The zebra walked onto the Ranch lands once again after visiting two other places. Maybe he could find a long lasting friendship here... He had a seem-to-be freind, an elk called Harrow, and some other stallion which Stripes forgot the name of. Sighing heavily but still ready for anything, he lifted his weary head and pricked her ears forward, meaning he was alert. He walked near the house, and he took in the strong scents; his nose quivering. Then he let out some zebra noises, seeing if he could attract a human's attention...

John was headed across the lawn, having checked up on a few things around the place. He did a double take when he spotted Stripes in the yard, and stopped dead in his tracks. He remembered his father telling him about a zebra, but he never expected to see it back here! The teen fished around in his pockets, but could find nothing that might interest the creature.

"Hey there... what's a creature like you doing here?" John questioned in a soft tone, slowly approaching the zebra. He'd never actually seen one in real life, so this was a treat for him! He had no way of capturing Stripes at the moment, but if he could catch and keep the zebra's trust long enough, he'd attempt to catch him. But just getting to interact with him was good enough for John.

Stripes immedietly turned his head to look at the young human, and he snorted lightly. He wasn't known by alot of animals or humans around in the valley, but being known by many had it's setbacks. He sighed heavily, while also taking in the teen's new scent. He watched him dig through his pockets but pull out nothing, and then he listened intently to the words. What a tongue humans had! He couldn't understand him, of course, but Stripes could tell by the softness that John couldn't mean harm... But he wasn't going to let his guard down; not yet. He reached out with his muzzle, nose quivering, ears swiveling. He wondered if the human would give him a pat or something worthwhile.

Rihanne limped down the porch steps. Martha had finally removed the bandages from her broken shoulder, but it still hurt when she went down the steps. Spotting the obviously nervous zebra, and John attempting to catch it, she lay down quickly, making certain that the zebra would not think she meant to harm him. Still, as she lay, her nose twitched, gathering in his scent. It was like nothing she had ever smelled before. Wondering, she lay there, watching, ready to help John should he call, but otherwise just watching.

Stripes took some quick steps back when the new dog approached. He snorted heavily, shaking his head around before stomping a hoof on the ground.
"Who are you?" he asked suddenly, narrowing his eyes. His tail flicked from side to side as he now examined both the human and dog.

She spoke quietly, her sweet alto kind and soothing. I protect our Ranch, and my masters and mistress. I'll do you no harm unless you harm my masters. All of we dogs that live here are that way. She smiled, lowering her head to her paws, yawning. Oh, and I'm Rihanne, by the way. And you?

Stripes watched Rihanne but then his head slightly tilted to the side when he heard the word 'protect'.
"Wait a minute; you said protect? he asked, raising a brow and getting a slightly confused expression on his features.
"Anyway, I'm Stripes." he then said, answering her question, "I used to live with humans but then I came here... I was a racer and lived on a farm." He then looked at the human again, and snorted lightly. He took a single step forward and then just stood there, watching John intently.

He reached out to stroke the middle of Stripe's muzzle, curious of how he might feel; though he only assumed that the fur felt like a horse's would. "How in the world did you get here?" John murmured in wonder, knowing that zebras didn't live anywhere around here. "Someone must be looking for you, I imagine. But heck, I'd rather have you around here..." John showed a broad grin, studying the zebra with intense curiousity.

Seeing Stripes look away, John turned his eyes as well and noticed Rihanne, "Hey there! You're getting better, I see." The teen spoke out loud, flurishing a new smile to their loyal gaurdian.

Stripes enjoyed the strokes and he then looked at the dog again, ears swiveling. He listened intently to the teens words, and he started to feel joyful, despite the frustrating fact that animals couldn't understand the human tongue. Sighing heavily but still relieved, Stripes walked forward toward the teen, and he pushed his head into him, nose once again quivering. Nobody was looking for him, but he knew he didn't belong around here and probably wouldn't last all too long... But of course, he would make his life worth living. Tail swinging from side to side, he continued to push his head a bit harder into John, wanting to test the human a bit...

Rihanne whuffed softly in response to John. Though she didn't understand the words, she saw that he was pleased with something, and knew it must be a comment about her recent injury. Standing carefully, she balanced firmly on all legs a took a few steps, limping only a little, to prove to him that she was indeed well.

Smiling a little at the zebra, which was accomplished with a half a tail wag and a head cock, she spoke quietly. "Careful there. Two-legs break easy." But there was a laugh in her voice that made it obvious she meant nothing by it.

Stripes snorted lightly, now stepping a bit closer to John, but he kept his large head between them. Still pushing, he listened to the dog but then eased the force, and then he took some steps back and started trotting aorund gracefully, tail flicking from side to side as he wondered what the human would do now...

John had laughed a pushed back when Stripes pushed into him. "Where'ya going now?" He questioned out loud, watching as the zebra began to move around the yard. "I know what you'd like, just hang on a sec!" The teen turned and sprinted to the porch and dissapeared inside, but not before pausing to give Rihanne a pet on the head.

In little time John was back outside, brandishing three large carrots in his hand. He looked to see if Stripes were still there, and waited to see if the zebra would like the offering, which John held out in front of him.

Stripes had stopped to watch John go back to the house, and he let out a long zebra noise, wondering why he was going in there. But then he eased up when he seen the teen come back out... And he carried three large carrots! Snorting lightly, Stripes moved forward a bit more and reached out, grabbing and taking one of them, the one that looked the best, and he started munching, the orange veggie sticking out of his mouth until it was completely gone. Then he took another one form John and began eating it, his teeth making the usual shutting noise. But he took his time on this one, and as he ate it slowly, he watched the human, with deep brown eyes.

John watched contently as Stripes ate the carrots. A broad grin flushed his face, making his eyes squint with joy. He moved a bit closer and stretched out his hand once more, this time seeing if the zebra would allow him to touch the two-toned mane. The hairs looked so bristly, he was curious what they might feel like in comparison to a horse's mane.

Stripes looked at John as he finished the last carrot, and he snorted lightly. His tail hung loosely as he lifted a hoof off the ground and then dropped it aimlessly, making a thudding noise. He allowed the human to touch his mane, which was perfectly clean and 'spiked'. He watched John, and then pushed his head into the teen once again, wondering what exactly he would do again...