by Schneemaehne » Sun Jun 14, 2015 10:10 am
First Contact
“Would you take a look at this handsome stallion!”
“Handsome? Farinn, you sure we’re on the same page here? ‘dem horse’s back looks worse than my own!”
Two slender silhouettes stood at the wooden fence, both watching the Narakari which just arrived this morning. The beast watched them in return, ears twitching restlessly.
“His coat needs some attention, I’m sure he’ll shine like a diamond once he got a good brushing. And I like his white feet, a bit like cuffs. Been a long time since I even had the possibility to wear a suit, b –“
“Farinn! Here’s reality calling, it wonders where you’ve been the last twenty years. This horse cannot be ridden with these scars. So either you finally get all elfy-elf and get your healing magic sorted or this one might as well go to the glue factory.”
“Khaleigh!” The blonde elf tore his gaze away and shot the dark-haired man a stern look. “Don’t say such cruel things. The poor thing might hear you.”
“It’s a friggin horse; it cannot understand anything that’s above ‘run’, ‘stop’ and ‘food’.”
“Now you’re being grumpy again. You know these Narakari are more intelligent than an average horse.“
“Still, a horse with a messed up back is no good. You can’t even let him pull a carriage or something, his breast is scarred as well.”
“Looks like he has been a fighter. You should be able to connect.”
“A fighter? Hmpf. Looks like a victim to me.” The other man pushed away from the fence, hands in his pockets. “I’m going back. Have fun with your crippled veteran, don’t get speared. His horns seem to be intact, at least.”
Farinn, the elf, opened his mouth to bite back but the other one was already gone. No use in trying to find one of his people in the deepening shadows of the evening. One cannot find a shade in darkness.
With a sigh he looked back towards the Narakari which slowly walked up and down the fence, obviously trying to find a hole to escape. But the wood was sturdily built; he had enough experience with this species to know how to keep them in.
He softly whistled to get the animals attention before entering the pasture. He knew he would not be able to heal scars this old, only lessen the pain a bit. He would need a special saddle for this one. No, no saddle at all. He trusted in his own abilities as a rider and had he not rode Nightwind without saddle and bridle for most of his life? Sure, his horse was more of a friend than a mount and this was an untamed stallion standing in front of him. But he seemed well-natured, if agitated, but this was to be expected, wasn’t it? How many horses did he tame in his life? Not less than fifty, he was sure. This one would be a challenge because the scars would cause even more discomfort with a rider on his back, but he saw no malice in the beast’s eyes and something told him that he would love to run free as much as he wanted to share this moment with him.
Slowly he walked towards the hell horse and then sat into the grass, facing away from him. The first step was to make him aware of him as his new figure of attachment. He would feed him and brush him and take care of him. Farinn was the new leader of his herd and it was important to make him acknowledge this.
“I will need a name for you, Narakari. But names are such fickle things. You might tell me yours before I make a wrong decision. We become what we are called, after all.”
If the stallion understood his words, he did not show it. Instead he lowered his head, ears perking towards him. But not walking towards where he sat, instead making slow circles at the fence, somewhere behind his back. Each circle brought him closer to the sitting elf who sat in complete stillness. Such things needed time and he was an extraordinary patient person. And as always, it paid off – so cautious it might have been the wind, a soft breath ruffled his hair before something touched his shoulder. The elf smiled to himself. The first contact was made, the rest would follow soon.
My DeviantArtAvatar and signature sketch made by myself, no stealing or Princess Stabbity will get you.