Martha, Timber, & Nass

Unlatching the wooden brace across the large doors, she pushed them open and stepped inside. "Tah, could you feed the chickens? There's a tub of feed over there." She pointed to an old, five-gallon plastic container setting next to the wall, half-filled with chicken feed. Meanwhile, she set about loading bales of hay on a large wagon.

"Brother is back! Well hello, hello!" Nass nickered out, bobbing his head as he peered over his stall. "Say, would either of you mind letting me out of here?"

Timber snorted and shook his head at the chestnut stallion, "We go over this everyday, Nass. Martha gets mad when I let you out, and you always break something."

Tahmores*Elder Brother

As Tahmores bent to scoop some chicken feed out of the bin and moved out to scatter it for the birds, he shook his head in remembrance of the first time he'd attempted to feed chickens. John had confused him with his half-repressed laughter as he found Tahmores down on his knees, trying to call one of the chickens toward himself, and had explained that chickens don't come when called. Now, Tahmores was a seasoned strewer of bird feed.

Brother gave the stallion a tail wave and a smile, saying, "Hi there, Nass. Good to be back, for a while. We're here for three days. I've only that time to catch up on the goings-on around here."

Martha, Timber, & Nass

The birds clucked and peeped quietly, eyeing up the boy with great interest and curiousity. They bobbed their heads, pecking absently at the ground in anticipation before he entered their enclosure and began to spread the food about. And then they were a mass of scrabbling feet and eagerly flashing feathers. The hens talked excitedly amonst themselves, jabbering on about random things as they fed.

"Just a few days?" The stallion pawed at the ground, directing one ear towards the wolf, and one towards Martha, "Not so much has happened, but... if'd you like to let me out of my stall..." Hopefulness crept into his tones as he ignored the look Timber was sending his way, "...I'd much appriciate it."

When the wagon was loaded with hay, Martha got onto the fourwheeler that it was connected to, starting up the machine. It roared to life, but quickly puttered down and threatened to die before Martha pulled out the choke to keep the frozen engine running. It rumbled sputteringly for a few moments before gaining strength. "Ready to feed the cows?"

Tahmores*Elder Brother

Just as Tah finished up with the chickens, he heard Martha's voice calling and came hurrying toward the sound. "Yes, I'm coming!" It didn't take him long to hop a fence and pull up beside the fourwheeler.

And Brother was looking between Nass and Timber, thinking this one over. "Have I your word that you won't break anything, at least on purpose?"

Martha, Timber, & Nass

"I know I don't need to tell you to be light on your toes, but do be mindful of the cattle. Some of them get a little pushy." Martha warned lightly, though she figured that Tahmores already knew as much, and she didn't doubt his agility and speed. And with that reminder in set, she headed for the pasture.

Timber stiffled a groan as Nass bobbed his head again, "Aye, I promise! No breaking anything!" His vevety muzzle reached down over the edge of his stall, sending clouds of hot breath rolling from his flared nostrils.

Tahmores*Elder Brother

Seeing Timber's exasperation, Brother lowered his voice and murmured directly in the collie's ear. "If worse comes to worse and Nass won't come to Martha, I'll have Tahmores fetch him. Fear not." And, with that, he reared up on his hindquarters and used teeth and paws to disengage the latch, moving quickly out of the way. "Someone around here needs to have some fun, goodness knows. We're all so dreary!"

Tahmores was already following Martha, but as they disappeared from sight, Brother turned a grin to Timber. Then, as sudden as thought, he nudged the collie a little harder than necessary, almost like a pup looking for play, and his tail waved madly behind him. "Race you to the cows!" he exclaimed, and took off running.

Timber & Nass

Giant, soft brown eyes watched the two anxiously, eagerly awaiting his bid at freedom. He could usually get Kambode Jr. or Karma to do it, but they had been gone since yesterday and he was itching for a good run. "Thanks, Elder Brother. You have my word - I won't break anything." Nudging the gate open with a bump of his muzzle, the stallion paraded triumphantly out of the stall and cantered into the backyard.

"That just might have to be arranged." Timber replied with half lowered ears as he watched Nass disappear across the yard. The horse never went far, but he could get very wily when the mood was upon him. "Race?" Timber resisted the urge at first, keeping a dignified pose even as Brother's tail was wagging so frantically. "I don't know, I..." But the wolf was already tearing across the ground. A quick look was cast around him before Timber gave in and shot after his friend.