exploring! ( open. )

[MISTY]

Misty's eyes were alight with excitement as she felt the wind caress its imaginary fingers through her black and white mane. Her body faced the direction the wind was coming from. She stared out from a top of the hill near the lagoon her family often gathered round. She loved standing here and looking at the world around her. Today, her sights were set on the forest upon the Cimarron territory. She cringed as she heard her father calling for her. He really didn't like it when she was out of his field of vision, and right now she was. She knew she should go back so he would stop worrying, but she really wanted to run and explore more. She had already spent most of the morning listening to both him and her grandma Esperanza going on about what was expected of the leader of the herd, and of course her duties until then. She was just a filly, three years old but still a filly. At three she was finally old enough and big enough to explore on her own, but also very close to maturity at the age of five when she would officially become a mare. She knew as soon as she became a mare her chance of exploring would be gone, and she would have to grow up to face her responsibilities in the herd.

Upon hearing her father's call getting closer, Misty bolted off. Her hooves slammed against the earth as she galloped into the thick forest. Pools of sunlight pushed through the canopy, making dapples of light appear on her uniquely coloured pelt. Excitement was all over her expression, and before long her gallop slowed as a spring flooded into her step. Bounding with delight she looked around herself taking in each branch, leaf, tree trunk, and blade of grass. Everywhere was just so wild. She loved being out here. She loved her home, of course she did, and she loved the herd as well as her family. However sometimes she just felt tied, like the ropes that had once been around her father when he was being captured. She longed to just break free and have her own adventures whilst she had the chance. She knew it wasn't safe out there, she had listened to enough stories of her parents lives before she was born, but she longed to have her own adventures. Of course she knew better then to leave the Cimarron territory, the territory her herd occupied. She knew as soon as she stepped outside of it she would have absolutely no protection, and Misty was not quite that stupid as to risk her safety like that. Besides, she didn't want to hurt her family, so she knew she had to have some boundries when it came to her daily adventures.

Before long Misty found herself appearing in a small clearing amongst the forest, and to her joy there was a mud pool in the center. Slowing to a walk she couldn't help but look at it with a mischevious sparkle in her bright blue eyes - her mother's eyes. She could just imagine the look on her parents faces if she returned covered in mud. Ha, no suitors would be interested in me when i'm covered in mud. With a mischevious glint in her eyes she leapt towards the mud pool before collapsing down onto her side in it. She then proceeded to roll around in the mud, making sure it covered her back, her neck, her sides, her belly, and of course her legs. Once her body as well as her mane and tail were covered in huge splotches of mud she jumped up onto all four hooves. Instinctively she shook her body a little before standing tall and proud. Looking at herself she couldn't help but be proud of her work. She was barely recogniseable.

Her enjoyment was short lived as she heard the snap of a twig. Her head shot up tall as she swivelled her head round trying to locate the source of the noise. Her nostrils flared as she took in the scents around her. It was definately an animal. Of course it could be nothing but a fox or something, on the other hand it could be a horse not from her herd or even a predator such as a mountain lion. It could quite easily be a threat, as it could be nothing harmful. Her ears flicked around, her eyes trying to see through the shadows and light to find out what was there. She heard another noise, a rustle of leaves - it must have accidentaly rubbed beside a bush. Fortunately she could now detect which direction the source of the noise was. Snorting firmly, she flicked her ears back as she faced the direction, doing her best to look formidable. She had seen her father often enough face off to a threat, and was often told intimidation was fifty per cent of a fight. Of course, Misty had no idea how to fight, but it couldn't be that hard, right?

[Akecheta]

Akecheta wandered through the forest, pleased with himself for having avoided the wranglers who would take him to certain doom. He looked around the forest in amazement. He'd seen them before, but never had he seen such greenery in his life. The sun poked through the trees, lighting up his pink body, and he sighed with content. The warm sunlight and the cool, wild breeze was comforting, something he hadn't felt since he was a colt, in his home herd. He lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly, the traumatizing memory of his father telling him to get as far away as he could enveloping him. He shuddered and shook the thought away.

