Completed [Windmount Stables] A Warhorse in Need pt1

[Tanna]

• • 62 SPRING • •

GRADERSTanna injured her shoulder on the 43rd. Since that thread has yet to be completed or graded, it hasn't been specified how badly it is injured but I've been playing her since as having a grade 1 or 2 injury to her AC joint. Thank you.

The day was beautiful: crisp and fresh but growing ever-warmer under Syna's light, it would not be long until the cooler touches of Spring gave way completely to the hot grasp of Summer. Tanna welcomed it, savouring the changes brought on by the gradual shift from one season to the next.

With a spring in her step, she had commenced her daily routine of readying herself. Despite the limitations of her movements due to her injured shoulder, she still managed to sweep her hair into a loose and low side braid and dressed herself in her standard attire before trekking out to the docks in the predawn bell. Settling herself onto her usual perch, she took in the sunrise, silent as a sentinel, before offering up a prayer and giving thanks to Syna. From there, she had usually gone straight to the stables but a recent discovery of salted sea fish had caused her path to deviate.

It had been a chance happening, to be true, a conversation struck with an old fishmonger that had lead to Tanna stumbling upon her newest - and costly - addiction. Having stayed true to her resolution of challenging herself daily, she had offered to purchase a single fish in a bid to try something she had never tasted before but the fishmonger would not have a bar of it. Instead, he had given her one to try for free, insisting it was the best she would ever taste. Having had no experience with fish, she had found it an acquired taste - one that she acquired more quickly than she had expected - and she had not passed the man since without making a purchase. Today was no different.

Another addition to her routine was the procurement of apples - both for herself and for her charges - that led her to one of the few merchant stalls that stood above ground, just East of the Rearing Stallion, and one of a handful that sprang up from time to time around the city. If she were to be honest with herself, the apples were just an additional splurge to offset the fish but she did always love having treats handy for the many horses at Windmount.

“Beautiful weather, no?”

The older woman manning the stall only smiled and nodded, flashing a toothy smile that revealed she was shy one premolar and Tanna, never one to judge, returned it in earnest.

“That it is. Luck be good, it will keep this way through Summer. Good weather makes huntin' easier, y'see. Keep them pesky vermin at bay and let the farmers have some peace.” Her words had grown a touch heated but the old woman seemed aware and reeled herself back in, her broad smile once more dimpling her cherry cheeks, “Wouldn't that be nice, hm? Start the Summer right, it would.”

The Drykas nodded although seemed a touch lost. Vermin? She was unfamiliar with the word but the context in which it was used lead her to query “You mean the rabbits?” She had noticed a sudden rise in the amount of rabbit fur available in the Bazaar.

The older woman nodded and reached a hand out to touch Tanna's arm, “Oh yes. Right pests they are. Catch them if you can.” The Drykas noted the way the woman's beady eyes appraised her and offered a weak smile. Drykas she might be, but hunter she was not.

“I will keep the farmers in my prayers.” She paused and then, with her lips twitching into a broader smile, “And catch what I am able.” There was no harm in that – her lack of skill would account for her lack of catches, surely. The old woman beamed with gratitude.

At last bidding the woman farewell, Tanna secured her new items in the folds of her pack – save for one fish - and set off for the stables. Humming merrily as she eyed the fish in her good hand, she lifted it to her mouth and paused her tune to begin gnawing happily upon her first salty treat of the day.

LEDGER :

PURCHASE	COST
Salted fish (½lb)	--2gm 5sm
Apples (1lb)	-1gm
TOTAL	-3gm 5sm

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

She clicked her tongue playfully as she entered one of the barns that housed some of the long-term boarders, smiling as a series of big heads lifted in unison to the noise, ears turned towards her, and she delighted as some even nickered in greeting. “Good morning, beauties. Did everyone sleep well?” Her words were light as she strolled down the length of the stables and she took a moment to peer into each stall she passed, taking stock of the state of each as well as the horse within.

An indignant sound rose from her left, “You're late.”

Peeking into the stall at her left, she found the owner of the disgruntled voice, a fellow stablehand by the name of Rhysfar. Giving a shrug with her good shoulder, she simply replied, “I had to get something.” Her good hand dipped into her pack to fish out one of the apples from within and she promptly gave it a bite as if she were proving some point.

