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52 Diamonds [Main Quest +10 | Full Body +20 | Colored +2 | Shaded +2 | Detailed BG +10 | Story +8]

◄ PREVIOUS: A Brighter Tomorrow |   NEXT: Neck and Neck ►

MAIN QUEST
It is time for you to find a home, and find new adventures which await you. But first, you must decide where to go. The plains have always felt like home to you, so without a second thought, you set your course for the plains of Divine Isles. After several hours into your journey, you cross paths with a small herd of deer. Their leader, an old doe named Miss Ayala the Wise , tells you that beyond lies the land of the grasslands, rich in bounty and freedom. But she warns you that the herds of various animals there are currently in a bit of an antsy state, and you would do well not to disturb the peace much more than it already has been. With this knowledge, you

A] Continue onward, you've gone too far to turn back
B] Take heed of the doe's warnings and turn back

           It had been several hours now that Jasper had been walking. As he continued, his spirit roller-coastered up and down; he was hopeful one minute, and then sad and confused the next. If only he had someone to talk to, someone to get advice from. The longer Jasper walked alone in silence, the more he thought he might go insane! It was disheartening. But, at least he wasn’t being chased or trying to be eaten by some other animal. The mahogany stallion let out an exasperated huff and a snort. It didn’t occur to the young horse that he may not even find any mares for many months, perhaps even years. Most bachelors wandered for quite some time before starting their own herd- unless they got lucky. And it seemed that Jasper had been rather unlucky in his time alone.

The sudden thought of a bachelor herd came into Jasper’s mind. He remembered hearing about them; they were herds of bachelor stallions that had either been overthrown from their herd or were young, like Jasper himself. Perhaps that was the right fit for him. At least he wouldn’t be alone then, and perhaps he could even learn something from the older stallions. But how would even find a bachelor herd? He hadn’t even come across a normal herd yet. You would think there would be tons of herds roaming around, but now that he thought about it, he never recalled another herd interfering with Alistair’s. It was always bachelors, trying to challenge him for his position.

”Excuse me.” The words startled Jasper out of his thoughts and he nearly reared up, skidding to a halt in the snow. In front of him stood an old doe; she was graying around her shoulders and rump, with a scar on one shoulder and a strange orange tag hanging from one of her ears.

”Oh!” Jasper blurted out. ”I’m sorry! I was- I wasn’t paying attention.” He had been so deep in thought that he hadn’t realized he’d stumbled upon another herd of deer. It was much larger than the other one, and- thankfully -there was no buck in sight.

”It’s quite alright.” The old doe reassured him, a soft smile on her wrinkled lips. But the smile didn’t last long. She furrowed her brow as her face grew serious. ”I have to warn you though; you’d do well to pay attention through here. The herds have grown quite irritated, although I’m unsure why.” Her voice was light and gentle, but her words were firm, like a mother giving a warning to her child.

Jasper flipped his ears back. ”The herds? You mean horse herds?” He asked, confused. The old doe shook her head.

”No, the other animals. I’ve kept my herd far enough away to not be affected, but the rest of the animals seem,” She paused, searching for the right word. ”Agitated, antsy. It may not be wise to travel this way any further. Especially for a lone stallion such as yourself.”

”Oh.” Was all Jasper could really say. Where was he supposed to go now? Just turn around and go back? He had run into so much trouble back there. But the doe’s warning made it seem as though he may get into even more trouble if he continued in this direction. Jasper frowned. ”Well, thanks for the warning.” He said somberly.

A funny thought crossed Jasper’s mind just then, and before he could really stop himself, he opened his mouth and began to speak. ”Uhm, could I stay with you?” He said suddenly. The doe looked puzzled. ”I mean, I don’t see a buck anywhere, so you guys could use like, protection right? I could totally do that for you, and-” He was rambling now, not meeting her gaze. He just kept going on and on, and eventually the doe seemed to understand what he was really asking.

”I’m afraid I can’t let you.” She said, cutting him off mid-ramble. She knew he wanted company; she too had been lonely in her life. Jasper’s face fell. She hadn’t said that to hurt him, in fact her tone was sad, but knowing. ”You will find your place, but that place isn’t here.”

”Oh. Okay. Sorry.” The mahogany stallion dropped his head, his ears drooping.

”Don’t be disheartened.” The doe said, her face softening. She stepped toward him and gave him a tiny smile. ”Sometimes we must take one step backward before we can take two steps forward. You may even find something you’ve missed while retracing your steps.” She gave him a wink, which made Jasper smile, though it was a little sad. Did she know something he didn’t? Jasper decided that this doe must be wise, because she definitely seemed to know what she was talking about.

