Grass is Always Greener

[Sojourner]

It was early morning, the sun just barely beginning to rise. Dew had settled overnight... but what might have been a quiet and peaceful scene was not so. Uninvited visitors had arrived sometime before dawn, wandering in among the barns and outbuildings of the ranch. Curious colts and fillies had wasted little time getting themselves into trouble while their dams grazed contentedly. One little chestnut colt was intrigued by a tin bucket set atop one of the fence posts. He investigated with fascination, smelling the sweet grain that it had once contained. As he continued to nudge and bump it with his small nose, it was knocked off balance. The bucket tumbled to the ground with a loud clanging, spooking the entire herd for a moment before they realized that there was no real threat.

While the mares and younger horses were more interested in grazing and exploring, the notorious lead stallion was stirring up quite a different commotion with the domestic horses on the property. Roman pranced arrogantly along the fenceline of one of the pastures, clearly quite full of himself with his neck arched and his nostrils blowing. His interest was in the mares, reaching over the fence to touch noses with them, only to cause them to squeal and jump away with a kick. One mare in particular was one that he considered his. Cherokee had been one of his first mares when the young stallion managed to create a small band of his own. She had been one of the first ones stolen from him by the bothersome two legged creatures. He wanted her back.

Meanwhile, one of the younger mares had moved off in search of a more appealing patch of grass. She was a fair palomino, quite stocky and well built. Whisper sampled first one bit of grass, then another, wandering along at an ambling walk. Eventually, she found an appealing area where the grass seemed to be growing more lush and thick. Without hardly a care in the world, Whisper had meandered into one of Collins' pastures. She had stepped through the gate and thought nothing of it. She didn't realize that it was the only way out... or that it could be closed. Her current interest was in grazing. It was possible that Collins had put quite a bit of effort into fertilizing and seeding the pasture for the benefit of his horses. The palomino mustang merely found it convenient that the grass was so very delectable here. Of course, it would be easy enough to shoo her out... or to shoo her in for that matter. Closing the gate would be just about all it took to have her neatly trapped.

[misszeke]

Collins awoke this morning not because of the stream of light that always landed perfectly on his face but because he heard a loud noise outside. He jumped awake as the sound of metal crashing against something rang in his sleepy ears. His feet stumbled across the room to his window and his eyes strained against the light to see outside. Mares were squealing and the next thing his grey eyes saw was a young stocky mustang trotting elegantly past hist window.

"What the...??"Robert's eyebrows rose in shock. After a moment to process what was going on, he saw the rest of them. A herd of wild horses some how found their way onto the ranch. In a moment's notice Collins was dressed and out the door. The first thing he spotted was a very nice palamino grazing quietly in his empty pasture. This surely wasn't one of his horses, but it was now! He snuck over to the gate that horse had neglected and closed it. "I'll come back for you later." Collins couldn't help but smile at his good fortune. Just as he was planning what to do with her, he hear the familiar squeal of his mare Cherokee.

As Robert's eyes darted over to where his beautiful mare was kept he saw a huge brute of a stud. This was a horse he knew he rather not mess with, at least not right now. He picked up a tin bucket that was laying by a post near by and began jogging towards the Mustang Stallion. While hitting the bucket with his tough hand he began yelling "HEY HEY HEY, GET OUT OF HERE!!!".

[Sojourner]

At the appearance of a human, the brazen herd immediately became extremely cautious, all of them on edge. Whisper's head snapped up from the grass when she realized that he was getting closer to her. She watched him, tense and uncertain as Collins swung that gate closed. She gave a bit of a start, trotting further into the pasture, but she wasn't too terribly riled up just yet. She hadn't yet realized that the only way to get out had been blocked off.

Robert was right not to want to get too mixed up with Roman. The stallion was a sassy brute that had long since found he could make most grown men quiver in their boots if he went at them with enough ferocity. However, Collins was quite clever to have made use of the bucket. Roman wasn't much afraid of the man alone... but that cursed contraption he had making such a ruckus? The stallion had never seen anything quite like that, and it was intimidating to him... as well as the rest of the herd. The mares took flight in a flurry of hooves and widened eyes, their youngsters close on their heels. Roman snorted and stood his ground at first, but with the rest of his herd stampeding away, he whirled around and settled for one double barreled kick that wasn't very likely to actually strike the rancher. The stallion took off shortly after, unaware that one of his mares was still remaining.

