Sonja Kaia & Tollak

The girl with her long flowing hair rode atop her stocky Fjord into the area of the bridge. Truthfully, she really didn't know where she was. She was looking for a sign, but the one nearest the bridge was all trashed and the letters were all practically worn away. She didn't like how the place looked much, but it was the first stop. "Dra drar, Tollak," she spoke, kicking her heels lightly into his dun sides. The Fjord's motions were a bit bouncy but quite comfortable once you got used to it, as Sonja had. Now the two rode as one, and it was a stunning sight to behold. It was a shame that they never competed.
Soon enough, after a few more yards of cantering, Sonja's hazel eyes landed on a tree not far from the bridge. She didn't like the looks of the old creaky boards and dilapidated metals, so she avoided the bridge and headed straight to that tree she had her eye on. As they drew nearer, she pulled back on the reins. "Langsom," she spoke again, bringing the stallion to a full halt by the trunk. Easily stepping out of the saddle, her feet landed on the ground next to the steed with a light thud. Gathering the reins in her hand, she brought them up closer to Tollak's withers and rested them there, then lowered onto the ground and placed her back easily against the tree. A deep sigh was enough to relax her, and she sat with her knees pulled up a bit. It was a calm and cool day, perfect for a little rest outdoors. Tollak stood and grazed just a few feet from her resting form.

Joni & Riddle

Riddle gave effortless strides as Joni asked him to canter, the Quarter Horse breaking into a stead-fast gait, heading right for the wooden bridge. Joni felt the wind brush against her face, she perched forward and flattened herself on Riddle's neck. "Go boy." Joni cried, happiness rippling threw her body. Suddenly Riddle shied away, a car flew past them. Joni perched forward in the English saddle.

"Easy boy." She said, Riddle's hooves connected to the earth. Then Riddle saw the other horse, he gave a whinny to Tollack.

Sonja & Tollack

Tollack, as Sonja now dozed, perked his head up and looked back at the unknown horse. A light snort came from him, flapping his widely flaring nostrils. A tilt came to his head and he replied with a simple whinny back to the Quarter Horse, flicking his black banner behind him. Who was this new equine? He didn't know anyone in the land yet, so a horse being his first possible friend lifted his lonely spirits. For a moment, he took a few steps toward the horse and rider, curious.

Joni & Riddle

Joni slowly dismounted, rubbing Riddle's neck. "New buddy?" Joni snickered, slowly allowing Riddle forward to meet the horse. Riddle sniffed Tollack, shaking his dark mane softly.

Posted on September 29, 2007 at 06:55:04 PM by Lark Volkov/Anya/Kirill/Zola/Aiara

The small black-haired woman rode on Zola's back and stopped at the bridge. "Khoroshaia devochka, Zola." Lark said as she dismounted the mare and began walking across the old wooden bridge. Two dogs walked at her side and a white gyrfalcon, chained to her wrist, sat on her left arm.

Zola whinnied when she saw the stallions. "Privet pridurki." The mare said, coming to a halt. "Zola!" Anya scolded. "They are not!" The dog snapped at the unruly mare's leg. "Anya! Zola! Ostanovit!" Lark shouted, trying to lead Zola away. The mare wouldn't budge. Lark looked at Joni with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry...my horse is a bit stubborn sometimes." She apologized.

Kirill, the gyrfalcon, tilted his head as he looked at the stallions. "Don't mind the mare. She can be a jerk sometimes." He said with an angry glare to Zola.

Sonja & Tollack

Tollack looked to the other stallion and sniffed back, auds against his head for just a moment. After deciding the other was alright, he gave his head a small tilt and looked over the horse and rider. "Hello," he spoke a bit slowly, using one of the words he had learned of English. It was then that he noticed the other appearing, and turned as the only mare spoke in yet another language. "Egoistisk hoppe." he stated in a strong yet casual manner. He then gave his mane a shake, snorting briskly.

"Pass din måter, Tollack!" Sonja called, suddenly popping to life as she stood from the tree. Brushing herself off, she looked to Joni and then Lark. "Hello?" she seemed to ask, really. She didn't understand what everyone was doing.

"Who are you?" Tollack then asked, his auds back a bit. He figured whatever the mare said wasn't good.

Lark Volkov/Anya/Kirill/Zola/Aiara

Think of every town you've lived in
Every room you lay your head
And what is it that you remember?

Zola smiled and shook her head. "Ia ne mogu poniat" She replied arrogantly. Anya growled. "Zola, stop it! You can speak perfect English!" She snapped. Zola snorted at the dog. "You gave it away, Anya!" She laughed before looking back at Tollack. "I am Zola." She simply replied.

Lark watched Sonja with her dull gray eyes, not even offering a smile. "Privet." Hello. She replied in her native Russian. "I am Lark Volkov, the horse is Zola, the dogs are Anya and Aiara, and the bird is Kirill." She pointed out each of her pets as she said their names.

Do you carry every sadness with you?
Every hour your heart was broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with you

Joni & Riddle

Riddle snorted and looked at the horses, sighing and giving a yawn. "Mares can be like that."

Joni smiled. "I'm Joni, Burnhardt." Joni smiled with a pale expression. She held onto Riddle's bridal. "Don't get any ideas, boy."

Lark Volkov/Anya/Kirill/Zola/Aiara

Lark looked at Joni and nodded. "Hello, Joni Burnhardt. Where are you from?" She replied blankly.

