'I could not have missed this beautiful place more...' The giant stallion thinks as he threebeats smoothly into his kingdom, his home, his heavy daggers thundering upon the emerald land. Slowing to a prancing jog he closes his eyes and fills his nares with the perfume of wildflowers that floated on the air. Caught in his own thoughts, the sound of hoofbeats coming from behind startle him momentarily, having forgotten about his followers. He swings around slowly to watch their reactions toward his lands, wanting to know if they thought them as spectacular as he did - he was very proud of his claim.

"We're home." He says bluntly, watching their facades closely for a hint of their thoughts.

The three young'uns slowed as their new king did, looking around in awe. Crystal took a deep breath of the pure, clean air, so much different then the smoke-tinted air of her captive home, now so long past she could barely recall it. Jewel stopped in a patch of sun, half-closing her eyes as she looked at the wonderful landscape and basked in the warm sunlight. It was obvious what they were both thinking - what a beautiful, magical place! They were so astounded that they had no words to describe it, and simply drank in the sight.

Ski, on the other hoof, was a bit more - how to put it - actively enthusiastic. He was just as awed as his sisters, but being the young, mischievous colt he was, he immediately kicked up his heels and started running around, circling the other three in a wide loop. "This place is awesome!" He neighed after several circuits, finally coming to a halt beside Crys, blowing. "Look at all the room to run!" White filly and red laughed at him, his excitement spreading and making them all giddy.

Crystal felt she had to express her feelings in some way, but, wanting to be a bit more dignified then her brother, she chose to do so in words. "This is a wonderful place, king Sharloch." Her tone was impressed, excited, and joyful, all at once. This would be her home!

"How could you ever bear to leave it?" Jewel added, her voice calmer yet no less emotion-filled as her siblings'.

"Ahh, the promise of pretty little fillies was too much of a temptaition to resist!" He replies to Jewel cheekily, a merry spark in his sharp, dark eyes. He nickers and shakes himself, sending his mane wild in the catch of the breeze and huffs a contented huff before he looks across the facades of the three new herd members, settling on the excited visage of the young stag.

"You, young man." He says in a stern and regal tone, inviting him forward with quick flick of his elegant head, his eyes then quickly jumped to the fillies and he nods, letting them know they were free to wander off as they pleased. The King had to have a quick, private chat with this young bronc.

Both fillies lowered their eyes in embarrassment, neither of the type that took compliments without such emotion very easily. Both also privately entertained the humorous thought that they could hardly be called little - they stood taller than the king himself! Not that they'd mention that little detail, of course. "We're not particularly special, sir," Jewel murmured. "Unique in thought and temperament at times, perhaps, but not much else."

Ski snorted violently in disagreement, but before he could defend his sister from herself, Sharloch beckoned him. His manner changed, and he approached the king somewhat nervously, ears flickering restlessly from behind towards his sisters, to the side, forward at the regal stallion, and back again only to repeat. "Yes, sir?" he asked hesitantly, halting a couple paces away. His sisters, taking the hint, turned towards the open meadow's central area, though not before Crystal cast a beseeching glance at her new king, the look silently asking that he not be too hard on her foster-brother.

Ski watched them trot away - it wouldn't be the same to take the first gallop of their home without their brother - with brotherly love and pride briefly lighting his midnight-flecked silver eyes before he turned back to the noble equine before him.

Thinking that he might have sounded a little too stern, the King smiles knowingly at the younger stags nervousness.

Why so glum boy? You're not in any trouble. He jokes before beckoning the night-hued bronc closer.

I only wanted to offer to you a very important place within the Kingdom of the Blessed... Sharloch begins cryptically, wondering if Ski knew what was coming next.

You see, I will soon be off again, leaving for the claiming grounds again in the hopes of finding a mare that could become my Queen. But the dilemma for me is, no brave and loyal stag exists to guard over my lands for me... He nickers suggestively to the tall brujo by his side, looking across his facade for any hint that he was catching on. When he sees no such expression, the King snorts impetuously and carries on.

