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Description

  After a cool evening among a small stand of trees, Ajax and Myrtle ventured back out into the plains. They traveled through the morning, warmed by the rising sun on their backs. By noon though, the heat of the sun had driven the pair to seek water. Finding a small stream, they took a much needed break. As they grazed along the grassy banks, they conversed contentedly.

  “Have you ever run into a two-legged?” Ajax asked between mouthfuls.

  “No, I've only heard stories or seen sign of where they've come and gone” Myrtle dismissed. “Not to say that I'd want to. I would hate to be captured and forced to carry them around, made to help them catch other horses...” She admitted quietly.

  Ajax noticed her dip in mood, reaching over he gave her side a gentle nuzzle. When she turned to look at him, he flashed her a grin. “You don't have to worry, I wont ever let them get you. I'll fight them off if I have to.” He said seriously, hoping to assuage her worries. Though, they did little to reassure his own.

  He'd never really interacted with those creatures. He'd heard the same sort of stories Myrtle had, but he had trouble believing them fully. Maybe he'd just been lucky to have never run into any, if so he hoped his luck would continue.

  “Um... Ajax?” Myrtle started hesitantly.

  Ajax hmmed as he continued grazing, his ears showing he was listening.

  Myrtle took a moment to think of how to say what she wanted to say, but at last second she instead blurted, “Do you have any foals?”

  The sudden question caught the stallion off guard, and he choked mid bite on a large piece of foliage. He sputtered for a moment, before finally looking at his mare with a bit of a sheepish expression. “Ah... um, well, I don't think so?” Ajax shifted uncomfortably, trying not to look directly at Myrtle.

  Myrtle blinked, asking quickly, “You don't think you have any foals? What does that mean?” From the stallion's reaction, she realized it came out more accusing than she intended.

  “Well, umm. You see...” Ajax struggled to find a quick out, but finally gave up. He heaved a sigh, admitting, “It's unlikely, but I've had a few relationships which may have resulted in a foal... All were short lived and I never saw the mares again, so I honestly have no idea if there are foals of mine out there somewhere. Mind you, this was back when I was with my band of bachelors.” He hoped she wouldn't be upset by this news. Really, it was uncommon to find a stallion who hadn't had flings with passing mares.

  Myrtle was quiet for a few minutes, digesting the information while trying to restart her own admission. She couldn't be sure how Ajax would react to the news, nor how his past figured into the equation – if it mattered at all. “But... you would like to have foals, right?” Myrtle asked quietly.

  Ajax stared at her for a moment, his worries derailed by the new question. “Do I want foals? ...of course I would! I mean, I've not been around any since I was one myself, but I'd definitely want some foals of my own.” Ajax chuckled, relaxing finally. He took a few steps closer to the meek mare, nuzzling her face fondly, “I'd especially like it if I had some with you. If they're anything like you, they're sure to be beautiful.”

  Myrtle flushed at Ajax's comment, but nuzzled him back. He was often saying little things like that to her, and though she didn't see herself that way it certainly felt good to hear it. It gave her great solace knowing the father of her unborn foal was so warm and caring. “That's good to hear, seeing as we're already expecting...” Myrtle announced with a soft smile.

  Ajax jerked back in surprise, the news like a shockwave through his body. It felt like his whole body was tingling. “We... you're...?” He gaped, peeking at her side as though he expected it to grow before him. “Wow... I'm going to be a father...” Ajax breathed softly, meeting his mare's eyes once again.

  Myrtle couldn't help but giggle at his expression, one of wonder and excitement. “Ajax... I've still got a long ways to go before the foal comes. Settle down...” She pointed out, shaking her head.

  “I know I know... can't I just be excited about being a father for a moment?” He asked, pouting playfully.

  Myrtle sighed, though the smile never left her face, “Alright, alright...”

***

  It was barely an hour after the pair had returned to their traveling that trouble arose. Since earlier, Ajax had been feeling strange. At first, he'd written it off as nerves from the surprising news he'd received. Though, as they got moving again, he found that the tingles he'd felt throughout his body hadn't gone away. If anything, they'd increased. On top of that, he felt queasy and a little dizzy.

  “Ajax, what's wrong?” Myrtle asked hurriedly, concern growing on her face as she noticed her lead's condition. As it was, he had frozen in place, staring intensely at something in the distance.

  “I... I... OHMYGODWHATISTHATTHING?!?” He suddenly screamed, spooking and nearly tripping over himself as he tried to run.

  Myrtle looked around wildly for what had scared him, but she couldn't see anything. “What thing?! Ajax? Ajax what's going on?!” She shouted as she chased after him. She watched him stumble to a halt, whirling around to face her.

  “What thing?! THAT THING! Can't you see it?” Ajax asked incredulously, as though he couldn't believe she was unaware of the apparent danger.

