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 :)
There comes a time in a stallion's life when he has to make life or death situations. I had to at the age of 4 when my sire killed my mother before my eyes and went after my little sister Siren. Yes you have noticed i called my "Father" my sire.. I do not consider him worthy of the title of my father. He betrayed my trust and ruined the only thing i had left my relationship with my mother. God how i miss her.. The fight between my sire and I was long and brutal. It ended in a blood bath, i remember it quite clearly i had blood all over my pearl coat staining it for weeks on end. It wasn't all my blood most of it was my sires yes i killed him in the most brutal way i could think of.
That memory is still fresh and assaulting my cranium every day. Someday's I worry that i wont make it another day with the thought of mine own killing.
A sudden nip to the side snaps me back to reality as i look down to see the beautiful eyes of my sister Siren. I snort softly "Yes Ren?" i say rolling my ocean orbs towards her and she nuzzles under my chin and she whines softly in the back of her throat "Titan i miss her, You think so much anymore it makes me think i might lose you too.. Please don't leave me" she said tears choking her up. "Ren.. Im sorry. I know i miss her too. Im just glad i got you out of there because with out you i would go insane sis" I said my tone low and defeated as I looked down at her with pained expression in my eyes. "Come one lets find somewhere to bed down for tonight" I said looking over the horizon and spotting a thicket of trees and underbrush. "There we will bed down there for tonight Ren is that ok?" I said My tone softening softly as i watched a single lone tear slip down her roan face.
It broke my heart to see her like this anymore....
((This is my sample post. Siren is not in this thread))
She moved delicately, picking her way slowly and uncertainly across the unfamiliar ground. It was getting late, the sun had gone down what felt like ages ago, and now all she was left with was a purple twilight and settling chill. This place was nothing like her home, it was barren, and cold. The air was cold, the water was cold, the ground was cold. Her soft rolling hills of grass had been replaced with looming trees, and imposing faces of dull gray rock. She scuffed a hoof through the dirt, it was like by some act of cruelty her entire world had been twisted into something twice its size, and been touched by darkness.
It had been months since she had been forced to flee, weeks since her once flawless skin had healed wrong. No hair grew in the places where he flesh had been torn by teeth and thorn alike. Thin black lines crossed her chest, and legs, and face; stark in contrast to the soft gold that surrounded them. They were an imperfection, but the other scar was a deformity. It ran from jowl to shoulder, wide and jagged like a bolt of lightning in reverse; black on gold. The exposed skin was not smooth like the other scars, it was thick and lumpy. It looked like the edge of a boulder had been grotesquely meshed into her body. She was a freak. Save one dark, crooked scar across the golden and white pattern on her left flank, her spotted half had been left unmarred.
She had been wandering south for some time now, skirting the edge of the foothills, because at least that way she would not get turned around. She had passed through the flat lands south of her home, and oddly had found herself hoping she would happen upon the stallion her father had been planning to send her off to. Knox, that was his name, Knox. However, she did not find him, or hear him, or smell him or anyone else at all.
Sparrow had been alone for months, picking at the coarse, brown grasses that she could find. She ate sparingly, not finding the harsher grasses of the plains to her taste. The mountains had contributed a small improvement on her weight, but still, she was just as alone as the day her father had told her 'run'. The days were not bad, they were solitary, and quiet. Wind and birdsong. She had begun to itch for companionship long ago, but still the days did not trouble her. It was the nights.
As the purple sky began to slowly fade to black, she felt the uneasy feeling in her gut sink in once again. She was tired, her head felt heavy, and her hooves even more so. Each step seemed to drag, and she had to fight to keep her soft brown eyes open. Some nights were peaceful, filled with crickets and the distant hoots of owls. Others were filled with howls, and screams, and sleepless terror. For now the night had not turned ugly, but the sooner she found a safe place to rest, the better she would feel.
Her head hung low, silvery forelock drooping over one eye, but her ears remained alert. Legs itching and ready to run should she hear the yowls and roars of wild beasts. Her delicately pricked ears, so much like her mother's, listened to everything the night had to offer. With a half hearted sigh she wondered if her mother was still alive? Her brother? Her little baby sister? The only certain was her father, she had listened to his bellows become wet and weak as she had disappeared into the thicket. A lot of her hoped that her brother had defeated cruel young stallions who had taken her father's life. Perhaps, back in the rolling meadows of her home Ronan had avenged their father, and ruled their people, strong and handsome like Father had been. Her mother still watched her baby sister from her resting spot under the willow trees, as the little gold filly would splash in the edges of the river. Perhaps she could turn around now, and her family would still be waiting. Perhaps she wasn't alone.
She flicked an ear to the side, she could hear the soft music of water on stone. She might be able to find somewhere to rest near the stream, certainly a drink of water if nothing else. Casting a wary eye at the dark expanse of seemingly endless grass, she turned to the forested hills, and followed the sound of the bubbling creek.
