Solo New Challenges

[Jasmine Stormblood]

66th of Summer 518 A.V.

Jasmine walked to the Okomo Villa with the twins riding on her back giggling. The two were becoming quite rambunctious as they looked around the city. She was still unsure of the place that was becoming her home, but she knew it would grow on her. Kenshi whined and reached for his mother with a pouty face. The mother smiled and leaned her head back some so that he could hold her head. Once he pulled away, she raised her head back up straight. The drykas was finding ways to keep her boys entertained while working. When she first started last season after having the twins, they were frightened of the large beasts. But as time went on, Jasmine showed them that the horse sized animals were not to be feared.

“Ready to see the Okomo again boys?” Jasmine asked in a soft voice.

Tanaka and Kenshi both squealed with excitement clapping their tiny little hands. A smile appeared on the woman’s face, she never wanted to see them afraid of an animal. As the building came into view, Jasmine covered her ears some as the boys let out a high pitch squeal that could nearly break the windows. The wind blew causing the woman’s high braided ponytail to fly to the side. Tanaka got distracted and tried to catch his mother’s hair as it whipped this way and that in the wind. Walking inside, the woman spotted her boss and waved to her. She had never seen any other workers than Khana working with the animals.

It was not uncommon back in Endrykas to see a single person watching a large herd of animals. Most that did however had a falcon or one of the vultures circling over head watching for any thing stalking within the grass. From what she could tell the other woman had no such animal to help; though Jasmine doubted such was needed. They were high on a mountain with little to no grass around for predators to stalk through.

“What are we doing today?” Jasmine inquired of her boss.

“We need to check and see how the little ones are growing then brush out their fur. It tends to get tangled up easily,” Khana stated and tickled the boys.

The two giggled and tried to wiggle away from the woman. Jasmine nodded with a smile and walked into the back where the brushes are kept. Grabbing two, she fastened them on the loop that hung at the side of her belt. The scuff of boots could be heard as the woman moved around the room picking up several different things that would be needed. She was almost certain it was time to clean out their hooves and very possibly file them. The woman got a hold of her ponytail and wrapped it around the base into a bun and secured it in place. The process was going to prove to be difficult as it was with two children on her back much less with her hair in the way.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Stepping out of the room, she met up with Khana and walked out into the field. Their presence did very little to bother the Okomo. At first Jasmine had been shied away from due to her unfamiliar scent. But as time wore on the animals got used to her and the two noisy creatures that hung on her back. There was never a time out of the apartment that the mother let the two boys down on the ground. She did not mind the thought of them playing in the dirt; it was the thought of moving away and something hurting them while she was not paying attention that bothered her.

Raising a hand to the first female that the two approached, she let her get a good smell before moving to check on the young one beside her. Jasmine always kept her hand on the mother so that she knew where the girl was. Clicking her teeth, she smiled gently when the youngling pranced up and sniffed her hand. Pulling a sugar cube from her pocket, the woman let the little one lick on it some before allowing it to fully eat the item. It was not harmful at the creatures age and size, but it taught patience and the will to wait on something.

“Such a good baby. Mommy is training you well on how to wait,” Jasmine spoke to the little one in soft words.

When it moved forward and rubbed against her, the woman felt along the spine and back for any spots that felt off. Though most of the males stay away from the young; there are times when they want to practice fighting with the older males or simply wander in the way. Jasmine did not notice any blood spots or scratches on the baby which was a good sign it stayed close to mother. She took out the brush and began working through the long coat. The workers often had to brush the extra fur off the beautiful creatures during the hot seasons; if not they would over heat and very possibly die.

Jasmine had never seen that as a problem since Lhavit tended to stay cooler to some degree than the lower cities. She figured that it was the lack of trees that made her homeland so hot most of the year. The same was said for the opposite time of the year. It always seemed colder with all the snow on the ground, though the Drykas had not experienced a winter season in Lhavit yet. The woman jerked back some when the little one threw its head some in excitement. Though its horns had not grown, they were long enough to catch an eye and sharp enough to puncture said ball at the same time.

“Feisty little one, aren’t you?” Jasmine asked with a smile.

The creature made its strange noise and pranced off before the woman could finish brushing out its hair. Two little giggles reminded her of the struggle just to get them dressed.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine stood up with a wince as her knees popped loudly. More of her body had began making such noises. She wasn’t sure if it was because of age or the fact that her back now supported thirty-four pounds of extra weight. But the mother knew she would have to just push through the pain. Back to her full height, Jasmine moved slowly putting her hand back on the Okomo speaking softly. They had become more aggressive than normal due to the limited visibility. Any fast movement could make them kick and bite.

There were some that were just moody and would not allow the workers to get any where near them without food. Tanaka reached out trying to touch the soft fur that was on the beast. Jasmine moved very slowly to where she was facing the building. The boy cooed gently as his little hand touched the fur on the great beast. Smiling, Jasmine was glad that he did not have any more fear of the beautiful animals. Kenshi was still very reserved when it came to the horse sized creatures. The mother knew in time he would grow to love them as his brother did.

