The Chase for Victory: 8432 Wild Hunt Attempt #2

Literature Text

“I can’t believe I’m actually out here doing this. Humans can’t do anything for themselves nowadays.” The blue roan mumbled as he trotted along a small stream in the valley. His herd mare failed to appease the humans back at his stables to bring in a fairytale of a horse. Fluvius, [or Flooz as most people called him] had no interest in interacting with another ballator other than his ladies. Yet for the sake of being able to run out to be free for a moment; it was worth a little work for it. Not that he was alone on this too. He traveled with a one-eye black bear at his side. 

This place was one of the stories that he had heard from older mares long ago. It was beautiful in his eyes. The glades would be a perfect spot for his herd to grow and flourish here. The endless supply of food and shelter was like Christmas day for this older male. So many distractions nearly making Flooz forget what he was originally sent here for. Shaking his barbary mane he surveyed the area looking for that shimmering gold in the fields. “Look for the gold…then report back to me...” The bear started wandering off to pursue the search on its own. Fluvius continued down the stream on his own search.

The sweet sounds of the birds and the warm sun was drawing the older male to take a nap. However, learning how his mare Nix met the stallion that way, he wasn’t up for surprise wake up calls. He snorted hanging his head low sniffing around for a scent. Normally other male scents would throw him off, initiating a chase out of his territory. However,  this place wasn’t his own; not yet at the least. Having no problem making his own mark on the glades with his scent. Wherever he went, he marked the trees with rubbing his horn creating scars on the bark. Flooz wanted to be sure that he had no competition for this wild catch. He was hoping after this that he would finally get a chance to go hunt for something he can actually kill. 

A rustle in the bushes put him on guard immediately as he bore his fangs. Yet out of the brush came his bear companion instead of danger. “You returned to me, I reckon this stallion is here?” The bear turned its head towards the stream then back at Flooz. “Down there huh? Good work. Go get yourself something. I’ll take it from here.” The roan hurried downstream as the bear wandered off again. The closer he got to his target, the stronger the smell was. This ballator smelled a lot different than those he investigated at home. It almost shared the scent as the deserts; but not exactly the same. How puzzling. This only intrigued him more as he followed it to an empty space nearby. That was where it all stopped. Lifting his head, he snorted in confusion. “What?..No...it can’t just disappear like that. What's going on?”  Upon further looks, there were hoof prints and a patch of mud. Of course, that's why the scent was thrown off, he had covered himself with the earth. That would make his search tougher.

“You know if you wanted to find me all you had to do was ask.”

The voice threw Flooz off guard once again as he spun around to see something much blinding. The shimmering poecilia of the hybrid male was as it was told; stunning and beautiful. However, patches of mud were covering up his manes and face. The evidence he had indeed rolled in the mud much earlier. The blue roan let out a warning growl as he took a step back. This ‘thing’ was exactly what his humans were looking for. Something pretty and sparkly, go figure. “Wow, you’re even more flighty than that white mare that was here earlier.” The stallion laughed at Flooz. “Though she was much prettier and happier. What brings you out here stranger? Looking for me too?” Midas had a quirky smile on his face despite being faced with a ticking time-bomb. “Are you going to say anything or just stare at me like that intensely? By the way, I saw a bear here earlier that wouldn't’ happen to be yours, wouldn’t it? You two got the macho scar look going on there~ Goes great with that lion mane you got, I wanted one but unfortunately, my blood doesn't allow me to do so--”

Flooz stood there quietly as the steppe hybrid ran his mouth. So noisy, just what he needed at the stables; another chatty ballator. “Yes, it is mine. As you are about to be.” The golden male only let out a cheerful belly laugh. “Oh, that's a good one! You’re nailing the ‘tough guy’ persona for sure! You wouldn’t be the first to say that to me though pal. I’m too fast even for your cute girlfriend. Think you can catch me? You haven’t even asked for my name yet pal. How rude.” The two males locked eyes for a moment. The game was about to begin, Flooz knew it. It all went down to who moved first. Flooz’s nostrils flared displaying a flash of red as his hoof dug deep into the earth. The golden male flicked his ear as he stepped back once. “Well, if that's not determination I don’t know what else that could be. Guess its a chase then~ Come get me!” 

The two males sprinted off away from the stream, kicking up grass as they ran. Midas continued to giggle and laugh freely while the grumpy blue roan followed eagerly behind. Flooz gritted his teeth, this game of chase was much better with mares, not males. He knew though that going home empty wasn’t an option for him. Flooz would bring his human something that they could be preoccupied with for a long time. Enough time for him to take a nap with his group of women. For now, though, he had to catch him first.