Fallen's Patrol

(Anyone may enter this post, but you must have good grammar, and no one-liners. x3)


Fallen paced his way up the precarious ledge, his wide hooves barely small enough for the path. The stony, crumbling path wound it's way up the black, snow-capped mountain like a spiral staircase, only much more dangerous, needless to say.
Fallen cast his bright, honey-colored eyes down upon his foggy, gloom-ridden canyon with a hint of omnipresent disdain. The smell of steeping sewage and warm garbage wafted up to him, a lacy thread of death and blood singing along it. It was a pity how bad of a shape the canyon was in nowadays. Skeletons of his long-dead species littered the valley floors, but what could he do about that? Young, dumb horses kept trying his patience by entering his land, either on a thrill-trip dare, or simply due to misguidance.
Either way, he'd gotten tired of giving out warnings for the horses to leave, or meet their deaths. You would think they would have gotten the message by now: My canyon, do not enter.
He knew inside himself that he didn't have to kill them, he could let them pass, but his fuse was a short one, and he became angered easily. If everyone would simply stay away from his property, then maybe he wouldn't be quite so short.
Throwing his head about, he rebuked himself. No, he thought, let them come. He enjoyed the smell of fresh blood.

The young mare huffed her way along the dark path ahead of her. She didn't like this area. How did she even get in here? She wanted to head off to the large flowery meadows, but this place was compleatly different. Sighing, she stopped and pricked her ears up. There must be another horse to ask for directions. There just has to be. She kept going. Maybe if she could get out of this damned forest, she'd have better luck.

Starfire began to trot ever so slightly, her mane and tail bobbing in rythem. Her ears pricked once more. She heard the sound of rushing water. Smirking slightly, she headed closer to it. Perhaps that was her ticket out of hear.

Fallen let his eyes flutter closed, his other senses taking over, stronger. He heard subtle nuances of sound from under the roar of the river. His large, furry ears swiveled back with modest, contained anger. He began a lively trot down the mountain path, his rush to meet the source of such uninvited sounds nearly causing him to scramble down the sheer mountainside. Calm yourself, Hatuhm. He heard a voice call in his mind. He knew by the voice and by the way it called him by his true name that it was Draco. He reached the gnarled brush at the bottom of the mountain to find him perched on a dead, scorched Joshua tree, preening his jet feathers. "One of these days you are going to tumble off that mountain, and then who is going to guard the canyon?" He riddled. Fallen simply snorted, blowing up his wavy black mane. He dismissed Draco, trotting in the direction of the river... and caught a scent blow up into his nose. Mare. "Hmm..."

The mare slid to a quick stop, nearly tumbling over the steep edge of the canyon below her. She breathed hard, her heart and lungs nearly jumping out of her chest. That was a close call, she thought silently, looking down into the endless hole below her. She would need to be more careful here on out. She carefully backed away, to the cover of the forest. She would follow the canyon from here, following the water downstream. It seemed like a good plan.

Starfire began her treck once more, this time going slower, and more carefully. She did not yet smell the scent of stallion.

Fallen was cautious not to let the wind carry his scent to the mare. He followed her slowly, from afar, at the other side of the forest. Glimpses of her bright coat peered from between thick stands of sickly, arching birch trees. Draco silently dipped through the forest, staying in the shadows so as not to attract attention. A game of cat and mouse, which Fallen liked, only the mouse did not yet know their plight.

Starfire's ears where perked and alert. She felt like she was being watched, but told herself that she was just being paranoid. Who would be in this dangerous place, anyway? Snorting lightly, she moved just a tad faster, trying to shake that feeling away from her.

Fallen picked up the pace gently as did the mare across from him. Draco dipped down from above the treetops and dived to level out beside Fallen. "A mare, definitely," Said the raven, "Not from this land." Fallen huffed. "Of course she isn't," He countered, and slowed his canter to a trot, and isolated his strength to his nose. He smelled valley wildflowers, a recent rainstorm, and lush meadow grasses. "She's from the valley." He concluded, "Or somewhere near." Distracted by his nose, his huge, flint-hard hoof crashed down on a brittle twig. He froze.

