Nadeem
Muscles trembling, Nadeem made it to the barn with Conan. "You'll.. be safe... here..." He panted, staggering towards the corner where there were bales of hay stacked all about. As gently as he could, the young man set Conan down on a loose pile of hay. He tugged a few bales of hay up beside the teen, helping to secure him from plain sight. "If anything happens, yell. One of us will surely hear you from the house." Nadeem felt a bit guilty just leaving the poor teen lay here in the barn, injured and hurt as he was, but he wasn't about to leave Aralyn in such a turbulent situation inside the house. With a final look to Conan, he ran back for the house.
Psyche * Ammit
Ammit and Psyche, such good watch 'dogs' they were. The two mares trotted into the barn, Ammit stopping to glance back towards the running Nadeem. Then they both went in. Ammit stood over Conan, two hooves planted on either side of his head. Although to some this may have been terrifying, she knew Conan would know. She wasn't going to move. Psyche stood in front of the two, further aiding in hiding as she pretended to nibble on the hay her eyes watchful for more trouble.
Conan
The teen could only nod his thanks, and swore to himself that he would find words later.
Ammit's comforting bulk above him made him smile a little, still panting from the sting of the iodine. He also smiled at Psyche, though his trouble was in his eyes. They... they didn't know Mother. He laid his head against Ammit's fetlock, eyes closing for just a moment. Tired... so tired. Too much, and... Aralyn... who knew...
His thoughts were so jumbled, he couldn't even remember why his stomach hurt. With a sudden heave, he rolled over and expelled his meager breakfast into the hay. He lay for several minutes, forcing his stomach back under his own control. When it seemed he had finally won, he closed his eyes. So tired...
Sanuye * Ammit * Psyche * Spencer
Dog! DOG COME BACK HERE! Suddenly a chocolate lab went tearing through the barn, barking at the air when he halted. His eyes landed on Ammit and Psyche and then...A human? HUMAN!!!!! He barked with joy, then bounded over to Conan. Only to have a swift kick in the gut by Psyche. Go away, mutt. She hissed. A yelp was given. I..I just wanna play with him though! He said, his tail wagging appeasingly. His dark coat was covered in grime, and he looked a mess. Dog! COME HERE DOG! A girl, no more then fifteen walked into the barn. She could pass for a native american, except her eyes. Aralyns eyes. Dog! There you are. Spencer shook himself, his chokechain and tag making the noise that it does. I'm sorry. Dog wouldn't let me catch him. Concern filled those eyes. Hey, you don't look so good. Are you okay? She came forward, a gentle hand placed upon Psyche who snorted, but....She held back from attacking. Something about this little slip of a girl was familiar....
Conan
Suddenly there was so much noise, so much chaos.... and Psyche and Ammit were uncomfortable. He could feel it. He opened his eyes, letting them rest on Sanuye for several moments. He was too delirious at the moment to notice her eyes, or he might have wondered. As it was, he gathered his strength and spoke. I'd... be careful. Psyche's... a one woman 'orse. He raised his eyes to Ammit above him, and spoke again. Easy, girls. He had spotted Spencer, but of course there was no way Ammit was letting either Sanuye or the dog near him until she was sure they were safe, so he was not really worried. He simply looked back to the girl, voice soft. I'll... live ta see another day. Jus'... bullets... He had raised his head to look at her, but he laid it down again. So tired...
Sanuye
Psyche...Couldn't attack. Whose this girl with you, dog? Spencers tail wagged, and he barked, standing up and jumping on Psyches leg. The mare didn't budge, but gave him a swift bite on the back. OW! QUIT DOING THAT! He yelped. His tail wagged, and he said Her names Sanuye. She says shes looking for someone named Aralyn, that this persons her sister. Er, her half sister. I dunno, she kind of rambles. My names Spencer, whats yours? Psyche wasn't even paying attention to this hyper active pet. She turned towards Ammit. When I found Aralyn...Or Aralyn found me, she was a mess from her old place. This girl means one of two things. Shes from the bad place to and is going to take her back, or Aralyn knows nothing about her and shes here seeking family. Either way, they're not taking Aralyn back. The mare shook her head, then turned to Spencer who was still chattering. -And then my girl dropped me off and- What? Why are you looking at me like that? Psyches ears pinned back to her skull, and she dropped her head so she was eye level with Spencer. Where did you find this girl? Spencers wagging tail slowed. She found me. Mb
Sanuye ran her fingers down Psyches hind leg, then murmered Your a pretty girl Then she kneeled down beside Conan. She wanted to keep him awake, for she had nothing to fix him but at least if he was awake, nothing bad could happen and she knew he would never wake up if he slept.
Freya*Prashantii*Conan
Sanuye may have been charming... but Conan had learned at an early age not to trust. So he did nothing to calm Ammit and Psyche, feeling nothing of calm himself. No, he painfully half-raised himself and scooted back, leaning against Ammit's rear leg, supported between her bulk and the hay around him. The movement cost him precious moments in breathless dizziness, but if he was going out, he was not going out cowering like a baby. His eyes roved over her face, trying to figure out why she looked familiar... Finally, he spoke, voice a touch cold and suspicious. What... what's yer business 'ere, miss? Just stay awake. Just one more breath. One step at a time, he could beat this. All his weight was leaned against Ammit, but he was upright.
