In the stables

[smallestopener]

Ingress has been helping out in the stables every now and again. Today is one of her days.

She walks in to find Susan, her notebook and pencil in hand and her press badge proudly displayed on her jumper.

"Hi, Susan! Can I sweep the hay?"

Ingress likes sweeping.

Comments

[sai_delgado]

"Nay, dear," she says quietly, with a quick gasp that may be a half-laugh. "Not-- not nearly that soon, say true."

Susan doesn't know when, in fact. All she knows is that the deep longing for

(the peace of the clearing)

peace, and quiet, and the bright joy that she'd felt in Aslan's Country is slowly growing.

"And with that in mind, mayhap we'd best get to taking care of the horses, do'ee ken? They can't brush themselves."

[smallestopener]

"Okay."

She jumps up, her usual Ingress self.

"Are you scared of the thestral?"

[sai_delgado]

Susan gets to her feet, brushing straw off her jeans, and shakes her head.

"Nay-- it were only getting used to him, but he's a creature with his own needs, like any horse." A pause, looking down at her. "Are thee?"

[smallestopener]

"I don't know. Does he need brushing down, too?"

[sai_delgado]

"His skin is like a lizard's, or mayhap a snake's-- all soft scales," Susan tells her. "There's a soft cloth that I use to groom him with, instead of using a brush."

[smallestopener]

"I like snakes."

She looks uncertain, but determined. This is the little girl who will be a Herald one day.

"Does he need grooming?"

[sai_delgado]

"Aye, but mayhap not right now," Susan tells her. "It's something I can do later, say true, and we've plenty of other horses."

[smallestopener]

"I'm not scared of him."

She smiles.

"But I'll help the other horses first."

[sai_delgado]

"That'll do well, Ingress, say true."

She smiles back, and then watches as Ingress scampers off to get her brushes -- made carefully to fit a child's hand and kept here for her use. As the little girl begins to groom gentle Melina, Susan's gaze turns distant and mayhap thoughtful.

(you don't have to go today though - or tomorrow)

It's not time yet. She's certain of that still, a deep inner certainty that she can't deny-- and doesn't want to.

(you feel it in your bones)

But Susan Allgood knows as well that the season is changing. It's fin de año, that time in Mejis which signaled the harvest and the end of the year--and which for her had meant the end of other things, as well. She's deeply afraid that it might again, say true.

(Come, Reap)

With a quiet sigh, Susan shakes her head as though to clear it of worrisome thoughts, and then goes to join Ingress, smiling.