Starfire slid to a brisky stop. She barely heard the twig snap somewhere behind her over the rushing roar of the river below her. She now knew someone, or something was staling her. She glanced behind her, inhaling the air. Stallion. She learned not to trust stallions, and this was one of those times. She broke out in a gallop deep into the forest, hoping to loose the stalker stallion.

Fallen charged. Draco took flight before him, accelerating to catch the fleeing mare. The over-sized raven then swooped down above her head, flying between her ears, then swirling under her stomach. He loved being a terrorist. Fallen's huge, powerful muscular legs would obviously be no match for the mare's thin pegs. His tail and mane flew behind him like the deadly sails of a pirate ship. His black, polished hooves struck the ground thunderously and his lungs worked to fuel him onward. He crossed through the thin, pale birch forest and emerged right behind the mare. He lowered his head, his back and neck lined up like an arrow, and sped up even further.

Starfire could hear the pounding of hooves behind her, and the flapping of wings above her.She glanced up to see the black bird, soaring between her ears, then diving under her. She tripped over the bird, and tumbled down onto the hard rocky earth. She tried to scramble up, but she knew it was to late. She would be cought. Slowly, she turned to face the aproaching stallion.

Fallen saw the mare tumble, desperately scrambling to her feet, and falling again. He skid to a stop just before her, throwing up a cloud of dull dust. He snorted, his heaving chest shining with sweat. He enjoyed the power he felt as he towered over her. Draco circled high above like a vulture who knew something they didn't.
"Who are you and what unthinking decision brought you here to my land?" He said with the deep, velvet, but now hard voice of a tyrannical king. He stomped his stony hoof before her exposed stomach, demanding answers. Draco landed on the ground beside him, hopping about, looking quizzically at the girl.

The mare looked at the stallion, and got to her feet. She snorted at him, "My name is Starfire," She spoke in a light, angelic tone. "I am simply lost in this land you call home. " She told him, looking him directly in the eye, waiting and watching for his responce. Perhaps, he would lead her out of this horrid place. Or, worst case, he would simply kill her. She erased that thought from her head.

He tilted his head as she boldly stared him in this tawny eyes. He flared his nostrils. "You're from the valley, aren't you?" there was infinitesimal chance he could be wrong, judging from his nose. "You surely are far from home." He gave an evil pulling back of his lips, showing the golden tips of two fangs which he displayed proudly. His gaze drifted to Draco. "Draco, old man, we both know what happens when newcomers arrive." Draco tilted his head all the way to one side, his greenish-black eyes peering eerily at her. "Yes." He crowed, launching. "Come." Fallen ordered flatly, and followed Draco's aerial path, which led them further along the canyon's edge.

"I know I am far from home," Starfire snorted lightly, and listened to the stallion's words. She didn't show it, but she was deathly afraid. What was he going to do with her? Hearing the stallion's dark words, she followed him. She didn't dare try to run again. She also had no choice. He was her only ticket out of this place. She slowly followed.

Draco led Fallen and Starburst, or whatever the little creature's name was, to a place where the canyon, below to their right, narrowed off to a small pathway, then to a circular opening. A perfect place for a trap, Fallen noted for later as he observed the area. Draco landed and hopped along a rocky, steep path down the canyon's sheer wall. Fallen managed the black, brittle rock with ease, never looking back to check on the mare's safety. He led her into the circular opening in the rock, and Draco stood in the only exit to ensure her captivity. In the middle of the opening was a low mound of rock. The rock was an odd, glimmering black with creamy slivers instead of the matte crunch of their surroundings. "This rock," Fallen began, "fell into this opening hundreds of years ago. Many have tried to move it, but, for it's small size, it will not budge. If you can somehow manage to move it, you may live to walk out of this land. If not...." He trailed off, going over to Draco to watch and be amused. For 25 years he'd watched young horses try their best at this, and for 25 years, only one has succeeded. He thought about the trick with pride, knowing himself how it could be moved. The magnetic stones beneath the rock kept it glued there, and nothing but supernatural ability could break the ties.

