Lyrka walked silently down the isles between the stalls though she broke that silence as she began to hum cheerfully. She passed one or two others, both pausing to eye her silver feathered wings curiously as she moved away. She smiled, greeting a number of the horses she past but only actually stopping at one stall. And anyone who saw her would have thought her rather touched in the mind for stopping to see this horse.

The horse in question was a large strawberry roan warhorse and a stallion. She leaned her arms against the stall door, her large luminous silver eyes studying him as he ate his hay. He was clean she noted, that bringing a smile to her face. His white-flecked reddish coat was spotless as was his red-brown stockings, face, mane, and tail.

“Wren,” she announced aloud, directing the remark to the warhorse whose head rose at his name. “You’re clean, I’m impressed... Normally you’re covered in mud and look like something the cat chewed up and then spit back out.” Someone might have found it strange that she was talking to a horse, much less joking about it but Lyrka didn’t care and made that apparent by the smile on her face.

*Knowing that its owner was coming back, Kore had went to work to make sure that this warhorse was as healthy and clean as can be. He fed the horse custom horse feed which helped the mane shine more. Hours after the horse ate it, there was a big difference. There was still something wrong with it, but he couldn't put his finger on what. Then realizing how obvious it was when the smell wafted to his area, he slapped his forehead with his palm making a slapping sound then laughing lightly* I knew I missed something...this horse needs a good cleaning.

*With that, he began working on getting all the dirt off of the horse. He started at its head and back, with a bowl of cleaning soap that was for the horses at his stables. Once his whole body was covered in soap, he took a scrubber in each hand and began working. In big circular motion, he loosened up all the built-in dirt from its skin. Kore was there for a while, scrubbing away, the dirt moving all around him, then actually splashing from the horse and hitting him in the face. His face cringed and he began spitting and raised his hands to his face to wipe off the dirt*

phe, ehph, ugh. Jeez Wren, you are a dirty, dirty boy. When your master gets here tonight, she's going to love how clean I'm going to make you. All thats left now is to rinse you off. *He exclaimed as he grabbed a few buckets of water and carried it to the stall. One by one, he drenched the horse until there were no more dirt or grime anywhere on him. The horse reered back in joy as it felt clean* I'm sure you enjoyed that, didn't you Wren? *He then grabbed a brush and started brushing the horse down, straighening its mane and getting any extra water or dirt off of him.

He noticed a lady walking into the stables. He was behind the horse, brushing its tail. When she came up to the horse and greeted Wren, he knew she was the owner. Talking to him, she almost made him laugh as she compared what Wren looked like when he was dirty. When he was done with the tail, he peered from behind the horse and walked over to the stall door. Dusting his hands off on his legs, he smiled and patted Wren lightly* I see you like what I did?

((Kore beat me to it.. Sorry. ^_^))

Lyrka hadn’t noticed the man standing behind Wren at first but when she did, a very faint and light blush colored her cheeks for a moment. Someone else had heard her? She didn’t care if others thought her crazy for talking to Wren but it was different if someone actually heard her talking to him. The blush faded away as she smiled at Kore when he came out from behind Wren.

“I do and I thank you for cleaning and brushing him,” she told him with another cheerful smile. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.. Are you new?” She asked curiously before extending a hand to him to shake. “I’m Lyrka and you obviously already know Wren.”

“See Wren,” she said, addressing the stallion. “This is why I have you stabled here instead of at the temple.” She clucked her tongue and Wren moved to the stall door beside Kore, extending his head over the door and to her. She stroked his nose a moment before continuing. “The stables at the temple are empty whereas here you’re surrounded by other horses and you have these nice people who like to take care of you.”

You're very welcome, Wren was real easy to manage because he is wvery cooperative, ain't that right Wren?*he patted the horse on the side of its head softly.* The horse is a beautiful creature and was a lot of fun to have here...*--and the owner's not too bad either-- he though to himself*

He then looked at her as she continued talking to him* Yeah, I'm the new guy here, along with my two assistants, Meera and Rae. The name's Koresoto, but you can call me Kore if you like. *he extended his hand to meet hers. His hands were still a little soft from being new, but were attaining some callouses. When he grasped her hand softly, he leaned foreward to their hands. He looked up at her and smiled, then kissed the back of her hand. When he was done with that, he sat up straight, retaining that smile of his* It's a pleasure to meet you Lyrka, and you too Wren.

