|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:14 pm
Naeria, or, rather, Aria, since she'd remembered to don her human disguise upon getting closer to the city, this time, and that meant remembering her human name, giggled. The horse rubbed its face into her hands, and sent a gust of warm breath through her hair with a little whinny. Aria giggled again. She didn't often go to places where humans might be, still not being quite sure how to talk to them, but she'd wanted to see the horses. There had been a glossy photograph of horses in one of the books that Kurma had given her, and she'd thought that they looked strong, and beautiful, and kind. When she'd been out on one of her walks and seen the building with the horses sticking their heads out through the sides of it, she hadn't hesitated. She'd climbed the paddock fence and, slowly and carefully, approached the nearest one. It seemed to like her. "I love you," she whispered. "I'm sorry you are trapped."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2022 3:58 pm
Gabby had been watching since she saw the purple haired girl climb over the fence on her way in, and honestly, staying quietly in the shadows had been…a fantastic idea, for the stranger was going to her horse and acting like they were best friends…which. Yeah fine all right but…jeeze.
The whisper would have been drowned out by the noises of the other horses in the stables, but somehow it managed to reach the blonde’s ears and she bristled. “I promise you, she’s not trapped. She’s a really well kept horse if I do say so myself…and she’s mine so.”
She looked the girl over for a moment and decided to at least try to start this with some friendliness. “Do you ride? I have to let you know, you picked the best horse here, and yes, I am biased.” Holding out a hand, Gabby allowed herself a grin. “I’m Gabby. It’s nice to meet you. If you want to ride her, I would be okay with it.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 8:04 pm
Aria's eyes were owlishly wide as she turned to where the voice had come from behind her. There were things that she wanted to ask the girl who was approaching. She wanted to ask what the difference was between keeping a horse and trapping it. She wanted to ask if the girl really thought that she could own a living creature, something with its own mind and its own life and its own spirit. It was good that the nerves from being faced with a human all at once made the words stick in her throat until she had blinked five times. That was not the kind of thing a human would ask. "She is beautiful," Naeria managed, and she even remembered to hold out her hand in return to claps the girl's for a second. "I'm Aria. How do you ride?" That sounded fascinating, and also like it would get the horse out of her tiny prison.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 7:14 am
For someone who hated getting spooked, she really did enjoy the thrill of being able to sneak up on someone else…it was so much fun. “Nice to meet you, Aria. I’ll be happy to show you! Come one, let’s get her ready!”
Gabby nodded for the other girl to follow her into the stall and began to gather the necessary tack. “Her name is Meadow, and she’s very gentle, but also very smart, and fast! I’ve had her since she was little.” Swiftly, she slipped the bridle on the mare and then followed with the saddle.
“I figure, if it’s your first time on a horse, we won’t go so fast. And we’re both small enough I think we’ll both fit in the saddle for a short ride.”
When Meadow was all decked out, Gabby hoisted herself into the saddle and held out a hand for Aria. “Come one! Let’s go have some fun.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:12 am
There were a lot of figures of speech that Aria had not learned about yet. When around humans, or their books, she was never quite sure what she was supposed to take literally. As Gabby attached a seat to the horse, though, Aria realized that she literally was going to ride on top of Meadow. They both were. Within a few minutes, she was being offered a hand up onto the horse's back, and she accepted it. She copied the way that Gabby had swung herself up into the saddle, and then she was sitting behind her. This was different from everything else that had ever happened to her. She could feel the horse's breathing, smooth and rhythmic, throughout her whole body. She could feel Meadow's warmth, and some of Gabby's warmth, too. Not sure what else to do with her hands, she put them on the other girl's shoulders. "I like this," she said, and although her words were simple and her voice quiet, she was smiling wide. "Now, where do we go?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 12:38 pm
Glancing back to smile at Aria, and feeling quite pleased that she had chosen kindness rather than being a brat, Gabby gently clucked to the horse and Meadow moved off, walking a slow pace out towards some of the trails that the stables lay near. “We’ll take a ride down my favorite trail, it’s pretty long, but it’s a gentle one, no jumping or anything fancy, let Meadow stretch her legs for a while.”
She fell silent for a few minutes as Meadow began a slightly faster walk when they reached the trail, shaking her head, mane rippling in the delightful cold breeze.
“When we get back, I’ll teach you how to take care of you, if you’d like. We’ll give her a good grooming and some nice hot mash since it’s so cold out here today, I’m sure she’ll love that.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 3:29 pm
"Jumping?" asked Aria. "Wouldn't you fall off?" Even just staying on the horse while it was walking slowly like this seemed thrilling and a little dangerous. She could feel every step Meadow took throughout her whole body, and they were big, powerful steps. Aria might have been taller than most humans, but she was dwarfed by horses. She had to squeeze Meadow with her knees to stay on. Her grip tightened on Gabby, too. She was happy to fall into a comfortable silence as they started moving and even as they made their way down the trail a ways. "I'll help you groom her. I like learning," she said, and then, after another minute or so, added, "How did you learn all this about horses and riding?" She thought that she might want to look into it more, herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:16 pm
“I’ve loved horses since I was younger. I’ve always thought they looked so graceful and beautiful. Sometimes you’ll end up falling off while jumping, which is why if you’re doing it professionally you wear a helmet, but, if you’re really serious about all of this…I hope you’ll come visit often! I’d love to let you ride Meadow whenever you’d like to, and you’re always welcome to come and see her! I would prefer that you only ride while I’m here until you get the feel for it, but after that…have at it, Aria!”
Softly, she clucked to the horse and led Meadow into a slightly faster trot. “We won’t go faster than this today, but isn’t it nice to have the wind in your hair? It’s just. So freeing to be on a horse…”
Honestly, other than in Iduna’s arms…there wasn’t any better place in Gabby’s opinion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 5:53 pm
"I love horses too," Naeria decided, right then. The trot was bumpier, and thrilling. The wind in her hair was nice. Gabby was nice, too. In fact, Gabby was probably the first human who had been nice to her. "Oh, and I like you," she whispered towards Gabby's back. The thought of being able to come and ride Meadow again, and to come check and make sure she was well taken care of and happy, and to learn about horses alongside Gabby made her chest feel warm in a way that it hadn't, really, since the Vanguard first arrived on Earth. She was quiet again after that, but eventually added, "I'll try not to surprise you next time, like I did." She wasn't sure if she should admit that she hadn't known the rules, but she was sorry about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 6:23 pm
Gabby grinned, nodding happily. “I like you too, Aria! If you surprise me, that’s fine, I really don’t mind. I’ll put you on the list of people who are okay to hang out at the stables, so no worries. Meadow will grow to love you as much as she loves me, I bet!”
And normally that would be an issue…and perhaps it still was…but. She would deal with it soon enough if Aria kept showing up. If so, then the empty stall next to Meadows might finally be filled with another horse. Oh! And they could ride together and just have fun. It would be wonderful.
“You were really the best kind of surprise anyway. And I promise I'll do my best not to just. Come out of the shadows and scare you out of your wits! She grinned and fell quiet as they continued their ride.
She had made a very good choice today. And gained a new friend out of it…and that was just neat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
