You Gain, I Gain.. We Hope (Shahar)

[Iyone Semestrong]

Day 27 Fall The Semestrong Horse Sales and Borrow tent was the busiest during Fall when hunting was at it’s busiest, not to mention the upcoming Fall Hunt competition. This meant that there were more horses to have ready for viewing. They were putting out an offer to those that were forming teams that they could have up to three horses for the Hunt free of charge, as long as they were willing to let one of them be on their team, they’d watch over the horses of course. Being more versed in the skills of running a horse ranch than those needed for hunting they only helped in the way of lending or selling horses but this year many of the family thought it might be fun to actually go on the hunt. Hence the incentive sent out to the community that runs the Hunt. They had gotten a few bites so far and three of her siblings and in-laws managed to join a team. There were more that wanted to join so they hoped more would show up. During this season the horses they are hoping to sell are held further in the back of the tent as those that are more a riding, pulling or combo horses, closer to the front as they have more of the borrowers than buyers. The closer they got to the Hunt start day the busier they become, this means Iyone has to step away from just grooming to grooming and shop assistant. Her sister-in-law Moxy (who runs the Sales Tent), her father Ynez, one of her brothers Jame and she were all in attendance this fall day. Humming quietly Iyone was near the front of the tent combing down a strong full male Seme horse. Not quite in his prime anymore but still able to work. She ran the big brush down his flank getting closer to his shoulder and crest area, having finished his other end. Her left arm was resting her left walking stick, attached to it by rope is her right walking stick in quick reaching distance to her right hand. Her hair was put up in a multitude of braids that had frays of hair falling from one or the other, the sign of a busy woman, not having time to fix her hair. A few feet away from Iyone is a small little girl on her knees with a two cloth dolls on the ground in front of her and two more dolls in her hands just jabbering away sometimes saying a known word or two, waving the dolls around to in fro, entranced in her story only she could understand. There were a number of people milling about examining the horses by themselves. Moxy, Ynez and Jame were all helping people all at various spots within the tent leaving the main opening area pretty deserted except for Iyone and Peora. Neither aware of it, both facing the opposite position.

[Colt]

The sun was just shy of her peak when the horse and rider slipped into the Amethyst district, weaving between the pavilions with more ease than either of them could ever find amongst any of the other Clans. The Amethyst district was larger and more open to breed and raise animals of the equine persuasion, which meant that the space between each tent was easier, if not exactly pleasant to be in.

Akaidras snorted as a small something ran across his path, but continued after a moment’s hesitation. Shahar felt more comfortable in the city with his Strider, and it had been a long time since the stallion was well enough to bear a rider within. The Zith scars on the creature’s back had healed nicely into a delicate pattern of crisscrossing lines, one that Akaidras seemed almost proud of.

Shahar had heard word of the pavilion he was looking for multiple times, mostly from the overheard gossip of others at Hunter’s Allegiance. The spreading rumor had caught his attention almost immediately, and he had decided it was high time to investigate.

He approached the pavilion tentatively. The dirt was beaten down with tracks even a child could see, and Shahar was able to determine that they had been made by Semes rather than Striders. This had to be it.

The hunter dismounted, deciding that it would be best to continue his approach on foot. He scratched Akaidras’ neck his behind his ear, then fixed a lock of his mane that had fallen to the wrong side in the wind. With a last pat to the shoulder, he bit his Strider to stay and made his way towards the pavilion.

The smell of horse almost overpowered his senses as he stepped into the open front of the tent. It was virtually deserted, as only a single woman and her horse seemed to be present. No, wait, there was another, a girlchild nearby who was babbling and waving about little things that Shahar couldn’t identify. He gave the little one a curious look before clearing his throat to let the woman know he was there. Should she turn, his hands were already in sign.

Hello, said his body.

[Iyone Semestrong]

Iyone had now switched from just humming to singing quietly and she was nearly finished with the Seme’s grooming when the slight noise of someone pulling the entrance flap open and coming in and stopping. Those noises were always noted by Iyone and Peora when Iyone worked but these days they were so frequent that neither of them bothered to turn to look. Iyone finished her song, “... Won't you stay a while and watch our world go by I'll keep holding on to you and your Free Day smile.” It was then that she heard a clearing of the throat which made her know instantly that someone new came into the tent and that either Moxy was back up front and writing in the sales book and didn’t see the newcomer or that Iyone was the only one visible. Having just finished the last stroke of that brush on the beautiful stud’s black coat and had tossed the brush into the bucket that was nearby. She kind of half turned her body to look over her left shoulder just in time to see the man gesturing with his hands and body a greeting of ”Hello.” She held up her first finger back to him to say, “Just a moment.” And gave him a warm welcoming smile then turned back to the horse and patted his neck and spoke to him, ”Thank you for letting me get you looking even more handsome than always.” A smirk was given to the horse as one last pat to it’s head was given, letting her hand slide off the horses shoulder and she quickly had her right walking stick around her lower arm and was moving to the flap leading to the rest of the horses they had ready to go and looking to the horse she said, ”Alright handsome get in there now.” Motioning the horse through the flap that showed the true business, about thirty horses milled around in their sections. These so called sections were only loose ropes tied into squares in rows. The Seme Stallion, Iyone was opening the flap for, obeyed without a complaint and once he was through the flap Iyone let it close and did a quick spin and stopping her body with her walking sticks. Looking to Peora who was now watching the new man with quite a sober face, almost alarming at the intensity of the stare her eyes were giving off and Iyone almost chuckled at it but held it back, ”Pey Pey its ok, continue playing.” Knowing that Peora was only staring because she knew Iyone would be interacting with him. Finally Iyone faced the man who had just come in she smiled to him and moved those walking sticks and legs braced up toward him. As she moved she studied the man realizing that she had seen him around Endrykas and he was a hunter but couldn’t actually put his name to her lips. Once within a few feet of him she spoke, ”Sorry to make you wait. How may I help you?” Her deep brown eyes looking up to his watching him.