fandomhighdorms | The stables: Saturday afternoon [post-picnic]

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The stables: Saturday afternoon [post-picnic]

After the picnic, Karal headed over to the stables, to spend some time with Trenor and make sure he was recovering from their very long trip. Given the way he was bouncing around the stable yard, it looked like he was doing just fine.

Karal leaned on the fence and shook his head. "You have far too much energy," he called, laughing as Trenor trotted over and demanded to be patted. Karal obliged. "But I'm glad you're doing well."

[ooc: for the only other person on the island who has a horse (though she may not be here just yet) and great slowplay, and also for anyone else.]

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After being around far too many people all at one time, Beauty was relieved to see that there wasn't a crowd gathered around the stables as well. Walking next to Greatheart with one hand resting on his neck -- the reassurance was more for her than for him -- slowed when she spied the beautiful dark horse in the stable yard.

"It looks like you'll have some company," she said quietly. "Mind your manners."

[ooc: I'm about to crash -- family just left -- but I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for being understanding about the SP!]

Trenor's ears shot forward and he lifted his head, staring at the new arrival, neck quivering.

Karal turned, and his eyes widened as he saw the other horse. He threaded one hand in Trenor's halter, eyes travelling over it, err, him, in appreciation.

Eventually, he noticed the girl standing next to him and called, "Hello."

Beauty was doing very much the same thing, more interested initially in the horse than his owner. She managed a nervous smile at the greeting, though, and shifted the bag slung over her shoulder before taking hold of Greatheart's halter and leading him toward the pair.

"Hello. I was told I could stable my horse here. Is he yours?"

Karal recognised the nervousness, and smiled reassuringly. "Yes, this is Trenor. And there is plenty of room in the stable for yours." His eyes flicked back to the horse for a moment. "He is beautiful."

The boy chose just about the perfect way to get past Beauty's reticence, and she gave him a big smile at the compliment to her horse.

"Thank you, and so is yours." She looked up at the gray beside her. "His name's Greatheart. I'm glad to see there's other horses here. I was afraid he'd get lonely."

"So far, Trenor is the only one." Trenor whickered softly, ears pointed so far forward they were nearly vertical. "He has spent the last week in company with others, but I suspect he has missed having a stable mate."

Karal gave him a quick pat, and let him go, leaving him to paw the ground sadly in the stableyard, and slowly approached the newcomers. "My name is Karal Austreben, from Karse. Shall I show you the stables, and you can get him settled?"

Beauty nodded gratefully, as her horse stretched out his neck toward Karal, probably in hopes of a treat of some kind.

"I'm Beauty Huston, from- from Blue Hill. And I'd like that very much. It was a long trip, and I'm sure Greatheart will be happy to be done with the day."

"I'm sorry, I don't have anything for you," he told Greatheart, holding out his hand, palm up, for him to smell. "But there are apples inside, and I am sure you could have one of those."

To Beauty he said, "It is good to meet you, Beauty. Welcome to Fandom. This way," and he gestured towards the large sliding door at the end of the stable building, smiling a little. "And I think it's a good thing the stalls are large."

Greatheart decided that Karal would pass inspection, and seemed happy to be led toward the stable.

"It is a good thing," Beauty agreed, with a soft laugh. "And I imagine Greatheart will be pleased to have a real stable again." She peered inside as they slid the door open, and nodded approvingly. "Oh, it's nice, isn't it?"

"Very. I'm not sure it was ever used before I arrived with Trenor, but someone has kept it well stocked. That is Trenor's stall," he pointed towards one at the far end, "feed room, tack room, and there is a hay loft above us."

Beauty made note of everything Karal told her. It looked well-stocked indeed, and considering the very limited allowance she was on, that was a relief. She looked at the line of stalls and, discovering that they were all plenty big enough, turned to Karal.

"How does Trenor do with other horses nearby? I would put Greatheart close enough that they could be company for each other, if that's all right."

"He gets along well with them, usually," he replied thoughtfully. "But it has been some time since he shared. Perhaps the stall across from his? That way if they take a dislike to each other, they won't be close enough to act on it."

That sounded sensible, and Beauty nodded her agreement. "Greatheart's normally very gentle, and I'm afraid maybe a little spoiled. But he does get on well with other horses, and with other people. Although he can be a bit stubborn at times."

This last was said with an air of amused sufferance, as the big horse decided there was too much talk going on and gave Beauty a firm nudge with his head. "Thank you, Karal," she said with wry grin, pushing Greatheart away. "It's...kind of a relief to see something familiar."

Karal hid a smile at Greatheart's actions. "That is exactly how I felt my first day. I hid in the stables for a very long time before venturing out." Still talking, he went down to the feed bins and retrieved an apple.

"This place is quite odd, beware of small creatures called gremlins, and if you find a human in Greatheart's stall one morning, he will turn back. Here, as promised," he added, offering him the apple. "But the people are, on the whole, very nice, and understand what it's like to suddenly find yourself in such a strange place."

Since that was exactly the plan formulating in Beauty's mind at the moment, she blushed a little, but smiled as Greatheart eagerly accepted the apple.

"Is the forest safe?" she asked, Karal's warning about gremlins reminding her of Ger's admonition to keep out of the woods near their home.

"The Preserve?" he asked. "Yes, it is. There are some good trails through it, though the beach is even nicer to ride on." He smiled at Greatheart. "You are welcome. And I should go and fetch Trenor in, get him settled into his stall."

"Oh good! I was hoping there were good places for riding here."

Beauty guided Greatheart into the stall they'd decided on, very much ready to get him settled as well, and call it a day. "I tend to visit Greatheart at odd hours sometimes, when I can't sleep. But I do promise not to be a disturbance."

Once she had Greatheart in the stall, Karal nodded. "There are. Let me just get Trenor," he said, and disappeared out the door, returning shortly with Trenor.

Trenor curved his neck towards Greatheart, tugging at the lead, but Karal drew him away, leading him into his stall. "Let him get settled in, you great loon. You can meet him later."

Beauty laughed, as she was having something of the same difficulty with Greatheart. Apparently he was more enthusiastic about meet-and-greets than his owner.

Food was a good distraction, though, and Beauty eventually managed to get the horse settled and happily rattling the oats around his feed bucket. She hauled his tack away to clean it, relaxing enough in the familiar task to even hum a little under her breath.

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The stables: Saturday afternoon [post-picnic]

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