Completed [Windmount Stables] Friendly Horse

[Hisoka]

75th of Fall, 512 AV - fifteenth bell

Serena had shown Hisoka to another stall, telling her how she caught on quickly. Crypt had been sent off to work on another stall by Serena, though his expression had shown that he was not completely sure if he should let her be on her own.
However, Hisoka was happy that she could have time to herself (with a horse). As she approached the stall that Lady, as she called Serena, had indicated, she saw a familiar face. "Aewin!", she called. The mare turned her head towards the sound of her voice, giving a soft whinny of greeting. Hisoka opened the stall carefully, turning to close it, while the mare sniffed her, nuzzling Hisoka's shoulder.

Carefully lowering the box of brushes Crypt have given her, she stroked the mare's nose, rubbing in circular motions. Aewin leaned into her touch, closing her eyes in pleasure of the gentle massage. Smiling, Hisoka bent to open the box, removing the curry comb. Turning to Aewin she said, "Lady said that I could groom you!", the mare gave her a curious look, her gaze switching between the brush and Hisoka. Then the mare nudged Hisoka to her side, moving to give her more access to her side. Hisoka giggled softly, patted her back, and began to brush in circular motions, dislodging some of the dirt and debris from Aewin's coat. She hummed a tune as she worked, making her way around the mare, moving in time with the melody. Her progress was quicker than when she had first learned, having worked on 3 other horses with Crypt's help. Aewin moved whenever Hisoka needed more room, most likely from experiencing years of grooming.

Finally finished with the currycomb, Hisoka reached down, selecting the next brush, the dandy brush. She began flicking off whatever the currycomb had dislodged. During the entire process, she used the brushes gently, but effectively, not causing the mare any discomfort. As she removed bits of dirt and hair, her mind began to wander.
"Aewin is not scared of me...", she thought to herself, "I am wolf, but she does not buck or try to escape... she is friend..?" She pondered this, smiling. Pausing mid flick, she moved towards Aewin's head and looked her in the eye. "Are you friend..?", she asked the mare. Aewin blinked, then blew out air through her nose, and gave a small wicker in agreement. Hisoka gave a toothy grin, hugging the mare before returning to her task.

[Hisoka]

...a few minutes later..

She examined her work with the dandy brush, touching up missed spots here and there, until was absolutely certain that she had gotten every single spot.
Hisoka replace the dandy brush, retrieving the brush that her friend had referred to as the "finishing brush". Recalling how Crypt had demonstrated, she began her task, Aewin's coat starting to give off a glossy sheen. Hisoka was so concentrated on her work that she did not notice that she had an observer from the neighboring stall. After she finished, she took a breath, wiping the perspiration from her forehead with a clean sleeve, and froze mid-motion, finally noticing her single audience.

He was a handsome young fellow, his long lashed eyes watching her every move, filled with curiosity and a bit of confusion. She guessed that his confusion came from her scent, since to any creature with a strong sense of smell, namely animals, she smelled like a wolf. Slowly lowering her arm, she moved towards the horse, hoping that he would not panic. When he moved his head closer, tilting it too get a better look at her, she smiled, greeting him with the horses' 'hello', by blowing into his nose. When he returned the favor, she offered her hand, palm flat, offering a sugar cube that Serena had handed her. Suddenly, she felt a small bump. She glanced over her shoulder, only to see a jealous Aewin. Laughing silently, she reached into her pocket with her free hand and offered another cube of sugar to the mare. Both horses licked them up in unison, causing Hisoka to laugh from the tickling sensation.

Patting the two horses on their muzzles, she went back to the box of combs and recommenced her work. She retrieved a brush with a wooden handle and boar bristles, and moved towards Aewin diagonally. Again recalling Crypt's instructions, she made sure that the mare had her legs placed evenly before running her hand down her leg. Applying some gentle pressure, Aewin lifted her leg obediently, and she began the task of cleaning the mare's hooves.

Hisoka repeated the process on the three other legs, satisfied with how easy it was to finish. She placed the hoof pick back into the box, removing the final object, the comb for the mane and tail. As she passed the horse in the neighboring stall, he made a soft whiny. Looking at him, she reached over, stroking his muzzle.

Sending a quick look around the stalls near her and seeing no one, she began to sing a song she had learned. The unknown horse's ears swiveled forwards to hear her, Aewin's doing the same. It was a simple one, for it was not one of words but made of melodies one only heard in the wild. In it, you could feel wind, trickling water, and feel a gentle warmth. Moving back towards, Aewin, she began untangling the mare's mane, her fingers working delicately as she continued to sing. Hisoka had made up the tune as she went, she sounds rising from her throat effortlessly, the horses closing their eyes to listen. It had a relaxing effect on those close enough to hear it, though it was quiet enough that humans were not able to hear.

Singing helped her to concentrate on her work, even helping her work faster at her delicate task. After Aewin's mane and tail flowed silkily, absent of any debris and tangles, she fell silent, observing her work, giving one last check. Satisfied with her work, she began cleaning her brushes, taking care to not damage any of them. Her box of tools neat and clean, she gave Aewin one last pat before turning and opening the stall. Looking back over her shoulder, she waved to both horses who had been in her company, both making sounds of farewell.
She closed the stall's door with a smile, just as the sixteenth bell rang.
"I have to find Friend," she thought to herself as the sound echoed in her sensitive ears. "it is almost time to go meet Yohan..."
With this, she walked off in search of Crypt.

La Fin