Rhysfar shook his head before driving his pitchfork through the muck-strewn straw floor he was working on cleaning, “Y'shouldn't feed them horses that. They aren't yours after all.”

Again Tanna gave a small shrug, removing the chunk of apple she had bitten off and offering it to the chestnut mare tethered outside the stall Rhysfar occupied. A giggle bubbled up out of her smiling lips as the horse's velvety lips brushed against her hand, seeking the offered treat, “They just apples. They not cause harm.” Her hand brushed playfully over the mare's muzzle before giving its white-starred forehead a pat, cooing, “It like reward, right girl? For being good while Rhys clean stall.”

Rhysfar groaned.

Pivoting playfully, Tanna headed to the far end of the barn and set her bag down, “Oh, come, Rhys! Have a little fun.” With that, she set the apple down on her pack to free her hands and moved into the stall before her grabbing a rope from the barn wall outside the stall as she went, offering a low, gentle greeting in Pavi to the Zavian within.

Rhysfar's voice rose from that far stall, “Serena was looking for you.”

Tanna acknowledged his words with a nod he could not see yet remained focused on the horse before her. Giving its cheek a firm rub and pat, she stepped back and was about to start making a halter when she heard Rhysfar once more.

“Horsegirl. Did you hear me?”

Lolling her head to the side, her eyes did not stray from the rope in her hands as she began to loop it around itself, “Yes.” She paused, then, peering up and over the stall wall to look back in his direction, “You mean see now?” She had simply figured she'd help Rhysfar get these stables mucked out and horses tended to first since it was such tasks that generally comprised the bulk of her daily work.

“Aye.”

“Oh!” She hadn't expected anything urgent and now her mind whirled wondering why she might be needed. Stepping out of the stall, she returned the rope to its place and plucked up her apple, giving it another bite to break off yet another sliver before gifting the treat to the Zavian. Then, without further delay, she took up her pack and struck off to find her boss.

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

Lucky for the Drykas, Serena was easily located at the edge of the paddock, watching as Ulliver put someone through some mounted training.

“Serena. You ask for me?”

The brunette turned and nodded, brushing a tendril of hair behind an ear, “Yes, come. Walk with me.” Without any hesitation, the woman started walking towards another barn and Tanna quickened her pace to bring her up beside the other woman before falling in stride with her. After a few paces, the other woman spoke again, having the sort of voice that commanded attention and Tanna was happy to give it, “I want you sticking to the Warhorses until I say otherwise, ok?”

Tanna nodded readily although a question sat on the end of her tongue. For this reason, alone, she stayed silent. Serena, albeit warm, was very cut and dry and Tanna had learned not to pester her with too many unnecessary questions.

“How's your shoulder?” There was a look of genuine concern in the other woman's eyes to which Tanna replied in a bid to assure her that she was well on the mend, “It fine. Stiff but -” she paused to roll her left shoulder gingerly before lifting her arm forward to nearly perpendicular, “better with each day.”

The woman smiled, “Good.”

Reaching the desired barn, Serena lead the Drykas in. It was one of the smaller stables on the property but also one of the airiest and brightest and Tanna immediately noticed how immaculate it was. Resting within a lone stall was a mare heavy with foal and Tanna paused to take in the sight of her. She was a huge specimen, a true representation of the breed, with a silky black coat, white, feathered feet and a brilliant white blaze. Tanna drifted towards the mare, enamoured as a horsefly, “She's beautiful.”

“Her name is Breeze. How far off do you reckon she is?” She crossed her arms as she stood, watching the Drykas, testing her, curious to see how much she knew regarding breeding.

Inhaling deeply, Tanna set her jaw in a show of accepting this challenge before stepping towards the mare, offering her hand and few gentle words to try and get to horse to accept her coming into her space. Breeze huffed, seeming interested in the proffered hand, so Tanna placed it against the mare's broad neck, smiling, “There, there, girl. Let me take look.” Another huff and nicker led the blonde to give the mare's neck a solid pat before petting it, “Not too moody.” Her attention had swung to Serena but the brunette did nothing but nod.

