Winter Wonderland

“You really are acquiring quite the collection.” 

Gwen turned from brushing Sunset Hypnosis at the sound of the familiar voice and smiled at demonkin. “So it would seem.” 

Ellah leaned up against the fence, a grey and black horse standing next to her impatiently, a bottle of something in her hand and a smirk in her face. Her brown hair was held back against the biting wind by a thick, woven headband that slipped neatly over her horns. “Who is that? Don’t think I’ve seen her before.” 

The mare sniffed in Ellah’s direction, but on not smelling a treat seemed largely disinterested for the moment. 

“This is Sunset Hypnosis. Sunset for short.” Gwen brushed the nose of the sooty, carnation roan, her hand getting sniffed for treats and immediately dismissed on not finding one. 

Ellah led the dark colored horse with her into the pen, the brindle markings showing clearer as they got closer. She secured the mare at a nearby post and went to brush the mare’s darker nose, offering the purple hued horse a treat, which it quickly snapped up. “Where’d you get this one?” 

“She turned up recently, hopped the fence, and absolutely refuses to leave unless I’m riding her. I’ve asked around, but no one seems to know where she’s from.” Gwen shrugged and regarded the horse Ellah had with her, which was now regarding Sunset with annoyance. “Whose that?” 

Ellah gave an amused huff as the tied mare tossed their head in displeasure, stamping their foot, moving to give the obviously well cared for horse who seemed to think it was neglected a treat. “This is Lover’s Greed. Greed for short. And don’t let her fool you, she's not neglected.”  

“I don’t know. She clearly looks like she’s never been pampered a day in her life.” Gwen chuckled and patted Sunset before walking over to the other pair. Rather than take off into the small field, Sunset decided to follow along, her abnormally long tail swishing as she walked. 

Greed seemed annoyed by this, snorting and backing away as far as the tie would allow her. The action wasn’t fear, but clearly she didn’t care for the presence of the other unfamiliar horse. 

“She’d sure as hell have you think so.” Ellah, climbed the fence with the ease of someone familiar with the action and tried to settle Greed, a trace of exasperation mingled with fondness in her voice. “Why do you have to be like this?”

Gwen watched for a moment, pushing Sunset’s nose away as the roan tried to nibble the hem of the fae’s blue tunic to get her attention. “I don’t suppose formal introductions work with Loshenka, do they.” 

“Don’t think so.” Ellah got Greed calmed and walked back over to the fence, Greed now sniffing curiously in the direction of the other horse. Their dark brown eyes were still skeptical, but they weren’t protesting for the moment. “Guess it can’t hurt to try.” The tiefling shot Gwen a grin and then gestured to Sunset. “Greed, this is Sunset. Sunset, this is Greed.” 

Gwen chuckled fondly, the two horses seemingly entirely indifferent to both the introduction and currently to each other. Both of them had found something to nibble at on the sparse winter ground. “Well, if she’s not pleased to meet you, I certainly am,” she said as she offered the mare a treat. 

That seemed to get Greed’s attention just long enough for the mare to take the treat and then turn their attention back to whatever they were trying to graze on. 

“Always so polite.” Ellah quipped, though there was a fondness to it as she held up the drink she carried. “It’s been a while. Want to get a drink.” 

“Sure, but the weather’s nice enough. Maybe we go for a ride and stop at a clearing around here?” Gwen glanced at Sunset. “Maybe get them both a little exercise. I don’t know about you, but the cold weather has all of mine being a handful.” 

“Yours are better than someone else’s I know.” Ellah muttered under her breath as Greed bumped against the demonkin’s elbow, suddenly interested at the prospect of a ride. 

“Hm?” Gwen patted Sunset’s nose as the mare inserted herself into the conversation via an excited bump against Gwen’s side. 

“Nothing,” Ellah replied quickly. “Just you’re about the only person I know who finds weather this cold to be nice. You’re not even wearing a coat or shoes.” 

Gwen laughed, curling her bare toes against the ground as she tucked a stray lock of curly brown hair behind her pointed ears. “I mean, if it’s too cold we don’t have to. I’m clearly not the best judge of temperature.” 

Ellah shook her head, smiling. “Nah. As long as we stick to the sun it’ll be fine. Besides, I promised Greed I’d get her a workout today. And who knows, maybe we’ll find the source or your mysterious horse problem while we’re at it.” 

This definitely got Sunset’s attention as the mare suddenly took more of an interest in Greed, excited to have another horse and rider to go out on the trail with. The mare’s long tail flicked as they tossed their head and mane, inching closer to the dark, brindle loshenka. 

This time Greed didn’t back away, though they gave Sunset a look that suggested the mare was pressing her luck and then looked to Ellah with an expression that seemed to be asking the demonkin what was wrong with the carnation colored horse. 

“She’s friendly. You could take lessons from her.” Ellah patted Greed’s side. 

Gwen grinned and went to get tack on Sunset, as well as a pack for a picnic, the mare extremely cooperative but nearly quivering with excitement. 

“You have a plan for where we’re riding?” Ellah asked as the pair mounted, Greed dancing in anticipation and trying to simply GO the moment they felt they had the chance. Ellah was skilled and familiar enough with the spirited mare the attempt at an impromptu race was quickly put to an end, but the annoyed snort from the smokey black loshenka made it clear the control wasn’t appreciated. 

