By The Night

[Alanna]

The moon was just starting to come into sight. The night clear and starry. Pretty to look at. The tide low giving a nice streach of sand. White markings seeming to glow in the growing moonlight of the full moon blurred with each movement. Boldly blazed head tossed up and metals on her bridle set aglow a moment before dulling in the night. The equine kept the steady pace of a canteralong the sand.
Controlling the brown and white marked black beast was a huntress of her own kind. Black hair tied back and blow in the breeze from the pace and the sea. Eyes a ghostly blue. Skin tainted by hours in the sun. Red dress that ended just above the knees altered from its oranginal making. The waist held a belt with a few pouched and a sword hanging from it. The sleeves shorted and the neck line lower. At her neck a black leather thong was tied which had a flat wooden horse pendent.
The equines steps slowed witht he pressure upon her mouth. Finally stopping a loud snort was given and her head tossed up. Rider looked about slacking her grip on the reins. Hand rested on the horses rumbp as she turned looking behind her. Alert and searching. Ears straining to catch sound of anything other than the raor of the sea.

[Hamlet]

It was a calm night, nothing out of the ordinary expect one thing. His once partner was not with him but however, turned his back on the only true friend he would ever get. His brother couldn't do justic for the type of person he was.. Was nothing but a traitor. But now it was back to the way Laios was. Cold hearted and untrusting. There was no one on this earth worth it any more, expect for his mare. Heru.

He breaths in heavily as his jaden eyes drop for a second to his mare's bobbing head. There was nothing more he wanted then to slaughter humanity. Call him a misanthrope but it was who he was, Raphael had deffinately rubbed off of him for he was even more antisocial then he had started out. Cruel features hardend even more as he glances towards the dark ocean. Even with the moon out you couldn't see very much, for it seemed like a black euphoria. His head lightly lowers and he kicks his mare to boost her up into a more of a trot. Her gait was perfect something that always seemed to be great as a stress reliever and believe me. He had a bunch of it. Silver chain around his neck glimmered lightly off of the moons bright rays, the tip of his sword flickering lightly. He wasn't the greatest at meeting new people but when it came to fighting and swordsmen ship. he was deffinately not one to cross. for he was brutal. With his passion of hateing all those who crosses him, believe me.. He wouldn't think twice at killing even the innocent young girl. He was a well known womanizer.... a theif... a betrayer. He wasn't one to trust.

he moved with the movements of his mare and soon up ahead he seen some one. Keeping as calm as he could possibly be, his mare slowed down automatically but he didn't fight against her. He was to worn out to even think so. Gently he lowrered his head again, chin moving towards his chest as he lightly closes his eyes for a second. Listening.

[Alanna]

The faint hint of hooves on sand reached her ears. Naught was gven away by her expression. Which was impassive most the time. Looking about carefully once more as the other slwoly appeared into her libe of sight. Gaze left the on comming horse and rider.
Ember chewed her bit and stuck the ground sending sand up. Suddenly circling tightly a few rounds her rider pulled up the reins forcing the horse to arch his thick neck before she moved the other direction once. "Enough", low and cool vocals passed her lips. The mare snorted and stilled. Gaze flickered upon the other making her hand shift so it was closer to her sword incase it was needed,
Heels tapped the sides of the young horse sending the tall equine into a walk. Ember lifted her head and gave a loud silence piercing whinny. Sort of like shattering a frigile glass with the volume of her vocals.

[Hamlet]

Heru had been fine until she heard the whinny. Immediately her head moved up wards and almost like a wolf would when an answer came back from their pack. She stops dead, tossing her head up into the air, she echoed the other mares call. He rolls his eyes lightly. "d**n mares." he muttered. He kicks his horse lightly but with much diffiance, Heru lifted her large hoof tucking her head towards her chest and dug at the ground, flinging sand as though she was a dog digging.

"Heru..." He voiced lightly. But the mare kept her antic up and pawed the ground with heavy and harsh blows as though she was trying to kill a mouse. Jaden eyes move upwards towards the rider and horse as he lightly tries again this time putting more force into his kick so that it made his mare jump. He gripped the reigns lightly and moved in her in tight circles to get her at lest moving and eventually pull her out of it.

[Alanna]

Black and brown ears instantly flickered back at the return call and she lurched to a stop. The jerky stop made her rider kick her sides to move but she didn't. Xena's jaw twitched in irritation. Sometimes her horse. Glancing back at the other larger mare pull a few antics on her rider she kicked Ember again. Really not in the mood to bother with a human being at the moment.
Of course kicking the mare made her back up. Exactlly what she had in mind. Not. "Stupid beast", she hissed. Pulling the reins. Not working. Another kick. Nope. Ember took step for step back slowly drawing them closer. Jerking one rein simply made the mare tuck her head with a loud snort. Why she had to get her a head strong mare was beyond her. The horse stopped half a step from the other though and whickered again turning while her mistress still tried to turn her away wanting to be away and gone. But the stubborn beast refused.