  Myrtle looked where Ajax was looking, but still couldn't see anything despite the vast openness of the plains. “Ajax, I don't see it. Tell me what you are seeing!” She cried, worried that either something was coming to get them or that Ajax was going crazy.

  “It's...it's white... and...and spotty! And... there it is again!” The stallion danced nervous, looking like he was ready to bolt. His eyes were wide and fearful, his nostrils flared as he sucked in huge lungfuls of air.

  Myrtle turned once again, expecting to see nothing again. She was surprised when she did indeed see something white and spotted coming over a rise. What Ajax apparently failed to mention, or see, was that it was a horse. A small horse. A foal by the looks of it. “Umm, Ajax, that's a foal” Myrtle said slowly, unsure of why his reaction had been so extreme.

  Ajax did seem to calm down a little, blinking and squinting at the approaching foal. “A... foal? No... It...” Ajax sounded confused, shaking his head disbelievingly. He shuddered violently as the weird tingles returned, this time they made him feel intensely itchy. “Gah! What's going on?! Everything itches!” Ajax groaned, stomping his hoof in agitation. What was wrong with him?

  Myrtle watched Ajax in concern, the stallion scratching at various places before he suddenly laid down and began rolling around. Something about his odd behavior brought an old memory up. One of her birthherd's members had eaten a mushroom and began freaking out, acting very strange and complaining about itching. Myrtle heaved a sigh, turning her attention to the foal as she realized that there wasn't anything she could do to help Ajax. The effects of the mushroom would wear off after a while.

  The foal had paused a fair distance away, clearly hesitant to approach strangers – Especially when one was acting so weird. His white coat was speckled with brown and black, his face heavily marked on the sides. His mane was mostly white, while his tail was intermixed with darker hairs. He watched the dark mare approaching him cautiously, glancing away at the rolling stud a ways behind her.

  Myrtle walked over slowly, greeting the youngster softly, “Hello there.”

  “Hello” The colt's voice was calm, and he seemed to relax a little as the friendly mare got closer.

  “I'm Myrtle, that's... Ajax over there. May I ask your name?” Myrtle asked gently, not wanting to scare the kid off.

  “The name's Damon” He replied, before glancing back at Ajax. “Is your friend alright?” The youngster asked, an eyebrow raised as he watched the stallion flailing on the ground.

  Myrtle glanced back at Ajax, sighing softly. “He'll be alright, had a bit of a mishap with a mushroom is all” She explained, looking a bit embarrassed for her leader. She took a moment to look over the foal, noting that he was probably a yearling. He seemed to be in good health, no noticeable injuries or blemish. He wasn't even underweight, something commonly seen when dealing with lost foals. Then again, not all that wander are lost. “Are you lost?”

  The question drew Damon's attention back to Myrtle. He held her gaze with a surprisingly sharp and intelligent one of his own. “Not exactly... It's a long story” He said, looking away with a scowl.

  Myrtle moved to stand next to him, sensing the kid was upset about something. She paused to look up at Ajax, seeing that he had gotten up and was preoccupied with contorting himself to reach another itchy spot on the back of his rear leg. “I have time to listen, if you have time to talk” She offered, smiling sweetly at the colt.

  Damon looked at her, scrutinizing the offer. “Perhaps you can be of assistance, though...” The colt paused, looking at the crazed stallion nearby, “I have my doubt's about your lead. No offense.”

  “He's just having an off day, he got a bit of a ...shock earlier” Myrtle sighed.

Stallion: Ajax (#82)
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In response to: Ajax gets some news about Myrtle which causes him to be distracted and eat a mushroom that he probably shouldn't have. He starts to see things like a random foal (or was that real?) (Mare Pregnant + Mushroom Mishap + Find Foal – 1)

Art features: Mrytle (#233) , Damon
Story features: Ajax (#82) , Mrytle (#233) , Damon
Word Count: 1623

Pregnancy: Myrtle (1/3)

Other notes:

Artist Notes:
Ajax, what the heck man, pull it together! This poor guy keeps finding himself in crazy situations. I honestly wanted to have him be just this total studly playboy with a big heart, but the rng gods have a strange sense of humor.

So, our love birds are expecting, and on top of it they met a kid on his own. He says he needs their help, but with what? I guess you'll have to stick around to find out!

I actually had this started and finished before “Stay A Little Longer.” I'd found the perfect ref for this and got inspired so I skipped ahead. It's so hard to go back and do art for one scene when you've already moved onto the next scene. But, we all know how fickle our muses can be and sometimes you just have to take hold of it when it comes.

