What Do You Need a Stupid Freaking Rope For?

Another collaboration between *RoseThornStables and I for the white December event it's nice to have friends that will help pull you over the edge of a cliff.


If anyone can guess what movie the whole rope conversation is from, I'll give you a cookie




By the time that István had slid to the bottom of the snow dune and righted himself, Rambo had noticed them coming and ran over to join his stablemate and his rider.

Rambo! You've lost Ewan.... the younger horse flattened his ears as if he were disappointed wi the grey stallion.

Really colt? I hadn't noticed, Rambo snorted back sarcastically, but his ears were half back against his skull, betraying how embarrassed he was.

After the two Obertaurers had had a moment, Rambo took off in the direction of the cliff that Cat had first sighted him by. Without even waiting for a command to go, István followed. As they approached their destination, Cat gave the tobiano a pat on the neck. She was worried and could tell that he was as well. "It's going to be alright," she whispered, the words seeming to carry over the eerie silence that seemed to accompany snow at night. "We're going to find him, he's going to be alright, we will help him out of whatever situation he's gotten in to, and then all will be well. Once that's righted, we shouldn't be too far from the camp, where I will see if I can find you something special. How's that sound?" It was just nervous babbling, but it gave her something to do, even if it was simply something such as talking.

Almost there, Cat looked at the snow that they rushed past and saw that it was wildly churned about- something unfavorable had definitely happened here. "Ewan?" she called, desperately hoping he was able to hear her.

There was a sound at the edge of the cliff, then she saw a gloved hand come up, trying to find somewhere better to grab onto or maybe trying to catch her attention.

Though she was still plenty worried, there was some relief. If he was just hanging on the edge, then she could help him up, easy fix. Just as that thought finalized, however, the hand disappeared, slipping after not finding a good handle, and the rest of him slipping as well.

Cat dropped the reins and bailed off István so she could run to where he had failed herself.

"EWAN?!"

Ewan felt his heart plummet when he lost his haphazard grip on the cliff ledge. A half second later, the rest of him dropped as well. A single harsh yell was ripped from his throat as gravity tugged him down. He glanced up, away from the rough stone face of the cliff as he tumbled down- at least the night sky made a beautiful last sight.

"Oomph! Agh! Damnit!"

"Ewan! You're not dead!"

Ewan glanced up to see Cat's concerned face and the blaze-decorated faces of the two stallions staring down at him. Peering about, he realized at he had landed on a small ledge situated directly below the overhang. It had been a long fall, but not deadly.

"Are you hurt?"

As if answering Cat's question, Ewan's right leg began to throb insistently. Any attempt to move the appendage caused him to grit his teeth with pain. It was almost certainly badly sprained, if not broken.

"I'll be okay, but I could use some help getting back up."

</I> Do you know what we need, man? Some rope. </I>

Rambo turned and stared at Istvàn, Absolutely. What are ya, insane?

No! All the guys in the movies have rope! And they always wind up using it!

That's stupid- this isn't a movie.

Is that so, Rambo? I remember you flying down this hill to find help for your fallen master- that isn't like a movie? Remember Lassie?

Ugh- FINE, get your stupid freaking rope.

Cheerfully, Istvàn turned and pulled at the rope lasso tied to his saddle. When it had been tugged free, he presented it to Cat.

"Rope! Of course! Good boy!" Cat took the rope gleefully, but then paused for a moment to eye Istvàn, "You know, all of you SWS horses are almost too human like sometimes..."

"Cat?! What's going on?!" Ewan called up from where he was stranded

"Oh- nothing! We've got some rope! Hang on, I'm dropping it down!"

Ewan was by no means a small guy. At 6'3, he was heavily muscled, as all male horse shifters had a tendency to be. He was a little concerned about how he would make it up the face of the cliff with his injured leg. However, as Cat lowered the rope down and began to pull, Istvàn latched onto the back of her jacket and helped to keep her from tumbling down as well.

We don't need the rope, hmm?

Rambo snorted grumpily and leaned it to help retrieve his rider.