WONDERSTARR

It had been a couple days since the gray mare was moved to a grassier paddock. She preferred this one compared to the small space full of dirt and patchy grass, where you also were always left to rely on the hay your owner would toss in. Just like yesterday and the day before, Wonder spent the majority of her time standing there ripping away at the green blades of grass. She had found that if the blades reached up her nose then they were perfect for consuming.
The whole paddock issue also had a downside. Since she had been switched, the horses she would once converse with weren't around her anymore. She would have to admit, she missed the companionship of her old 'friends'. Well, now she figured she would just have to wait for someone else to come along.

Ashlin hadn't been by yet today and it almost worried Wonder, though she knew all too well that sometimes her owner just didn't have enough time to get by when she wanted to. The tall mare took up a spot next to the paddock gate where she would glance around in anticipation for her owner to show up. A deep sigh slipped from her flaring nostrils as she strained her senses. Waiting like this just made things take longer.

Red October

Here he was. The chestnut Arabian stallion was stuck in the corral with Dimitri on a rescue mission. Honestly, he didn't see his owner much anymore. His human was always busy with something, usually involving a conflict with the numerous gangs in the city.

That didn't please Red October at all. Red was a racehorse. He needed to run. He needed to go crazy. But he couldn't when he was stuck in this paddock with no other horses and nobody to ride him. He strode around purposefully, if not a bit angstily, waiting for somebody, anybody, to speak to.

Then he saw Wonder. He trotted toward her, stopping at the fence that separated them. "Who are you?" The stallion asked, wide-eyed.

Vera, Red's owner's younger sister, sat on the gate to the stallion's stall, keeping an eye on him.

WONDERSTARR

Wonder was leaning more towards expecting Ashlin to show up any minute now, to sit on the railing and just talk to her in that strange human tongue. Such a lenguage may not mean much to anyone else, but to Wonder it meant a lot. You'de be surprised what she got out of it. It was like she could hear deeper into the words and get some meaning out of them. She could recognize her human's feelings this way and that was especially what mattered, but with no Ashlin, there wasn't much she could listen to. She was practically desperate for another voice, to just chat with someone. Sure, she could hear many conversations going on between both humans and animal, but it just wasn't what Wonder was looking for.

The gray mare was rather alert on this day in particular. Ashlin hadn't thoroughly exercised her in a couple days now, and she was turning antsy over it. She herself was a Thoroughbred, and even though racing wasn't something Ashlin really got her into, she was just like any that did. Maybe it was just her.

Her black eyes twitched a moment from staring for so long, as though lost in a trance. She suddenly snapped out of her longing as an unknown voice startled her. She jerked her body around and looked in the direction, those dark eyes landing on the Arabian not far off. He seemed to be a neighbor. Funny, she had wanted someone to talk to when she never really paid attention to anyone around her. Ah, she could kick herself for that one.
"I'm Wonderstarr," she began, taking a few steps towards the fence between them, "and who are you?" she countered, giving her tail a flick. She then realized her knees were cracking. Probably from standing there so long...

Red October

Red watched Wonder, trying his hardest not to stare. He didn't see mares very often. The only one he had seen in the past few weeks was Zola, and she liked the Arabian stallion to keep his distance.

"Hello, Wonderstarr." Red said, dipping his head slightly in respect and greeting. "I'm Red October, or Red for short. If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing here?" He figured Wonder must have an owner. After all, every horse in a corral has an owner, right?

WONDERSTARR

Wonder hadn't noticed the stallion trying not to stare at her. Any other time, she would probably catch it and go into a fit, but at this time she was just too lonely to worry about such a thing. Maybe she was just bored? One couldn't be too sure with the lengthy sighs she continued to release. It was as if she seemed almost uninterested in things. She was also a rather impatient mare though.

She watched the stallion with a curious eye, nostrils flaring to take in his new scent. Her ears flickered at his next words to her. It was awfully nice to finally have someone talking to you.
She took a moment to think about his question though was sure to not take up too much time. It was a simple thing for her to answer, but what she wanted to say had to be revised a bit. She didn't want to give out every little detail. "My owner is just temporarily keeping me here." she stated, maybe even a bit blunt. It was true though, despite the corral already serving as her home for who knows how long. "I was just growing bored standing here," she then added, snorting. It wasn't really the standing around part that bothered her. It was just that her owner hadn't come by yet. Her legs were getting a bit achy, though...

