After getting comfortable I came to the realization that we didn't eat anything other than a burnt rabbit. I got up looking around for a small piece of food to split for us. I found a fish we had caught earlier in a homemade fish trap. It wasn't that long but it would do.
I took out a small sharp dagger with some leather details on its handle. I started cleaning the fish, I was able to get all the bones out and gave milo the rest of the fish i didn't need. I put it in the fire for 5 minutes to cook.
While waiting I found some mushrooms. I don't know much about mushrooms but I knew these were safe to eat. I put them in a pan and cooked them over the fire. After a few minutes I laid everything out on a stump that acted like a table.
Elliott was clearly hungry and almost ate it whole. After he ate he agreed that he would clean up after meals. We both headed towards the horses to work with them some.
Elliott had gone to a shop nearby and bought two new reins so we don't reuse the ones we have. They were old, you could easily tell. We started training with simple mouth moving training. So just fidgeting with their mouths. They were hesitant at first but eventually they just didn't care.
After that we started just trying to put the bit in. We kept doing that until they did not refuse it. They let the bits sit in their mouths after like 10 minutes. They were quickly adjusting to use. They were used to human interaction because of where their herd was located.
We slowly started trying to hook the reins together, not trying to rush them into it. They hated their ears being touched. We decided to take a break for them not to stress them out too much.
After about 5 minutes we went back and started again. We were able to put the bit right in but once we tried putting it over their ears one of them started freaking out and reared up hitting Elliott in the process. He fell to the ground as the horse came down just barely missing him.
I could tell Elliott was in pain but he got up not saying a word, just walking towards the fire. I knew he wouldn't want to help until tomorrow probably. I picked the reins off of the ground before they stepped on and broke. I hung them up on a branch.
Afterwards I took the horse and started leading it around. I knew the only way to make not freak out again is to train harder. I worked with him alone for about a half hour. I could tell the horse was exhausted.
I decided to give it a small rest then work with him again. I tied the horse close to the tree. Enough to move his head a little but if he tries to rear he couldn't. I started working with touch. I started with just touching his neck.
He seemed to like it so I moved down his body. I started stomping a little with his front hoof. I could tell he was impatient. I got down to his hip and he started showing signs of not being comfortable.
I then decided to not risk it and took a long stick that I found around the lake. It was a strong stick so I used it to kinda pet the horse. That way if he decides to kick I won't be in the way. I worked my way onto his croup.
He didn't like it whatsoever. He bucked the first few times. I just had the stick laying on it so it would stay and not stab him. He eventually wore himself out resulting in him standing still.
I then worked my way down his back leg. He stomped a few times which was normal. He seemed comfortable so I continued on his other legs. He did just fine when I worked on his legs. I then knew I had to work on touching the face. I knew he was unable to rear up since he was tied so close to the tree.
I put the stick down walking slowly up to him not wanting to spook him. I then reached my hand out to touch his muzzle. He seemed to not care about me touching it so I worked my way up to his forehead. It didn't bother him. I guessed it was because of the human interaction he had in the past.
I slowly worked up to his ears. He didn't like it at all out i was consistent showing him that if he doesn't accept it it won't go away. After doing this on one ear for like 10 minutes I switched ears.
He eventually got comfortable with me touching anywhere. This took about an hour and a half. I decided to stop for the day not wanting to wear him down.
I tied him back up and I took the other horse out. She is the horse I was chasing earlier. I took her to the same tree and did the same thing. She was way more calm and relaxed. I wouldn't say she was lazy but she seemed to lose her spirit. She only got a little nervous at first. She got the hang of it just after 10 minutes. She didn't like her face being touched either. She did take longer and hated her eyes being touched. She accidentally stepped on my foot at one point.
She didn't bother to move much once she learned that not listening equaled work. I put her away after successfully getting the reins on her. I walked over to the camp where I found Elliott lying down in bed. It didn't seem like he had eaten anything.
