[White Elk Stables] Equestrian (Ronan)

[Oluse]

Oluse obeyed the near command, but not without thinking. He thought of what it meant to make the first step, and realized without doubt that he already had. But asking Ronan, by calling him there. Opportunity passed Oluse by every moment, and his fate what determined by which opportunities were taken. Oluse was overtaken by bravery at the thought, that he had already made the first move with Ronan, every bit as wild as Velox, and all had been well. His mind told him he did not know how, begging him to tell Ronan so as well. But, this new found bravery reminded him that he didn't know how to ask Ronan about the trip either, and this had not foiled him. Nothing could foil him. Proudly he obeyed the advice, and took a bold step toward the beast.

He didn't hide behind the saddle this time, or the bit, he walked to the gate separating them and put his hand on the fence itself, looking at the horse confidently, then unlatched the gate and opened it. The horse, being well trained and a veteran of the barn stared unflinching as the door unlock, and began to slowing swing open at Oluses' touch.

Oluse reminded himself, however, that no bravery was worth stupidity. He needed to know what to do, though he wasn't sure where he should look for that information, Ronan or the horse himself. So, he split the difference, looked at the horse and asked Ronan clearly, "Ok, then what?" He was receptive, and alert, mostly to Ronan, but a weary eye still fixed on the horse itself. It made no movement to suggest an action, but the Drykas could tell it's nerves lowering slightly. It's trainer was obviously assertive, and felt more comfortable as Oluse showed the same. Still, it's training was weak compared to that of a Drykas steed, and it looked confused and lost at the boy's lack of directness and purpose in how he approached.

[Ronan]

Ronan watched the boy open the latch carefully. The horse watched him inquisitively, clearly not quite understanding what was going on.

"We're going to take this slowly," Ronan said, "first you have to let your intentions known to the horse. He has to feel as comfortable as you. As I said before - it works both ways."

It was now or never - the boy had to overcome his initial fears. It was a barrier, but once it was broken down, he road would open before him.

"Are you... are you comfortable to go near the horse. At least walk over to it and make eye contact. Don't challenge it. Look upon it with love, not authority."

He leaned against the fence, watching, and waiting. Small wonders would occur, if he just gave Oluse the time he needed.

[Oluse]

Oluse came to a slow halt, hand still resting on the partly ajar, and unlatched gate. There he pondered, pondered over the concept of love. He thoughts on love, the love his father had for him, his mother, his sisters even. In all cases authority seemed inseparable from love. So how would one look upon the horse with love, but not authority? He then thought of his work, by far the most intimate aspect of his life, even there when he treated patients he had authority. He wished them all, wanted to protect them, and through this he found the strength to come forth as firm and authoritative. In all truth he was the authority on the matter. So what was Ronan trying to imply, trying to get Oluse to understand. The one piece Oluse didn't understand is that not all love had to be a hierarchy, sometimes love had to be a partnership.

Despite all this thought, he just swallowed hard, his confidence in the situation fading. He wouldn't share his thoughts, in fact the idea never even grazed his mind. "Yes, Sir." He said quietly, and open the gate the rest of the way. He wondered if he should bring a peace offering, like food, or something. To late for that, he walked into the small pen, the horse looking at Oluse unphased by his awkwardness. The horse has been trained well, for Vantha standards, and always treated well, it had nothing to fear of people. Oluse wished he could boast the same...

"So what am I supposed to say to it?" He said, his eyes on the horse, but his attention still very much on Ronan. In truth the horse's was as well. It wasn't oblivious, it saw the dynamics of the situation, Oluse may be walking toward him, but it was Ronan he was leading. Authority did matter, and in this case made Oluse all but invisible to the horse.

Oluse stopped a step shy of the horse, and looked it in the eyes, an eye looking toward Ronan. Oluse was hurt by this, though he wasn't sure why, almost jealous. Ronan hadn't even come up. Soon, however, the horse's eyes flicked toward Oluse we was staring at it, uncomfortably looking him over. He was used to confidence in his owners, in his handlers. Oluse had no confidence. He was, however, no longer afraid, simply uncertain. The fear would come again when he was to be expected to mount the beast.

[Ronan]

Ronan watched quietly, trying not to judge the boy. Different circumstances, different people. He did speak once though, only to laugh and tell Oluse not to call him sir -- Ronan would do.

