Bachelor Plot 001 | Punishing Olde

The idea of being led by a brood bothered the youngling just as much as it did the other stallion. He had seen Earlene train before, and knew that she was quite good at what she did. But, Golden Mare (a tradition he had always been against) or not, a brood should be with the foals. He had sulked about the fact, stubbornly trailing well behind as Cain had first sent them on their way across the Eastern Island. But as soon as his eyes had spotted the land bridge the appaloosa colt could no longer care about such trivial things as who he had to pander to.

Not quite 17, he was still technically a youngling. They were not allowed to cross land bridges, and they certainly were not sent on any such missions. In many ways this war was the best thing that had happened to Tobias. His eyes had shone gleefully as they scanned the path before them. As soon as his hoof crossed the imaginary line between the shore and the bridge the gravity of the mission had sunk in. Every nerve in his body began to quiver, and had Earlene and Jaxon not crossed ahead of him he would have galloped straight across the bridge, his excitement too hard to contain. As such he had pranced most of the way, neck arched in boyish pride, tail flashing back and forth. He could not have asked to go on a better mission. Certainly, he was quite glad he had not been sent with his mentor, Ghost, to return the Exiles to their land. What a waste of time. But no, he had been chosen for the most important of missions - eliminating the Olde scum.

While still mentally excited, the body can only stay on high alert for so long. When they had reached the Olde Island that night and Earlene had said they would settle down his muscles seemed to suddenly realize the toll all of the quivering had taken on them. Tobias would not have admitted it had the others asked, but it did allow him to sleep well. Blood, flowing freely from the blurred figures of Olde horses, filled his dreams.

Earlene's call woke him easily, and with little hesitation he threw himself to his hooves. He felt completely rested, and with a quick shake of his spotted hide he was ready to go. Trotting to catch up with the others his head twisted this way and that, excitedly taking in all of the new surroundings. The open plains seemed strange compared to the rolling hills of the East Island. He had not considered before the vast difference in landscape that another island might have. It should be easy to see any enemy horses, but a fog had set in that shortened their view drastically. He was not worried, though. He knew they would find them. He knew they would kill them.

To have his first kill... the idea thrilled him. His legs began to skitter again, and his energy couldn't help escaping as words. "Is this island as big as ours? I mean, do you think we'll find some Olde horses by the end of the day?"

Tobias frowned ever so slightly as Earlene nudged him. No brood should treat even a youngling male as an equal, but he otherwise did not react. The new territory was making him uncharacteristically obedient. Back on the East Island he had no fears. Even the most treacherous locations on the island were home to him. They belonged to him, and he knew his place there. In charge. Untouchable. But here even he had to admit that backup would be helpful if something were to go wrong. He knew that with Earlene's many years of experience she had a lot that she could teach him. Even Jaxon, though barely on the other side of being considered a youngling himself, had some knowledge that Tobias didn't. Learning what they had to offer in this crucial time would help him become the best stallion he could be. So, though his eyes never stopped scanning the horizon, his ears swiveled back and forth to catch every word the others spoke.

He laughed derisively. "Not only do we have better horses, but it sounds like we have better land as well. Dense trees or not." The Bachelor pride that was constantly coursing through him swelled in his chest, comparing his homeland to this dank place.

"It sure seems like they are hiding, though. Haven't seen a single hoof print." Cowards. "We should find one of those forests," he cast a glance at Jaxon. "Maybe they are all huddled in there. And if it makes it hard to run, like you said, then that means they wouldn't be able to get away. Then we could easily take them down!" his voice rose as he spoke, the colt getting increasingly worked up at the idea of finding some of the Olde horses.

A subtle grin crossed Jaxon's face as Earlene attempted a joke;  or at least what he hoped was a joke. "Well," He paused for a moment, allowing his lead to finish teasing Tobias. His words were calmer now as he focused on what was ahead of him rather than beside, surveying the ever dimming landscape as the fog began to swallow it up. "As you said, I doubt they will just stand there waiting for us. Running TOWARD them may come of some use." He found his feet moving faster now, as the trio galloped downhill and deeper into the fog. The quiet rhythm of each step was calming in some ways and thrilling in others, his pelt hot with excitement yet cooling by the air that was thick with water. Being unable to see much was nothing new to him; the stallions deformed face quite evident of that. It was more the noise that would begin to crawl its way beneath his hide; filled with unfamiliar sounds of nature and predators that slunk in the shadows. But today, he would be the one doing the hunting.

It took little time to close the gap Earlene had so generously started, Jaxon's long stride quickly filling the hole and matching the mare pace for pace. He considered momentarily moving forward, outpacing her by a few small steps then decided against it. If Cain had put Earlene in charge, no matter how much he disliked it, there must have been good reason. Well, besides the fact that she had spent a good deal longer experiencing the terrain of Olde. With no more than a flick of his tail, Jaxon shortened his gait to match hers. There would be time to ruffle feathers later but enemy territory was not the place. 

A single blue eye glance sideways, searching for Tobias' position in the ever narrowing landscape. Trees were becoming more frequent, spotting the open field with shadowy forms in the fog. Hopefully, as the sun rose higher, its rays would dry the air and clear the mist into something more tame and suited for hunting. 

Tobias followed closely behind his partners, eyes and ears constantly turning. His own enthusiasm had yet to be quelled. He was no longer high-stepping, but his inexperience and naivety kept his heart pounding in his throat. Perhaps, had the air been clear and their vision non-impaired, he would have settled some, but the low-hanging clouds gave the land too much of an air of unfamiliarity. He could tell the sun was trying to shine through as it slowly rose above them, but the fog simply made the light dim and cold. The trees that they passed seemed to appear out of nowhere, sentinels peering out of the mist, and as the horses ran past they would disappear just as quickly as they'd come. The land was sinister, and Tobias could only imagine that the worst of horses would want to live here.

Everything seemed blocked out by the fog. Their eyesight was obviously limited. Nothing could be felt underhoof while at this speed. Trying to smell anything was pointless. When the youngling did inhale all he got was a thick aroma of wet grass and dirt. All that was left to the small group was their hearing, which the paint stallion had quickly employed.

Tobias hadn't heard the sound, but stopped immediately as the others did, catching Jaxon's quick whisper. He sure hoped that the paint had truly heard something, because he was beginning to tire of simply wandering the land. He knew it had been unlikely that they'd immediately stumble onto the enemy, but his boyish heart had still hoped it would happen. Could this finally be his chance!? He looked quickly between the two, eyes dilating in anticipation. It was up to Earlene, and he waited on her word, not daring to speak himself.