It was a spring, she found, a small clear pool with a small stream flowing down from it. She touched her lips to the cool sweet water, and drank. She had not had water since morning, and when she finished she lifted her dainty head, feeling considerably refreshed...considering she had walked all day. It was then she smelled them, horses. Not the first she had encountered in six months, but the first that didn't smell like dust and blood, as many of the southern plains horses did. Or, maybe now, they were the northern plains.
Once she had scented them they were hard to miss, one was pale and ghostly. He almost seemed to glow like snow in the moonlight, standing out against the dark bracken that surrounded him. There was little she could see of the stallion other than his apparent coloring, and a frame that was certainly larger than hers, by at least a full hand. The other one, the mare, was in easier few. Her coloring was not quite so eye catching in the every darkening night, but still pale enough to catch the moonlight. Perhaps some sort of gray? Roan? It was impossible to tell in the faint light. The palomino araappaloosa could see the other mare's features however, even if a bit fuzzy. She was slender, and dainty, not unlike Sparrow. Her head seemed to take dainty to an extreme, tapering into diminutive muzzle. It was an odd look.
There was no need to bother the pair, she decided, but thought it best to sleep near them. Should some monstrous thing emerge from the shadows, she would be safer in numbers than be herself.
Slowly and carefully, she moved to find herself a spot to lie down. She was trying hard to see where she was going by the light of moon that managed to filter through the trees, however it didn't seem to be enough, as a twig broke under her hoof with a sharp snap. Word Count: 1103 Muse: Good
The stallion turned and watched as his sister made her way to the thickets part of the forest to his left about 100 yards from where they were standing. The sun fell quickly and the night settled over the stag like a dark blanket over his big shoulders. The night brought a chill to the air the cold air ran its jagged, icy fingers down the pearls spine making the stallion's ears prick and his body alert.
The pearl stallion sighed ignoring the vapors coming from his nares and he looked up as the moon rose casting a creamy light down on the meadow. The stallion seemed to glow in the light. He pawed at the ground aggressively as the thoughts in his head returned and came with a vengeance and tossed his head to get them out of his head. He blinked his ocean orbs and sighed again.
He dropped his cranium and nibbled on the tender frost covered blades of grass absentmindedly. He suddenly felt like he was no longer alone in the area he felt as if he was being watched. His cranium shot up and his ears pinned back as he glared around looking for the source of the creepy feeling making its way around the stags shoulders. Then he heard it that snap of a twig, it was deafening against the silent night.
He snorted and shook his two toned mane and pawed at the ground. Nothing was going to hurt his sister, not if he could help it. He looked up at the spot where the noise came and glared. Then his low smooth voice called out aggravated "Who is there? Show yourself!". He shifted on his pillars and snorted again.
He couldn't see anything in that forest it was black as his sires coat. He closed his eyes and shook his head "These thoughts are going to be the death of me" his mind whispered to him and it was true. He could not, would not have that happen his sister was at the tender age to two just starting to live her life as the grown mare. She needed his guidance to survive in this world.
He sighed and pricked his ears again listening to the faint sounds. The animals were roaring and screeching, wasn't all that bad. But what was bugging him was whoever snapped that twig. Was it a stallion looking for a fight? Or a mare looking for warmth? Friend or Foe? Predator or Prey? all these questions erupted in his already full mind. The moon light intensified draping its silver fibers around the stallions pearl coat and reflecting its own light in the stags ocean eyes making them swim with his emotions and appear glowing.
The stag walked a short ways to the edge of the forest at which the sound came from and the ghost called out again his aggressiveness intensifying "Who is there? Show yourself!" and he pawed the ground waiting for the mystery animal's reply or move.
Word Count: 502 Muse: Rusty. But gaining Character tags: Sparrow&Titanium
Sparrow stopped abruptly, waiting in breathless silence as the snap of the branch faded into the cool night air. The other horses had certainly heard, it was impossible for them to have not. She stood on edge, every muscle tensed, clearly showing the lines of her ribs, and the edges of hip bones only just beginning to regain weight. She was ready to take off, but would she even be able to make it through the trees? It was dark, and she was tired. Her feet had dragged the last mile, tripping on the uneven ground could prove dangerous.
She cocked an ear towards them, not wanting to risk moving her head for a better view. The stallion was just a pale blur behind her on the edges of her vision, but she could hear him. He had let out an alarmed snort shortly after the offending twig had snapped, and now she listened as hard hooves scraped heavy against the ground. Everything stood on end, legs itching to run, but she stayed still as the trees around her. She glanced at the thick trees and undergrowth, and darkly wondered what new scars would decorate her hide after tonight.