Zola smiled sweetly at Riddle. "You're a handsome stallion." She replied mischievously. Aiara rolled her eyes. "Not again..." She sighed.

Kirill looked at Joni curiously, cocking his head. He gave off a loud call.

Joni & Riddle

"Oh, around here. I live in the outskirts, of course I mostly spent my life on a small horse farm down the street. I was home schooled also. My first time spending big amounts of time in the city." Joni replied casually.

Riddle looked at Zola with a amused tone. "And your a beautiful mare." Riddle smiled softly.

Lark Volkov

Lark finally smiled, but just barely. "I'm from Russia. I was born in Vladivostok and my family moved to Khabarovsk when I was six years old. We lived on the outskirts of the city, breeding, training and raising many kinds of animals. Mostly dogs." She said informatively. "My dad was shipped out to war when I was 12. He never made it back. My mother was killed when I was 18, and I ran here when I was 19. My animals are the only family I have left, besides my cousin who was left to run the Volkov Family Ranch. I haven't heard from him in a while." Some said her life was tragic, but she tried not to think about it.

Joni

Joni's expression faded. "I'm sorry." Was the only words. "So...where did you get your pets?"

Lark Volkov

Lark stared blankly at the ground before looking back up at Joni. "These are from the Volkov Ranch in Khabarovsk. Anya is the daughter of our two strongest dogs. Aiara is her half-sister. Zola is the third generation of Volkov Family Orlov Trotters. My cousin brought Kirill over as soon as he left the nest. He's the son of Katrina, a gyrfalcon I got for my 15th birthday." She explained. She loved to talk. Especially when she was talking about her animals.

Zola stepped closer to Riddle, keeping that soft smile of hers. "I have never seen such a horse as yourself before." She said quietly. Kirill looked at the stallion and flapped his wings. "Don't listen to her! She just wants to have a foal!" He cried out. Zola snorted at the bird. "I'd kick you if you weren't sitting on my master's arm." She shot back.

Sonja & Tollack

Sonja watched the going ons with little interest. It wasn't as if she could really know what they were even talking about. Sure, she knew a good deal, but it wasn't like she spoke a lot around here. She was yet to make friends.

Tollack, feeling left out of this mess between stallion and mare, gave a snort. He didn't like that mare though, and he wasn't afraid to show it. "Tosk!" he spoke, actually calling the mare a 'fool'. Of course, she wouldn't know that. So he then stood there, auds back a bit, giving his short mane a shake.

Joni & Riddle

Riddle looked at Tollack. "Weird language." Riddle snorted.

Joni smiled at Sonja. "I'm Joni, you are?" Joni asked.

Lark Volkov

Zola had learned a few words in other languages. She knew a little Norwegian. Just enough to know what Tollack was saying. "You're calling me a fool?!" She snapped, storming over to where he stood. "Hemym loshadi!" She shouted, swinging her head at him.

Lark spun around and tugged on her mare's bridle. "Ostanovit!" She ordered, pulling Zola away from Tollack. Lark herself had learned some Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish from her father, and knew very well how to apologize in Norwegian. "Beklager" She said, finally getting Zola a good distance away from the stallions. The woman then looked at Sonja. "Hei. Jeg heter Lark Volkov." She said politely.

Sonja & Tollack

Sonja looked to Joni, not quite believing that someone actually wanted to talk to her. A smile lit up her face, "Sonja Kaia," she replied, glad. Only, there was still a problem. She was about to say more when suddenly, the shrill cry of Tollack's neigh cut her off.

Tollack's head was brought back sharply, snorting in annoyance after his outburst. "Ikke vær stum!" he shouted back, avoiding her head-swing at him. He reared back, ready to strike out, just as Sonja reached and swiftly latched onto his reins with a firm grip. She pulled sharply on the reins, holding him back. "Stans det, seg oppfør!" she seemed to growl out, angered a bit by her horse's attitude. She didn't know what was going on between the two, unfortunatly. Then she turned to Lark, shaking her head at the stallion's antics. "Det ikke er noe," she spoke, and then smiled once more, "Jeg er Sonja Kaia." she then said, expecting this other girl to know more Norwegian. She couldn't be sure, though.

Lark Volkov

Frankly, Lark was uncomfortable speaking anything besides Russian and English. She had learned both those languages at a very young age so they were just natural to her. She didn't know enough Norwegian to get into an actual conversation. "Hei Sonja." She replied. "Der hvor er du fra?" Where are you from?

Joni & Riddle

Joni grabbed Riddle's bridal, pulling him back, holding him firm. "Dang." Joni murmured. "Stay still, Riddle!"

Riddle tried ot rear, he was confused with the language. "What the..." Riddle swore.

Lark/Maria

Lark was about to speak again when she saw somebody out of the corner of her eye. She turned around hesitantly, but couldn't tell who it was from this distance. Only when the figure spoke did she remember. "Privet Lark! Vy propustite menia?" The woman called out. Lark's eyes widened and she jumped onto her horse's back. "Net!" Shouted Lark, turning around to face Joni. "This is a bad person and she wants me dead. Her name is Maria Sokolov. Look out for her. I'll lead her away from here so you don't get into any trouble." She said, fear beginning to show. She lightly kicked Zola's sides and the mare began to gallop, with the dogs following and Kirill on Lark's shoulder. They sailed past as Maria pulled out a gun and narrowly missed being shot. Maria followed them.