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rusty after hiatus, sorry if this sucks lol

The dog took a long sigh into the wind, allowing his body to relax after his sprint. It was all he could do to get away from her. She thought of him as her foal, long legged and long nosed like a foal might be. Yet the mare was clearly confused for surely a dog he was.

In a way, the hound felt bad to leave her sleeping in the meadow among the tall grass as he fled. Yet, he needed to actually get a lay of the land- something he couldn't do when she lorded over him and kept him penned up close. It had been perhaps a week since he arrived...? He wasn't sure, time felt like it stretched on in some moments yet moved ever faster when he wasn't paying attention. It left him confused and ever complacent to the mare's wants and commands.

He did appreciate her care, though perhaps she must be unhinged in some way. No horse would smell a dog and think of a child, right? Not a normal mare, at the least.
She saw him upon his arrival, rather in disrepair, and thought kindly to adopt him. If he would have actually been a foal, she certainly would have saved his life.

Despite her attempts to get him to eat grass and clovers, the dog needed meat to survive. His nose stayed low to the ground and he tried to sniff out late season hares. Long legs skillfully hopping and skipping between the tall grass and dry brush.

skill: ranger

There was little time that Mink was alone — whether it be known to Hira or not, they often followed close on her trail, making sure that harm didn't follow. Even if they weren't the warrior type, Mink had a duty to keep her safe.

Today though, he found himself straying from his usual duties and taking to the sunflower-laden field. Even in the oncoming chill of the fall, their stalks stood high, some petals wilting, but others facing towards the sun in the mid-day sky. The borzoi's long legs stretched through them, keeping a fast pace, weaving through what could be and leaving a trail through other tightly grown stalks. They always lost themself in a run. It felt good to let loose, especially after so long of keeping on the down-low.

Even in a daydreaming state, nothing can keep their nose from working. In the floral fragrant air, the wind shifts and alerts Mink to a familiar scent — one that is burnt into his mind like the framework he was built upon. All of them shifts, direction changing as smoothly as a gear shift, and dashing his way through the sunflowers with little hesitation. Almost all caution thrown to the wind.

Leaving the thickness of the foliage, Mink's eyes darted in every which way until they landed on a familiar form...

Sparrowhawk!? Maybe the loudest their voice had ever gotten; an urgent bark-like sound, hesitant, but hoping.

Silver and white mare. She had been closely following around Mink. Blind as can be but she stayed close to her protector. Listening and carefully trying to navigate the lands. Once she found others. A handful of other equines. But she'd rather hang out with those she was comfortable with.

Midday, a bit chilly among the plains she ended up traversing back to. Putting her hooves at work, she galloped around the lands. Galloping through the sunflower fields. As the flowers themselves felt like they could die from underneath the pressure.

Needless to say, she strayed a bit away from Mink. Perhaps in the distance. But the mare was cautious about going too far. Glossy eyes remained to the distant sounds of a call from Mink. Alert and urgent like. To the point where she'd slow her hooves down to a trot. Ears flickering towards the sound of Mink. Casually trying to turn her head to see, hear, for Mink.

No words would heed from her jaws, but she was careful about where she went. Making sure her blind self didn't step on either of the creatures she heard.

His head snapped to look towards the source of the sound. His own name had not been spoken aloud in so long he could barely recognize it. The mare had been calling him "My baby" for months and it didn't matter how many times he had corrected her. "Sparrowhawk" sounded foreign but, unforgettable- surely. Though who on this plain could know to call him that was, in an instant, a mystery he begged to unfold.

To see his old friend's grey form on the horizon line was masterful. The way their borzoi shape echoed all his memories of the past as he stood, just in reach. For a second- perhaps it was The Great Mare who intended to lead him off. A vision so that he could be moved but, this one was so real. So tangible.

Sparrowhawk took a hesitant step forward into the grass, his maw parting but no words coming out. He hesitated- a mixture of disbelief and skepticism held his tongue. Though it could not keep him for long, thus was his way.

...Mink...? His voice began softly, questioning to himself if his eyesight was confident. He blinked to clear it and yet the vision did not fade. In fact, it approached him. Coming closer from off the hill.
Mink! He couldn't contain it now, his excited voice gave his legs more energy than they could care for and they took off from underneath him. His body moving before he could even think, sprinting towards the image of his friend. Oh how prayed deep within his soul, in even the seconds it took to reach him, that this wouldn't be a trick.

When close enough and without much thought, Sparrowhawk would intend to tackle Mink. Tumbling him into a playful roll- a more than friendly hello but also a way for Sparrow to ensure his friend was truly with him. If Mink was faster than he remembered, however, he would likely land with his paws catching underneath him so he could slide and try again. His tail waving like a white flag after a long war.

skill: ranger

The visage remained even through Mink's uncertain call. This was usually the part where reality woke them from the dream. But instead of a waking light, it's Sparrowhawk's voice in return — the soft call of Mink's own name.

For a second, they feel weightless, their heart in their throat; Sparrowhawk! A yip that could be closely related to a young pup's fell from his maw. All cares are thrown to the wind because right now, he is back in the fields they grew up in, with the herd surrounding them as Sparrowhawk flies towards him —

Mink's body instinctually fell into a bow play, ready to counter his cousin. Of course; there was a part of his body that wanted to shift out of the way but he ignored the pull as Sparrowhawk's body tumbled into his chest. It sent Mink back a few steps — that boy sure had some velocity to him. Nonetheless, Mink playfully nipped at his ears, happily whining.