As he walked along, Akecheta noticed a mud spring beyond the thicket, and what's more, he caught a glimpse of another animal playing in the mud. The animal rose and shook herself, and the roan colt realized that it was another horse! He stifled a whinny, should he frighten the mud-caked horse. He moved forward cautiously, but trod upon a stick. He stepped back when he herd it snap underneath his hoof, and brushed against a bush. He glanced up at the other horse, to find that she had taken on a more intimidating pose. She snorted, prepared to attack should she need to. Akecheta emerged slowly from the brush with his head low and his ears swung out to the side, a sign of submission.

[MISTY]

Misty's body relaxed a bit as she watched the colt come into view. Seemed like he was taller then her from where she was standing, and she couldn't help but notice he had a very interesting colouring. Apart from her and her mother the rest of the herd was just solid colours with no pattern. This colt was a bay but then looked like a fresh winter's frost had been permenantly etched over his muscular body. She could inwardly admit that it was a very attractive colouring. It was a minute later she noticed the male was showing signs of submission. She felt embarassed she had been so lost in thought at his colouring she hadn't noticed him and how he was showing submission. Those not related by blood to her in her herd often showed the same signs towards her since by blood she was apparently of higher status. Misty hated it though. She didn't feel like she was anything special, and hated having such treatment. As much as she tried to tell them not to bother they still did it, and so by this point Misty just resigned herself to the fact she would always find herself being submitted to. One day it would be nice to meet someone who didn't know who she was and who challenged her for dominance. Now that would be fun.

Realising she was covered in mud a sheepish expression covered her face. It probably wasn't every day someone saw a horse - especially a young filly - roll around in mud on their own for fun. She didn't recognise this colt though so she knew he couldn't be from her herd which was a relief. He wouldn't inform her parents of what she was doing before she ended up there to show them herself. Still, she was curious though as to why this male was here. Then she realised - he could be a rogue. Her face lit up at the thought. She hadn't ever met a rogue before. Perhaps she would end up having her own adventures after all. With a spring in her step she pranced over to the male, playfulness oozing from her feminine frame. She came to a halt once she was close enough to him and inspected him thoroughly. He looked to be of good health and have decent muscle tone to him. It seemed the life of a rogue was apparently quite good to him.

"This is so exciting! Meeting my first rogue! You are a rogue, right?"

[Akecheta]

Akecheta raised his head and pricked his ears forward as he realized that the mare had relaxed and was looking him over. He stood silently and decided it was the perfect time for him to do the same. Her being covered in mud didn't discourage him about her appearance. He could tell right away by a patch of white on her back that the mud hadn't completely hidden, that she was a pinto. And seeing her yellow face and her black and white mane and tail, that she was buckskin. She was built nicely too. Very clean, sturdy legs, built for running. Her head didn't look bad either.

He quivered slightly as she pranced over to him. No other horse had ever come that close to him, in fact, for some reason, they usually tried to stay away from him, but she was different. She seemed... Curious. It took him a few moments to realize that she had spoken.

"Y-Yes I'm a rogue. Wait, rogue means not having a herd right? Then yeah, I'm a rogue. Well, no-wait- I had a herd, but I don't have one now so-" He cut himself short after realizing that he was babbling. He'd never had much of a chance to really talk to other horses, and this female changed everything that he knew about talking to others. It's a yes or no question, idiot. He sighed.

"Yes, I'm a rogue. 'meeting your first rogue'? You mean you aren't?

[MISTY]

Misty found herself entirely amused as the colt stammered and started blabbering. She let out the equine version of a giggle as she stood there listening to him. She had never seen anyone react this way before but she found it entirely adorable. She was definately excited to meet her very first rogue. She couldn't help but wonder what adventures he had experienced in his short life. Probably a lot more then she had experienced - which was nil unless you counted running, jumping, and exploring the herd territory which mainly amused her as well as burning off excess energy. She waited until he finished blabbering before listening as he managed to speak normally. He must have been nervous. Misty thought, although she did wonder why he would be nervous. She hadn't met a colt or stallion yet - well before this rogue - that was nervous around her. Cocky, arrogant, or overprotective, yes, but never nervous. It made her even more curious about this male. She found herself wondering if he had come here to join her parents' herd, or if he was simply passing through. Either way, this day had just gotten a lot more interesting. Her first non-herd friend!