”Thanks, I’ll remember that.” Jasper said, bowing his head in respect before he turned to leave, following his own hoof prints in the snow.

          word count: 822

All art & character © MatrixPotato

Description

52 Diamonds [Main Quest +10 | Full Body +20 | Colored +2 | Shaded +2 | Detailed BG +10 | Story +8]

◄ PREVIOUS: A Brighter Tomorrow |   NEXT: Neck and Neck ►

MAIN QUEST
It is time for you to find a home, and find new adventures which await you. But first, you must decide where to go. The plains have always felt like home to you, so without a second thought, you set your course for the plains of Divine Isles. After several hours into your journey, you cross paths with a small herd of deer. Their leader, an old doe named Miss Ayala the Wise , tells you that beyond lies the land of the grasslands, rich in bounty and freedom. But she warns you that the herds of various animals there are currently in a bit of an antsy state, and you would do well not to disturb the peace much more than it already has been. With this knowledge, you

A] Continue onward, you've gone too far to turn back
B] Take heed of the doe's warnings and turn back

           It had been several hours now that Jasper had been walking. As he continued, his spirit roller-coastered up and down; he was hopeful one minute, and then sad and confused the next. If only he had someone to talk to, someone to get advice from. The longer Jasper walked alone in silence, the more he thought he might go insane! It was disheartening. But, at least he wasn’t being chased or trying to be eaten by some other animal. The mahogany stallion let out an exasperated huff and a snort. It didn’t occur to the young horse that he may not even find any mares for many months, perhaps even years. Most bachelors wandered for quite some time before starting their own herd- unless they got lucky. And it seemed that Jasper had been rather unlucky in his time alone.

The sudden thought of a bachelor herd came into Jasper’s mind. He remembered hearing about them; they were herds of bachelor stallions that had either been overthrown from their herd or were young, like Jasper himself. Perhaps that was the right fit for him. At least he wouldn’t be alone then, and perhaps he could even learn something from the older stallions. But how would even find a bachelor herd? He hadn’t even come across a normal herd yet. You would think there would be tons of herds roaming around, but now that he thought about it, he never recalled another herd interfering with Alistair’s. It was always bachelors, trying to challenge him for his position.

”Excuse me.” The words startled Jasper out of his thoughts and he nearly reared up, skidding to a halt in the snow. In front of him stood an old doe; she was graying around her shoulders and rump, with a scar on one shoulder and a strange orange tag hanging from one of her ears.

”Oh!” Jasper blurted out. ”I’m sorry! I was- I wasn’t paying attention.” He had been so deep in thought that he hadn’t realized he’d stumbled upon another herd of deer. It was much larger than the other one, and- thankfully -there was no buck in sight.

”It’s quite alright.” The old doe reassured him, a soft smile on her wrinkled lips. But the smile didn’t last long. She furrowed her brow as her face grew serious. ”I have to warn you though; you’d do well to pay attention through here. The herds have grown quite irritated, although I’m unsure why.” Her voice was light and gentle, but her words were firm, like a mother giving a warning to her child.

Jasper flipped his ears back. ”The herds? You mean horse herds?” He asked, confused. The old doe shook her head.

”No, the other animals. I’ve kept my herd far enough away to not be affected, but the rest of the animals seem,” She paused, searching for the right word. ”Agitated, antsy. It may not be wise to travel this way any further. Especially for a lone stallion such as yourself.”

”Oh.” Was all Jasper could really say. Where was he supposed to go now? Just turn around and go back? He had run into so much trouble back there. But the doe’s warning made it seem as though he may get into even more trouble if he continued in this direction. Jasper frowned. ”Well, thanks for the warning.” He said somberly.

A funny thought crossed Jasper’s mind just then, and before he could really stop himself, he opened his mouth and began to speak. ”Uhm, could I stay with you?” He said suddenly. The doe looked puzzled. ”I mean, I don’t see a buck anywhere, so you guys could use like, protection right? I could totally do that for you, and-” He was rambling now, not meeting her gaze. He just kept going on and on, and eventually the doe seemed to understand what he was really asking.

”I’m afraid I can’t let you.” She said, cutting him off mid-ramble. She knew he wanted company; she too had been lonely in her life. Jasper’s face fell. She hadn’t said that to hurt him, in fact her tone was sad, but knowing. ”You will find your place, but that place isn’t here.”

”Oh. Okay. Sorry.” The mahogany stallion dropped his head, his ears drooping.

”Don’t be disheartened.” The doe said, her face softening. She stepped toward him and gave him a tiny smile. ”Sometimes we must take one step backward before we can take two steps forward. You may even find something you’ve missed while retracing your steps.” She gave him a wink, which made Jasper smile, though it was a little sad. Did she know something he didn’t? Jasper decided that this doe must be wise, because she definitely seemed to know what she was talking about.

”Thanks, I’ll remember that.” Jasper said, bowing his head in respect before he turned to leave, following his own hoof prints in the snow.

          word count: 822

All art & character © MatrixPotato