As you can see, I'm trying to better my backgrounds. I've been thinking about doing some random backgrounds to practice, when I have time. If anyone has tips or would like to offer some constructive criticism here I would appreciate it

Art (c) DaSassy

Description

  After a cool evening among a small stand of trees, Ajax and Myrtle ventured back out into the plains. They traveled through the morning, warmed by the rising sun on their backs. By noon though, the heat of the sun had driven the pair to seek water. Finding a small stream, they took a much needed break. As they grazed along the grassy banks, they conversed contentedly.

  “Have you ever run into a two-legged?” Ajax asked between mouthfuls.

  “No, I've only heard stories or seen sign of where they've come and gone” Myrtle dismissed. “Not to say that I'd want to. I would hate to be captured and forced to carry them around, made to help them catch other horses...” She admitted quietly.

  Ajax noticed her dip in mood, reaching over he gave her side a gentle nuzzle. When she turned to look at him, he flashed her a grin. “You don't have to worry, I wont ever let them get you. I'll fight them off if I have to.” He said seriously, hoping to assuage her worries. Though, they did little to reassure his own.

  He'd never really interacted with those creatures. He'd heard the same sort of stories Myrtle had, but he had trouble believing them fully. Maybe he'd just been lucky to have never run into any, if so he hoped his luck would continue.

  “Um... Ajax?” Myrtle started hesitantly.

  Ajax hmmed as he continued grazing, his ears showing he was listening.

  Myrtle took a moment to think of how to say what she wanted to say, but at last second she instead blurted, “Do you have any foals?”

  The sudden question caught the stallion off guard, and he choked mid bite on a large piece of foliage. He sputtered for a moment, before finally looking at his mare with a bit of a sheepish expression. “Ah... um, well, I don't think so?” Ajax shifted uncomfortably, trying not to look directly at Myrtle.

  Myrtle blinked, asking quickly, “You don't think you have any foals? What does that mean?” From the stallion's reaction, she realized it came out more accusing than she intended.

  “Well, umm. You see...” Ajax struggled to find a quick out, but finally gave up. He heaved a sigh, admitting, “It's unlikely, but I've had a few relationships which may have resulted in a foal... All were short lived and I never saw the mares again, so I honestly have no idea if there are foals of mine out there somewhere. Mind you, this was back when I was with my band of bachelors.” He hoped she wouldn't be upset by this news. Really, it was uncommon to find a stallion who hadn't had flings with passing mares.

  Myrtle was quiet for a few minutes, digesting the information while trying to restart her own admission. She couldn't be sure how Ajax would react to the news, nor how his past figured into the equation – if it mattered at all. “But... you would like to have foals, right?” Myrtle asked quietly.

  Ajax stared at her for a moment, his worries derailed by the new question. “Do I want foals? ...of course I would! I mean, I've not been around any since I was one myself, but I'd definitely want some foals of my own.” Ajax chuckled, relaxing finally. He took a few steps closer to the meek mare, nuzzling her face fondly, “I'd especially like it if I had some with you. If they're anything like you, they're sure to be beautiful.”

  Myrtle flushed at Ajax's comment, but nuzzled him back. He was often saying little things like that to her, and though she didn't see herself that way it certainly felt good to hear it. It gave her great solace knowing the father of her unborn foal was so warm and caring. “That's good to hear, seeing as we're already expecting...” Myrtle announced with a soft smile.

  Ajax jerked back in surprise, the news like a shockwave through his body. It felt like his whole body was tingling. “We... you're...?” He gaped, peeking at her side as though he expected it to grow before him. “Wow... I'm going to be a father...” Ajax breathed softly, meeting his mare's eyes once again.

  Myrtle couldn't help but giggle at his expression, one of wonder and excitement. “Ajax... I've still got a long ways to go before the foal comes. Settle down...” She pointed out, shaking her head.

  “I know I know... can't I just be excited about being a father for a moment?” He asked, pouting playfully.

  Myrtle sighed, though the smile never left her face, “Alright, alright...”

***

  It was barely an hour after the pair had returned to their traveling that trouble arose. Since earlier, Ajax had been feeling strange. At first, he'd written it off as nerves from the surprising news he'd received. Though, as they got moving again, he found that the tingles he'd felt throughout his body hadn't gone away. If anything, they'd increased. On top of that, he felt queasy and a little dizzy.

  “Ajax, what's wrong?” Myrtle asked hurriedly, concern growing on her face as she noticed her lead's condition. As it was, he had frozen in place, staring intensely at something in the distance.

  “I... I... OHMYGODWHATISTHATTHING?!?” He suddenly screamed, spooking and nearly tripping over himself as he tried to run.

  Myrtle looked around wildly for what had scared him, but she couldn't see anything. “What thing?! Ajax? Ajax what's going on?!” She shouted as she chased after him. She watched him stumble to a halt, whirling around to face her.

  “What thing?! THAT THING! Can't you see it?” Ajax asked incredulously, as though he couldn't believe she was unaware of the apparent danger.