As soon as the other mares had bolted, Whisper had moved to join them instinctively... only to encounter a fence blocking her off. She slid to a stop and took off down along the fenceline, looking for some sort of gap in this barricade. By the time that the herd had moved out of sight, the palomino had worked herself into quite a frenzy, charging up and down back and around. She'd been with the herd since birth and was completely herd bound in every sense of the word. To be left behind was absolutely terrifying. Whisper called out desperately, whinnying piercingly every few moments until she was winded and hoarse. Still, she didn't settle, hooves tearing up the pasture as she scrambled one way and the other.

[misszeke]

OOC: I'm on my phone haha so sorry that his spoken words are not going to stand out too well this post, typing code on here is annoying!

Collins watched as the Stallion protested to moving of the ranch with an impressive kick. His movement was amazing as he took off after his herd, it made Collins reconsider not keeping him for himself. He knows though that a horse that's been as wild as that stallion for as long as that stallion has been deserves to stay that way. He would suffice to simply having some of the foals by the stud instead.

The sound of heavy hooves stamping around the pasture caught Collins' attention. He'd almost forgotten about his new horse. As he observed it finally calming down and realizing it was left, Collins noticed he'd caught himself a new mare. "Well you don't look the least bit suited for a great riding horse do you?" he was joking of course. This was obviously a nicely built mare much like Cherokee. Collins stood by the fence for almost half an hour just waiting to see what the mare would do. Before leaving her to get accustomed to her new home Collins led Cherokee past the palomino mare and into an adjacent paddock. "Here's some company who may look familiar, welcome to the Red Bronc Ranch."

[Sojourner]

ooc: no worries!

Whisper was still very agitated about being trapped and left behind in such a manner. When formal roundups took place, there were usually other mustangs close by. She was the only one. She had run herself to a point of severe exhaustion however, her pelt darkened to a richer gold with the sweat that lathered her entire body. Her mane was practically drenched and plastered in a mess on her neck. She had kicked up quite a bit of dirt during the fuss, staining her coat in areas.

When another mare was put into the paddock beside hers, Whisper immediately moved over to meet the mare. She hadn't ever known Cherokee before this. The palomino was young enough to have been born after Cherokee had been caught and trained. Still, she recognized that the other mare was older and more assured of herself. She stood by the fenceline closest to Cherokee, her legs quivering after straining for so long. She was still sucking in and blowing out massive breaths of the morning air, winded and exhuasted.

It was nearly two hours before the mustang appeared to have steadied out a bit. She wasn't quite so unbalanced and her breathing was more normal. Still, she clearly found it distressing whenever Cherokee moved more than about thirty feet away from the fenceline separating them, beginning to trot agitatedly up and down with plaintative little neighs until the older mare decided to come nearer again. It took about four hours before Whisper gave in to her thirst and hunger. She found a bucket of water hung by the gate and nearly drained it of all of its contents in a few greedy gulps. With her thirst somewhat sated, she immediately returned to the point closest to Cherokee, her only small bit of security. Finally she started to nibble at the grass again, jerking her head up every now and again to keep an eye out for anything threatening.

[misszeke]

Collins had been doing chores around the ranch and making sure his horses that needed work got it before going back to the scared palomino mare. He saw her sweaty condition but knew there was little he wanted to achieve tonight with her. So instead of terrifying her with a bath he instead took water over to an empty trough by the fence and filled it to the brim. Since the water was now far away from Cherokee's pasture the new mare would have to work on being separated even more now. The mare's first lessons would have to be in this pasture since there was no way Collins could move her until he could catch her. He'd try that later. For now baby steps.

From the barn Collins fetched a handful of hay. He knew she may not eat it but she should get used to it eventually, especially come winter. He also grabbed a old beat up halter to hang on the fence near Cherokee. Maybe she'd smell it over night and realize it's nothing to be too scared of.

In the paddock he saw her eating some of the grass. This was a good sign, she was settling in. He climbed through the panels of the fence and stood inside the paddock. The mare looked up at him, so he just relaxed against the fence. After a minute or two he walked towards her and hung the halter near Cherokee. His elder mustang mare loved him and getting scratches behind her ears. She stood at the fence happily for the attention. Collins fed his mare a handful of hay that she took excitedly, he then dropped the rest on the ground behind him.

