Solo A Family Like That

[Merevaika]

Merevaika

4th Fall 515
Merevaika approached Meda gently, imitating the nicker she knew horses made. Bounding up to Merevaika, the filly snorted in her face, before discovering the carrot tucked behind her back and taking a large bite from it. Once the filly was distracted, the Drykas snatched up her brush, bringing it over the horse's body gently. The horse relaxed, letting her owner groom her well, pulling dirt and grass from her coat.

This was second nature, the circular movements that pulled up dust and massaged at the same time. Getting the pressure right was simple, pressing until the horse showed the slightest discomfort, before lightening up, especially around the face, belly and legs.

Second nature to her, but the filly still found parts uncomfortable, Merevaika having to brush her hands over the horse's body to assure her that it was okay and to get her used to the feeling. Thankfully, Meda liked this, and it was soon soothing.

Taking a pick, Merevaika pressed her shoulder against the filly's, taking the horse's hoof in her hand and pulling up. Meda darted forward, snorted with anger. She didn't like lifting her leg, but it was necessary for her benefit, not just for the woman. Merevaika approached again, brushing over her body a little to relax her.

Then, she returned to the position she had been in, speaking relaxing words. She leant against the shoulder, feeling Meda's weight move to her other legs, then pinched the lower tendon, managing to pull the hoof up.

"Good work, Meda," she praised, holding the hoof a little longer before placing it back down gently, patting the filly. A chime later, and she tried again, this time getting a much better response. She kept the hoof up as she rapped at it with her knuckles, then the pick to associate the feel once again. Finally, she gently began to clean out the hoof, picking out the stones while avoiding the delicate frog.

Meda was a lot more stubborn with her back hooves, letting Merevaika lift them but smashing them back down quickly, stamping on her foot. Something cracked, but it didn't hurt much, so she ignored it. Most likely just a broken toe. Merevaika approached Meda again gently, snatching the hoof back up by pinching both sides of the chestnut. The foot shot up and Merevaika snatched her,using her strength to keep it up while she cleaned that hoof too. Once the last was done, she pulled out another carrot, treating the filly one last time.
"Pavi"
Grassland sign
"Common"

[Merevaika]

Merevaika

Merevaika then gathered up a yvas blanket, slinging it over her shoulder as she approached her filly slowly. Meda was good with having it on her back, but it never hurt to do it again. She faced the horse face on, calling her near. "Meda!" she called, gesturing for the filly to come, "Meda!" The filly decided to play around with her, prancing closer before moving away at the last moment.

Annoyed, Merevaika pulled out her last carrot, flailing it around in front of her. Instantly interested, the filly bounded up, moving to a position where Merevaika could pull the blanket up over the horse's back. It went unnoticed as the horse focused on the treat in front of her, snapping at it wildly. She missed the vegetable, biting at Merevaika's finger.

The woman let out a gasp of pain, dropping the carrot that soon fell prey to the hungry horse. Once the pain had subsided, just like the pain in her broken toe, she signed for Meda to follow. This time, surprisingly, she did so without any bribe, and they began to walk through Endrykas.

They past familiar tents, and eventually, Merevaika decided to pay her childhood friend a visit. The Wildmane pavilion lay just before her, tents around tents with the glowing embers in the fire still there from last night. Merevaika stopped Meda, moving in front of her with a few signs, stop, stay.

The filly wandered off to a nearby horse, whinnying curiously, leaving Merevaika almost alone. A young girl, about ten, practised with her shortbow in front of her, struggling at the time to lift the arrow further off the ground. Merevaika approached, pulling her elbow up slightly. The girl winced at the touch, but let the older woman guide her, firing the next arrow up much better.

"Is Rufio here?" she asked, trying to remember the girl's name. Farha? No, that was the other one. Something beginning with L...

It appeared that the girl remembered her, however, "She left for a bit, Merevaika. Thanks for the help." Merevaika grinned, annoyed that the younger of the two had the better memory. The girl turned back to her archery, and Merevaika was just about to leave when a motherly voice called out through the light snowfall that had just started again, after a few chimes of nothing.

"Merevaika Stormchaser? It's been a long time since you graced this pavilion with your presence! Come here, you!"
"Pavi"
Grassland sign
"Common"

[Merevaika]

Merevaika

Raen grinned at the sight of the young woman, face scrunching into a wrinkled smile. Merevaika awkwardly approached, snatched into a motherly embrace before Raen looked her up and down, pulling her inside. "So thin! Don't worry, granny Raen will get you nicely fattened up!" The old woman snatched up a piece of rabbit, handing it to her in a bowl with a mixture of vegetables and piece of flatbread.

