The Gig, Sunday

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper was in a very good mood as she went to work today. Naturally, the horses asked why. And while they agreed that showing Dinah around the Preserve could be fun, they were somewhat less than enthusiastic about the idea of a fight club, and the reminder that the wolves who worked with them were, well, wolves.

"It's not like you're the one I'll be fighting," Firekeeper told Bold with a roll of her eyes. "Just the humans."

[open and OCD-free because I am a lazy butt!]

Comments

[thatsamilkshake]

"Cookie delivery-service!" Francine sang out as she approached. Hey, there were other places to bring food besides the art supply store, you know.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I was not aware," Firekeeper said, a smile on her lips, "that we was having such."

[thatsamilkshake]

"It's a secret," said Francine, holding one finger to her lips. "Very hush-hush."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I not tell, then," Firekeeper said with a solemn nod.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Good! For that you get a cookie!" Francine held out her tupperware container. "Or five. Or eight."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," Firekeeper said, taking one. Except she didn't remember that thing called manners til the cookie was already in her mouth, so it was more of a "phank foo". But at least she made the effort!

[thatsamilkshake]

"I make, I share," Francine said. Granted Merlin was supposed to be her defender from calories, but he couldn't be around all the time. "I haven't been out here before," she added, looking around. "Are there a lot of horses?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Only four," Firekeeper replied. "You want to meet?" she offered.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Sure!" Francine nodded. "How do they do with Blind Seer around?" she asked as an afterthought, since even people got nervous around him, and they kind of invented the verb 'spook' for horses.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"They not much like having wolves around, at first," Firekeeper admitted as she led Francine to the barn. "But, we is having an understanding now. They is no Wise Horses, but not stupid, either."

[thatsamilkshake]

"There are wise horses?" Francine asked, wiping crumbs from the corner of her mouth.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Liglim word is yarimaimalom, which mean Wise Beasts," Firekeeper nodded. "Like Blind Seer is Royal Beast."

[thatsamilkshake]

"Yari..malommama..." Francine tried. "Okay, yeah, I'll stick with wise beasts. So they have those in horses too, not just wolves?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Many kind of beast," Firekeeper confirmed. "Wolf, horse, bear, elk, lynx, jaguar..." she trailed off after that last one.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Wow. Are there a lot of them? Or just a lot of kinds?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Liglim have more than Iron Mountains. More kinds, and more numbers," Firekeeper admitted, reaching to scratch behind Blind Seer's ears. "But there is always less Wise or Royal Beasts than Cousins, because they is smart enough not to need so many in a herd or pack to survive."

[thatsamilkshake]

"Hunh. Not sure what that says about humans," Francine commented, thinking about the population of her world.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper snorted in amusement, possibly because she'd often wondered the same thing. She opened the barn door and waved Francine inside.

[thatsamilkshake]

Ohhhh yeah, did she remember the smell that came wafting out, from visits to the farm when she was little. Francine made a slight face, but followed Firekeeper's gesture. "There's a stable at the dorms too," she said, looking around, "But I haven't been down there, either."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Nor have I," Firekeeper admitted. "Am not sure if the horses there would be too happy with wolves."

[thatsamilkshake]

"I just didn't know anybody who has a horse down there," Francine said. "And I didn't feel comfortable going in and messing around without their owner there."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"That make sense," Firekeeper nodded. Not that it had actually occurred to her as a reason not to go there until Francine pointed it out. "These is Bold, Kally, Smudge, and Duke, (http://waytoomanynames.livejournal.com/profile)"

[thatsamilkshake]

"Hi, there," Francine said - to all of them, but mostly to Smudge, who was nearest. She held out her (cookie-scented, not that that occurred to her) hand near the mare's nose. "You're so pretty."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Smudge tossed her head, clearly agreeing with Francine's assessment. She was the prettiest, thank you, and ooh, was that cookies? She lipped gently at Francine's hand to find out.

Yup. Totally cookies.

[thatsamilkshake]

She diiiid have quite a few in that box, but... "Are cookies good for horses?" Because they're totally good for kittens and wolves, of course.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I am not being sure," Firekeeper gave Smudge, who was insisting that they were, really and truly, a dubious look.

[thatsamilkshake]

"I know they eat sugar cubes," Francine said, offering Smudge a pat on the nose instead of a tasty treat, which was probably a poor substitute.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Apples, too," Firekeeper frowned in Kally's direction. "They like to steal apples."

Kally didn't look at all contrite at being called out on this.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Next time I'll bring something I'm sure you can eat," Francine promised the horses, giving Smudge one more pat and then walking over to say hi to the others.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"You do this thing, and they will be friends for life," Firekeeper informed her with a snort of amusement.

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine laughed. "They're not so different from humans that way. At least the humans who live in our dorm."

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Eating is very important!" Firekeeper insisted. It was true.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Hey, you'll get no argument from me!" Francine glanced over at the tack area. "Do a lot of people go out riding?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Not too many," Firekeeper admitted. "I maked Ichigo, once, just around the fenced part."

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine tried to picture someone making Ichigo do anything. "Did he, um. Have fun?"

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"He not fall off?" Firekeeper offered.

[thatsamilkshake]

That didn't help with the giggling. "I guess it could be worse, then." Like she could talk, really - she hadn't ridden a horse that wasn't on a lead since... oh right, ever. Then again, she'd been one.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"You ride?" Firekeeper asked Francine.

[thatsamilkshake]

That stopped the giggles. "Um. I've... been on a horse?" That was so not a yes.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"They is not the same," Firekeeper pointed out wtf wtf I refreshed this page like eight times why did this comment never show up wtf.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Really not," Francine agreed. "I've never ridden anything taller than a pony by myself without somebody leading it." A really short pony, around a very small ring. No matter how tall it had seemed to her at the time.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I can lead," Firekeeper offered.

[thatsamilkshake]

"Er. Now?" Francine asked. "I'm not really dressed for it." She wasn't. There was a whole skirt thing. ...But also they were really tall horses...

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper looked her over critically. "It not have to be now," she conceded. "Next week," she decided with a nod. "You come, you ride."

[thatsamilkshake]

"I..." Kally nudged at her shoulder as if to remind her about her promise to bring treats. "Okay, that's just cheating," Francine declared, shaking a finger at her.

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Is no such!" Firekeeper protested. "You say you come anyway, to bring treats."

[thatsamilkshake]

"Totally cheating! Guilt attack!" Francine insisted, not hiding her grin at all well. "Okay, okay. I'll do it."