Flame

& Gully

Physical Description

Flame is a stallion of awe-inspiring presence, his once vivid, flame-red coat now softened with the passage of time to a rich, ember-like glow that seems to catch and hold the light of a dying sunset. Age has not dimmed the fire of his appearance but has instead lent it a smoldering intensity, a testament to the enduring strength and spirit that define him. His broad, muscular frame speaks of a lifetime of endurance, battles fought, and burdens borne. Every movement he makes is deliberate, his stature exuding an unshakable confidence that commands respect and reverence.

His coat is marked by the passage of a tumultuous life, crisscrossed with scars that tell stories of struggle and survival. The most striking of these runs diagonally across his eyes—a grim souvenir of his fateful encounter with the shifter Seethe and his cursed grandson Burn, the battle that cost him his sight. These scars, far from diminishing his beauty, serve as badges of honor, symbols of his resilience and the trials that shaped him.

Flame's blindness adds an enigmatic layer to his already magnetic presence. His once vibrant eyes are now clouded and milky, yet they hold an uncanny depth, as if they perceive truths beyond the reach of ordinary vision. Despite his lack of sight, he moves with a grace that belies his years, each step precise and assured. His heightened senses compensate for his blindness, and his attunement to his surroundings gives him an almost preternatural awareness. Flame has mastered the art of navigating the world without sight, his every movement imbued with the wisdom and experience of a life fully lived.

His flowing mane and tail are a cascade of pale gold, streaked with strands of copper that catch the light like tongues of fire. Adorned with fiery-hued leaves and beads, his mane ripples like a living flame with every step, adding to the impression that he is a creature born of fire and passion. His tail sweeps the ground behind him, its golden strands tipped with the same glowing copper, lending an air of regality to his every movement.

Even in his elder years, Flame’s physical presence is matched by an undeniable charisma. His bearing is that of a leader, a revolutionary whose spirit refuses to be dimmed by time or hardship. Despite the trials that marked his life, Flame remains a figure of quiet strength and unwavering determination, his aura as commanding as the fire from which he draws his name. To stand in his presence is to feel the weight of history and the enduring power of a spirit that burns eternal.

Personality

Flame is a stallion of quiet gravitas, his presence commanding respect not through force but through the sheer weight of his wisdom and compassion. He is a figure of serene resilience, embodying the kind of strength that bends but never breaks. His blindness, far from being a limitation, has become a facet of his identity, allowing him to connect with the world in ways that transcend sight. His heart is vast, encompassing a love for his herd, the land they protect, and the fragile beauty of life itself.

At his core, Flame is a deeply empathetic soul. He possesses an uncanny ability to see into the hearts of others, perceiving their pain, joy, and struggles with an almost supernatural clarity. This profound understanding makes him a source of comfort and guidance for those around him. When he speaks, it is with the calm assurance of someone who has weathered life’s storms and emerged stronger for it. His words carry the weight of experience, often illuminating truths that others might overlook. Yet, he does not impose his wisdom; instead, he offers it gently, like a lantern to light another’s path.

Flame’s compassion is matched by his unwavering sense of justice. He believes deeply in the intrinsic worth of all beings and dedicates himself to protecting the vulnerable and uplifting the downtrodden. This is not a passive kindness but an active force, driving him to stand against cruelty and fight for the well-being of his herd. His moral compass is steadfast, and while he is patient and understanding, he does not tolerate injustice or selfishness.

Free-thinking and open-minded, Flame has a remarkable ability to embrace new ideas and perspectives. He is not bound by tradition or convention; instead, he views life as a tapestry of interconnected possibilities. This intellectual curiosity keeps him engaged and forward-thinking, always willing to adapt and learn from others. Yet, this openness is tempered by discernment. Flame listens carefully, weighing each perspective before forming his own conclusions.

Despite his profound wisdom, Flame is not without flaws. His deep empathy can be a burden, as he often takes on the emotional weight of those he seeks to help. He carries an immense guilt for past losses, particularly the attack by Seethe that claimed lives under his watch. This guilt drives him to work tirelessly for the herd, sometimes at the expense of his own well-being. He can be stubborn in his self-sacrifice, unwilling to prioritize his needs when others are suffering.

Flame’s wit and sense of humor are a vital part of his personality, offering a lightness that balances his serious demeanor. His humor is gentle and uplifting, often catching others off guard with its warmth and charm. Even in the face of adversity, he finds ways to laugh and bring joy to those around him. For Flame, humor is not just a tool for connection but a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is light to be found.

Ultimately, Flame is a stallion of profound depth and complexity. His compassion, wisdom, and resilience make him a cornerstone of the Elderwillow Herd, while his flaws and burdens render him deeply human—flawed, striving, and endlessly inspiring. Through his guidance and example, Flame has become not just a leader but a beacon of hope, a living testament to the strength of the spirit and the enduring power of love

History

Born in a strongly patriarchal herd, Flame had little worry about as a colt, his parents and his older brother loved him fiercely, and his brother in particular taught him all about the world, and told him the best ways to treat the young fillies. Along with the normal stuff, Flame also had dreams... the most startling and realistic dreams of anyone else in the herd... but his brother and father constantly told him not to worry about them. His brother Night Raider was particularly convincing, since he himself had them from time to time. 'Raider was himself also bit of a ladies' man, though for all the right reasons. He would listen to them when other young stallions would demand things, and he would comfort them in their broken hearts when they caught their beloved young stallions with another young mare. Flame learned all of this from his brother, and more when he went on various outings with his brother and their blind mother. Their father had gone missing two years after Flame's birth, presumed killed in a raid by another herd when he and other older stallions leaped to the defense of their territory and families.

But such a strong attachment to his brother led to his deepest pain when his brother was caught in a deadly rockfall; torn to pieces as he shoved his younger brother and ailing mother out of the way.

Yet what hurt the most was the punishment his mother received later from the herd leaders.. who were displeased with losing what they thought was one of the most promising young stallions in the herd, and their small families remaining means of support.

So Flame, still only four, was forced into the role of provider and he chafed at the bounds on his freedom. He saw those still his age romping about like the young things they were... and he was sickened by the thought that after the appropriate time of mourning, his mother would finally be expected to move past his father and find a new mate.

That time came sooner then Flame would have liked, especially when it was a tall brutish monster of a stallion named Solomon who approached the delicate white mare and forced her to accept his proposal.

With a rebellious son and no parents to speak for her, Seer reluctantly accepted Solomon's proposal... and within a few months found herself pregnant and sporting a few bruises that to her tall fiery son, shone painfully against her crystalline white coat.

Angry, but unable to do anything about it, Flame found that his most fervent wish when it had just been himself and his mother had been granted.. he had the 'freedom' to do as he wished... but his mother paid the price with her own freedom. So Flame resolved himself to do the best he could, and think of a way to free himself and her.. and later the delicate bay filly she birthed into the world and named Cosmo.

Around this time he met a free spirited painted young mare named Ellie, and for a time he thought he loved her... but his overwhelming drive to set his family free forced him to leave her by the wayside... and to later leave the herd itself.

Begging his mother and sister to leave with him, he violated one of the herds founding rules.. that of the union between 'lifemates' and Solomon himself chased the young stallion away, leaving him bloody and broken at the bottom of a rocky gorge.

As for the dreams.. they had subsided during his young adult years, but as he lay there delirious from pain, they returned, and comforted him with memories of his father, his brother, and a time they had all been happy.

Perhaps luck was with him then, for what happened upon him was not a predator, but a lone aged unicorn stallion, well gone into his own dreams. The old greybeard healed the young stallion of fire, and taught him perhaps the most valuable lesson of his life...