Carefree (Elle/Open)

[Nuriko]

(28 Oct)

The sky was cloudy but the wind was still as Nuriko leaned against the shoulder of her oldest and first Aerion, one she had helped birth nearly 20 years ago now in the States. Nimbus contentedly munched the grass, occaisionally lifting her head to survey the herd scattered across the rolling hills. Finally things were back to normal, the fences and buildings mended, the store restocked. Any injured animals were healed.

She sighed in contentment, snuggling into her cloak and the warm side of the horse. She was waiting for Elle. She had liked Elle enough as a student, but now that she had returned and they were closer in age she had found a friend.

The shopkeeper shaded her eyes, looking down the lane. "HAALLOOOOO!" She called, waving in greeting from beneath the bay mare's wing.

[Elle Callahan]

When Nuri had invited Elle over to see the flying horses Elle jumped at the chance. Nuri was becoming a good friend and Elle was glad. She hadn't really many friends before the Flux and those she had were now settled with families and she found she didn't have much in common with them. Well except for Alex Kameren. It was a rather nice day in October. It wasn't raining, yet, the wind was still on the ground. Elle quickly strode down the lane to her friend walking straight through the puddles, heedless of the mess she was making of her new knee high leather boots. Alex's house elf had given them to her one day. Elle wasn't sure if Alex had bought them or the elf had found them in some old wardrobe. She was thankful to have them. Elle had dressed for comfort in robin's egg blue leggs, a black wool tunic and a soft brown cloak trimmed with fur.

The shopkeeper shaded her eyes, looking down the lane. "HAALLOOOOO!" She called, waving in greeting from beneath the bay mare's wing.

Elle grinned waiving back. She quickened her pace, practically running down the last few feet. She stopped a few feet away to stare up at the horse.

"She's a beauty," She said in awe, looking at Nuri her eyes sparkling and her lips grinning. "Is it a girl?"

[Nuriko]

Nimbus watched the approaching figure placidly, ears pricked forward as she munched a clump of grass she'd ripped free. Nuri started forward, hand resting on Nimbus' tall shoulder.

"Dont run!" she called. Nimbus wasn't startled, but running toward a horse was still a terrible idea.

"She's a beauty," She said in awe, looking at Nuri her eyes sparkling and her lips grinning. "Is it a girl?"

She couldn't help beaming as Nimbus flared her wings slightly, preening. She knew she was being admired. "Yes, this is Nimbus." the shopkeeper traced a hand up the sleek mahogany neck, scratching the mare just behind the ear in that favored spot, Nimbus lowering her head so the best angle was available to those scratching fingers.

"Say hi," Nuri encouraged Elle, eyes flashing green.

[Elle Callahan]

There was something about a horse that made Elle feel like a little girl again. She had always wanted her own horse. She had begged her grandda for one when she'd been nine. She had even offered to make her own small bedroom a stable for the horse. They hadn't the room or the money for such a thing. While they lived in the country the land they lived on was small and surrounded by woods. Her grandfather had earned his living off the land. They had a little garden for food and a garden for potion supplies. What he didn't grow himself he forged for in the woods. Sometimes strange creatures from the woods would come onto their land. One time Elle caught a glimpse off a unicorn at midnight.

"Yes, this is Nimbus." the shopkeeper traced a hand up the sleek mahogany neck, scratching the mare just behind the ear in that favored spot, Nimbus lowering her head so the best angle was available to those scratching fingers.

"Say hi," Nuri encouraged Elle, eyes flashing green.

"You're a pretty one Nimbus," Elle said with a smile as the horse preened. She probably knew it too. Elle grinned when Nuri said she could say Hi. Elle took a step forward her hand outstretched stopping just in front of Nimbu's nose so the creature could smell her. Elle giggled as the warm breath tickled her fingers. Once the horse smelled Elle, and bent her head just a little in her direction, Elle reached up and scratched between her ears.

"Her fur is so soft," Elle murmured admiring the feel under her fingers. This was a dream come true for Elle. Gone were thoughts of stalkers and shadows. For just a moment she was safe. She was happy and enjoying the pleasures of being outside with a friend and a horse.

"This is so cool," Elle said grinning widely at Nuri.

[Nuriko]

"This is so cool," Elle said grinning widely at Nuri.

