Simonpet's Echobis

[Simonpet]

Almost two months into owning Caramel Milkshake, he was improving rapidly. I watched my two Echobis, Target and Caramel, play together, frolicking around the grounds. I took my black halter, and walked out the door. Immediatly, both Target and Caramel ran towards me. I stepped to the side before they could run me over.
"Woah, woah, there," I said. "C'mon Caramel. Time for your head collar." Instantly, Caramel Milkshake started whining. Apparently his last head collar experiance hadn't been a good one. "Don't worry boy," I said, trying to reassure him. "See? Look, it's soft." I held it out to him, and dropped it. Target backed off, knowing not to inturrupt this session. She then bounded away, not willing to watch the torture of her friend. Except it wouldn't be torture. The male Echobi sniffed the head collar and bit it, clearly testing it for something. The test was soon over, and Caramel nudged it towards me. He had approved. I slipped on the collar, and led him around for a bit. For a few minutes, he struggled, before remembering I was a far kinder master than the ones he once had. He then lifted his head high, and his gait turned to something like a strut. I smothered a laugh at his vanity. Target turned around and barked, more in play than anything else. She then walked up to me and nudged my free hand, offering me her lead. I took it, now laughing, and led the pair around the stables.

[Simonpet]

Barely a week after introducing the head collar, I thought it would be best to introduce his saddle and saddle blanket. Being far more easy-going than Target, I hoped that this experiance would be as smooth as introducing him to his head collar. The black suited him well, and so his saddle blanket was black, while his saddle was chestnut brown, gleaming from the oil I had polished it with in the morning. I had a hasty breakfast of waffles with jam, and hurried to the stables to prepare boiled chicken for Target, and beef patties for Caramel Milkshake.
I entered Target's stall, and tossed her the boiled chicken. I knew that she would get jelous if I spent too much time with Caramel Milkshake, and so I stayed with her for a bit, talking to her about what I was going to do. Next, I went into Caramel's stall, where he was lying, waiting for me. I tossed him his patties, and he scarfed them down. Then, I let them both out. Target runs around, barking, while Caramel decides to just lie down, sunning. I know it is the perfect time. I carefully walk up to the male Echobi, and slip on saddle and saddle blanket. He barks once, and gives me a questioning look. To my relief, he doesn't put up much of a struggle.
"C'mon boy, stand for me," I say. Caramel obliges, and with a slight struggle, manages to get to his feet. "Look Target," I call, "see how calm he is? Why aren't you that calm?" Target bounds over to me and licks my face. "Ugh," I mutter.

[Simonpet]

Around a month after introducing head collar and saddle to Caramel Milkshake, I decide to ride him. I find it easy to ride Target because of the way she responds to me. At times, it's almost like she is a human, in the way she understands me. But Caramel is...harder. Though his temperment is far less fiery, I still find it hard to understand him properly.

I slip into my second set of riding gear, customised to match Caramel's colors, and hurry downstairs. I check my watch: 5:30 am. Good. I make myself some waffles, grab some rack-of-lamb, chicken, and uncooked beef patties, and dump it all into a bucket. Once arriving at the stables, I cook the food, getting ready for breakfast. At least, breakfast for my Echobis.
6:00 read my watch as I was jolted awake. I wondered why, until I heard howls...and smelled something burning. "Oh no!" I cry, running to the kitchen. I arrived just in time to save the food, and I pulled it out of its container, slightly burnt, but otherwise okay. I gave both my Echobis their breakfast, and sat down to rest for a bit. I had gone to sleep past midnight, and woken up at around 5:15 am. The sound of chewing slowly faded away, and I released the Echobis for their morning exercise.
In around half-an-hour, I know that like when I did it the first time with Target, I can't put it off. And so I do my usual run-and-jump onto Caramel Milkshake, and he staggers under my sudden weight. But he doesn't collapse, and sensing my need from watching me train Target, he starts running around the grounds, while I hold onto him with my knees only, whooping as loud as I can.

I don't fall off, having ridden Target for well over a year now, except at the end of the day, I hold bruises in interesting places. But I'm grinning like a maniac, yelling my conquest out to the world, where none but Target, Caramel, and myself can hear.

[Simonpet]

It's almost fall now, and though the leaves haven't begun to change colors, the air is slowly cooling. I take a breath of fresh air, holding my hands out as I welcome the new season. I hear barking in the distance, and I hurry to the stables. I give Target and Caramel Milkshake their breakfasts, and sit down to wait. I can still remember Target's first victory, everyone cheering her show name, Bullseye at the Stadium. But the following day would be Caramel Milkshake's turn, under the show name of Sweet Toffee Boy. The name sure fits him, I think as I groom him. His fur is the color of both toffee and caramel, while his temperment is sweet, unlike fiery Target.
A round of half-purr-half-growl tells me that Caramel is happy and satisfied with his grooming. I move onto Target, and she even rolls over, letting me scratch her belly. "Up up lazy girl!" I tell her. I release her from her stall, and move on to waking Caramel. I tell him about the race, and he listens intently, although I can't tell if he understands me. Once I'm done, he loses intrest in me, and goes on to play with Target, once I release him from his stall. I look at them, especially Caramel, one of my twin pride and joys. He has come so far since when I originally got him, and I am proud to introduce him to his first race.

