The .Red. [F I L T E R S] {Through}

[Swifthoof]

The night was cold. Bitterly cold. It was almost as if winter never really left the desolate place that was called the desert. But that was just how the roan that stood at the top of a fifteen foot sand dune liked it. Winter had always been his most favorable season. It seperated the strong from the weak and showed no mercy to those who couldn't handle its deadly grip. His gaze almost as icy as the weather penetrated the lands below him as a nightly breeze made the sand look like it had waves.

A snort escaped him as his mismatched eyes surveyed his surroundings. One look into his orbs and some could see immediately that he was no ordinary horse. Some say he was the devil's spawn itself once they saw what color his left eye was. It was the color of a wolf's, golden while his right eye remained a dark, cold blue. But it didn't matter to the blue roan what others thought of him. The stallion was known to kill anyone who even looked at him the wrong way. But nevertheless, someone still chose to follow in his hoofsteps and that horse was currently on its way toward him, the moonlight turning the other's dark chestnut coat to an eerie silver.

The chestnut stallion tossed his head as he made his way toward his leader, his hoofs kicking up sand as he galloped to the top of the dune. Letting out a whinny in greeting, he soon stopped in front of stallion, bowing his head briefly before speaking.

Darcia...I've found him in the forest north of here. Near the Pool of Peace. But he's not alone. Looks like he's found his daughter and there's also two other horses with them. said the chestnut, the desert wind buffeting his light brown mane and tail. The lips of Darcia twitched in a small smile of satisfaction. Finally, he could finally take revenge on the last two remaining lives of his old herd that had kicked him out so long ago. But it was not without retribution. A few days later, he had been chased by a wolf pack and he led tem straight to his old herd. Sometimes he could still hear their screams of agony and death. It was music to Darcia's ears.

Nodding in acknowledgement to his servant's words, he answered his voice deep and filled with darkness. You did well, Itachi. As much as I would love to hear Lucian begging for mercy, I think its best if we wait a while to a time where we can pluck them off one by one.

Itachi snorted and looked to the horizon where the sun still had a long time to wait until it rose from the east. For a while, neither said anything until he decided to speak again. There's also something else...his daughter seems to have a mate with..well..unusual powers. Like something possesses him of some sort.

[/color] he said, a small frown coming on his features.

Darcia tilted his head in thought as his front hoof scraped the sand underneath. Interesting...Maybe he can be used to our advantage..[/color] he murmured as he turned his head to the north, a strong breeze making his raven mane and tail fly back as his gold eye shone eerily in the night. Soon..I'll have you begging for your very life, Lucian...and maybe have some fun torturing your precious daughter also he thought as a dark chuckle rumbled in his chest. Tossing his head back, he reared and flailed his front hoofs as his muzzle let out a scream filled with challenge and a promise of bloodshed that he couldn't wait to act on. It was oh so very delightful to the roan. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

Gypsy loved and hated the desert. Loved it, because of it's wild beauty, the empty golden sands that the wind tossed into ever-changing mountains and valleys, or the more rocky terrain dotted with cacti. In a place that seemed so barren, life thrived; a place that seemed so dry could be flooded in an instant, but only leaving muddy puddles the next day. Hated it, because the weather jumped from one extreme to the other; ruthless heat at daytime and bitter cold at night. Right now he hated it.

The tovero stallion was standing at the base of a tall dune, standing with his back to the frigid wind, his head down. He had tried to sleep, but sleep didn't come to him. Already he had shed out most of his winter coat, and the cold was miserable. Tiredly he watched a scorpion scurry across his path.

Ears flicked to the voices of the two stallions above him, on top of the large sand dune. He had been aware of them for some time now, though as far as he could tell they hadn't noticed him, and he had been eavesdropping with only slight interest. Of course, he didn't much like the sound of their low voices, and the roan had a particular insidious voice that disturbed him, but as far as he was considered, whatever they were plotting had nothing to do with him.

And then all of a sudden, just as his eyelids were getting heavy and he was about to nod off to sleep, the roan let out a scream that sounded loudly across the empty desert. Startled, Gypsy nearly jumped out of his skin. The scorpion he had watched earlier jumped too, then ran out of sight. The tovero scratched his muzzle on a foreleg, let out an annoyed but muffled snort, and started walking up behind them, trying to be silent.

