Only The Strong Survive

Ahanu
"Hey, uh... where should I go?" Ahanu called, leaning back against the fence. He hadn't moved at all since entering.

Charity
"Well you're riding him, so you better get up there and groom him yourself," Charity called back. She snickered in slight amusement of how demanding she could be at times, but was mostly just giddy inside from being back on a horse. "I mean, you can come lead him up to the stables if you'd like."

Ahanu
He slipped back under the fence and walked over to Charity. Ahanu eyed the horse but didn't approach it. "I don't know how to groom." 

Charity
"I already figured that," Charity mumbled, handing him the reigns. "Don't freak out, he's harmless." Charity gave him a reassuring smile.

Ahanu
He held the reigns awkwardly in his hands and looked up helplessly at Charity. "I don't - how do I hold these?" Ahanu took a deep breath through his nose. It's okay. Charity was just riding him. 

Charity
"You don't need to know how to hold them right now," Charity said. "Just lead him up by tugging on them." She demonstrated by giving the reigns a slight tug. The horse moved forward one small step. 

Ahanu
"Oh. Um, where am I taking him?" She probably thinks I'm an idiot. Ahanu looked at the horses hooves, making a mental note not to get stepped on. 

Charity
Charity pointed at the stables. "Just take him up there. Don't worry, I won't leave you alone with him unless he's tied. It also might help if you, like, petted him?"

Ahanu
He blinked, looking up from the ground. "Like, right now?" 

Charity
"If you want," Charity said, smiling and avoiding from laughing. "He won't bite. Bigger animals are sweeter anyways."

Ahanu
"I don't know about that," he muttered under his breath, referring to her last statement. "Are you sure he won't bite? Where do they like to be pet?" 

Charity
Charity stared at Ahanu for a moment, then carefully took his hand and placed it lightly on the horses nose. The horse didn't move or really pay any attention to it; it just blinked boredly.

Ahanu
He didn't really have time to react before he found his hand on the gelding's nose. At first he just stared, a bit tense (waiting for any move to bite, probably), but then relaxed just a little when he realized the horse did not seem to want to eat his hand. "It's soft," he said with mild surprise. 

Last edited on 2018-10-25 at 20:29:41 by Oswin

Charity
Charity nodded, staring at Ahanu's hand. "If it helps any, I used to be terrified of horses."

Ahanu
"Really? I never would have guessed it. I'm just not used to being around bigger animals, so I guess it makes me nervous?"