Established in May of 2023, we are a realistic wild horse rpg site.
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January 29th, 2024 Hey everyone! Looking forward to seeing old (and hopefully some new) faces as we reboot the site! Keep an eye out for more from us in the coming weeks.
November 2nd, 2023 No news, just hope you guys are enjoying your time on the site! Don't forget to say hello in our group discord - and welcome to all of the new people who have joined us recently!
The relief that washed over the mare was evident. Releasing her breath she hadn't noticed she was holding Izzy returned to her upright position her smile returning like a ray of sunshine through the clouds. "I'm glad. T-That you're well I mean. If-um...if you ever remember anything you wish to get off your chest I'm happy to lend my ears." Izzy offered turning herself to walk beside him. "I certainly wouldn't mind after you listened to my story. I'll do my best to cheer you up too if you ever got sad." Despite this positive interaction it felt...strange to be talking to another horse. Izzy had contented herself to spending her remaining years alone, but Cloudskipper had made her realize how much she'd missed company.
"Where would you like to go?" Shaking off her wandering thoughts Izadora gently, albeit playfully bumped her hip into his. "I'm not picky on a destination so long as you're comfortable. I don't want this weather aggravating your shoulder more than it already is." Truth be told the mare would've been happy with anything so long as she got to keep the stallions company for a little longer. Cloudskipper was kind, kinder than she'd ever expected a stallion to be and the thought of parting ways made her chest constrict with an aching loneliness. They wouldn't have to go separate ways, right?
Warmth bloomed in Cloudskipper’s chest at the mare’s bright and contagious mirth. He rarely believed in fate, but it seemed all too perfect. Two lonesome horses meeting in this cold forest and providing the amity neither had experienced in some time. If their crossing was not fate, then it was some beautiful chance of the flow of the universe.
“I appreciate that,” he said honestly. “Though my past was not so troublesome compared to yours. At least, I think. Anything beyond the last two years is all but gone from my memory. When I do remember, it is blurry and all too fast to fade.” The stallion thought back to his furthest memory of waking up salt-encrusted and hacking up seawater on the Southern beach. There he had been so scared, aimlessly grasping for any clues to who he was. That was far behind him now, any desire to find himself lost to the wind as he wandered.
His body swayed with Izzy’s gentle hip bump. He tried to think of somewhere they could find shelter, but he’d barely mapped the woods thus far. He would defer to her judgment.
“These woods are admittedly unfamiliar to me, but anywhere with more tree cover would be preferable. I know there are some areas with denser growth around here, at least. If you know somewhere, though, then lead away.” He was happy to follow, happy even just to explore more of this forest.
"Hmm....I'm not too familiar with these woods either, but we can certainly explore until we find a suitable place to avoid the worst of this chill." Izzy was happy to explore further than she'd already gone, and now she had a companion to do it with! It felt like her one dream had been realized and chance, fate, whatever one may call it had blessed her with Cloudskipper. She was so happy it almost made her giddy.
"I'm glad I met you today, Cloudskipper." Turning her head in the stallions direction Izzy's smile was practically beaming. "I don't wish to sound weird, but out of any horse I could've spoken to today I'm happy it was you." Despite the cold Izzy felt like a spring day; airy and blossoming with new growth. Her previous thought of splitting ways had wilted leaving behind the hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd let her stay with him.
Izzy paused briefly, considering if she should speak her thoughts aloud or not. Would he find it strange? To make a request such as that? Her mother had always told her honesty was best when it came to one's feelings and the mare really didn't want to be alone again. "Cloudskipper," Izzy's ears twitched nervously, but she decided to power through with it. "If-um-feel free to say no if you don't want to, but I was wondering, if it wouldn't cause you too much trouble if I...could possibly stay with you? It's perfectly fine if not! I really enjoy your company and talking to you so I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask you so-"
Curses she was rambling again.
