[sapphirespirit]

Erebus had woke long before his alarm clock could screech its warning to him. He had been busy with fixing a place for his new Mustang. He was caught very unprepared, due to the previous day's events. He had prepared much for the arrival the night before- and had worked well into the next morning. He had moved several of his herds to different pastures- both his cattle and his horses. Silverbell was a bustling mess at the moment- and he was only adding to the mayhem. As his barn hands arrived to go about their daily chores- He himself moved to hook up his trailer.
" Choppa, Illiya! I've moved the herds to the other pasture. We've a new arrival today- and we're using Pasture 4 for the new arrival. Its got plenty of grass. I'll be a few hours- Have the water trough from the Birthing Barn cleaned thoroughly and brought to the pasture. And, finish the last few boards on the fence before I get back please. Slavik, come with me. " Erebus called over his three best barn hands, and given them their orders. The two nodded and dashed off to complete their work- eager to see this new arrival. Erebus checked the trailer one last time, before he and Slavik were barreling down the road to collect his new Mustang.

He had gone over several names, but none had stuck yet. He hadn't yet seen its coat, nor its personality. He had a long road ahead of him. The poor thing was already moved from its herd mates and stuffed in a tiny ,dark trailer. and then was kept in solitary all night. He only hoped no harm had come to the horse. When he arrived, the afternoon sky was darkening quickly, and what had been a soft zephyr had turned into a violent ,tugging blast.
"Storm is coming quickly, Erebus," Slavik spoke with his thick Russian accent as the two stepped out of the truck. The doors of the old '73 Chevrolet truck squeaked and groaned with the efforts asked of them. Erebus nodded, glancing towards the sky.
"I know, I know." He sighed, moving to open the trailer door. HE pulled out a makeshift ramp and settled it at an angle on the trailer- connecting it to the ground. and after testing its weight, he opened the round pen door. Both men simply stood and stared at the mud covered horse before them- who, in turn, was staring back at them. Its muscles were tense, its nares flared, but it held its ground.
" I close door when horse is in. " Slavik spoke with a grin. His English was getting better- but his accent was very heavy. When he was terribly excited or angry, he spoke Russian. Erebus ,too, could speak Russian- a variety of languages, actually, so it was no trouble either way. At times they often mixed Russian and English when talking to one another. It frustrated many single language speakers, but most of Erebus's barn hands were from Russia, or other European countries.
"Sounds good, Slavik. Let's just hurry before that little Brat comes out. " The two shared a knowing smile, before Erebus was slipping into the round pen. He removed his hat and crept around the horse. He watched its ears swivel- its attention divided between both men. It gave a high pitched snort, taking a nervous step sideways as Erebus drew nearer from behind. Erebus, who wasn't phased, crept closer still- murmuring softly to the horse.
The horse's ears flicked to and fro- its feet dancing nervously below it. And closer still Erebus drew. HE could've reached out and touched it in just a few more paces. The horse, too, seemed to realize this, for it tossed its head, and half lunged at him in attempts to intimidate him. Erebus slowed his pace and raised his hands, murmuring softly to the horse still.
This odd tango continued for several moments. The wind was tugging at Erebus's clothing, and tossing dirt from the horse. The distant sound of thunder must've finally broke the mustang's pride. It took off at a nervous trot, and a new type of dance began- the duo going to and fro until it finally darted up the ramp and into the trailer.
With a shrill and nervous squeal of confusion, The horse stamped and rocked in the trailer. Slavik was quick to close the door behind it. Thunder rolled ahead and the sky, ever darkening, was lit with a fantastic array of lightning. This caused the horse to kick at the door- the metallic thud now echoing across the distant mountains. The men gave one another a smile and a hand shake, before they were darting into the truck and were headed back to Silverbell Ranch.
****
By the time they got there, Choppa and Illiya had finished their chores - they had just finished the fence when Erebus backed the trailer into the field. Despite the fast approaching storm, there was a crowd of barn hands and other workers around the fence- and beyond- a few members of both horse and cattle herds had gathered as closely as possible to see what was making such a racket in the trailer. Slavik and Erebus laid the ramp, and had scarcely unlocked the door when there was a flash of brown, and erebus and slavik were both on their rumps. The horse barreled from the trailer- skidding in the grass when it neared the fence lined with people, at which point it spun on its heels and barreled down the other way. Erebus had slavik move the trailer- and soon both men where lining the fence as well, watching the horse pace nervously. With another unsettled snort, the horse finally slowed her pace to a trot- and finally a stop to nose around the thick , tall grass. Erebus was glad that it had an appetite for grass, seeing as how it had scarcely touched its hay the night before.

"Is a boy or a girl, ERebus?" Choppa spoke, brows raised though his eyes never left the horse.
" Papers say its a Mare. But with all the confusion yesterday, I haven't a clue. " Erebus replied softly, watching the horse intently. Occasionally it would lift its head and call to the other horses- who were eagerly calling out to the new arrival. Then the rain came- hard. Thunder rolled, lightning clapped, and rain came down in sheets. The barnhands dashed off to work once more- leaving only Erebus at the fence. The mare didn't seem to mind the rain- but kept grazing- greedily stuffing her mouth with as much grass as she could. Well, at least she wouldn't need a bath now. Still- tomorrow- rain or shine- he would start his training. For now- she needed to rest. two hectic days do not a sturdy horse make if not accompanied with time and rest.