Wild At Heart RP *Play*

(Is Desperado going to die? Or has he already died?)

Remembering the rocks beside the riverbed, Akilah turned around and headed back the way she came. Back to the river, towards where Desperado was laying. She picked up the pace, hearing the river just up ahead of her.

She quickly scraped all the moss that she could, off of the rocks and made her way back to where the others where.

Akilah picked up a mad gallop, knowing that there was not much hope for Desperado. She had to try. As she galloped, she heard a neigh. A loud, harsh neigh. She stopped dead. Knowing who it was. Bullet. Fearing the worst, she raced through the trees, in and out, in and out, until she reached the place where Desperado, Bullet and Destiny where.

When she saw how bad Desperado was, her face fell. She had gotten her hopes up as she gathered the medicine, know... maybe it was too late to save him.

Desperado pinned his ears flat against his head trying to get what would most likely be his last words. "He's coming. Don't tell her...Go..." His words were so quiet only Bullet could have heard them. Wrenching pain shot to his chest as he spoke. His breathing became rapid and uneven. His eyes were trained right on Bullet when suddenly his body fell limp.

Bullet wasn't about to leave but he wondered what Akilah was doing and where she was going. He looked over at Destiny who was keeping a far distance from Desperado. He knew that she must have been scared and felt for her.

Bullet looked down and tried to make out what Desperado was saying and realized who "he" was and that Desperado didn't want Akilah to know how much he liked her and of course go now. He stared down at his friends lifeless body. A small tear fell down his cheek and landed on the blood stained soil. "We need to leave now." He said acting as though nothing had happened. "Run!!!" He yelled harshly at Destiny.

Akilah took one look at Desperado and spun around in in instant. Picking up a fast gallop, she was off, heading towards the river. "Stay with him!" She whinnied loudly as she weaved in and out of the trees.

She knew how bad his wounds were. Seeing the gash on his chest made her worry. Would it be too late? What had actually happened to him? All these thoughts were running through her head. She wanted to know what was going to happen, but knew that she had to atleast attempt to save him first. She knew that he didn't have much of a chance, but Akilah wasn't going to just give up.

The river was soon within earshot and she could hear the water running as she got closer. She slowed down to a canter, then a trot and trotted through the cool water, head low, searching for some plants that she needed. Spotting a small clump, she plunged her head into the ice cold water, pulling up luminous green plants. She looked at the ones she had gathered. "Should be enough" she said to herself out loud. Now she just had to find moss and some mushrooms...

She scanned the forest and saw a gathering of bushes which she knew the mushrooms grew under. She leapt out of the river, water splashing everywhere, and made her way to the dark green bushes, that grew poisonous purple berries. Knowing the dangers of the berries, she lay down and stretched her neck under the bush, careful not to touch the berries. One touch and within an hour you would be paralyzed. She knew this and it was not a nice experience. Seeing the red mushrooms she pulled them up with her teeth, allowing the roots to stay in the ground so more could grow.

Bullet finished off one of the cats and turned to the other, which stalked deeper into the forest. He trotted over to Desperado and put his head down slightly. He wondered if all that'd been said about him killing a foal was really true or not. This would be the perfect time to get rid of him. Weak and knocked out, no one would know. Even if he did survive this attack, Desperado would never be as good a fighter as he was. The thought of killing his best friend quickly left his mind when he saw Akilah trotting up.

Apparently Bullet wasn't the only one who sensed Akilah either.

Desperado opened his eyes slightly and neighed in pain. He'd been close to death before but this was different. He had something to loose this time. The thought of never telling his herd the truth, not getting a chance to talk more with Akilah, and most of all saving them all from what was coming.

Destiny almost ran into Akilah when she got to Bullet and Desperado. She gasped seeing all the blood on Desperado's dying body. But what caught her eye was the deep gash right across his chest.

Akilah threw her head up quickly and galloped off in the direction where Bullet was heading. She caught up to Destiny in an instant and pushed herself to go faster.