Heat rushed through her as embarrassment smacked her like a falling tree. So much for being casual about it. "Sorry um...you can ignore all that. I turn into a rambling mess when I get nervous, but I'm serious about wanting to keep your company. You're kind, patient, and honestly quite fun to talk to. The possible thought of splitting ways at any point saddens me." Izzy dipped her head with a small, but hopeful smile. "Would you mind having a traveling companion?"
Cloudskipper listened intently to her rambling, biting back a lighthearted chuckle when she broke out of it. Her question did not surprise him, but nonetheless sent a wave of surprise and glee through him. She was lovely company, though his time with her had been short.
Cloudskipper did not need to think for more than a heartbeat before he decided his answer.
“I am glad to have met you too, Izzy. This meeting seems to have beneficial for both of us, and I don’t think I’d wish for it to go any other way. Except of course, me coming up behind you,” he chuckled at himself. He straightened and looked her in the eye, easier with her head lowered. “Yes, I would love the company. We can explore these lands together.”
Cloudskipper reached his muzzle toward her with an answering smile, giving confirmation of her hope. He did not completely close the gap, offering her the chance to deny the touch if she was not yet comfortable. While Izzy was amiable, he would not make assumptions about their level of friendship just yet. He had no desire to make her uncomfortable.
“Let’s find somewhere more comfortable, and we can figure out where to go next. These lands are vast, and I’ve only learned small pieces of them.”
His response made the mare ecstatic. He'd said yes! Izzy practically jumped for joy before hastily forcing herself to settle. No need to be prancing around like a foal over something so simple. Yet, Izzy couldn't keep the sunny smile from spreading across her lips even if she tried. "Thank you, Cloudskipper. You don't know how happy that's made me. May we find some non-dangerous adventures, together!" There was no hesitation when the mare pressed her nose to his, eyes bright and cheery. "For a first time friend you're truly remarkable."
Withdrawing, Izadora trotted ahead, head and tail high while she scanned the terrain before them. With their friendship now "official" the mare was buzzing with excitement. They could go so many places! See new places! So many possibilities had been opened up to her whereas before she had either been too afraid or insecure. Now she didn't have to be. Swiveling her ears forward Izzy tilted her head back in the stallions direction, a smile on her muzzle. "Ready to start our first adventure?"
“Thank you,” Cloudskipper replied. His face grew warm at the compliment. What an amazing thought that was, that he had a friend. “Yes, let it begin!” His voice echoed through the barren trees.
It was impossible to not absorb some of the energy radiating from Izzy as she bounded ahead of him. The buckskin pony followed with renewed vigor. Sharp pain shot through his shoulder, but it faded as the joint adjusted to his new pace. He kept close behind her in a tottering trot. Occasionally he corrected his direction as he began to veer left.
He threw his head back with joy and noticed for the first time the snowflakes beginning to fall. It seemed the clouds finally gave out. The white flakes drifted down around them and disappeared as soon as they hit the barely-thawed ground. He twitched his nose as a few caught on his whiskers. As they trotted through the forest, Cloudskipper kept his eyes on the trees, looking for somewhere with better cover for them to stay warm and dry.
“Not yet spring, but there must be something either growing or still alive. I am sure we can find a place to rest around here. Some plants can be quite sturdy, even in harsh weather.”
As the two continued their trek a memory surfaced. It had been when she first arrived in the area, but she recalled a cluster of thick, towering pinetrees. She had brushed it off in the beginning due to being fearful of getting trapped by some raving lunatic, but she had Cloudskipper now. Would that place work now? 'It certainly couldn't hurt to see what he thinks.' The mare reasoned flicking an ear thoughtfully then shifting her pale gaze to his.
"I might know of somewhere we could at least check." Izzy stated hesitantly a flicker of doubt worming its way into her confidence. "A cluster of pinetrees a short distance from here. I saw it when I first arrived, but we can go there now? It would offer more shelter than these bare trees and you can rest that shoulder. Maybe I could go search for some food for us too while you're resting?"
