Flashback First Day Alone

[Jasmine Stormblood]

20 Fall, 515 AV is when Jasmine went from lazing about on Chaser to becoming a working Drykas.

Jasmine got up early stretching with a smile and went to the kitchen. She grabbed an apple before going outside of her family's pavilion. "Today's the day! My first day at work on my own!" Jasmine said with excitement as she starts working at The Guided Horse a few days ago. Today is Jasmines first day to work on getting the horses groomed on her own since she has finished training. "This is so exciting!" Jasmine said with a smile looking around the encampment before going inside to change into her day clothes with a smile. Jasmine grabbed an apple and raced out of the pavilion heading to find Chaser so that they could go for a ride before she went to work for the day. Jasmine whistled loudly and smiels hearing the beating of hooves on the ground as Chaser rounded the corner. "Hello Chaser, you ready to go riding again?" Jasmine asked with a smile. Chaser snorted and tossed his head nuzzling her cheek. "Yvas or no?" Jasmine asked with a smile looking at him. Chaser snorted and tossed his head from side to side not wanting her to use the uncomfortable contraction. Jasmine laughed looking at him, "okay okay big boy no Yvas." She said and jumped up on to his back with a smile.

"Ready to ride big boy?" Jasmine asked with a smile looking at him ready to race across the plains. She was ready to see the plains stretching around her and to see some of the fauna here on the plains that isn't likely to kill her. Chaser snorted and stomped his right front hoof as she mounted up. Jasmine laughed some, "okay big boy let's head out." She said as he trotted through town being careful not to disturb any one who was still sleeping at the moment. "My excitement got the better of me," Jasmine said with a smile not seeing many people moving around just yet. Jasmine smiled brightly when the two of them reach the edge of town, "time to race across the plains and catch the wind!" Chaser reared up whinning and racing across the plains at full speed. Jasmine laughed keeping herself down close to his back as he charged full steam ahead; she held on to his mane tightly to keep from falling off as he raced forward.

Jasmine smiled brightly looking back and has to hold her hair out of her face watching as the encampment slowly disappeared into the distance. Jasmine faced forward smiling and slowed Chaser to a walk, "such a fast boy! I bet you could out run a Glassbeak." She said with a smile and patted his side. Jasmine looked around a smelled the wind to see if she could smell the flowers that occasionally grew beside the river close by. "Okay big boy I can smell the flowers that way," Jasmine said and pointed in the direction the smell was coming from before getting on Chaser's back once more. Chaser snorted and galloped towards the river spotting it after several minutes of running. Jasmine jumped down when the two of them reached the river, "okay big boy rest up and drink you some water." She said with a smile and sat down beside the river relaxing and lays down looking up at the sky as it brightened more and more with each passing moment showing how fast the morning was approaching.

"We had better get back," Jasmine said looking over at Chaser as he got up from laying down beside her. Jasmine got up and jumped up onto his back before clicking her tongue as Chaser turned and snorted before taking off at top speed back towards the encampment. Jasmine laughs and looks up at the sky throwing her arms open enjoying feeling of the wind flowing around her body. "This must be what it is like to fly," Jasmine said as Chaser races forward faster while snorting. Jasmine laughs and holds on tightly to the powerful beast below her; she kept her legs wrapped around his side tightly to keep from falling off, "that's it race home." She said with a smile. She slowed him to a canter as they arrived back at the encampment. "Best get home," Jasmine said with a smile needing to eat and change before heading to work. Chaser snorted shaking out his mane while trotting home. "Thank you big boy," Jasmine said jumping down and going inside grabbing a piece of bread and cheese before going to change and get ready for work. After brushing her hair and her teeth Jasmine walked outside and walked to work as Chaser walked beside her wanting to watch her work.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine walked into The Guided Horse once she returned from riding with Chaser. "Time to show them I'm ready for this," She said with confidence in her voice before walking into the equipment room. Jasmine flicked on the lights and grabbed a bucket, sponge, cur brush, normal brush, mane brush, file, and the hoof comb. Jasmine turned the light off going out to see who the first horse of the day is. "Hm...... Razor just need his hooves filed and cleaned," Jasmine said and walked out to the "paddock" area beside the building. "Hey Razor! It's your turn big boy," Jasmine said with a smile walking over as this horse was known to run if anyone here left him off the lead. "Just a quick brush down and filing," she said and lead him inside of the "building". Jasmine tied the lead to one of the posts and got out her cur brush before beginning to brush him down to get all the excess dirt off him. "Thank you for being a good boy," Jasmine said with a smile as she moved to the other side finally getting all the dirt off.