Once atop the sand dune, the wind hit him full force, and the sharp cold of it drove all sleepiness away. The moon was high in the cloudless dark sky, casting an ominously beautiful silver light over the desert. He had to admit, it was a pretty, albeit chilling, sight. "Nice view," he commented, as casually as if he had been there the whole time.

[Swifthoof]

The chestnut flicked his tail annoyingly at a fly that somehow managed to withstand the chilly temperature to pester the stallion. Snorting, he tossed his head and by doing so, he managed to catch the scent of another horse; a stallion at that.

Normally, he wouldn't care who was there and who wasn't unless it was his younger brother, Swifthoof who seemed to be laying low somewhere. He hadn't been able to catch a whiff of the sorrel while he was hunting for Lucian and Katori. He still had something to settle with his kin.

Pushing that aside, he turned his head to see a tovero paint heading their way and he felt his ears start to pin back. His dark eyes narrowed a bit as the stallion came closer and he briefly gave a small, stiff nod in greeting. He wasn't the social type unless it came to special circumstances.

Nice view

[/color]

The roan's ears pricked to a new voice and he flicked his eyes around to see a new stallion near them. Had he overheard their conversation? The stallion couldn't help but briefly wonder if the paint knew his targets. Not that it mattered. If the tovero did and warned them, the chase would be half the fun. After all it was the journey that mattered most, right?

Ears pricked to his surroundings as he heard the faraway yip of a coyote and the small chirp of a cricket. Returning his gaze to the north, he let out a snort, his breath shimmering in the silver light before a chilly wind carried it away. Normally, he could care less about other horses whether they were stallion or mare, but this time he was a little giddy with delight inside at the thought of finally finding his enemies. Might as well share it.

Indeed..it is a very nice view.. he answered, his tone soft yet still managed to have a hard edge to it as his mismatched orbs narrowed against the wind. He was itching to go hunt them down, but he knew it was better to wait. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

The tovero was slightly disappointed; he had expected the two other stallions to be more surprised. Oh well. At least he could still have a bit of conversation. He returned the chestnut's nod, with a friendly grin.

"Indeed..it is a very nice view..." the blue roan answered. Gypsy studied him; the stallions eye's were mismatched. He had seen other paints with one dark eye and one blue, but this stallion's left eye was bright gold. The thought of wolf's eyes flashing in the night flickered through his mind. Subconsciously, his ears tilted back and he side-stepped ever so slightly away from the roan.

He looked back out across the wilderness, the distant sound of a coyote's call sending a chill down his spine. Usually Gypsy wasn't a horse that feared the night, but this one was different somehow. His gaze traveled up to the sky above where the stars were glittering with a cold light. He shivered again. It wasn't a good night to be alone.

"You two live around here?" he asked, looking back at the other stallions.

[Swifthoof]

He watched as the tovero's ears tilted back and he sidestepped slightly away from the roan. The corners of Darcia's lips twitched ever so slightly in a smirk at the paints reaction. It was what happened often when he met other horses. Not that he cared since his old homeland was already well aware of his cold hearted reputation.

You two live around here?

[/color]

Darcia looked over at Gypsy and gave a slight nod. We're travelers[/color] he answered shortly before pausing and wondering if he should ask the stallion about his targets. He thought better of it since he doubted that Lucian or his daughter would travel this far out of herd territory.

Itachi watched the two with little to no interest as he averted his eyes toward the sand when movement caught his eye. He turned his head toward it to see a sidewinder traveling up the dune, not far from where the stallion stood. Dark eyes followed the serpent as it slithered its way toward him and needing something to do, the chestnut took a step toward it before he half reared and slammed his hooves on top of the snake. The snake let out a hiss and seemed to bury itself in the sand for protection, but before it reached halfway, Itachi soon lowered his head and snatched it up with his mouth. The serpent jerked and made to bite the stallion, but Itachi was quick as he tossed his head upward, throwing the snake to the sky before watching as it fell back down. At that chosen moment, he reared and aimed his hooves for it again. This time he felt the snake getting crushed beneath his hooves and a small smirk crossed his muzzle as he stepped back and looked at the dead serpent.

