64th of Summer, 514 AV
Alaia made her way to the stables with a bag full of supplies; there was a mare that was in the healing barn waiting for a sprained ankle to be looked at. It was simple, and considering that she was still getting used to being around the large beauties after so long being away from direct contact with them it would be easier to work with something small. In her bag there was no such thing as medical supplies, those she could find in the healing barn but she did have apples and such as little treats for the mare to help both of them relax. Humming a soft tune to herself the Konti walked down the stalls until she found the occupied one with a beautiful chestnut colored mixed breed.
“Hi there girl…” Alaia spoke in her native tongue to the horse, her soft harmonic voice wrapping the sweet sound of the Kontinese language up into a lilting song. “…aren’t you a beauty?” The mare was lying in the corner rather than standing, her sprained front hoof was held out and her ears swiveled at the sounds of the unfamiliar voice. Shifting the pack on her shoulder that usually carried her art supplies Alaia rested her forearms on the top of the stall door which brought her to her tip toes as she peered within to the injured animal. She wasn’t going to enter the stall right away; they had to get to know each other since they never met.
“Hello beautiful.” She spoke in common this time since she was sure it was a language the equine would be more familiar with. “I’m Alaia, I’m going to help you okay?” Her voice was pitched low as if she was having a private conversation with the mare, large brown eyes stared up at her for a moment before the horse snorted and looked away. “I know it must be strange, we never met and I’m saying I’ll help you …” The healer smiled softly when the horse’s ears flickered towards her again even though she wasn’t looking at her. “I’ll be honest, you can help me too. I never healed a horse before but I imagine it will be so much better the healing what I have in the past. Would you like to know how you can help me?”
Was she really having a conversation with the mare? She doubted that the horse could understand her, she wasn’t gifted with animals understanding her but she was sure that something in her words or her voice caught the mare’s attention when she looked her way again. “I’m going to come in okay? I’ll stay in my corner and you stay in yours and we’ll work on this slowly.” Alaia let her body fall to the flats of her feet again and she unlocked the stall door and stepped inside closing it behind her. The mare’s ears flew back in a show of panic, or hostility? Alaia wasn’t sure, she just knew she had seen that look before on dogs and cats and it usually meant they weren’t happy.
Humming softly Alaia remained with her back pressed against the door and let her soft song fill the space between them until they were both relaxed. Slowly the Konti reached into her bag and pulled out an apple, the mare’s eyes on her every movement now that she was in her space. The horse’s nose sniffed the air and she let out a huff before stretching her neck closer to try to get to the apple without getting up. One step at a time Alaia would move closer to the horse, her heart racing and slowing down in intervals depending on the mare’s reaction to her approach.
It wasn’t long before she was able to kneel so that they were both at eyesight level and Alaia was holding the apple in her hand out with her fingers slightly down-sloped for easier access. The horse was tentative at first despite obviously wanting the apple, after a chime of deciding if she could trust the konti before her mouth opened and she parted her lips to get a better grasp on the apple she was offered. “That’s a good girl.” Alaia crooned encouragingly and when the apple was being eaten she reached out and ran a soft and slow hand over the mare’s neck “That’s a good girl.”