Jasmine went to get some water from the well for him to drink while she works on his hooves. "Let's get those hooves filed and cleaned out shall we big boy?" Jasmine asked while walking over to him with a smile. Jasmine picked up his front right hoof and got the hoof pick out starting to get the dirt and rocks out of the hoof bed so it would be more comfortable for him to walk. Jasmine laughs when he nips at her hair gently, "behave crazy and you get oats as a reward." She said with a smile and got the file while she is there and begins to file and shape his hoof to make sure it is short enough to be easy to walk on but not too short that each step would cause pain. Jasmine finished and grabbed one of her extra brushes and brushed each hoof to get the excess shavings and dust off making them look amazing. "Okay big boy let me go get you some oats and carrots for being so good," She said and gathered everything up walking to the treat room and put down her equipment getting a bucket of oats and put some carrots on top before putting the bucket before the horse and letting him eat while she went to get another horse.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

In sharp contrast to Jasmine’s spirited morning, Kaitanu started his second full day at work with very little in the way of excitement. Running for pleasure was still an unknown concept, even in his horse form. Yet, perhaps the wild breath of the grasslands would touch his heart one day. Then, he would soar over blade and stream and dust as though he had wings.

For now, he could only watch as others rode or galloped, taking joy in the last of the summer light and heat. The oncoming winter was as little understood by him as the freedom of the young riders. Kaitanu was used to city climates and stone walls. If he had known the bone-deep cold that awaited them all, maybe he would have been out there himself, mane and tail flowing out behind him like bright rivers. Not yet, though…not quite. The horse kelvic hadn’t discovered fun, or the wild joy of his four-legged brothers. The most he could do was to watch as Drykas riders passed along the opening just outside the market. Over the paddock fence they were easy to spot, their half-naked bodies gleaming, and hair like copper and bronze and gold. Under the riders their steeds seemed to be as one with them, a mere extension of their bodies. For Kaitanu their joy was foreign. The horse he was currently grooming seemed to watch them longingly, but he could only wonder what it was that brightened their faces, and made the horses gambol like foals. From what deep well did they draw this strange lightness of spirit?

For Kaitanu, these thoughts were brief. Almost as soon as he began to wonder, they scattered like moths, and his mind was left more or less blank again. The kelvic let his mind wander as deft fingers continued in their task. Prince, the chestnut gelding, had picked up an unbelievable number of burrs in his coat. Given the hierarchy among the workers at the Guided Horse, it fell to a newcomer like Kaitanu to take care of such mundane tasks. Not that he minded, particularly. He’d done far worse in his short life, and animals were easier by far to deal with than higher beings. Kaitanu had infinite patience and gentle fingers, and such an inoffensive manner about him that no horse in the paddock feared his presence. It certainly didn’t hurt that Kaitanu could speak with them when in horse form. For now he hadn’t needed to shift forms. Other than some tail-swishing and a flinch or two, Prince was as quiet as could be.

