Will you teach me to ride? (Merevaika)

[Ayetah]

There was no reason for her to stay. The horses found her unworthy to ride them. Ayetah could see that in the way they walked away from her, denying her existence. This really hurt her. She did not show it but it did. This journey to find a horse had caused more pain in her heart than anything else. "No." Ayetah shook her head. "Let’s just leave, I could learn by watching you ride your horse." Ayetah face away from her friend as she talked although she showed no emotions.

She pulled her shawl over her shoulders, protecting them from the cold as she started to slowly wander away from Merevaika in the direction of the city. Which was not too far off. At first, Ayetah could see nothing in front of her but snow. There was nothing but snow around her, sticking to the bottom of her sandals each time she would lift them up and take a step forward.

She was not too far away from the field of horses when the sight of snow suddenly changed. Ayetah's vision of what was ahead was interrupted by something much larger then herself. It almost just miraculously appeared in front of her, stopping her from moving forward.

Ayetah took a step back to get a look at what had stopped her. It was a beautiful and very large dark chestnut colored horse. Who's mane was dark too and plaited. The horse had big brown eyes and nostrils that flared heavily. It had a small patch where very little hair seemed to grow. The horse had powerful legs, bulging with muscle and a tail that was braided too.

The benshira could not help but gawk at the horse. Overlooking the patch, she thought the horse was just stunning. In her opinion, the horse was better looking than the others in the field and she would not be afraid to admit that she found the horse to be a thing of beauty. "E-excuse me, you're in my way." She told the horse in a pleasant voice.

The horse just looked at her.

Common|Shiber

[Merevaika]

"Let’s just leave, I could learn by watching you ride your horse." She had given up. Merevaika didn't expect Ayetah to give up so easily, but she seemed hurt, despite trying to hide it. Merevaika witheld the urge to shout out, to call her a coward. It wouldn't help. And although she knew that you can't learn by watching, for every horse and rider were different, Merevaika couldn't say that either. Perhaps all she needed was time alone.

She trudged away slowly, shawl wrapped around her. Merevaika didn't know what to do. She had let her friend down, but didn't know how to make it better. Then, something changed.

A chestnut, large and strong, had strided in front of her, with almost the aim to stop her from leaving. It was a grand horse, the dark mane and tail plaited, large brown eyes watchimg Ayetah.

Not Merevaika's type of horse. But they weren't there for her.

"E-excuse me, you're in my way." she said pleasantly, obviously captivated by this horse.

The horse looked at her in a way Merevaika knew well. Ayetah had found her mount.

"Careful, Ayetah," she whispered softly, gladness in her eyes, "The horse wants you to ride it. Don't mount, not yet. Stroke it. Show it you care. Show it you are boss."

[Ayetah]

The sound of her friend's voice surprised her. The benshira did not know she was so close behind her. She jumped a bit but kept her cool. "How do you know?" She asked her friend calmly without looking at her. Ayetah looked the horse over again and again. She was not familiar with body language but she could tell this was not interested in her. The horse was more interested in eating the grass in front of it and that's exactly what it did. "Stroke it while it's eating? Isn't that bad?"

She didn't expect Merevaika to answer that question as she took a few steps forward and put her hand out to stroke the horse's side. When the horse raised it's head, she flinched. Expecting the worse thing to happen. But the horse did nothing. It simply looked at her and blinked a few times before grazing again. "This is a good horse!" Ayetah told her friend cheerfully, smiling a bit until she noticed the man was right behind her friend.

Ayetah started to wonder if it was a male or female. She looked at the man and Merevaika before blushing and peeping beneath the horse. [color#FFFF]"It's a girl too."[/color] She nodded and continued to pet the horse, stroking it's side before touching it's mane which was rough and unappealing at the moment. "Such pretty hair needs taken care of."

[color=#FFFF00]Common|Shiber

[Merevaika]

Ayetah jumped, surprised at how close Merevaika was. She examined the horse, trying to see if it told her anything. Nothing. But what Merevaika had said wasn't really the body language. It was more of a feeling, of knowing horses. This horse wanted Ayetah.

"Stroke it while it's eating? Isn't that bad?" she asked, showing a bit more sign of knowledge about the creatures. Merevaika hadn't seen it lower its head, but now noticed how it chewed away on the grass. She was about to warn Ayetah that actually it wasn't the brightest idea, but the Benshira had already stepped closer and lifted her hand towards the horse's side.

"This is a good horse!" she smiled when the horse did nothing but raise its head in awareness. She awkwardly checked the gender of the horse, revealing it as a mare. The man nodded, Merevaika just noticing him just behind her. The two sharwd knowing glances, watching the connection between the horse and the girl strengthen.

Ayetah touched the mane, remarking on the foul state. The man smiled and nodded, before starting in rough common, "You may brush it if you like. Here, here is a comb. Be gentle but she shouldn't mind." He passed a small comb to her, before stepping back to allow her to concentrate on the mare.

