Closed First Day Alone Part 2 [Jasmine]

[Kaitanu]

Continuation of this thread.

20th Day of Fall 515 AV

Kaitanu worked on the mare’s hoof starting at the heel, and using the hoof pick for the stubborn bits of debris. Quite aside from her talk Kaitanu could tell that she had run far that day and through rough terrain. Otherwise she looked to be in fair shape. The frogs of her feet were nice and dry and, once picked clean, looked good as new. Kaitanu felt around and underneath each hoof, checking for excessive heat or bulging. Not that he had expected trouble. The mare expressed no pain and, when asked, told him there were no issues apart from the usual little stones. She was relieved when a particularly irritating one was removed from her hind foot. When he finally released her leg and pulled back, she gave each hoof an experimental step or two. Pleased at the result, the mare leaned her head down to bump his shoulder by way of thanks. She was used to being handled but Kaitanu had been very gentle. It helped that the kelvic understood what he was doing on a personal level, except for the feel of horseshoes on his hooves. Thankfully that particular item was out of his realm of experience. Cruel as his masters had been they were not about to waste good iron on something that would fall off every time he shifted.

With the mare done, Kaitanu moved onto the next horse, a tall chestnut gelding who seemed to be the mare’s traveling companion. Slightly peaked withers and a bit of a concave back announced his age, and his coat showed more wear from the long journey. Some grooming would do him a world of good, but that wasn’t Kaitanu’s duty at present. It would be up to whoever had been paired with him. Jasmine’s name popped into his mind as he set to work on the chestnut gelding’s right forehoof. The kelvic had his back to the majority of the paddock, but he was still trying to pick out the Drykas girl's footsteps among all the other noises. Honestly, Kaitanu was still not sure why he half wanted her to come back and talk to him. Her strange ideas were still rattling in his brain like so many marbles. Maybe being near her would serve to clear up what he couldn’t understand.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine rode back to the Guilded Horse with a smile. She so enjoyed going to work even when others seemed to hate coming in to work. Pulling on Chasers hand gently before the barn before jumping down and walks inside as her feet padded against the floor. "Hey there Kaitanu!" She said with a smile as her hair was in a ponytail the ends in her normal curls. Jasmine put down her messenger bag before checking the list, "looks like we are paired for the chestnut gelding," Jasmine said and grabbed her bag getting what she would need before walking over to the companion to the mare. "Hello old friend," Jasmine said with a smile before getting the bur brush. "Let me know if it gets painful," she said while running her hand along his back so he would know she was beside him with fearing her. She stood before the gelding and brushed out his forelock first with a smile.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

Not a talker by habit, Kaitanu made no reply to Jasmine’s greeting beyond a nod and a quiet, “Hey.”. From his present position, half-bent over the gelding’s hoof, he could still see Jasmine with her bouncing gait and bright eyes. Somehow, that energy transferred into a calming effect for the gelding, while it left Kaitanu with more questions than ever. False smiles he was used to but hers didn’t seem to waver; it reminded him of the children back at camp. Why did she smile so much? Cheerful people had always been such a mystery to the kelvic.

Kaitanu worked in silence on the gelding’s hooves, ever aware of what Jasmine was doing. His ears were pricked for anything she might say. For himself, words would not come. The pale horse-man didn’t really know how to hold a conversation except with horses. So far, the chestnut gelding had been as monosyllabic as himself, only mentioning a pebble stuck in his left hind shoe when Kaitanu asked. Unlike the kelvic, he had no problem snuffling at Jasmine and making little horseish noises at her. Evidently he thought she would be able to speak to him as the pale, two-legged creature had done. But he was not of the chatty sort and when she did not respond in his equine language the gelding gave up and lapsed into silence as well. He was content enough to be groomed by a kind and patient human.

