Don't Be Such A Stick In The Mud Or You Will End Up Like One

[Man O' War Lover]

Flame ~ Well I guess this is where it ends....yep this is where I was going to die. In a mud pit! I tossed my head and tried lunging forward as I sank deeper and deeper waiting for someone to help. My voice was horse and I could hardly hear my own breathing I had worked so hard to try and break free of all the mud and the muck. My fiery red coat was dim and no longer radiant in the sun but hard and dry mud covered it making the hair feel coarse and stick up a bit on the sides of my belly and broad shoulders. My long arch neck hurt at the crest from many hours of trying to keep my head above the mud. It amazed me how long I stayed up and hadn't sank yet but now I was starting to slowly submerge. I had been herding the small group of fillies in the swamp for some time, three beautiful bay Arabian fillies, they where mine in a instant ready to return to the meadow with me. They had jumped and soared over mud pits all afternoon when running from me testing my skill of travel, tracking, endurance, speed, and whit. When I finally cornered them they said they where interested in joining my heard I had spoken of earlier to to them when I first spotted them. But suddenly as when started to make our way out of this place I fell into the mud pit left behind by the sacred fillies. Right now I was cursing under my breath thinking how foolish I had been, to proud to admit how stupid I had been acting, I tried to think of a way out. I could hear the small bubbles pop and fizzle as my weight pressed down into the mud further, my leg's hanging beneath me as I stayed their like a stick in the earth after a long and heavy down pour. With my head held high I looked up at the small clearing of the tree tops up at the blue sky- a few hours felt like a century as that blue sky turned to darkness and the sounds of animals of the night awakened.

[Spritz]

A small snort sounded in the stillness, and delecate ears pricked forward. Each footstep was tentative, pressing down lightly to make sure the ground was even and sound to walk upon. Her head bobbed slightly, long black mane cascading over her neck, deep eyes glancing around her warrily, turning back to the ground. Stepping forward, the mare pressed down her hoof, and something cold and wet oozed up around it. She quickly withdrew it, then turned a bit, finding a clear path past the hidden sinking sand. She went alone, and almost unheard. Her pointed ears rotated around her head, listening for any danger. Though in heat, her tail swished as she concentrated, and the sweet scent quickly spread wider and wider through the area. She wasn't afraid of forcers, and there couldn't be any in this god forsaken place, they had no where to go without dying themselves!

[Man O' War Lover]

My large dark eyes adjusted well to the darkness of the swamp, I could here someone or something on the move out there. My nostrils flared as I caught a scent on the wind, well I was stuck in the mud there was no way I would be able to go chasing after a mare. I lunged forward again pushing my body forward in the mud trying to get loose. She was close by and perhaps she would be able to go get help or just help me herself. Raising my head I let out a weak whinny getting inpatient and worried. She might be the only one to come by for the next twenty four hours I needed to contact her or get her attention. I drew in a breath and then raised my head high above the mud and let out a piercing whinny more like one of my challenges I would let out before a fight with another aponite. I then let my throat rest for a moment waiting as my small fine ear's pricked forward listening for any sounds or anwsers.

[Spritz]

Ember snorted suddenly, shaking her head. A loud whinny peirced the air, and she stumbled backwards, almost falling into a mud pit herself. They were all over here, hidden under fallen rotting leaves, under branches and what looked like dirt, but they werent. Swishing her tail, she stepped forward, her elegant neck arching, her delecate ears swiveling. She tested the air, and blew out of the nostrils as she smelt someone, really close. Following the strong scent, her hooves fell lightly on the ground, then she stepped backwards in alarm, stomping down a hoof at the edge of the mud pit. A miserable sight lay in the middle, a large red stallion, sinking in the mud. Poised to run, she gave a slight whinny, throwing back her head and stomping her hoof.

[Man O' War Lover]

Looking up I hear foot steps then I see here standing there looking at me but poised to run away. I look about me quickly still sinking slowly. "Please can you help mare?" I asked my voice still rusty, sure my pride was hurt from being helpless but then I didn't want to die. I was not afraid just worried for my heard what would happened to them if I idea? I looked up at he again from the mud and said "I don't know how I could pay you back but please can you help me out of this mess?" I asked "I know you might not trust me but there's not much time I'm starting to sink faster." I said quickly which hurt my throat. My long silky main was now tangled and covered in dry mud and the forelock dry and covering half of my face, it was hard to make out half of what I was seeing my sight was fine but the view wasn't.