With deft motions, Kaitanu extricated each burr and tossed it over the paddock fence where it would cause no further harm. The kelvic’s broken thoughts were starting to form again, his attention drawn to the other keepers around him. Not being a social person, Kaitanu only wanted to know enough to avoid conflict. Not knowing he had been made free, the kelvic wouldn’t have dared to speak to them out of turn, even if he had the inclination. Should any of them decide to address him, of course, he couldn’t very well refuse to answer. It simply wasn’t expected.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine sighed after getting Flower inside and working on getting the cockleburs out of her hair. She smiled gently as her blue eyes shimmered around the gorgeous strider before her, "you're rider sure is lucky Flower." She said with a smile since she was too busy to try and sign her affections to the horse. Jasmine looked out across the plains before turning her attention back to the paddock spotting the young blonde haired kelvic. Jasmine smiles looking at you boy gently before finishing up Flower's mane, "okay big girl back out to the paddock." Jasmine said and walked outside with the mare as her own stallion followed behind her closely. "Hey big boy," Jasmine said with a smiel and gave him a hug before looking around trying to find the you ng kelvic. "Hm....." Jasmine said and finally spotted him before walking over to him with a smile.

Jasmine smiles and walked out to the paddock with flower after finishing up her hooves and went to go speak with the young kelvic across the way. "Hi, my name is Jasmine," She said with a smile looking at him as she walked up. "Do you need any help?" Jasmine asked with a smile looking to the small boy petting Prince's side gently.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

It was hardly to be wondered at that Jasmine thought of Kaitanu as a “young boy”. Though in the years of his kind he was an adult, his life as a slave had left him stunted and thin. It had also left him very quiet. Jasmine’s question did not receive the sort of chatty response she clearly wished for. Kaitanu moved aside slightly so he could face her, and he bowed his head, hands clasped before him. If Jasmine knew anything of slaves, she would recognize this pose for what it was- submission.

“I was told to remove the burrs from this horse.” he said quietly. Though Jasmine was technically his equal, Kaitanu had been trained to think of all non-slaves as above him in every way. Her soft smiles didn’t convey much to his harshly-trained mind. Smiles turned cruel swiftly in his experience.

“I am at your assistance, should you require it.” he added after a slight pause.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

"Why do you stand like that when you talk to someone?" Jasmine asked slightly confused at why the young kelvin stood so strangely. She had heard rumors growing up that other cultures used kelvics as slaves, but she had never truly delved into the study of slavery very much as she found it barbaric and idiotic. Jasmine watched him gently trying to show that she meant no harm to him so that he may lighten up some and stop standing in such an uncomfortable position. The young drykas smiled when her strider pushed his nose against her shoulder saying he wanted to run across the plains. Calm Jasmine signed to her horse with a smile to him hoping he will relax and enjoy the calmness at the moment.

Jasmine looks at the boy before her knowing that he was far older than his human form shows. Her blue eyes shown with slight confusion and interest about the kelvics past. She knew if nothing else she would invite him to ride on Chaser with her and show him what it's like to ride for fun as she sees him watching the others riding with an almost look of longing.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

Jasmine’s behavior was just as confusing to Kaitanu as his was to her. Of course, the whole of Endrykas was as yet strange to him. It never entered his broken mind that he should behave differently, except around his new master, Dravite. The ankal of the Blackwater pavilion didn’t even want Kaitanu calling him “master”; one of his many oddities. It occurred to the pale kelvic that the customs here would be different, but by how much?

“How do you wish me to stand?” he inquired, his tone absolutely sincere. Was there some different, more acceptable way for a slave to behave in Endrykas? To his mind the young woman was commenting on his stance, rather than asking him a genuine question. He fully expected Jasmine to correct his behavior as was her right. She could, in fact, order him about at her own whim. Kaitanu had met with enough high-spirited daughters of freemen and aristocrats to know what they were like. If Jasmine’s demands got in the way of his work he wasn’t sure what to do. Kelna Nightrider was superior to them both, and her orders had to come first. On the other hand. for a slave to refuse the wish of a freeman- or woman -brought swift punishment.

As if to remind Kaitanu of his task, Prince arched his graceful neck and began to try and bite off one of the burrs on his own shoulder. Not that he could reach it very well, but by the way his skin was twitching he was obviously irritated. It had been his fool master’s idea to take that little shortcut. Then again, the young man who owned Prince was not exactly known for having much sense.