The next day, the sun is shining, a good sign, I think. I take Caramel Milkeshake to my special trailer, just for Echobis, and Target barks in protest at being left behind. I console her that someone will take care of her, and that she is in good hands. She doesn't appear convinced, and sniffs at me as if making sure I am telling the truth. I say my final goodbyes to her, and get into the trailer.
I arrive more than an hour early, and like before, I see people with their Echobis, some standing around, some trying to gain control. I make a note of who will unlikely to be much of an opponent to me. I brush and comb Caramel's mane and fur, waiting for the signal.
At the first signal, I put my stuff away and lead Caramel to the start. I keep a firm hold on him, but he doesn't seem spooked. In fact, he is relaxed, and I hope that he will go once said.
"Go!" I hear. The word said, the gates open, and Sweet Toffee Boy rushes out. He starts at an even pace, something which I don't like. I urge him to go faster, and soon, we round the first corner. I see there were several Echobis in front of us. I urge Caramel to go even faster. He responds, and we speed up the pace, drawing almost even, until we round the second corner, and they sped up.
"Go faster, boy," I whisper. But Caramel is tiring, and we fall behind, little by little. We rounded the third corner, and somehow, Caramel managed to find enough strength for a boost of speed. We catch up, but fall behind again, and though we passed almost everyone, we still finish in third. But the screams of the few people who were chanting: "Sweet Toffee Boy!" lift my mood a bit. Even though we are in third place, people still cheer for us.

[Simonpet]

Meeting Doizer's Phantom Girl

I had decided that it was time to breed Caramel Milkshake, and I had sent advertisements about him, along with all his accomplishments. In the end, only one had replied, a man named Mason, and his Echobi, Nasira. Her show name was Doizer's Phantom Girl, and I had heard of her from somewhere. I wasn't sure if either my Echobis had raced against her, although it was possible.
A trailer pulled up, and I recognized Mason. He was unlatching the back, and I saw Nasira come out. She was a beauty, I thought, perfect for my Caramel Milkshake. "Hi," I said, slightly awkwardly.
In reply, Mason nodded. "Where do I put her?" he asked.
"In the stables over there," I said, pointing. "The stalls are spacious, enough for two Echobis in each one. But there will only ever be one per stall," I finish lamely. I walk Mason and Nasira over to the stables, and give them a tour. Mason chooses one of the roomier stalls for Nasira, and leads her back outside for her to get acquainted with my Caramel Milkshake. I shut Target up in her stall; it wouldn't do for her to ruin the meeting. Then, once Caramel and Nasira are outside, Mason and I walk back to the stables, where I make us lunch. While we're eating, I watch the pair get acquainted. They sniff each other, sometimes barking, and play, jumping around in the grassy field. I laugh as Nasira headbutts Caramel, and he wags his tail, and pounces on her in return. So the day passes, and we shut them into Nasira's stall, letting them fall asleep together.

[Simonpet]

Show name || Cupid's Arrow
Call name || Brittle
Sex || Female
Age || 1 year
Sire || Sweet Toffee Boy
Dam || Doizer's Phantom Girl

Mate || closed
Pup 1 || closed
Pup 2 || reserved for mate
Pup 3 || reserved for mate
Pup 4 || reserved for mate

Training Level 1 || [url]xXx[/url]
Training Level 2 || [url]xXx[/url]
Training Level 3 || [url]xXx[/url]
Training Level 4 || [url]xXx[/url]
Training Level 5 || [url]xXx[/url]

Another Day, Another Story

Reference

Personality

[Simonpet]

After only around a month, a pup was born to my Caramel Milkshake and Mason's Nasira. The resulting pup was a female, and Mason waved away my offers of gifting her to him.
"Nah, she's yours," he had said. I shrugged, and wave him a goodbye as he disappeared back to where he came from.

After I had her for about a year, Brittle was a friendly and outgoing pup. Target had adopted her as a pup, and in return, Brittle came to think of the older female as her mother. Some people thought I was crazy, caring for three like I did now. But people cared for many more horses at a time, and Echobis were somewhat like horses. my adult pair were easy to care for, and they kept Brittle in line.
This day was grooming day for the three of them. I knew what they liked and how they liked it. Target didn't mind a rough grooming, Caramel Milkshake liked it gentle, and Brittle liked it slow and methodical. "Grooming day!" I call to a chorus of yips and barks. I start with breakfast, giving each their preferred food. Next, I start on grooming. To Target, I press hard, almost like a massage. To Caramel, I brush him gently, and a rumble grew from his throat. Finally, I got to Brittle. "Little spoiled girl, huh?" I murmur to her. She responds by lying onto her side, expecting a belly-rub. I chuckle even as I give in. A purr-like sound, similar to Target's, comes from Brittle's throat. All in a good day's work, I think once I'm done.