"Do you want anything to eat? We have some chicken you bought earlier, I could cook it up." I felt bad because I knew he was in pain.
"I would love something that wasn't burnt," he mumbled but I was able to understand it.
"It won't be since I'm cooking," I said jokingly.
I walked over to the small container we had the chicken in. I opened it to grab a chicken leg because I wasn't that hungry. I stuck it into the fire to cook. Since it was directly in the fire it didn't take long.
I took it out when it was golden brown. I laid it out with some leftover mushrooms and gave it to Elliott.
"Can I take a look at your shoulder?" I was surprised that I was actually caring about him.
"Yea, I guess," he said hesitantly.
He took his arm out of his sleeve slowly. Half of his chest was exposed. I was trying not to blush but I've never seen a man's chest up close before. I looked away for a second. The whole time he just continued eating with his other hand.
I noticed that a giant bruise had started forming. He probably would be helping much tomorrow which was fine. He was probably in pain so I let him put his arm in his sleeve again.
"That's gonna be a pretty bad bruise." I told him after taking a step back.
"Yea," he replied unbother clearly not seeing that I was just blushing.
I shrugged it off not wanting to be weird and went to bed for the night.
I woke up the next morning and decided to go on a short trail. I tacked up Lucifer and decided to bring the other two horses with.
I trotted off heading towards a nearby trail. It felt refreshing to be out, especially when it's cool out. On the trail I ended up behind a mail cart. It didn't bother me since I was just on trail for scenery. All of a sudden a deer popped out through the trail, spooking the mail cart's horse. From a sudden shift of the cart a letter fell out.
The cart took off and I dismounted to see what the letter was about. It said, `` Dear, naveh. I was able to find a way to dye that white gown of yours that you wanted brown. I put it in some mud and let it sit. After a few minutes I rinsed it. I'm not sure how long it will stay though so if it comes off you can use that technique again.
I folded the letter up again and noticed a small package that probably also fell out. I walked over and grabbed it. It was light and I was tempted to open it. After a little bit of thinking I opened it. After opening it I realized that It was the brown dress
It was long and flowy. It was a very light dirt brown, tan color. I instantly fell in love with it. I walked over and put it in my saddle bag. I mounted up and continued trotting on the trail. After about an hour of walking, trotting, and cantering on the trail we arrived back at the camp.
I dismounted and untacked Lucifer. I untied the other two and tied them to a tree planning on working them later. I walked over to Elliott to see him asleep. I didn't want to bother him so I walked over to the horse again. I grabbed the reins and started putting it on the horses. They fought it a little bit but gave in after a bit.
I took the saddle pad off of Lucifer's saddle to help desensitize with it. I placed it onto the mare, I knew she would be calmer than the stallion. I left the saddle pad on her back and grabbed Elliott's horse, Toaty's saddle pad. It was a little bit bigger but that didn't make it that different.
I walked over to the stallion. And placed the saddle pad in him. He actually took it pretty well. He hated it at first but after a few tries he was fine. I took the rest of the time to slowly build up to the saddle without cinching it up, once I got both of them used to it, I slowly built up until I could tack them up fully. I had Elliott's horse, Toaty's saddle on the stallion and lucifers on the mare, while this was happening I decided on names. Hydra for the mare and Izaya for the stallion.
Over the next few days I built up their confidence until They could be saddled up multiple times without a fit. The next task was to be able to ride them, Elliott was feeling better but he chose to sit the riding part out. Which didn't bother me at all. I lead Hydra around with the saddle on. I got her into a trot, She wanted to throw a fit but she stayed collected and calm. Then I found a log that I would use as a mounting block. I stood the log just fidgeting with the stirrup so she got used to it.
She didn't seem to mind, She turned her head to look at me with an, you're an idiot look. Then I put my foot in the stirrup and slowly added pressure, small amounts at a time. I went slowly, waiting 5 minutes till adding more pressure. After about an half hour I could put half my weight on her. I don't want to mention the part when she knocked me off the log.
