Sleeping beauty (open)

[Angie]

The mare had traveled for many days without much rest and it showed upon her face. The night had been cold even for spring and she really didn’t feel like stopping to lean against a tree in the dark in a place she didn’t know. For all she knew was wolves where tracking her and just waiting for her to settle in for the night. So the women had decided to keep moving forward all night and well into the morning. Dawn was upon the world and she felt herself ready to collapse from lack of sleep. She was strong, but not strong enough to keep going as the rays of the sun started to rise over the land. Looking around she could see that the land looks fairly safe and flat. She had pushed her way through a forest during the night and getting farther into the clearing and not seeing anyone felt herself becoming more and more tired. Upon coming to the bank of a river she lowered her head to take a quick drink. It had been at that time that a blink turned into her falling asleep. Her legs gave out from under her and she collapsed having pushed herself for too long without rest. Somehow she managed to pass out without her head in the water, even though it was in the mud. As she slept she didn’t know the danger she was in from the land. The girl had no idea this was a land for claiming, but at the moment the only thing that was claiming her was slumber.

words: 266
character: Sugarplum

[casanova]

It was late; and the where both tired. He had left his sister resting in a small grove where he could find her. He was on guard duty as usual but got thirsty from their travels today and hadn't stopped for a minute to get a drink. He knew his sister would need some too but she needed sleep more right now. Snorting softly to himself he trotted his way from where his sister slept and headed towards the scent of fresh water. 

He paused momentarily when he scented another equine ahead of him and his muscles tensed for a fight or confrontation. He rounded be bend and spotted someone a short distance away on the ground. Confused and a bit worried he quickened his pace to a fast trot but when he got closer he noticed it was a palomino mare all alone by the water. He quickly scanned the land with nostrils flaring to see if he could catch scent of a herd nearby that they may have had a stray mare from or maybe some predators that may be near by.

He was thankful to smell none but so why was this mare out here all alone? He hesitated before bending his neck down and sniffed at her; was she even alive? he gently brushed his nose against her shoulder in attempt to wake her up and waited tensed and ready to spring back in case she jumped away from him.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked. 

[Angie]

As she slept she dreamed about her mother and father. Playing with the young of the herd and basking in the sun of her homeland. Ah such a wonderful dream, but it quickly turned into something darker as she was chased by the lead mare who was laughing like a crazy and singing about getting Sugarplum. Than in her dream turned nightmare she fall off a cliff and that made her shoot up. Eyes wide and full of panic. In a bit of a daze she hadn’t realized the stallion was there. Nor had she heard his question.

Turning her head to look at him half her face was covered by mud. Same with the rest of her body in which she had been sleeping in the mud on. Blinking a few times she just laid there and stared for a few moments before she finally rose. Slowly getting to her hooves she looked at him in silence. It wasn’t anything personally Sugar was still waking up, but when it registered that she wasn’t alone she took a step back.

“H...Helo? Can I help you?” Her voice was soft and her tone was sleepy, but she was giving him her attention. Looking at the water next to her she shifted so that she was more out of the way. “Am I in your way to the river? Sorry about that, I must have fallen asleep. Been traveling days without rest.” She explained as he dipped her head politely to him. “I am Sugarplum.” She added quickly realizing she hadn’t given her name.

Words: 263
Character: Sugarplum

[casanova]

He jerked back in surprise and snorted looking at her half like she as crazy and half worried if she was okay or not. He eyed her but she didn't seem aggressive if anything she looked disoriented. He took a few steps back allowing her her space in case she was a bit skittish and dipped his head towards her in greetings.

"No you are fine..." he trailed off not even looking at the river and just eyed her.

"Are you okay?" he asked against his better judgement and wondered if she needed some help.

She must have been really exhausted if she fell asleep beside the river like she had and gotten so muddy. He shook his head in half amusement and half concern. Maybe she needed a bath before anything else. He tipped his head towards the river and gave her a half smile.

"You're covered in mud, maybe you should wash off no? It'll help cool you off." he offered and walked over to the river; walking into it and lowered his head to drink.

He wasn't going to push her for information but she was keen on talking and was at least pleasant. When given her name he raised his own; water dripping off his muzzle and gave her a brief nod in greetings.

"Rage," he replied. It wasn't the most attractive name to introduce but that's what he was named since he was born.

[Angie]

Sugar hadn’t meant to come across as if she was jumpy or crazy for that matter. The mare hadn’t realized she wasn’t alone and while not being alone made her relax some it also made her realize that she could have been in a lot of danger if this stallion hadn’t been so polite. Surely she would have been easy pray if he had wanted to do her harm, and she’d surely be dead if he had been a wolf or something looking for a meal.

‘No you are fine.’ She heard him say but was unsure as he hadn’t even looked away while he said it. If he hadn’t been there for the river why did he come? What had drawn him to this place. Sure he could have just being wandering through, but that though hadn’t reached her mind yet. ‘Are you okay?’ Looking away from him she looked back at the question and cleared her throat softly. “Um yea, just a nightmare happens all the time nothing to worry about.” Sugar had never really thought about it, but maybe the nightmares were something she should worry about. Still they were nothing he should really fuss over. After all there was nothing that could really be done as the lead mare from her old herd wasn’t even really chasing her so there was no real danger of the dream coming true. If anything it was probably just the stress of being alone getting to her.