If Desperado was hurt, then what would happen then? Does anyone here know any types of medicine? She knew that she did. Akilah had been studying them when she turned 2 months old. She was a good healer and knew all about medicine. She could save Desperado. But was it too late?

She weaved in and out of the trees, knowing she was getting closer to Bullet and Desperado. Just ahead of her she saw 2 horses. One standing, one lying on the forest floor. She knew it was them.

Destiny woke with a start and looked at the filly. "It's Desperado, he's been attacked." She said trying not to panic and galloped out of the cave. She knew that Akilah would fallow and she didn't really care. All she wanted was to make sure that Desperado was okay.

Bullet made his way quickly through the forest and came upon two cougars and Desperado. He reared and struck one of the cats in the back. The other cat was still on Desperado, ripping his flesh. Bullet paused for a moment looking at Desperado's limp body. His eyes closed and no motion what so ever. "Desperado! Wake up!" Bullet yelled, at the same time as knocking the huge cat off of his friend.

There was no reply from Desperado...

Akilah awoke the next morning with a jump. Bullet was yelling loudly and she had no idea why. "What's happening?!" She whinnied, scrambling up to her feet quickly. By the time she turned to face Bullet, he was gone.

She was stunned. What had just happened? Was she safe here? Whatever did happen, it was bad. She could tell from Bullet's voice. She knew he meant what he said. Suddenly she realised that Desperado wasn't in the cave. Thats when she began to panic. Was he okay? Was that why Bullet had galloped off so quickly? Because of Desperado? Then she thought of the worst. Did Bullet change his mind about letting him live? Now that he knew that he was alone out there, was he going to kill him?

Her head was spinning. She turned to look at the back of the cave and was relieved to see that Destiny was still there. "Whats happening?" She demanded quickly. "Where is Bullet going?" She asked, not really wanting to know the answer. She was sure he was going after Desperado, but if he was, why did he wake them all up? Akilah's mind was racing. What could be happening out there? She knew it wasn't much longer before she took off after Bullet to find out for herself.

Desperado quickly jumped up, looking around his cave. "Oh, just a dream." He whispered, seeing no one in sight. He sighed in relief and walked out of his cave in the dark woods. His hoof-beats were quiet, in hope not to wake the others. He passed by the main cave, he looked over at Destiny, snoring loudly. He shook his head smiling at the goofy mare. He glanced over at Akilah, seeing a smile on her face, made him smile a little himself. He stayed there a minute, watching the filly. He looked outside and thought he saw something move. He looked back at Akilah and his heart skipped a beat or it was pounding so hard he could tell which one. He'd never felt this way about anyone before, was he falling in love with Akilah? That question would have to be answered at a later time. He walked back outside to see what had been rustling out there. He saw two pair of glowing eyes piercing through the bushes, looking right at him. He neighed and struck out at the bushes. Both of the body's moved away and disappeared into the night. Desperado was stumped, so he walked back to the cave. At first he thought he was alone, but then he glanced over and saw the two pair of glowing eyes watching him again. This time he neighed loudly, to wake the others and reared up high and come down nearly on the two animals that were stalking him. He finally saw what it was, two cougars. ~But they don't hunt in pairs?~ He thought to himself. Before he had time to think of anything else, one jumped upon his back and sunk it's sharp claws into his flesh. He neighed in pain, but threw the cat against a large rock and broke free of it's grasp. Just as he manged to get away from the one cat, the other attacked, ripping into Desperado's chest, trying to get to his vulnerable neck. He stuck the huge cat with his front hooves, trying to get free but this cat had a death grip on him. He fell to the hard ground, gasping for air...

Bullet heard Desperado neigh and jumped up from his sleep. Soon after that he heard a scream from a cougar. "Destiny! Get up!" He demanded and looked over at Akilah. "Get up filly and say here!" He told her before galloping out to see if Desperado was okay.

Akilah nodded to Destiny, realising how tired she was. She walked over to a mossy area of the cave, slightly further away from the others, and lay down.

The moss made a comfortable enough bed and she rested her head on the green vegetation. She wondered what would happen tomorrow, the moon shon in through the cave's entrence.

