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Description

Alec aboard Holcomb Valley Acres' Friesian mare, Vogue , at the 2013 Hallow's Eve HARPG Event .

Strider's half: Leora and Kiwi

Alec dropped out the side door of the Lakewood lorry, hands buried deep in the pockets of a grey hooded sweater. The ground was hard, the sky dark and the mist sweeping in across the fields where the Halloween Costume Event was taking place. There was a chill to the air and yet it was a pleasant evening.

Just feet away, the dark, elegant shape of Holcomb Valley's Friesian mare, Vogue, stood sentinel by the lorry. She was tethered from an embroidered headcollar, the rope hanging slack as she plucked at the haynet strung before her. Her mane and tail had been brushed out and the natural waves caught in the seeking autumn winds that traced between the parked trailers.

Alec had not been raised around Friesians. He'd known warmbloods. Show jumpers and hunters. But he had never been fond of them, for how much his mother held them in high regard, and Alec could see why the shared opinion of Friesians at Lakewood was so high. They were a beautiful breed. Vogue's powerful, noble shape was tempered by sleek elegance, resulting in a striking combination.

Chess was stood at Vogue's far side, setting an inky black dressage saddle over her back. A quilted pad beneath it was the darkest of reds - nearly black itself - and emblazoned with the burning 'Z' insignia that was Zorro's trademark. Chess smiled at him over Vogue's back.

"That's not your costume."

Alec shot a look down at his hoodie. "Nope," he said, though he was wearing the black pants and leather boots that were a part of it. "I've got nearly half an hour yet."

"Cold?" Chess laughed.

Alec smirked. "Freezing."

"Get yourself warm by handing me that bridle."

Alec glanced around and caught sight of it before moving to obey. The black bridle with the simple snaffle bit was Vogue's. They had removed her noseband and then secured leather plates to the cheekpieces and browband, while sliding sleeves over the reins to manufacture a bridle of old design, studded with glinting gems. That had been Chess' idea. She took it gently from him and began deftly switching it for Vogue's headcollar.

Idly, Alec wondered how Kiwi was doing; tethered to an unfamiliar trailer, with an unfamiliar person tacking her up. Just months ago he would be worried that she would panic; think he had given her up, but Kiwi had grown ever more confident with the passing days and she had looked more curious than fearful when Leora had begun to lead her away. Vogue, too, had seemed unfazed by the change.

He made a mental note to thank Leora again for contacting him with the idea of entering the swap.

But all too soon his time was up, and he was rethinking that plan.

"Go on," Chess said, looking far too amused than was healthy. "The hoodie's gotta go."

Alec shot her a withering look as she stood by in her own thick jumper and moccasin boots. Her long hair was unbound as usual and fell about her in gentle spirals. Her gloved hand was soft on Vogue's rein. The mare stood quietly, her neck arched high, her ears pricked forwards and her feathers catching in the grasses.

Alec shrugged off his sweater and the cold air hit his half bare skin like a sledgehammer. The silk shirt with its laces did very little against the chill, and the cloak he swung on did little more. But he gritted his teeth - it wasn't that cold, he told himself, and it wasn't too long to bear it. He swung easily up into Vogue's saddle and Chess handed up the fine rapier sword they'd acquired just for this purpose.

It felt odd, sitting on a horse that was so unlike Kiwi, but whom he already knew would be a joy to ride. For however much he'd not liked his mother's warmbloods, even he had to admit they were trained to perfection. Vogue had that same, balanced, knowledgeable feel to her, and when he closed his calves to her sides, she snorted before stepping forwards into the bridle, her muscles flexing beneath her velvet coat.

"That way," Chess pointed. "I think that's Kiwi by the gate, and you're next anyway."

Alec looked over. It was definitely Kiwi; her birdcatcher's stood out like stars. The only stars visible, given the low lying mist had wiped them all from sight in the sky. She was strung with tiny, glowing, violet faerie lights; striped stockings encased her forelegs and Leora's sharp blonde hair stood out in the night like nothing else.

He steered Vogue towards them, smiling. This would definitely be fun.

Sorry for the short little story that got a little carried away. Its not the best, but I also need to get some sleep soon

Anyway, this would be my half of an entry for the swap class in my Halloween event. *strideroo and I decided to enter together. Strider, I hope you approve of how my part turned out. I loved drawing Vogue and this was a great reminder just why I need my own Friesian so much

Unfortunately Zorro dresses all in black, and while that usually looks awesome, in art it kinda sucks, because I think a lot of the details are lost. Its also mad how many shades of black are in here.

Lastly, so far Strider and I are the only ones who've entered the swap class, so it would be awesome if anyone else thinks they could get together and do a pair of entries I'm (finally) starting work on Monday, so if anyone needs an extension to do it, then just let me know. I may not have time to close the event that day, anyway. It would be great to see some more entries for this class ^^

Time - a number of hours over the last week and a bit. The lineart took a lot of it
This photo used for the horse's pose: i140.photobucket.com/albums/r1…
Art, story, Kiwi and Alec copyright to *Tattered-Dreams
Vogue and Leora copyright to *strideroo
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.

