Conan

A tall, gangly thing of sixteen snuck quietly in, soft-soled shoes making no sound as he crept along. His shock of red hair and freckles stood out against a thin face that was screwed up in concentration. He had learned the hard way to walk without being heard. He didn't want to encounter anyone, but he just had to see the horses...

Pride

The bay stallion was exploring the lands, when he saw something out of the norm. His ears pricked up in curiousity, then back at the sight of a human. He reared and pawed the air, telling the boy to stay back. He came down and watched him, nares flaring and body tensed.

Conan

Conan watched the stallion rearing and plunging, and stayed completely still, knowing that approaching would only frighten him. Instead, he started speaking quietly, calmly, neck arched awkwardly and arms away from the sides to show he meant no harm. Easy there, lad. I'll do ya right, now. You talk nice at me and I'll talk nice at you, ok? The voice was soft and calm, but he never moved.

Pride

Pride stopped and watched the boy, his ears pricked up and his nares flaring, taking in his scents. This boy was strange. It was like he knew what Pride wass doing, and understood it. He snorted and watched the boy with curiosity and waited to see what he would do next.

Conan

Conan smiled without teeth, still speaking softly. There now, lad, that's better. I smell interesting? Lotsa times I wish I could smell like the way you do. See what I smell like. And he took one slow, careful step forward, not drawing close, just one step. And he froze there, still speaking softly. There now, you gonna talk nice at me? You're a handsome fella, I tell ya that. Smart, too.

Pride

Pride snorted and put his head further out, smelling him. He smelled of man. Pride snorted and pulled back his head slowly. This human showed no harm to him, he knew that. Pride took a step closer to him, wanting to know him more.

Conan

Conan smiled a little wider, careful to keep teeth from showing. As Pride began to advance, he began taking slow steps toward the stallion, knowing that if he came too close for comfort that Pride would let him know. Always he moved slowly, carefully, eyes always on the stallion but not meeting his, for that would have been a challenge. Still watching carefully, he began to come closer.

Pride

Pride still carefully watched the boy, now relaxing. His nostrils smelled him more and more. Pride didn't look in his eyes; rather, he watched his arms and hands, for he remembered that they could cling onto you and get you. He snorted, waiting for the boy.

Conan

Conan came within Pride's reach slowly, watching him all the time. Slowly, he lifted one hand so that it was in Pride's reach and he could sniff it to his heart's content.

Pride

Pride put his head high when the boy reached out his hand. Then, he sniffed it and smelled it. It was cruel, mean, or cold. It was nice. Pride kept his head close to the hand, but he stopped sniffing.

Conan

His voice was still soft, but he let some of his joy flow into it now. There ya are, lad. Nothing gonna reach out and bite ya, promise now. You're a good fella. Wonder do ya live around here, or just visitin'? And for once in his life he wished for another person, so that he could ask about Pride, learn about him. Heck, I don't even know your name. Mine's Conan. And, slowly drawing his hand away, he patted his chest gently a few times, saying, Conan so that the stallion would get the idea. He didn't expect Pride to actually answer, but he knew that horses were perfectly capable of remembering things like this, and so he did it for Pride's benefit, so Pride would know his name. Still, he wished for a person.

Pride

Pride's ears were stuck up, still watching the boy. He heard the boy repeat his words, and Pride snorted. This boy was more intelligent than the other humans who had captured him. He reached out and nudged the boy's chest. Pride wanted to know more about this boy as well. He decided that this human was small, and he wouldn't hurt him. He still watched him carefully, just in case.

Conan

Conan's soft smile grew a little and he let out a soft laugh as Pride nudged him. That's right, lad. And he reached up slowly, taking a little dare as he aimed to scratch gently along the underside of the stallion's chin. If Pride drew back, he would not push him, but just wanted to see how he would react.

Pride

Pride snorted and started to draw his head back out of habit, then slowly put it forward where it was before. He shifted his weight and looked around, just to make sure that there weren't any other humans there.

Conan

He smiled quietly, continuing to scratch pleasantly under the stallion's chin, voice soft. There, now my friend. What we gonna do with you, eh? He slowly glanced around when the stallion shifted, making sure, as Pride was, that no one was sneaking up on them. Deciding everything was okay, he turned back to Pride, still speaking. Wish I knew what this place was. Might help me to find out where I'm goin'.

Pride

Pride liked the scratching. He nickered to the boy. His ears swiveled about, still listening. He snorted softly and wished that he could understand the boy. How he wanted to talk like he did! But, Pride merely watched the boy with soft eyes.

Conan

The boy continued to scratch, moving slowly about to scratch at neck and whithers, then moving back around the front again without ever actually moving his body. After a long while, he spoke softly. Well you decided ya like me well enough, I guess. I wish I knew your name, fella. Seems kinda silly 'ta call you "horse!"

Pride

Pride finally relaxed his body as the boy scratched him. He liked that. He softly snorted at the boy's words, wishing he could understand him. Pride waited to see what the boy would do next.

Conan

The boy smiled again, rummaging in a pocket. Grinning triumphantly, he held up a small sugar cube, praising. Good fella. You're a real prize. Then, keeping one hand on the stallion, he began to make a slow circuit around him, inspecting coat, limbs, tail. He paused to gently work a small burr free and then continued the circuit, always moving slowly and speaking softly.

Pride

Pride closed his eyes and lifted his head. He liked that. Pride trusted the boy completely and nudged the boy, wanting to see what he would do next.