Hovering about at the Mare's side, Tanna gave her a good once over, gaze lingering on the mare's swollen stomach as she studying the positioning and where it sat. Crouching, she settled her arms against her knees, hands dangling between as she looked more closely, also studying the mare's udder, looking for any sign of residue that might tell her the mare was ready to start producing milk. Being fairly unfamiliar with the breed aside from what little time she had spent with such horses here at the stables, she mused more to herself, “I am not so sure but belly look low, like drop.” Her hands motioned the words before her eyes swept over the horse, overwhelmed by the beauty and strength of it, “She so strong and sturdy. Athletic!”

Talking to herself wouldn't answer Serena's question, though.

Scooting over, Tanna glanced over the mare's hindquarters, trying to judge by the shape how close the horse was to foaling. They looked disengaged to her, but she wasn't sure if that was due to how the mare was standing or not. Straightening back up to her full height, she hesitated but then held a hand out, hovering it over the mare's rump before slowly lowering her palm down, intending on trying to feel from hip to tail to sense how the croup was. Instead she jerked her hand back quickly and clutched it at her chest as the mare snorted and raised that back leg before kicking it out with a hard thrash of her tail. Shying away, Tanna couldn't stifle the frightened laugh that rose from her chest, “Ho-oh! Hahaha..” Regaining her composure, she smiled, “Aieee, there is moodiness.” Edging herself out of the stall, she added, speaking directly to the horse, “Sorry for that.”

Turning back to Serena, the Drykas ran her hand along her chin, pondering, “She past 300 days.. But not close enough, I do not think.” Her eyes drifted back to the mare.

Serena nodded, looking pleased enough with the answer, “I expect her to start showing signs within the week.” She pointed towards the mare's hindquarters and Tanna followed her finger, “You had the right idea. See how the croup is beginning to soften?” Tanna nodded, inwardly pleased that she had caught that, even though she wasn't entirely sure what to have made of it.

Dropping her hand, the woman turned to her, “I want you keeping an eye on her: cleaning her stall, making sure she has feed and water and plenty of soft straw to rest on. I want you supervising her when you let her out on the paddock and I want you to report to me about everything you see and do, ok? If anything seems even remotely out of the ordinary, you come find me. Got that?”

Tanna nodded.

“Keep an eye on her hind end, you will be able to see the changes. Her attitude will let you know, as well. She won't want you around her.. so take care not to be bit -” the woman's eyes narrowed but the tiny half smirk that twitched a corner of her lip belied the look she gave, “or kicked. I need you to practice caution and be safe – Breeze is a big horse.”

Tanna understood the seriousness of the matter and nodded once more, “Of course.”

“Good. I will leave you two to get better acquainted then.”

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

Once alone with the mare, Tanna rubbed her hands together, warming them as she looked around the area. She noted where all the ropes were, as well as all the round buckets she could see, and then moved closer to peer into her stall. Seeing it needed some cleaning, Tanna set about tying up a halter and then turned her attention on getting it onto Breeze's big head.

“ Come here, beautiful. Let me get your stall nice for you – then I can give you a brush down and get your outside. I bet it's no fun being stuck in this stall all day.” She stepped forward and tried to get the rope around the mare's muzzle but the big horse would have none of it and jerked her head back before bobbing it, huffing and grunting. Tanna did her best to repeat the noises back.

She made another attempt and, again, the mare had her foiled, jerking her head away before swinging it back at the blonde. Tanna only just managed to leap out of the way. “ Now now, that is no way to treat a friend.” Breeze seemed unphased.

Looking around, Tanna noted her pack and went to it, retrieving the apple from within. Holding it up triumphantly, she looked back in Breeze's direction. The mare nickered curiously, ears pricked forward as she moved in her stall. Aha.. this might work.

She took a bite, this time actually eating a piece herself before biting off a chunk for the mare, offering it as an olive branch. The mare snatched it swiftly from her hand and stepped back to swallow it down. Huffing, the Drykas murmured, “ That's not fair.” Breeze, again, did not seem to care one iota.