"Who is there?" The stallions deep voice called from behind her, his tone was harsh and Sparrow suddenly wondered if she had made the right choice. She of all people should have known that other horses can be just as dangerous as beasts, many were just as refined as well, "Show yourself." The ghostly brute had not seen her yet, the mare let herself relax ever so slightly. Maybe he wouldn't see her? But then what? Would she stand in silence all night, and let him find her in the day light. Even if she did stay still, her light coloring wouldn't be hard to find if he bothered to look, and if the wind changed he would smell her for sure.
He moved quietly, far less clumsy than she was, but she could still hear the hoof beats approaching. Her breath halted again, he was even with her now, and in her blind spot. She could hear him though, breathing, his tail settling back against his legs as he came to a halt.
How far would she make it if she took off now? Headlong into the darkened forest, into the maw of tangled thorns and even less desirable things. He would certainly catch her if he gave chase, the stallion appeared far more sure on his feet than she was. How long before she broke a leg if she managed to outpace him?
"Who is there? Show yourself!" He called again, a bit louder this time.
Sparrow steeled herself, she was no fighter, but he was no more than a low born brute. One of brilliant color, but low born none the less. She was a leader, had the blood of generations of leaders before her flowing in her veins. Arching her neck and lifting her tail, she slowly turned to face him, and stepped out of the shadows.
She lifted her head to look at him on a more even level, he certainly did have at least a hand on her. She let out a gentle, but fairly audible breath to garner his attention. It had been months since she had truly looked upon anyone, and she did her best -despite her exhaustion and hunger - to look at the stallion as she had the foals of her herd. Filled with disdain and an entitled sense of superiority. He was not an ugly horse, well built with a fairly constructed face. His mare was an odd little thing, but Sparrow supposed the darker horse could certainly be considered attractive as well.
She tried to think of anything but the scars that marred her, and the ribs that could still be counted even in the pale moon light. She tried to remember herself as she was before, strong, and beautiful, and golden.
"What is it that you want, brute?" She asked, doing her best to balance the demure voice she had inherited with from her mother, and the commanding power of the voice she had heard her father use so many times before. She was broken and lost, but she needed to remember who she was. She was better than him, she needed to remember that, father had always told her that confidence was the key. She was better than him.
"Do you need disturb all who pass? There are few who would see fit to bother you and that shrill looking mare of yours. Why don't you do the same? It is late. Time to sleep, not pick bones with noises in the night." There, that sounded leader-ly enough. Word Count: 790 Muse: Fine
The pearl wonder inhaled slightly and the scent that flooded his nares was one that hadn't crossed his senses other then his own sisters smell, but that scent was etched into his brain he could recognize her scent from a mile away so to speak. The mystery animal was a mare. His ears pricked and he gazed into the forest sensing her presence. He sighed softly his warm breath making a cloud in front of the brutes face.
He sensed movement again and he turned only to be struck by some creature of his own coloring. The stag let his ocean eyes wonder over the mare. She was pretty yes but Titanium liked his girls submissive and gentle but this mare had a look of superiority in the way she moved he sighed softly and stood tall and arched his neck and then he noticed her scars his eyes softened a fraction of a second then they returned to their regular hardness.
The fea spoke What is it that you want, brute? she asked in a soft but commanding voice. The stag was almost offended by her tone she was anything but submissive. He dipped his head slightly and looked her in the eyes "Should I ask the same fea?" he said his low voice booming slightly.
The fea spoke again and he sighed softly she was beginning to irritate the stag Do you need disturb all who pass? There are few who would see fit to bother you and that shrill looking mare of yours. Why don't you do the same? It is late. Time to sleep, not pick bones with noises in the night. she said in her commanding voice again. "I was just only standing guard and awaiting for anything to harm my sister. I rather not sleep and be ignorant of the dangers in the unfamiliar place." he said cocking an eyebrow and snorting and shaking his head remembering the nightmares trampling his pleasant dreams.
He raised his head to were he was towering over her, a mere young mare is no better then him. He was born of leadership and loyalty as well as ability to stand for his own sake and his sister. He would not let a mare tear down his walls.
"Why are you out here alone fea" he asked in a commanding tone equal to hers his eyes hard and waiting her answer as he wondered internally how she had got those strange scars that marred her appaloosa coat. The mare couldn't be of full blood she looked more like a desert dwelling horse mixed with the broken coated forest dweller. He snorted softly he didn't dislike crossbreeds he considered them regular horses but nothing worthy of leadership such as his own purebred genes along with his sisters.
His sire wasn't worth of the so called leadership he owned but Titanium was the sole heir for the herd up until the humans rounded them up not to long after the stag and his sister fled the area. His father always told his crossbred mares are nothing but vermin and not worthy to be bred by such a pure and old breed as the mustang, but the stag thought different he had seen some crossbred mares that you wouldn't know if they were pure or not they looked so much like one of their parents breeds.