Akilah sighed and stretched out, her head on a patch of moss that acted like a pillow. She closed her eyes within moments of her laying down and difted off to sleep, dreaming about butterflies and nature. As she slept, she smiled. Thats one way of telling that she is dreaming, and that she is a dreamer.

OOC: Well it's really up to you, if you want her to stay a loner for a bit longer that's fine, but she is welcome to the herd:)

OOC: Do you want me to make Enchanted Secrets meet the others in a certain way, then? Or should she just wander around like a loner for a bit more and one of your horses can meet her? Let me know!

Desperado had went to his cave to finally rest. He was still confused of to why Akilah stuck up for him. She'd been the first to ever do that for him. Bullet had sort of saved his life a few times, but never in this way. And of course Destiny wasn't a warrior so she wasn't there when Bullet and he were out fighting. With all the questions running through his mind, he fell asleep after a little while.

Destiny smiled at Akilah. "Get some rest my dear. We all need some." She said walking over to a patch of moss in the cave and lying down to rest.

Bullet was still at the back of his cave, but the only one not resting at the moment. He was still very angry with Desperado and was wondering if he should keep him in the herd...

Akilah walked back with Desperado. She saw Destiny waiting for them.

She stood, listening to the older mare. Akilah smiled, beginning to trust this herd. Yes, they may have been scary at first, but now she had gotten to know them all a bit, they were actually not that bad. "Thanks" She said, really grateful that she had somewhere to stay.

It had been a while since Akilah had been in a herd. It had been a while since she felt somewhat relaxed. It had also been a while since she felt welcome and happy, in a herd. She was glad to have made some freinds too. ~Lets hope that this is the way its going to stay~ She thought to herself, happy to be in a place to rest.

She was tired and it had been a tough and emotional day for her. She knew it had been for all of the other horses too.

OOC: Oh it doesn't matter:) Your more than welcome to keep her in this herd!

OOC: Do you even want Enchanted Secrets to be in here? I don't mind if you don't want her to be. ^-^

Bullet sighed as Destiny and himself walked into his cave. Without showing it, he was overly tired. Not wanting to talk or answer the millions of questions he knew Destiny would be asking, he went to the very back of his cave and laid down to rest.

Destiny frowned as Bullet walked away, but she herself was tired as well. She stood for a moment, dozing off and on. She saw Desperado and Akilah walking towards her, and felt a little smile come upon her face. It wasn't everyday that someone stepped up and saved a life, and Destiny was very thankful that Akilah chose today of all days.

Desperado nodded and walked back in silence, not wanted to over question Akilah. He really didn't want to change her mind about him, if he had at all in the first place. He saw a grin on Destiny's face and slightly pinned his ears against his neck. "Don't even start." He mumbled, but Destiny heard what he said.

Destiny shook her head, still grinning a tad. "I didn't say anything, did I?" She question the young stallion.

Desperado shrugged and walked over to his cave without a word.

"Over dramatic much?" She said under her breath pinning her ears as he walked away. Turning to look at Akilah she pricked her ears forward and smiled. "Oh yes, um...you can either stay here for the night or in my cave. Or maybe Desperado's. He does owe you one. Anyways it's up to you, tomorrow we will find you, your own cave my dear." Destiny said kindly to the filly.

Akilah nodded to the stallion when he mouthed a thankyou to her.

Not believing what she just done, she looked down and smiled a little, happy to have saved a life. Even if it was the horse who took her best friend and she ended up dying. Yes, maybe if Desperado hadn't taken his sister, she may still be alive, but she seemed to trust that stallion. Confused as to why, however.

The young mare pulled a clump of grass from the luch green meadow and munched it, content.

She stayed there a little longer than Bullet and Destiny, knowing that Desperado would be asking her a lot of questions.

Akilah looked up from grazing, seeing the stallion standing nearby. She shrugged. "I dunno, why... I just believed you." She said, looking down, hoping she made the right decision about him. She had only just met him, properly, and before hand, she was positive that he took (and killed) her best friend.

She began to walk after Bullet and Destiny. "Come on." She said, turning back to him as she walked.

