Colt was at the stables straight after she finished her lunch. She chatted briefly with Emma the stable hand on duty while Louisa was already out on the trails with some guests. Emma kindly helped her fetch in the horse she had selected for Elijah. Barbie was a 16.2hh chestnut mare and despite what her colouring normally suggested she was an Irish Draught mare with a rare easy going steady temperament, who took everything in her stride. No horse was ever bomb proof, but Barbie was as close as you get. While Emma fetched in Barbie, Colt went to get Solaris, her own gelding. She bought him as a yearling and raised him herself. He was very much her other half in many ways. She loved how the now eight year old Dutch Warmblood had started off life as a dark bay and was now a beautiful silver grey colour, with the odd brown fleck, or freckles as she called them, rather than the technical term of fleabitten. He was 16.1hh and completely her baby from nose to tip. He was her outer animal since her inner lay dormant, and with him she felt she could fly.
Which is why she arrived early, because once she had gotten Barbie ready and left her munching lazily on her hay, she fully intended to spend as much time with her boy as possible. She sang and hummed away to him as she groomed him from head to hoof, taking many breaks to scratch all his favourite itchy spots as she came across them and there were many. She then repeated the process on his other side, finishing by lifting his feet to pick out his hooves.
Of course, it was at this point as she was bent over with her ass in the air, while Solaris nuzzled at her hip searching for treats in non-existent pockets that Elijah arrived.
Clearing his throat, he said "Well as much as I appreciate the view, and believe me I do, I never believed I would see the day I felt jealous of a horse."
Colt, rolled her eyes and finished off what she was doing before standing upright and saying, "Well I am glad you enjoyed it, because it may be the most you ever see Mr. Lupus." She smirked at her own use of his name, fully aware of his dislike of her calling him so formally.
Elijah rolled his eyes at her attempt to rile him and simply stepped closer into her personal space and countered with "Well Miss Merrier, that does sound like a challenge I will gladly accept."
"Really? You are trying the whole dominating back me up against a wall and what? Am I supposed to go weak at the knees at your proximity then turn into putty in your skillful hands?" Colt scoffed at him. "Back up, and if you have any more lines like that you can shut up. I am not that kind of girl."
Elijah momentarily paused and stepped back not quite sure how he managed to cause such offense early on. Colt meanwhile, was taking shallow breaths trying to mask how much his scent was affecting her. They would have to get out of the stable yard's confined space soon or it would be her pushing him against a wall and letting her inner kitty cat rub herself all over him. Damn it, she though cursing herself for the unhelpful mental images.
Unaware of Colt's internal struggle Elijah stepped back further and held up both hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, if I was out of line. You are just kind of.." he struggled to find the right words desperate not to ruin their afternoon by offending her again. "You just have an affect on me, you're my mate I can't help it."
His apology snapped Colt out of her defensive mode. "No it's not your fault, I'm just a bit stressed. I shouldn't have snapped at you Elijah, I'm sorry too." She wasn't sure why she was biting his head off then sucking up to him the next minute, it was almost like her hormones were going haywire, which she supposed thanks to the bond they probably were. The sooner she got some space from him the better she thought.
"Come on, I will take you to Barbie" she said while directing him a few stables down.
"I'm sorry, to who?" Elijah asked slightly dumbfounded.
"Meet Barbie," Colt directed his view towards what he could only describe as a red coloured horse.
"Barbie? You are kidding me right?" he asked appalled by the reality that he was about to be unmanned by a horse with the name of Barbie, who looked to be wearing... yes that was a pink mat under the saddle.
"Look, she is the steadiest horse here who will carry you weight wise and yes she may be named Barbie but she also will not freak out beyond belief at having a wolf around her, nevermind clamber on her back and take her into the mountains for an afternoon." Colt levelled with him.
"Well kitten, if you are going to put it like that I feel like I am being totally unreasonable." he replied with a genuine smile at how she thought this through for him.
"Exactly." she smiled, adding afterwards with a smirk "Though the pink tack was totally my idea, thought it would bring out your eyes."
"I don't quite know what to say to that." He shook his head, adding on, "But it's good to know you are thinking about my appearance I suppose."
"Alright, alright. Let's get this show on the road." She said gesturing for him to go towards the exit while she grabbed Barbie to lead her out.
Once she had helped Elijah get settled on board with the basic walk on, left, right and how to ask for halt instructions
She returned inside to collect Solaris and lead him out next.
"Erm, okay I know I am no expert." Elijah started.
"Oooh, can I get that in writing please, just for future use." Colt instinctively interrupted him.
"Cute, Kitten cute." he said. "And as much as I am relieved to hear you admit I will be in your future I am concerned to where your saddle is? I was under the impression that that kind of thing is required for horse riding."
Colt rolled her eyes at his comment and laughed. "I dont ride Solaris in a saddle or bridle. We use a technique called liberty."
She signalled Solaris with her long stick and he lay down on the gass for her to step over his back.
"But, wait how will you hold on?" Elijah spoke in worry as he watched his mate and her horse stand in one fluid movement.
He felt a jolt straight into is groin when she simply looked at him over her shoulder, smiled and said "With my thighs of course."