Red October

Red nodded slowly. He could sense a bit of frustration in the mare, and he understood it well. "My owner has just gone off to find another clever way to get himself killed." He stated, a bit sarcastic. "He already died once...partly." In fact, Dimitri was dead for about ten minutes after the bomb on the bridge went off. The bomb that his father talked him into setting, of course. It was his brother, a doctor at the hospital, who saved him.

Red sighed. "I know what you mean. It gets pretty boring in here without company."

WONDERSTARR BEST MOVE

Wonder could barely even keep her mind on Red. She was too busy thinking about Ashlin, and going out for a gallop, and eating that tall colorful grass... Suddenly she snapped back out of it and managed to catch what Red was saying. She began to nod, not even realizing it, and then slightly tilted her head. Was this horse trying to say his owner had been brought back to life or something? Wonder could barely believe this, but she figured it may be possible, with all the crazy stuff the humans were capable of.
"Wow, that's-- suddenly she was cut off by the loud ringing neigh of another, and it soon became quite clear as to who it came from. An equally tall horse compared to Wonder came trotting up by the fencing and flagging his tail behind him. Wonder snorted in annoyance as she shot the other stallion a nasty glare. "Oh great," she said rather quietly, as she tried her best to angle herself away from the bay-- she simply turned her rump to him and flicked her trimmed tail at him.

The stallion was known as Best Move. He used to be a racehorse. Well, more like was still in training for it but he never got to really get in on the action. Since he had been sent here, he got a new owner, but she had disappeared and left him here, barely any food to eat and only being able to drink rainwater that collected in his trough. He had been 'taken in' by Ashlin at that time, and when Wonder thought she may have a new companion to talk to, he turned out to be rather, well, obnoxious. And the worst part was, that he had been moved to a paddock right next to her. It was then that she began to just ignore him as best as she could, but sometimes he was just so loud.

Bestie, as he was called by Ashlin, paced back and forth along the fencing between his and Wonder's paddocks. There was just a small space between them though, and this made him stretch his neck out over the railing. He pawed away at the ground, wanting out of this darn enclosure. He wanted Wonder to actually pay attention to him. "I believe you're looking in the wrong direction," he seemed to squeal out and ending it with a snorting chuckle. He knocked at the fencing with a fore hoof.

Red October

Red eyes the other stallion and snorted, pawing the ground. Already he thought Best Move was quite obnoxious with his attention-seeking behavior. "Who would want to look at you, Skippy?" He shot back harshly. He, too, turned his rump to Bestie and once again focused on Wonder. "I take it you know him."

WONDERSTARR Best Move

Wonder looked at Red and nodded. "Know him? My owner took him in," she replied, giving her head a brisk shake. She personally thought the stallion was maybe a bit on the crazy side. She would surely be alright with him if only he kept to himself better. "I don't know why she moved him here-- I don't even know why she took him."

Bestie was still watching the two, and now his eyes locked on Red. He somewhat pictured Wonder as 'his mare'. Why, no one would know. Perhaps because they now had the same owner. Well, particially...
Wonder practically avoided him like he wasn't even there. She just couldn't find a way to fend him off and it was evidently only making him try harder to get her to talk to him.
He snorted angrily at the other stallion whom was talking to Wonder and directed such words at him. "Someone who recognizes class," he stated proudly, barely even noticing that both of them had turned away from him.

"He just needs a bit of an attitude tune up," Wonder then stated, keeping her rump to him. She figured he'de be the perfect stallion if only he could drop that obnoxious act.

Red October

Red took in what Wonder said. He could understand. After all, he used to have to go every day with Niko. The American paint horse stallion was great, but he was just so arrogant. Red only hoped Papillon, Niko's long-lost daughter, was better than him.

The chestnut stallion looked back at Bestie. "Sorry, mate. The class section is on the other side of your paddock. Way, way, way far away from us." He snorted before once again focusing on the gray mare. "A bit of an attitude tuneup? No kidding." He chuckled.

Wonderstarr Best Move

Wonder made a giggle kind of snort at what Red had to say to Bestie. She loved it when someone actually stood up to him, but then it often just kept him going. Wonder was great at zoning him out though, usually.
"Maybe a bit more of a tune up," she then said with her own chuckle. "I don't know why he continues to bother me." she said with one of those lengthy sighs of annoyance. She wished he was just another paddock away. Just one, but no, she was stuck right by him. At least she actually had someone to talk to now.

