{the} L O N G __road__ {back} [[open]]

[[R].ebel]

'Another dream... It's just another Dream...'

The paint mare looked out beyond the corrale she was being held in, looking onward at the teepees, the people, the children, the wolves, the horses; everything she had known and loved before her love had been captured by the dun stallion. She lay on the ground, eyes a bit dreary and tired, having been on a long journey the day before, coming here by nightfall. Only now, it seemed she must still be dreaming, as this place looked like the Lakota tribe, her previous home.

Rain's mind quickly drifted to Spirit, wondering where he was. She had been seperated from him for some time now, and had lost track of the time. The mare missed him dearly, and hoped he was alright where ever he was. Perhaps he was with the herd now. Rain would be more than happy if he was. Eyes drifting deep into thought, Rain stared at the ground before her, lost in every pebble, peice of dust and grass that was in front of her.

'Where are you, Spirit?'

[Simba Maliki]

Spirit was hoofing the knot of the rope that had tied him to the tree. 'Why did they have to tie me up again... It's not like I actually live here.' he thought to himself. The rope seem'd to be made of adamantium because no matter how hard he kicked it, it didn't break.

After a few more kicks, he felt something fall onto his head. He eye'd the object on the ground and noticed it was an apple. He decided it was a good time for a break and munched on the apple.


[ack... Wow that's horrible, but it's a post. I hope you can work with it.]

[[R].ebel]

The paint mare watched quietly from within the rugged corrale. She was sure the tribe did not recognize her yet, but if Little Creek were here, Rain knew for a fact he would. She half wondered if he was even still here anymore. Ears pricked to a sound: a horse kicking something hard. At first, Rain did not want to leave her thoughts to see the source of the sound, but after a few thuds, she couldn't help but wonder who was beating themself up and what for. Turning her head to look toward the sound, she froze in disbelief. A dun stallion stood beneath an apple tree, tethered by a rope to the base of the tree. If her eyes truely were not playing tricks on her, it was her mate, Spirit. With a nicker, Rain threw herself to her feet, galloping to the end of the corrale nearest to her stallion.

"Spirit! Spirit, is it you?"

[[esperanza]]

{OOC//Hope you guys don't mind me popping in here with Adi. *grin*}

One of the hardest things about friendship is watching your friends leave. At least I had the comfort that my friends were going to a place they called home. Still, I thought that I would never see them again, so you can imagine my surprise when I heard her voice calling his name one summer afternoon...

~*~

It was another long, uneventful summer day. The Lakotas had let most of their horses out to graze, and so they were scattered across a hillside, walking from clump of grass to clump of grass, swishing flies out of the way.

Aditsan flicked his tail, glancing back to watch the small black insects scatter away. He let out a long, tired sigh before grabbing another clump of grass and chewing it lazily. Truth be told, he was bored, bored out of his mind, and there was nothing to do. Feeling restless, the brown horse tossed his head and kicked his heels up into the sky. He knew he was misbehaving, acting like a young colt, but there was no other way to let out all his pent-up energy. He nodded, stamped a forehoof, and trotted around in a tight circle. What he wouldn't give to be out for a ride right now. He wanted to stretch his legs, to watch the ground speeding beneath him, and all the other excitement that came with a good buffalo hunt, but alas, the two-legs had been hunting recently, and the tribe had more than enough food, and there was no reason to go out.

With a sigh of defeat, Aditsan lowered his head to graze when a hauntingly familiar voice hit his hears. He froze, his mouth still open, only his ears moving in the direction of the sound.

Was that...could it be...?

He jerked his head up suddenly, the flies that had been trying to settle on his neck startled into flying away. He blinked in surprise, his skin tingling. "Spirit! Spirit, is it you?" the voice had said. Part of him couldn't believe his ears. It had been so long, maybe he was hearing some other mare's voice. Maybe the heat was getting to his head, he thought. Maybe Spirit was just a very common name in these parts, he told himself.

But he still couldn't help trotting over to the top of the hill to look over it, and when he did, he almost began to doubt his eyes.

There, in the corral, was the brown-and-white mare, and over there, tethered to an apple tree, was the dun stallion.

"Spirit! Rain!" he couldn't help but shout, prancing with excitement. What in the world were they doing here? Maybe they wouldn't recognize him? Oh, he doubted that. He still had the blue circle painted around his eye, after all.