Dark mocha pools glanced around, with a hint of their ever-present, darkening sadness. What she had always wanted she never got, and today was no exception. Her snowy-white banner trailed in the wind, tassels flowing gently.

She was not a bad-tempered mare at heart, oh no! The only thing the lone matron struggles with is getting to know other equines she is not familiar with. And because of that, it has severly handicapped her ablilties to make friends. And what use was a life without other lives around to interact with and talk with?

The single figure now did not care if the icy-fingered Death was to stalk her tonight. Her life had, so far, been all about loneliness...and verbal abuse by the bullies in her old herd--the sole reason why she was standing here in the first place. The only hting she did, and could do, was to escape the tormentors and their bitting remarks. Well, it sure was better if one was to die with a peace of mind and not among a mean, pain-inflicting world.

Nobody, not even Desperado could believe that Akilah said what she did. Stunned looks on everyone's faces showed it all to well.

Bullet looked over at Desperado, his ears slightly pinned. "You left that part out." He said, still standing firm and glaring at the black stallion.

Desperado knew Bullet too well and began to grin. "Little detail, no biggy." He replied. Without Bullet seeing, Desperado mouthed "thank you" to Akilah.

Destiny looked at Akilah then to Desperado, still shocked and a little confused, as did Bullet. Millions of things ran through Destiny's head the main one being; Why did Desperado tell them about his little sister? It was all a little overwhelming for her to imagine. She turned to look at Bullet and shrugged. "Let's go back to the caves." She said before walking away.

Bullet nodded and walked off with Destiny, tired from the long confusing day.

Desperado looked at Akilah after everyone had left and smiled. "Why did you do that? You out of everyone has a good reason to be mad at me, but yet you just saved my life." He said, walking beside her.

Akilah snorted, backing up a little. "No." She said stubbornly. She looked at the Desperado, and surprisingly, believed him. Akilah threw her head up and faced Destiny. "If Bullet kills him. He is just as bad as him." She said firmly, looking behind her at the huge jet black stallion.

"He did take the foal." He admitted it, she said. Before Destiny had a chance to react, she carried on. "He said she was his sister. He took her to protect her from..." She paused and hung her head low. "To protect her from the leader." She said quietly.

Her eyes drifted upwards and she lifted her head up slowly, looking into the horizon. "He was evil. Everyone knew it deep down." She said, sighing.

"But it wasn't his fault she died!" She neighed, surprised at herself for saying all of this. "So if you kill him. It would be for nothing. You would be murdering him." She said, glancing over at Bullet.

Desperado was surprised that Akilah stood still long enough for him to explain, but shook the thought for his head to answer her question. He lowered his head a bit, to show he was no threat and that he never was. "I was going to take her away from the herd you both were in because I knew that the lead stallion was going to kill her, because of me. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt...that's why I was taking her away." He explained to her. "I failed... terribly." He muttered, not knowing if Akilah heard that part or not.

Looking up Desperado saw Bullet and Destiny walking up to them. He did try to run, that wasn't who he was. He knew that Bullet had good reason to kill him and wouldn't fight back, for once. He glanced over at the frightened look on the filly's face and saw all the hurt he'd caused and he didn't even save his little sister.

Bullet was dreading what he was going to have to do. He was shocked to see Akilah and Desperado standing somewhat near each other. Confusion was still clouding his thoughts, but he knew that the filly would not be happy with having another horse killed, but around here that's the way it was. "Get her out of here." Bullet said to Destiny as they got closer to the two.

Destiny still couldn't believe that Desperado had betrayed them. That didn't really matter now, she tore off from walking beside Bullet and walked over to Akilah. "We need to go." She said kindly with sadness in her eyes. She caught a glimpse of Desperado's willingness and a tear slipped from her eye. She had hoped that Desperado would disappear into the night, but she knew too well he would never be a coward in a fight.

Akilah carried on walking, her head held low, unaware of what Destiny and Bullet were doing at this moment.

She threw her head up when she felt the ground rumbling under her green hooves. She spun around wildly, seeing the horse she least expected to see; Desperado. She pinned her ears back and narrowed her eyes. "What do you want." She spat, before listening to what he had to say.