"You think this is cool wait til we ride," Nuri slapped a hand affectionately on Nimbus' rump. The mare snorted, tossing her head, but moved away. Nuriko slipped an arm through Elle's and moved them towards the stables where she had left the two aerions she'd tacked up earlier.

"I tacked up Sou--thats Sou'easter, properly, and Cirrus." they walked into the barn, greeted by two dapple grey mares as they entered. Both were tied in a stall, a slim saddle on their backs. "This is Cirrus," she patted the silvery mare, passing her a bit of carrot, "and Sou." she palmed a carrot chunk to the darker grey with the nearly white mane.

[Elle Callahan]

"You think this is cool wait til we ride,"

Elle's eyes widened in anticipation and a little fear. She ignored the little voice in the back of her head that sounded very much like her grandda telling her not to go up in the air. Flying was dangerous. People fell to their deaths. Elle ignored the nagging voice and allowed Nuri to lead her away.

I tacked up Sou--thats Sou'easter, properly, and Cirrus." they walked into the barn, greeted by two dapple grey mares as they entered. Both were tied in a stall, a slim saddle on their backs. "This is Cirrus," she patted the silvery mare, passing her a bit of carrot, "and Sou." she palmed a carrot chunk to the darker grey with the nearly white mane.

THe horses were lovely and Elle watched as they ate their treat. Elle tentatively held out a hand to each horse. "Hello pretties," Elle cooed softly as Cirrus nuzzled Elle's hand.

"I've never flown a horse before and I didn't do much flying in school." Elle confessed, her voice a little high with worry.

[Nuriko]

"Hello pretties," Elle cooed softly as Cirrus nuzzled Elle's hand.

"Here," Nuri passed Elle a couple chunks of carrot. Cirrus eyed them avariciously, taking the treat delicately when offered.


"I've never flown a horse before and I didn't do much flying in school." Elle confessed, her voice a little high with worry.

"Don't worry! We won't fly just yet. And Cirrus will keep you safe, aye?" she patted the mare on the neck. "Grab her," Nuri untied Sou' and started leading out the stable.

[Elle Callahan]

Elle did as she was told and grabbed Cirrus' rains and walked out behind Nuri. Excitement and nerves danced through Elle and she fought hard to keep still. This was so cool.

"WHy do you have three horses? I mean their cool but do you breed them? Race them? Rent them out?" Elle asked curious as to what Nuri did. She knew she had a pet shop but it surely cost a lot to hose three flying horses. Cirrus was a steady creature and followed her mate out of the stable with very little direction from Elle. Actually, it was more like the horse was leading Elle, than Elle doing the leading. She didn't mind and she walked alongside the horse, gently holding the rope.

[Nuriko]

"WHy do you have three horses? I mean their cool but do you breed them? Race them? Rent them out?"

Nuri laughed, giving her friend a boost onto the back of the tall mare. "I've more than three," she fastened a belt around Elle's waist, clipping straps from the saddle onto the D-rings on both sides and one behind. She jumped into her own saddle, giving herself the same preparations.

"A branch of my family's operation in the States," she explained. She gestured over the rolling fields. "It why the menagerie is so far from town." then: "do you know how to ride, elle?"

[Elle Callahan]

The horse was freaking tall. Elle wondered out she'd ever get up there when Nuri crouched down and offered her a boost. Elle put her foot in her friends house and just threw herself up there. She managed to stay on the horse's back and Elle beamed down at Nuri as she was strapped in.

"A branch of my family's operation in the States," she explained. She gestured over the rolling fields. "It why the menagerie is so far from town." then: "do you know how to ride, elle?"

"Nope, not a clue." Elle said cheerfully. A whole operation. It sounded so cool to Elle. She'd never had a family large enough to have an operation.

[Nuriko]

"Nope, not a clue."

"Ok..." Nuri hummed a bit and then launched into a brief explanation, punctuated with some practical demonstrations. "We're not flying today, but I strapped you in anyway to be safe. Cirrus is one of my steadiest mares, but you always want to be safe." she finished, flashing Elle a bright grin.

"Ready?" and they were off, walking down a lane that led into an open pasture, gate left ajar. The wind picked up and Nuri turned slightly to see her friend better. "Doing ok?"

