FAMILY FIRST,

[Whipster]

This place was not home, it was not a canopied paradise to hide them all away, but the Lake was in some ways just as lovely. Socrates didn't mind it much anymore, even with his desire for the Hollow. Fall was slowly moving over the lands, bringing a new sunrise appeal to everything it touched. Cattail Lake was no different, the water lilies slowly disappearing, the grass turning a barley brown, and the threes burning bright red. It was a relaxing time of year for the stallion, leaving his bones at ease, even with the new loss of his daughter. Somehow, when Tierney had been swept away, retaliation for his own wrong doings, he didn't grimace and worry. His first born was strong, she knew how the world worked well enough for a girl only just coming two come the new year. Socrates worried of his beloved, though - how she felt, if worry was eating her - he could only hope not. Their treasured girl would be fine for now, until he could whisk her away or finally fight for her. 

He couldn't leave. Not right yet, not with three mares with round bellies slowly disappearing to give birth. His only worry was the dove Harlequin, his sweet second lady. The brindled brute found himself smiling in the wake of her, how close he felt since Lawless had fucked her over and left. Or Tauriel, someone he found to be his best friend. To pieces, he wanted to protect her from the bad that would have happened, heal her from the past wounds she wore, so well. Zinnia and Frozen would surely be around, though; it was merely a season months and a day that he had stolen the girls from their bedsides, and he knew neither would be happy. When he had taken Hank's woman, it was not out of spite. Pure mischief, really, that he could admittedly feel sorry about. All would be well, though. And Arya, his sweet little wolf, would venture her way home with child in hand and he would choke back emotions of seeing her sweet face. 

Elysia was a worry to him, too. He hadn't seen her since their late night rendezvous, where he had fallen in love for a brief second, fallen into a passionate tryst so fast it made his head spin. Would she come?

Socrates stepped into the light by the lake, searching the area, letting out a call for his companions. It was time they all met, it was time they all talked, told him how they felt. The man cared about their well being more than anything. And his two captives had yet to express to him their angst about being taken, he could only wonder what was going to happen. "Let's hope, then, that today is a day of rejoice. New life, wouldn't you know it, father?" Socrates looked to the skies, grinned, and waited. 

---

^{for my loves, kota, horsedreamer, illegal, ★★ kaykay, Splashs Rambo-Jam & arya/dryden, tauriel/torrid, harlequin/dakota, frozen, elysia/tobias, zinnia/child | i figured that everyone should meet and talk, please don't mirror this post kinda want a quick fire/rapid fire thread. but i love the whole group threading thing, and with all the momma's and babies and harley who he misses. plus, not sure if her child stayed in the herd! for the first couple posts just gonna continue, until everyone has posted, so laaaas go! C: OH AND SPLASHS, would love lysia to join but no worries if not i'll still reply to their other thread <3}

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[illegal]

HARLEQUIN

i turned my back on the person you've become
and realized what it means to be forgotten

IT had been a long time since Lawless had abandoned her, and Harlequin was finally beginning to move on. After all, she had the attentive Socrates to take care of her and then, of course, Dakota. The little blue bird was so quiet and innocent, Quin couldn't allow herself to give in to her anger and slowly growing hate. Her daughter needed her to be strong, and so she was, despite how she felt sometimes late at night when she was alone with her thoughts.

THE filly had been napping when the painted girl heard the call. She sighed and nudged her yearling, and their matching eyes met as Dakota stretched. Harlequin realized that her baby wasn't so small anymore, and that her legs were growing longer and longer each day. She might even end up taller than her mother. Wouldn't that be a sight?

"Mother, where are we going?" Every time Dakota spoke, Quin was so thankful that she didn't have Lawless's accent. Not that she would, since the bastard never even met his own child. She turned to the little cerulean girl and forced a lopsided smile. "Socrates has summoned us to a meeting. Come, we should not keep him waiting."

It did not take them long to move towards the middle of the land and towards the lake. Quin noticed that they were the first to arrive, and she dipped her head in a respectful greeting. Dakota did the same, and her mother was proud that she was finally paying attention. "Socrates. To what do we owe the honor?" A grin danced across her lips to accompany the warmth in her voice. While she was still angry and hurt at Lawless's betrayal, she did not mind living with the striped man and was thankful that he welcomed her and her child with open arms.