Starfire looked at him, and then the rock ahead of her. She noted the litter of bones everywhere. She slowly stepped towards the rock, and lightly kicked it. It seemed safe...nothing would jump out at her. "And thats it? All i have to do is move this rock?" She asked, and stepped back to Fallen. "Whats the catch?" She snorted lightly. She knew there was more.

"What? Catch?," He said, as if hurt by her words. Fallen gave a shrug of his immense, bulky shoulders. "No catch. Just a test of strength, maybe of willpower, or luck. If you treasure your breath enough, you'll find a way." He gave a sinister smile, focusing his mind on the magnetic rocks below the boulder, keeping them glued tightly together. Fallen noticed that if you could tune out the roar of the river, the steady hum of magnetic energy could be heard below their feet.

Starfire nodded slightly, and flicked her golden tail. "Whatever you say," She snorted, going towards the rock. She still did not trust the stallion. She knew something was up. She nudged the rock lightly. It felt solid, as if it was apart of the floor. She glanced at The stallion, and walked towards him. "Your a big, strong stallion, Why don't you show me how its done, big boy?" She spoke innocently, yet lovingly.

Fallen faltered. He gave the girl a look, brow furrowed. The cloying sweetness of her voice, it shocked him. Like a jolt to his skull, making his head hurt. He shook his mane ever so lightly, recovering. "Of course," He said cruelly, and obliged her by breaking the connection of the magnetic rocks, never moving. The rock twitched a bit, and then rose into the air as Fallen controlled it with his mind. Warbling, the rock hovered for a moment, then suddenly crashed back to earth, the connection strong again.

Starfire watched in awe as the bolder levitated in the air. "Was that you? You made the rock float like that?" She asked, glancing at him, then back at the rocks. She tried to act as surprized as she could. "Is that the only way you can move them?" she asked, stepping closer to the stallion, ever so slightly.

Fallen leaned back as the mare inched closer, an odd aura radiating from her, making him uncomfortable. "Perhaps," He said, trying to keep his levity masked, though his darting eyes betrayed him. "Or perhaps not." He said, finally taking a step back, revealing his uncertainty. Did this mare know his only soft spot? How could she? Unless she'd gotten to the only other horse who'd beaten him before....he hid the thought. Draco sensed his unease and squawked, lifting his wings. "Just get to it, female, and stop stalling!"

Starfire took another step closer as he moved back. She could sence his nervousness. Then the awful bird squawked. She turned her head and glared at the bird. "Alright, alright." She walked ahead towards the rock, lightly, flicking her tail in Fallen's face suducively. She eyed the rock, then began to push and shove at it.

The contents of Fallen's head swirled around dangerously when Starfire swished her mane in his face, it's scent wafting to him. He finally turned his head away from her, taking in a deep breath. His mind was racing, his temples throbbing painfully. Draco gave him a concerned look. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing." He gasped, and began walking out of the clearing. Draco, torn between watch the mare and flying after his cohort, chose the latter. "What are you DOING?" He cried, as Fallen gasped and wheezed his way down the canyon.
"She knows my only soft spot," He replied, going into a franctic trot. "Just like the other. I have to go. Let her leave. She'll likely die before she finds her way out, anyway." Draco finally landed, staring on incredulously.

The mare glanced nervously at the two. She was confused. Had she gone to far? She slowly edged away from the stone. She was alone..but she couldn't leave. She wanted to check on Fallen. She stayed quietly near the rock keeping hear ears perked and alert. She felt awfully bad now.

Fallen kept pacing along the canyon floor until his headache faded with the distance. He huffed and puffed, his amber eyes darting this way and that as he tried to figure out what had just happened. Draco stayed behind, just outside the circular opening's mouth, puzzled. He'd only seen his comrade this stunned once before. He looked back at the girl, who looked utterly surprised, and, guilty? "I guess you win," Draco said finally, his voice now gentle, ruffling his feathers. He flew to the large rock and perched himself on it, hoping that the mare wouldn't mind his closeness. "This has only happened once before, you know. The only other horse to win the challenge, this very same way." He restrained himself from saying any more.