[Elle Callahan]

Elle listened intently as Nuri explained the proper way to ride a horse. Elle watched as Nuri demonstrated what to do with the reins and how to single to Cirrus what Elle wanted her to do. It seemed simple enough.

"We're not flying today, but I strapped you in anyway to be safe. Cirrus is one of my steadiest mares, but you always want to be safe." she finished, flashing Elle a bright grin.

Elle was a little disappointed that they wouldn't be flying today but she understood the need for safety. Elle smiled back eager to get moving.

"Ready?" and they were off, walking down a lane that led into an open pasture, gate left ajar. The wind picked up and Nuri turned slightly to see her friend better. "Doing ok?"

Elle laughed as the horse moved. It was odd having such a huge creature move under her. At first Elle felt like she would topple off. The ground moved in odd ways and it was disorienting but she found herself getting use to the slight jostle.

"This is awesome," She said to her friend. "Can we go a little faster please?" Elle cried out hope in her eyes.

[Nuriko]

"This is awesome," She said to her friend. "Can we go a little faster please?" Elle cried out hope in her eyes.

“Sure,” Nuri laughed, reining in next to Elle. “Nudge her gently with your heels.” The two mares broke into trots, Nuri leading them through a small wood, hooves thudding quietly on the packed trail. They rode in silence, the trees rustling in a small breeze and the birds and squirrels chattering to each other. Nuri kept an eye on Sou’ and Elle, but her friend was doing well.

The wind picked up, preceded by a rush of rustling leaves in the treetops before gusting across the trail, sending a large group of fallen leaves scooting across the trail, sending Sou’ester shying sideways, snorting and coming to an abrupt stop. “Elle!” Nuri kneed Cirrus over to the other mare, catching her bridle before dropping out of the saddle to check on her friend. “Elle?”

[Elle Callahan]

This is awesome," She said to her friend. "Can we go a little faster please?" Elle cried out hope in her eyes.

“Sure,” Nuri laughed, reining in next to Elle. “Nudge her gently with your heels.”

Elle grinned at her friend and nudged the horse. The mare picked up speed and Elle's heart leapt as they lunged forward. Her laughter mixed with the birds as they rode.

The breeze played with Elle's hair, pulling out stray curls. Elle closed her eyes as the horse picked up speed. It was so peaceful with the tress rustling, the birds calling out to each other. Lovely. Elle could almost imagine that she were a princess out for a ride with her trusted companion.

Elle had been imagining what life had been like when horses were more mainstream when a gust of wind caused a tornado of leaves to cross their path and circle Curris' feet. At first the horse just continued to run ignoring the leaves but then suddenly Elle was being tilted backwards. The straps securing her to the saddle unraveled like loosely tied ribbons. Elle clutched at the reins, pulling tightly and squeezing her thighs, trying to stay on as she slid backwards. The horse didn't like it and she suddenly landed back on all fours and then bucked. The reigns were pulled out of her grasp, the leather chaffing her palms as they were ripped away. Elle flew backwards off the horse landing hard on the ground several feet away. Everything hurt as she laid there trying to catch her breath. It hurt to breath. Her chest was so tight she could barely get enough air into her lungs. Elle moaned as she was finally able to get her breath back. Merlin's beard that hurt. She had landed hard on her back, the back of her head bouncing off the grass. Grass might look soft but it did very little to cushion her fall. Elle didn't think she broke any bones but she wasn't sure. Her entire body ached. Elle peeled one eye open as her friend's shadow fell over her. Nuri sounded freaked out.

"I'm alive," She said a bit breathy as she gathered up the energy to push her self up into a sitting position. Elle winced as she put weight on her palms. Her hands were bleeding and her elbow was scraped up. Elle had been really lucky. She had just barely missed hitting her head on a huge rock. That would have been bad. She could have easily broken her skull or her neck.


"What happened?"

[Nuriko]

"What happened?"

Nuri frowned as she checked over her friend. "You fell, it happens." She examined the straps still belted around her friend's waist. The straps showed a distinct lack of attachment to the saddle. "Its not supposed to..." she reached down and helped Elle to her feet, backing up the horses to give her room.

"Glad we didn't fly now?" She flashed a cheeky grin before going back to check Cirrus' saddle. The threads sewing the straps to the saddle seemed to have parted. "I can fix it, if you wanna get back up?"