Closed Nose to the grind stone

[Jade Laken]

45th Summer 516 A.V.

Jade looked over at Dina's smiling face as she played. The blonde was so happy to have found the young girl in the orphanage. She and Ferrin had been able to provide a home for the young child. Thinking of everything that must be done that day the woman wondered if it was wise to bring her to the stables again. Dina went to work with her often seeing as Ferrin was almost always out training, or working with the knights on patrols. There was no way that the man could take the young girl on patrols with him. Turning back to what she was doing the blonde finished drying off the bowls used for breakfast that morning. Putting the last one away she wiped her hands and walked over to Dina.

“Come dear it’s time to get dressed,” Jade said gently.

“Okay!” Dina said with a smile hopping up and running to her room.

The blonde woman followed the girl content with the life she had made for herself. No matter what the girl’s father would say about the situation. Dina picked out her clothes while Jade made her bed up for the day. Picking up the pillows she fluffed them out before putting the items beside the bed. Moving the comforter to the bottom of the bed, Jade pulled the top sheet to the top and smoothed it out while humming. Once the top sheet was situated the woman put both pillows into place and moved on to the comforter. Picking it up the blonde shook it out to remove any dirt ot dust before putting it on the bed as well. Smoothing it out shortly after the woman was pleased with how the bed looked. Turning she was met by Dina trying to put her shoes on the wrong feet with her shirt on backwards. Laughing some the blonde knelt down and showed her which foot each shoe went on. And turned her shirt around for her.

“Better?” Jade asked with a smile.

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you!” Dina said and scurried back to the living room.

Jade shook her head before walking in to her and Ferrin’s room to get ready. Grabbing her brush the woman began working on her hair that she had just thrown up in a bun. Once all the tangles were brushed out of her hair the blonde put it in a low ponytail before braiding it over her shoulder. It was time for all the horses to have a bath at the stables. The business had just gotten in a fresh batch of horses to be sold. Very few of the soldiers had their horses housed at the stables preferring to keep them close. Walking out after getting dressed the blonde called for Dina.

“Would you like to come to the stables today?” Jade asked the young girl.

“Oh yes, please,” Dina asked with a bright smile.

“Well then. Let’s get moving dear,” the woman said not bothering to get her cloak.

The weather had not began to cool off yet so there was no reason for either girl to need their cloaks.

[Jade Laken]

DATE, YEAR, LOCATION

Jade locked the door behind them while walking out of the apartment building. She took the young girl’s hand as they made their way down the street. Dina was normally very very good about just skipping ahead of her. But there were times when she didn’t want to be away from the older girl. With a soft smile, she squeezed the child’s hand reassuringly that she had nothing to fear. The little one giggled and pulled the woman faster down the street ready to get to the stables. Laughing Jade jogged a little so it would appear she was still pulling her. A gasp left the young girl’s mouth when she spotted the building that they were aiming for. Nodding her head, Jade released her hand and allowed her to go on ahead. Dina raced ahead of the woman laughing excitedly into the building.

“Good morning Jade,” Serena called in one of the stalls.

“Good morning, Mrs Serena,” Jade answered walking in the door, “what have we got lined up today?”

“It’s time to remove the horse shoes and file down their hooves. Think you can do that?” Serena asked standing up.

“Sure thing. Let me get Dina settled in the loft with her toys and color pages,” Jade stated with a nod.

Dina climbed up the latter into the loft of the barn where a majority of the hay was kept. Jade followed the girl giving her what was packed for her to play with. Hugging her the blonde made her way back down leaving her backpack in the tack room. Grabbing the stuff to work on the hooves the blonde walked over a tidal pony first. Offering the horse a carrot first the woman sat down picking up the first hoof. Using her leg as a stand for it to rest on, she took out the nail pulled and began working on getting the nails out of the hoof. Which proved to be a much more difficult task that she had anticipated. It seemed the hoof was growing faster than the group of workers thought and was trying to grow around the nail. This caused it to suction onto the nail. Snorting the pony turned its head and flipped its lips up at her.

“I know buddy, once I get the nails out this will go a lot smoother,” Jade explained and petted the animal’s head gently.

Seeming satisfied with the woman’s answer it turned back to look the other way. After what seemed like forever the blonde finally got all the nails out of each hoof. Putting the shoes on a nail sticking out of the beam beside her, Jade sat back down putting the puller away. Taking out the clippers next, the woman popped her neck before cutting the extra hoof off the horse. The blond smiled at the first foot happy it was taking the proper shape once more. After placing the clippers on the ground, the girl grabbed the file and worked on getting it shaped. Tending to a horse’s hooves was often the most time consuming, and body stressing job.

[Jade Laken]

DATE, YEAR, LOCATION

There had been many nights back in Endrykas when the woman would just fall over on her pallet arms and back aching from working all the hooves of the animals. Her father had always insisted she do it since the goats and horses seemed to like her best. With a sigh the blonde sat up straight on the third hoof, her back already aching from being curled over for so long. Her arms would not feel anything until she arrived home and began supper. Twisting in place several of her vertebra popped giving her some momentary relief. Bending back over she continued to work till finally all four hooves had been cut and filed. All that was left was to clean all the dirt and rocks out then return the shoe to its place.

“Okay baby almost done. Just have to get out the dirt and rocks, then your shoe back on,” Jade explained causing an ear to flop back lazily before returning forward.

