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Description
The mares grazed around the watering hole placidly, the heat of the sun making everyone sluggish. They were alone for now, other herds having come and gone in the past few days to sate their thirst. Perseus was fine with this--some stallions didn’t have any manners and he wasn’t in the mood to deal with them presently. It was just too hot.

As if on cue at his sour thoughts, a challenging whinny came from atop the hill. Perseus looked up to see a truly fierce stallion rearing above them and getting ready to charge. With hooves thundering, he descended upon the startled mares, beelining for one in particular. As he approached Denna, she looked up from her grazing spot with a snort. Percy tried to hide a laugh and decided to watch things unfold without interfering for now.

The stallion faltered in his charge when he saw Percy’s inaction. But with another nicker, he continued, charging straight for the spotted mare with the sapphire eyes. Denna turned to face him and yelled out her own challenge, rearing to box at his face as he attempted to herd her away. The stallion pulled back, clearly shocked but unharmed, and stood unsure.

”You’ll not be stealing me today, sir. I’m in no mood.” Denna said with a tilted chin, eyes sparkling with defiance. ”And I doubt you’ll convince anyone else to go with you either. So you might as well move along.”

The stallion stood blinking, mouth half agape. Percy couldn’t hold it in anymore and had to let out a small chuckle. The other stallion’s ears fell flat as he trotted over to Percy, arching his neck.

”What kind of lead stallion are you, offering me no challenge?” the lone stallion demanded.

”Well, my name is Perseus. And I saw no reason to accept your challenge when none of these mares seem very interested in leaving with you today.”

”I seek only one mare, sir. And I shall have her! Fight me!” he yelled, pawing at the ground.

Before Percy could reply, Denna charged forward and shouldered past, knocking the stallion hard enough for him to stumble. Denna stood facing him and growled, ”Your challenge lies with me, then. So?”

The other stallion took a step back, clearly lost for words at something so unorthodox. ”B-but...that’s not…” he stammered, shaking his head hard. ”No! That is not how this works. I shall fight your stallion and then--”

”If it is me you want, then you may fight me!” Denna interrupted, lunging forward to place a smart bite on the stallion’s neck.

The stallion’s eyes rolled white as he let out a surprised cry at the unexpected attack. Denna continued to rain bites and kicks upon him as he cowered before her wrath. Breathing heavily, she finally stopped and said, ”What’s the matter with you? Fight if you want me so badly!”

”I yield, I yield!” the stallion cried, ducking his head.

Denna snorted and turned away from him, trotting back to watching mares to continue her meal. The mares cheered as she joined them and were quick to toss silly insults the lone stallion’s way.

Percy looked at the deflated stallion with a sympathetic smile. ”I don’t think that went quite the way you had planned. I do apologize.”

The stallion looked at him and snorted as he slowly approached, keeping one eye on Denna. ”Who is that fiery mare?” he asked, voice low and reverent.

”Her name is Denna. And I am Perseus. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting today?” he asked with a small bow of his head.

”My name is Jason, but you may call me Jace.” the stallion replied, with a similar nod.

”Well Jace, I’m sorry for your many bruises. You’re welcome to stay and rest while you heal.” Percy said, a sparkle of mirth in his eye.

Jason snorted and looked away, ears back. ”I’ve never had a mare deny me before.” he mumbled, clearly pouting.

”Yes, well, Denna isn’t very ordinary.” Percy laughed.

”I think I will stay a little while. Maybe she’ll change her mind.” Jason said, perking up.

Without another word, he trotted to the water and drank deeply before tossing his head up, a shower of water following and twinkling in the sunlight. The motion caught the eyes of many of the mares, but not Denna, who was grazing with her back turned.

“A little while” turned into a few days. Jason spent his time showing off for the mares and trying to catch Denna’s attention. When he wasn’t showboating, he and Percy enjoyed conversing late into the evening.

”Denna, seriously, what is wrong with you?” Raven finally asked after a week of Jason hanging around.

