I Hate Ruffles (Solo)

[Cara]

14 Spring, 511 AV The sun was still low in the sky, which was cast in a pale grey light. Several large grey clouds were streaming past the sun, blocking it out from time to time as small white wisps of snow fell down towards the earth, settling on Cara's clothes, and in her hair. As the snow melted, it would sparkle in the sunlight, as would all the snow that she tread upon, leaving footprints in her wake. She carried two pails- one in her right hand and one in her left. Each of the pails was made of some sort of silver metal, with a slender handle crafted from the same material. The handles dug into Cara's hands, leaving a thin line of red, despite the fact that neither of the pails were very heavy. The pail on the right held a pile of snow, that towered over the top, while the one on the left held a brush comprised of wood with bristles of fine, tan horse hair. A strap of leather was nailed to the back, so that whoever was using it would have something to strap their hand into, as they worked on the messy fur of one of their animals. There was also a long cord of tightly wound, tan rope, and a few carrots and green apples. "Hopefully that prized elk of Daluna's appreciates these," Cara grumbled as she walked through the menagerie towards Daluna's shop. "Ruffles... or whatever his bloody name is." Cara kept walking in silence after that, knowing that the mangy old elk would be tethered to a pole in front of Daluna's shop. Cara also knew that she would be there soon, and soon her torture would begin. A Frostfawn, looking after a Coolwater's companion. How pathetic, she thought to herself with a roll of her eyes. And he's not even well bred, Cara told herself. But that's no fault of the creature's own, it's his bloody mistress. She doesn't exactly have the touch of a Frostfawn, after all. Within a few minutes, Cara found herself in front of Daluna's store, staring at what she considered to be a very mangy-looking elk. His fur was dark, his horns covered in tiny droplets of water, more than likely from the newly fallen snow. His large black eyes seemed to have glazed over, as though he were sick, or just waking up, and a small stream of spit was trickling out of the right side of his mouth, and down his chin, where a small tuft of brown fur had gathered, like a beard. "Well don't you look like what the cat just dragged in?" Cara said cooly, a small smile upon her lips, as she placed the two buckets in the snow on either side of her body. Rufallo snorted, as he stomped his front right hoof into the ground. "Touchy, touchy," Cara said, as she eyed the elk up and down. He really is quite the mess, and you'd think the snow would at least get rid of the smell. Cara sighed, what's a bath without a little soap? Cara wondered, before she whispered, "come on, lets get this over with," she growled. "Lets clean that coat up, and get you some fresh food and water."

[Cara]

Before your stupid mistress comes out of that store to reprimand me for not working hard enough, and taking care of her precious Ruffles, Cara thought, as she grit her teeth and rolled her eyes. "Alright Ruffles, first thing's first, lets get you some water," she said cooly, as she lifted the bucket of snow. She held the handle in her right hand, as her eyes sparkled. Hopefully he is not too afraid of fire, Cara thought, as she began to concentrate on her djed. She could feel a strange bubbling sensation erupting out of the pit of her stomach, and she knew, it would only be a matter of time before she could call upon fire. Perhaps that will teach the Coolwater not to force a Frostfawn into labor, especially when she has done nothing wrong, Cara thought, as an evil grin made its way across her pale lips. The bubbling sensation was rising higher, out of the pit of Cara's stomach. It was winding its way upwards, towards her neck, spilling into each of her arms, and to the tips of her fingers. Cara loved the tingling sensation her djed produced in her, it made her feel so very powerful, so very alive. It won't be much longer now, Cara thought, as she allowed the bubbling sensation to settle in the palms of her hands. As she allowed some of them to pop and send tiny waves of ecstasy through her. It felt like so long since she had last cast a spell... It only took another few seconds for Cara to warm herself up. As soon as she had done so, she began to manipulate her djed. Tiny wisps of light blue air, the consistency of mist, began to filter out of the palm of her left hand. The mist would rise a few inches, towards the cloudy grey sky, before they swirled together, forming a light blue orb; res. The orb appeared to be a perfect sphere, that would swirl counter-clockwise, around and around, just a few inches above Cara's left palm. It was see-through, although, it cast everything on the other side of it in the palest blue light. Now if only it didn't appear quite so ghastly, Cara thought, as she lit the center of the res orb on fire. The center of the orb glowed a bright orangey-red color. "Isn't it beautiful Ruffles? The sight of fire?" Cara asked as the creature snorted. Cara moved her hand so that it was held directly below the pail filled with snow. "Don't worry Ruffles, you'll have your water... as soon as all this snow melts," Cara said cooly, as the creature snorted again, small puffs of frozen air leaving his nostrils, and floating around the air between each of them, before disappearing. "What, don't think it's melting fast enough do you?" Cara asked, her eyes flashing mischievously. The elk seemed to shake its head slightly in response. Cara's evil grin widened, "well, we could always speed things up," she said playfully, even though there was still an edge of ice in her voice. A second later, she had ignited the upper portion of the res orb on fire, as well as the sides, leaving the bottom portion, closest to her hand, in a pale blue misty state. The fire Cara had created jumped up, licking the bottom of the pail. "Is that better Ruffles?" Cara asked, in a sickly sweet voice, as the creature took a half step away from her. The snow within the pail was beginning to melt, as the fire that Cara had created was given more and more time to heat everything up. "It's so very warm, don't you think Ruffles?" Cara asked, as she looked up at the creature. She could see the fire reflected in its eyes, and could not help but wonder what it was thinking. At first, the elk had seemed so very afraid, but now that he had been exposed to it a little longer, he didn't seem to mind it. Perhaps he had finally realized that it was helping to keep him warm. It only took a few minutes for the snow to melt, and when it had, Cara pulled her hand out from under the bucket, and tossed the ball of fire a few feet away in the snow. The fire sizzled as it was engulfed by the white expanse; before it was put out. A small smudge of black rested around the area in which it had fallen, and a thin trickle of smoke rose towards the sky. "Drink up," Cara instructed with a small smile, as she put the bucket of water down in front of Rafullo, several snow flurries falling into it, and all around them. "Before it freezes over," Cara added, when the creature did not move. "Go on," she instructed, in a somewhat irritated tone, her eyes flashing menacingly. Her deep purple irises lined by red. "Because we still have a lot of work to do on you," Cara groaned, as she reached for the brush, and one of the apples to feed to Rafullo as she worked on his coat. Not that he actually deserves a treat.