Darcia looked on with mild interest at the kill as though it was nothing. Well, to him it wasn't. He had made a few kills himself, but he wouldn't be satisfied until he had hunted and destroyed both Lucian and Katori. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

"We're travelers," the roan answered.

Gypsy nodded in acknowledgement. "I see...I'm a bit of a roamer myself." When was the last time he had had a good conversation? It had been too long, and he was glad of the company of these other two stallions, even if they did seem a bit on the creepy side. He could live with that.

Alerted to the scent of the sidewinder, the paint turned to see the snake crawling up towards them. Luckily, the chestnut was already on it. Instead of merely stamping the snake to death, though, the chestnut stallion picked it up in his mouth and toss it into the air before finishing it off. Gypsy tilted his head as he watched the kill. Something told him that these horses probably weren't the best company to be around, but hey, at least they were company.

[Swifthoof]

I see...I'm a bit of a roamer myself

[/color]

Black tipped ears swiveled around to the paint's words as Darcia merely gave a stiff nod of his head in acknowledgement. He wasn't much of a talker as he preffered to rather just get to the point or listen. Despite the darkness that resided in his soul, he made a good listener.

How long have you been traveling?[/color] asked the roan, flicking his mismatched orbs toward the tovero as Itachi moved the dead serpent around in the sand with his hoof, a small blood trail following in its wake. His mind then traveled to back when he was merely a gangly colt where he had been the one that was next in line for lead stallion until he had been banished by his father. His eyes couldn't help but narrow angrily at the memory, his teeth starting to bare as he pressed his hoof against the head of the snake, crushing it even further. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

"How long have you been traveling?"

Gypsy tossed his mane; the wind had died down for the moment. "All my life, to be honest. You?"

It was true: all his life Gypsy had been traveling, though in his younger days he wasn't alone. The memory of his parents still burned his heart. Sometimes, as a colt, he would dream about being part of a larger herd, but now he knew he would never be a herd horse, and that was fine with him. It was herd horses that had ripped his family apart, after all. And what right did any horse have to "claim" land, as if they owned it? The land was there before them, and it would be there long after they died. His views were unorthodox for a stallion, he knew that, but the way Gypsy looked at it, being a rogue allowed the whole world to be yours.

He blinked as he watched the red stallion drag the serpent around and crush its head. Talk about overkill. "I think it's dead already," he commented.

[Swifthoof]

All my life, to be honest. You?

[/color]

The blue roan stallion tossed his head, his ears swiveling around absentmindedly to his surroundings. Besides the soft ssss of the sand as the wind moved it about, all was quiet. And of course, Itachi was still playing with his snake toy. Honestly, sometimes the roan thought that the red stallion was more dog than horse.

Turning his attention back to Gypsy, he soon answered. I was in a herd during my foal years, but due to some.....complications...I was exiled and remained a rogue. [/color] his tail flicked from side to side to rid of the annoying flies that pestered him. It was a miracle the pests were flying, much less alive especially in these conditions.

I think its dead already[/color]

Itachi raised his head at the comment made by the paint and his ears pinned to his head slightly in annoyance. Snorting, the stallion tossed his head before he continued to paw at the snake with his hoof. Darcia merely shrugged his shoulders at the sight. Don't mind him. He gets bored and finds it amusing to kill snakes or whatever else he takes to his fancy and torments it. You get used to it after a while[/color] said the roan, looking to Itachi as the stallion kept playing with the serpent, dragging it around the sand in lazy circles. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

"I was in a herd during my foal years, but due to some.....complications...I was exiled and remained a rogue."

Gypsy's ears twitched and he nodded his head. "It's a hard life, huh?" The natural instinct to be in a group aside, lone horses were often an easy target for predators.

"Don't mind him. He gets bored and finds it amusing to kill snakes or whatever else he takes to his fancy and torments it. You get used to it after a while."

The pinto glanced over at the red stallion, who was still dragging the snake around in the sand. Snorting, Gypsy wondered briefly if the chestnut had ever seen a mare, even at a distance. It was obvious to his mind that the other stallion seriously needed something else to amuse himself with. But he kept his comments to himself.

