While Olaf might not be as svelte as your average horse, he was not as thick and heavy as your typical draft either. He took enough from his dam’s quarter horse lines to not be completely inept at navigating the shifting sand dunes of his home but it was not a simple task. It spent more energy than he typically wanted give so unless it was necessary – such as rounding up a stray mare – he didn’t tend to venture far. It was safer and more comfortable to remain next the water sources where the ground was hard with damp, compacted sand and dry earth.

The mare he sought to herd was well suited to the desert and could probably outrun him if she took off at full speed. To be where she was in the dunes however, she must have come from the neighbouring desert – thirst and exhaustion would take their toll on her quicker than they would him despite his disadvantage in size. Her kick glanced off his breast and he gave an irritated grunt at the dull sensation that radiated from the contact but it barely phased him, he’d taken worse from a moody Warsong or more than one occasion.

To begin with, the mare moved as Olaf drove her but then, began to watch him closely. He stayed on high alert, poised to react to whatever the spirited mare tried to throw his way. She turned suddenly and he did the only thing he could; by raising his front hoof a few foot from the ground and barrelling his weight into her. Hoofs struck his chest and he gave a pained squeal but continued to push his weight toward her regardless. The sand gave little resistance, ending his charge for a brief moment.

The mare had stopped, defiantly facing him while barking a few words in some foreign tongue. Olaf snorted, tail lashing wildly in agitation behind him. ”Nóg!” he grunted in his ancestor’s tongue, ”These dunes are unsafe. You will go to the oasis.”. It was not a suggestion. With his ears pinned aggressively, he advanced, curving to her left to try and turn her in the right direction. He hoped the intimidating act would work as he did not have any intentions of hurting her but knew he might have to if she did not do as instructed.