[Cara]

Cara held the apple in her left hand, and slid the leather strap over her right hand. The brush slid into place; her fingers wrapping around the wooden frame, her palm pressed into it, as she held the apple out to Rufallo. "Eat up," she instructed, as the elk extended its neck a little, sniffed the apple, and then picked it out of Cara's hand, between his teeth. He began to munch on the apple, spilling sticky sweet juice over the sides of his lip as he did so. "Gosh you're such a bloody mess," Cara scolded, as she glanced at his coat. It seemed to glisten now that so much snow had melted upon it. But she could still tell, that beneath all the droplets of water was a matted fur coat, in dire need of a good brush. "Now why don't we get to work on you, because this will surely take up the rest of the day," Cara said, as she walked around Rufallo, until she stood beside his right flank. She lifted her right hand, until the brush met his fur. His body felt firm beneath her, although his muscles rippled from time to time. What? Like we didn't warn you that we were coming to clean up your coat? Cara thought, as she rolled her eyes, and lifted the brush so that it would be farther up on his back. She then proceeded to move the brush around Ruffalo's coat in tiny, counter-clockwise circles. She'd begin at the top of his coat, and then move down, before making her way back up. Cara pushed past droplets of water, matted fur; making scratching noises from time to time. She pulled dirt and grime away from Ruffalo's coat, making it look fresh and young, like it shined, despite the inclement weather. "There, you are looking better already," Cara commented, as she finished brushing the first side of his body. She took a step back, "much better," she said with a laugh, as several flurries of snow fell around her. "Now, we just have to do the other side, and you'll be... slightly less mangy," Cara commented, somewhat cooly, as she walked around to the front of Ruffalo's body. She stared into his eyes for a moment, before she noticed that he had spit the apple core out in the snow. "You know, you really need to work on your table manners," she said cooly, as she turned her nose up in disgust, before picking the apple up by the stem, and placing it back in the bucket with other supplies. "Now here, eat this too," she said as she picked up a carrot and shoved it in Ruffallo's mouth, "and if you're going to spit it out, at least do it in the bucket this time," she added, with a roll of her eyes. As she did so, Cara walked over to Ruffalo's left flank. She lifted her right hand, and pressed the brush lightly into his fur, just where the neck and his shoulders met. She began to move the brush in small circles, counter-clockwise. She brushed off tiny bits of rain, old hairs that had fallen out, and what looked like dust. His coat is so gross. No Frostfawn's animal would ever be allowed to get this dirty! Daluna is disgraceful! Cara thought as she kept brushing. She had finished half of Rufallo's coat when the wind started to pick up, sweeping her long black hair off her shoulders, and whipping it wildly around her. "Petching weather," Cara growled, "why can't it ever learn its place and behave?" she asked, as she continued brushing, just as the snow began to fall a little harder. Cara stopped what she was doing for a moment, and glanced up at the sky. The grey clouds seemed to have multiplied, and the sun was no where to be seen. You'd better get inside, Cara thought, as she pulled the brush off the creature's coat, and walked back around to the front of his body. Any water that had been left in the bucket had begun to freeze, and a single leaf from the carrot's stem had fallen into the snow. It was blown away a moment later by the wind. Well at least he didn't make as big a mess this time, Cara thought, as she placed the brush back in the pail with the other supplies. "Come on you, lets get inside before we both freeze," Cara said, as she began to untie the rope that bound him to the tether. Her fingers trembled as she did so, the rope was so petching cold. "Almost there," she whispered, as she undid the last knot, and held fast onto the end of the rope with her right hand. She bent over for a second, and picked up the pail with the apple core and other supplies in her left hand. "Now we can go inside," she muttered angrily, as she walked around the store, and to one of the fenced off areas that Daluna had reserved for her shop. There were several other animals inside, and although she knew they could get cold out here, it was more than likely better for Rufallo to stay with them. After all, each animal gave off a certain amount of body heat, they could keep each other warm. Cara led Rufallo into the center of the pen, and then tethered him to a post. He was left between another two elk, seemingly standing proud, "there you are you spoiled brat. Caught in-between two ever so lucky ladies," Cara said sarcastically as she placed the pail on the ground. "We'll finish that coat of yours tomorrow," she called over her shoulder, as she began to walk away, towards the Frostfawn Hold, simply to get away from Daluna, and out of the petching snow.

[Cheshire]

. Character: Cara Experience: Reimancy +1, Animal Husbandry +2, Grooming +2 Lore: Looking Down on Other Holds, Making Conversation With Animals Additional Note: Cute thread. I enjoyed Cara's sassyness. PM me with any concerns.