Denna looked up, startled out of her thoughts. ”Excuse me?” she asked.

”What part of him are you not looking at? He’s gorgeous!” piped in Vireo.

Denna snorted and shook out her mane. ”He’s hardly my type.” she grumbled.

”Yeah, we all know your type. Grumpy, somber, perpetually scowling…” muttered Wren.

Denna’s face flushed and she looked away.

”Ladies, leave her alone.” Crane snorted as she wobbled over with her huge stomach. ”If she can’t see what a fine catch he is, there’s more for us.” she added on with a smirk.

The other mares all laughed and Denna couldn’t help but share a small smile.

Finally, one night as the herd was getting ready for sleep, Jason approached Perseus with a strange look on his face. Percy titled his head and waited for him to speak.

”Let me join your herd.” Jace blurted without preamble.

”Uhm...to be honest, I thought you already had.” Percy said with a crooked smile. ”You’ve been with us for over a week now.”

”I mean officially.” Jason persisted, swishing his tail nervously. ”Let me be your Lieutenant.”

”What’s brought on this sudden change in attitude? From everything you’ve told me of your life, this doesn’t quite add up.” Percy asked.

Jason shifted from foot to foot and glanced back over his shoulder at the slumbering mares. ”It’s Denna. I have to have her. But. She won’t leave. So...I’ll stay.” Jason muttered, scuffing a hoof in the dirt.

”You really like her that much? She’s hardly said give words to you since you’ve been here.” Percy chuckled.

”I know, believe me…” Jason grumbled. ”But...it’s a gut thing. She’s the one, I know it.”

Perseus scrutinized Jason’s face and saw the steadfast resolve there. He smiled.

”Then Jason, son of Eros, I hereby name you Lieutenant of my herd. Serve us well.” Percy intoned, bowing his head.

Jason beamed widely and kicked back into a small rear in celebration, nickering. Some of the mares looked over and saw what was clearly happening and they nickered back in response.

”Welcome, Jason.” Percy said with a laugh. ”Welcome to your new home.”

Description
The mares grazed around the watering hole placidly, the heat of the sun making everyone sluggish. They were alone for now, other herds having come and gone in the past few days to sate their thirst. Perseus was fine with this--some stallions didn’t have any manners and he wasn’t in the mood to deal with them presently. It was just too hot.

As if on cue at his sour thoughts, a challenging whinny came from atop the hill. Perseus looked up to see a truly fierce stallion rearing above them and getting ready to charge. With hooves thundering, he descended upon the startled mares, beelining for one in particular. As he approached Denna, she looked up from her grazing spot with a snort. Percy tried to hide a laugh and decided to watch things unfold without interfering for now.

The stallion faltered in his charge when he saw Percy’s inaction. But with another nicker, he continued, charging straight for the spotted mare with the sapphire eyes. Denna turned to face him and yelled out her own challenge, rearing to box at his face as he attempted to herd her away. The stallion pulled back, clearly shocked but unharmed, and stood unsure.

”You’ll not be stealing me today, sir. I’m in no mood.” Denna said with a tilted chin, eyes sparkling with defiance. ”And I doubt you’ll convince anyone else to go with you either. So you might as well move along.”

The stallion stood blinking, mouth half agape. Percy couldn’t hold it in anymore and had to let out a small chuckle. The other stallion’s ears fell flat as he trotted over to Percy, arching his neck.

”What kind of lead stallion are you, offering me no challenge?” the lone stallion demanded.

”Well, my name is Perseus. And I saw no reason to accept your challenge when none of these mares seem very interested in leaving with you today.”

”I seek only one mare, sir. And I shall have her! Fight me!” he yelled, pawing at the ground.

Before Percy could reply, Denna charged forward and shouldered past, knocking the stallion hard enough for him to stumble. Denna stood facing him and growled, ”Your challenge lies with me, then. So?”

The other stallion took a step back, clearly lost for words at something so unorthodox. ”B-but...that’s not…” he stammered, shaking his head hard. ”No! That is not how this works. I shall fight your stallion and then--”

”If it is me you want, then you may fight me!” Denna interrupted, lunging forward to place a smart bite on the stallion’s neck.

