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 Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:06 pm
The horse Fey tried to warm to the change of subject, though he still felt like crawling away to hide his shame for a while longer. He was already on Altaea, however, and it wasn't fair to the mare to get on only to get right back off and run off in search of a place where no one could find him.
"I think I can do it," He responded carefully, trying to return her smile out of politeness more than any show of real pleasure. "Thank you, Miss Muris."
He took up the reins, clicking his tongue and pressing his shoeless heels gently into the mare's sides to see how sensitive she was. Altaea snorted, ears pricking at the noise, and started out of the stables and to the outside at a steady walking pace.
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:22 pm
((I'm debating. Would you like Shiaree to bring Aquae in so he can meet her as well, or do you think that'd be a bit much for Equus? ^^ It's totally up to you.))
She grinned,
"Please, just Muris. Or Muri, if you prefer."
She watched as the two of them rode off, following to make sure that nothing bad happened. She was sure he'd be fine, but you never knew. If something spooked Altaea, for instance, and he fell. Even Muris tried to make sure there was someone about most of the time when she was riding..just in case.
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:19 pm
((Go right ahead, hon. ^^ I actually have to get going, but I'll respond as soon as I am able. Equus would love a little playmate, after he's over how tiny she is anyway.))
It took a moment for the tautness of his muscles to loosen, but once he had he pushed the horse into a canter, body moving instinctively with Altaea's. He straightened, smiling genuinely for the first time in a while as he considered how wise it would be to try a full-blown gallop.
He lifted a hand to Muris to show her he was fine, having to adjust his balance slightly to remain on the mare while he did it. The stablemistress was right, it was so familiar to him that he found it difficult to imagine having gone without for so long.
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:01 pm
Shiaree spotted the mouse-Fey immediately. She didn't know where Muris had been...but she had spotted her out in the pasture with whomever it was on the horse from Aquae's window.
The woman carried the little girl carefully in her arms, and Aquae seemed very mellow about the whole deal.
She watched the horse cautiously. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the creature, but it was quite probably dangerous given its size. She snuggled back against Shiaree. Whatever. She was warm and comfy and quite safe here in this woman's arms.
"Muris!" the elf called, trying to attract the other woman's attention,
"Muris. I need your help with something."
Muris blinked, noticing Shiaree quite suddenly at the sound of her voice. She'd been absorbed in watching the clean lines and beautiful stature of Altaea, really. She was becoming less and less worried about Equus,
"Sissy?" she asked, curious about the Fey child in the woman's arms,
"Who is that?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:33 pm
Equus frowned slightly when he saw the new individual approaching, wondering who she was and why she was calling to Muris. He slowed Altaea's pace to a walk - something that the mare was not thrilled about but complied with anyway - and went closer to see what the little bundle of turquoise in her arms was.
When they were close enough, he brought Altaea to a stop, curosity in his strong features. It looked like a child, young and perhaps a bit unconcerned with her surroundings. Not to say that she was unaware, merely that she didn't feel threatened as he would have - as he did, somewhat, though it was lessened by being atop his horse.
The Fey knew that ettiquette demanded he say some sort of greeting, but he couldn't be certain what rank this woman and her child were. The one Muris had called Sissy was dressed in strange clothes, and there was something about her which was completely off, but he was unable to pin down precisely what was bothering him.
He waited for one of the women to either tell him off and send him back out in the field or explain what all the fuss was about, his hand running a course down Altaea's strong back.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:28 am
Shiaree smiled, her dark violet hair falling into her eyes a bit as she bowed her head in greeting,
"Hello, Equus. I didn't wish to interrupt your lesson, dear. I merely have something important to ask of Muris," she said, by way of explanation.
Aquae watched this newcomer with fascination. She wasn't sure how she felt about Altaea, but Equus seemed nice enough. And smaller than either Shiaree or Muris. Closer to her size. She motioned at him with her arms, indicating something, though she wasn't quite sure what. Maybe just her interest. Maybe she just wanted to move her arms about.
Muris nodded,
"What is it you wanted to ask me?" she redirected the elf's attention to the situation at hand.
Shiaree blinked,
"Oh. I'll need your help in looking after little Aquae..." she said quietly, "I can't be here all the time, and she's too little for me to leave her by herself.."
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:32 pm
The Fey couldn't help but wonder how many times he would have to hear his name from a person he did not know or could not remember. Flustered, he gave a short nod, showing that he did not mind the interruption and that the two women should continue chatting.
Movement in the strangely clothed female's arms attracted his attention, and he glanced down to the little girl whom he presumed was part of the current discussion. His horsetail moved curiously, shimmering against Altaea's flanks and dislodging some of the straw that had been caught in the silvery curtain.
What was it that she wanted? Was he any good with children younger than himself?
Equus dismounted, sliding off with his mare's help as she came closer to the ground to accommodate him. Petting her neck and rubbing her snout when she thrust it into his hands, he held Altaea's reins in one hand and cautiously approached, wondering what it was the young lady expected of him. His silver eyes darted up to Shiaree's and he paused, realizing that what he was doing might not be warranted; especially since he had just recently been subjected to a spell of the Moon Court.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:45 pm
Shiaree smiled, noting Aquae's interest in Equus and kneeling down to let the toddler get a better look at the other now that he was off of his horse.
Muris blinked,
"You want -me- to look after her?" she asked, eyeing the small one carefully,
"The lake, hmm? Do you think she would be all right staying in the stables with me?"
Aquae carefully climbed out of Shiaree's arms, showing herself just a little older than even Shiaree had suspected her to be by her coordination. She stayed away from Altaea as much as possible-- she didn't know what to expect from something that large-- but, she was interested in Equus,
"Aquae." she said, pointing to herself. Her voice was still quite childish, but it was obvious she had at least -some- ability for speech.
