Welcome to Gaia! ::

As usual, Amdir was in the pen with one of the horses. Despite the coolish weather, he was only wearing a loose, light shirt, and his white hair was pulled back in a short braid. He waved at Cindy as he saw her approaching, but in his quick glance he had failed to see the boy in her arms, and he immediately went back to training the horse he was working with.

Vergil sat up straight in Cindy's arms. "Is that a horse, Mother?" he asked her eagerly. "And who is that elf? Is he also an elf? He looks different from the others ... he looks more like the giant that brought me here!"

"So there's different kinds of elves?" Vergil asked, watching the horse as they drew nearer. It wasn't what he had expected at all, and he couldn't help but be amazed at the creature before him. It was graceful, beautiful, and powerful. How could such a creature allow itself to be ordered around as the white-haired elf was doing?

Vergil nodded. "Same as how all different humans look different, but they're all humans," he murmured. "Got it. I just wondered, because you talked about elves with dark hair and skin and elves with light hair and skin."

He looked up at her. "Can I touch the horse?" he asked, his tone hopeful.

"Amdir?" Vergil questioned, looking up at Cindy.

"Vergil?" Amdir blinked, holding up one hand and stopping the horse. "Oh ... hello, Cindy. And this ... is Vergil?" He looked at her questioningly. He figured that the boy's name was Vergil, but his question was more to ask her where he had come from and why he was with her.

"Ah," Amdir smiled, "like Feng and Ryu and Naida as well. I see. Well, Vergil, welcome to Haven. I hope you like it here."

Vergil stared up at Amdir. "Well, I just got here, but I think I like it so far," he told the man. "What are you doing with the horse?"

"Training it," Amdir chuckled in reply. He reached out and took hold of the rope that was tied around the horse's head and led the horse over to the edge of the pen. "Would you like to touch it?"

Vergil grinned and nodded. "Mother," he said, looking up at her, "can I stand on the wall? I promise I'll be careful not to fall."

Vergil grinned and made sure he had his footing as he stood on the wall. It was wide, especially for him, so it was almost like being on the ground. He looked up at the horse, then reached out one hand and gently stroked its nose.

"Velvety," he murmured, his smile wide, eyes bright.

Amdir chuckled. "Aye, that it is," he said softly. "This one's got a good temperament. He'll be useful, that's for sure."

Vergil began to speak quietly to the horse, still stroking its nose gently.

Amdir smiled warmly, watching the boy, and he murmured softly to Cindy, "If he were a bit bigger, I might ask him if he wanted to help with the training."

Amdir smiled and nodded. "One never knows what the future may bring," he agreed. "Perhaps you might introduce him to Jasmine, if you haven't already. She's fond of horses, too, and if they hit it off maybe she could help take care of Vergil when you're busy."

Jasmine was nine years old now and just as interested in horses as her grandfather, though she also spent lots of time with the fighters, training.