TEMPLATE BY ELIZA @ Delusional & SP

Whipster kota horsedreamer ★★ kaykay Splashs Rambo-Jam

[horsedreamer]

Tauriel made her way towards the call of her friend. She took it slow and steady to keep her strength from bringing a beautiful colt into the world, but also because the colt seemed to have trouble breathing at certain times. She wasn't sure what it was, but all that mattered to her was that he was alive and he was hers. 'We are almost home.' Home...She still could not fathom the idea of finally having a home. The air seemed crisp saying that fall was here and going to stay. She looked back to make sure her colt was still following her. He seemed to be enjoying his surroundings and squealing at some new thing he discovered. "Come son we are at the edge of our home. You will see your father for the first time." she said waiting to continue till he was by her side. She nudged him and then shook her mane and whinnied with joy at being home. Her son looked as if he was staring at a whole new world. Tauriel smiled softly then it widened when she caught sight of Socrates along with another mare she did not recognize. 'She must be one of the members of his harem.' she thought growing excited and nervous at the same time. She was excited to have some possible friends, but nervous they might not accept her. She was brought out of her thoughts by the colt squealing. She looked over and saw a chipmunk rush through the grass right in front of him. Tauriel laughed and nickered softly to calm him down. Then she made her way over to Socrates. "I heard you call and came as soon as he could walk steadily." she said smiling then nodding to the mare and her daughter. Then the Plato came out from behind Tauriel and stepped forward but kept close to his mother. "His name is Plato." she added uncertainty in her eyes.

torrid is brego and saffrons foal Whipster

illegal kota ★★ kaykay Rambo-Jam Splashs

[Whipster]

Socrates looked toward the beyond as she came, for the first time in quite a while. Harlequin was always so pleasant to him, even in the heat of being taken from her once bedside. He appreciated her for this, and could only smile at them, her and the child, bobbing his head in welcome. The brindle stud stepped onward, maw reaching to touch Dakota's crown and lip the little hair behind her ear. Children always brought him much joy, even with the girls age now blooming as the seasons passed by. He still looked at the girl like his own — just as much as he admitted to loving Harley. His ears twitched as the painted mare spoke, shrugging his shoulder and laughing lightly. "I felt like it was time to bring everyone together. There is much to celebrate this eve, wouldn't you agree?" A confidant, that's what he could consider her. And as he looked from her to her child, Socrates wondered if Dakota, too, was excited about the children.

That was when Tauriel made her way toward the trio. His ocean eyes shot right to her, quick to look her over and ensure she was unharmed. The seconds worth of panic washed away as the colt at her side bounded forward on his spindle legs, awkward and quaint, looking on curiously an guarded to the big brute and the painted lady. Plato questioned himself for a second, turning his eyes to momma as she spoke. Socrates was aware this was his child; smiled and laughed hardy when the boy spoke up in surprise. "You're big," the colt blurted awkwardly. The brindled brute rushed forward beyond Harlequin, matching Tauriel's uncertain eyes with his own confident ones. "Plato...a handsome name for a handsome boy! Come, son, meet your friends." Before bumping the boys rump, he touched his nose to Tauriel's. "He's perfect, love, how are you?" the man asked, leaning himself into her and motioning to Harlequin.

---

^{for my loves, kota, horsedreamer, illegal, ★★ kaykay, Splashs Rambo-Jam & arya/dryden, tauriel/torrid, harlequin/dakota, frozen, elysia/tobias, zinnia/child}

[★★ kaykay]

"the flowers told me that when we find ourselves, we blossom"

Frozen's approach was characterized by an irritated twitching of her tail and sharp flickers of her eyes. She had spent the last year being thrown around by men, and - goddamn - was she she tired of it. She did not need to feel like a prize, as some women did. No, Frozen had a strong male influence in her life - a man that taught her it was best to guard her heart and remain independent.

It was true, Rue had found herself pregnant by the seed of a stranger (but he was gentle, if distant, and longed to be in her life). Elsa was the name of their daughter, and the wild girl had run off as soon as she was old enough.

She was lonely; she could admit that. Frozen had spent the last year either with Yarrman (an exhausting and confusing existence) or wandering with Elsa. For whatever, she could not bring herself to search for Kladdan. Though he had offered her a home and comfort when she needed it, she did not want to face him with their child (or the scars of a panic-ridden woman). Her tiny black daughter was beloved, but held a strange blot on her heart. She wished she could understand what it was the drove her child, but the young began to believe that she never would.

Socrates was her new owner. Frozen had taken to considering them masters, the men that repeatedly stole her.

There was gathering ahead, one that the golden mare did not take kindly to. Even in her anger, though, she found herself fascinated by their dynamics - and her eyes widened in a childish curiosity (a wonder that had never left her). her approach was silent, as was her arrival. There was nothing for her to say, and she merely studied Socrates with soft eyes.