With a smile the girl dragged her bag over and grabbed the small pick that would be able to remove all the dirt. Putting away what she had, Jade began working on getting the debris from under its hoof. Removing the foreign objects would allow the horse to walk better hopefully giving it a much better temperament. Scrapping some mud off the top, Jade went on about her business working out the rest of the stuff. After two hooves, the woman stood up not able to take bending over like that any longer. Rolling her neck she stepped out and closed the stall door going to get something to drink.

“You okay?” Dina asked from above.

“Yeah, just been bent over a while,” Jade explained with a smile up to the child.

Dina nodded and returned to playing with her toys. After about ten chimes the woman got up and returned to the stall ready to get the work over with for the day. Of course she still had about five other horses to do. Rubbing her face, the blonde got comfortable one last time in the stall and began putting the shoes back on. Once that was finished she packed everything up and stepped out of the stall and closed it. Snorting the pony trotted around the stall testing out her freshly cleaned off hooves. Smiling the blond put away the gear for a bit and grabbed her bag going into the loft. It was time for the pair to eat something before the woman returned to work. Dina scurried over to Jade as they got comfortable on a couple of hay bales. Eating with pair laughed and joked around while relaxing before the woman returned to her work. After a bell the woman cleaned up and returned back down to the ground floor, meanwhile Dina returned to playing and having fun.

[Jade Laken]

DATE, YEAR, LOCATION

Putting away the backpack, Jade got her equipment and went to work on the next horse. Though to her slight discomfort the next was the exact opposite of the little pony. It was time to work with the warhorse. It was not one of the more common breeds, but it was popular with the the more experienced knights of the order. Of course Jade was not aware of any time the city had ever fought with another city. From what she could remember the Drykas and the Sylirians had a great relationship. A snort brought her out of her thoughts. Looking up the woman was met by the gaze of said charge. With a soft smile the girl opened the stall door and entered closing it behind her.

“Ready to get to work?” Jade asked looking up at him.

The stallion snorted and pushed her head to the side with his nose. Laughing the girl patted his neck and sat down to begin working. Taking out the nail puller first, it took about half the time it did on the pony to get the nails for his shoes removed. Moving around the horse slowly Jade finally got all four shoes off and accessed the hooves. She needed to make sure there was no damage or pain when he stood still. Moving back soft eyes watched him as he slowly put his right front hoof down, yet it was not supporting his weight well. Looking confused, the woman moved up and helped support the foot while examining all that she could. At least at the moment anyway, situating herself the blond began to clean as soon the bottom of the hoof was seeable. What greeted her caused great concern and a slight panic. The stallion had a large part of skin on the bottom rubbed completely raw.

“No wonder you have been so upset,” Jade said and got up.

She hugged him before stepping out and going to speak with Serena quickly. Finding the young woman, the blond explained what was going on. Confusion painted the others face before following her back to the stallion. Entering the stall once more she picked up the leg allowing her to examine the injury. The woman watched her face close for any indication that she knew what was going on. That was not the look that she continued to receive however. The owner looked up to her stable hand before standing up.

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will send for a vet shortly,” the girl stated and stepped out, “for now do what you can to get them clean. That will make it easier to access what happened.”

Jade nodded her head and set about her work knowing that her boss knew what to do. Or at least knew someone who would know what to do. That helped the girl’s feelings as she worked gently on the injured hoof.

[Jade Laken]

DATE, YEAR, LOCATION

Jade finally finished with the injured foot and had to think for a moment of how she would get the left front one. With him barely able to put weight on the right, it would seem unfair of her to ask him to stand on it for any length of time. True he had stood on it while she was taking off the shoes, but that was different from standing on the leg for any where between fifteen and thirty chimes. Thinking nothing came to mind of what the woman could use to help support his weight. Sighing gently she moved so that the left hoof would be the next one dealt with. Snorting some the stallion reluctantly put all his front weight on the right hoof while Jade tried to make quick work of getting the shoe off and trimming it before leasing the foot again.

With the extra time spent working the hoof, Jade heard an ear full from the unhappy stallion. Finally happy with how the hoof looked she released it. Instantly the horse had it firmly planted and the injured picked up once more. Patting his side gently the blonde moved on to his two back hooves beginning the long process of working them as well. After several bells of filing and cutting the two back hooves were finished. With a sigh the girl laid back in the stall to rest her back. Thankfully with the bigger set of hooves she was not bending over as far but it hurt nonetheless. Panting gently she closed her eyes trying to rest for a moment before continuing. The male leaned down and nudged her side when she did not immediately sit back up. With a smile the girl popped open one eye looking at him gently.

“I know I’m coming,” Jade stated before actually sitting up.

Jade sat up one last time and moved over to the right front hoof. Taking it gently in her hands the blond began working on shaping and filing the hoof. But she will wait on putting the shoes back on till the vet arrives. Stepping out of the stall Jade hurried back to the office and spoke with her once more. The owner stepped out and looked at the horse’s feet nodding. The blond hurried off to get the vet while Dina stayed up in the loft to play. Running down the streets her heels clicked against the stone street. Finally finding the building the woman stepped inside and explained the situation. After taking a few moments to gather his things the man went with Jade to check on the animal. Once the all clear was given Jade and Dina packed up and got ready to head home before Ferrin got in. Much like when waking up the man did not beat the two girls in arriving home. He could barely wake up before them; Jade was so used to her early mornings and long days that most of what she had to do for the day was finished before he even got up.