Listening to her talk to Wren, he could tell the bond they have.* Closeness with your animal is something very precious...and I see you two are very close. I have recently attained a horse of my own and I hope to get the bond that you share with your horse. *he whistled loudly, then smacked the side of his pants. Moments later a large, black horse with ruby red eyes. They shone with a light not seen in most horses and each time it breathed, you could see wisps of smoke trailing behind it.* Lyrka, meet Kamahl, my new Nightmare. Kamahl, be nice to our friends here, ok? *the horse neighed in response and moved closer to Lyrka, then did a bow. Kamahl slowly let the front part of his body move down to the ground, one front hoove out, the other tucked behind him. It lowered his head as well. Then moments later, he rose to its feet, looked at Wren, then snorted playfully.*

Though another faint blush painted her cheeks when he kissed her hand, she still smiled. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you Kore... We’ve been together for quite awhile now,” she added as she turned to Wren and stroked his face. At his next words she looked over at the nightmare curiously. At his bow she smiled again, a soft chuckle coming from her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well Kamahl.” She took a step away from the stall door and stretched her silver wings out before bowing back to Kamahl. Of course she would bow and not curtsey; she was wearing a pair of black breeches to go with her black boots and gray shirt.

When she stood again she folded her wings back and then returned to leaning on the stall door. Wren eyed the other equine for a moment before returning the snort. “So Kore... How long have you been in Imythess?” She looked over at him curiously. “Or Kellen for that matter?”

*when Kamahl bowed to her, he raised an eyebrow at his actions, then thought--What a showoff....I didn't even know that he could do that...-- He eyed her wings with an interesting look. But then returned his view to her when she turned and addressed him* Me? I'm new to Imythess. I've only been here for a week or so...and I've enjoyed every moment here...*he then thought why are they talking here, when they could talk somewhere other than stables. He slowly opened the stable door and exited it, then closed it, putting the latch on, but not locking it. He looked at her, then winked and smiled* Would you mind if we took a ride and talked about this? This is not the right place for a civilized conversation...We could ride to the Green Gryphon and have a drink. Unless of course you have made a previous engagement.

“Previous engagement?” She shook her head with a smile. “No, I’m free and I’d be happy to join you for a ride and then a drink.” She smiled again before turning to Wren. “See love, you will get exercise today.” She laughed softly as Wren whickered. Her head tilted to one side as she thought for a moment but when she came up with no answer she looked over at Kore. “You wouldn't happen to know where his saddle is kept, would you not? I’m afraid I’ve forgotten completely,” she chuckled though the amusement was directed at her own forgetfulness.

ooc: ach, short post but I couldn't think of anything else to add.

That's good. And don't worry, it'll be my treat, so you don't have to worry about anything. *he walked slowy to where he kept his saddle and the saddles of others. He grabbed his and put it under his arm. Looking back at her, he smiled --man I'm suprised she actually agreed to it...not many usually do...but hey, now's not the time to be loligagging...-- He looked back to what he was doing, then grabbed Wren's saddle and walked back in the direction of Lyrka, Wren, and Kamahl. Putting his saddle on Kamahl, but not securing it, he walked over to Wren and put the saddle on top of him* Don't worry about it, I'll put his saddle on for you.

((ooc: Don't worry about the small post, I sometimes fall victim to para-block(rper's form of writer's block). But its all good as long as its more than 5 lines ^_^))

Lyrka smiled and nodded, waiting patiently for a moment before she remembered something. “I almost forgot! I’ll be right back Kore,” she smiled at him again before turning and hurrying back through the stables. Her pace wasn’t a run but wasn’t a walk either, it was more something around a jog. She slowed to a halt when she came upon one of the men guarding the stables against thieves.
“There you are Michael,” she smiled at the guard who grinned back at her. “Thank you for watching them for me. They weren’t any trouble I hope.”
“Glad to be of service to you Miss Lyrka,” the guard replied. “And they weren’t any trouble at all.” He handed her back her pack. “Aerona slept like the hatchling she is and Corvin kept my shoulders warm.” The coppery pseudo dragon that had been stretched out on the guard’s shoulders switched to Lyrka’s shoulders, curling his tail around her neck.
She opened her pack and checked on the hatchling pseudo dragon before carefully putting it on her back. “Thank you again Michael, I owe you.”
The guard grinned, “Just come to practice with us sometime and I’ll call it even.”
Lyrka smiled and waved as she returned to where Kore, Wren, and Kamahl were while listening to the pseudo dragon on her shoulders chatter.