The mare was far more curious than her companion and asked Kaitanu why Jasmine wouldn’t speak to the gelding. The kelvic tried to explain as best he could, but it was a hard contradiction to swallow. Neither the gelding nor the mare were quite so intelligent as a Strider. He had to convince the mare that speaking to Jasmine more loudly wasn't going to help her understand.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine smiles gently hearing him speak horse. "Oh you speak horse?" Jasmine asked with amazement hearing him speak to the mare. She couldn't believe her ears as he spoke. Chaser snorted watching the pale two legged creature interact with the other horses in the area. Jasmine laughs feeling the stallion nip at her shoulder, "Sorry big guy didnt mean to ignore you." She began to brush out his mane more with a smile. The stallion relaxed once more in the care of the two pale creatures happy to be groomed. "Let me check and see if you are scheduled for a bath," Jasmine said walking over to the schedule, "yep!" She said with a smile and got the stuff for a bath and began to work on his mane and forelock first while humming with a smile.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

“I am able to speak to horses because I am kelvic.” Kaitanu began to regret his wish to see Jasmine again. Not completely, but she did talk a great deal, and laughed even more. It was rather unnerving.

On the other hand, neither gelding nor mare were bothered by the girl’s exuberance. As Kaitanu finished with the gelding’s hooves and stepped back, he could see that both horses were at their ease with her and her Strider. Chaser’s presence just gave them more to talk about; even the gelding asked questions as they sniffed one another. Kaitanu seemed to be the quietest of the bunch. Not that he minded; he’d always preferred to be an observer. Watching Jasmine deal with the horses told him more about her than asking questions. Even if he didn’t understand her cheerful attitude he did not fear her, which was something.

As Jasmine set down the schedule Kaitanu took it up and looked over what he was supposed to do next. Most of the other horses had been taken care of already, so he would be helping Jasmine to groom and bathe the new arrivals. It wouldn’t be practical for her to carry the heavy buckets back and forth from the nearby stream, so Kaitanu set down the schedule and went to do it himself. First, of course, he begged her pardon for leaving and, upon his return with two large, full buckets of water, bobbed his head as if to apologize for being absent.

“I am here to assist in any way you require.” Kaitanu set the buckets down without any sign of their true weight.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine smiles gently at the young boy once he returned, "how old are you Kaitanu?" She asked with a soft smile slightly amazed that he showed no tiredness from lugging the two buxkets up from the river near by. Chaser snorted and continued to converse with the stallion and mare across from him as Jasmine spoke with the other two legged creature she called Kaitanu. Jasmine blew a little of her bangs out of the way as she brushed the dirt off the older stallions back so she could wash him down soon with the water that young boy had brought up to give her a hand. "Have you ever bathed a horse before?" Jasmine asked then flushed gently feeling stupid for asking a question she was sure that she already new was a yes. Jasmine laughs gently when the stallion lipped her ear trying to get her mind back on finishing brushing him down, "stop that tickles!" Jasmine said still giggling waving his snout away.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

Answers seemed to be what Jasmine required of him at the moment. Kaitanu wondered why she should still be interested in him but didn’t even think of not responding. His slight hesitation came from somewhere else entirely.

“I am between five and seven years of age.” This was the best he could do, apart from admitting the truth. The words ‘I don’t know’ were very seldom tolerated. If Jasmine was watching him, she might see his eyes go blank for a moment, as though he had gone somewhere far off. It was the movement of her golden hair in the sunlight that brought him back.

Kaitanu was glad the next moment of a change of subject, and latched onto it readily. His head bobbed, which it had a tendency to do, and he said, ”I have.” Not too often, but he’d learned a lot in the last few days. Kaitanu noted Jasmine’s blush but didn’t know where it came from and wasn’t going to ask. He felt less apprehensive watching her work on the horses, and the way the old gelding showed he liked her. Of them all, only Kaitanu could not show what he really felt so openly. His strange eyes would soften a bit, but that was all.

Setting the buckets aside, Kaitanu took a soft rag, wet it, and went over the gelding’s face very gently. This sort of thing was usually left to him because he could explain to each horse what he was doing. Even so, the gelding wasn’t too comfortable with getting his face wet and made definite sounds of irritation, clacking his teeth a little. The kelvic continued to reassure him in his own language, and kept his actions gentle. A nip or two wouldn't have stopped him anyway. Thankfully the gelding was better behaved than that. Other than grumbling about rain in the face- as he saw it -the horse didn't put up a fight. It was just as well, because Kaitanu was a bit distracted at the moment. The thought kept popping into his head that he ought to say something to Jasmine, or ask her a question, but he kept silent for a long while. He would as soon have kept to himself, except that she seemed to expect him to talk. Kaitanu was always bound to try and meet expectations.

