The First Day, the trainees pick their horsies

[Thomas Rede]

Thomas wandered the training ground aimlessly, unsure of what he should be doing. The Commander had said some long speech about picking the right horse, how their personality mattered, and something about biting, and then Thomas had gotten bored and stopped listening. He cast his eyes around him, looking for prospective horses, but also making sure that someone in charge wasn’t eyeing him down, trying to making him feel guilty for whatever reason. The people here were like that.

Alrighty then. Two ponies. Shouldn’t be too hard. But what if I don’t like any of them? How do I know which ones to choose?

“Do you have any idea how were supposed to do this?” he mouthed to the trainee next to him.

[fellow trainees, ahoy!]

[Lorelle Brown]

The trainee next to him looked up. "I have no idea," whispered the girl, who was wearing the expression of a startled deer. She had listened to the Commander, honestly she had, but that didn't make her any more sure of what she was doing. This did not bode well for her career as a rider trainee. If she got this nervous about picking out two mounts, what would she be like when the actual training started?

The girl shook her head briskly, trying to reorient herself with what she was doing, but all the motion did was cause her chin length bangs to get in her eyes and mouth. With a sigh, she tucked them back behind her ears where they belonged.

The girl looked at the ponies, then back at the other trainee. "I guess you just find a pony that doesn't hate you."

[Thomas Rede]

"Aye. They're nasty creatures. Yes, you," he said, directing his comment towards a white, shaggy-coated pony, who in turn snapped at his hand.

"My theory is, they pick the meanest ones they can find, just so they can make it hard for us. Bet you she," he nodded at Brindie Dyer, "picked them personally. You know how she is."

[Lorelle Brown]

The girl gave a small snort of laughter when the pony turned and snapped at her fellow trainee. "Well, seeing as they are so awful, I wouldn't provoke them if I were you," she joked. She liked horse and ponies, and for some odd reason, liked the stubborn and mean ones the best. Maybe it was because they weren't afraid to show a bit of personality, a fear she had often been told she suffered from.

"Well, if we learn to deal with the meanest ones, then we should be able to handle any mount," the girl said sensibly. She always tried to be sensible, which was why she so surprised much of her family when she told them she was going to become a rider trainee. Many of them had thought she would become Daughter or priestess.

[Meridan of Redrose]

"Come on! I'm not going to hurt you, darling." Meridan stroked the neck of a spirited bay who was tossing his head. "Oh now aren't you a pretty girl." She moved to a small dapple-grey mare, and inspected her thoroughly. "Not built for speed, nice disposition though." She left the mare and looked around for another prospective mount. Suddenly a familiar horse caught her eye. "Dalien!" She cried, then quickly clapped a hand to her mouth. Her own horse wasn't supposed to be in with the Rider ponies. But... a sudden thought occured to the girl If she's here, and I rightfully choose her, then I'm allowed to keep her as one of my horses. I doubt I'd be allowed, otherwise. She moved purposefully toward the chestnut mare and slipped a halter over her head. "There you are girl. Just don't act like you recognize me." She added in an undertone.

Meridan looked for a while longer, and finally found a dark bay gelding that seemed to get along with Dalien. Indeed, he had a personality to match that of the mare, so he did not feel a stranger to Meridan.

[Thomas Rede]

"I dunno, didn't she say something about having them for the rest of our lives? I wouldn't know, I wasn't listening, but but I don't think that's exactly possible." He jerked his hand back quickly as the pony went for his other arm.

"Hey! That's not very nice, you know!" he exclaimed, hitting her softly against the nose with the back of his hand. The mare took a short step and then began to lick his hand, wet tongue playing across his fingers.

[Lorelle Brown]

The girl shrugged. "I think that's what she said, but what if the pony dies, or you have to use another mount in an emergency?" she pointed out. "Nothing's permanent, even if we like to believe it is." She leaned against the fence, watching the ponies.

She turned and looked at the boy. "What's your name?" she asked. "I'm Lorelle Brown." She laughed softly as the pony licked the boy's hand. "That pony must think he's a dog," she said, chortling.

