John & Niavy*

The teen walked into the barn and looked back to see if Bonnie had followed him.

Resting lazily on a haybale was a tan and striped cat with sandy colored eyes. This was Niavy, and she looked quite smug and aloof.

Bonnie

Bonnie followed John happily and once again sat obediently by his side wating for her next command.

John, Nass, & Niavy

He strode over to a length of horse stalls. In the first was a chestnut stallion who happily greeted John as the teen opened the stall and lead the horse out. Nass shook his long head and neck, then stretched it down to see Bonnie, "Oh, you're new here! Why, there was just another collie that passed by a moment ago..." He blinked his huge, dark eyes and studied the new dog.

John watched closely to see how Bonnie would react to the horse.

From the haybale, the cat called down, "Stay away from his hind legs. He'll give you a good kick before he knows who's there."

Bonnie

Bonnie looked up at the tall animal called a horse, dubbed Nass. When he stretched his neck out, she sniffed him and her tail started to wag slowly. She nodded at the cat to say she understood. Attention to the horse, no slash or bite waas given from her, she watched the horse with kind but wondering eyes.

John & Nass*

Pleased, John opened the stall and began to fit a sadle on Nass.

The horse stood patiently still as his young master worked. "What's your name? Are you going to stay here with the other collies?"

Bonnie

Bonnie looked into the horses eyes. "My name is Bonnie, but I don't know if I am to be staying or not."
she replied, her eyes soft and ggleaming.

John & Nass

He nodded his large head, "I would be nice if you did. The she-collie here, Abigale, needs someone to keep her company." Nass lowered his head then and spoke in a whisper to Bonnie, "Five of her six offspring have died within their first two years, so she's been pretty morose lately." The stallion was about to continue when he felt John mount and pull the reigns. Nass pulled back his head and shook it gleefully. The teen led the horse outside of the barn and to the chicken coup. He looked back to see if Bonnie was still following, then waited to see how she would react to chickens. The last thing they needed was a dog who attacked chickens!

The chickens scratched about at the ground or roosted in the coup, not to excited by the presence of the others. They were protected only by a thin fence of chicken wire.

Bonnie

As he talked, Bonnie nodded. Then, as he was led away, she followed. Seeing the chickens, she stopped. Bonnie approached cautiously and sniffed a near chicken. She wagged her tail a few times and let down her cautiousness a little bit.