As he walked into the pen, the horse looked to him, unfazed. Oluse was still unsure, and he asked what he should say.

"Perhaps you should just greet it," Ronan said with a smile and a nod, "introduce yourself. Say hello."

Oluse stepped a little closer, until he was only a single step away from the beast. For a moment, the horse partly watched Ronan. Ronan made an effort to look disinterested, tapping his foot and glancing around. Eventually the horse turned its attention solely on Oluse.

He couldn't help being Drykas. Every horse he came across seemed to recognise the plains in his heart.

[Oluse]

Oluse's face adopted a look akin to both doubt and surprise. Greeting a horse, his eyes fell immediately to his strong and solid hooves planted firmly in the fresh hay below. He couldn't shake it's hand, so there was really no true introduction to be made. In fact, it was a horse he seriously doubted it had even a rudimentary understanding of language. He wasn't taught language how Drykas were, to turn their whole body into a tool of communication, this left his bodily awareness weak at the best of times. He was far from knowing how to give commands, or even express himself at all with his body language.

He took a deep breath in, calming himself, letting the odors of manure and fresh hay mix with that of the horse within himself. It was new to him, the smell. He had never thought to stop and experience before, and had never set foot in a stable in Denval in his life. He knew there was one, though it was on the opposite side of the city from Oluse. He rarely had reason to go there except in the winter when he would restlessly stroll about, but the snow would leave the smells of the city mutes and dull. Avanthal had been much like that until recently as well. Now the smells exploded, and Oluse had to wonder what the world must smell like in the south. It would grow warmer and warmer, and would the smells get more and more pungent? He really hoped so.

He smiled, and looked at the hay tucked under the rim of the horse's peculiar footings. Hit's "hands" are like feet, so of course it can't shake hands. That much was obvious to the Denvali boy. Which meant if there was some equivalent to shaking hands it would undoubtedly be higher. His eyes drifted effortlessly, searching up the horses legs. He watched with wonder at the muscle structure, so much like a human's, and the giant veins for easy blood circulation. His vision plateaued out at the horses' chest, wide and strong, likely for fantastic respiration. The neck, sloping and bold, adorned by the line of hair to hold in heat. Then, finally he looked at the face, still not seeing a replacement for a firm hand. This thing was not human, and Oluse felt Ronan wanted him to treat it was one.

Then something that caused Oluse to fling his eyes wide happened. The long neck of the beast delivered it's head forward with an easy stretch, directly toward Oluse. Oluse may have still been contemplating, but the horse was more than ready and willing to explore this new person further. Oluse stood rigidly, trying not to scream. At this point he wasn't even sure why he was scared anymore, he was used to humans interrupting his thoughts all the time, why would he expect better of an animal? It nose sniffed at him, and Oluse stood firmly in place, trying not to provoke it. It's velvet black nose, rimmed in frosty white brushed against the kid's cheek. His eyes relaxed, it was actually white pleasant and warm. He hadn't expected that, the horse looked everything but to him.

"H-hi?" He let out tentatively, and a rather adorable snort came from the stallion. Oluse then began to reach a hand up, it was a slow and awkward movement. He was scared a fast movement might scare the horse off again. And this eased his mind slightly, he was relieved at his own courage, to be afraid not for himself but for the feelings of the beast. This sent him down a long pattern of thoughts considering weather animals had emotions or not. However, the thoughts were cut severely short by a soft sensation on the tips of Oluse's fingers. His naughty hand had continued to move without him, and not was grazing against the nose of the beast.

With a silent shift the horse took a step forward before Oluse could develop an opinion of the situation. "Uh," He let out with a breath of uncertainty. The horse was looking at him now, smelling, and had pressed it's nose more firmly against Oluse's hand. Quietly Oluse let out a couple breathy words, "A handshake..." He looked the beast more assertively in the eyes now, and said clearly. "My name is Oluse Fortis-saro." He then paused, and decided speaking on the horses behalf would be fair for such a situation. "And, you are Velox." Oluse smiled, success.

The horse promptly looked down and to the side, not much appreciating the direct stare in the eyes, but not flick of the ears came, it simply began moving past Oluse to explore the second man in the room. This didn't bother Oluse, he was no longer jealous, and he hadn't noticed the horses' discomfort. If anything he was euphoric, and insanely proud of both himself and the horse. Horses could shake hands, well in a sense.

