the hills games; week one [extension allowed, see inside for details]

[crota]

It is a beautiful crisp morning as she gently steps through the tall green grasses that spread evenly across the hills rolling landscape. The sky is clear, and there is only the softest of breezes traveling through her homeland making it just tolerable enough to be out and about. Though the days activities she was sure would have no trouble making it's participants work up a sweat if they were to stay moving and enjoying their day. A small buzz of excitement travels through her as she makes her way towards the small group that had gathered in the distance. It makes her skin twitch slightly and her muscles tremble. For her entire life she had just wanted for everyone she came across to get along and it thrilled her to know that she could use her position to do just that. It almost made all this hard work that seemed to lead (for now) to little substance. Though she knew that one day it would be worth it. She just had to wait patiently and continue to work hard while celebrating the small victories that came her way in the meantime.

Before she knew it, she was closing in on the group, smiling at the turn out and for a moment she watches them all before clearing her throat and drawing attention to herself. When they are all focused on her she smiles softly in greeting before speaking up. "Hello everyone and welcome to the hills," for a moment she pauses, glancing at each of their faces before continuing. "Today is our first round in what I hope to be a repeating event. As you all know, I advertised this as a day full of fun. One where there is no animosity or hate. Just a day of good ole neutral fun. Through these games you are not expected to, but have the ability to make friends with one another, even allies for the future if you would like." She smiles a bit wider then. 

"This means you can work in teams to find the objects of which you will be searching for if you so choose. Or, you can work on your own, solo. There will be no deductions depending on whichever path you take; That being said. Our game today is a colored pebble hunt. The lake that sits in the center of my home has crystal clear waters with colored pebbles that make the surface sparkle like a rainbow colored gem. I have taken multiples of these different pebbles and placed them in areas throughout the Hills and around the lake." She pauses then, giving them a chance to process.

"You will each have an assigned list of colors and the amount of those colors to find. You will all have a different list, a different number for each color, but a equal amount of pebbles over all that you must return to the side of the lake by the last day of the game. Again, remember, you can work in teams. You may also search overnight and during the day. Just remember to not drive yourself too hard. Take your breaks and rest when it is needed." For a moment she pauses once more before listing out to each participant their required finds before taking a deep breath and counting down. "You may go in 3... 2... 1..." Stepping back she moves out of their way, allowing them room to make their way into her homeland and to start the game.

LISTS CAN BE FOUND BELOW
CANAAN:

4 red pebbles

4 orange pebbles

2 yellow pebbles

3 green pebbles

2 blue pebbles

1 purple pebble

1 gray pebble

HEDA:

3 red pebbles

4 orange pebbles

2 yellow pebbles

2 green pebbles

1 blue pebble

4 purple pebbles

1 gray pebble

AURORAELIS

1 red pebble

1 orange pebble

3 yellow pebbles

4 green pebbles

2 blue pebbles

2 purple pebbles

4 gray pebbles

SINNER

2 red pebbles

2 orange pebbles

4 yellow pebbles

1 green pebble

1 blue pebble

3 purple pebbles

4 gray pebbles

ISET

2 teal pebbles

4 turquoise pebbles

1 red pebble

1 blue pebble

3 purple pebbles

4 lavender pebbles

2 green pebbles

SCYTHE

4 teal pebbles

1 turquoise pebble

1 red pebble

3 blue pebbles

4 purple pebbles

2 lavender pebbles

2 green pebbles

TANGERINE

4 teal pebbles

2 turquoise pebbles

2 red pebbles

4 blue pebbles

1 purple pebble

1 lavender pebble

3 green pebbles

ETOJO

1 teal pebble

1 turquoise pebble

3 red pebbles

4 blue pebbles

2 purple pebbles

2 lavender pebbles

4 green pebbles

RULES:
1. you must use your first post to just start out your pebble hunt. In your first post you may discover your first two set of pebbles listed, but you may not discover all sets of pebbles. OR you can discover a certain amount of the first two sets listed, or none at all; it's up to you on how you want this search to go about. You just can't surpass the first two sets listed in your first post.

2. In your second post you may find up to the first 5 sets of pebbles; the same "requirements" as #1 pertain to #2.

3. In your third post you have to have found all pebbles.

4. You can post about how many days this takes your pony. You cannot complete your search before the third post, but you can decide on how long it takes them.