Bestie continued to pace along the fence, as though trying to find a way through. He could take that little stallion. He gave a snort. "Then why was I placed next to you two?" he snorted, tail flicking. "That human made a serious mistake."

Suddenly Wonder perked up. She had felt her anger building ever since the bay had come over, and now he was practically sassing her owner? That was too much. "The only mistake anyone ever made was sending you here!" she seemed to squeal out, her voice sharp as she spun about to face him and pawed furiously at the ground.

Red October

Red kicked at the fence between him and the other stallion. "Are you not aware that you're bothering us, or do you find joy in our frustration?!" He snapped. He pawed the ground and shook his head. "That stuck-up colt is getting on my last nerve." He snorted.

WONDERSTARR Best Move

Wonder snorted and gave her head another brisk yet restrained-looking shake. "It's no use, he'll never stop till he wants to," she stated, ears flickering as she turned back to Red. She kept an eye out for any humans that may be approaching the paddocks, particularly Ashlin.

Bestie simply bobbed his head. "Of course, but that's why it's so fun." he replied, prancing about his paddock with a loud whinny. Some humans, some a bit startled, would pause a moment in their talking to just stare at the stallion as he went about with his antics.

Red October

Red snorted in annoyance at Bestie. But, listening to Wonder, he figured it was time to just give up. "Maybe," he began in a whisper to Wonder, "if we ignore him, he'll move on." He was ready to try anything right now. He averted his eyes from the stallion, pretending he didn't exist. "Of course, there's a chance that might backfire..."

WONDERSTARR Best Move

Wonder looked to Red and nodded. "Perhaps, but I don't know." she replied, making sure her rump was to Bestie and she didn't make any of her attention towards him apparent.

Bestie snorted and gave one last neigh, ears pricking towards the two. They were talking about something, someone... Probably him, he would bet. He clawed away at the ground and continued to neigh loudly, achieving some glares of annoyance from some humans around him.

Wonder released a deep sigh. "I'm about ready to knock this fence down and charge over there right now-- but then my owner may be in trouble..." she stated. Ahh, it was practically no use. "Let's just ignore him till he shuts up, or loses his voice." she offered with a chuckle.

Red October

Red would have shrugged if a horse could shrug. "It's worth a try. Anything is worth a try right now." He said with a grunt. His ears went back in annoyance and frustration when Bestie neighed. And neighed. And neighed again. "I'd give him a good kick in the face if I could." He was so caught up in ignoring Bestie that he also ignored the sound of the gate to his paddock opening. But a familiar voice got his attention.

"Privet, Red. Ia obratno." 'Hello, Red. I'm back.' The man said in his native language. He approached the red stallion, reached his hand out and stroked his forehead. A gyrfalcon perched on his other arm.

Red's eyes lit up when he saw his owner. "Dimitri! You're back! Where have you been?" He knew that his human couldn't understand him, but it just felt good to talk to him. He wasn't about to ignore Wonder simply because Dimitri was here, though. "This is my owner." Red said with a smile.

Dimitri, noticing Wonder on the other side of the fence, reached his hand out for her to investigate. "Krasivye loshadi." 'Beautiful horse.' He whispered softly.

Wonderstarr Ashlin Glenn Best Move

Wonder nodded to Red and went on simply ignoring the overly obnoxious stallion a paddock down. Her own ears flickered back flat against her head as she heard Bestie's neighs. He just went on, over and over again, with no end. She though her ears were going to fall off, when suddenly, the neighing stopped. Wondering what had finally shut him up, she turned her head just when the human entered Red's paddock. Her ears were drawn forward then, curiousity rising. So, this was his owner? "He looks nice," she stated with a bob of her head, looking at him with her big dark eyes. When his arm was extended so his hand was closer, she reached out and began to sniff it, taking in his new scent. Her ears brought in his unusual words. Now, she knew humans had their language, but that wasn't how Ashlin sounded. It was rather intriguing... "Hey Wonder!" a voice called out from behind, causing the tall gray mare to immedietly spin about at the familiarity.

Standing there, unhinging the gate, was Ashlin. She must have gone home and changed to put on her usual clothing: torn and faded jeans and a light blue t-shirt with the black silhouette of a horse on the front. Her highlighted hair was pulled back in an almost messy ponytail, obviously having been eager to get here- at least, Wonder would have loved to imagine.

