Soul Taker & Others

Following a two hour march from the Canyon, Soul eventually breached the edge of the forest that opened into acre upon rolling acre of spacious grassland. In the darkness of the early night, and painted under the light of a nearly full moon, these verdant, frost-touched fields looked like equine paradise. A handful of giant oaks, their leaves a rustic brown and clinging stubbornly to gnarled branches despite the bite of winter setting in, dotted the pristine hillocks. The scent of equine hung clear in the air.

But this was not paradise.

The land was marred by the touch of human, with white fencing encircling much of the space. A keen eye would see the roof of a barn rearing ominously into the sky a distance down the nearest field. And not far from that, a human den where the two-leggers nested at night.

Soul's dark eyes took on an unfavorable tint and his muscles became taut. "She's down there, somewhere. Bonshi is her name."

Shaded Moon and Osmia came up beside their friend, harrying Sarada as needed to keep her between them.

Sarada

She snorted**I would think it give him more reason to keep me away from the humans** she said continuing to kick she stopped when the stables were in view ** go get her then I'm not going any closer. I unlike you care about this unborn foal. I will not walk into this human establishment looking for your friend. That is your job. If you care about your friend then you'd go and get them. Especially cause it be faster for you since you know her. So if he cares about his unborn foal then he should protect me with his life. That's a true stallion. **

Soul Taker & Others

"I can't risk the lives of my family." Soul repeated softly as he continued to stare at the barn, where faint light glowed from beneath the overhang of the roof. "They're familiar with us now, they know our movements and what to expect from us. But you're new to them, they won't know how to handle you." The stallion's breath froze in clouds before his dark muzzle, hanging still in the windless night as he continued to stare down the hill at the human settlement.

As if he hadn't even heard Sarada's refusal, Soul went on explaining, "The humans are likely asleep tonight, so you may be able to go in now and find some way to free her. Or we can wait until morning, when the humans open their pens; you'll have to deal directly with the two-leggers then, but it may be the easiest way to free her."

With her ears back, Osmia stayed close to Sarada, ready to deliver a swift nip or kick if need be. Shaded Moon wasn't far off, but he too was a little distracted now, staring down at the barn.

Sarada

Shee snorted I carry your family, if the humans are sleeping then you should have no trouble doing it yourself. I am more concerned about my unborn foal then rescuing your other family member. She said refusing to move. Her nostrils flare. I am not stupid enough to risk my foals life to go near human settlement and I have no clue how to open anything in a human establishment so your out of luckShe said Her tail flicked. Her season had faded a way by now as she was indeed pregnant. The easiest way to free her would be two of you going in as you know what she looks like and it will be quicker that way and quieter then me going in there having to ask every horse in there who they are. She said.

Soul Taker & Others

"She looks just like Shaded Moon." Soul explained, breaking his gaze upon the barn to look back at his half-brother. "A little smaller, but otherwise a carbon copy." It was only now, as his dark orbs settled over Sarada, that he seemed to even consider her points of concern. "Unless you have a better idea, or know someone who can help us, you are all we have. You may carry my future niece or nephew, but we can always produce another if we need to." This threat was delivered apologetically, with his harsh words clashing with the soft tones he used to deliver them.

Shaded Moon stepped closer to Sarada, until the heat from his dark frame would be felt against hers. His head was low and his ears swiveled back. Unlike his sibling, Shaded's words were harsh in tone, "Make your decision. Go in now under cover, or wait till the break of dawn."

Sarada

She snorted You all come in with me and Ill go but Im not going in aloneShe said. She wouldn't do it. Or ill make a bunch of ruckus right now and wake those humans up then it will fail. She snorted and she snapped at Shaded .. You and the other two will go too I am not stupid and I have no clue how to open human contraptions so your shit out of luckShe snorted.

Last chance we all go or none go She said. She could out run them she was sure of it. Her nostrils flared. She also had a set of lungs on her these humans would be up and about in no time. She was not joking either she would wake them. She would go down there yes but instead of going in the barn she just wake them all up and take off running.

Soul Taker & Others

Soul Taker had parted his velveteen lips to shoot down Sarada's initial refusal, but stopped short when she threatened to draw attention to their group. He stared at her, long and hard, as she delivered her threat and accented it with a vicious snap at Shaded. He said not a word until she had finished her ultimatum. He knew she was not bluffing.

"You're quite compelling, my little mare." Cold eyes contrasted pleasant words, "We will accompany you-"

"Like hell we will." Shade hissed. The ebony stallion tossed his head bared his ivories at Sarada, just itching to send a snap her way. Beside him, Osmia regarded the mare with similar hostility.

Soul listened to his siblings as patiently as he had Sarada, "We will accompany Sarada to the barn, that much is fair." While Shaded seemed to fume at his half-brother's decision, Soul turned calmly, facing towards the barn. He took a step towards it, and then without warning, struck back with his hind leg, aiming an unexpected strike for Sarada's upper thigh. It was a powerful kick, aimed at delivering a serious bruise that he hoped would slow the mare down for a bit. "If the humans do show up, Sarada will be the weakest link, and the easiest to catch."