“How old are you, Jasmine?” The question came out stiffly. It still seemed so wrong to call her by her first name, or to speak out of turn.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine looks over while brushing out the last of the geldings back. "I am 23 years of age," Jasmine said while looking over to the young boy. She was glad he was becoming more open to asking her questions. She noticed how stiff he seemed to come suddenly. "Will you be joining every one at the party on the third and fourth of winter?" Jasmine asked with a smile looking to him gently. She gently cooed to the gelding helping Kaitanu keep the older stallion calm while his face was washed as she got another rag and rung it out slowly going to work on his neck while humming gently. Jasmine enjoyed singing when she found the time or while she worked. Most of the time she wouldn't sing around others seeing as how she had no proper lessons so to speak of. Jasmine looked to the young boy when he once again began speaking slightly amazed that he was being so talkative as just that morning she was just about having to pry any answers out of the young kelvic.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Kaitanu]

Being what he was, age conveyed little to Kaitanu’s mind. He went more by looks, behavior and scent. When Jasmine said “twenty three” he recognized it as something akin to a full adult, but still young. Human reckoning was longer than that of the horse; he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

Anyway, Jasmine seemed pleased at the question, which was all Kaitanu aimed for. It was always better to have others in a good mood. His own was somewhat less so; not a bad mood, but nothing so bright as hers. Kaitanu certainly wasn’t expecting her question about parties, as though they were something he could just go to or not as he pleased. The slave, not knowing he was no longer such, hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he should say. Jasmine seemed to either forget, or completely ignore, her station when compared to his.

”If my master requires me to attend him at this party, I shall be there.” That was the only thing he could think of. Had Dravite ever mentioned this party? Not to him, but then the ankal’s Common wasn’t the best. Kaitanu tried to think if anyone else at camp had mentioned it, but couldn’t remember. That didn’t matter much. Even if he went to said party, Jasmine would find she couldn’t talk to him as freely as she did here; not while he was serving his master. Kaitanu had never been to any type of gathering for any other reason, so he naturally assumed that this time would be no different.

Rather than say anything else, the kelvic lapsed into silence. His ears caught the sound of humming and, being a secret lover of music, he listened intently. Jasmine’s voice, or what he could hear of it, sounded sweet, like bird-song. This was a language he understood above all others. Kaitanu would never have sung in front her, but his reasons had nothing to do with lack of training. Music had always been his one balm and consolation; that which kept him from falling into darkness. He couldn’t help clinging to it whether it came from someone else or himself. Nor could he stop himself from pausing as if to catch the tune and keep it. Kaitanu would sing it to himself later when he was all alone, when no one could take it from him.

As if fearing that he might have been too obvious, the kelvic resumed his work quickly and asked Jasmine another question, hoping to distract her from his brief show of interest. ”What is this party? Or this celebration?” For someone who asked almost no questions of anyone, Kaitanu felt rather bold, even nervous. However, if Dravite was to require him to come along and be of service Kaitanu might as well know something about it.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine smiles gently at the young boy as she wiped a little bit of sweat from her brow. "It's just a big party when all the pavilions and clans relax for the night and celebrate the new season. I know there is one for winter but I am not sure there is any others," Jasmine said looking up as she put her finger on her chin trying to remember what all festivals the Drykas have during the seasons. She shrugs deciding to just look it up later, "I will try to look it up later." She said before looking back to the young boy. "How long have you been part of Dravite's pavilion?" Jasmine asked as she had heard his name before and knew a little about his dealings around the auction house. Jasmine blew more of her bangs out of her face as she looked over to the young pale kelvic happy to have found a friend that she was sure would not judge her no matter what she did or did not do. Jasmine heard yelling at the door to the tent and scrunched up her nose, "be right back Kaitanu." Jasmine said and put down her rag going to see what the commotion was about while the two worked. Jasmine walked up to the man outside of the tent yelling at what appeared to be a scared young colt. "Is something wrong sir?" Jasmine asked getting the man's attention. "THIS STUPID CREATURE WILL NOT MOVE!!!!!!!" The man shouted before raising his hand. Jasmine growled and grabbed the man's hand standing in the way, "enough! I would not move under such abuse either. If you need him sold then we will sell him and give you the money but do not touch this colt again." She said with a glare to the man furious he would harm a young colt no matter the reason. The man glares at the young female drykas handing her the reigns and demanding she clean the creature. Jasmine coaxed the scared colt inside of the tent gently and began to feed him some carrots to show that she meant no harm to the little one.

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.