Shiaree tried not to tsk in disapproval. A small child near horses may not be a good idea to her, but she hadn't been raised among the creatures herself-- instead being locked away inside a temple. She supposed for some people-- Muris for example-- this would be completely normal.
"Well...I suppose. I don't expect there's any other way you could look after her and still do your job."
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:16 pm
He put a hand to Altaea's chest, stilling the mare before she stepped forward to examine the little girl who was showing such interesting in her warrior. The horse snorted, hinting at her displeasure, but remained where she was for now, ears alert and nostrils flared.
Equus smiled at the little girl, leaning down slightly so that he was closer to her height. "Good evening, Miss Aquae." He greeted with a small bow, awkward in his already inclined position. "I'm Equus, and this beauty here is Altaea."
He gestured to himself at the first name, and to his sulky mare at the second, hoping that the little girl would recognize the difference between them. She was very tiny, though more active than he would have suspected and apparently eager to interact.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:23 pm
Aquae thought about this "miss Aquae" business a moment, and decided she liked it. Nodding at his words, she pointed to the creature,
"Altaea," she said, then motioned to the boy, "Equus." She stared at the behemoth behind him a moment. Whatever it was, it didn't seem to like her much...
"Don't worry, sissy," Muris assured the other,
"I don't think she'll get too close to the horses." she was observing the girl's actions out of the corner of her eye, and felt it was safe to say that Aquae wasn't about to attempt riding at least until she grew into a teenager, if then,
"But...well, I don't know much about taking care of children..."
She blushed, thinking that one day she would have to take care of her own...hopefully though, she would be sharing that responsibility with Alces. She smiled at Equus,
"Equus, I think Aquae likes you...though Altaea certainly doesn't seem to enjoy her much."
Shiaree was keeping an eye on both the little one and the horse, as Altaea certainly did not seem to relish the idea of sharing her master's attentions. Not surprising, really. Alucina could get a little sulky if Muris was near and not paying attention to her sometimes.
She smiled at the boy,
"I apologize. I'm Shiaree, by the way. Muris told me about your position and your name, but I'm afraid I've never seen you before. You do have quite a horse-y look about you, though. You are Equus, are you not?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:39 pm
"Yes, that's right." Equus said brightly, unaware of Altaea's grievances. "Equus and Altaea. Very good."
The mare lowered her head to chew on the material of his shirt and regain his attention once more, the action inciting a small laugh and a few pats on the face from the boy. "Tae, that's not food. Be good, please."
Some of his easygoing attitude dropped when Muris addressed him, the Fey's actions and words more guarded around adults who had known him in his previous life. "I'm glad she does... I don't think Altaea minds her too much though." He looked back at the mare as he spoke, curling a hand in her mane and closing one eye when she moved to rub her head against the side of his face.
When the foreign woman spoke, he leaned closer into the horse, as though subconsciously expecting her to shield him from probing questions. "Yes... I am Equus. It's nice to meet you... Miss Shiaree."
She didn't look like a noblewoman, but he was lost for a title beyond that. Having called the little girl and the older female the same thing was probably ill-advised, but he could think of nothing else to replace it. His face was heating up slowly, a low burn that was increasing in temperature as words continued to come out of his mouth.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:52 pm
Shiaree smiled,
"The miss isn't necessary, dear. Oracles don't have noble titles. All right. Muris, I'm going to go ahead and get back to Gaia. You'll watch Aquae, right?"
The elf adjusted her skirts, giving Aquae a quick kiss on the top of the head,
"I should be back soon. I just have to make sure everything is set at home."
Muris nodded, waving her away,
"Don't worry about it. She'll be fine."
Shiaree wandered off, heading back to the gateway home.
Aquae held a hand out curiously towards Altaea. She didn't really -want- to, but the horse wouldn't ever like her if she didn't make some sort of attempt. She didn't move any closer, though.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:28 pm
Equus nodded when Shiaree spoke, though he hardly understood what he had just said. The word 'Gaia' caught his attention, making his fingers curl tighter in Altaea's mane, but he showed little outward response to it otherwise.
He calmed when the other female left, feeling somehow less threatened though Shiaree had not looked intimidating. At least she hadn't tried to ask about the spell or anything similarly terrifying: He wouldn't have known how to answer her.
Altaea looked down at the child, pawing at the ground and snorting. When Equus saw her mood, he gave a short whistle of warning, an action that sent the horse's sensitive ears back.
"Be good, Tae." He said once more, patting the mare's back to coax her.
Altaea whickered, seeming to consider this before lowering her head to sniff at Aquae's fingers. Equus watched her carefully, trying to make certain that the suddenly tempermental equine wouldn't attempt to take off a couple of tiny fingers.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:56 am
Muris decided simply to watch this exchange. She was pretty sure Altaea wouldn't -actually- hurt Aquae, merely warn her away if she didn't want her near. And she really didn't seem to hate the child so much as feel a bit jealously guarding of Equus.
Aquae let her fingers sit there, allowing the horse to sniff them cautiously and not moving an inch. She was smart enough to realize that moving could potentially scare the horse and that really, with a creature that size, scaring was not a good thing at all.
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:13 am
Equus was relieved to see Altaea give one last disapproving exhalation before moving back to allow the small girl some space, her ears perked forward instead of back as they had been threatening. He patted the horse's rump, giving Aquae a tiny, reassuring smile to show that everything was fine.
"She's going to be living with you then, Miss Muris?" He asked, glancing back toward the stables and wondering how such a little lady would fare when it came to living in those conditions. Then again, it was likely that Muris also had a room inside the castle walls, even if she didn't utilize it very often. Perhaps the mouse Fey would stay there for a time while caring for her young charge.
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