Sarada

Sarada snorted ** no not just to the barn** she snorted she saw him turned and did so herself taking the hoof to her chest. ** Injure me I won't go at all**

Soul Taker & Others

"Refuse, and you won't be going anywhere." Said Soul Taker as he pivoted on his front limbs and struck again, not once, but twice in rapid succession for any part of her front end. The stallion didn't hold back.

Shaded Moon paced eagerly behind Sarada, ready and willing to join in this fight, but holding back because he hadn't been ordered to help out. There was also a part of him that did long for the foal he'd been denied for so many years, and he knew too much abuse upon this young mare could spoil that for him.

While the boys were focused on Sarada, Osmia kept her harks perked and her focus on the barn, making sure that their little scene hadn't been noticed by the humans. Already though, she could hear the murmur of horses inside the structure.

Sarada

Sarada snorted moving and twisting to avoid the hits taking them lightly in different places. Her instinct was to protect her unborn foal. And her instincts were telling her to run, not from these three but the humans. You are waisting time and energy. I'd have no problem joining your pathetic band of misfits if it wasn't for your idiocy. I'd be willing to let your friend actually raise his foal. What Im not willing to do is sacrifice my life and this unborn foals life for those who don't know how to treat others. Your friend probably better off with the humans if this is how you behaveShe said. She knew the one who bred her was behind her. If he wanted a foal so much perhaps she could use him to stop this. Sh moves now to stand beside him and press to him.

Soul Taker & Others

Soul Taker turned about on his flints and reared back to throw a font kick at Sarada, yet held his posture in the air for a beat or two. Not because of her words, but because of how she'd backed up against a startled Shaded. The ebonite stallion exhaled a soft huff and landed his front half back to the earth, without delivering a strike at the young mare. "You have some spirit, Sarada. But our friend-"

"Soul, hold on.." Shaded Moon had tensed visibly and flattened his harks back when the mare had put herself unexpectedly next to him. He stood uncertainly, as if not sure what to do with Sarada or the physical contact, but his words had stalled any further violence from the soft-spoken Soul at least, "...she's right on one thing. All this commotion she's making is going to draw humans." Whether he was speaking in true concern about the humans, or as a way to spare Sarada from further abuse, it was hard to tell.

The lead observed them both quietly for a moment longer, dark gaze switching between his friend and their captive. Finally, he answered back, "We can reconvene this mission then, perhaps in the morning."

Sarada

She didn't flinch as the stallion reared up. Her ears were back as she kept pressed to the other stallion. Her nostrils flaring as refused to budge. Your friend may not even be in there. You should wait till she is put out in one of these enclosed area's. They surely can't be kept permanently in that structureShe said with a snort. there no point in anyone risking anything for someone who could of been put some where else if your not 100% sure she is still in there tis could just proof pointlessShe said.

Soul Taker & Others

Soul looked back at the barn, hearing the murmur of voices beyond the wooden walls. He strained to listen, but failed to pick out his sister's voice amongst the quiet throng. The stallion's tail thrashed once behind him and he exhaled a sharp breath. A stretch of tense silence followed before he spoke again, "The humans will be out and active during the day, but we will at least be able to confirm that she is here." Soul Taker turned to Sarada as he agreed with that end of her statement, "From there, we will be counting on you to help us free her. For the time being, we'll return to quieter lands and rest. We'll need to be well rested and fleet of hoof tomorrow."

Shaded Moon remained uncomfortably against Sarada, frozen by uncertainty. He wanted to snap at her, and those flattened thorns of his suggested he was ready to do just that. Yet the stallion held back, allowing the young mare to be against him for reasons he didn't quite understand. "..so, where are we going then?" He desperately wanted to get moving.

Soul Taker brought his gaze to the land around them, "That depends. Sarada, where does your old herd reside? We will have to put distance between ourselves and them, at least until they give up the chase for her."

Sarada

Sarada snorted You shouldn't need my help you are three in good shape and sizeShe said with a snorted. Her tail flicking side to side. Her nostrils flared and then snorted As of right now i couldn't tell you where my herd is i've never been over this wayShe said.

Soul Taker & Others

"As I said earlier, I can't put the lives of my family in such risk." Soul answered Sarada almost distractedly, while his gaze searched the nearby treeline. Another few seconds stretched on as the ebonite stallion pondered their situation, then nodded at some internal dialog of his own, "If this area isn't familiar to you, I'm presuming your herdlands aren't nearby. The southern stretch of the prairie isn't far off, we'll bed down there for the night." Decision made, Soul kicked into a hearty trot and moved out of the open field.

Shaded Moon eagerly took the chance to move with his leader, pulling away from Sarada and the touch that made him so uncertain. He didn't stray too far from her, and with Osmia trailing behind them, the pair would keep a sharp eye on the young mare and ensure she didn't try to make a break for it as they traveled to the Tall Grass Prairie.

Sarada

She snorted ** in my eyes by making me pregnant you've made me part of your family** she snorted. Her tail flicked ** but again I won't go in there alone. ** She said following