This responsibility would usually go to the Lord of the Lights, whom has yet to be appointed, and as you, Ski, are the only other stag in the land and I know you to be bubbling with youthful enthusiasm and to be very protective, well, it just stands to reason that I wish to appoint you this position of honour... He continues, pausing to let the implications of what he had just offered the other stag sink in a bit more. Patiently he watches Ski with gentle, imploring eyes, ready to respect any response, be it a straight answer or a myriad of questions. Sharloch just hoped that Ski realised that becoming the Lord of the Sacreds put him in a position of great prestige and power, but also great responsibility - and it would also mean he'd have to leave this terra to rule over his own, and leave his sisters behind...

The stal was put somewhat at ease by the older horse's smile and comment, though his ears still flickered uncertainly as he ventured closer at the beckon. Ski's confusion increased at the hints the stag offered, his unease growing as he puzzled through what Sharloch was trying to tell him, sensing something important would be said.

When the king finally told him straight out, the black stallion simply stared at him in shock, stock still and mouth agape. A moment later, he closed his lips and swallowed spit, still staring. He had a vague idea about what the Lord of Lights was from listening to various horses he and his sisters had encountered around the land, mostly that it was the second most powerful position besides the King, and was held by a stallion with his own herd.

Then, the implications began to set in, and the keen intelligence his fun-loving personality often masked came into play. Obviously, having his sisters as part of his herd would be out of the question. Not only would many take that as favoritism, but he may even be expected to mate with Crys since she was not directly related to him. He could never do that - they were extremely and often surprisingly close, yes, but it was the closeness of siblings, the love between a brother and a sister. Plus, Sharloch had already taken claim to them, and he was the top stallion in the Light lands.

Then another factor thrust itself to the forefront of his mind. He'd be expected to sire, and sire to every mare in his herd. Unlike some young, eager stallions, Ski wasn't even close to that sort of interest at this age. One factor was the fact that his sisters had hammered certain morals, concepts and guidelines into him during their travels, and another was that he was purely, simple not ready. Unlike some hotheaded youngsters, Ski knew how to think, consider, and weigh options, and he did so now.

On one hoof, he had power; Prestige and respect; His own mares, herd, and fellow young stals (That he'd probably have to keep tightly in line); Security in his position until he was quite a bit older (if he'd understood the stories and explanations right, that is); And the pride of being the father of many foals. Along with all those wonderful things, he also had heavy responsibility; A commitment to every single mare, stallion and foal in his herd of protection, devotion, love, and his attention; A reputation to uphold, as befitted a Lord and, he assumed, the right-hoof stallion to the King; With everyone counting on him, a need to give up his mischievous pranks, good-natured joking and teasing, his endless laughs and quips, his freedom to run where, when and with who he wished - within limits - and mature into a serious, calculating, practical, and defensive stallion, restricted to his land and his mares in order to assure the safety of herd and home; And, probably hardest of all, he'd be forced to not only leave his sisters behind, but most likely rarely see them.

That last thought alone was almost enough to make him panic, scoop up his sisters and run for the hills. Or colic.

On the other hoof, he had low ranking and power; The prestige and respect of most any other colt, which was virtually none; A home in a herd, where he was nothing more than a regular soldier in battle, common defender of the herd against predators, a simple member of the large, extended family of Sharloch; And most likely, no ability to sire foals. Not much potential there, but there were other things that went along with it: Responsibility only to himself, his sisters, and to obey the law and Sharloch; A commitment only to his sisters and Sharloch; The only reputation he need worry about would be the one he had as an individual, of who he himself, the horse, was, not the herd stallion; With the absence of power and all that came with it, he could enjoy his colt hood, have fun with his sisters, tease all he wanted - within limits - and basically simply enjoy his youth and time with his sisters; And, most importantly, he’d be by his sisters’ sides, and see them practically every day.