“Pray, excuse me. Mistress Nightrider desires this task to be done quickly.” With an inclination of his pale head, Kaitanu turned from Jasmine and began once more to pluck the burrs from Prince’s hide. He hoped Jasmine would not be offended and get him in trouble.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

"There is a cocklebur brush in the equipment room if you want to grab it and use it," Jasmine said knowing what a pain the cockleburs are to try to get free from the mane and sides of the horses. She looked at the young boy before her with a smile looking at the list of horses to figure out who was next to get their hooves cleaned out and a brushing done. Jasmine wants to help the young kelvic learn how to be free as she calls it. She looked at the boy wanting him to open up more to her so that he doesnt have to be so alone or feel like he has no one to speak with. Jasmine smiles hently at him as her honey colored hair is blown with the wind smiling gently loving the feeling of the wind.

Chaser snorted looking at the kelvic that understood him and to the young rider that seemed to almost have the same ability with horses that the boy does. Jasmine smiles back to her strider rubbing his neck gently, "calm big boy calm." She said gently and nuzzled his face with her own, "why don't you go for a run it will be a while before I get off for lunch so go on big boy." Jasmine said with a smile and clicked her tongue as he snorts and trots off to go run. She looked to the young boy once more shaking her head with a smile.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

There was no question of Kaitanu “wanting” or “not wanting” anything; that wasn’t really up to him. Jasmine might as well have shouted, “go get the cocklebur brush, and be quick about it!” the way he bowed and hastily trotted off to retrieve said item. In a slave’s world there were no such things as kind suggestions. The thought of such an implement had not occurred to him, but why would it? Burrs just fell right off his body when he transformed, and he could pick out the ones left behind in his hair. That was why his masters preferred a kelvic horse- far less upkeep and, when properly broken, far better workers. It left the kelvics rather ignorant of their own kind in many ways, but masters seldom thought of such things.

Left behind for the moment, Prince went back to biting them off himself. Kaitanu had a calming effect on him, which kept the gelding still while he was being groomed. Left to himself the burrs were too troublesome and itchy to leave alone. He was too distracted to pay much attention to either Chaser or Jasmine, though the girl got a nicker or two of greeting. The fact that Chaser was not likewise tied to a post seemed to irritate him. Prince was practically grumbling in horse-ish fashion as he fought to reach a burr on his own neck, then pawed the ground and shook his head when he couldn't quite get his teeth to stretch that far. He then aimed his gripes at Jasmine, as though expecting her to understand as the pale human did.

Those huffy noises didn't cease when Kaitanu returned, holding the large bristle brush in one hand. However, the pale kelvic seemed to make some of Prince's annoyance vanish. The gelding bumped his shoulder, and Kaitanu nodded, just looking at him and plucking teh offending burr from his neck. Dutifully, he then bowed once more to Jasmine, pale hair falling over his strangely-colored eyes.

“Your advice is wise, young mistress. Thank you.” Straightening his posture, but with his eyes respectfully averted, he continued. “I am at your service once I have finished this task.”

Kaitanu was not speaking out of gratitude, not really. He was glad for the tip, but an offering of service were expected of his sort, as was the verbal announcement. It was the same as a freeman seeing an acquaintance on the street and asking “how do you do?” The kelvic would do her bidding as he said, but Kelna’s orders had to come first. That was how rank worked.

Prince was glad, in any case, to have the cursed burrs coming off him. His brown eyes looked to Jasmine as though wanting to share his relief. Soon, he hoped to be running with Chaser and the others around the paddock. Kaitanu kept him from becoming too antsy, and the girl watching them was at ease herself.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

"Kaitanu?" Jasmine asked confused about why he had ran off so quickly. She smiles when Prince looks at her contently, "See? The brush is always better and faster big boy." Jasmine looked once more to the boy when he addressed her after calling her mistress once more. "I have two questions. First why do you continue to call me mistress? I do not own you and I plan to never own another human kelvic or otherwise. Second why did you race off when I suggested you go and get the cocklebur brush?" Jasmine asked very confused as she watched the young boy do what has been assigned to him.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.