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ARTFIGHT!: Beginnings

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The starting piece for the art fight between me and :iconjackiewinters:
Apologies that it's traditional but I'm am currently unable to complete/ DO any digital art and traditional art is easier for me by far.

Kaiya and Black Skies (I am aware i forgot jet but she will still be mine) belong to me.

Jackie, I can't wait for your piece!

The remainder of winter breezes hurried the two caravans towards their destination sheltered in natures crossroad. The Trapper and his family had gathered up their belongings and struck out in the edges of winter in order to reach the Native American tribe they visited every year by spring to trade with.
Except this year they had extras. An extra group had joined their little group, heading in the same direction.

Horse rustlers and soldiers; an odd group. They had a mix of different horses yet all carried the same branding of a 'V'. They had seemed friendly enough. They had a large, weathered caravan in which they carried their supplies.

The Trapper and his family hadn't pried and welcomed the protection that the soldiers and their horses traded for a fire, shelter and company.
Yet both groups stayed apart, the only communication were warnings, food and brief greetings.
The Trapper was unsure whether he should ask the strangers to leave their group as he had a small feeling they meant ill of the friendly tribe they were heading towards.

But he held his tongue and said nothing.


The sun was shining in the early morning when one of his young sons spotted the tribes smoke from atop one of the caravans. The news spread like wildfire and lifted his familys' moods.
Even the strangers seemed happier and had allowed their tongues to loosen.
Although everyone was keen to arrive at the camp, the Trapper kept the pace the same. To tire the horses out now would mean they'd be late getting home.
This was routine for their trusty steeds and to push them now would be dangerous.

They cleared the trees by the afternoon and the camp came into view. 
Little conical tents poked up on the flat grassland, sheltered by a wall of trees to the east and a great expanse of grassland stretching out towards the west.
To the north were the towering silhouettes of the twisted canyons deserts-dry. An adders dream and a coyotes paradise also spelled the place of sunfires: fires caused by the beams of light that reflected of the quartz that was embedded in the canyon walls. No plants lived in that area as they were all burnt into ash.

"Papa! Papa! Look at them!" his daughter cried from the caravan as a herd of horses streaked out over the plains towards the camp.
They were the Indians horses, more of a friend than a mount. Allowed to be wild, the horses simply lived in a trade with the People of the Land. They provided help, transport and a mount for the People and the People gave them food, shelter, protection and care. An easy trade.

"Beauties, aye?" He smiled and lifted his daughter onto his shoulders as he walked next to their huge Clydesdale who pulled their caravan, Henry.

His daughter giggled and made her tiny wooden horse gallop across the horizon with the herd.
The Trapper watched her for a minute before turning back the the living wind that raced across the plains. He squinted his eyes and smiled as a bright orange coat flashed and sparkled in the sunlight in the front of the herd. The Flame was running.
He smiled as his daughter gasped and he knew she could see the Flame too.
The orange horse broke away from the herd and the trapper watched as she surpassed the glossy streak of sunlight that flew over the grass as it bent from the wind.
The Flame was outrunning the wind!

He allowed himself a happy sigh.
His old bones wouldn't last forever but he sight of Natures flame out running the wind would be a sight he would treasure forever.
Her whinny floated up from the flat plains on the very wind she had outrun.


A guide from the tribe had arrived to accompany them into the camp.
It was Strong Oak on his grey horse.
He welcomed the Trapper and his family warmly but glanced warily at the strangers that had come with them.
The Trapper assured him that they were no harm and Stout Oak reluctantly allowed them access.

The two wagons were greeted by the tribes inhabitants warmly and there were many eager hands to help unpack the Trappers wares but the Chief shooed them off, claiming that the Trapper and his family would like to rest. 
The eager helpers smiled and nodded, bringing them food and water to drink and they shared stories around the campfire as the sun disappeared and allowed the moon to take his place.

Once the Trapper was occupied with the Tribes people, the Chief approached the second caravan.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" he asked the two uniformed men that stood guard outside the grey caravan, rifles held at the ready.

