Catch me if you can, Gingerbread Man [Music]

[fennecfyre]

Though the canyon was scorching in the daytime, it became much more inhabitable at night. True, the darkness made navigation harder, but once her eyes had adjusted to the gloom, she was able to make do without walking face-first into a canyon wall. It was intriguing how radically the temperature changed once the sun went down--from sweltering to chilling in a matter of hours. She had spent the day resting in a small hollow in the rocks, letting the shade protect her from the overbearing sun until it finally set for the night.

She had emerged into an entirely-different world. Fireflies and moths filled the air with tiny blinks of light and softly-fluttering wings. Higher overhead were the dark and darting shapes of desert bats as they swooped and dived for insects. A little grey fox watched her as she passed, eyes shining brightly in the night. Trilling insect-song filled the air, and she could smell the heady scents of flowers as they bloomed in delicate clusters. Though the night was cold, it was a welcome relief to her--all mares got a bit hot and bothered in spring, for obvious reasons, and she was no exception. The night wind cooled her flanks, helping to take her mind off her surging hormones. Aryel was a fiercely-independent mare, and she resented being coerced into doing anything. The fact that such temptation was coming from her own body made no difference to her--she didn't do anything if she didn't want to, and that included letting some swaybacked "stud" get under her tail. 

She shook out her mane with an irritable snort and focused her attention outwards, rather than in. It really was a gorgeous night, and there was no point in wasting it griping about things she couldn't control. The grulla paused and dipped her head to snuffle at a patch of tough, fibrous grass, wondering what plants in this canyon were palatable.

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Darkness appealed to him. The black against the rock spoke to his rancid personality and he wondered if the female he had detected was still around. She was in heat and this made for him to desire. This was unacceptable but there was no time like the present to have a little fun. Everyone needed some once in a while. 
He broke away from the rock and cloak of night to be made known. He carried an overo coat and his eyes pierced the night. He dared to speak.

"Nice night for a walk." He enunciated each word slowly. He was interested, but at the same time, not that interested. She looked boring. Ugh.

[fennecfyre]

Had the wind been blowing in her favor, she might have scented the stallion before he was able to approach her. As it was, she remained oblivious to his presence until he spoke, prompting the mare to spook slightly at the sound of an unknown voice. She wasn't really a jumpy sort of horse, but like any lone herbivore, she knew that it paid to be wary, ready to dart away at the slightest hint of danger. A mountain lion wouldn't wait for her to notice its presence before attacking. 

The startle quickly wore off, replaced by a sort of relieved amusement as she saw that it was just another horse. She snorted and turned to face him, cocking a hoof idly. "That it is. Though, I have to ask," she grinned at him slightly, raising a brow. "do you always introduce yourself by sneaking up on unsuspecting equines?" As she studied the newcomer, she was surprised to note that he wasn't much bigger than she was, though his form was more lithe than her sturdy frame. 

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Concerto nodded, smirking slightly at the jumpy mare. It seemed fitting that she should spook easily, especially considering she was all alone on this fine evening. The multi-colored stud blew his nose in a snort at her remark. 

"Only when I see fit." He answered, using his usual tone of slightly bored with a hint of sarcasm. His deep voice resonated in his throat and he flicked an ear back, knowing that they were alone but pretending to hear something else. He figured with the dose of adrenaline flowing through her body, she wouldn't catch anything, and with that become more aware of their surroundings. It was a classic ruse, even if it was just for his enjoyment. 

"What's your name?" She might have a pretty name, something that might be worthy of his collection. The stud had quite a long list, something that not even his father had for all of his conquests. Even with the Saints, Concerto would always have that long list of friends. Some were no longer of this world, that much he knew for sure. But some of them were not even around anymore and it was hard to determine if they were a confirmed kill.

[fennecfyre]

Only when he saw fit? "Aw geeze, does that mean I was special enough to warrant it?" she retorted, her voice saccharine and teasing. She had met horses like this before--young, upstart stallions who put on a show for the whole world. Most of them, she knew, were all bark and no bite, and she took an impish enjoyment in pressing their buttons. He might have appeared tough and cool, but she highly doubted he was any kind of serious threat. 

That didn't mean he was the only threat in the canyon, however. She saw his ear swivel back and stay there, an indicator that he had heard something. She broke eye contact briefly to glance past him into the dark, in the direction his ear was now facing. She sniffed the air, but there was nothing of interest nearby but them and the fox she had seen earlier. He didn't seem overly concerned, so evidently, whatever he had heard wasn't cause for alarm. He asked for her name, drawing her attention back to him. "It's Aryel. And yours...?" 


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