[Sojourner]

The hours were trickling by and Whisper was gradually beginning to realize that nothing too terrible was happening... just yet. Cherokee appeared entirely at ease, without a care in the world, which made it a little easier for the palomino mare to believe that she wasn't about to come to a horrific end. She ate for a while, but it wasn't long before she spotted the unfamiliar human moving about... coming into the pasture. Her head was raised high and tense but she didn't move, watching as he stood where he was a few moments.

She never took her eye off of him, backing off immediately when she realized that he was coming towards her. She retreated fairly far back, puzzled when Cherokee actually moved to meet him at the fenceline. Whisper stood by, becoming a little upset again at being separated from what little security she found with Cherokee... but by no means bold enough to approach Collins. She paced impatiently, never coming closer than about fifty feet. She watched Cherokee accept a bit of hay from the rancher, wondering what it could be. The mustang stubbornly refused to investigate until this two legger was safely out of the vicinity.

When it came to whether or not she would eat the hay, it wasn't likely to be a problem. The mustangs lived on whatever they could find, often sampling all sorts of plants to judge how palatable they were. A mustang knew better than to be too picky, and once she figured out that hay was a good alternative to grass, she would likely be just fine with eating it.

[misszeke]

After watching the mare keep such a large distance from him Collins decided to call it a day for the mare. Instead he'd work with Cherokee to set an example. After today he would most likely move fast.

He grabbed the halter on the fence and put it onto Cherokee after crawling through the fence to be with her. Almost effortlessly he found himself hopping up onto her wide strong back. He ran his fingers through her mane and over both sides of her neck. After that he paused and tilted his eyes upward to see the palomino's reaction. The pause wasn't long however, he was soon using his legs to move Cherokee off away from the fence an into a big circle. The pair passed the fence every minute or two as they walked the circle. Each time Collins glanced towards the young mare. Next he trotted...and then worked into the canter. Not once did he yank on Cherokee's head, in fact he rarely touched the lead draped across her withers. It was like Collins wasn't even there.

After about 20 minutes of circling, he leaned his body back slightly and Cherokee's hind legs slid through the dirt. They'd stopped by the fence, near the palomino. Almost as easily as he had mounted, he was on the ground again. He slipped the halter off Cherokee as he stroked her nose and hung it back on the fence. Without another thought he climbed through the fence towards the rest of the ranch and forgot the new mare for the night.

[Sojourner]

Whisper stayed frozen where she was, fidgeting only enough to swat a fly away from her side with her tail and stomp one of her hind legs to the same effect. Cherokee seemed hardly bothered at all when the man stepped through the fence and put something on her head. The palomino gave a start when he pounced on the other mare, climbing up onto her back! As far as she was concerned, Cherokee was being attacked. It wasn't until the older mare moved off for him in neat circles that she started to realize that she wasn't really being harmed.

Still, it was strange. Whisper blew hard through her nose, expressing her discomfort and confusion at seeing Collins ride the mare. She'd seen men riding horses before... but only ever from a distance. It was unnerving to see Cherokee carry him around so willingly. She didn't quite understand. About halfway through the ride she crept a little closer, her neck stretched out and arched, her legs braced and ready to spring back again if they got too close. Sure enough, they came up near the fenceline. Whisper scrambled back somewhat clumsily when he hopped back down from Cherokee's back and finally left them again. She watched him until he was out of sight.

Sure enough, later that evening Whisper investigated the hay that had been left, testing it curiously. It tasted good enough... but with so much perfectly good grass to be had, she soon returned to grazing. The mustang was restless most of that night, resting for only brief intervals and frequently pacing her confines. By the time morning came around, she was standing at the trough drinking more water, occasionally pausing to glance back towards Cherokee... just to assure herself that the other mare was still there.

[misszeke]

Collins was happy that morning to see his new mare was much calmer and taking advantage of the water he left out for her. His first order of business was to touch the young palomino grazing in his pasture. It had been a little while since he had started a wild mustang so his feet staying planted in the grass for a minute wasn't just because he wanted to ease into the pasture without scaring the horse off.

He walked slowly around the fence line to where he had left the halter the night before. Cherokee was still dosing in the corner of her pasture so his training buddy wasn't of any help just yet. A heavy sigh escaped his lips and his boots began making soft thuds against the ground as he made his way to the center of the pasture. The whole time he moved, he kept his body pointed toward the mare. When he got within about 75 feet he stopped, and turned so that just his right shoulder was facing the mare's shoulder.

He waited.

