Surrounded by Walls (Open)

[Ayesha McMillan]

Ayesha approached slowly, close to Calliope's front, so the horse could easily keep an eye on her, notice with all her senses that someone was getting closer and get an impression of that new person. She knew what the mare would smell - just a human woman who had picked up the smell of a horse by working with it. While not the most important sense of a horse, Ayesha made it a habit not to wear perfume on a day she worked with Dance, or any other horse for that matter.

"Hello Calliope," she softly introduced herself. "I am Ayesha. Nice to meet you."

She placed her hand carefully on the mare's neck and added: "You'll see me around from time to time now," before she ran her hand down to Calliope's withers.

Repeating the motion she smiled to herself. Working close to the stables was one of the best things about this job, perhaps the best, depending how things developed, and she intended to make the most of it and see Dance as often as she could. It was therefore only a matter of time before she got to know the other horses a little.

Living in the staff cabins would have been even more convenient for spending time with Dance, but she didn't regret the decision to get her own house in town. Given that she wouldn't get rich in this job it was only a modest affair, but still more comfortable than she suspected the cabins to be. Plus it was only a short drive from Willow Brooke, close enough in fact that she could spend a lot more time with her mare than she had ever been able to back home.

She stroked Calliope a final time and took a step back. Looking back at Dance she discovered that the mare was still resting for the moment. "I should let you return to your work," she told Adrienne. "Whereas I should find a free stall for Dance."

[Adrienne Dionas]

Adrienne watched Ayesha for a moment before looking Callope, who was eyeing the English teacher. She gave a soft snort and her ears went back at the new person. Adrienne gently stroked a hand along the large cheek to keep her calm. She mare relaxed as she listened to Ayesha, lowering her head slightly as her ears twitched backwards towards the English teacher.

Adrinne smiled faintly, brushing the forelock of Calliope's main out of her face before her hand gently ran down the wide white blaze of her forehead. She looked back to Ayesha as she talked to the horse to keep Calliope calm. Calliope seemed to accept the attention without any qualms at the moment.

Adrienne looked up to Ayesha when she said she would leave the two alone again. Adrienne just gave a gentle nod of her head. She gestured down the aisle of the stalls. "They laid down some fresh straw in a stall down there earlier and had a temporary name plate set up on the door." She informed Ayesha. She saw it earlier when she first came in. She hadn't thought anything of until now, but Jared must have asked someone to set up a stall for Ayesha to settle Dance down in.

[Ayesha McMillan]

"Good. Thanks." Now that she knew where she would have to look she turned back to Dance, to finish brushing her. She wasn't surprised that someone had made a few preparations. Going not just by the purpose of Willow Brooke, but also the size of the pastures she had driven by, and the condition of the stable, people here cared about horses. They would prepare for the arrival of a new horse, make it easy for it to settle in.

Dance stirred from her rest and snorted, as she felt the touch of the brush again, but swiftly realized that it was her person who was back at paying her attention. She pawed the ground several times and turned her head to Ayesha. Being groomed was fine by Dance, but there were things she was even more interested in.

"Hey, silly. Don't," Ayesha admonished her in a firm, but friendly tone. "I told you I have a few things to take care of. But I promise you'll get out later today."

In hindsight, perhaps she should have gone to the office first, but the journey had been so long that Dance just had to come first. And if whoever manned the office got tired of waiting for her, they could always come to the stable. The first person she had met when driving onto the grounds had been a stable hand who directed her to the stable, and she had asked him to inform whoever was in charge that she had arrived and would swing by the office later, so the staff should know by now where she was.

[Adrienne Dionas]

Adrienne watched her for a moment thoughtfully before glancing out a window. It had stopped raining for the moment, but Adrienne thought she saw a hint of snowflakes fluttering to the ground. She sighed and looked back to Calliope after a moment before she worked on finishing the brush down she was giving the large mare.

She had been debating on putting the mare on a lounge line and give her a little exercise. She was pretty sure the lively mare hadn't let many get into the stall. Her only source of exercise was probably a little romp in the pastures.

She glanced over to Ayesha as she started to unclip the large mare from the cross-ties. She took a good firm grip of the lead. She glanced to Ayesha and gave a gentle nod. "See you around. " She said softly as she carefully turned Calliope. The large mare decided she wanted to be difficult of course, so Adrienne had to make the mare circle again. Calliope gave an indignant snort and stomped a large hoof dangerously close to Adrienne's feet, but Adrienne took a firm hold of the mare and nudged her into the stall. Adrienne calmed the mare down, murmuring to her softly as she stroked her hands along the soft, suede-like pelt the mare had. Calliope calmed and gave a soft whicker, nudging at Adrienne's shoulder. Adrienne smiled and stroked a hand down the large white blaze to the soft, fuzzy nose. "I guess I'll be back tomorrow." She murmured as she stroked the large mare's cheek. "Bye, girl." She said softly as she stepped away and out of the stall. She glanced behind her for a moment before she closed the stall door.

Calliope seemed to be in a much calmer state than when Adrienne first came to her. Adrienne smiled faintly and shut the stall door, latching all the locks to make sure Calliope didn't attempt to get out and then she zipped up her hood and jogged through the slush and snow, back to the student cabins as it began to snow at a more steady pace.