DOTW is a semi-realistic wild horse role-play game aiming to keep it simple. We expect a minimum of 200 words for every in-character post, and reward you with a tight-knit community who love roleplaying and are always eager to make new friends. After an 18 month hiatus, DOTW is ready to write a new history.
Hey doods, don't mind that I've been a little absent lately. I'm reading loooooots of manga <3 but I'm definitely online every day, so don't worry about having PMs or questions or joining posts go missing! I am catching them all :)
His legs were brown now, dull and crusted with thick layers of mud that defined each lock of fur with thick grooves. He'd slipped and fallen in the slop he'd crossed through days ago, and now the white stocking on his left hind was all but completely obscured. Even the long white blaze down his face had been coated in a fine layer of muck. The land had been relatively dry the past couple of days, but so had the air, and so the mud had stayed. Alkali tossed his head, in a futile attempt to rid his ears of the incessant horde of flies that had clung to him for what seemed like since he had left those blasted swamps. He felt relief for all of a few seconds before they had settled again, nipping at the sensitive skin. The stallion snorted, swinging so that his long forelock would swipe at the pests.
The silver grulla had been walking towards the mountains with a belligerent determination. If he could just reach those hills and promontories, under the watchful eye of stony peaks that stretched up into mist laden skies, where he would no longer be plagued with the never ending seas of mud, and swamps, and wide swaths of rivers. Alkali would stop there, maybe for a few days, maybe a few weeks, months, he didn't know. All he knew was that he was done with walking.
The lack of intrusion from other horses had been his only reprieve. Water, and rivers, and air so humid it felt as if he might as well be under the boiling waves; but at least he had been spared companionship. Part of him wanted to stop to graze. The grass looked green and sweet, and he knew that lush pastures would not be as common in the highlands, but he was so close.
Alkali trudged up the first of the slopes, his muscled haunches reflecting the sun off of his silvery coat with each step. He had long legs like his thoroughbred father, but they were thick and strong like his quarter horse mother, so he covered ground quickly without much strain. Every once in a while he would duck his head down, and grab a bite of grass to chew as he walked. The mountains were becoming more and more defined with each passing moment, and he could already smell the clean, crisp mountain air. So much easier on the lungs than the soup he had struggled through before.
He paused as he crested the hill, crossing his legs to rub them against each other. When that didn't work he reached down and scratched with his teeth. The mud had began to itch and chafe, if he could just find a stream somewhere. Something shallow and slow, that sang as it trickled through the stony mountain beds. The stallion took it all in, his one blue eye ranging over the thick evergreen forests, and stark grey cliffs that wound their way up to the still hazy mountain face.
The grulla stallion picked up a trot, ears pricked, and eyes trained on the familiar line of firs and pines. Slowly and carefully he picked his way down the hill side, down, down, down, until the trees had disappeared behind another rolling hill of breeze blown grass. As the ground leveled out he picked up a powerful canter, bounding up the next hill.
He was almost there. Word Count: 574 Muse: Average
Last Edit: May 29, 2014 11:18:40 GMT 10 by tonkatoy
Reflections of a gentle creature stared back into chocolate hues. Even with the soft flowing ripples distorting the picture she was beast all in her own. Was she only dreaming? No. This was her. The silver grulla mare sighed and allowed her lids to cover the chocolates, but only momentarily. In the distance, or maybe only just above the mare, a bird chirped its daily song. The sounds vibrated her the fur inside her audits, and without a second thought she flickered the smaller particles of her cranium to follow the entrancing sound. Her entire skull as well followed where her hues traced the sky in search. Only to find the blue of the horizon and the rustle of a slight breeze pushing the tree canopies.
So, she truly was alone in this place. With another sigh the silver mare lowered her cranium to touch her maw to the glistening water. Water of pure snow and melted ice brought from above, the mountain sides and hills, to flow on wards to the lower flat plains. She touched the middle of its path with her blackened maw. Dipped just low enough to touch the bottom of the streams bed but enough coverage of water for her to slowly intake. The flavor was fresh, and sweet. It hadn't been corroded from the dirt and rocks quite this late into the spring surprisingly. She closed her hues enjoying the cold touch against a parched throat. Though it wasn't much long after she lifted her maw from the stream, droplets of glisten falling from whiskers and back into the threshold. She reopened her eyes, and took a step with one of her strong legs over the stream. Followed by her other three limbs she crawled up the other side of the streams bank and over a small hill.
The silver mare's path continued through the forest for only a few short steps before halting. She threw her cranium to the side of her bodice and nibbled at her very own silver rib cage. Flies that had been resting upon her buzzed abruptly only to attempt another landing. Her ebony threads behind her swished against her sides after moving her skull to the earth in front of her. The flies were apparently aggravated, just as much as the mosquitoes that had decided to join in. Where the mare pleasantly snipped away particles of green lush forest grass only to egg her into motion again. Even with tiny steps she grazed the earth of its pleasantries.
Grazing was scarce in the more forested areas of these mountains, but yet she still nibbled the amount she could. Moving up hill and down hill, slowly but surely. The mare's path led her to a rather interesting sight. The trees around her were beginning to change in shape, size, and smell. She halted her steps and her grazing to lift her cranium. Her audits became erect as her hues scanned the area. Nostrils flared slightly as she took in the new and different smells of the scenery. Although not much was new to her she could smell and hear the breeze against the lush green grasses of a more opened plain. Even so it was dotted with pines, ferns, and other assortment of trees. It still held a peculiar ring, or smell, to it that drew in her attention.