[Hamlet]

"Heru!" He cursed as the mare finally pulled to a sharp stop nearly flinging him over her head. He gripped the saddle and leaned on her neck. "d**n it." He would have smacked her but she then started to try and head towards the backing up mare. Pulling back on the reigns, Heru pushed her head fowards and pushed against her rider nearly yanking it out of his hands. He leans lightly backwards. He didn't want to meet up with this person at the moment for... He was truly exhausted and if they insisted on a fight. he wouldn't have much energy to put forth. He yanked hard on the raigns which made her jolt to the side and once more, their circles started up again. Frustration was boiling to its peak with Laios and he smacks the side of her thick neck which only made her stop short again and snort. He growls and groans lightly as he stares down at the back of his mares head. But soon he found that the rider was now near them and the mare that got Heru all riled up was whickering to her again. he closes his eyes and rubs the side of his face. she usually wasn't this bad. But then again. She seemed to always bond well with Mares and she hadn't seen another mare in a while. Which sometimes.... made her yearn for company.

[Alanna]

Another whicker was given which died off with a squeal by the rough yank on her mouth. Head went up agaisnt the bit and she chewed before lowering it. Each movement went agaisnt her trying to get the other away. And of course all the yanking and kicks agervated the mare. So what to happen next if not to dump the rider? Suddenly rearing up on her hind legs with a loud whinny and twisting before landing. Xena's grip lax that moment to get a better grip of the reins slipped making her fall.
The moment she fell she swore. Sitting up after the momentary shock of falling left her she got to her feet and brushed her-self off. Her mare walked isntantly over muzzle reaching out to greet the other steps high and prancy as though she accomplished some important goal. "Ember", she growled as she shook sand from her hair. Ghostly eyes falling on the horses.

[Hamlet]

His head was beginning to hurt as his skin to be on fire with complete and utter aggrivation. he slipped from his mare who took this as oportunity to try and move towards the other mare, but found it difficult. He pulled on the reigns and she pulled back. Of course being a big mare she wasn't putting all her weight in the tug for it would knock him off his feet. But rather in the shadows it looked like they were playing tug of war and of course... the mare was winning. Cursing and growling he soon moves towards her and yanks on the reigns which made her head fly up and her lightly lit up off of her front hooves and put more weight onto her back ones. Ears pinned to her skull having enough for she wanted to meet with this mare, she puts all he weight in her tugging which made him lightly fall fowards and drag him along as she moved towards the other mare, greeting her.

Soft whickers were given to the other mare as though they had been friends for ever. Head high and ears erect. Laios finally let go of the reigns and laid on the ground staring up at the mares, his fingers gripping the sand as he lowers his head and closes his eyes. He really just wanted to lay there but with what little strength he had left.. He used his arm strenth to lift him up. His body felt like jello for he had never truly had his mare toss him around like a rag doll.

[Alanna]

Ember totally thrilled to finally reach the other side stepped and pranced in place. Acting rather like a filly. Tossing her head up and giving whickers and snorts ranging in volume.

Xena watched the two in disgust. Kicking sand in their direction before sitting down glaring at them not really in the mood to try and pull Ember away and loose. Head turned up to look at the sky. A sigh given she tiredly rubbed her face and laid back though still listened for the other.

[Hamlet]

He had finally managed to push himself into a sit. but found himself not to much into the idea of actually standing up. Raising his knees lightly towards his chest his head tucked lightly as arms wrapped around his knees. Closing his deep jaden eyes he kept silent. He didn't know where the other was... Must had been thrown off some where was all he could guess. But he wasn't into much of a friendly mood. Not that he ever truly was. His finger intwined with one another as his legs lightly leaned against his arms, his finger the only thing that kept them up.

Heru tossed her head lightly lifting up off her front hooves and doing a small little twirl. Nipping the other gently as she prances around her. It was a sight to see such a large horse doing so, for she wasn't as small and and elegant as the other mare... but rather large and regal.

Optics opened when he heard his mare getting all excited about her accomplishment. He glares over in her direction and about that time as the mares moved he could see the other horses ride. He however didn't move but kept his gaze there for a second. It seemed the other horses rider was female and by the looks of it she didn't seem to friendly. Mentally he growled and picked up sind in his hands and let it gently slip between his fingers. He got so intranced by the sight that his tired and weary mind seemed to drift.