[Spritz]

Ember cocked her head, her long black forlock blowing over one chocolate eye. She shook it out of the way, then lowered her head, stepping forward carefully, and sniffing the head of the stranger, her delecate nostrils flaring as she did so. Blowing out, she tossed her head,arching her neck, then once again, eyeing the stranger. "How?" She didn't like to speak to much, and this was the only word that was uttered from the beautiful mare. Her light voice drifted in the still air, and she narrowed her eyes. "Dont move."

[Man O' War Lover]

I wince out of no reason once she sniff's me hating that I had to beg for help, this is something I rarely did but I had to admit I needed it more than ever. "I don't know how maybe go for help or try and improvise?" I suggested, anything that could get me out of here. Then she looked up and said 'don't move'. Trust me I was not going any where I thought miserably. "Okay." I said staying as still as posible. "Thank you." I said noding.

[Spritz]

The bay mare turned, seeing a thin log,and grasped it in her teeth, bringing it back to the pit. Placing it on the ground, she narrowed her eyes in concentration, and pushed it into the mud, trying to get it under the stallion. She suceeded in doing so, then stepped her whole weight on the other side of the log, hearing a loud sucking noise as her weight fought against the weight of the stallion and of the mud.

[Man O' War Lover]

I watch as she pushes the heavy limb of a tree into the mud and nearly misses the bottom of my belly, as she pushes down on the other end of the limb I felt the limb pushing me back up. Realizing what was happening I draw my heavy weighted down leg's u and start to kick as soon as the front part of my body is out I kick my back leg's with force and push away off the limb and into the shallow part of the pit and tug myself closer to the bank. Walking out of the mud I turn to look at the pit then back at her "Thanks." I said bowing my head then look at her. "I might not have gotten out of there if you hand't come by." I said

[Spritz]

As his weight shifted, Ember stumbled to keep her weight centered, her dark hoof catching on a large rough stone, that had been hidden under moss and surrounded by long, thick green grass. Though the large stallion was making his way out of the pit, he slid off of the stick, and the weight difference made her body fall forward. Before Ember knew what was happening, she was up to her belly in the deep, dirty mud that seemed to be set on consuming someone tonight. She whinnied in protest, trying to pull her legs out of the muck, but was just sucked deeper into it. She turned fearfull eyes onto the large stallion, hoping he wouldn't leave her. Saving him could of been the last thing she had done.

[Spritz]

ello?

[Man O' War Lover]

I turn to see she is slipping into the mud and leap forward but come to a dead stop "Wait mare!" I charged over the bank and knee deep into the mud. It might look the the most foolish thing I ever did but soon I walking over to her side it felt like lead cannon balls where tied to my ankles as I raised eahc leg. I was in the more shallow and more waterie area of the pit so it was more easy to walk thorugh but I needed to get closer. Reaching my head out I had my nose right under her neck. Taking another step forward I had my whole head under her neck and then pushed against her trying to push her back in the mud. She was deep enough to where her feet where not touching a bottom so I was able to push her around but only by a couple of inches. "Work with me here." I needed her to help push herself around so we would be facing the bank.

[Spritz]

Ember eyed him with frightened, large brown eyes. She blinked as he leaped into the mud, then whinned for him to stay back, struggling in the mud that had started to pull her down into its depths. She trembled, feeling his muzzle under her neck, and then he tried to push her to the shallows. She struck out with her front legs, rising momentarily out of the muck, before landing, a bit closer to the bank, but sinking a half foot deeper.

[Man O' War Lover]

Once I was able to get her fully facing the bank I leand my weight forward and pushed her back a bt more not wanting to push her over onto her back which would not be very good. I finally started to push her close to the bank when I relized she was sinking some more. It was breaking out under us and I needed to act quickly. I pushed her foward once again my long leg's slaming into the mud as I sturggled to keep myself up adn keep helping her closer to the bank. "If you can move forward try and jump up a bit and lung toured land as quickly as posible try and get your self unstuck and I will push you toured land." I said-

[Spritz]

Suddenly, Embers hooves hit something hard, something that didn't give way under her feet. She thrashed, her strong legs finding purchase on the rock. She struggled, and as she slowly and with difficulty pulled herself out of the mud, a loud sucking sound erupted from the grime as she pulled herself free. She fell onto the bank, all but her head caked with the dirty mud, her mane stuck to her neck. She struggled to her feet, but fell to her knees, her legs trembling.
Ember snorted her thanks, and scooted away so the stallion could get up also.

