(Oh that's fine! I'm at another Dog Show haha, so I don't have long either))

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Riptide lifted his cranium slightly, preparing his quick but to the point words he'd have to speak to Minnah. At her concern, he shook his head slightly. "I don't believe he'd do that. He is too much of a wimp- he knows if I come back, he is doomed." He answered curtly, tilting his cranium slightly, his audits swiveling at her next, short answer. He moved on from it, as she seemed she wanted to, and nodded. "I'll go inform them." He commented before turning around and trotting off, his strides long to cover ground. After breaking back through the treeline, he approached Minnah. "I am going with Noda to help her find her dam. Can you keep watch while I'm gone?" He asked quietly, his statement simple and to the point, explaining what he needed to say. He flicked his tail, cocking a hoof slightly to watch her expression. He didn't know how she would respond, as she had been acting kind of weird lately.

The grey stallion raised his cranium slightly, his gaze flitting to her small wounds and narrowing slightly as he thought, but he said nothing for the moment. As Minnah started talking about Noda, his audits flicked back with slight annoyance and offense in Noda's defense. "Noda is completely trustworthy. I would trust her with my life." He stated firmly, his words like a proclamation that hopefully got the point across quickly. "Ragnorak was looking for her. I don't see any coincidence. Furthermore, I am quite certain he will not go after you or the other mares." His voice softened slightly, his brown orbs flitting to hers. As she moved closer, he didn't move for the moment, letting out a slow breath. Of course, he didn't suspect anything, as he was rather naive in that way. "It wouldn't be very long. I will return soon. You all have survived without me for more than a week when I was looking for this place, so I have full faith you will be fine." He smiled, flicking his tail as he leaned back on his haunches slightly to turn and go. "I'll see you soon, Minnah. Thank you." He flashed another smile before leaving, his suspicions slightly heightened by the mare's... interesting choice of words. She sounded so sweet, but her mistake was looking exactly like Noda when they were tricking Ripp into thinking they liked him. He could see the glint in Minnah's eye, and it made him uneasy. Of course, he was great at playing it off by now. He started to Trot back to Noda, his cranium lifted high.

(Okay! I shouldn't have to skedadle (yes, I use that word on a normal basis and yes, I am insane XD) very soon, as I don't have to get up early tomorrow. Have fun at the beach! Thanks for the heads up, too.

Yeah, it's a good time for Ripp to open up as well. They need to get closer lol!))

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The grey stallion swished his tail at an annoying fly or two, but other than that, he trekked on at a steady pace, his mind filled with thoughts of the herd and Noda and the old herd and his dam and Liona and Minnah and Ragnorak and everything that had happened over the past few days. Everything had changed so quickly. He swiveled an audit, keeping one back to pick up any noise from Noda, the other turning like a radio dish, picking up on the other sounds as he walked. It was rather quiet, a good time for thinking. Why had Minnah been acting the way she had? If he was thinking with the part of his brain he tried not to think with, he'd say that Minnah was another cruel mare that didn't like Noda and was trying to get Noda gone. However, that was the same part of his brain that said he should've turned Noda away, so he decided to ignore all thoughts about Minnah until after he returned. His thoughts then flitted to Rock, and once he resolved those, they went to Liona and the old herd, and lastly landed on Noda. As bea- normal as ever. He didn't dare look back, as he was afraid she'd get uncomfortable, or something would happen and she'd send him back. He wanted to come along, wanted to help, and wanted to see if his dam was still out there, as well. Somehow, though, his thoughts always trailed back to the blood Bay mare trailing not too far behind him. Her refined features and beautiful pelt. Gah, he thought it- still, what was wrong with him. 2 years to get over someone who had abused him and hurt him, and he still was acting like a 3 year old, doe eyed colt. He sighed inaudibly, both audits flicking back as Noda spoke. The silence had become a little oppressing, so he was open to conversation. Ripp considered her question for a moment before dropping back slightly so he was in line with her and talking would be easier. "Wander alone? Not too terrible long. I left just before I turned three, I think... maybe a couple months? I probably wandered for about 3 months, then I found a couple mares over the course of 5 more months. My herd was complete by the time I was 3 and a half, but after that, I kept wandering, always in search of better grazing and water. Periodically, I'd leave the herd to search for places. It was only when I was 4 that I found the place the herd is at now- we've been there for just over a year." He explained, his orbs flitting to her for a moment.

.

(Oh gosh- I was just randomly listening to music and a song called Dragula by Rob Zombie just randomly popped up and absolutely terrified me because he is known for making the most gruesome movies ever, and, like, 34 scenes just came to mind, and it is midnight XD. My brain is much too imaginative. Okay. Randomness over. Refocused.

The romance will come... it will come... LOL))

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The dappled grey stallion twisted his head around to nip at his dark shoulder, as an itch had randomly came up, and twitching his shoulder hadn't helped. He straightened his neck out again and let his brown orbs wander the landscape as he thought. His pelt prickled slightly, but he ignored it, not wanting to turn their first normal conversation into another weird, awkward one. He tossed his mane, again a little annoyed his neck tended to get sweaty underneath his thick mane, especially when he was in the sun. He wondered if Noda was talking because she was genuinely curious, or if she was just bored. Did she actually want him here? He couldn't help but wonder if she had wanted him as a guide, or as real company. His audits flicked slightly as he thought about this, pondering a couple other questions as well. Sadly, he couldn't ask her most of them, as they were not relevant to this conversation, and would just make both of them uncomfortable. He couldn't ask about anything in her past, like what happened after he left, because she had forgotten it all. Was there anything else he was genuinely curious about that wasn't a touchy subject? Her voice Penetrated his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. He paused for a couple seconds, listening to her next words before letting out a small sigh. "I can't help but always feel slightly... trapped. A part of me wishes I hadn't, but I'm glad I did, as instead of making my life better, I made 5 other horse's lives better. " He gave the best answer he could- the most truthful, as well. Of course, he had always wanted to roam free, and honestly .. if another perfect amazing stallion came along that would devote their life to those mares, Ripp would be more than glad to escape. That valley was almost like a perfect prison. At her next comment, his audits flicked quickly with mild, mostly unnoticed surprise. He had, of course, put many hours of thought into that, but it wasn't like he could say the reason he decided not to have a romantic relationship with any of the mares was her. That would be a TERRIBLE idea. However, it would be weird if he didn't answer. Maybe. He wasn't quite sure. "I've never seen the need to grow emotionally attached to any of those mares." Was the entirety of what he said, as any further words on the matter would tilt the board one way or the other.