“I do, yeah.” Gwen settled onto Sunset and bushed the purple locks of the horse’s mane back into place. It was odd for a Loshenka to have a mane, but it suited the mare nicely. 

“Gonna clue me in?” Ellah asked as she brought Lover’s Greed up alongside Sunset, the two horses eyeing each other. Sunset was curious and Greed was skeptical at best. 

Gwen smirked and set Sunset off at a brisk trot, the horses darker front legs and white hind making an interesting contrast. “Perhaps in a bit,” she called back to Ellah

Ellah gave a bark of laughter and nudged Greed into motion, not that the rabicano marked mare needed much prompting, the beautiful brindle catching up to Sunset with little trouble. 

The trail through the woods was an easy one, both horses making quick work of the distance. Though once they were well outside of Evermire, Gwen turned Sunset onto a partially concealed trail, calling over her shoulder to Ellah who probably wasn’t aware of the almost immediate obstacle. “Mind the jump on the turn! A tree came down in the storm a few days ago.” 

She didn’t have time for much more as the landing, however smoothly Sunset managed the jump, almost had her bite her tongue. 

Ellah was a far more experienced rider, and no sooner had Gwen gotten some distance and glanced back to make sure the demonkin was okay, did she get to witness Ellah and Greed manage the jump with a grace that Gwen could have envied. 

The trail was now narrow enough Gwen had to pay a little more attention to the road ahead, and Greed and Sunset could only ride single file. Sunset had no problems with the arrangement, the mare easy on the trail and not in any particular rush beyond Gwen’s instructions. Greed, on the other hand, seemed less pleased with being in second. The dark coated mare kept trying to use any widening in the trail to race past the other pair, and even with Ellah’s firm hand occasionally pulled up alongside them for the briefest of moments the trail would allow. 

Finally, Gwen eased Sunset to a walk as they approached the clearing she was looking for. She hadn’t been there in a while so the trail was almost completely covered in brush and debris. Sunset hesitated for a moment as Gwen urged her to push through the sticks and small branches. None of it was large or had thorns. It was just a small nuisance along the way. 

Finally, Sunset moved through, tossing her mane in annoyance as they entered the clearing. 

Greed had none of the reservations Sunset seemed to show, but they also had no interest in slowing to a walk and before Gwen could really do more than move Sunset out of the way, the spirited grey on black mare had jumped the brush and landed easily in the clearing. Ellah seemed a bit annoyed but from the way the mare was prancing, Greed didn’t particularly care at that moment. 

Gwen dismounted in the clearing, a small, rock lined hotsprings filling the space with the faintest layer of steam in the cold winter air, the small stream flowing from it unfrozen but cool enough for the horses to drink from. There still wasn’t much grazing for the horses, but there was some stubborn grass being kept alive by the residual heat of the springs. 

Ellah dismounted not long after, eyeing the clearing appreciatively. It was a quiet spot, not large, with the trees close enough to always provide shade somewhere around the area but big enough that there was always likely to be a sunny spot around the spring as well. 

The tiefling ran a hand along Greed’s neck. “How often do you come here?” 

Gwen patted Sunset’s side and secured the horse near the stream and what little grazing there was. “Not as often as I like, but enough to keep the space clear and clean for when I do get a moment of quiet.” 

Ellah hummed and made sure Greed was set up much as Sunset was, the carnation mare sniffing at the brindled mare in a clear indication she wanted to play. Greed snorted and didn’t outright reject the notion, but clearly wasn’t sold on it either, instead turning her attention to the water. “You know you could always just take the time. I don’t think anyone would fault you for it.” 

Gwen chuckled and pulled out a blanket and a warm, tightly sealed container of soup, a loaf of bread,and a bottle of whiskey along with the fixings got hot toddies. “I’ll think about it.” She gestured for Ellah to join her as she watched the two mares drink from the spring and nibble on what grass they could. “I wasn’t sure what you brought, but figured a bit extra couldn’t go amiss.” 

The tiefling sat down and regarded the spread before shrugging and popping open the bottle with a smirk. “It’s a mulled wine from Venalia. Just.. ah… acquired it… yesterday.” 

Gwen nearly chuckled at Ellah’s statement. “Mulled wine from Venalia sounds like a perfect option for a day like today.” 

She was just about to say more when a splash and an annoyed huff came from the direction of the spring and the horses. Gwen and Ellah both turned in time to see the mares engaging in what could only be described as a splash fight. 

Sunset kicked the warmer water of the stream at Greed, only to be met by an annoyed returned splash of water as Greed pawed at the stream, sending small droplets of water spiralling into the air with surprising force. 

Both Ellah and Gwen moved at once, worried the two mares would start a fight. However, the worry proved unnecessary as both horses tossed their heads almost at the same time in a manner that suggested they were enjoying themselves in the warm water. 

“We’re going to have to dry them off before heading back.” Ellah crossed her arms as she watched the pair. “I’m not riding home wet in this weather.” 

“I think that can be managed.” Gwen smiled, watching the horses as well. Sunset’s carnation coat and Greed’s smokey black made a brilliant contrast with the sun sparkling off the water around them as they played. “Come on. We may as well enjoy our drinks while those two play.” 

Ellah smiled and nodded, heading back to the dry part of the clearing with Gwen. “Yeah, seems like a plan.”