The grounds around the stables: Thursday morning

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was spending his morning playing with Trenor. It wasn't as if he had a lot of options, what with the whole looking like a horse thing.

First they'd played 'I chase you around the stable', and then they'd played 'You chase me around the stable'. Now they were playing 'run around the stable as fast as you can, pretend to be scared of something, then run around it the other way'.

Both horses, no matter that one of them was actually a person and a priest, were obviously having a wonderful time.

Comments

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara, as was usual for her, hadn't been listening to the radio, and was surprised to see Trenor playing with another horse. She considered, but it was still cold enough that she didn't want to trek back to the dorms, even if she didn't have enough treats for both of them.

"You'll just have to share, Trenor," she told him as she walked up, laughing as she watched their antics.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Inara! Karal trotted over to her, ears canted forward, eyes bright, and gently nudged her shoulder.

Trenor trailed after, looking a bit sulky, and stopped beside Karal, neck stretched out to try and sniff out any treats.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Hello," she ran a hand down the new horse's nose, pushing her scarf out of the way as she reached into her coat pockets an apple and carrot. She put the apple out on her hand and held it out to Trenor, who seemed a little bit woeful and in need of it. "Oh, aren't you both so handsome. You can share, Trenor, can't you?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor cast a wary eye at Karal, who rolled his. I am not actually a horse, Trenor. You can have it.

While Trenor turned his attention to the apple, Karal tilted his head, ears flicking as he considered Inara. He had no idea how to tell her who he was.

He also had an irresistible urge to steal her scarf.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Such a good horse," she murmured, using her other hand to stroke down the other horse's neck. "I wish you had a collar, so I would know what to call you."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

The temptation was too much. With delicacy and precision, Karal caught the end of her scarf in his teeth and danced backwards, bringing it with him.

His ears were pointing straight at her, and he tossed his head, making the scarf wave in the air.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Hey!" She laughed, chasing after him as she tried to reclaim her scarf, "Give that back!"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He pranced backwards, whickering, and it sounded like laughter, staying just out of her reach.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Yes, Inara realized she was chasing after a horse. Shut up, it was early, and she liked that scarf. "You're a brat, whoever you are!"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal shook his head and put on a burst of speed, cantering in a circle around her, waving the scarf.

This was more fun than he'd thought!

Trenor sighed and looked at him with clear disapproval.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Darn it, now she was dizzy. She stood in the center and turned as Karal did, feeling hugely stupid.

"Stop that right this minute." Inara even stomped her foot, figuring that no one else was around to see and tease her about it later.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal stopped abruptly, staring at her. His ears slowly drooped, his tail fell, and he crept over to drape it over her shoulder, looking as mournful as a horse could look.

He even scraped one hoof on the grass.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Oh, now I feel guilty," she said, taking the scarf off her shoulder and tying it around his neck, resigning herself to its loss. "I know you didn't mean to be bad."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He snorted in surprise, and tilted his head to see it, looking pleased, then nosed her hand in thanks.

Grass, there's grass! That might work. He fixed her with an intent look, then scraped a 'K' in the grass, followed by an 'A'.

It wasn't tidy, or quick, but he concentrated, glancing up at her between letters.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara was curious as she watched the horse's movements, "You read?"

Then she remembered hearing about people turning into animals and how she hadn't seen a certain sun-priest since she'd returned from Mexico. "Karal?"

She immediately started wracking her brain, trying to remember where she'd put her hands and hoping it wasn't anywhere embarrassing.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He danced his front hooves and bobbed his head up and down, presenting his nose to be stroked.

It was hard to be aware of things like 'embarrassing' when he was a horse; once he was human, however, it might be a different story.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"This is certainly an interesting development," she decided, stroking Karal's nose (and that might be odd later, she realized).

"Wait. You did mean to be bad!" She started giggling. "I want my scarf back when you're better."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal flipped his ears at her, and nodded, enjoying the pats.

Which is when Trenor, looking grumpy again, wandered over and tried to shove his nose between Inara and Karal.

He was used to all the attention being given to him.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Are you feeling neglected?" She asked, using her other hand to pat and scratch Trenor in some of his favorite places, particularly his ears.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor sighed, mollified by the attention, and Karal huffed in amusement. You never used to be so spoiled.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Do I want to know how this happened, or is it a story for another time?" She was probably having too much fun with this, yes.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He rolled one shoulder in a shrug, then opened and closed his mouth, as if trying to talk, but of course, nothing came out.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Maybe later," she decided, giggling and leaning her forehead against Karal.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He whickered softly and nosed her hair, tail swishing back and forth.

It wasn't so bad, being a horse.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Not for eating," she said, moving her hair out of the way just in case. "Do I need to worry, or are you fine, other than being equine?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He shook his head and lipped at her jacket, pointing his ears right forward.

Trenor was dozing, leaning against Karal's shoulder side, ears flopped out to the side.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"It must be nice to have a friend like Trenor," she said, stroking Karal's mane. "I'd think it would make something like this easier."