Description

Alec aboard Holcomb Valley Acres' Friesian mare, Vogue , at the 2013 Hallow's Eve HARPG Event .

Strider's half: Leora and Kiwi

Alec dropped out the side door of the Lakewood lorry, hands buried deep in the pockets of a grey hooded sweater. The ground was hard, the sky dark and the mist sweeping in across the fields where the Halloween Costume Event was taking place. There was a chill to the air and yet it was a pleasant evening.

Just feet away, the dark, elegant shape of Holcomb Valley's Friesian mare, Vogue, stood sentinel by the lorry. She was tethered from an embroidered headcollar, the rope hanging slack as she plucked at the haynet strung before her. Her mane and tail had been brushed out and the natural waves caught in the seeking autumn winds that traced between the parked trailers.

Alec had not been raised around Friesians. He'd known warmbloods. Show jumpers and hunters. But he had never been fond of them, for how much his mother held them in high regard, and Alec could see why the shared opinion of Friesians at Lakewood was so high. They were a beautiful breed. Vogue's powerful, noble shape was tempered by sleek elegance, resulting in a striking combination.

Chess was stood at Vogue's far side, setting an inky black dressage saddle over her back. A quilted pad beneath it was the darkest of reds - nearly black itself - and emblazoned with the burning 'Z' insignia that was Zorro's trademark. Chess smiled at him over Vogue's back.

"That's not your costume."

Alec shot a look down at his hoodie. "Nope," he said, though he was wearing the black pants and leather boots that were a part of it. "I've got nearly half an hour yet."

"Cold?" Chess laughed.

Alec smirked. "Freezing."

"Get yourself warm by handing me that bridle."

Alec glanced around and caught sight of it before moving to obey. The black bridle with the simple snaffle bit was Vogue's. They had removed her noseband and then secured leather plates to the cheekpieces and browband, while sliding sleeves over the reins to manufacture a bridle of old design, studded with glinting gems. That had been Chess' idea. She took it gently from him and began deftly switching it for Vogue's headcollar.

Idly, Alec wondered how Kiwi was doing; tethered to an unfamiliar trailer, with an unfamiliar person tacking her up. Just months ago he would be worried that she would panic; think he had given her up, but Kiwi had grown ever more confident with the passing days and she had looked more curious than fearful when Leora had begun to lead her away. Vogue, too, had seemed unfazed by the change.

He made a mental note to thank Leora again for contacting him with the idea of entering the swap.

But all too soon his time was up, and he was rethinking that plan.

"Go on," Chess said, looking far too amused than was healthy. "The hoodie's gotta go."

Alec shot her a withering look as she stood by in her own thick jumper and moccasin boots. Her long hair was unbound as usual and fell about her in gentle spirals. Her gloved hand was soft on Vogue's rein. The mare stood quietly, her neck arched high, her ears pricked forwards and her feathers catching in the grasses.

Alec shrugged off his sweater and the cold air hit his half bare skin like a sledgehammer. The silk shirt with its laces did very little against the chill, and the cloak he swung on did little more. But he gritted his teeth - it wasn't that cold, he told himself, and it wasn't too long to bear it. He swung easily up into Vogue's saddle and Chess handed up the fine rapier sword they'd acquired just for this purpose.

It felt odd, sitting on a horse that was so unlike Kiwi, but whom he already knew would be a joy to ride. For however much he'd not liked his mother's warmbloods, even he had to admit they were trained to perfection. Vogue had that same, balanced, knowledgeable feel to her, and when he closed his calves to her sides, she snorted before stepping forwards into the bridle, her muscles flexing beneath her velvet coat.

"That way," Chess pointed. "I think that's Kiwi by the gate, and you're next anyway."

Alec looked over. It was definitely Kiwi; her birdcatcher's stood out like stars. The only stars visible, given the low lying mist had wiped them all from sight in the sky. She was strung with tiny, glowing, violet faerie lights; striped stockings encased her forelegs and Leora's sharp blonde hair stood out in the night like nothing else.

He steered Vogue towards them, smiling. This would definitely be fun.

Sorry for the short little story that got a little carried away. Its not the best, but I also need to get some sleep soon

Anyway, this would be my half of an entry for the swap class in my Halloween event. *strideroo and I decided to enter together. Strider, I hope you approve of how my part turned out. I loved drawing Vogue and this was a great reminder just why I need my own Friesian so much

Unfortunately Zorro dresses all in black, and while that usually looks awesome, in art it kinda sucks, because I think a lot of the details are lost. Its also mad how many shades of black are in here.

Lastly, so far Strider and I are the only ones who've entered the swap class, so it would be awesome if anyone else thinks they could get together and do a pair of entries I'm (finally) starting work on Monday, so if anyone needs an extension to do it, then just let me know. I may not have time to close the event that day, anyway. It would be great to see some more entries for this class ^^

Time - a number of hours over the last week and a bit. The lineart took a lot of it
This photo used for the horse's pose: i140.photobucket.com/albums/r1…
Art, story, Kiwi and Alec copyright to *Tattered-Dreams
Vogue and Leora copyright to *strideroo
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.