Out in the yard, a dark hand flashed a signal, and a white blur raced into the barn, hopping completely over Spencer and landing in front of Conan and his protectors, a silent snarl on her pretty face. She was far enough away not to scare the horses, but still between Sanuye and the injured teen. Freya's order's were clear: Sanuye was not to get any closer to Conan.
The cold mahogany eyes of the dog's mistress took in the scene, voice low and dangerous, and highly accented, almost gutteral, in her fury. I bashed your master's teeth in already today. I won't stop with that. Take that mutt and get out of here, and I won't have Shantii show me the color of your entrails. Of course, she assumed that Sanuye was Michael's last-ditch attempt to hurt Conan, and it never occured to her that Sanuye might be innocent.
Sanuye
She blinked at Conans words. Ah...This is going to sound crazy. My half sister lives here, supposedly anyways. She gave a smile, then there was a snarling dog in her face. Oh, you hush, puppy. Another smile was given, as if she wasn't afraid. Then she heard Freya, and her smile faltered but only a moment. Master....How can I Have a master? I don't even know anyone. Not even him, but Dog ran in here so I ran after him and then I saw Him laying here and decided to keep Him awake. She took a breath and let it out, then gave another smile to Conan. My names Sanuye. Do you know a girl named Aralyn? Shes my half sister. Well, I think she is. Mama said that we had the same father, but that she never wanted me to meet him and then she said I have a sister and well, here I am. Anotherb right and sunny smile. Then Spencer came over and lay down in her lap with a plop. All one hundred twenty pounds of him. Oooof You big hound, your heavy. She giggled and wrapped her arms around Spencers neck. She seemed so...Innocent.
Conan*Prashantii*Freya
Most dogs would have redoubled their snarlings at Sanuye's words, but Shantii, whose former owner had cut most of her tongue out, could not make a sound. So she simply moved a step forward, silently bristling and warning Sanuye to keep away.
Freya scowled at Sanuye and moved around behind Shantii to examine Conan. She made a tutting noise and removed a clean handkerchief from her pocket, beginning to gently wipe off the remnants of the iodine. As she worked at cleansing and rebinding the wounds in the herbal treatments she had used before, she spoke to Sanuye. And what can you offer me to convince me that you are not the tool of the devil who just left us?
But Sanuye's words made the red-headed teen push Freya gently aside, staring into Sanuye's eyes. Maybe... it could be true. He spoke up. If ye be Ar'lyn's sister... then what would be the name of tha third sister? Tha one that stayed be'ind? Did she know Kodi? He couldn't say it was likely, but it would make him more likely to believe her.
Sanuye
Something flickered in those eyes of hers. Kodi. But shes dead. They're all dead. The neighbor man told me that my father killed his wife, and Kodi was in an accident. He said the other daughters name used to be Angel, but then it became Aralyn when she left. She smiled brightly. Mb
Conan*Freya*Prashantii
Freya still stared at Sanuye suspiciously, but at Conan's urging she moved completely aside, signalling to Shantii to move as well. She took up a post nearby, not happy about it, but not protesting.
Conan's eyes got soft, seeing Sanuye's pain. She knew Kodi, and she knew Aralyn's real name. So she was real... With a valiant effort, he pushed up against Ammit, struggling to get to his feet. Freya, face like a thundercloud, moved to help him, but he waved her away. When he finally struggled upright, he leaned heavily against Ammit, but his hand was reached out toward Sanuye, his voice soft and low. No, Ar'lyn lives. Your 'alf-sister is my 'eart's sister, and she lives and breathes as much as ye. Ah'm Conan.
Firefly
At the dusk of summer's first day
Fragile wings bring
Little messages of light
The fire-colored mare followed her master the the Ranch. It was a sight she had never seen in the wild. So many animals being held in a giant house, boundaries to keep the horses from escaping...Just the thought of it worried her. She looked at Ammit and Psych. They looked reasonably happy.
But Sanuye seemed distressed. She walked up beside the girl and watched Freya carefully.
Sanuye
As Firefly showed up, her hand was placed upon the mares neck as if to keep her on Earth. This is my horse Firefly. Shes really nice. She rested her head upon the mares leg, her eyes on Conan. When...When can I see her? She was afraid to meet Aralyn, but she wanted to. Oh, how she desperatly wanted to know her fathers family. Would Aralyn accept her, or would she cast her out like everyone else?
Conan
Conan smiled as Firefly came in, voice soft. Well, ah never could dislike a girl 'oo loves 'orses. He was tired, so tired... but... heck, just like Aralyn, he had this feirce pride. It wouldn't let him look weak while Sanuye was looking at him. So he forced his voice to be level as he answered her question. Um... I guess I can bring ya to 'er now, but uh... promise me ya won' tell 'er jes yet that you're 'er sister. It's... been a long day for all o' us. Some other time. I'll tell 'er... tell 'er you're a friend o' mine. Okay?
He waited for her promise before clicking his tongue to Ammit. He couldn't walk without her support... he was barely standing. But with her help, he could make it as far as the house. A hand fisted in Ammit's mane, he headed for the house.
Firefly
Firefly snorted as Conan and the mare walked away. She looked at Sanuye as if to say "Are we going?"