Merevaika took it, glad to have a free meal, and sat down Yama, one of the wives in the pavilion. The woman smiled at her, finishing of her own piece of flatbread. "Merevaika! I'm surprised Rufio hasn't invited you over before. It's a shame she's not here though. So, what have you been up to? Got any men on your tail?"

Merevaika laughed, growing a little red as she took a bite of the rabbit. Raen tutted at Yama, moving to sit in front of them, "Don't bother the girl! She's obviously got a man tucked away somewhere behind that big horse of hers! How's Eryunt doing?"
"There's no man," she rolled her eyes, "Only male in my life is Eryunt and he's doing fine, thanks."
"No? Perhaps a certain... Diamond clan member?" Raen suggested, "Gavaken, your age, but unmarried. He's next in line to be Ankal, a warrior hunter. Rather handsome too."
Merevaika frowned, "You aren't seriously trying to match me up with someone, are you?"

Yama laughed, "You have to stay on top of which men are eligible in the city, to know which to aim for. But seriously, Gavaken? He's a spoiled little brat! I'd go for Roan Winterstorm. Handsome fellow, but only sixteen. Part of the Watch, entitled to an acre of land near Syliras and plenty of good cattle. One of the last of the Winterstorm pavilion too, just like you."
Merevaika scrunched her face up at the thought of marrying a boy, especially from the Watch. "Why are you trying to set me up with someone?" she whined, taking a large bite from her flatbread.

Alar'ck entered the section they were sitting in, flashing a smile at the guest. "It's because such a pretty lady should be allowed to have a husband." He winked, before Yama batted at him.
"Alar'ck, do you seriously flirt with everyone?"
"I'm not flirting, just being extra nice to someone extra attractive." Another wink. Merevaika rolled her eyes, concentrating on her rabbit.
Raen turned towards him, "You and Merevaika just aren't meant to be. Go bother someone else." She hit at him with her cooking spoon, pushing him into the next room.
"And don't wake Mar'ck! I just got him to sleep!" Yama called after him
"Pavi"
Grassland sign
"Common"

[Merevaika]

Merevaika

Yama smiled at her, "But seriously, you're beautiful and talented enough to marry any man you want. Win their hearts. Get out more! I'm sure if you actually tried to socialise a little more, you'd find a man for you!"

Merevaika sighed, finishing of the last of the meal. "Thank you Raen for this delicious meal, but since Ru isn't here, I must be going."
The old woman stared at her knowingly. She tutted a little, rummaging around in an old battered chest. Merevaika watched her, wondering what she was doing. Finally, she turned back around, glass jar in hand. It was passed to Merevaika, who took it curiously. "A little bit of special something. Help you get those men," she winked, Merevaika instantly shoving it back.
"I don't want to marry, okay?" she sighed back, moving to leave before the two woman annoyed her any more, "So just leave me alone!"

She tumbled into a man with a wild mane of hair, backing away quickly.
"There's a strange horse..." he had begun to say before she fell into him, "Who are you?"
Merevaika turned to the familiar face, groaning once more. Raen smiled, ushering them both to sit. Merevaika remained standing, refusing to make herself comfortable.
"I see you and Louka are joined by forces we do not understand. We'll make a bride of you yet, my girl, and it looks like it'll be with family."
The two stared at each other with shock, then angrily at Raen, who shrugged as if to say she couldn't help it.

"Thank you once more for the meal Raen, it was delicious," Merevaika angrily blurted, turning to Louka and Yama, "Goodbye to you too." With that she was one, leaving Raen smiling happily an Louka red in the face.

Merevaika didn't want a husband. She wanted to be free, unrestricted and unbound. A lone wolf that ran in the Sea of Grass. Not a wife stuck at home, whoever it was to.
But to have family would be nice. Especially a family like that.

"Pavi"
Grassland sign
"Common"

[Tribal]

G R A D E S

Merevaika

Experience

• Animal Husbandry: 2
• Grooming: 1
• Horsemanship: 2
• Organisation: 1
• Socialisation: 2
• Philosophy: 1
• Teaching: 1

Lore

• Horsemanship: Teaching a filly to lift her feet
• Meda: Enjoys carrots
• Raen Wildmane: Rufio's grandmother
• Gavaken: Would be a good match for Merevaika
• Alar'ck: Wildmane Ankal
• Merevaika" Longs to be a part of a family

Notes

Short and sweet. Would be nice to see you use more detail, in some cases you ‘just do enough’ to get a point, like the teaching for helping the NPC with the bow, need a little bit more from you. Enjoy the rewards.