[Ronan]

Ronan watched quietly from the fencing. The boy was so unsure to begin with. When he moved his hand, the Drykas half wondered if he expected to shake the horse's hoof. Was he truly that clueless about the animals? Ronan doubted that. It was hard to live in Mizahar without seeing a horse and rider somewhere along the road.

But by the same token, he knew very little about Denval, only the dregs Oluse had told him. Perhaps they didn't have horses there, and perhaps they even used something else. Once, he had heard a story of red haired people from the mountains, flying on the backs of giant birds. That was something he'd like to see one day.

Finally, the horse moved his head forward and brushed against Oluse's neck. That was a sign of budding friendship if ever there was one. Oluse looked terrified initially, but Ronan was glad he did not back away. If he did, it would only confuse the horse.

They exchanged words, before the horse moved even closer. Oluse's hand seemed to welcome the beast, and they exchanged names. The horse sniffed him, intrigued by the scent. That was a good sign too.

Ronan nodded half to himself. Good. Oluse had heeded his advice well, and somewhere deep inside him he was a natural. Perhaps he had been a rider in a past life.

It was still strange to Ronan though - any discomfort in the face of a horse. But he knew that was a Drykas discourse talking, and to help another, a foreigner, he had to step away from that frame of mind.

Then the horse moved from Oluse and began to work its way towards Ronan. This time, he let it come near and gave it a gentle rub when it came close, allowing it to smell him out.

"That was good," Ronan said, nodding enthusiastically, "you did really well!"

He turned, glancing around as his hand and fingers were invaded by a large horse nose.

"Next, I think it would be good to feed him. That's a sure fire way of getting him to bond."

He motioned for the food store area, and waited for Oluse to act. All animals reacted in kind to nourishment. It was just part of their nature.

[Oluse]

Oluse smiled, but gave no haughty boast. He could not even think of a graceful way to accept the compliment so he just looked down and took a step out of the way of the horse as it mozzied gingerly by, more aware of Oluse than Oluse was of him.

"Yes, sir." Oluse repeated, with a slight tinge of what might be mistaken as confidence. He still feared that each act of "bonding" led him that much closer to having to mount the thing. Still, he went to the close by food stores and stares blankly at them.

He thought of the horses size, glancing back at it. Three, four times his size? He had never thought much of house's diet before. He knew they ate hay, but evidently not when it's at their feet, and oats. Once he saw his sister feeding a fresh carrot to a horse. That made no sense, suddenly under closer consideration, that a creature could survive as a herbivore.

"Don't horses have to eat meat some times?" He asked foolishly, then immediately turned a deep shade of red, unsure of how stupid he question might have seemed to the Drykas.

"I mean. Nevermind." He clumsily revoked his query, and followed with. "How much do I feed it?"

He could only assume three or four times as much as he himself might eat. Assuming of course he would eat the imported equestrian feed. They were small earthy toned and light. He picked one up, and ran his thumb down its vertical part along the center, denoting their small thin winds stretching up on either side of the part, the bulk of the seed still tucked securely inside.

"Avena Sativa-" he said casually in observation before pressing it to his nose to smell it's richness, somewhat diminished by it's long exposure to the dry air. "Good for relaxing the body. It can be ingested to help ease gastro pains of all sorts, and once I saw an accomplished physician use their oils to mix a preliminary spread to prepare for surgery on a frostbitten patient. It was successful." With that said he popped the seed in his mouth and carefully chewed on it, masticating without care for its uncooked exterior, allowing the herb to crunch about between his jaws.

As he chewed he looked about for a container, spotting the bucket with ease. It didn't seem clean, but he figured the horse likely cared little if it got leftovers from the last stallion to feed from the bucket. Still, disease was spread through lack of care and vigilance, and the same must be true for horses, so he used the near by water bucket (unfrozen) and dipped his handkerchief in, using it to wipe the bucket out as he waited for Ronan's reply.

[Ronan]

Oluse looked lost at the food stores. It was a good test of his intuition though. A lot of horsemanship was just that - a keen mind, and a common sense of the world around you.

"Uh... it's been known, but only in desperation. It isn't a normal part of their diet. In terms of measurements, they eat little and often. Try a couple of handfuls for now."

He watched, and began chewing on his top lip as a thought came to mind.