Aditsan cantered down the hill towards the two other horses, prancing again as he came to a stop. He was still having a hard time beleiving himself. "What...what are you doing here?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

[shifujin]

Spirit lifited his head at the sight of his love, Rain. He nickered to her, but couldn't get to her. He knew where he was. What he didn't know, was why he was here. He knew they were in Lakota Village. But, Little Creek lived here. Where was he? Surely he'd sent them free again, Wouldn't he? Yes. Spirit then turned his attention to another horse. An old friend. Ah, my good friend, Adirsan! Spirit nickered to the horse. We were traded here, after being caught by another band of indians. What is Little Creek? Spirit asked.

He was angry. Angry that he was here, but he did not take that out on anyone else, other than those that caused him what he was going through. He pinned his ears again and rearing, striking the rope with his sharp, hard hooves. He jerked with his head and bucked at it. Still no use. Aditsan? Do you think you could help me get loose? Rain and I need to return! Spirit said. His ears pricked to Aditsan, awaiting his reply.

The young dun was fairly agitated, but as said before, he didn not take it out on anyone else. No never. That was not him. He looked back at Rain. We'll get out of here. He said. There was promise behind his voice. But, what was waiting beyond the corral? Just beyond the mountains. That was from where he had come, yes? Yes it was. That was where the other band of indians was. They'd have to sneak around, or risk going straight through,

[[R].ebel]

Rain could see him, she could hear his nicker and the sound of his voice, but the paint could not get to him. Her ears strained to hear him, eyes searching him over as if afraid at any moment he would just simply disappear into the air and she would not see him again. But his voice was too real, he was too real, he was there. Rain could tell that Spirit was talking to another mustang, but she could not hear them. She would have to wait for her chance to be with him.

[[esperanza]]

The mousy colored stallion nodded, still in a state of shock. It had been what, two years, since he had last seen these horses? It took a while for Spirit's words to sink in, but then he nodded, his mane flopping around the blue circle. "Yes, of course, just wait--" His voice trailed off as he spun around and cantered towards the teepees.

The Lakotas were mostly relaxing inside the cone shaped tents, or telling stories, or watching over groups of children who were playing games with sticks and balls. Aditsan pranced to a stop, looking around, his eyes searching for one brave in particular. A young man with thick black braids noticed the wayward stallion and glanced at him curiously before moving towards him. Aditsan trotted out of the way irritibly. No, not that one! He was looking for Little Creek.

Although he and Spirit had become friends, he still found it hard to understand why the dun mustang was so intent on breaking free. Didn't he know that these two-legs were kind...that they were friends? Wild-born horses were definately strange, all right. He rolled his eyes, not understanding Spirit's urgency, but at least respecting it. And, to be honest, he was a tad bit concerned. His inquiry as to what they were doing here had been unanswered.

But then there was Rain...what could make a mare give up everything she knew? Perhaps love was a strong thing, a very strong thing.

Where was Little Creek?

Aditsan trotted around another teepee, letting out a whinny, hoping the right person would respond.

{OOC//Sorry, but I'm gonna have to leave it at that, because I've felt a sudden irritating burst of Out-Of-Character-ness. It's been hard enough to characterize Adi right in this post, I don't want to butcher Little Creek's personality. D=}

[shifujin]

Something suddenly didn't feel right to Spirit. It seemed like Aditsan wondered why they had to go. I know it sounds like something out of a fantasy story, but hey, horses can pick up on the other moods of their own kind, and of the two-leggeds! Spirit honestly didn't understand indian horses. Rain? He understood her, but the others? No. Always so curious as to why they wished to leave. But, Spirit believed that Rain understood.

"This is hopeless." Spirit snorted, looking at Rain. Yes. He was speaking to her. Maybe she'd understand what he ment, but then again, maybe he'd have to explain. After all, he didn't mean hopeless as in, we'll never get out of here. No. He ment hopeless as in, remaining good friends with Aditsan. After all, the grey stallion seemed to not understand Spirit at all. Spirit loved the Lakotas, yes. Espically Little Creek. And so did Rain. But he was a wild horse, and that's where be belonged. In the wild. Not behind a wooden round pen. But out where the grass was green, and the lands seemed endless!

But, when could he return? More than anything, he wanted to get back to his mother. Esperanza. He wondered, what was she doing now? What about the rest of the herd? As the sun set, and the moon began to rise, Spirit could only wonder, and miss his homeland with every second he was away. No horse could ever know this feeling. He knew that seeing Little Creek again, Rain would be upset. He didn't want that. He wanted her happy, but he also wanted to go home. Where he belonged. And now, for the second time in his life, his heart was torn two ways again. One part, wanting to return, the other wanting Rain's happiness. What was he suppose to do now?