i had a way then, losing it all on my own

i had a heart then, but the queen has been overthrown

i'm not sleeping now, the dark is too hard to beat

and i'm not keeping now, the strength i need to push me

_____________________________

Pierce waited impatiently on the beach. The bay mare paced back and forth, just imagining what punishment she would grace him with when he arrived. Back in the Ridge, she had gladly pulled out a whole clump of Nikola's mane. That had been just awhile ago and she thought back to it fondly. No this.. thing that thought he could whisk her away deserves something a lot more... intense. Pierce had heard that mares could battle their stallions for freedom. Perhaps she would do that, if he didn't let her leave on her own. The fiery mare believed she was Nikola's and she would only allow him to "own" her. Besides, what kind of decent boy would sneak around and steal a mare? One should be proud and strong and fight for what they get. She pawed furiously at the sand; hoping to scar this territory.

The stallion finally appeared and she guessed he made it a point to take his time. The brute was a tiny bit taller than her but not enough to make a fight unfair. He was dark with blonde hair. Hm. Not too bad looking. Looks weren't everything though; and Pierce figured him for a coward. The mare straightened her stance and was glad she had nursed herself back to health. She was lean thanks to her Arab blood, but her lean "beauty" was not without toned muscles of course. Her nostrils still flared and so now a new scent arrived. Along with this brute's, she could tell Vesti had arrived. That poor thing. All the boys were after her. Pierce had watched as she turned her back on the stallion. A sense of smug satisfaction overcame Pierce. In her mind, she promised Nikola that she would return Vesti and herself back home as soon as she could.

Her ears stayed plastered to her skull as he approached her. His voice was quiet as he "corrected" her. Pierce dug her hooves deeper into the sand in hopes to control herself. "Badr and brute. Close enough for me." she snorted and looked him in the eyes. "I don't care what you call me; as you sure as hell don't deserve to use my name." Pierce snapped back.

This brute would not think he owned her and she was his. No, for now she would only be "that mare he stole". If he thought she would care what he thought of her or called her, he was in for a surprise. Pierce stood awaiting his next words. Should they be smart ass, boy she was ready to have fun.