Slipping the knotted rope over her left shoulder, she glanced past the horse and to the stable door behind her. Hesitantly, she moved back into the horse's stall and edged herself around the mare, keeping a calm energy as she did so, and then leaned into the door once she reached it, peeking out to see the paddock that lay beyond. She hadn't realised that a small portion of the paddock had been fenced in, creating a nice green area just for the mare and her future foal. The Drykas hadn't had all the same amenities as those in Syliras but this concept was one she was familiar with and it made her change her plans.

Swivelling around to face the mare, Tanna offered her the rest of the apple and Breeze took it without hesitation. Chuckling, Tanna shook her head and then unlatched the stable door before pushing it open. Making sure to stand to the side of the door so as to not be in the way of the big horse, she then cooed encouragingly, “ Come on, out you go.” The big horse was happy to obey, huge hooves carrying it out and onto the lush green grass. Tanna smiled as the horse lowered her big head to snuffle at the grass before ripping up a bit to chew on.

With the horse out of the way, she was now able to tend to the stall and she blew about it like a tempest. She cleaned out, scrubbed and then refilled the water trough, checking on the mare intermittently, peeking out between each task. Then she dragged a cart over to the stable and went about mucking out the stall, hauling a couple buckets of muck and dirty straw out to the cart. Thankfully, Breeze appeared to be a relatively clean horse and Tanna was eternally grateful. Wheeling the cart out to do away with the muck, she wheeled fresh hay back in for Breeze to feast on once all was said an done. Lastly, she laid down new straw on the stall floor, nice and thick.

Brushing her hands against her dirty pants, she finally stepped out onto the paddock, a new apple in hand. Breeze watched her, ears swivelling before they turned along with her head towards the sound of another horse that was obviously distressed. Furrowing her brow, Tanna drifted to the fence and leaned against it, peering out over the paddock towards the track the knights used for mounted training. It was there she saw someone struggling atop their horse. The Drykas instantly tensed, feeling an urge to go and lend aid.

She couldn't do so before making sure Breeze was safe and secure so her attention returned to the horse. “ Here, Breeze. Come.” She held the fresh apple out for the mare to see and the big horse's body moved languorously towards her, muscled frame ever something to behold.

Coaxing the horse back in with the apple, Tanna was able to successfully get the horse safely back into her stall and the blonde move to close and latch the stable door. Brushing a hand over the side of the mare's neck to test to see how much handling Breeze would allow, she smiled as the horse allowed the contact. Ruffling her hand into the mighty mare's dark mane, she smiled and cooed, “ I will be back soon. Give you a good brush and clean up those feet, hm?” The mare only nickered.

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

She jogged across the paddock, ducking under fences as she went until she reached the edge of the track.

It was a large swath of green, much like the paddock, the oval fencing within ringed by a well-trodden path. Dotted by cavalettis, poles and hurdles set up as bounces, it was apparent that the knights and their respective mounts had been going through some vigorous cross-training – something Tanna would later learn to be grid-work – and the problematic horse was refusing to go through the course.

It was a huge liver chestnut Tiadan Warhorse, head tossing as it protested against the kicks the man in the saddle was readily giving in order to get the horse to move. She didn't notice it yet, but the horse was protecting its front left leg, keeping it bent and up whenever it had a chance; instead, she was too distracted by the rider who looked amiss as to what to do as he desperately urged the horse on.

Shielding her eyes from the Syna's light, she took in the sight of the horse straining against its rider before she clamored over the exterior fence in a rather unceremonious fashion, scrambling over it with great effort before, at last, she loped towards the distressed pair. “Easy there!” she clipped a she quickened her pace, drawing up near the unsettled beast and equally unsettled rider, “Easy!”

The squire in the saddle heaved a cautionary warning as she approached, apparently not wanting any extra attention drawn to his person, his pride already wounded enough as it were, but Tanna would have none of it. Reaching for the horse's reins with her good hand, she called out, “Let horse be still.” Unfortunately, the mighty horse swung its head, knocking her aside and making her lose her grip. Gritting her teeth, both at herself for making such a foolish move and at the pain that shot through her left shoulder, she hollered out once more to the man in the saddle, “Ease off. Something wrong.”

Thankfully, those words seemed to get through the man's helmet and he did as she asked, easing the horse to a halt which it willingly assumed. “We're fine,” He barked, trying to keep the tremor from his voice after being jostled around in the tin can of his armor.