They were Drykas by birth and had that love within their very blood. Taking out the brush, she let the beast smell it. Once the mother turned her head away, the woman began slowly brushing out the neck first. It was slow going when knots were hit. The beast would snort and twitch its head to were Jasmine had to duck to keep from getting hit in the head with the middle of the horn. Making a face, she forced herself to relax and take it with the patience she was learning from her boys. The woman had learned earlier in the season that these animals were nothing like the striders. They did not back down to their riders, but there was something similar. A rider must prove himself or herself worthy before the animal would be ridden.

“Maybe one day I will prove worthy to ride one of you. But for now, trust must be established,” Jasmine stated with a smile.

The woman ran her fingers through the hair on the beast’s neck feeling for any knots farther into the fur. With it being so thick, the brushes had a hard time reaching all the way through to get everything. Moving some of the fur out of the way, the woman used a smaller comb to get to a couple of knots that were deeper. Jasmine had always been through while working with horses and the other animals in Endrykas. She believed there was no point in doing the job if the person did not do it right the first time. That only caused grief for the worker and their bosses. Looking up at the sky, the woman did not like the feeling she got watching the clouds. It was too easy for a Zith to hide in them.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

She knew that a party had been sent out to end the threat, but after hearing of children being snatched and husbands killed. The woman had a bad taste left in her mouth for the beasts. Her mind drifted in and out of her work while remembering the attacks on Endrykas. Though that had not been the only thing to attack her people. Looking over to Khana, the woman wanted to ask what all predators would she need to watch for. But the intense look of concentration made the question die down in her throat. The last thing Jasmine wanted was someone interrupting her; so, she would not do that to anyone else.

Popping her neck, the woman moved on the back of the Okomo. The initial brushing went rough causing her to get bite on several occasions. Their backs were always the most tangled up mess on the creatures. Even on a good day, they would try and bite when certain knots were hit. Jasmine tried her best to be as gentle as she could, but that did not help when the hair was matted nearly the size of her fist. The woman jumped back just in time to keep from being hit with the horns. It was clear that the animal was done being tended to as it walked off.

Jasmine looked over to Khana to see her having about the same amount of luck. Groaning, the blond walked back to the building and dug in her bag looking for the food she had packed. Taking out some meat and her water skin, the woman stood up and looked out eating some while trying to think. She doubted that her boss would be as open to putting a harness on the Okomo and bringing them to the gate where they could tie it off. Though it would make brushing the animals out, any one looking could see it as “barbaric” treatment of their beloved mounts.

“How can we make this easier?” Jasmine asked herself.

She took the boys off her back and sat down feeding them as well. Jasmine had brought a squished-up piece of fruit that the pair loved. It was time for the two to be weened off her milk. Wincing, the mother remembered the feel of teeth breaking into her skin. She had not gotten mad simply because the two did not know any better. They did not know the difference between teeth and no teeth when it came to meal time. Slowly, she gave them water before packing them back on to her back and standing up. There was still more work to be done, no matter how much pain it brought.

“Come little ones, back to work,” Jasmine said with a smile.

The pair cooed and got comfortable against their mothers back. Jasmine shook her head and knelt holding out a sugar cube. When one of the little ones came over, she took the chance to brush through the much thinner hair.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

The woman made quick work of the animal’s hair that way it could run along and play. That also kept mom from getting made and charging at the girl. A soft smile appeared watching it run off happy and not bothered by the things that plagued the blond. Jasmine remembered a time when she was carefree and much louder than now. The loss of Azmere had changed her, she had left home to find where she belonged, then had her boys. Now she was tending to animals that were unfamiliar, and yet familiar all at the same time. In her mind they were nothing but big horses; in the back of her mind she knew that was not right. Every creature was unique and had its own personality. It would take time, but the woman was determined to show she could handle herself.

Standing up, she looked at the woman that approached her. Jasmine followed her quietly listening to what was asked of her. The drykas grabbed the file for the hooves knowing good well it would take the pair of them working together to get that done. Taking a deep breath, the female offered the idea of tying them to a single post. She explained it would keep their heads still and away from the pair as they worked, but still allowed the animal full movement of the body. As expected her boss gave her a crazy look for even suggesting it.

“The reason I ask is because that is what we did in Endrykas. When troublesome horses would come in, they were haltered and tied to where they could not swing their heads or bite the workers. At first, they did not care for it, but once given some time the animal would calm down. It would then allow the workers to tend their hooves. As soon as they were done, the horse was released to go back and join any others that had been brought in,” Jasmine explained nervously.

Jasmine had never felt so nervous asking for such a simple thing. In her mind it made perfect sense, but she knew good and well that was not the case in Lhavit. They did things what seemed to be backwards from logic, but she would not argue with Khana. The woman had three times the experience with the Okomo than the Drykas did. The Inarta decided against it since the animals were already agitated as it was. The last thing they needed was for the entire herd to try and kill them for binding one of them. Jasmine nodded understanding that point as well. She was glad that the woman had not lashed out at her. The blond had never been so anxious around people in her life. Her mouth had always been the biggest part of her body. Often getting her in trouble with the people above her and below her. Jasmine had never backed down, but now she had to.