"Horses are a lot like people in a way. They are all very different, with their own characters and personalities. The same goes for their diets. What works for one horse, might not work for another."

He listened as Oluse defined the seed. His medical knowledge impressed Ronan. It couldn't be denied that the Denvali would be a welcome addition to their travelling part, most notably if they got into a bind.

He watched carefully again, and was impressed when Oluse wiped the bucket. His medical logic would put him in good stead in terms of caring for the horse. Disease was a big issue, and a killer among the horse clan camps. Though his actions could be described as excessive - and Ronan certainly didn't clean the buckets every time - he wouldn't stop the habit. There was nothing wrong with it.

"Now how do you think you should feed him? If it was an apple you'd hold it in your hand and give it to him, but with a bucket? Should you leave him to his own devices?"

He posed the question rhetorically, almost hoping Oluse would get the hint and feed him. He needed them to bond fast, since the next task would be readying the yvas. And then... mounting the horse. Oluse's biggest fear incarnate - and one Ronan was going to quash with all his Drykas blood.

[Oluse]

Oluse moved on from the description of the feed without seeming to even noticing the oddity of the observation. He slipped the handkerchief back into his pocket and peered back toward Ronan, listening carefully. Feed little, often. Different diets, this all made enough sense to Oluse. So Velox was like a human, except he didn't eat meat, and only ate a handful at a time.

The statement on offering food with his hand frightened Oluse. He opted for the bucket, it seemed safer. He took a modest handful of the oats and tossed it into the still damp bucket, some of the grain slinging to the sides with the moister acting as an adhesive. This little fact went unnoticed by Oluse as he quickly returned tot he stall with bucket in toe.

However, before setting the bucket near Velox he paused and asked with a sense of serious concern in his voice, "He won't try to eat the bucket will he?" He looked dubiously at Velox, who answered with an extended neck, trying to feed from the bucket. Oluse's first impulse was to pull the bucket back until he had gotten an answer from Ronan, but decided, as Velox's long slender snout found it's way into the bucket that he was more concerned about angering the creature by pulling it away then he was of it eating through the bucket.

His eyes widened as the bucket tugged and pulled at the horse's ginger attempts at running its lips along the side of the bucket to extract the feed. Oluse seemed in part entranced by the glowing horse feeding from the instrument he held and a series of worried looks at Ronan, and around.

He spotted the narrow troff which lay just outside Velox's stall, close enough to reach. It still had some kernel of oats scattering it's bottom, and Oluse realized it likely could feed straight from there.

"Velox." He said in somewhat of an authoritarian voice, which rang of more a physicians address than a horse owner. "I am going to put some more in your troff later. I don't think you should eat straight from the bucket." He worried needlessly about the horses neck. Its skull looked so heavy and to stretch it out might hurt it? He squinted as all the experience began to become too much for him.

The stallion's face left the bucket as soon as the offerings were ingested, and he turned his head to the side looking at the two who had worked to bring food. It still seemed unsure of the duo, but showed no interest of disobeying any demands they might give.

Oluse looked awkwardly around and finally set the bucket in the troff itself, not wanting it anywhere a person or horse might trip on it. Then, he looked at Velox as if waiting for it to do something not that it fed, then with a slow horrified revelation he realized what was coming next. He looked back at Ronan with apprehension.

[Ronan]

Ronan laughed as Oluse seemingly struggled once again. "I assure you, he won't eat the bucket. He's not a goat."

Though he laughed, he was impressed by Oluse's authoritarian voice. He'd made his decision on how Velox would feed, and that was the way it would be. Ronan wouldn't put forward any disagreement, since Oluse was the horse's owner, and he had to learn to make his own decisions.

Finally, feeding finished, Oluse turned to Ronan. He was scared again. That same fear from earlier flashed across his visage. It was because he realised what they needed to do next, but he was wrong.

"Don't look so fearful. Velox will pick up on it. And don't worry, it's not time to mount yet."

He beckoned for Oluse to come follow and moved to the storing area where he had gotten the food from. It was time to get the horse equipped. Ronan had been so lost in his own Drykas discourse, he realised this was no yvas. This was no Drykas horse either, and so it would be a traditional saddle they'd be burdening it with.

"I must confess Oluse, I'm not so talented with this type of setup. Perhaps we could try and work it out together? Gather it all up and we'll go back into the pen and see what we can do..."