Tanna made an indignant noise in the back of her throat, not buying it at all. “Do you think spooked?” Her mind sped through the numerous things that could have caused the warhorse to act out, “Is stallion?”

The man in the saddle hefted his helmet up and off his head, revealing a slender – yet well formed – face beneath, topped with chin-length, sweaty brown hair but Tanna was more fixated on the whole helmet removal, thinking it looked much like her was removing his head completely. His voice broke her of this silly reverie, “No, it's a gelding. Who are you?”

He was eloquent, that much was certain, with an easy, honey-smooth voice, but it did not make his answer any sweeter to her ears. So she couldn't blame hormones for the horse's actions. “My name is Tanna. I work at stables. I saw you have trouble, come to help.” Her attention had once more shifted fully back to the horse as she made a quick – and very basic – visual assessment, noting how well-kept the horse was. It was baldfaced and she noted that the white was bright and clean, same with the white socks on its legs, lacking the yellowing they sometimes got. She was finding it harder to come up with a reason for why the horse had acted in such a way and her frustrations were beginning to show.

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

Her focus shifted back to the man as he dismounted, his armor making a distinct noise she hadn't heard before. “I'm Cameron Tamson. This is Terior.” Her had a charming enough smile but the look in his eyes made her have the urge to move to the opposite side of the horse. Reaching her good hand up to stroke the horse's muscular neck, she smiled and cooed gently, “Hello Terior.”

Peeking over the horse – her eyes only just clearing its broad back, she inquired, “How old is he?” She had ducked her head back down to look along the horse's toned body and, therefore, failed to see the man blush as he fumbled, revealling his greenness, “I'm not sure, actually. He hasn't been in my care for long. We are still getting used to one another, to tell it true.” He paused long enough to follow her around to where she stood, glancing over her, curious.

Tanna paid him little mind since he failed to offer her the information she sought. Sliding her good hand along the horse's back, her fingertips fluttered over the saddle and gear strapped to it before her palm smoothed over and up the horse's neck as she marvelled at the stunning creature. As her hand moved over the horses cheek, she tossed another question at him, “He bite? Kick? Have temper at all?”

Again, the squire had little useful to offer, shrugging before stating, “He hasn't given me much trouble until today.” It was as she moved her hands to the big horse's muzzle, moving to pull back its lips to cheek its teeth when he added, “He has attempted a nip here and there.”

His words came too late, however, for Terior chomped at the encroaching fingers, causing Tanna to yelp before she jerked her hands back. She did not appreciate the chuckle that rose from him.

“He seem young. Healthy.” She shook her good hand as she gave Cameron a scathing look and resisted the stupid smirk that desperately wanted to appear on her lips.

Cameron nodded, ready to launch into some story when she interrupted him, her eyes fixating on the horse's left front leg. Finally spotting what was most likely the cause of Terior's troubles, she motioned with her good hand for him to come before dropping it to sign out of habit look close. She reached a hand out to the warhorse's chest, fingertips just touching before she stepped slowly around to the horse's left side, eyeing the leg critically. The horse kept it up, having no interest in putting weight on it.

“Do you see?” Her words were flat as she focused fully on the horse.

Bending at the waist, she tilted her head to look under the gelding's body before her eyes trailed down the length of the horse's leg. “Maybe hoof hurt.” She was talking to herself now as she went through the motions. Taking a step closer to the horse, she reached gingerly for the horse's front hoof, drawing her hand back only just slightly when the gelding pulled it away and shifted its stance.

Looking back towards Cameron, she requested, “Can you hold rein, please.”

Cameron gallantly obliged with a smooth, “But of course,” as he slide closer to the warhorse. Taking the rein, he tried to keep the horse settled.

Trying again, Tanna reached for the hoof, successful in her endeavour. Stepping closer, she gave it a good look over, running her thumb along the wall before brushing over the sole, trying to feel if there was any issue with the actual hoof. If something had gotten lodged into it then Terior would have had every reason to act as he had. Although, from what Tanna could sense through the pad of her thumb, there was no actual injury to the hoof. Frowning, she released it and the horse went to put it down before curling it, setting the point of its hoof against the ground.