Merevaika smiled at the pair, watching how she acted around the horse. She was certain that this was the horse for Ayetah - it had to be! Why else would she linger so long by this horse?

[Ayetah]

”Thank you…”Ayetah whispered to the man without looking at him. She took the comb only to lay it on the ground. Ayetah knew she would not be able to comb the horse’s hair with the tight plaited braid in its hair. Putting a hand carefully on the thick braid, she tried to loosen the thick braid. The horse whinnied loudly before looking at the benshira, questioning what she was doing. ”Shhh…”, she patted the horse on its neck. ”I’m going to take that braid out and brush that hair of yours. “ Ayetah’s voice was still in a hushed tone. She did not want to spook the horse but at the same time, she did not want anyone to hear her either.

When the horse was calm, she began taking the braid out, part by part until it was finally loose. The horse’s hair was very frizzy, tangle too and it reached just about her leg. ”No wonder your hair was braided… it’s too long.” She picked the comb back up and started to comb the horse’s hair, careful not to be too hard on knots and tangles. The horse remained calm throughout this process, even closed her eyes for a small period of time.

”Merevaika… I want this horse.”

Common|Shiber

[Merevaika]

The connection was marvellous. Merevaika watched in awe as she whispered gently, the horse relaxing. Ayetah undid the thick plait, slowly pulling the comb through the knotted hair. The mare closed her eyes, muscles relaxed.

"Merevaika... I want this horse," Ayetah said, and Merevaika smiled in agreement. She wanted her to get this horse. She turned to the owner, who was watching wistfully.

"Name a price suitable for you. I'll see what I can make of it," he answered in Common, approaching the horse gently to examine it. "I understand that you may not have too much money but I can't give horses away for free."

He opened her mouth, examining the teeth to try price the horse, "You're lucky she's not the wanted horse. I've had a hard time trying to sell her. That'll lower the price."

[Ayetah]

”I really don’t know how this works.” Ayetah told the man while running her fingers through the horse’s mane. She looked toward her friend for guidance. Merevaika has proved that she knew very much about horses. Ayetah hoped that she knew how much this horse would be worth in the market. She wanted her to come up with a price for the horsed that was not too low but not too high at the same time. ”But Merevaika, you do.” Ayetah never took her eyes off her new friend.

”I trust you… friend. Come up with a price and I will pay it.”

Ayetah did not have much to live on right now but she was willing to get the horse at any price. The horse was something she needed right now, it would everything she never had since she was put in slavery. This horse would be a companion, a mount and most importantly family. This was something she lacked right now. Ayetah had no one to call family, at least not in Endrykas.

OOCYou can name any price you want.

Common|Shiber

[Merevaika]

”I really don't know how this works. But Merevaika, you do. I trust you… friend. Come up with a price and I will pay it," Ayetah asked, and Merevaika squirmed uncomfortably. Pricing things for herself was fine, but she didn't know how much Ayetah had, let alone what she wanted to give. But the trust felt good and Merevaika agreed to, promisomg herself that she would get Ayetah a good price.

"50," she spoke slowly and clearly. It wasn't anywhere near the price the man would have been hoping for, being the lowest price Merevaika had ever heard of a decent horse being sold for, but she stayed with it, watching the merchant for signs of anything.

"Ha! 50, for my horse! 100," he started joking, but finished with a solemn tone. Merevaika shook her head.

"You said no one will buy this horse. You said it would lower the price."

"75, then, if you insist," he growled, eyes on the horse.

"Look at the fur, the mane. Such bad quality. Those hooves look so bad as well. When was the last time they were cared for? The horse is skin and bone!" Merevaika spoke gently, exaggerated everything in hope the merchant would agree with her and lower the price even more, "55, and no more."

He laughed once more, "I'm doing you a favour here. 65 gold Mizas, and you can have the horse."

"Throw in a yvas, pad and bags," Merevaika smiled, "Then you have a deal."

The man looked at her as if trying to see if she would change her mind. Realising that 65 was already too low a price, he gave in. "65 it is. Give me the money and I'll get your things for you."

Merevaika turned to Ayetah, "Was that too much? I did my best. It is a good price." The Drykas woman just hoped the Benshira would be pleased with the price. The trust she had in Merevaika was something the Drykas was proud of.

[Naiya]

Here's what the Fox says

Name: Merevaika

XP Award:

• Horsemanship +1
• Negotiation +2
• Observation +2

Lore:

• Ayetah: a friend
• Best to choose a horse by instinct
• Denviel: warns of danger, tells of friends
• Observation: Denviel alerting to a sound

Notes: I wish this thread had seen completion. It would have been quite a sweet story, or so I imagine. I awarded what I could for this thread. If you have any questions please shoot me a PM. Don't forget to edit your grade request!

Name: Ayetah Notes: Should you return, Pm me and I will get your grade posted.