The stallion’s eyes rolled white as he let out a surprised cry at the unexpected attack. Denna continued to rain bites and kicks upon him as he cowered before her wrath. Breathing heavily, she finally stopped and said, ”What’s the matter with you? Fight if you want me so badly!”

”I yield, I yield!” the stallion cried, ducking his head.

Denna snorted and turned away from him, trotting back to watching mares to continue her meal. The mares cheered as she joined them and were quick to toss silly insults the lone stallion’s way.

Percy looked at the deflated stallion with a sympathetic smile. ”I don’t think that went quite the way you had planned. I do apologize.”

The stallion looked at him and snorted as he slowly approached, keeping one eye on Denna. ”Who is that fiery mare?” he asked, voice low and reverent.

”Her name is Denna. And I am Perseus. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting today?” he asked with a small bow of his head.

”My name is Jason, but you may call me Jace.” the stallion replied, with a similar nod.

”Well Jace, I’m sorry for your many bruises. You’re welcome to stay and rest while you heal.” Percy said, a sparkle of mirth in his eye.

Jason snorted and looked away, ears back. ”I’ve never had a mare deny me before.” he mumbled, clearly pouting.

”Yes, well, Denna isn’t very ordinary.” Percy laughed.

”I think I will stay a little while. Maybe she’ll change her mind.” Jason said, perking up.

Without another word, he trotted to the water and drank deeply before tossing his head up, a shower of water following and twinkling in the sunlight. The motion caught the eyes of many of the mares, but not Denna, who was grazing with her back turned.

“A little while” turned into a few days. Jason spent his time showing off for the mares and trying to catch Denna’s attention. When he wasn’t showboating, he and Percy enjoyed conversing late into the evening.

”Denna, seriously, what is wrong with you?” Raven finally asked after a week of Jason hanging around.

Denna looked up, startled out of her thoughts. ”Excuse me?” she asked.

”What part of him are you not looking at? He’s gorgeous!” piped in Vireo.

Denna snorted and shook out her mane. ”He’s hardly my type.” she grumbled.

”Yeah, we all know your type. Grumpy, somber, perpetually scowling…” muttered Wren.

Denna’s face flushed and she looked away.

”Ladies, leave her alone.” Crane snorted as she wobbled over with her huge stomach. ”If she can’t see what a fine catch he is, there’s more for us.” she added on with a smirk.

The other mares all laughed and Denna couldn’t help but share a small smile.

Finally, one night as the herd was getting ready for sleep, Jason approached Perseus with a strange look on his face. Percy titled his head and waited for him to speak.

”Let me join your herd.” Jace blurted without preamble.

”Uhm...to be honest, I thought you already had.” Percy said with a crooked smile. ”You’ve been with us for over a week now.”

”I mean officially.” Jason persisted, swishing his tail nervously. ”Let me be your Lieutenant.”

”What’s brought on this sudden change in attitude? From everything you’ve told me of your life, this doesn’t quite add up.” Percy asked.

Jason shifted from foot to foot and glanced back over his shoulder at the slumbering mares. ”It’s Denna. I have to have her. But. She won’t leave. So...I’ll stay.” Jason muttered, scuffing a hoof in the dirt.

”You really like her that much? She’s hardly said give words to you since you’ve been here.” Percy chuckled.

”I know, believe me…” Jason grumbled. ”But...it’s a gut thing. She’s the one, I know it.”

Perseus scrutinized Jason’s face and saw the steadfast resolve there. He smiled.

”Then Jason, son of Eros, I hereby name you Lieutenant of my herd. Serve us well.” Percy intoned, bowing his head.

Jason beamed widely and kicked back into a small rear in celebration, nickering. Some of the mares looked over and saw what was clearly happening and they nickered back in response.

”Welcome, Jason.” Percy said with a laugh. ”Welcome to your new home.”