A Pony Discussion

The next morning the world is blanketed in ice. The buildings, trees, bushes.. everything is covered in a shimmering layer of ice. The sun is climbing in the sky and reflecting off of the frozen liquid in a glorious display, making it seem as if the countryside is encased in glass.

Despite the icy, slippery path, Ranol had insisted on leaving as soon as possible. He holds the lead of one of Hildis\'s pack ponies and tugs it gently along, moving at a careful pace along the crackling, slippery road. \"We can take the stable entrance to the mountain and avoid the treacherous stairs.. \" He comments quietly, his breath small white puffs of fog that quickly dissipates.

[Hildis(#23062)]

Hildis walks at the head of another pony, eyes narrowed against the light, a smile of wonder under the ice of her moustache. She stops briefly, ice crackling under her feet to look up at the brilliant mountain looming over them. \"Ranol, we are walking inside a diamond,\" she replies. Then with a wry smile for herself assents, \"Better today.\"

Ranol smiles at her words, looking around slowly. \"Aye.. I never thought of it that way. It is peaceful.\" He glances over at Hildis, his mind struggling to think of things to say that aren\'t completely dense. \"Before he promoted me to huskarl, Braldor would have me ride point a lot of the time. I was usually a mile or so ahead of the caravan and I loved it. Completely alone out in the wilderness..\"

[Siv(#24218)] Perhaps it isn\'t wise for the dwarf Siv to be out alone on these roads, but there is the leatherworker, traveling on a slow pony this day, on the way back from Dale to the Lonely Mountain. Siv is some ways behind Hildis and Ranol, and upon seeing the other two dwarves, Siv kicks the pony so that it trots to try to close the distance.

[Hildis(#23062)]

Sound distorts in the icy world. A horse trotting can be heard, first it seems to come from in front of them and then behind. Hildis turns to look, her breath gray on the cold air, \"Ranol, look.\"

Ranol pauses, his hand tightening on the lead line of the pony and he turns to look back. \"Siv.\" The words are said in a bland tone, the dislike barely covered up. \"And.. a human rider. Let us wait and let the human pass, the path is narrow and the ice is too slippery to rush the ponies.\" The huskarl carefully moves out of the way, blue eyes settling on the other dwarf again, calculating.

[Wynne(#16973)]

Walking along the well kept Road another horse moves. This horse is a blood bay seems huge, behind the horse a smaller pony is being dragged along. The rider dressed in hunter green, and when the horse hears the other horses, it stops suddenly and cries out a challenge. And it paws the ground with its gigantic hoof.

\"Siv?\" Hildis echos and frowns. The dwarf leans against the pony\'s neck and putting a cold nose behinds its jaw while scratching an ear. \"Big horse that one,\" is the only comment made while they wait.

[Siv(#24218)] Siv\'s pony is a feisty thing, much like the dwarf that rides it. As the human\'s horse snorts a challenge, Siv\'s pony flattens its ears--and then it rushes ahead, getting out of the dwarf\'s control and heading straight toward the big horse to try to nip at it!

Ranol stands motionless, that faint frown still showing. \"Aye.. Huge. Look\'s like Siv\'s pony is jealous.\" The huskarl smirks but it isn\'t long before there\'s a resigned sigh as the lead is passed off to Hildis. \"I\'ll go make sure Siv can handle it.\" He starts backtracking, heading towards the two with a solid stride.

[Wynne(#16973)]

The horse calls out another challenge its nostrils flare and it\'s hot breath creates steam clouds in the cold air. It paws the ground again and when the pony rushes it, the rider drops the lead to the pony it was dragging along, as the large horse rears up, and punches the air with its shod hooves. Then the horse leaps forward, towards the rushing pony. The rider yellows out curse in a distinctively female voice, as she throws her weight forward in the saddle to bring the war horse down, quickly she shortens the her rein and pulls the horses head towards her knees, it keep the beast from biting the bit and taking off

[Siv(#24218)] At the last moment, Siv\'s pony slips on the ice, the poor beast scrambling for footing and Siv sliding sideways and then off the saddle. It\'s not clear if the dwarf fell or jumped--possibly a combination of both--but there Siv is now, flung halfway across the road and into a snowdrift.

[Hildis(#23062)] The dwarf watches Ranol start down the hill, takes a step to follow and stops. With a sigh of real concern, Hildis stays behind to watch.

Ranol picks up the pace a bit, closing the distance. He makes a grab for the reins of Siv\'s pony, almost slipping on the ice as well. The dwarf seems more concerned for the beast than his fallen kin.. but.. any dwarf that\'s defeated by a snowdrift is hardly any dwarf at all.

[Wynne(#16973)]

\"Cursed beast stop this now, where are you manners.\" The woman scolds as she reaches down with her other hand to pinch the large horse\'s nostrils as it tries to take a bite out of her leg since its head is now almost touching her knee. \"Behave.\" With that said, she lets go of the horses Muzzle. The horse finally seems to calm down. Loosening the rein she assesses the situation before dismounting and offering aid. \"Hello, sorry for that! She is not good with manners.\" The loose pony calmly waits for the woman to take it\'s lead.