" 'Course not. I have a herd, and I have the overprotective father to prove it. This is my herd's territory. So, what awesome adventures has happened in your life? I've always wanted to meet a rogue. You must have seen and done amazing things! I know I would if I was a rogue."

She gushed, prancing on the spot due to her large amounts of excitement in her body. Misty completely forgot about the wet mud covering most of her body. Her full attention was now completely on this rogue. In the distance she heard her father whinny, but it was far enough away it was quite a quiet sound, so she could easily claim she didn't hear him. She was going to get in trouble anyway for not being in his line of sight so she might as well enjoy herself before she had to go back later on today. It was a few moments later she realised she didn't know the rogue's name, nor had she given her name. She knew what her parents and grandma Esperanza would say - poor manners, and of course chastised for the lack of manners. It was easy to know what they would say and so reluctantly she knew she had to use her manners. If this male was here to join the herd then she definately didn't want her parents or Esperanza to hear she hadn't given her name nor learned his.

"I'm Misty, whats your name? Why are you here? Are you here to join the herd?"

She asked, firing questions at him. In the back of her mind she found herself wondering if he had heard of her parents - they were after all legends in her herd but she had no idea if outside horses knew of that. She found herself hoping this rogue had no idea who her parents were. She rather liked being treated and seen as just another filly.

[Akecheta]

Akecheta's nostrils quivered as the filly spoke. He didn't understand how he could be so nervous around another horse, but his meeting her was an entirely unexpected and unplanned situation. He couldn't tell if it was real, or just his mind playing tricks on him, but he thought that maybe, perhaps, he felt attracted to her? Don't be silly. You just met her. Plus, you have no idea what she looks like underneath all that mud. his mind raced. Sure, he didn't know exactly what she looked like, but that didn't matter to him. Akecheta was hardly the kind of stallion to start sweet-talking a mare simply because she was of the opposite sex. He also didn't care for mares fawning over him simply because he looked handsome to them, though he was aware of the fact that being such a handsome stallion was a bonus. Not that he could just sweep this filly off her feet and take her away with him anyway. Didn't she just say she had a herd? She also said 'overprotective father.' Watch it, Pinky. You're in someone else's territory now. Screw up here and you're done for. He listed as she asked him about the adventures he'd had. What kinds of rogue adventures have I had? Well... There was that escaping the mountain settlers. No, that's too depressing. How about the hundreds of times you've outrun and outwitted the wranglers? Maybe. That sounds like I'm bragging though. Oh well. He heard a faint neighing in the distance and wondered if that was from her herd.

"Oh yeah, it's really tough being a rogue sometimes. Especially for me. I'm sure you've noticed my unique roan coat? Well, two-leggeds find it interesting as well, and they try to capture me, but I have my ways to rid myself of them for a short time. I'm really witty about throwing them off my trail." Akecheta said, almost cockily about the many failed attempts to capture him.

He almost exploded with his feelings about the filly as she pranced, excitedly. It was almost as though she was taunting him. He held back, not wanting to scare her with thoughts that he was just another stud horse. Or that he would just ruin everything for the both of them. Maybe she wouldn't be returning his feelings just that moment, seeing as they had only just met. He realized then that he hadn't given his name, and felt foolish for not doing so sooner. She must have thought the same thing, because she spoke again, stating her name. Misty. That's a nice name. It's a lot nicer than Akecheta, or Akey. he listened intently as she fired more questions at him. He didn't usually care for questions, but he would gladly answer anything Misty could throw at him.

"Misty, I like that name. My name is Akecheta, but you can call me Akey, or anything you like." he smiled, "I was actually just wandering around, and I came upon your herd's territory, accidentally. I don't know if I'm planning on staying or not. I'm not sure the lead stallion or lead mare would really appreciate having another stallion in their herds, but I guess I'd have to ask, wouldn't I?"