"Headed anywhere in particular?" he asked, in an effort to keep the conversation going.

[Swifthoof]

It's a hard life, huh?

[/color]

At Gypsy's question, the roan merely shrugged. It's not bad.[/color] he answered, as he kept his eyes on the horizon to the north. It was there where that blasted Lucian was not to mention his daughter. Yes, indeed, he would have great pleasure in killing them. They were the ones who had caused him pain and it was only right to let them feel what he had felt when he had been kicked out. I'll get revenge for losing her to you, Lucian... he thought as a dark expression crossed his face, his mismatched orbs darkening a shade as he was oblivious to his other companions for a moment.

Headed anywhere in particular?

The voice of Gypsy soon made him glance at the paint and he couldn't help but reveal a small smirk. He didn't know why, but the question seemed to be rather funny in a way since Gypsy had no idea on what he was planning to hopefully do. We're hoping to find some old herd members and...catch up on what we've missed. And you?[/color] he answered and Itachi couldn't help but look up and smirk, knowing the underlying truth behind the roan's words. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

With the wind picking up again, the night was once more cold. The tovero shivered as his mane was swept back from his face.

"It's not bad," came the roan's response. Gypsy nodded in agreement. Hard, but not bad.

The roan, who's eyes had been on the horizon, glanced back at Gypsy with a smirk in response to his other question. Something about the look was unnerving. The pinto, caught off guard, sidestepped.

"We're hoping to find some old herd members and...catch up on what we've missed. And you?"

Apparently that was enough to distract the chestnut horse from his 'toy'; as the red stallion also looked up with a smirk. The tovero blinked. These two stallions weren't the friendly type, he had gathered that.

"I don't have any plans in particular," he answered. It was true enough: he pretty much wandered the lands at random with his band. Not that it was much of a band; just a colt and another stallion, really, but they were good company. Briefly he wondered where they off to. Probably not too far away. "I might head north," he added as an afterthought. If he went too far east, he might run into Darksun territory, and he didn't want to get mixed up with them again. His eyes narrowed at the painful memory as he glanced to the right. Over there was the cursed grasslands they called home. Bad company and bad grazing; Gypsy was sure he wouldn't be headed that way any time soon.

[Swifthoof]

Orbs narrowed slightly in amusement to see the tovero sidestep away. The paint seemed unnerved and the stallion couldn't help but find it funny in a way. It gave him a strong sense of power that he could make any horse flinch with just a smirk or a gaze. It was quite fun to the roan.

I don't have any plans in particular. I might head north

[/color]

At this Darcia's smirk widened a bit into a small grin. Truth be told, it wasn't like they were going to travel together like one little happy band. Far from it, but still it could be fun to make the tovero squirm along the way if they decided to travel together.

How fortunate. We're heading north as well toward Cimarron territory[/color] he said, his gaze returning to the northern horizon. Even if he wanted to hunt right now, he knew it would be better to wait. It would make the kill that much sweeter and patience was a virtue after all. [/blockquote][/size]

[[esperanza]]

"How fortunate. We're heading north as well toward Cimarron territory."

Cimarron, eh? They weren't a bad herd. Friendly to strangers. A little too friendly, Gypsy thought. He had been caught grazing on their lands before...multiple times. And yet he kept coming back.

He eyed Darcia, unsure and suspicious of the roan's motives. He was sure it wasn't anything good. He hadn't seen anything to confirm his suspicions, but if they were both going the same direction...well, he didn't want to put Pandora or Masurao in danger. "Are you suggesting we travel together?" he asked somewhat dryly, his ears tilted back. Conversation was one thing; traveling together was completely different.

[Swifthoof]

Are we suggesting we travel together?

[/color]

He watched the other stallion out of the corner of his eye and he shrugged his shoulders. No.[/color] he answered as Itachi left his little plaything joined with them, a bored expression on his face. Unless you want to[/color]

The chestnut merely looked from one stallion to the other, curious to what Darcia was up to. From what he got from the roan, it was unusual of him to let someone....of different views join their ranks. But he assumed Darcia knew what he was doing and it wasn't his place to question his orders. He was a servant after all. His ears pricked slightly forward to hear if the tovero would accept or not. [/blockquote][/size]