Taytim

The young mare was taken aback by the actions and words of the others words and actions. It seemed like every move Ysabel made and every word she spoke was meant to do something else than converse. Taytim had come across horses who were tricksters and backhanded, but she had been able to avoid prolonged interactions with them. It was the mischievous ones she had occasionally decided to run with, whose trickery was innocent, harmless, and clear as day on their faces when they got caught. Her play was meant for laughter, it seemed to her that the only one laughing at Ysabel’s jokes, were herself.

When the other mare laughed at her and moved closer, Taytim’s ears flattened briefly in warning. She could not pick a fight, and she knew it. But she also knew she could deliver a mean kick in distraction while she ran away. Fear of bodily harm was not on her mind, but she almost feared the insulting and mean nature of the other would pass through the air and infect her. At first it hurt her that she would have been called ‘naive’ and ‘stupid’. For a moment she stewed in it, before she became disgusted with the other mare.

It was the words ‘claim’ and ‘prize’ that had made Taytim’s heart sink. Wouldn’t it figure that the very first place she and her friend adventured to had ended up with him possibly becoming the pet to a pirate sneak-thief mare. She listened to the two speak and she hung her head in a silent, and sad, apology to her ever chivalrous friend.

She began to understand the rules of vulcan territory and what happened when a stallion entered. Her ears flicked in displeasure at all of it. This was possibly why she still always felt the need to be on the move, to travel, and choose who and what she shared her time and company with. As Ysabel spoke of her claim on Rodrigo, Taytim became more concerned for his wellbeing. She could not physically protect him like he could her, but she knew she had to have something at her disposal. She just had no idea what.

The other mare mentioned ‘you can leave your friend with me.’ She did not know what the other mare would do to Rodrigo, but she had a sneaking suspicion the brute would not have liked it. Taytim snorted and stamped her foot, finding her voice a little.

“Not a chance. I think I will stay.” Taytim’s loyalty ran deep and Rodrigo had set himself in front of the other mare. The least she could do for him was keep him company during his imprisonment at the Peak. Their deal had been that they would part ways when either of them chose to with no hard feeling towards the other. It would have been poor form and poor character if she had decided to split ways the moment things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse for one of them.

She reached her nose out to Rodrigo and lowered her voice. “I’m sorry, Rodrigo. I had no idea.” She did not feel as though he were angry at her, but that did not mean he was not upset and too kind not to show it. He had a goal he wanted to reach, a promise he needed to keep, and she had accidentally led him astray. “Hopefully it will be merely another story to tell?” Her voice was a little hopeful, trying to find the light in the situation.

Her attention turned back to Ysabel. “So, dear Ysabel. What do you plan to do with us, now that you’re stuck with us?”

~:Mare

~:Morgan Mutt

~:15.3hh

~:Black Chestnut