I can't believe it! There had been so many times where they dreamed of being reunited, with him, with the herd, and here, finally, was one come true. Mink took a huff of the other's fur, making sure it was Sparrowhawk, before he hopped backward, tail wagging wildly whipping behind him as he fell into another bow play, ready to go again. How are you? Are you alright? So many questions ran through his mind, and they continued to come. He wanted to ask if he had been home — to the herd, or on some other grand adventure.

Out of the corner of the borzoi's eye, he caught sight of Hira, and reality settled back around him, ever-golden fields of hay returning to stalks of sunflowers. He snorted in a breath of fresh air, his heart still racing, It's alright, Hira. Give me one second. His voice called out to her, attempting to reassure her, he'd be by her side in just a second. All of the childish nature starting to flood out of him, straightening back up — duty was calling him.

She would strut her trot into a more of a walk pace, hoofs stomping against the ground. Ears flickering as she listened carefully among the sounds. Two voices. Mink, her friend, and another one that was called Sparrowhawk. Even though she couldn't.. see it. She could tell what was happening.

A reunion.

A brand new life that was once tucked away, had returned. Returned to Mink.

Flooding her mind with thoughts of Christopher and her son. Would she ever get to see them this way? A reunion long after she hadn't even seen them at all?

Regardless, she let out a gentle snort and smile. From a distance’s away, she would call to the void of voices. Take your time, my love, I'm doing just fine over here. The mare would begin to graze among the distance. Adjusting to lay her head to the ground. Hira plucked at the grass beneath her hooves, being a horse was still odd to her. With the help of Mink, Hira had been picking up bits of what he had rambled about his life to her.

Oh how she longed to find her son, would it end up feeling like they did? If that's the case, she would let them take however long they needed. The feeling of a reunion, nah, she wouldn't be the reason to ruin that. Plus they both reminded her of her son, it was cute.

The scent of his friend filled his nose and yet so did the love for him fill his heart. It had been so long, perhaps months or longer (Sparrow never was one to keep track), at even the touch of Mink's fur did his spirit ignite with joy.

Sparrow would return the play bow but, as such energy wasn't so easily contained, he would run around in extravagant bounds. His tail swishing like a fish's might in the ocean.

The dog would look down at himself for a moment and laugh. How am I? He laughed. I'm fine! How are you?!.

His demeanor changed slightly as the noise of another in the distance, one that caused his smile to briefly fade as he readied his feet. Ready to run or ready to fun, it wasn't too sure which was which. When inspected closely, however, Sparrow was rather amused to see it was a horse. His smile returned as he looked at Mink.

Are you being babysat too..? He wondered, his head turning to the side in curiosity. All along he thought it was just him that was being mothered by a crazy mare.

skill: ranger

Mink's heart thumped with joy, Sparrowhawk's energy was infectious. It made it hard not to fall ill. Though the symptoms show; with his tail swaying behind him still, in a puppy-like manner and a small smile settling across his lips. I'm good — better now. His life here had been rewarding in its own way — once Hira appeared. Before, Mink wandered aimlessly, destined to spend the rest of his life charting the unknown territories of the Highlands, tracing them back and forth, searching for something, someone.

After giving Sparrow a once over again, Mink took their eyes off of him to watch Hira graze, making sure that threats were non-existent for the time being. Their ears perked in the air, flicking to-and-fro in the wind, their gaze adverting back to Sparrow when asked a question. Babysat? No. Mink shook their head in a firm manner, I... Well, I'm... 'Doing what we do best?' In times of uncertainty, Mink found it easy to find their way back to their roots. Of course, there was never much doubt in The Herd — they never stopped looking for them. And Hira, well, she made them feel close to the Great Mare, Hira's companion. That was the easiest way to say it, wasn't it? It wasn't quite a herd with just the two of them.

With that, Mink glanced over to Hira, grazing in the distance, Would you like me to introduce you to my cousin, Hira? I can lead you over. They knew there was a nervousness, especially around other beings, anxious that she might step on one.

The mare would chuckle gently. Ears flicking against her head. A gentle flick of her mane before she would get back to grazing on the grass beneath her hooves. Listening carefully at the sounds of the other two. She herself, made sure they wouldn't have much of a disturbance. They needed to savor the moment they had.

Oh dear, I'm the one being babysat. Hira chuckled, lifting her head up. A tail flick before she heard the offer.

An offer to meet the other.

Well.  She wasn't exactly one to deny meeting new people. It had to be better than the war. The war that took her husband, her kid, and those she knew. A swallow of guilt.

Why, that does sound lovely. Hira gently smiled. A hoof there. Gently leading herself, listening carefully for the voices. Eventually she'd have to get used to doing this if she ever wanted to find her son. Surely he had followed her. He had to. He had to be here. Maybe she'd get lucky, maybe Chris would come by too.

The dog watched as she carefully made her way over. He had never seen a blind horse before, they hardly survived without 24-hour assistance from the herd and even then, they struggled in the wild. Mink's work was cut out for him, though he didn't make that known to his cousin.


Her looked away from the mare to look at Mink, thinking he should explain his statement.
There's a mare somewhere around here- she thinks I'm a foal. His breath breaking into soft laughter at the explanation. It surely was silly to him at the very least.
I've told her I'm a dog but, she won't listen.

Once the mare was close enough and at a distance comfortable for her, Sparrow gave her a graceful bow. He knew she wouldn't see it but, it was tradition for the warm-bloods. They were so revered and respected; it was necessary to remind them of that.

It is a pleasure to meet you, miss. Sparrow chirped, his tail wagging behind him. A twinge of excitement to meet another horse that wasn't crazy.