I repeated the process until I could eventually put my full weight on her. She seemed to trust me, like she knew I wouldn't hurt her. Then I slowly started leaning forwards like I was gonna get on. She seemed comfortable so I tried mounting up. I was able to sit down until she started taking off. I panicked because I didn't have the reins. They were just out of my reach, I eventually grabbed them and pulled back, I only had a hold of them in one hand, my left to be exact. Even though I was pulling the horse, it never stopped.
She never stopped until we flung into a lake. I led her out of the lake and back to the stump. There was a tree I tied her to so she couldn't bolt again. I retried, with a lot of encouragement. I was a little hesitant. As soon as the sun started setting I put my foot in the stirrup and mounted on. It felt magical.
After all that work it paid off. I leaned down and patted her on the neck. I slowly dismounted and walked her back. When we got to their little pen I untacked her and put her with Izaya.
I wasn't feeling the best since I was cold from the water. I didn't feel hungry so I just went to sleep. I could hear the crickets and the frogs from a not so far away swamp. I just couldn't sleep, The moment of me finally mounting was stuck, repeating in my head. I restlessly got up and put my warm clothes on. While I was awake, I made the most of it. I lit a nearby lantern and took Izaya out. I tacked him up and walked to the same log.
Repeating the process but taking it slowly with him. He was more skittish. The moon was full and bright. No clouds to be seen. Then, something caught my attention. It seemed to be a fox. It was pretty far away so I didn't bother worrying about it. I worked all night. I wasn't making much progress, once the sun was rising was when I was able to fully lean on him. Then, randomly I felt him push my foot making me fold right over him. Full weight and everything.
I fixed myself to sit up, I was mounted and didn't even notice. I think he was trying to tell me to just get it over with. I dismounted and walked him back to the pen, I didn't even realize how tired I was. I ended up sleeping the next day away.
I decided to work with them more once I woke up. I tacked up Hydra and went to the log. I mounted up, we weren't tied or anything. I had the reins in my hands also. I just wanted her to start walking when she was ready. She stood for a few minutes adjusting to my weight on her back. She started walking, I felt the saddle slightly shifting under her.
I then put a little pressure asking her to turn. She seemed a little confused but listened. Then we got into a trot. I did the same turn I did for the walk. Then we stepped up to a canter. Continuing the same thing;. I continued to work with her for half the day. I would say she was successfully broke now.
I did the exact same thing with Izaya, he was a little more resistant than hydra but listened, he didn't want to be hurt and he felt a little trust in me, making the breaking session easier. I rode Izaya back and tacked up Hydra.
"Aye, Elliott cmon we're going for a ride." I said trying to show off my work.
"You tamed them thingies already, wow." he said under his breath with a smile.
I let him ride Hydra since she was more easy going. Then we started walking. We walked onto a trail, the same one with the dress and letter. We trotted a bit, Elliott wanted to race so we did. I won easily because he didn't feel that confident on Hydra.
We trotted on back, untacking the horses for the day. Elliot offered for me to ride Toaty, He was the biggest horse we had there so I accepted excitedly. I took off with him, bareback even. I regretted no saddle his spine was stabbing my thighs.
It felt magical, riding with the sun beating on my back. I changed into that dress I found, The dress was flowing in the wind. His strides were very bouncy and I almost fell off since I wasn't paying attention, so I slowed down.
While walking for a bit I noticed this cave, It was more out of sight then where we were currently. I marked it on my map and headed back. Once I got back I rushed Elliot to help pack everything. We put the food and water on Hydra, and the blankets on Izaya. Toaty was pulling the logs and I, well I was leading. I never told Elliot where I was taking him.
It took us about fifteen minutes to get there. When I revealed it to him he seemed shocked. He didn't seem to love it but he didn't hate it, but He did agree it would be safer from guards. We unpacked, started a fire and rested for the rest of the night.