A Place Of Ones Own (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"No, love, you keep as gift," Danu smiled in return. It wasn't often that a sire's owner would turn down the foal of two incredible horses, but then again, Lunars were an odd people.

"Could you show Annie how you work with the horses, Danu?" Ciaran asked.

"I was about to." Danu took Annie's hand, guiding her out of the branch ring. "Lir, bring Gonovo."

Lir took Bulo out of the ring and let him loose without a lead or bridle, and the horse didn't wander far, content to graze. He headed toward where they kept the other horses, and returned with a horse that reminded Annie of Ferrous before she'd begun his training. He was wild and tried constantly to escape from Lir. The Lunars didn't use bridles and saddles, and oftentimes didn't even use lead ropes with their trained mounts. Lir had a simple leather lead on Gonovo, and struggled to guide him. Once in the ring, Lir pulled the lead off, and Gonovo galloped around the ring. Even though he hardly had to step up to go over the branches, he acted as if he was caged in by high fences and he would not cross the branches. Danu stood in the center, watching him calmly as he ran about. This was a dangerous stallion, the sort that Annie would usually have one of her stronger horses and David with her to guide and wear down.

Danu stepped out into his path and he reared with an angry whinny, but she didn't back down, only side-stepped to avoid being struck. When he came back down, she caught him with one hand under his head and the other on the long bridge of his nose. He tugged away but she didn't let go. "Evim," she murmured, along with several other soft words until he finally quit pulling and stood still. When he did, she rewarded him by letting her hand fall from under his head, but she kept the other on his nose.

He snorted quietly and she kissed his forehead with a smile. "Sweet boy," she whispered. She began to walk backwards around the ring, and when he followed and pressed his nose back into her hand, she rewarded him with a bite of a carrot she'd pulled from a satchel at her side. He wouldn't take it the first time, so she showed him by eating some herself. Once he got a taste, he loved them and she had him following her as the jogged around the ring. But when she laid a hand on his shoulder and showed him she was going to get on his back, he got nervous. Even so, she pulled herself up with ease. She didn't need to hold on and she calmly balanced herself as he bucked a few times and jumped to try to get her off. Annie had never been able to tame her horses without a saddle and bridle.

"Evim," she spoke softly and he began to calm. Giving him a nudge with her footpaw, he began to walk and she practically laid on his back, reaching down to reward him with another bite of a carrot. She whispered and praised him, stroking his broad neck, giving over her trust and her physical well-being to this horse who only a moment ago was wild and crazy. And the whole time, Ciaran and Lir hadn't looked worried at all.

Danu gave Gonovo freedom to do as he liked, and he remained calm, carrying her like it was natural. Soon she sat up again and slid from his back, stepping out of the ring. He followed to the edge but didn't leave. "Would you like to ride?" She smiled to Annie.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie watched in awe as they worked with the great horse. He didn't seem to need a great stable or paddock to do the little work that they asked of him. It was an entirely new way of working with horses that she had never thought about before.

"Of course I would love to ride him." Annie answered with a smile. "I never turn down an offer to ride such a beautiful steed."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Come," Danu welcomed her into the ring, bringing her to meet Gonovo just the way she'd met Bulo. Knowing she was a talented and skilled rider, Danu let her be to ride him. Gonovo seemed unsure of Annie at first, but with soft words from Danu, he relaxed and his ears pricked forward to listen. Danu retrieved Bulo and rode on his back around the outside of the ring just to watch, on the small chance that Gonovo acted up or was spooked by something.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's alright." Annie cooed to the stallion as he flicked his ears. "You're such a handsome horse." She murmured as she stroked her hand across his nose before she move alongside him and slowly, but surely, started to mount the wild horse.

 

[KieranSoares]

Gonovo stamped a hoof nervously, but Danu called to him and he fell still until Annie was in place on his back. It wasn't often that she rode bareback on any horse but her most trusted and Phearson.

"You sooner train horses bare than with saddle and bridle," Danu offered. "Trust comes easy without them. Easier to teach them to wear later, or not at all." And it was clear by Bulo's looks that he'd either never worn saddle and bridle, or not for a very long time.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie let out a little breath as she got on Gonovo, letting the horse work out his nerves and apprehension before she applied a little pressure with her heels and knees, leading him into a trot.

"There's not much call for a horse that doesn't wear a saddle in these parts." Annie offered to Danu.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Werecreatures prefer them," Danu smiled. And what with the growing number of werecreatures who'd come to live in Inverness, that was good for Annie's business. Such natural people preferred their horses to feel unrestricted, and oftentimes would erect open shelters that would protect them, but allow them to leave freely into the pasture, or the open highlands. They were well-trained to know to come home, so hardly ever was a horse lost outside when storms hit and confused them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I will keep that in mind." Annie said, kicking Gonovo again and soon they were speeding up.

She wanted to see how he ran. She had always loved the feel of a horse running freely without a worry or a care.