  Myrtle looked where Ajax was looking, but still couldn't see anything despite the vast openness of the plains. “Ajax, I don't see it. Tell me what you are seeing!” She cried, worried that either something was coming to get them or that Ajax was going crazy.

  “It's...it's white... and...and spotty! And... there it is again!” The stallion danced nervous, looking like he was ready to bolt. His eyes were wide and fearful, his nostrils flared as he sucked in huge lungfuls of air.

  Myrtle turned once again, expecting to see nothing again. She was surprised when she did indeed see something white and spotted coming over a rise. What Ajax apparently failed to mention, or see, was that it was a horse. A small horse. A foal by the looks of it. “Umm, Ajax, that's a foal” Myrtle said slowly, unsure of why his reaction had been so extreme.

  Ajax did seem to calm down a little, blinking and squinting at the approaching foal. “A... foal? No... It...” Ajax sounded confused, shaking his head disbelievingly. He shuddered violently as the weird tingles returned, this time they made him feel intensely itchy. “Gah! What's going on?! Everything itches!” Ajax groaned, stomping his hoof in agitation. What was wrong with him?

  Myrtle watched Ajax in concern, the stallion scratching at various places before he suddenly laid down and began rolling around. Something about his odd behavior brought an old memory up. One of her birthherd's members had eaten a mushroom and began freaking out, acting very strange and complaining about itching. Myrtle heaved a sigh, turning her attention to the foal as she realized that there wasn't anything she could do to help Ajax. The effects of the mushroom would wear off after a while.

  The foal had paused a fair distance away, clearly hesitant to approach strangers – Especially when one was acting so weird. His white coat was speckled with brown and black, his face heavily marked on the sides. His mane was mostly white, while his tail was intermixed with darker hairs. He watched the dark mare approaching him cautiously, glancing away at the rolling stud a ways behind her.

  Myrtle walked over slowly, greeting the youngster softly, “Hello there.”

  “Hello” The colt's voice was calm, and he seemed to relax a little as the friendly mare got closer.

  “I'm Myrtle, that's... Ajax over there. May I ask your name?” Myrtle asked gently, not wanting to scare the kid off.

  “The name's Damon” He replied, before glancing back at Ajax. “Is your friend alright?” The youngster asked, an eyebrow raised as he watched the stallion flailing on the ground.

  Myrtle glanced back at Ajax, sighing softly. “He'll be alright, had a bit of a mishap with a mushroom is all” She explained, looking a bit embarrassed for her leader. She took a moment to look over the foal, noting that he was probably a yearling. He seemed to be in good health, no noticeable injuries or blemish. He wasn't even underweight, something commonly seen when dealing with lost foals. Then again, not all that wander are lost. “Are you lost?”

  The question drew Damon's attention back to Myrtle. He held her gaze with a surprisingly sharp and intelligent one of his own. “Not exactly... It's a long story” He said, looking away with a scowl.

  Myrtle moved to stand next to him, sensing the kid was upset about something. She paused to look up at Ajax, seeing that he had gotten up and was preoccupied with contorting himself to reach another itchy spot on the back of his rear leg. “I have time to listen, if you have time to talk” She offered, smiling sweetly at the colt.

  Damon looked at her, scrutinizing the offer. “Perhaps you can be of assistance, though...” The colt paused, looking at the crazed stallion nearby, “I have my doubt's about your lead. No offense.”

  “He's just having an off day, he got a bit of a ...shock earlier” Myrtle sighed.

Stallion: Ajax (#82)
|<< Previous | Next >>|

In response to: Ajax gets some news about Myrtle which causes him to be distracted and eat a mushroom that he probably shouldn't have. He starts to see things like a random foal (or was that real?) (Mare Pregnant + Mushroom Mishap + Find Foal – 1)

Art features: Mrytle (#233) , Damon
Story features: Ajax (#82) , Mrytle (#233) , Damon
Word Count: 1623

Pregnancy: Myrtle (1/3)

Other notes:

Artist Notes:
Ajax, what the heck man, pull it together! This poor guy keeps finding himself in crazy situations. I honestly wanted to have him be just this total studly playboy with a big heart, but the rng gods have a strange sense of humor.

So, our love birds are expecting, and on top of it they met a kid on his own. He says he needs their help, but with what? I guess you'll have to stick around to find out!

I actually had this started and finished before “Stay A Little Longer.” I'd found the perfect ref for this and got inspired so I skipped ahead. It's so hard to go back and do art for one scene when you've already moved onto the next scene. But, we all know how fickle our muses can be and sometimes you just have to take hold of it when it comes.

As you can see, I'm trying to better my backgrounds. I've been thinking about doing some random backgrounds to practice, when I have time. If anyone has tips or would like to offer some constructive criticism here I would appreciate it

Art (c) DaSassy