chikaidestroyer | ∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

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∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

[written]

Welcome to all the New Feathers of this cycle. I am sure that residents, especially the volunteers working in the Welcome Center, have been helpful as you adjust to your surroundings.

Some may have noticed that there are stations some distance away from the village -- watch stations where New Feathers may find clothing or shelter. Residents may also use them as stopping points as they explore the surrounding forests and plains. They are maintained by a group of volunteers, which has been without a head organizer for a few months now. If anyone is interested in taking on this responsibility, please speak with me, Albert Silverberg.

Recent additions to the enclosure are the expansive farmlands to the northeast of the village. There are numbers of farm animals and growing crops up there that are in need of caretaking. While the village has the grocery store for easy access to food, I am sure some would relish opportunity to work with crops and animals.

If there are any questions about these subjects, they may be asked here. Thank you.

[action]

[Around noon, Albert may be found in the clothing store, looking for clothing for warmer weather. Maybe he'll attempt to tan this year. It's been awhile.

Later in the day, he will be in the stables tending to his horse. He will be out there for several hours before retiring for the evening to the house, reading a "Computers for Seniors for Dummies" book. Very funny, Bil.]

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I would suggest you not say those things when you are still riding her. Who knows who might take offense? [He clicks his tongue a certain way, and Astrid quickens her pace.]

[He automatically tightens his grip on the reins, and he has to try to keep his voice steady. What a jerk.]

I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't say anything.

[Maybe it wasn't such a good idea entrusting your lessons to your callous older brother. Especially when said older brother is feigning looking at his nails through his gloves rather than watching Astrid trot around the corral.]

[Yes. Yes, this was a terrible idea. Caesar glances over, and seeing that his brother isn't paying very much attention to him or the horse is... troubling.]

I said I didn't say anything!

[As long as she doesn't go any faster, he'll be fine. ...that's what he keeps telling himself.]

Tug back on the reins firmly, and don't favor one side for the other. She will slow down. [He almost sounds amused by the emphasis in Caesar's words and the obvious tenseness in his voice.]

[And that's exactly what he does. He's worried about pulling on them too hard, so it will probably be a moment before she actually starts to slow down, but when she does, he feels better. So much better.]

You're really something else, you know that...?

[Albert's expression remains fairly neutral despite what he's just done.] You learned quickly under stress. Congratulations.

[...that was not why he did it. There is no way that this is why he did it.

Ugh.]

I will take that as a compliment. It wasn't that difficult anyway.

[But you will never know for sure, will you, Caesar?]

Good. Perhaps you are ready to move on to a canter pace, then.

[He really, really won't! But those thoughts quickly vanish from his mind at his brother's next idea. He mumbles to himself.]

Aren't we moving a little fast...? [After a moment, though, he shakes his head. That's not a good attitude to have and he knows it. He speaks up this time.] All right, all right. Let's give it a try. How much harder can it be?

Harder. [That's all Albert says as he clicks his tongue again. Hope you're holding on, Caesar.

A fast trot is different from a canter, and it's made obvious in the rhythm of how Astrid's hooves hit the ground. This is definitely faster, and Astrid has to react more quickly to avoid getting too close to the fences at her speed.]

[...it's much, much worse than he imagined it would be. Watching a horse run was nothing compared to riding one. He'd never gone this fast before. His loosened grip tightens again, holding onto the reins as if it's really going to make him feel any better, and he tries to focus on... something, like the horse's ears. That was the closest he'd get to looking ahead right now. He'd just have to trust Astrid.]

I-it's really... f-fast!

[Too fast.

Is this what a heart attack feels like?]

Edited 2011-05-23 08:54 (UTC)

[After less than a minute of that pace, Albert makes a gesture with one arm; Astrid's making enough noise now that his vocal signals aren't going to have effect. As the horse slows, Albert frowns at Caesar.]

Are you wasting my time?

[Caesar looks up completely when the horse starts slowing down, and he frowns a little, too, at Albert's words. Had he been expecting him to make her stop?]

N-no, I... I wasn't finished yet. [He'd hardly had enough time to accept the idea that he was going that fast.] I'll never get used to the speed if you make her slow down so soon.

Then I won't stop her this time. [He folds his arms over his chest, wings twitching in irritation. Astrid's step is hesitant at first at this odd motion, then she returns to trotting around the corral.]

[Caesar takes a breath as Astrid's pace quickens again, attempting to brace himself for the speed. If he could just deal with it, he'd definitely get used to it... right? Hopefully. And hopefully she really would stop when he tried to make her do so.

He only feels a little less nervous after a minute or so, but he tugs back on the reins then to make her slow down. It's mostly just to prove that he can. He can feel his brother's glare. As usual.]

[Astrid slows back to a walk at the tugging, and Albert continues watching quietly. His voice is even as he gives more instructions.] Squeeze your heels against her sides. She knows to speed up when she feels that.

[Caesar glances over to one of Astrid's sides, and does just as he's told. He does it slowly, cautiously, and asks—]

How fast?

The more urgently you kick, the faster she responds. [And that's a sign of how much training the horse has had.] That's why you have to stay relaxed. Your mount can typically sense how you are feeling -- and will respond according to your demeanor and relationship.

Why didn't you say that in the first place...? [Not that it would have eased his worries. He's content with the horse's reaction, though. He was afraid of a more immediate reaction, so it was good that he'd been cautious.] So she can tell I'm nervous, huh? That's great.

Of course she can tell. You should consider yourself fortunate she is mild-mannered; nervous or stubborn horses would have taken advantage of your fear and thrown you already.

Heh... [He laughs a little. Nervously, of course. If he'd mentioned that sooner, he probably wouldn't have gotten on this horse. He pulls on the reins again to slow her down.] But you knew she wouldn't do that. I suppose I am indeed rather fortunate.

I wouldn't be teaching you horseback riding so laxly if I didn't trust Astrid and my training of her. [There's confidence in his voice.] This is much simpler than if you were taking actual riding instruction.

Because you know her far better than any of the horses I could have practiced with. [It's just a guess, but it makes sense. Albert knows very specifically how to deal with this horse because he's the one that trained her. That's why he's so confident.] And you won't teach me things I don't need to know.

Are you sure about that? I gave you a plant after all. [His tone is nonchalant, but he is looking at Caesar as he speaks, as if testing him.]