[Man O' War Lover]

Flame |

As I joined her on the bank I let out a long and heavy sigh "I hate swamps." Grumbling under my breath I let my leg's buckle slightly and ly on the ground folding them under my body as I hold my head up and look at her. My coat was caked in mud and swamp vegetation and my main and tail was tangled and wet clinging to my pelt. As I rested my head down on the ground I breathed slowly taking it all in "So, what is your name?" I ask slipping a glance in her direction as I held my head up. Funny way to meet a mare I thought.

[Spritz]

Ember snorted trying to clear the drops of mud out of her nostrils, her hide dripping with vegatation and a grey brown muck. The stench was of rotting and decaying plants, and it filled the air around them.
"My name is Ember.." The mare said, eying the stallion with her deep brown eyes.

[Man O' War Lover]

Flame|

I hold my head up looking at her as my nostrils flare and my breething finally slows "Flame." I awnser her. "Leader of Arabian Meadow." I added as I strut for a moment shaking off the mud and muck on my limbs and shoulders. Flicking my tail and shaking my main I stood a few good yards away from her so I didn't get any of the mud on her as I tried to get it off my pelt. "I guess it does not show at the moemnt, me being a leader and all." I say "But I was trying to...recrute more mares and fillies then I fell it that mud pit and got myself caught up in it." I look at her "Well you know the rest..." I mumble as I gave my coat a final shake before standing still as I look at her "So where are you from?" I ask-

[Spritz]

If the mare could have rolled her eyes, she would have. "Ok, Flame, Leader of the Arabian Meadow," She paused, snorting softly, and shook out her mane, that landed uselessly on her strong neck in wet, muddy locks. "I'm nothing special." Clarifying, Ember struggled to her feet, looking ratty and useless at the time. Usually, the mare was a picture of strength and confidence, but today, with mud coating her hide, her mane hanging in dirty locks over her neck, she looked rather dejected. "I'm from... I dont know. I dont stay in one place very long."

[Man O' War Lover]

Clearly she was a roamer. I look at her "No need to get touchy I just wanted to introduce myself." I hold my head up and look over at the pit. "Well I think I'm done here." Turning I decide to leave her bee. I didn't think she had any interest in coming back to the meadow with me. And even if she wanted to I doubted she would stay for long. Suddenly I dug my front hooves into the soft earth and looked over my shoulder. "But, if you would like to joined me?" I asked cautiously. "I'm guessing you have not seen many other horses for a while." I said calmly and smoothly and stared back at her with a steady gaze...waiting.

[Spritz]

Ember's fine ears pricked upright as the stallion spoke, and she tentetivley stepped forward. She hadn't had anywhere to stay, thus she was roaming. If she had a home, somewhere she was apreciated, well in that case....
The mare shook her head softly, her nostrils opening as she snorted softly. Lowering her head in submission to the stallion, she swished her tail easilly, her long mane blowing back on her smooth, arched neck.
"Where?"

[Man O' War Lover]

"My home." Honestly I was worried now, "Arabian Meadow." I exsplaned. "There are many mares, fillies, colts, stallions, geldings, and youngsters in my heard." I said. "If you would like I can take you there?" I asked looking at her. "I'm sure my heard would love to take in another member and Arabian's are always welcomed." I said proudly. "There's a place for everyone there." I pause "Even other stallion's like myself." I said. "If you on't like what you see then your always welcomed to leave anytime and to return anytime you want." I said. "But most stay." I said-

[Spritz]

Ember paused, one hoof lifed lightly above the ground. Her mane blew softly in the breeze, as she considered her options. Snorting gently, she lowered her head, her large brown eyes watching him.
"If you would let me?"


(sorry so short!)

[Man O' War Lover]

Flame| I nod and say gladly "All Arabians are welcomed." Turning around but looking over my slopping withers I added "It might take a couple of hours but I'm sure we can make it before the evening creeps in on us." Hopefully the dark will not confuse Masked Mystery when we alive, I just had to whinny to warn him we are approaching. But for now I must only think of keeping Ember comfortable and safe on the journey. It was important to let her know I would not allow any harm come toured her. Though I knew she could take great care of herself if needed, she had made it this far hadn't she? And it seemed she had learned a lot from her experiences. Maybe I could learn more about her as we travel?

(It's okay, sorry it took me soooooo long to reply)

[Spritz]

Ember's eyes shone, the only part of her that wasn't coated in pond scum. As she moved foward to step beside him, chunks of mud fell off of her coat, and she twitched slightly, before shaking herself off. Feeling ratty and dirty, she moved forward so she was standing beside him. Feeling almost like an intruder, though he had invited her, she hung her head briefly and swished her long tail. "Alright."

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