Akilah listened to what the stallion had to say for himself, backing up a little, tucking her tail in between her legs.

Confused and shocked at the same time, Akilah looked up at the huge stallion. "Why did you take her?!" She choked, feeling tears running down her cheeks.

Destiny was in shock. Total shock. Akilah had no idea what she'd just said, but it didn't matter now. She could see the rage in Bullet's eyes building up in a matter of seconds. Destiny lowered her head almost to the ground, she knew that Bullet would have no choice but to kill Desperado. He had lied to them and betrayed them. The words Akilah said, had just killed one of Destiny's only friends in the world.

Bullet couldn't even think straight, Desperado was one of his best friends, more like only. He heard every word the filly said, but the fact she thought that he'd never killed before stuck in his mind. Desperado had told Bullet and Destiny a story about a younger sister he had, but never went into detail. All he knew was the sister had been killed and that's when Desperado first killed a horse, the horse that killed his little sister. After that he became a fighter and found a old herd, the same herd Bullet was raised in. The herd was bad, very bad. After Bullet's mom died a short time after Desperado got there the two buds left to find their own herd. The story of finding Destiny was an interesting adventure for the two colts. But there had to be some mistake, Desperado had killed and fought many horses, but he would never have laid a hoof on a foal.

Feeling a slight chill, Desperado trotted out still very confused about what happened earlier. His shoulder was still bleeding a little as he trotted through the forest to try and find where the others had gone. Suddenly he stopped, realizing who the filly was. Desperado mumbled something under his breath and went into a dead out gallop. He flew through the forest, knowing it better than any horse. He came upon a huge fallen tree and was going to fast to stop. There was only one thing to do, jump. Erging himself to go even faster he planted his hind feet and pushed off with more power than most horses ever dreamed of. Without blinking with fear, he was clear of the huge obstacle. When he landed, he kept going, almost running into Akilah. He knew she was scared to death of him, but he didn't want her too. "Before you run off again, please listen. I know Bullet is going to kill me after what you probably told him and I want you to know what really happened. That foal, she..she was my sister. I went to see her, like I did every time you were watching the foals. Later that night, the leader of your heard killed her." He explained, not expecting her to believe her. "You have to reason to believe me, but that's the truth. If you want proof, she was four months old, her favorite flower was a daisy and you were her favorite horse in the herd." He added, hoping now she'd believe him.

Akilah skidded to a halt to prevent her from crashing into Bullet. She hung her head low and nodded. "Yes. It was him." She whispered. Realising what she had said, her head shot back up. "I don't want him dead!" She blurted out. Not beliveing a word of what she was saying. Yes, he had done wrong. Very wrong. But she wasn't the horse to have others killed. That would make her no better than him.

Akilah backed up, her ears slighly back and her tail tucked in between her back legs. "If you kill him, you are no better than him." She began. "You are just as bad. Killing him, is not going to bring the foal back. She is dead. There is nothing we can do." She whinnied, before walking off again. "Just keep him, away, from me." She called back to them.

Destiny looked at the scared young filly and felt horrible inside the way Akilah was talking to her like she was some kind of monster. "Akilah stop!" She whinnied and galloped after her.

Bullet saw the fear in Akilah's eyes and knew that Desperado had to be the one she was talking about.

Desperado looked at Bullet. "What the hell is going on?" He questioned, confused.

Bullet struck at Desperado and sliced his flesh. "We will finish this later." He told Desperado before galloping off to stop the filly. His speed was remarkable. Soon he pasted Destiny and took a shortcut to head off Akilah. Before anyone knew it Bullet was waiting for the filly at the tree line just beyond the meadow. He didn't want to scare Akilah, he needed to know if Desperado was the one who took the foal. "I'm not here to hurt you." He said quickly, not wanting Akilah to take off again. "Is that colt who took the foal? That's all I need. I need to know, because I will have to kill him if he did." He explained.

Destiny came up out of breath behind Akilah, hoping that Akilah was okay.