‘...And he was showing me how to juggle! I want to learn how! He was juggling apples so he let me eat the apples and then he let me play a trick on his friends. And he let me see the horses and he played with me and I got him to sing me a song... It was really funny but I can’t remember how it goes.’ His mental voice could be heard by anyone within a ten feet radius, including Kore. Lyrka smiled as she listened to him. “I don’t think you can juggle love though you’re more than welcome to try and don’t worry, If I want to hear the song I’m sure I can convince Michael to sing it for me... Kore this is Corvin,” Corvin presented Kore with a dragonish grin and waved a scaly paw. “And Aerona is sleeping in my pack.”

*while she made her way out of the stables, he grinned and looked at Wren, tightening his straps. Every buckle he double-checked and he made sure it was comfortable on the horse. When he finished, he patted Wren on the side of his neck* You're owner sure is cute... I'm happy she decided to take you here. You're pretty cool too...aside from Kamahl, you're the most cooperative horse I've come across.

*When he said that, his pixie came out of hiding.(( My Pixie will be in blue)) It fluttered around his face, its wings making a gentle melodic sound.* So...you like her eh? What are you talking about? I never said I liked her. You don't have to, I can see it in your eyes and how you act around her. But I just met her, how can I like her? Its called a crush Kore...I can see it. You know, I may be 6 inches tall, but thats six inches of all woman..*he laughed when she made that statement.* What? whats so funny? Oh nothing nothing... I know its not nothing, whats so funny?! Oh its just that I didn't know how in tune with everything else you were because you're always so quiet. Well, don't get used to that...I've gotten comfortable with you, and now I'm going to be by your side for a while. Well at least you'll help me with my decisions....what should I do? Don't look at me, I don't know, I just tell you what I know...and it ain't what to do...you're going to have to do it on your own

*he thought about what he should do, and he realized that he didn't know at all either, but he'd figure that the horse ride and the ale would loosen him up and allow him to think more calmly.*

Lyrka paused for a moment before she made her way over to them to whisper the words to a spell. Slowly, very slowly, her wings began to shrink and sink into her back until they were completely gone, leaving only her pack on her back. Once that was done she walked over to them and smiled. “Are we ready now?” she asked curiously.
Corvin didn’t notice, he was too busy starting at Kore’s pixie with wide bright sapphire eyes. ‘Pixie!’ He suddenly shouted in their minds before the pseudo dragon was off Lyrka’s shoulders and flying at the pixie.
“Corvin NO!” Lyrka hissed, jumping forward and catching the dragon around the middle. “You leave her alone!” ‘But...’ “No buts Corvin,” she replied as she placed the dragon back on her shoulders.
“I’m very sorry about that Kore, miss.” She nodded politely to his pixie.

*he turned his head to look at her as he fastened the last strap for Kamahl. He noticed her bird was pretty active when he saw Penalia. He nodded in acceptance to Lyrka's apology. At that instant, she flew behind Kore and shivered, making ringing noises.* Don't let him near me Kore, he's scary. Wha....ok, whatever. If you stop bothering me for tonight, I'll make sure to do what you asked me to do.

*With that the pixie flew into his right pocket and stayed quiet. He looked down and her, laughing some, then he looked back to Lyrka.* Yeah, it's all done and we're ready to go.

((ooc: sorreh about deh shortness))

“Corvin stop muttering,” Lyrka absently said to the small dragon on her shoulders. After a moment the soft muttering that could be heard in everyone’s minds stopped only to be replaced by his whining. ‘But Ly I wanted to play with her... Aerona won't play with me, all she does is sleep!’ Lyrka clucked her tongue though she had moved to Wren. “Corvin I said no buts and anyway, Aerona is just a hatchling...” She trailed off and looked over at Kore.

“Good,” she smiled at him before taking Wren’s reins and leading him out of his stall. “See love,” she crooned to him softly, “You’re getting exercise. We’ll go out of the barn and then we’ll mount and then we’ll go for a ride.”
ooc: its okay ^-^ I think mine is about just as short.