The men exchanged looks and on said something inside the caravan.
Seconds later a shadow emerged holding a roll of paper.
The cowboy hat was pulled low over the strangers eyes but they handed the Chief the scroll. 
He took it and unfurled the pristine paper, skimming over the words.

His eyes widened as he read the message again, then three times, before rolling it back up and handing it to the stranger.
"My apologies, Sir. I had forgotten you were coming."

The stranger tipped the hat upwards and a ponytail fell down from the back. The chief found himself staring into the dark brown eyes of a girl.
An adolescent girl wearing a white shirt, a brown leather vest and a thick brown belt with two holstered revolvers.

"That's ma'am, I believe. An' it's a pleasure to meet the Chief of this tribe." She grinned wickedly and stuck out a hand.
The Chieftain accepted it carefully and shook it, "Again, I humbly apologize. I will ask for some food to be sent to you and then allow you to sleep. Surely your journey has been long and you are tired."

The girl smiled and tipped her hat, "Very kind of ya'."
The Chief nodded and turned around, "We will discuss this in the morning."

As he turned around, he missed the smile slip into a sneer and the fingers slip onto the revolvers handle,"'Till the morning."

The morning came quickly along with the excitement.
There was an eager crowd of watchers gathered as Kaiya woke up around the smoking embers of their campfire after a late night sleep. The nap had been highly welcomed after the long trek here. She hadn't believed that the winner of the long distance race lived so far away. Though it did make sense why the winner won. She just hoped that her horse hadn't disappeared. He had been very picky about the journey. He hated going in a group larger than two. But he had arrived at the camp with her so she hoped he was still tethered.
A quick glance at the curious crowd and she ignored them and stretched the tiredness out of her body, accepting a bowl of water to wash her face before tying her hair up in a ponytail.

When she was ready, after she woke the rest of her troupe with a firm kick (except her dog who she allowed to sleep on), the Chieftain approached her again.

"May I see the horse?" He asked, standing up tall. The eagle-feather headdress waved slowly in the breeze and Kaiya grinned.

"Sure, jus' hope he's still secure." She picked up her hat, motioned for the Chief to stay put and walked behind the caravan where she had tethered her horse the day before.

When she came back around, a huge black shadow followed her.

He was huge. His shoulders easily surpassed his owners own height and he stood tall and unwavering.

"This, is ma beauty, Black Skies. The son of the Mountains and the Storm he's the strongest horse around. And the fastest when given a speed to strength ratio." Kaiya grinned as she lead him over to a tethering fence, looping the chain reins around the post.

The Chief approached the huge black stallion, eyes running over the glossy Arabian tail, the toned and muscular legs and body, up the thick chest and neck and up the the mismatched eyes: One red, one blue.

Kaiya held up her hand and the stallion leaned his head down and pressed it into her palm, allowing her to rub his nose and neck.
"Good boy." She whispered.

The Chief cautiously stuck out a hand towards the black stallion but quickly ithdrew it when the stallion snorted and lunged for it, teeth bared.
Kaiya grabbed his reins and wrenched hard, "No! Skies, No! Best behaviour remembered. Be nice!" She hissed in annoyance.

"Fiesty isn't he?" The Chief laughed.

Kaiya nodded as she tugged a warning on the huge horses chain reins, "Yes, he is. But I've promised that he'll be on his best behaviour so i'll be sure to deliver."

Black Skies just flattened his ears and snorted as the crowd dispersed and Kaiya leant against the railing, checking her pistol.

With the crowd gone, Black Skies perked up his ears and observed the area. There had to be something interesting here.


Enjoy!
Apologize for the crappy picture but this was my third go.
Image size
1821x1181px 1021.76 KB
Make
HP
Model
HP pst2570
Date Taken
Oct 17, 2014, 7:35:17 PM
© 2014 - 2024 Hills-to-Sky
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MistressTuki's avatar
Yay~!
Wild wild west~!