Ledyanaya Dolima

The massive, black iron gate of Ledyanaya Dolima slowly faded into the white distance as the trailer Hela stood in wound its way through the valley. The mountains on either side loomed darkly in the distance, barely visible through the gently falling snow, but Hela felt comforted by their presence. A wild, untamed feeling similar to that of the pastures of her foal-hood drifted through the cold air which flowed through the trailer vents, though the heated floor and wool blanket kept her plenty warm.

Niklaus, the stable boy in charge of her care, had brought out the blanket with a bright smile on his face. The royal purple wool perfectly matched her new halter, and a lining of silver matched the nameplate. Gently, he’d fastened it over her and adjusted it several times to ensure that Hela was comfortable beneath it. He also slipped a wool ear bonnet over her head to ensure that the delicate tips of her ears wouldn’t suffer from the cold as they traveled. From discussion, Hela had ascertained that the estate was quite far, and so her new owner, Mikhail, and stable boy wanted her to be much more comfortable traveling than she had been on the trains.

Hela noticed that the weather was becoming a bit more moderate after passing the entrance to the estate, at least for Russia in the winter. The air seemed less biting, the wind far less harsh. The hulking mountains which guarded the valley also protected it, sheltering those inside from the worst of the weather.

It was only another hour before she noticed that the trailer was slowing, and so Hela braved the cold and pushed her head out the window to take in the sights. The estate house passed by, a sprawling brick building which rivaled anything she had ever seen before. The two wings of the estate nearly met in the middle, creating a beautiful courtyard. She could see the left wing was really a small stable, and that was the direction which the trailer turned.

Only a few minutes later, the trailer gate was opened and Niklaus scampered in to lead her down. Testing her footing on the slope, Hela was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a rubber mat perfectly placed for her to walk down, much different from any of the other trailers she was loaded in and out of during her journey to the village.

As she was led away from the trailer, Mikhail strode up to Niklaus and thanked him. “I’ll take the lead now, Nik. I’d like her to be well accustomed to both of us taking care of her, and I ought to settle her in.”

“Yes, sir! Should I go get her feed ready then?” The boy was practically bouncing on his toes, he was so eager to please.

“You should,” Mikhail smiled. “And be sure to check whether her stall is warmed yet also.”

The stable boy bounded off, leaving Hela in the care of her dour-looking master. He began talking to her quietly as he led her inside the beautiful brick stable.

“I have several stables and arenas,” he confided, “but I like to keep my new horses and my favorites closer. The foaling stalls are in this stable also, as I like to be present at the births. I keep each stall at a comfortable temperature for you, so you won’t need the blanket or bonnet once inside. The blizzard which is passing through ought to be over in a few days, so we’ll get to know each other in my smaller, indoor arena here while we wait, then I’d like to take you out on a short hunt so we can get a feel for each other.”

Ears pricked forward, Hela curiously took in every aspect of the stable, including the five other Loshenkas she was led past. She seemed to be the plainest in color of them all, though her simple black coat was wonderfully dark and the broken blaze, socks, and halo on all three added a bit of pop to her otherwise boring coat. 

Almost as if he’d read her mind, Mikhail placed a hand on her neck and scratched her throat latch. “I can almost see you worrying,” he teased, “but you should know that I have a soft spot for dark beauties like you.”

Good. She snorted and bumped his hip with her nose gently. Because I like you a great deal and it would be a shame to mar my coat if I have to fight one of them to prove that I’m just as pretty as they are.

He laughed at her teasing nose. “I hope you’ll get along with them as well though, I imagine you’ll be together often. This is your stall though.” He urged her into a large box stall and as Hela entered, she saw the engraved nameplate on the door.

Mine.

“Home now,” Mikhail rubbed her face as he unfastened the halter and bonnet before moving to take off the blanket. “I’ll give you a day or two to become used to our schedule and to meet your stablemates before I really start testing your training, but I’ll come around often. We need a bit of bonding time. Niklaus will take good care of you tonight though.”

He draped the blanket over his shoulder and stepped out of the stall, draping the blanket over a bar just outside and picked up a purple box with grooming instruments, selecting a round brush. Mikhail moved back inside and brushed Hela’s back gently, reorienting the hair which had been roughed by the blanket. 

Mmm, I like that, Hela let out a sigh, her shoulders and back muscles shivering in release as she relaxed into his ministrations. He chuckled quietly as he finished and stroked her neck before leaving the stall, this time shutting the door behind him. 

“I’ll be back in the morning, love. I’m sure you’ll sleep much better now that the floor isn’t constantly moving.”