Whipster kota horsedreamer illegal Splashs Rambo-Jam

[Rambo-Jam]

To the rose grey splash lady was not entirely pleased with the situation her and her yearling son were in, yet she knew she was at her own fault by not asserting the problem right away. and now Mason, her son was becoming antsy to see his father again. Which was entirely understandable, being only six or eight month when they'd been separated last winter. Dark brown visionaries watched the yearling colt with great concern, not sure if a rebellious stage was in store if she wasn't able to restore the union of father and son. Though she pined to be at the side of the one stallion she had chosen to be with for once, Zinnia was far more worried about how Mason and Hank felt. Glancing away in dismay at herself, she felt like she'd failed as a lead mare, letting fear of this Socrates keep her a prisoner longer. 

 Intentionally evading the brindled brute and keep a fine distance during spring so not to let mother nature break her desire to stay committed to Hank, even if it was in physical manner. She had not had the desire to confront the bay man even in summer and Mason's questions grew every day about when would they return home. At this point she was sure means he was a colt he'd probably be released before she herself. As she didn't know much about this Socrates, he was a stallion none the less and they normally always held onto the gems they had stolen for quite some time, but generally bothered not with the baggage they brought along. Indeed she was viewing him to be as prudent and crude as the stallion she'd been claimed by before arriving to Mustang, which wasn't proper or right of her in the least. 

 The call from the distance caught her attention, her heart dropped for a second before taking a deep breath, she needed to regain the courage she once had for her son's sake. Looking over, the grey goggle-eyed splash bay colt gave an irritated roll of his eyes, he was becoming extremely irritable lately and was piping up quite the attitude to his mother. Though his manners were still in check, he was short one words and quick on leaving on the spot when angered, as to not take his frustrations out on his matron. Zinnia nickered to him, "Please Mason, I will be talking to Socrates today, if anything I'll ensure your safe return first." She chimed to him, at first surprised and confused, stepped forward pressing his forehead into her neck.

"I may want to be with father, but I don't want to leave your side mother. We go together. I won't leave you behind." Zinnia's heart fluttered as she kissed the bridge of her son's muzzle, filled with pride that her son would say and do such a thing. Perhaps she had still instilled and taught him good morals even without Hank there to help. The splashed maiden prayed he'd be proud of how much his son had become. Sighing she nudged Mason and lead the way to the echos of voices and laughter. 

Never holding anything against the other mares in the herd, Zinnia approached in her  quaint dainty manner, probably being one of the most elegant drafts with how fluent and smooth her motions always were. Not a smile nor a frown accomidated her features as she approached the gathering, keeping a distance seeing the brindle pelted stallion was attending his own newborn children. The rose grey mistress cared not to budge into family afairs, she had come on business, so in the mean time she was graze a short distance away from the herd waiting her time to approach Socrates.

Even so it seemed the sight of the other foals made Mason a bit more childish himself. Not venturing close to the group, he took his games out on his mother, nipping and biting the base of her neck and pressing his weight into hers. The yearling had taken on great deal of his patron's bulking lineage, and was indeed large for his yearling age. But Zinnia couldn't help but laugh heartedly at the boy's playful spirit, every so often returning the game between grazing bites. Both enjoyed their time together as mother and son, no matter their moods they seemed to always know how to make the other smile. 

(uber sorry for late reply. Whipster illegal horsedreamer @kota ★★ kaykay Splashs)

[Splashs]

OOC: hey guys. just go on without me. I don't have proper muse for a group thread. sorry.

[horsedreamer]

    Tauriel smiled at Plato's comment. The light grew brighter in her eyes and she seemed to have a happier countenance then before. She focused her eyes onto Socrates as he spoke and touched her nose. "I'm glad. As for me I am well and I want to thank you. You've given me something I always dreamed of, but never though possible." she replied leaning into him as well. Her dark eyes then focused on the other mares that had come with their children. She grew a little nervous, but felt confident with him by her side. As she waited for him to reply she watched Plato just to make sure he was okay. She didn't want to lose anyone else that shared her heart. "I must confess being a little nervous as to meeting everyone." she added glancing at him who proved to be a friend in her time of grief. She pushed down her fears of repeating history and mustered the courage from deep down and put it to the front.
     She sighed breathing in the cool fall air promising winters coming. She hoped for the foals' sakes it wouldn't be harsh especially the new ones. She glanced around at the other mares again and wondered who was his first lady. She didn't know the history of the herd that well so she was curious how everyone got along. Tauriel brought her ever wandering mind back to the present before she missed Socrates' reply or let Plato get out of sight. She hoped he would make friends as well and that he knew she would be there for him like her mother was for her. This was a new start for her and she prayed it would last.