Izzy hated how much she was titering between confidence and doubt. Why did she have to sound so stupid? His approval wasn't anything she needed, so why? Was there some part of her that still feared he would leave? That she would be abandoned again? 'Don't be silly, Izadora! Cloudskipper isn't like that! That much is obvious from your conversations thus far.' Mentally shaking herself the mare lifted her chin with a snort. No more doubt! From this point on she would exude confidence!
"What do you think, Cloud? Think it's worth a shot?" Putting her new confidence to the test Izzy halted to wait for the stallion to catch up ears upright and attuned to await his response.
Cloudskipper noticed how much Izzy had changed in such a short period. He found it incredible watching this happen. Her anxiety did not leave so easily of course, but her moments of hesitation came fewer and further between as they walked together. He trailed just behind her and watched her ears twitch, clearly thinking. Cloudskipper knew now that her nervousness preceded words.
He listened intently to her. Pine trees were great cover, alive and green all year round. Cloudskipper had taken advantage of their shelter often during winter when there was little else to use.
The location sounded perfect, and Cloudskipper said as much. “That certainly sounds worth a shot. And food sounds lovely. It’s been a while since I last ate. If you know where to go, then lead the way, Izzy!” He was happy to rest and eat.
“Don’t worry, once the weather warms up my shoulder will be less of a pain. We can walk near worry-free then,” he explained, then admitted, “For now, the rest will be greatly appreciated.”
Izzy tried -and failed- to be subtle in her shift from her previous energized trot, to a more manageable walk for Cloudskipper's sake. His easygoing demeanor was doing leaps and bounds for the mares anxious mind, the least she could do was make travel as painless as she possibly could. "Do you have a favorite season? Aside from winter since it's, er...not exactly fun." Matching her steps to his Izzy primarily kept her attention on the stallion, occasionally shifting their course to keep on the mental trail she had mapped out. "Personally I love spring and autumn. Spring for all the new growth, new foals -not that I've ever had any, but I've seen plenty from a distance,- and it's finally stopped being so chilly! Autumn I enjoy for all the changing colors, cooler days after hot summers, sometimes I even enjoy taking swims if the weather isn't too harsh."
How she'd missed doing this. A simple conversation, enjoying another's company, if only her mother could see her now! Dune would be proud, right? Her daughter had survived, grown up, and now had a friend! Izzy's lips had curved up into a smile, a small 'humming' coming from her with the happy thoughts. Somehow, despite everything, Izadora felt her mother would be proud.
"We should be seeing some of the pinetrees here momentarily Cloudskipper. There's so many pine needles blanketing the ground it's like walking on a cloud! Or at least how I think a cloud would feel." Pulling ahead she trotted a few paces forward being mindful to scan for any potential threats or other horses. When things seemed clear the mare motioned towards a cluster of trees slightly off to their right. "That's the start of them right there! We can find a nice and proper spot deeper among them with good shelter from the snow and wind."
“I have to agree with you. Fall and spring are my favorites, but spring more so. Seeing everything come back to life is amazing. The birds especially. I love to watch them fluttering about in the trees,” Cloudskipper said with a contented sigh.
He was grateful for her slower pace, now walking alongside her. His mind was now filled with thoughts of the small birds that would soon break winter’s silence. He could almost hear their tittering voices in his head already. When the pine needles softened the ground, he wholeheartedly agreed, it felt like walking on clouds.
The trees looked a beacon of lush life in comparison to the rest of the woods. The pines towered above everything else and stretched their fluffy branches in a wide span around their trunks. The long needles were dusted in a light powder of snow.
While otherwise relaxed, Cloudskipper kept his ears on a swivel, listening to the sounds of the forest around them. The scents of other horses had long since faded, now overpowered by the sharp, sweet scent that surrounded the trees. He let his guard down further as they came closer to the pine grove.
“Aren’t pines incredible,” he said aloud. “They are such hardy trees, alive when nothing else can stand the cold. Despite this, the branches can be weak and break under heavy snow. They’re so strong, but soft under too much pressure. Not that we should have to worry. They break rarely.” He gazed admirably at the trees as they approached.