Now that he had the pluses and minuses of each lined up, he compared them, answering himself honestly. Power and prestige he didn’t need, nor did he particularly want - he was content with simply being a brother for now. Mares and a herd might be nice, he admitted to himself, but not only was he not interested in siring at this point in time, but, though it didn’t show on the outside, inside he flinched back violently from the thought of the confinements that would be placed on him, should he become a herd leader. The company of young stallions he could probably have any time, once the herd grew - but for one thing, he wasn’t interested in mares or fighting, which many probably wouldn’t understand, and for another, he had plenty of fun with his sisters, moreso than he’d ever had in his life. Plus, both Crystal and Jewel provided challenges in both racing and sparring, and they were fun and his sisters to boot.

Security wasn’t much of an issue to him, to be honest, at least not ranking wise - Ski was quite content to simply be considered the odd-colored brother to the odd-colored fillies, and he never was terribly keen on using rank, power, dominance and all that to get what he wanted. In their little family band, Crystal had always been the leader, whether she knew it or not - she had the patience, the thinking processes, the ability to make others feel comfortable and at ease with her, and many of the other qualities a leader possessed. At least he thought so. And being a father… The black stal simply didn’t feel ready to be a sire, much less to so many.

Then, still, there was the responsibility, the commitments, reputation, and huge sacrifices to be made. Could he really do that? Could he carry all those burdens, young as he was, at an age where most young equines were enjoying the freedom from both their mothers and the very things a lead stallion must shoulder?

Then there was the fact that he’d be forced to leave his sisters behind, perhaps forever. Could he handle the heartbreak that separation would come with? Could his sisters handle it? Would they ever see each other again, romp together in grassy meadows, race wildly through forests while dodging trees and leaping brush, spar in play and roll in the mud, tell jokes, laugh, argue about the most ridiculous things? They’d never have the chance to grow up together, laze in the sun, graze, see who could reach the highest apple on a tree. Never have the chance to play with each other’s foals and grandfoals, teaching them how to have fun, how to look at the bright side of things even when everything was dark, how to live, love, forgive, and enjoy the life they had?

The more Ski thought about things, the more queasier he became, his stomach roiling, his mouth dry and sour, his head beginning to pound. He’d never planned for this, never thought he’d be forced to make this kind of choice. Never, in all his days, had the thought crossed his mind that he, Ski Hiteiahadso, brother to Jewel Hiteiapreta and foster-brother to Crystal Hiteiaso, would be offered this kind of position. This entire time, he had been staring at Sharloch, eyes distant and quite obviously not even seeing the tall stallion before him, instead looking at something only he could see. Now, though, his eyes squeezed shut, and his ears twisted back as he struggled to make his decision.

Then, laughter suddenly floated towards them on the light breeze that sprang up. The young stal pricked his ears as he turned towards his sisters at the forest‘s edge, opening his agonized eyes. I can’t do this on my own, he finally realized, listening and watching with soft eyes. Crystal was prancing in place with her tail held like a galloping Arabians‘, neck as arched as she could make it and her legs lifting ridiculously high, obviously making some sort of joke. Jewel was rolling on the loam-covered ground and laughing in her soft, clear musical voice, legs thrashing until she rolled too far and thumped onto her other side. This set Crystal off, too, and she collapsed beside her ruby sister, loud, ringing neighs vibrating from her throat.

They, all three of them, were so different, and yet so alike in many ways. Their differences had only served to pull them together and make them stronger, knitting them into a trio closer than family, each looking out for the other and willing to lay their life down for their siblings. Not one of them would not do anything, anything to ever hurt the others, be it physically, mentally or emotionally, directly or indirectly. Accidents happened - a branch would be pulled back and hit the on behind in the nose as they followed an overgrown game trail, a rock or twig would kick up from up ahead and hit the others in the chest or legs while galloping - but they always forgave and found ways to laugh about it in the end. Sometimes, it happened in play - Crys ‘accidentally’ bumping into Ski to knock him into the icy winter stream, Ski ‘accidentally’ spraying her with snow as he whizzed past, and Jel ‘innocently’ bumping into a tree trunk and burying them both in a snowdrift up to their chins - but that was to be expected among siblings, and it was all in goof fun. When, on several occasions, they’d been stalked by wolves or cougars and been forced to fight, they’d never chosen themselves over the other two when it came to protection, often endangering their own lives in the process.