5. You will all be posting in this thread. The first post must be completed by: May 4 at 11:49 PM US Pacific Time. 

6. Do not use this game for hostility. These games are for fun and potentially making friends / allies; Crota is just an observer so please don't try to interact with her until I post her at the end ;]

7. That being said, you are allowed to interact in your posts with other horses. If you choose to try and team up with another pony, the player can choose to allow it or deny it. If they deny it, all you have to do is redirect your next post without the other pony.

8. Your characters can search overnight and during the day.  

HOW THE WINNER WILL BE DETERMINED:

1. Creativity. Make this as fun/funny/etc. as possible. Please have fun with it. :]

2. Ability to complete the games in the required time limits.

3. How helpful, fair and kind your character is to the other competitors (remember this is a game based to make friends/allies and bring those together who normally wouldn't otherwise meet) 

@[Scythe] @[Canaan] @[Iset] @[Sinner] @[Etojo] @[Tangerine] @[Auroraelis] @[Heda]

EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 8, 2017 @ 11:59 US PACIFIC TIME***

I am quite convinced it is needed to make this into a two week thing this go around. Considering we are all busy people I want to give everyone the fair chance to respond due to varying busy schedules. So you will all have until the above date to respond with your first posting.

[AuroraElis]

Gathering before the spotted mare she listened attentively.  Others had surrounded as the game was announced.  Rules stated and directions given.  She made a mental note of her task. Colored pebbles... Ok. Got it!  As Crota wrapped up her speech and stepped aside Aurora did not rush to the lake as others had.  She smiled contently at the others as they passed her by...

Making her way to the lakes edge she followed a well traveled path.  Beaten down from the many that had traveled it before her.  Golden flecked eyes remained vigilant as she scanned for pebbles.  The breeze was gentle today but the winter chill was self-evident.  Her gown of brightly hued feathers clung to her hide like a blanket, shielding her from the cold.  They were a combo of her favorite colors;hazel, teal and navy.  TEAL!  Out of her peripheral vision she noticed a small pile of pebbles, teal in color.  Turning towards them she stopped and examined them.  Hmmm... She didn't have teal on her list...

Another may have passed them by but not Aurora.  She gathered them and placed them at the base of her withers, all four of them tucked neatly between her wings.  Moving along she weaved down the path towards the lake.  Aware of the others moving about.  Trying to stay out of their way... THERE! In the dead grasses was a lone pebble orange in color.  She needed orange, one to be exact.  Gently she plucked it from the ground and held it between her lips...

Reaching the edge of the lake she noticed another standing still in a specific spot.  Head cocked curiously as she wondered if something was wrong.  Being the caring type she approached the pinto cautiously.  "Halo...," shaking her head as she giggled slightly.  The pebble was still between her lips as she attempted to speak.  Quickly placing it at her feet she started over with a smile, "Excuse me for talking with my mouth full.  Let's try this again, hello." She couldn't help but giggle again, "I'm Aurora.  Is something wrong?" Her voice trailed as she noticed a red glow coming from just under the other. Oh pebbles, duh... "You found red pebbles? How many?". She looked upon her inquisitively hoping maybe she had one to share...

AuroraElis

Not all that Glitters is Gold

Tang

[Tangerine]

L

FACE TO THE SUN

Tangerine stood near the middle of the small crowed gathered in the cool morning. Her painted coat of white and gold stood slightly puffed up against the pleasant chill. Here bright amber eyes scan the mostly young horses gathered, she smiles warmly whenever she meets another's curious gaze. But she doesn't have time to speak with anyone before her attention is drawn away from the crowd. A spotted Mare appears and stands before the group. She stars speaking with authority and excitement and Tang's own mood heightens as she listens intently to the instructions given.

You may go in 3... 2... 1... 

The group scatters and Tang is swept up in the excitement of the hunt. After a few strides the crowd disperses and she realizes she hadn't taken the time to find a partner. She scans her immediate are but instead of another horse she spots a pebble. But not a pebble like the thousands of pebbles she has seen before. A small cluster of turquoise pebbles sits ingeniously hidden in the crook of a tree at about here eye level. If she had of been hunting across the ground for pebbles instead of looking for a companion she never would have seen it. She gets a small thrill as she takes the little gems delicately between her teeth. 

She makes a few strides Lakeward before she is momentarily at a loss. She can't carry a mouthful of pebbles for a week... beside her a small crooked tree is growing. The young mare glances around to make sure no one is in sight before using her hoof to make a small indent in the soil at the base of the stunted tree where she drops her first find. A quick search of the area yields a smooth black slate which she uses to cover and conceal her make-shift treasure trove. 