The pearl stallion sighed and pinned his ears ever so slightly and looked down on the small broken coated creature below him.
Muse: Gaining Word Count: 586 Character Tag: Sparrow&Titanium
The mare watched the stag with a veiled sense of caution as he did the same, though less cautious and more of what could be seen as calculating, maybe even contemptuous. The pale stallion stood tall and proud as herself, the mist of his breath dissipating before him. It was then she noticed his eye, pale and blue...everything about him was pale, wasn't it? His coat, his eyes, his breath. Perhaps everything save the ends of his mane, whether they were naturally that way, or stained with dirt she couldn't tell.
For a brief moment his gaze seemed to soften before he caught himself. Was that pity? Did he pity her? She fought back the urge to give a bitter laugh, as indignation rose in her chest. He pitied her? This was absurd. Jaw set tight to avoid grinding her teeth, she waited for his response. Her own breath had been visible for quite sometime, and the chill was beginning to seep into her bones. She knew she would not stay in the place longer than she had to, but she was fighting to hide her exhaustion now. She just wanted to sleep the night, and continue on to find some place warmer...with proper grass, and a broad silvery river like the one she had known at home.
"Should I ask the same, fea?" He asked, tone low and cold. He had lowered his head to look her in the eye, she couldn't decide to take the gesture as a courtesy or an offense.
Sparrow ignored his question, and continued to speak, "Do you need to disturb all who pass? There are few who would see fit to bother you and that shrill looking mare of yours. Why don't you do the same? It is late. Time to sleep, not pick bones with noises in the night." Sparrow said, walking towards him. She did her best to walk smoothly, without watching the ground, but she was tired and used to flat grasslands not forests. The mare staggered slightly, before recollecting herself and continuing to approach.
"I was just only standing guard and awaiting for anything to harm my sister. I rather not sleep and be ignorant of the dangers in an unfamiliar place," He said, the first words of any length that he had spoken. It was then she noticed the formality with which he spoke, not unlike her own diction. He might not be as low as she had thought, she wasn't sure if that made her feel better or worse.
So they were like her, cast out just as she was. No other reason a pair of well to do siblings would be hidden away, alone in the night. Unless they had a rather peculiar sense in adventure. Sleeping in the cold, dark night away from the herd was not something she would do voluntarily.
"Why are you out here alone, fea?" He asked, insolence thick under the words. He may have been well raised, but she had no proof that he had any right to speak with her so brusquely. Letting out a slow and measured breath, she began to slowly circle around him, neck arched, tail high.
"Should I ask the same?" She mirrored his words, coming to a halt once her shoulder was in line with his, "Surely you must have offended someone to end up here. Take the wrong mare? Did you?" She was uncertain as to why she was vocalizing such assumptions, it seemed like an idiotic thing to do. Maybe it was the lack sleep and socialization talking. She was not reserved at home, but she wasn't so lewd. The words had already been spoken, and once in the air she could not take them back, so she met his eyes with a cool gaze, and flicked her tail lazy. Words: 640 Muse: Fine - feeling a bit feverish so took a while to write
The pearl watched the mare as she stepped towards him in a awkward fashion he cocked his crown a fraction of an inch. Could this mare be younger then he thought or just... as those should say still in the "awkward colt stage". The brute noted her stagger she seemed as though she was exhausted and worn he sighed again a pale cloud admitting from his pink lips as he watched her warily.
He forced himself to hold back the bitter chuckle as she recollected herself. Any mare with any self respect would be embarrassed of a weak little stagger like that. He watched her his pale blue eyes anticipating her every move weather it would be aggressive, friendly, or intimate.
The painted fea seemed deep in thought as she studied him as she made her advance. They were so close that their breath mingled in the same cloud which aggravated the stag.
He watched her as she arched her neck and raised her tail and proceeded to walk around the stags body. He shifted slightly to become more comfortable on his pillars as he watched her with masked curiosity in his pale blue eyes.
"Should I ask the same?" he fea said in her ringing voice that finally caught the pearls attention as she used the same tone as he. He snorted as she came beside him even with his withers. Yes she was shorter then he but he did not feel one ounce of intimidation as he looked down upon her frail bodice beside his.
"Surely you must have offended someone to end up here. Take the wrong mare? Did you?" The stag chuckled slightly and rolled his pale eyes. "Surely you don't thing that low of me? To steal a mare is not something i would oppose of. As far a offending anyone.. Not lately.. But i committed an act of heroism.. My sire killed my dam and went after my sister... I killed him.. Retched creature"he said blowing out a breath of annoyance. "Now fea. I answered your question now you answer mine." he said looking back down on her with a look of veiled annoyance.
The pearl brute flicked his tail and shook his head to get his long forelock out of his eyes as they reflected the moonlight.
Muse: Need to be Rebooted WordCount: 385 Comments: Sorry for the shortness. And the wait.