Wonder tossed her head up and cantered over to her own owner, nuzzling Ashlin and lipping at her shirt. "Oh, you always know," she stated as she reached into a pocket and pulled out a peppermint, holding it so the mare could take it. She lipped it up greedily and then began to search for more. "All I have for you today, Wonder," she said as she rubbed her palm over the mare's face. Her green eyes glanced around and that's when she noticed Dimitri in the next paddock over. She didn't remember seeing him around here before, but then she had only recently moved Wonder to this paddock.
"Hello," she called out rather cheerfully, though it really wasn't that far. Wonder grabbed at Ashlin's shirt and began to move around towards the fencing where Red and his owner stood. This was a strange feat for Ashlin, seeing as how Wonder always headed straight for the gate. Apparently she made a new friend. With this thought, Ashlin started over as well.

Bestie stood silent in his paddock now, watching the familiar girl with Wonder. He snorted, wanting some attention too.

Red October; Dimitri Volkov

Red's ears pricked forward when he saw Ashlin enter. He watched with interest. It soon became apparent that this girl was Wonder's owner. He let out a friendly nicker to the girl, noticing how she gave Wonder a treat. The stallion turned his head to Dimitri, nosing his hand.

Dimitri, in a matter of courtesy to Ashlin, who he wasn't sure knew Russian, spoke in English, although, of course, had a thick Russian accent. "I'm sorry, Red. I have nothing for you today." He appeared rather worn out as if he had spent the day chasing somebody through the entire Valley. In fact, he had. He had no time to grab a carrot or a sugar cube for his horse. His boots were muddy, as well as his jeans and the bottom of his trenchcoat. His green eyes, usually lively, now seemed dull with fatigue. But that never stopped him.

When Ashlin spoke, Dimitri didn't hesitate to reply. "Hello." He said, giving his head a nod. He wasn't really a shy person, but he wasn't extraordinarily outgoing. "Your horse is beautiful. What's her name?"

Wonderstarr Ashlin

Ashlin soon reached the fence where the others stood and patted Wonder's dappled sides as the mare dropped her head by the fence to lip up some tall blades of grass. They had been growing conveniently along the edge, sticking out just enough so she could rip them away cleanly.

Ashlin looked at Dimitri, noting the thick accent, yet not knowing what language she heard him speaking before she came into the paddock. A smile spread across her face, she nodded. "This is Wonderstarr," she answered, still patting the big mare, yet now patting her shoulder. "You have a handsome horse there yourself," she stated, looking over the chestnut stallion. Evidently an Arabian, and no doubt among her favorite breeds. "What's his name?" she then asked.

Wonder had taken a mouthful of grass and lifted her head, ears flickering between sounds and voices.

Dimitri; Red October

Red stood calmly by his owner, listening in on their conversation as if he understood their speech. Every now and then, he lowered his head to graze, though eventually turned his attention back to the humans.

Dimitri smiled, stroking Red's mane as he replied to Ashlin. "His name is Red October." He often affectionately called the speedy stallion 'Krasny,' which simply meant 'Red' in Russian. "Do you train Wonderstarr in anything?"

wonderstarr ashlin Best Move

Wonder wasn't too interested in the humans talking, though one ear was indeed twisted to take in their strange language. She dropped her head once again to the grass below and grabbed a couple more mouthfuls before lifting and gazing around.

Ashlin continued to look at Red, nodding when she heard the name. Then came the question, and about a hundred things rushed through her head. "Oh, I've trained her in show jumping and cross country, but I actually specialize in western myself," she answered, looking to the gray mare. She had figured she'de train Wonder in English since a western Thoroughbred wasn't something she really would have desired.
"I was just about to take Wonder out for a ride," she then stated, pulling out a few tangled strands of mane on the mare's neck.

Suddenly, that same old neigh rose through the voices of everyone else and caused Ashlin to turn her head. Then she put a hand to her forehead. "Ah, and that noisy creature over there is Best Move," she stated, sighing deeply. She evidently didn't know what to do with the rowdy stallion, even if she was just 'temporary caretaker' for him.

Dimitri; Red October

Dimitri smiled faintly when Ashlin spoke. "She's quite a horse." He complimented, soon looking down at Red as the Arabian stallion grazed. "Red here is a racehorse. My cousin helped me train him before..." He paused, thinking of when he was forced to shoot his cousin out of self defense after she went crazy and tried to kill him. It was hard to think about, and it showed by the look on his face, so he pushed that thought away. "I was thinking of taking Red out too." He stated distantly.