[Alanna]

Of course the nips and playing got her more excited. She gave a playful squeal and gave small nips. Moving with then before the other sort of like the two played a game of twining.

Xena watched the sky a bit but the whickers and sound of hooves and the squeal was to irritating. Pushing her-self up to sit she looked at the mares. Brow cocked a moment. But then she shifted her gaze upon the other. So long as the male stayed away she had no reason to draw blade. To be honest she was tired. Head bowed as her eyes dropped the sound of prancing hooves on sand turned entrancing. Shaking her head to wake as the night slowly wore on.

[Hamlet]

He breaths in deeply and with a heavy sigh. He let himself fall backwards on the sand. His eyes closed as his hand rests on his chest. He couldn't keep himself up any longer, even if he wanted to. One knee remained high as the other was laid out straight. The sound of sleep was calling him but also.. the mares prancing around having their little play time made him nervous. Moving his head to the side he looks at the legs of the mares which seemed like two moving trees that swayed back and forth in his tired eyes mind. He stares off lightly unable to keep up with the hightend movements around him. He was so tired it was getting irritating. He didn't want to sleep on the beach out in the open.

Wearily he raises himself up again sandy hands moving towards his head as he lightly runs his fingers through his messy shaggy hair. This was getting rough on him. With out his partner he was pretty much a sitting duck when it came to resting at night. No matter how much Heru hated the gelding... He had to admit it had been rather quiet with him and her sqwaking at each other. Lazily he rose to his feet trying to wear this tired streak off of him. This was no place to be vulnerable. With shakey tired concealed legs he carries himself away from the mares which caught Heru's attention for a second. He moves towards the ocean where he kicked his boots off on the side. He was willing to do anything to keep himself awake. the water swept up to his feet which was slightly startling at how cold it was at its first touch to his steamy skin.

As the water touched him it was like a sudden jolt that awaked him. He straightend his posture only lightly as he stared into the blackness. His arms crossing over his chest as his head lightly lowered for a second, walking along the shore line in silence. If they woman hadn't noted anything by now. He had no interest in her as long as she had no interest in him. He probably wouldn't snap if she tried to talk to him but I wouldn't expect his features to be so forgiving. He kicks the water below his feet as he stops and looks towards the mare then to the woman for a second. He hated his mare some times and in the middle of her play he knew better then to go over there and grab her. With that large of a body mass flinging around, you had to be insane in order to get between that. His eyes draw away and over towards the hills where he and heru had come from. remaining there as he stood in silence.
Would either of these two riders make an effort to talk to each other?

[Alanna]

The thin line between sleep and awake seemed blurred. But movement other than the mares caught her attention and her ghostly eyes followed the male. He seemed to have the right idea on waking. Shaking her head she took a small wine skin from her belt and took a drink of the strong drink. It helped as much as a strong drink could. Getting to her feet she streached with a sigh.

The night sea breeze pulling small locks of her raven colored hair from its tie. Hand lifted and fingers brushed those back. Toe of her boot pinned her heel down and she slipped her foot from her boots and did the same with the other. Bare feet touching the cool snad as she gave the horses a birth moving to the water edge. Toes touched the freezing water and she took a breath.

Eyes shifted to him once more ignoring the playing equines behind her. Honsetly she didn't much care for people. Taking a few steps in the water she crouched down and picked up a bit of something shinny she say. Standing she used a thumb to brush the sand away to fins a black shell was all. Fist wrapped around it and she crossed her arms staring out in the distance. Eyes closing with the breeze. Ears keeping taps on the male and the horses.

[Hamlet]

Laios kept hs eyes out on the distance but detecting something moving towards him he glances merely. The youn woman had too made her way towards the ocean seemingly having the same problem as him. Staying awake. The warm breezed pressed lightly against his skin again as he could still hear the loud hoof beats of the equines but seemingly it seemed that they were starting to move on down the beach. He glances and as he guess it. They were. JAws tighten and he lightly brings his hand and covered his face for a second listening for any more movement from the female.

[Alanna]

Shell still in her grip she stayed still the breeze on her face. The sound of the horses hooves moving off made her eyes snap open. Looking around quickly she swore under tone. "D*mn mares", she hissed. Without much thought she poped the black shell in a pouch and stepped from the water. Rolling her head to loosen tight muscles in her neck. Brushing her hands off together. Shaking her head to get loose hairs from her face she moved along the sand not much mind on the male in the direction she was moving generally to. Gaze set on the mares and around her. Simply walking to keep awake still more.