On the move again she makes her way to the shore. She trots beside the waters edge watching for flashes of color but also simply enjoying the new view this land gives her. Soon, something crimson pulls her gaze quickly down. Red pebbles! She halts, admiring the way the little bunch of the sit like tiny scarlet eggs in a nest of stones and sand. 

Halo...  as interesting as pebbles may be they were nowhere near as interesting as this cloaked mare who had caught her daydreaming when she should be hunting.  "Hello!" She laughs. But by now Tang was less surprised by each new feature Beqanna showed her among its residents. That wasn't to say she was any less enchanted by new traits she saw. 

The mares approach is friendly and Tangerine smiles with her while she solves the awkwardness of carrying pebbles, momentarily forgetting her find. "Red pebbles! Yes!" She looks back down counting with a glance before looking back to the pretty feathered Mare. "I have four here but I only need one... how many do you need? Do you think we should leave the rest or take them? I guess if we come across someone else we could pass on the extras if we take them." All across the shore and surrounding hills she could catch glimpses of others searching for tiny pebble prizes. She figured they would run into someone else pretty soon. 

Tangerine

EDIT: yeah ... I had her finding the wrong color pebble... so quick edit to change her first find to turquoise.

[Heda]

Heda

She hadn't expected such a big show for the games, originally she thought it would be fun to join in the little get together. Where all the faring kingdom folk could gather in a friendly appeal, it would be small, and joyous. But this, she hadn't been expecting this; so many new faces, and so many emotions. They enthralled her but most of all they her ever so nervous, tremors of anxiety quaking every bone within her body. And when she got nervous, the rather graceful Taigian princess became clumsy. She tripped, bumped into things and people, and of course misspoke.

Standing within the epicenter of the group, as Crota went through the rules and regulations to be followed during the game, the pebble hunter. Where all of them would speedily snatch as many pebbles as they can to fulfill their list of needed objects, it was a like a scavenger hunt with a twist. So as Crota ended her speech, with the sweet releasing words,"You may go in 3... 2... 1...". 

Heda immidiately turned tail trotting off towards the Lakeside, in search of red pebbles within the Hill's landscape. It isn't very hard until she stumbles upon one, tucked neatly under a bush, it's crimson glow shining furiously like the very eyes of her own sister. Snatching it up between her ivory teeth, she extends a golden flecked wing, tucking the pebble safely within the confines of her navy dipped feathers. She folds her feathered appendage neatly at her side, aware that the pebble remained lose when her wing was expanded, and by folding it she locked it in place. Continuing forth the golden girl catches the glinting of something orange piercing her hazel gaze. Within in an instant she's right over, plucking two orange toned pebbles from the entrance of a rabbit hole, and tucking them within her her wings, entangling them in her ombre feathers. They seemed to glitter when she walked, freckling the verdant terrain with plumes of orange, and red light.

It's very soon when she comes upon two reds, glimmering the lake's shore with a florescent ruby as the water rushed over it. Heda grins as she dips her muzzle into the shallow waters, blowing a couple bubbles in a rather childish manner before grasping them within her jaw. With a soaked muzzle she gingerly weaves the pebbles into her right wing, looking now as if she had bedazzled it with orange and red jewels, as the light grazed over each vibrant color held protectively within her feathered limb. Studying them closely, and counting them decisively she navy toned girl realizes she had just strikrd out one color, red Now she just needed to find a couple more oranges and perhaps, just perhaps she would complete another set.

So trotting forth excitedly with her bejeweled wing clasped securely to her side, as her hazel gaze sweeps across the landscape taking note of the many bodies that lingered about before sighting a vibrant orange sparkle within the long entangle of grass. Her eyes fixed upon the orange hue, the girl, speeds forwards hardly noticing that a winged stallion managed to notice the orange glint as well. And as she ignorantly reached forwards blindly, shoving her gorgeous cranium into the forest of tall grass, in search of those orange pebbles that she desperately needed to strike out another color, but instead she finds her head smashed straight into another's.

She blinks, rather bewildered, by the settle head bonk before allowing herself to fixate upon the rather handsome fellow that also was going for the pebbles. A genuine grin find's it way onto her lips as she chuckles, "I'm Sorry!" She exclaims, with honey dipped words. As she looks up at him apologetically, "Hello, I'm Heda. And it seems we're both in need of orange pebbles!" She allows a another sweet laced chuckle to be released. "What's your name?" She adds, tilting her head in a rather childish manner.

