10.Jun.22, 09:56 AM
Chirp remained curled around Chir’s shoulders as the boy finished mucking out the last stall. He’d been given leave for heavier work now that the wound along his right shoulder had all but closed. The one along his left side remained an issue, but as long as it remained wrapped, it didn’t cause him any major grief. He’d already undergone a few debridement treatments and there was now a healthy layer of granulation tissue that would bleed readily if he messed with it.
The green fire lizard had proven to be quite gentle around the horses and she kept her usually talkative nature to quieter levels to not startle the big animals. Mostly, Chirp preferred to snuggle against her bonded’s cheek and snooze in the shared contentment between them.
Chir was just returning with the wheelbarrow and pitchfork when a rider stopped him to ask if she could take one of the mares out for a ride. The boy had already been instructed about which horses were on stall rest and not to allow out, so he didn’t hesitate to smile and nod his head. After depositing his tools, he held up a finger to signal her to wait for a moment before he disappeared into the tack room.
The freckled youth returned with a bridle slung over his shoulder and a saddle balanced along an arm. It had only been a few days since he’d started working the stables, and Chir found he really had a gift for it. The horses didn’t judge or expect him to chat. Most of them seemed quite content with the soothing humming he could offer. Squeezing past the rider, Chir opened the stall and greeted the mare with a palmed sugar cube before he settled the saddle across her back and worked on cinching up the girth straps. As he’d been taught to expect, he watched her take a deep breath as he adjusted the straps and found himself smiling fondly. He’d go back and adjust them last. Turning, the boy got her to accept the bit and then slipped the bridle over her head.
Chir led her from the stall and paused in the breezeway to readjust the girth again. He snickered to himself when the mare blew out a frustrated breath and gave her a soft pat on the neck before turning her over to the rider.
Another horse, this one a bay gelding, shoved his head over his stall door as Chir moved past to knock against his shoulder. The boy grinned and lifted his hand to stroke the horse’s cheek before considering a ride for himself. The stable master had already told him after he was done mucking stalls that he could have the rest of the morning to himself so why not a ride? He wondered if the woman wouldn’t mind company.
The green fire lizard had proven to be quite gentle around the horses and she kept her usually talkative nature to quieter levels to not startle the big animals. Mostly, Chirp preferred to snuggle against her bonded’s cheek and snooze in the shared contentment between them.
Chir was just returning with the wheelbarrow and pitchfork when a rider stopped him to ask if she could take one of the mares out for a ride. The boy had already been instructed about which horses were on stall rest and not to allow out, so he didn’t hesitate to smile and nod his head. After depositing his tools, he held up a finger to signal her to wait for a moment before he disappeared into the tack room.
The freckled youth returned with a bridle slung over his shoulder and a saddle balanced along an arm. It had only been a few days since he’d started working the stables, and Chir found he really had a gift for it. The horses didn’t judge or expect him to chat. Most of them seemed quite content with the soothing humming he could offer. Squeezing past the rider, Chir opened the stall and greeted the mare with a palmed sugar cube before he settled the saddle across her back and worked on cinching up the girth straps. As he’d been taught to expect, he watched her take a deep breath as he adjusted the straps and found himself smiling fondly. He’d go back and adjust them last. Turning, the boy got her to accept the bit and then slipped the bridle over her head.
Chir led her from the stall and paused in the breezeway to readjust the girth again. He snickered to himself when the mare blew out a frustrated breath and gave her a soft pat on the neck before turning her over to the rider.
Another horse, this one a bay gelding, shoved his head over his stall door as Chir moved past to knock against his shoulder. The boy grinned and lifted his hand to stroke the horse’s cheek before considering a ride for himself. The stable master had already told him after he was done mucking stalls that he could have the rest of the morning to himself so why not a ride? He wondered if the woman wouldn’t mind company.