[Siv(#24218)] Siv\'s pony tosses its head and paws the ground, then trots away from both Ranol and the large horse with a huff, starting to calmly walk toward the dwarven home--now that its rider is in the snow ditch. As for Siv, the dwarf scrambles up, covered in snow from head to foot, and then hurries after the pony at a trot, cursing a steady stream in Westron. A quick look is given to Wynne, with \"Apologies! She\'s headstrong!\" as Siv hurries past. Ranol and Hildis almost make the dwarf stop chasing the pony, but then Siv hurries on to try to catch the errant animal.

[Hildis(#23062)]

Hildis holds up a hand in greeting, asking with a badly concealed grin, \"Who is going to win?\" as the pony then Siv trot by.

Ranol barely misses catching the reins and the pony moves away. Siv takes up quick pursuit of the beast and Ranol seems content to leave it at that. He says nothing to his kin and instead turns to look back to the human rider. His blue eyes widen, \"Lady Wynne.. Good morning.\" He says politely in greeting, surprise in his voice.

[Wynne(#16973)]

\"Good Morning, Ranol son of Ranor. I am glad that I caught up with you. I spoke with my cousin, and we were able to find you I you a pony.\" Wynne grey eyes dance with delight as she dismounts and goes to take the quietly waiting\'s pony\'s lead, but as she does this she keeps a good grip on her horses reins. And she can not help herself but grin as she adds her two cents. \"My money is on the pony.\"

Still up ahead with the other animals, Hildis bows briefly and hurumphs, breath clouding the air. \"Good morning to you. Pony is the best bet, me thinks.\"

\"A pony for me?\" Ranol is still surprised and lifts his hand to rub the back of his neck. \"Oh..\" The dwarf is at a loss for words for a moment, then steps over to look at the animal. \"Aye.. calm, looks strong.\" He reaches a thick hand to pat the pony on the neck. \"Though, I had only meant to take a look, gather some prices.\" The words are carefully spoken, hesitation in his voice.

After casting a keen eye at the pack ponies to judge their temper Hildis walks back to join the Ranol and the woman. Holding a hand out to let the pony acquaint itself, the dwarf walks to its head and begins to handle it to see how far the pony\'s manners will let the handling go.

Finishing by picking up the shaggy feet, one by one, Hidlis rises and nods several times, \"Good animal, I would consider it, if Ranol does not.\"

[Wynne(#16973)]

Nodding Wynne says, \"Let\'s just say I think that the pony would be happier with you, than him being a child\'s pet. He is an escape artist and he cribs when he gets bored. Also the price is was too good to pass up I do not think that will find a better deal.\" Wynne smile grows broader as she looks over at the Hidlis. \"Understood.\"

\"If you are interested, Hildis..\" Ranol gives a faint gesture towards the pony and steps back. \"Cribs? What does that mean?\" The dwarf asks. Clearly he wasn\'t lying when he spoke of knowing little about the animals.

[Hildis(#23062)]

Hildis examines Ranol\'s face for his real reaction to the offer and answers, \"Worries the manger, the stall walls - nervousness, too much energy. The escape artist worries me more. I want this pony for traveling. One that will stand in a picket calmly.\" The dwarf\'s green eyes turn to search the woman\'s contenance, perhaps weighing honesty and motivation.

\"But a pet it would not be here, work and travel would be the future for this one,\" an edge of a smile shows under the red moustache with these last words.

[Wynne(#16973)]

\"He does well on pickets, he is a heard animal and would rather stay with the others, but if left in stall for a more than two days with nothing to do, he will find a way to open the stall door and go for a walk. Rest assured he will return to his stable for he is fond of his food. His cribbing issues are from boredom, if he is not taken out for exercise, daily he will crib. The reason I think he would be good for you, is because I think you can give him what he needs and will not put him out to pasture if you grow out of him.\" Her answers are forthright and honest.

Ranol seems interested, but remains quiet as Hildis deals with Wynne. His gaze watches the pony, blue eyes studying the animal carefully. He moves forward to take the lead of the pack ponies they were already guiding back to the mountain, so that the trader can have more freedom to examine the new beast.

Hildis casts an appreciative look to Ranol for letting the examination continue without the worry of more hard headed ponies heading for home unattended. The bearded dwarf nods, one beard jewel caught between two strong fingers sparkling in the bright light cast by the ice surrounding them.

\"Fair enough. But I won\'t be able to take him out everyday, someone else would have to do that,\" is muttered. \"And how much would you be asking?\" (remit for correction)

[Wynne(#16973)]

\"Nothing, I won this boy in a bet.\" Wynne, looks sheepish. \"My cousin and I did, actually.\"

Ranol looks over at Wynne now, his thick black brows drawing together. \"Nothing?\" The words are a soft rumble. \"You came out here this morning with the pony to catch us leaving, and you want nothing for it?\" The dwarven warrior stands staring at her with an expression of confused disbelief.