The grulla equine slowly acted upon her interest with a lowering of her cranium once more. Her bodice moved forward towards the entrancing smell, but it was well on alert. Timidly she finally poked only just her head, neck, and front shoulders into the small but well vivid clearing. Her chocolate hues staring cautiously before her.
The stallion had begun to pick his way slowly through steep slopes and valleys of the forest. The thick bedding of pine needles was soft and quiet underfoot, but slippery on the sharp inclines. Slender ears swiveled this way and that, he kept his head high, and took in the scent of the forest frequently. The place reminded him of the lands his last herd had occupied, and he was being careful not to let the familiarity leave him off his guard. He was yet to smell anything odd. Just the sharp scent of sap, and rich, dark layers of humus decaying under the fresh needles. To his relief, he hadn't smelled another horse yet. There wasn't much to hear either, birds sang soft and vapid song, and the wind caused the tall branches of the pines to creak and groan. He kept an ear out for the soft gurgle of a stream, the steady itch from the caked mud was becoming more irritating by the minute.
He let out a snort, his left nostril flaring so that a wrinkle formed in the soft skin around it. His legs felt as if they were on fire. Every once in a while he would pause by a tree, and scrape his leg or face against the rough bark. It helped for a moment, but the mud remained mostly intact, and was now mixed with thick, sticky sap. It was pungent, and to his further irritation blocked out other scents. In the thick of the forest, the loss of smell was just as good as blinding him. Kicking out in frustration, Alkali continued on, hoping to find anything to relieve him of the blasted mud.
Time wore on, and his mood began to grow more and more foul. He wore his ears back, and the wrinkle over his left nostril seemed as if it would become a permanent feature on his face. At least the smell of pine sap was beginning to fade, or at least he was becoming used to it. Every once in a while, something other than the strong, spicy odor would waft into his nostrils. Each time he hoped it would bring some sign of water, and finally, it did.
He pricked his ears, listening hard. No sound. The forest remained still save his own breathing, and the rustling of small animals and birds. He breathed in deep, just to make sure he hadn't imagined it...he hadn't. There was something else, but over the pine sap, it was difficult to tell what it could be. Extending his walk, the stallion wove gracefully through the trees, and expertly clambered up the steeper hills and ravines. This was the type of land he was used to; not the soft, sucking ground of the marshes. The smell of water was growing stronger with each step, as was the undying itch on his legs, and the unidentified scent.
The water had to be close now, and he was still heading towards whatever else he - he stopped dead. How could he be so thick? Just over the ridge, distinct among the dark trees, with a silvery coloring like his own. Was a mare. Alkali froze, his legs felt as if they would fall off, and the water was so close. Just over the ridge where she was standing. With long, slow breath, he steeled himself. He was bound to have run into someone sooner or later, and continued walking. Word Count: 577 Muse: Fine
The silver grulla mare held her cranium low, but just low enough to gaze upon her surrounding. It appeared that she was alone in this small field. The grass wasn't gold like many picture it to be. Instead it was a live abundant green. Brighter than the green pines and leaves of the trees that speckled and surrounded it. With her nostrils so close to the blades she could easily smell their sweet luscious scent. Yet, she wasn't going to brave a single bite just yet. She lifted her cranium slightly higher, and took a step forward into the opening. The rest of her silver and black bodice no longer concealed by the canopies of the trees.
Sunlight beat down in the area creating more of a heat wave in comparison to the shady tree-lands. Oh but it was a wonderful feeling against the mare's pelt. She embraced the heat. Lifting her ebony cranium above her shoulders she allowed the sun to shine its beating rays against all parts of her bodice. Chocolate hues closed momentarily, and only momentarily as the silver beast was still in caution. She hadn't venture to this part of the mountains. None the less she hadn't ventured to any scenery like this all winter. Not the fresh newly grown grasses, but merely any open scenery. In in caution she still enjoyed the embark of this very place.
The mare had almost thought about taking a quick bite until the breeze picked up ever so slightly. It blew in opposite direction than her. Sending her away her scent, and the scent of the crystal stream she had just left. As the scent of the water passed by her, she could easily smell its taste. Just the idea of returning to the stream for one last drink almost seemed please her. That is, until her chocolate hues caught the motion of something, rather someone, else in the near distance.
Every muscle in her body tensed. Ready to flee if at all possible. The sight of what, or who, she saw shocked her into place. The silver grulla felt motionless as her gaze peered onto the sight of another equine. An equine that appeared to be much more stockier than she, and from what she assumed possibly faster. In a slight panic the mare swiveled her chocolate gaze and her audits around, searching. Searching for some form of possible escape, but they continuously landed on the animal before her. She didn't notice the caked mud covering the equine let alone the fact that it had even misshaped part of their face. With the flaring of her nostrils she clumsily stepped backwards throwing her cranium to the heavens. Only to have her steps stopped short of their path with her rear end bumping into the truck of a large pine tree.
The needles and now unattached cones poked the mare's behind. The sharp ends stung almost like a thousand bees, but only for a short second. As her abrupt halt startled her attention, away from the equine before her, she had lurched forward a few steps with a pained grunt. Silver audits lay flat against the mare's skull in annoyance as she attempted to swish away the gooey, sweet smelling, tree sap from her behind. With obviously no luck her ebony threads stuck to the sap alongside a few of the needles. With her nostrils flaring she snort three to possibly four times before her chocolate hues caught the sight of the equine again. Catching her breath she stared wide eyed. Had they watched that whole thing? Possibly. Even so, she lowered her cranium, and tucked her chin against her chest. A sign of admitted defeat against, well, nothing but a measly pine tree.
Word count:625
Notes:I'm still rusty, but hope you enjoy the amusement.