Dimitri cringed when he heard the neigh. "I guess he likes to talk." He said, grinning slightly.

Red snorted, still doing is best to ignore Bestie.

wonderstarr ashlin

Ashlin looked at the Arabian, once again giving a nod. So, an Arabian trained as a racehorse. She'de indeed heard of racing Arabians before. She listened intently, not even paying attention to his face, but by how his voice seemed to trail off, she knew something was up. She didn't push it though, and gave her own smile as she reached out to grab a purple halter that was snapped about Wonder's head.
"Hey, you could come with us," she began, "if you want to. I had just been planning on a good trail ride today." she finished, not wanting to be too forward about things. It was just that Ashlin hadn't stopped by in a while and she knew that she wasn't the only one who wanted to get out there. She knew Wonder also wanted to hit the trails. She had remained positive all day with thoughts about spending some more time with the mare, and now thinking of the wilderness made her feel like leaving civilization behind.

Wonder's ears flickered at the familiar words the humans spoke, but when Ashlin took hold of her halter, she lifted her head from grazing and sniffed the air. She had completely forgotten about Bestie, somehow not even noticing his presence or those annoying neighs he kept up.

Dimitri; Red October

Dimitri grabbed onto Red's halter, patting the stallion on the neck. "I'd like that." He stated simply. It had been some time since he had taken Red for a ride, as he was usually very busy with his brothers and sisters. They had gotten themselves caught up in a rivalry with the Akatsukis, one of the most vile gangs in the city. And recently, his twelve-year-old sister had been killed by their leader, hitting hard on Dimitri. He didn't want to think about that now. He looked at Ashlin. "Where do you like to ride?"

Red occasionally tried to toss his head, but every time, he remembered that Dimitri was holding onto his halter. Not wanting to dislocate his owner's shoulder, he simply pawed the ground, eager to get going. "It looks like maybe our humans are going to take us out for a ride. Do you think we'll get to go together?" The stallion said to Wonder.

wonderstarr ashlin

Ashlin concentrated on Wonder as she once again ran her hand over the mare's dappled coat, wiping away a light layer of dust that she noticed was collecting. Then she turned back to Dimitri and nodded with a bright smile. She always liked her personal time with Wonder, but company was always a plus as well. Everyone was usually busy with one thing or another, leaving no time for such leisurely activities.
"I usually go to the prairie, a lot of open land there, a few trails," she replied, keeping her hold of Wonder's halter and tugging towards the gate with a cluck. The mare didn't need another cue and was was nearly dragging her owner across the paddock. "Whoaaa!" she said with a laugh, clinging to the halter tightly. At the gate, she patted Wonder and headed out, towards a nearby building that held a tack room, where Ashlin kept her tack. "I'm going to fetch my tack," she called. She wasn't sure where he may keep his tack.

Wonder had acted as though she didn't even realize Red had asked her a question, but then she flung her head skyward and neighed loudly. "I'de bet anything we're going together," she answered, noting how the humans seemed as though they were going to the same place.

Soon enough, Ashlin came back out carrying an English saddle and a thin pad, with a bridle slung over that. She came back into the paddock by Wonder and took her halter off. She steadily began tacking the mare up, making sure the girth was tight and the reins were untangled.
"Ready when you are," she stated as she lifted herself up onto the tall gray's back.

Dimitri

Pasha, the gyrfalcon perching on Dimitri's arm, stretched his wing and calmly looked at Wonder. "It looks like we are." The bird stated.

Dimitri nodded in agreement. "Yes, the prairie is perfect." He liked to take his horses out there, and having somebody to go with would make it better. He walked to the tack room as well, getting his Western saddle, bridle and reins. He tacked Red up and made sure everything was right. Satisfied, he lifted himself up onto the chestnut stallion. "I'm ready. Let's go." He reached his hand up so Pasha could climb onto his shoulder, freeing his other hand so he could have better control over Red.

wonderstarr ashlin

Ashlin looked at Dimitri, taking Wonder's reins firmly in her hands. She nodded with a grin. "Great, to the prairie!" she announced, kicking her heels into the mare's sides and urging her on. Wonder gave her head a shake and started off at a brisk canter down the main road of the corral and, with rider directing her, in the general direction of the prairie.