[o] [SE] they call the thing rodeo

fire in the ground between my teeth, we're dancing on the poison in their graves
at the end of the night, we'd all seen better days

There is a loud snort that the nyala shoots back toward Colt’s call, his tail sweeping a little haughtily behind him as he guides them to the herd of yaks. He’s far enough away to not notice the staticky appearance of Vox as the Flood begins the steps to trying to remove the yaks from the road. So invested is he in the curiosity of the yaks that all he hears as he’s suddenly swept up in the herd is PEGASUS! shouted so loudly behind him how could he miss it?

Disappearing into the herd of yaks as their horns toss, the Flood shifts – replacing nyala horns and his small stature for the tricolored hue of his Pegasus shift, one that reflects the height of the yaks better but without all the bulk. His wings make up for it, though, as they snort in surprise and toss their heads more, his wings flaring out to try and grant him some berth before he’s nickering to them and with a flick of his tail starts to carve his way out of the herd to lead them to follow. And they begin to, each one stepping up after the other to make this large herd step back into the grasses off to the side, invested in avoiding the horses and dogs in favor for the pale Pegasus picking his way through the herd.

i know you tried, i know you're cursed, i know your best was still your worst

SUNJATA

Colt

She'd felt off the moment she finished writing her poem, but the action of the moment, quickly spinning into chaos, had her so focused she didn't heed the subtle changes around her. She didn't notice the anxiety that lingered with some of the dogs, and that strange glint of otherness wasn't nearly as big a threat as the yaks baring down on her leader. The thing is, ignore the little things enough and they grow into something big, something obvious.

The pop of Vox's voice in her head startled Colt. She jumped in the saddle, and faltered, scrabbling for a grip. Her spurs rolled against her mount's side as she regain herself and in response the horse leapt forward. The movement was so abrupt the back cinch caught the horse's underbelly with a solid snap, and that sent the whole spiral to hell as back feet erupted in retaliation. "Shit. Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck." Colt gripped the horn with one hand and clambered for her reins with the other, yanking just one side back to her hip to pull the horse's nose out of the dirt and too one side. Leather creaked and sashayed around her as her pad, saddle, and her ass kept catching air and then slammed back onto the horse's back. The dogs lost their minds, racing out of the way of the bronc and arrowed for the yaks pressing in on the Nayla turning Pegasus. In the distance, Mikey hooted at her and laughingly told her to stay on.

No shit.

The static dissipated, and that tingle, that weirdness left the space around her, but it had left it's mark thoroughly as she went crow-hopping through the brush. "Goddamnnagfuckingnogoodpieceofshit, QUIT IT!" Colt roared at the horse, finally managing to wrench it into a tight circle and regain control. One of the hands had jolted forward, barking orders at the dogs, though after one had gotten a nip in at the yak's nose. "Frey's sake," Colt swore with an exhale, stepping into the stirrups with a wiggle to reseat the saddle. The little walk from the ranch to road hadn't really been enough to warm up, obviously. Glancing back at the yak herd, she saw that they were still pursuing Sunjata, and she pressed her heels into the side of her horse to send it, tensely, moving out of the way even further. Create a wide space and the animals would go there. She fell in line behind the herd, as originally planned, and the dogs were back at her heel, darting forward every so often to nip at lazy tails and stilled pasterns. Her men worked the herd with practiced ease, which just helped maintain the flow after Sunjata got them moving and following him.

"That'll do, they're runnin' now, peel off Flood!" She smacked her leg to create noise and pressure as she continued to push the edge of the herd with the rest, inciting motion that should carry the herd well past the road.

I ain't gonna be that easy to leave
I'm gonna make you miss me

fire in the ground between my teeth, we're dancing on the poison in their graves
at the end of the night, we'd all seen better days

Still so very blissfully unaware of whatever chaos happens to Colt and the dogs and the crew drifting through like they know precisely what to do. He continues to guide them, utilizing his height and their curiosity to guide them off the road a safe distance away from returning to it as Colt’s voice rings through the air. The pegasus’ ears flit back toward her before he bobs his pale head in understanding and picks up his easy walking pace to a trot, to a canter, before the wings flare out as the yaks stay far behind.

Taking to the sky, he curves back around toward Colt and the crew, shifting back midair to where only his Pegasus wings remained keeping him afloat from crashing into the ground. It’s only so he can speak to them, of course. “Thanks guys!” Comes the call from above, a bright grin. “If you guys wanna head back, I’ll be there with the ribs!” Curving around again until he lands behind them a fair distance away, the Flood takes a moment to shift into the dragon – taking to the sky and veering off to get the promised ribs for the barbeque lest he has to face Colt’s wrath.

- FIN

i know you tried, i know you're cursed, i know your best was still your worst

SUNJATA