Watching the stallion she looked at the river as he seemed to point to it. This action made her look between the water and him curiously and as he spoke her ears perked. “Oh…” She cooed softly as it soak in that yes she was in fact covered in mud. “Yes, washing it off now rather then when it has hardened is probably best.” She said in a soft slightly embarrassed voice as she walked to the river. Feeling the cool water on her hooves she shivered for a second before walking in farther to where it was deeper. Getting to about knee high she gave him a half smile before dipping her face into the water and rubbing it against her leg. Coming up for air she shook her head tossing her mane against her back.

‘Oops. Hopefully I didn’t splash him.’ She thought to herself as she looked back at rage. “Rage, that is an interesting name. Your parents must have seen the fury within your eyes.” The words left her lips smoothly and in a polite tone. She didn’t mean any malice with her comment, but was rather just trying to make small talk.

Words: 444
Character: Sugarplum

[casanova]

Rage didn't know what to make of this mare; she was extremely polite and actually rather nice. The last mare he and his sister met hadn't been so kind. He found himself relaxing in Sugarplum's presence and watched her from the corner of his eye in amusement. He liked the sound of her voice; it was nice. He looked up at her and pondered her words; nightmares that she had all the time? That sounded that she didn't much sleep. No wonder that she was so exhausted to the point where she passed out in the middle of nowhere by a river getting mud all over her; it was kind of funny to think about it but kind of worrying at the same time.

The feeling of cold water splashing his coat the flinched in response as if trying to shoo off a fly. He snorted and lifted his head slightly from where he had been drinking to give her a look. She seemed to realize what she had done and he just stared at her; naturally he actually didn't mind. Despite his name he was really calm right now in her presence. He smirked in half amusement at her comment about his name once it registered in his brain that she actually commented.

"Yes, I supposed they did." he commented back in return. In truth he wasn't sure why his mother and father named him that and his sister the opposite of him but he wasn't going to change history.

Without saying anything else he returned his head down to the water and drank a few more mouthful before suddenly he shoved his nose and face sideways through the water and jerked his head out of the water; spraying a large wave of water at her. His dark eyes blinked back water droplets off of his eyelashes and he smirked at her.

"Payback." he simply replied shaking his wet mane out.

The water felt wonderful on his coat and skin and he sighed softly in delight. It'd been awhile since he had time to relax. But, he couldn't stay long. He needed to get back to his sister after he finished quenching his thirst. Granted he wasn't expecting to find a mare alone by the river so that kind of gave him a detour and he hoped Shy was okay.

Tagged: Angie

[Angie]

The water felt wonderful against her skin though she did feel a bit guilty dieting up his drinking water. Than again as she looked down at the liquid around her she could see the discoloration of the mess that came off of her fading with the gentle current. It wasn’t like she wasn’t doing anything unnormal either what with bathing in rivers being something that happened rather often. Thinking about it she did listen to him as she worked on washing the mud off. ”Names are a strange thing. Everyone has one be it one given to us or picked by oneself. Some match who they are and others just throw everyone off. Then you have the really odd ones who sound like they are trying to sneeze.” She mused softly as she closed her eyes for a moment.

To her Rage doesn’t seem like a Rage, but she doesn’t know anything about him really. He could be acting polite, but really be some hot tempered raging madman. Surely not though! There were not true madmen in this world those were just stories made to scare children. Eyes opening she looked at the stallion just in time to see water coming at herself. Being splash she let out a laugh. ”Hey now.” She cooed between her giggles. ”Maybe I just thought you stunk?” She teased gently stinking out her tongue playfully. Of course she didn’t think such a thing, but hey why not have some fun.

Shifting she moved back to the deepest part of the river and disappeared for a second as she dunked herself by laying down in the water only to come back up a moment later. Standing up the area she was standing in fake to a few inches under her chest so in reality it wasn’t all that deep. Shaking gently so that she could get the extra water off, but not splash him Sugar spoke again. Her words still soft if not a little nosy. ”So Rage you traveling alone?” She was honestly curious. There was safety in numbers, but she wasn’t going to be a bother or a third wheel to anyone.

Words: idk done on phone.
Character: Sugarplum
Tag: casanova

[casanova]

Rage didn't know what to make of this mare; she was not shy but she was sweet despite traveling alone it seemed like and talking to a strange stallion alone by a lake where she had been passed out. That kind of amused the dark stallion but he didn't let it show. Her comment about names made him give a grim smile. Well, his father was a very clever sire so he wouldn't be surprised if he saw something in Rage to name him such. Or, it could be the opposite and he named him and molded him into the name on purpose. The dark stallion blinked back from his thoughts when he her giggles and looked over with a soft look at her playful gesture. Sugarplum kind of reminded him of Shy and he briefly wondered if his sister would like to meet the mare. He felt they would become really good friends.

Jerking out of his musings he watched her raise from the water and eyed the water glistening off of her coat. She was actually a rather beautiful mare once the grime was off of her and he could actually see the color that her coat was. The question caught him off guard a moment from his staring and he looked back towards the way he had come with a new sort of panic. Crap, he forgot his sister was alone resting. Was she okay?!

"No, i'm with my sister. I left her asleep in the grove not too far away. I should actually go back to her before she finds out i'm missing and has a panic attack." he didn't want to cut their interactions off so soon but the thought his sister freaking out that he wasn't there made his chest tighten in a phantom of what her panic would be like.