How could Ski leave them? They were part of him, two thirds of his mind, his heartbeat, his entire life. Without them, he’d be missing more than half of who he was. He couldn’t imagine ever leaving them, ever not having Crys to spar and banter with, not having Jel force him to stand still while she and Crystal groomed the mud out of his silver mane and tail? Never being able to watch the stars with them, never having the sound of their breathing lull him to sleep? Never racing across meadows, forests and hills, never playing water games on hot summer days with huge splashes and spitting jets of water at each other in tag?

Even after all this thinking, weighing, agonizing, speculating… Ski still did not know what to do. But he knew one thing - this decision could not be his alone. It would be neither kind nor fair not to tell his sisters and get their opinions, not right if he didn’t find out how they felt about all this.

As such, Ski answered Sharloch the only way he could at the time, turning his head to face the king once more. “Sir, I… I can’t…” The stal stumbled for words for a moment, then stopped. Taking a deep breath, he began again, all traces of fun and play blown away in the wake of what the older stallion was asking. “Sir, please don’t think I’m ungrateful. On the contrary, I’m extremely honored you think me worthy of such a position. But…” He paused, searching for the right way to phrase what he had to say. “This is a huge thing, one that will impact not only myself, but Crystal and Jewel, as well. We’ve been together since before we were weaned, and never thought we’d become separated. I implore you, sir, that if you’ve the time, I might discuss this with my sisters, and think on it a while. Perhaps even sleep on it, though I know that may not be possible.”

The colt sighed, the hard part finally out. But he wasn’t done. “But I also understand your concern of the safety of your lands in your absence. If it is your wish, I pledge that, if you must leave and for whatever reason I’ve not yet answered, I will protect the herd with all I am, until you return.” There. The midnight stal took another deep breath, and let it out slowly, waiting for whatever response Sharloch would give. He had given an honest answer, and offered his services as protector with all sincerity and seriousness. Now all Ski could do was wait, and wait he would.

((Oh, gosh... @_@ This must be one of my longest IC posts ever - and with barely any talking! Hehehe... Ahem. *Clears throat* Sorry for the length, I can attempt to shorten it if you'd like... Note the word "attempt"... =P))

OOC: I comend you on you massive post, hehe. It's very good, it was like reading a monologue. Top RPing Crhisa! ;D

BIC: Sharloch would be fooling himself if he said he wasn't disappointed with the response that the young stal gave him. The King had thought that any stag he had asked would be more than eager, so the nervous and tentative reply that Ski had given was a nasty suprise...

He would not let the young stallion see these feelings though - they were his own - and the important thing was right now to let the other bronc know that the King accepted his answer. Truthfully, he replies.

[b}Ski, ]I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't disappointed... But in saying that I do respect your decision. If you wish to think on it for a moon, or for many if you want to, you have my permission to take the time you need.[/b] He says with a one sided, half hearted smile - hoping that his inner conflict didn't show. In a way the King wished that the other stag had just said yes out of respect for his King... but the kinder part of him knew that he'd prefer his subjects to be honest, and personable, with their King. He rather rule amongst his people than above them. Noticing that Ski was still standing awkwardly beside him, the King tosses his handsome crown in dismissal.

Off with you then boy! He jokes, Go and talk it over with your sisters. Oh, and you can be sure I'll be calling on your promise to protect my lands when I decide to head away. He adds sincerely, his expression soft. Conversation over, the King turns away to look out over his lands, leaving Ski to wander off unwatched.