Go ahead. Laugh at the girl that loved to easily

html by call

@[Canaan]

[Canaan]

Canaan

so often times it happens that we live our lives in chains,

 His wayward spirit had grown restless and tired of the smooth river stones and roaring, turbulent waters of the domain he called his own – and so he had set off, tucking himself away within the thick density of the woodland, weaving seamlessly through the many dry, wiry branches that hung precariously overhead. The serenity tendered by the undisturbed quiet of the thicket is soothing, but not enough to entrap his attention nor his heart, which is pounding urgently against the taut confinement of his rib cage. He is unyielding, with determined hazel eyes set upon the dimly lit clearing that lay ahead of him – and as his muscled form emerges from the grove, the broad expanse of his dark wings becomes unfurled as they take to the sky, propelled by a sudden gust of wind conjured at his own will.

  The horizon is still pale with color – a soft orange, a dim periwinkle – and the sun is still lazily rising, its vibrant light cascading over the wavering stalks of vegetation and shimmering across the water of a wayward stream. The wind weaves its way through his long, unkempt tresses, and a quiet sigh presses past his dark lips – another day has gone, and another day has come.

  Finally, with flawless grace (though flight was perhaps the only flawless thing about him – his ability to summon and harness the wind had taught him to manipulate the atmosphere to suit him), he is once again bound by gravity as his weight urges his long, languid limbs to the ground. With nothing but the soft whistling of birds tucked away within thickets scattered across the plain, he quietly observes the roving hilltops with their peaks and crests, and the boulders of varying sizes that embellish the horizon. It had no name, yet – it was known as the hills as much as his own was known as the river, and he could hardly stifle the chuckle reverberating within his throat. Simple, but factual.

  Soon, he is within the company of several others – and though slumber is still tugging at the edges of his mind, a warm and genuine smile tugs at the creases of his mouth, as the instructions are spoken by a petite, speckled female. She is small – much smaller than he is, at least – but obviously a force to be reckoned with, with a boldness settled evenly within her confident tone of voice. He is reminded of his mother for a brief moment, of her fierce and vivacious personality, though he cannot imagine Crota has half as sharp a tongue as she.

  Alas, he has found himself lost within his own thoughts again, and the countdown has begun. It is not long after she has listed off three numbers in reverse order that he is filtering through the swaying grain, his cheek brushing against the dry stalks as he seeks some semblance of color dotted along the emerald and gold of the terrain. It does not take long – one, and then two red pebbles, nestled next to a boulder twice his own size, hidden away by thistles and wildflowers. He does not pluck them from their hiding spot – instead, he wields the wind to sweep beneath them, carrying them behind him with a mellow breeze.

  Another is found nearby, tucked behind a patch of crimson clovers – if it weren’t for a keen, watchful eye, he might have missed it, but soon it too follows him. A fourth is discovered bundled up next to a similarly sized orange pebble, and with a crooked grin, he uses the breeze to gather them as well. Red down, only three orange to go.

  It is not long before the bleak sunlight causes a glimmer to catch his eye – another pebble, resting across the top of a much larger stone, as vivid and as orange as the last – another pebble, to join the rest. But soon, his unfettered luck has run out, and many stagnant minutes pass in which he does not find anything at all. With a huff of determined frustration, his search has led him to the waters’ edge, where his storming hazel eyes detect something hidden away within a dense thicket of dry brush. Just as his whiskered lips press against a bundle of glimmering orange pebbles, something hard and dense collides with his own cranium, and he is both jarred and startled – with a throbbing ache along his brow ridge.

  Stunned, his eyes meet with hers, before a rumbling whiskey-rich laugh emerges from his throat. I’m sorry, she says, her voice laced with sweet honey and innocence. A crooked smile graces his own dark mouth then, as his heavy frosted forelock falls in the way of his amused stare. She is beautiful – a deeper gold than he is himself, and her dark navy tresses remind him of something that stirs his heartbeat from its steady rhythm. An unfamiliar face, but a pleasant one nonetheless.

  ”No problem – I didn’t see you there; I guess you didn’t see me either. I’m Canaan,” a pause. ”and yes, it seems we do. I only need the two, and I think I saw four. What do you say we split it up evenly?”

and we never even know we have the key.

[Shelbi]

I am opting Sinner out of this. Thank you for putting it together ❤️