here?"

"No, and I'd like to keep it that way unless you want a fight," Kirra dared to step into him, letting their shoulders brush. It was something a mare might do to a herdmate or to a stallion she knew well. It was vulnerability to stand so close, in range of hooves and teeth, but Void only touched her dusty mane with his muzzle . He lifted his head to nibble at her withers, removing dirt from her coat and dislodging twigs from her mane as he worked. "I think I'm all right for tonight."

"Thank you for being kind to Yarraman. Father scolded him for challenging you." Kirra had never been groomed by a stallion that wasn't her family before, and was uncertain of what to say. Her father had been angry because it was his job to challenge his daughter's suitors, not Yarraman's, and his scuffle could be seen as an attempt to over ride his father's authority. It wasn't completely unheard of for a colt to try to take over his father's herd, after all. Yarraman's protest that he had only wanted to spar did not hold up with the half dozen colts his own age among the three herds here.

"All stallions were his age once," Void noted, voice amused. Kirra checked his coat for marks, but just as he had been careful not to harm Yarraman with his strength or experience, he also knew how to keep himself from being hurt as well. "Sparring is good for a colt. He'll learn how to fight that way without having to be bullied by others."

"Still, it was nice of you." She looked back at him, in awe of the moonlight gleaming off his healthy, shiny coat and his pale mane and tail. The way the light reflected, it almost looked like they were glowing. Gathering her courage, Kirra put her fears into words. "Did you really come all the way out here, just for me?"

Void turned his head to look at her, stepping back so he could see her face. "I did. Is that so surprising?"

"There were more mares back in the high valleys." Kirra couldn't quite meet his eyes. Many of the stallions who had courted her had reminded her of her brothers, all excited energy and playfulness, while the older herd stallions had seemed complacent, making it evident that they didn't need her to join their herd as they already had other mares. Kirra wasn't really interested in either, although she unlike her sister, had entertained them all. Void was like none of them. He was attentive and charming.

"I don't want other mares. I want you." Void said, his voice soft and gentle. Kirra knew he did not mean forever, but such dedication meant that she would not be ignored in his herd even as other mares joined her.

Kirra looked up at him then, her embarrassment back, but Aranda's words echoing in her head. "Because I'm pretty?"

Void smiled, and it made his eyes shine. "Because you're clever and kind and witty, and because I'd like you to be mine forever."

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Stallion ID: 77
In response to: -
Art features: Void, Kirra
Story features:-
Word Count:-

Companion Animals: Nova-C, Acorn-HP, Oakley-P
Members that own outside horses: Kirra/Venetia (UncannyCat, Herd 151)

Collab: Yes

Rolls: Feather/Item Rolls

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Stallion ID: #151 Orcus
In response to: 
Story features: Void, Kirra
Word Count: 3,005

Items Used: Cherry, Apple, Peanutwood
Members that own outside horses: Void (Eva26x #77)
Collab: Yes

Rolls: Feather Rolls

Other notes: All mares on PPJ. Kirra will be getting pregnant by Void. Please note Kira’s foal was aged up in the submission prior to this. I sent this in after that.

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Art by me
Literature by UncannyCat