[Kiara Chamtong]

"Horse Lords, you're beautiful," Kiara whispered to one of her mounts Snowfell. Smelling a carrot in her pocket, the horse shoved his nose at her pocket. "No, not yet!" she admonished. "First, you and the other horse," she gestured at the mount that didn't have a name yet, "need to get into your stall." The unnamed horse gave Kiara a haughty glare. Seeing two other trainees not to far from where she was, Kiara asked, "Excuse me, may I join you?"

[Thomas Rede]

"Thomas... er, Rede. I think it wants me to keep it." Upon reexamining the pony, he realized that she was a mare, and that her shaggy white coat was in fact slightly golden when it caught the sun.

"You're very, well, you seem to like things that make sense." he commented suddenly. "I don't know if there's a word for that or not, but that's the way you are. I'm not usually too good at figuring out people, but I noticed that about you right off the bat [lol, anachronism?]."

He then noticed that a third trainee had approached. "Hi. You look familiar. You wouldn't have been the same one who was fencing with Meridan the other night, would you?"

[Hee, I noticed right before I was about to post this that Kiara had said hi. If it sounds weird, it's because I had to edit it and didn't feel like changing any of the original content.]

[Lorelle Brown]

Lorelle reached over the fence to stroke the pony that had grown rather attached to Thomas. "Yes, I like things to make sense," she said lightly, "but I can manage some nonsense every now and then," she added with a smile.

The girl looked up as another trainee walked over. "You can join us if you want," she answered. "Pull up a fence." She looked interested when Thomas mentioned fencing. "You fence?" she asked curiously. "I've always wanted to learn that, but a sword is a noble's weapon," she continued, looking at the ground.

[Miniya]

Miniya sighed, grabbing a spot upon the fence a bit away from the others. Long legs dangles slightly as she gazed about the fenced area. Two horses were needed out of these. Can't be too bad to do. Min thought to herself.

She never had gotten this close to horses, let alone even have a pet. Emotions, of course, were swirling in her. Anxiety to get one, nrvousness for caring or even being like, and excitement to be doing this. As the sun came down, she tired to calm down her emotions.

Thoughts and emotions where brushed away when a tall, sturdy, yet dull-ish dark brown-black gelding approached. His nose lazily sniffed at her pockets, which held the food the trainee's were to use to get the animals closer to them.

Gently moving his nuzzle away, she stuck her hand into her pocket, and offered a carrot. At this movement, he seemed to back away. Slowly, he stuck his head out to the offered food.

[Thomas Rede]

Thomas noticed Miniya standing a ways off, and waved cheerily towards her.

[Miniya]

Side-glancing towards Thomas and the group, she returned his wave with a faint smile. Her attention was diverted as another nudge was given to her pocket. The horses' dark eyes glancing up at Min.

Automatically, she reached in and offered another carrot. This time, the horse went to stick its head into her pocket. Giggling, Min fell to the ground purposelly. Standing up she shook her head, at shoulder level with the horse. Once again she offered the vegetable.

[Ella of Shaila]

Ella slipped up behind the little group of trainees. She wouldn't have approached at all, but she had spotted Kiara, the girl she had met the other night.
"Hi, everyone," she said shyly, shooting a skeptical look at the ponies. So far, none had caught her fancy.

[Lorelle Brown]

Lorelle looked around as several other trainees seemed to pop up out of nowhere. She waved to the newest addition to the small crowd that was forming. "Hello," she said in reply to the other girl's greeting. It seemed everyone was having difficulty choosing mounts.

The girl looked out over the ponies, noticing one stallion that was staying a bit away from the others. She reached out a hand to the creature, making soft, encouraging noises. The pony merely laid back his ears against his skull and bared his teeth.

Lorelle chuckled at this display of ferocity. "Mean little creature, aren't you?" she asked, jerking back her hand as the pony snapped at it. "Bite me and I'll bite you back," she added, but the smile never left her face.