Tanna found this odd.

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

Straightening herself back up, she folded her arms across her chest as she stared, unfocused, at the point where Terior's hoof met the ground. There was nothing she could feel or see in the hoof, so what could the problem be. Her thoughts were broken as Cameron crept towards her, “What is it? Did you see anything?”

Disappointed in her lack of ability to figure out what was wrong, she only shook her head, eyes not moving from the point they fixated on.

Finally, her brows drew together as she took in a deep breath, releasing it as she queried, “What do you know about Terior. Do you know much history on horse?” She turned to look at the man near her, arms falling away as she habitually offered a more open posture, as if that might encourage him to speak more freely.

Cameron looked sheepish and rubbed the back of his neck before dropping that hand, supinating both as he shrugged in a rather defeated manner, “As I said, I know little of the horse. I only recently acquired him.” Noting the woman's lemon-face, he ventured, “Terior has been used by squires before me, ones that have left before achieving their knighthood. He is said to be an easy horse for a novice rider and that is why he has been.. passed around, as it were. I don't know much else about him, unfortunately. I wish I could help more.”

Suddenly, the squire straightened, as if a jolt of lightning from Zulrav, himself, had struck him before announcing, “I could ask my patron. He's sure to know more about the horse.” Tanna perked up and, seeing this, Cameron became more dedicated to seeing this whole thing through. “He's just over there,” he motioned to the far side of the track where some figures were milling about, one looking as if it was on its way towards them. “I can fetch him.”

She nodded, “Please do.”

With that, the squire began to close the gap that existed between himself and his patron, stopping before the figure that had been marching towards them. The men walked back towards Tanna and it was only then she was able to make out what they were saying amongst themselves.

“I figured it had to be a woman.” The older man shook his head yet clapped the young man on the shoulder all the same. Turning his sights on Tanna, the older man gave a bow of his head, “Sylirian Knight Nicholas Varner of the Blue Company, 1st Regiment, Gold Quadron, at your service.”

A smile fluttered across her lips and she was about to introduce herself when Cameron stepped in, “This is Tanna, she works at the stables. We're trying to figure out what is wrong with Terior.”

The older man looked puzzled, “There's something wrong with your horse?”

It was then Tanna stepped in, “The gelding is hurt. Will not put weight on front left leg. Please, do you know anything about horse, anything that might help find why hurt?”

The older man stroked his smooth chin thoughtfully, “I don't know much, just that Terior is a good horse to help break novice riders in with. A lot of the squires have used him.. No, I'm sorry, I don't know much else. Perhaps Ulliver or Serena might know more. They groomed Terior into what he is today.”

Tanna nodded, “Thank you. I will.” Turning her attention back to Cameron, she made one last request, “Can I keep Terior for now, until I can find what wrong with him? I will take back to stables and care for him.”

The two men exchanged glances before acquiescing.

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Tanna]

Two bells had passed since she had parted ways with Cameron and now Tanna found herself within the infirmary barn with Ulliver and Serena standing at her sides. Terior had calmed since being led to the stables, his bridle traded for a soft rope harness so he might be more comfortable as the trio delved deeper into the cause of the horse's injury.

“It was good of you to do what you did.” It was Ulliver who spoke this time and he looked over to her, nodding, “This is the best place for Terior until we figure out his prognosis.”

There was a word he spoke that she did not understand but she got the meaning well enough due to context. Nodding, she rubbed her hands over her arms more out of frustration than anything, “I could not figure it out.. It not hoof.. but it seems like hoof.”

It was then that Serena moved, settling in on one knee at the horse's left side before chiming in, “That's because it isn't the hoof.”

She motioned for the two to assist and Tanna gravitated towards Terior's face, reaching up to gently wrap her fingers into the ropes that made up his halter. Seeing this, Serena remarked quickly, “Ulliver, take Tanna's place. Tanna, come here.”

The two did as they were told and the Drykas sank to a crouch at Serena's side and inquisitive look in her eye. She watched as Serena moved her hands around the horse's front left leg and she sensed the woman was trying to feel for something. Reaching Terior's knee, the woman rubbed, poked and prodded, the horse shifting and grunting. To Tanna, it seemed the horse did so more out of shyness than discomfort.

