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The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Andrew didn't know where to take Iris considering he didn't think the shed would be safe for her with a lot of foreign animals in there. He should probably take her to get some shots or something first instead of exposing her directly to whatever diseases they might have. For now it would be best to keep his horse nearby or maybe take her to the dorms, but he really didn't want to go back to class or even sit with the others at lunch after Hawaii's outbursts.

Iris was content so long as she was with her state, but a bit concerned about what had happened with that odd girl in the classroom. She had been very upset over something and now Tennessee was upset, too. It wasn't exactly the reunion with him she had hoped for... At least they were together now and she could keep an eye on her danger prone friend. The mare moved over to where Andrew was sitting and nuzzled his hair with her muzzle. "Don't be sad. Everything will be ok!" she encouraged gently. "Why don't you play Nashville? That always cheers you up."

Andrew couldn't resist a faint smile at Iris' affections. She really was a great horse and companion. He didn't understand how anyone couldn't instantly love his horse and reached up to lightly scratch her cheek. "Yeah, some music might be nice," he agreed as he pulled out his guitar and cradled it in his lap as he began to play one of Iris' favorite songs.

Grade 9
The Volunteer

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Tennessee stopped playing his guitar and looked up in surprise when he heard someone speaking Spanish. He watched as the Argentinian inspected his mare and blushed faintly at his compliments. "U-Um... Thanks," he said a bit shyly even though he was obviously very proud and pleased that Luis had noticed his horse's beauty. "She's a Tennessee Walkin' Horse."

Iris turned her gentle brown eyes on Luis and blew a flattered gust of hot air from her nostrils. The show horse couldn't help holding her head a little higher and standing a bit straighter at his praise. She couldn't help being especially happy that he noticed her mane in particular. Iris had always felt it was one of her best assets.

Andrew chuckled at how tickled his mare seemed at getting fawned over. She always had enjoyed showing off a little and entering contests of beauty and grace over speed and strength. That was just the way her breed was though. The state put his guitar to the side and extended his hand to the fellow horse enthusiast. "You seem to know your stuff," he said. "My name's Andrew. Andrew S. Hickory but I guess most people might know me as the State of Tennessee. What's your name?"

Grade 9
The Volunteer

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Iris stayed perfectly still for Luis to inspect her hooves, having been taught proper horse manners for someone to look her over. The mild mannered mare never once batted her eyes or twitched in agitation and honestly seemed to enjoy being inspected.

"I dunno what a gaucho is, but I think I've heard of you in songs and stuff," Tennessee said with a tiny smile as he recalled some of the old tunes about Argentina. It had been beautiful music although Andrew had never realized Argentina was an actual nation. His boss really had been right about him needing to get out in the world more and meet nations. The state was starting to feel like he'd lived in a bubble all his life only concerning himself with domestic affairs in America. "It's nice to meet'cha."

The boy's brown eyes flickered with recognition when he told the boy the breed of his Esperanza. "That's a naturally gaited horse, too, ain't it? I've seen 'em at the shows Iris likes to participate in. In America I've noticed they have a similar ambling gait like my Walkers do and I hear they're good trail blazers, too. Does your horse like hikin' and explorin' stuff? Iris is always wantin' me to go with her on walks through the country."

Grade 9
The Volunteer

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

Iris moved her head over to lightly bunt her muzzle against his cheek almost as if to give him a little kiss. It was always nice meeting someone who actually knew their way around horses and she appreciated his attention unlike some people who would run up wanting to pet the "pretty pony" without any idea how to properly approach or touch the delicate and sensitive creatures.

Tennessee didn't seem to find it odd that Luis didn't want his horse to participate in sports and actually nodded to his comment about them getting hurt. "I worry 'bout Iris sometimes... She likes being in shows and stuff more than sports, but even those make me kinda nervous. I dunno if you've ever heard of sorin', but it happens to a lot of Tennessee Walking Horses who are in shows," he said as his expression darkened a bit at the thought of anyone putting painful chemicals on their horse's hooves just to make them step a little higher. "If someone tried to do that to her I'd break 'em in half. She walks just fine without none of that artificial tamperin' on her feet. Ain't nothin' wrong with her God given talent and no reason to mess with it."

Grade 9
The Volunteer

The State of Tennessee
☀Andrew S. Hickory☀

"The only thing that should be injected in 'em is medicine if they're real sick or somethin'," Andrew said, wrinkling his nose at the thought of anyone putting steroids in a horse. He wasn't surprised but that didn't mean he was ok with it. Iris was practically his baby with how he took care of her and had always put her health first and foremost before anything. She was his friend before she was anything else. The thought of anyone not treating their horse with the same amount of devotion and care irritated him to no ends.

"... Speakin' of which you don't know a good vet 'round here, do you? I wasn't really plannin' on Iris here comin' with me to school and she ain't had all her shots," he said. "I don't wanna put her in that shed with other animals from who knows where 'til she's been vaccinated."

The chestnut mare seemed to smile in her own way as his hand brushed over the white stripe on her forehead. Iris always liked it best when people petted her there and the friendly horse seemed to have warmed right up to Argentina faster than she normally did to others. She even felt like speaking to him even though they had only just met. "Your horse is very lucky to have a nice man like you looking out for her," she said in a sweet southern draw. "I would like to go on walks with both of you sometime, too."

Grade 9
The Volunteer

As Romero walked off toward the cafeteria, he heard voices coming from the roof. He paused to crane his head up and shaded his eyes, squinting against the high noon sun, to see who was up there and how they had even managed it in the first place.

His eyes widened as he saw the same horse that had invaded his science classroom up there, along with a shorter brown-haired kid and Luis. Interestingly enough, Juliana wasn’t around. The Venezuelan wondered what Luis was doing all alone up there, especially when he had been so eager to wait decades in front of her door just hours ago. Romero strode back inside and quickly discovered the stairs leading up to the roof. He slapped his forehead in self-deprecation. He had passed through this very hallway every day for years, and only now did he notice the way up?

Romero ascended the steps and found Luis petting the horse kindly, as he was inclined to do. The other boy was looking on with affection at the horse, who by the look in his eyes was probably his. The Venezuelan wasted no time in introducing himself. “Hola, chico,” he said, extending a hand to the boy. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. The name’s Romero, and I’m from Venezuela.” To Luis, he asked, “Oye, Luis! I thought you were looking for Juliana?” He had arrived so late that he hadn't heard Iris talk at all, though he did nod to her in recognition. Though he appreciated the diversion in science class, he didn't yet know Iris was capable of much more than a normal horse.

Luis Esteban Salazar-Carriedo
The Timid Junior

"Well, not really. I never hear Esperanza talk before." Luie Esteban turned his attention to his brother who just arrived "Hola hermano. She said she had to feed her pet, but she promised to be here soon."

{Translations: Did that horse speak?}
(Out of Buenos Aires: wah ;w; )



Argentine Republic
Republica de Argentina

Luis Esteban Salazar-Carriedo
The Timid Junior

"Que? B-But... why would she lie to me? I could've understand if she had something to give you..." Luis Esteban lowered his head sadly, he thought Juliana trusted him. "Well... She threw me a surprise party for my birthday..." he mumbled to himself as he rubbed his arm.

{Translations:}
(Out of Buenos Aires: )



Argentine Republic
Republica de Argentina