 

[KieranSoares]

Gonovo's stride was powerful, but he couldn't go too fast within the ring, until Danu reached out and directed him out of the ring with a simple movement of his head. He was out like an arrow from a bow, his beautiful gallop much like the trained and expert stride of Phearson. But he was steady, making it easy for Annie to stay on by simply holding onto his mane.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie held his mane loosely, letting the great steed run. It reminded her of when she was first learning to ride on Phearson and her uncle Theo would simply allow her to learn by doing. She had fallen many times, broken her arm once, but it made her appreciate the speed that the great animals contained.

 

[KieranSoares]

Gonovo ran far and roamed freely, but he eventually returned to Danu, loyal despite their short time together. He came to a halt before the small wolf woman and she kissed his forehead with a smile. "Well done, eldere," she whispered.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He runs beautifully." Annie said as she slipped off his back, smiling at Danu. "Very much like my father's war horse. He'll serve you very well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He will," Danu nodded. But then from town came riding a tall, lean, and very proud-looking werewolf with deep earth-brown fur and amber eyes that exuded strength and command. He was a leader, that much was sure, and when he dismounted and came to kiss Danu's cheek, it became clear that this was Oless, Captain of the Lunars of the Mav Ro of Lochcarron. Danu motioned to Annie, speaking to him in Lunar, and Oless turned to her with a strong, kind smile. He offered his hand to shake, but it seemed that such a greeting was a human invention. Lunars usually greeted with a kiss to the cheek and a hug regardless of gender. Still, Oless tried to play to human culture. "Kosovo, Annie, Am Oless." He introduced himself, but it seemed he couldn't speak English at all.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie shook his hand as it was offered, knowing that he was trying hard to bridge the culture gap between them. She smiled sweetly and nodded as he introduced himself.

"Kosovo, Oless. Am Marianne Ghis Shanendoah." Very few people ever called her Marianne and even fewer Ann. It was mostly David's pet name for her. However, for the great leader of the Mav Ro, she knew that special introductions were in order.

 

[KieranSoares]

Oless chuckled, "Marianne. Evanin." And she knew that 'evanin' meant 'beautiful' from her father. He turned to Danu, speaking softly to her and taking her hand, and she climbed up on his horse with him.

"Come," Danu spoke for him. "Festival is ready." Her husband nudged the horse into a trot and they were off. Lir and Ciaran stayed with Annie, making their way together.

In the town square, they found decorations made from whatever anyone could spare, plenty of food brought by the Lunars, and all manner of little attractions and games for the children and lively music between drums and tribal-made violins to flutes and other odd Lunar instruments.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie held her brother's hand as they walked to the festival. It would be a welcome distraction from the war that would rage in the morning. As soon as she saw her Ma and Da, she let go of Ciaran's hand, moving to kiss her mother's cheek.

Julia looked pale, but she had a smile on her face. She was sitting next to Kitty in the shade, her feet propped up and her growing belly cradled with one hand.

"Good morning, Ma. You look lovely today." She commented, knowing that her Da had bought her the new green dress she was wearing.

"You're sweet, Annie love." Julia said softly, reaching out to touch her step-daughter's cheek. "But I won't have you worrying about me today. Your Da is taking good care of me. You need to focus on having fun with everyone else."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We brought yer crazy man too," Brogan spoke as he came to sit down beside Julia. "'E promised t'sit down an' take it easy, so we let 'im ride over on th'cart." He motioned in the direction he'd just come from, where she could see her husband sitting with her twin brothers. A thick leather brace had been wrapped around his chest and stomach to hold his ribs in the right place so they could set properly and it would keep him from bending too much and displacing them. Ria was leaning on the back of the bench behind him, running her fingers through his hair and berating him quietly for his idiocy.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He deserves every broken bone for being too stubborn for his own good." Annie commented as she leaned in and kissed her father's cheek as well. "And I expect you to take good care of Ma and Gran. "

 

[KieranSoares]

"Always 'ave," Brogan smiled before scooting her along her way toward David, knowing they hadn't seen each other all morning. David was simply enjoying his mother's berating and attention, for as much as she told him he was an idiot, she cared. Eventually, she decided Rho and Sam needed entertainment, and left David to take the boys to see what some of the Lunars were up to.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie came to sit at her husband's side, looking at him with her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn't sure if she was still angry at him or if she was glad to see him.

"I'm glad that you're feeling better." Annie said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I guess 'I'm sorry' isn't going to help me here, huh?" David grinned sheepishly and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek. "Val says it's clean breaks and ought to heal fairly quickly... but she slapped me when she figured out how it happened."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Good. I'm glad." Annie said, returning her husband's kiss with one of her own. "Because I would have if you'd been around last night. I hate it when you make me worry, David."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you do. But you forget you married a man your father practically raised. And the only thing your he's better at than worrying your mother, is being a father. Hopefully it'll be the same with me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, after what you put me through last night, you certainly owe me a roll in the heather." Annie murmured against his ear, giving him a smile that told him that all was forgiven.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd say we ought to go off and do that right now, but... I think I might break myself again," David chuckled and laid his head on her shoulder. "Especially with how crazy you make me some nights," he whispered in return.