Serena bent and moved the horses lower leg, then, taking it through its normal motions before glancing to Tanna, “The knee does not seem so bad, a little stiff..” She moved her hands down to the fetlock and was about to begin the process again but the horse jerked and both women shied back, wary of those huge hooves.

“It's the fetlock; I fear it won't be long before the knee starts locking up.” The brunette looked at her brother before saying a few soft words to calm the warhorse. Noting the faint tilt by which Tanna held her head, the woman elaborated to clarify, having had more experience with the Drykas woman to now have an understanding that there were times when things needed to be simplified or reworded in order for the other woman to understand, “Terior likely has problems with the joints in that lower leg. Here, feel.” She reached for Tanna's hand and drew it towards the horse's leg.

Tanna did her best to mimic Serena's actions, smoothing her hands down the horses leg until she reached the knee. She thumbed around it, rubbing and prodding, trying to see if she could feel anything that was amiss but, to her, it didn't feel any different than any other legs that she had dealt with aside from the pure fact that it was the most muscular she had handled, by far.

Tentatively, she slide one hand further down the horse's lower leg while the other cupped the knee. Glancing up to the warhorse's big head, she slowly flexed the joint and then extended it, closing her eyes to try and tune out everything but the feeling in her hand. She sensed something as she went through the motions again and her face reflected this, “It not feel smooth.. like..” She fished for a word, anything to describe the grinding sensation she noticed in the joint, “Like dirt.”

Serena nodded as Tanna moved on, albeit warily. Sliding her hands furhter down, she slowly and gingerly ran her finger tips along the top of the lower joint, cooing softly, “It's okay, Terior..easy boy.” She went to sweep her thumb over the joint but, again, the horse jerked.

It was what Tanna feared and she didn't even acknowledge either Windmount as she spoke, “But he can be helped. Fixed.” She knew what fate lied ahead for a lame horse.

It was Ulliver who spoke, practical and calm, “It's possible.. but that depends wholly on how bad the injury is..” He sighed quietly, rubbing at his stubbly jaw as he eyed the horse for a long moment. Finally, he glanced towards his cousin, waiting until he had her attention, “I suspect Terior has been used for driving surplus carts in the past. If this is an old injury that has slowly been building-”

Tanna interrupted him then, “We can still help him.”

The Windmount cousins fell silent as they exchanged looks.

Eventually, Serena spoke, “Of course we can.”

Pavi • Grass-sign • Common • Tukant • Others

[Katelyn Marks]

Due Rewards

“After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

― Philip Pullman

 

Tanna

Skills
➢ Socialization +5
➢ Investigation +5
➢ Observation +5
➢ Animal Husbandry +4
➢ Planning +1
➢ Land Navigation +1
➢ Horsemanship +1
➢ Leadership +1

Lores
➢ Location: The Syliras Gates
➢ Horsemanship: Bribing with Apples
➢ Animal Husbandry: Signs of a Mare Soon to Foal
➢ Animal Husbandry: Basic Equine Soundness Inspection
➢ Animal Husbandry: Diagnosing Equine Lameness
➢ Cameron Tamson: Squire
➢ Ser Nicholas Varner: Blue Company, 1st Regiment, Gold Quadron
➢ Breeze the Pregnant Tiaden Mare
➢ Terior the Injured Tiaden Gelding

Comments: I want to start out by saying I loved this thread. Your writing is just so easy to read, and I enjoyed every post. Now, I know you were particularly wanting horsemanship, but while it and animal husbandry are very similar and sometimes interchangeable, what you were doing in this thread was mostly the latter. Horsemanship is related pretty strictly to training horses, working on ground manners, commands, etc. Care of an animal, as well as a horse, falls under the other.

Just keep this is mind in the future when you're wanting to earn horsemanship over husbandry. I was pretty torn on what to award, but this explanation came from Gossamer. I was able to give you some for working on letting the mare accept the halter, but other than that it was general health care. Regardless it was a lovely read, and you earned full marks in your coveted social skills!

If you have any concerns or questions about your rewards please feel free to send me a message. Also, please edit your original grade request and mark it as graded. Thank you and enjoy!