[Sojourner]

Whisper noticed the man coming out almost from the moment he stepped outside. She was closely attuned to his movements and his body launguage, watching as he went to retrieve the strange little thing he'd put on Cherokee's head last night. When he moved into the center of the pasture, coming towards her, she moved along the outer edge of the paddock in a half circle, uncomfortable with being directly in the Collins' path. She stopped when he turned his shoulder to his, swinging her head around to watch him warily. She didn't like being between him and the unforgiving fence, but at least he didn't seem to be making any sudden moves.

[misszeke]

Collins realized the mare wasn't going to move, at least not yet. He began to walk backwards towards her. Now he was maybe 65 feet from her. Collins began speaking low, almost in a whisper "You're ok girl....just want to get to know ya.". From the corner of his eye he saw that she was watching him. "Dontcha want to come say hi girl? Promise I won't hurt ya.....". About now he was 50 feet from her, trying to keep his shoulder in line with hers even as she moved a bit. Finally he stopped, about 45 feet from the mare as she shone in the sun.

Collins turned to face her head on. Patience was something he had to work at. He stood speaking to her in a whisper still. Again he stood unmoving, just thinking.

Preferrably he'd get her into his round pen where he could work her til she was ready to come near him. She of course wandered into a pasture not set up to run her to his pen. He thought some more. Maybe...he would just continue to see how this would go. Maybe....he'd just lasso her. Since she'd never experienced too much roughness from humans thus far, at least that he knew of he'd like to avoid the lasso if he could. Instead he held out a hand and inched forward again.

[Sojourner]

The man wasn't making a direct and threatening approach. He was angling in carefully, even when she moved off again. Whisper didn't bolt off just yet. Her ears flickered at the sound of his low, soft voice. She continued to stand relatively quietly, letting him come within those forty five feet. Being relatively young, she was naturally a bit more pliable... more "gullible" perhaps than the older mustangs such as Roman or the mares he had managed to keep for a while. Particularly with the example of Cherokee standing so quiet and calm whenever the man approached her.

Whisper backed off however when the rancher turned to face her, instinctively seeing solace in one of the corners of the pasture... a disadvantage to not having a round pen available, or a smaller space for that matter. The paddock was large enough that she might well be able to trot circles around him and evade him the entire day if she wanted to. Still, the mustang didn't appear panicked just yet. She had moved off to where she felt safer and had resumed her silent observance of him.

[misszeke]

"God dammit!"Collins should've known better then to push, even a little. This mare was going to test just how slow he could make himself go. He knew she'd be worth it in the long run though.

He stood with his back towards her thinking some more. Obviously this horse had plenty of energy to run him around all day if she wanted. Maybe he could test her though. He gave her a minute to think and then he started moving again.

This time she had cornered herself. Collins wasn't as spry on his feet anymore but he was still d**n good at cutting a cow on horseback when he needed to. The same concepts applied here. Slowly he began walking towards the mare...if she moved forward, he moved towards her head to turn her around, and repeat and repeat....well, it was worth a shot.

OCC: ok since you're playing Whisper I obviously don't want to play god too much for you, hope you don't mind I cut it off there feel free to let her get away from me if you like! haha

[Sojourner]

ooc: Don't worry too much about playing god. Whisper will deal with it. ^_^

Her ears were pricked toward him when he swore, though of course she couldn't have known what it meant. There was a moment's pause before he was moving again, coming towards her and blocking her in with deliberate and accurate body language. She did as might have been expected at first, turning whenever he headed her off... but he was just getting closer and closer. Which was making her more and more nervous. It was obvious in her response. Her dodging became a little more quick and hasty. She sat back on her haunches, bunched up in the corner of the fences and clearly very upset by this situation.

Collins knew what he was doing in blocking her path, but he was essentially sticking his nose in a cannon and not expecting it to blow up in his face. There came a point when it didn't matter any more. She wanted out and she wanted it now. Whisper reared up a little bit, the beginnings of desperation showing in the whites of her eyes. Without warning, she sprang off and barreled directly towards him. Considering the bare facts, Collins now faced a one thousand pound animal charging directly at his one hundred sixty some odd pound frame. The odds would have been more in his favor if he were mounted, but he was not... which meant that if he didn't get the hell out of the way quick, he was likely to be knocked on his ass. Even so, it was clear that Whisper wasn't attempting to cause any harm. She'd merely been bottled up and was doing whatever she could to get out of what she perceived as a threatening situation.