((Thanks =] *Looks back at post* Wow... I look at it again, and I'm still all @_@ "How did I do that, with so little talking?" =P *Ish slightly hyper*))

Ski bowed his head, deeply grateful for the understanding the older stallion showed despite his disappointment. "Thank you, sir." He raised his head, unable to express his appreciation any better than those three words and what showed through his eyes. The king dismissed him, and the young stal dipped his head once more in respect before turning and slowly trotting towards the two mares, more deeply in thought than he'd ever been before.

However, his sisters knew him much too well, and he'd barely opened his mouth before Crystal cut him off with a swift upward jerk of her head. "Whatever it is, it can wait," she said firmly. Ski opened his mouth again, but this time Jewel interrupted.

"Crys is right," the ruby filly said gently, reaching forward to touch noses with her brother. "We can tell it was serious from your eyes, and we understand that it's important to talk about - that's what you came over here to do, right?" A somewhat perplexed nod. "That's fine, but I can also easily see that you're in no state to talk coherently about it - you'll be frantic and worried about this, that and the other thing, and we'll get nowhere."

"But I..." Ski started, ears back in dismay. "But, Sharloch... He needs an answer!"

"Ski," his white sister said quietly, knowing he felt and sympathizing, "Sharloch may be the king of this land, and we a part of his herd, but he cannot control who we are and what we need. We have only just met him, and though I hold him in high respect even now, he does not truly know us - our hopes, our dreams, our hearts. That will take more time to come about than has already passed." Ski was quiet through this, thoughtful, but the ear he turned her way told Crystal he was listening intently. "Exactly how much time did he give you to think about whatever it was he spoke to you about?"

"Well..." Ski sighed. "He said to take as long as I needed, but I don't want to make him wait too long for an answer."

"He would not have said that if he didn't mean it," Jewel pointed out. "Whatever his private feelings are, he said he's willing to give you the time you need. We - Crys and I - say you should wait a day, at least. Whatever he told you is big, I understand, and that's why you need a clear head when we talk about it."

"You may not be able to put it aside," Crys picked up where Jel left off, almost uncanny in the way there was barely a break between words, "but you need to relax and get your thoughts in order, at least. A good run or two today, some grazing, and a good night's sleep will help tremendously. We can talk it over in the morning, when we're all fresh."

These last two mini-speeches((Or paragraphs)) by the mares were said just loud enough for Sharloch to hear, and Crystal raised her head to look over Ski's withers to the lead stallion. As if to say, "Trust me - I know my brother, this is the best way for him." Other than that silent, wordless message, however, her eyes were unreadable, and a moment later she relaxed her head to look away at her brother once more.

The black colt was silent for a minute, head tipped down and eyes staring unseeing at the ground. When he finally looked up again, his expression was a curious mix of resignation tinged with amusement, understanding that his sisters were right, and, maybe or maybe not surprisingly, relief. The burden would have to be raised once more come morning, he knew, but right then he felt like a heavy load had been lift from his back at the realization that, for one more day at least, he could be as he always had been: Just Ski, brother to Crystal and Jewel, a young colt as free as the wind, able to simply be.

"Alright," he said quietly, "You're right. I'm way too confused to be any good right now. And way too hungry," he added with a small smile, his jokester's attitude showing through once more. "Can we graze a bit before running? Otherwise, a wildcat or wolf might mistake my growling stomach for one of their own, and I don't feel much like running them off for the third time this week."

That set them all to chuckling - moreso because they knew somehow that everything would turn out alright than because the joke was all that funny. Together, as they'd always been and hopefully always would be, the three siblings made their way out into the sunlit meadow to graze. As the small, close-knit family joked, laughed and bantered together, Ski felt the his tension and worry melting away. He couldn't quite forget Sharloch's offer completely, but he was able to enjoy the company of his sisters.

And at that moment in time, that was all that mattered.