#i wrote this after my horse almost died in minecraft

[supesissuper]

how kalli met helios, and learnt a little more about her mother

“Oh, aren’t you pretty!” Kalli cooed, stroking the long nose of one of the smaller horses in the academy stables, the stallion nuzzled into Kalli’s hand and she giggled, “Sweet too.” 

The stallion itself was indeed quite pretty, a soft cream coat, smooth and shiny after being groomed by a few students studying animal welfare earlier in the day. His mane was long and coloured a blazing red that almost resembled fire when he ran. His eyes, however, were dark and beady and had Kalli been the fearful type they might have scared her away from the poor stallion. But instead, she smiled and ran her fingers through his mane, amused by the way he pushed his head against her.

“His name is Helios,” Kalli startled at the intrusion, she turned around quickly, standing in front of the stallion. Her panic was uncalled for when she realised it was only Miss Aniss, her greek mythology teacher. She relaxed with relief, had it been any other teacher she’d probably be in a lot more trouble for being in the stables at this time.

She looked down at the floor and scoffed, “Of course it is.” She may not be the best student, but she knew enough about the greeks to know Helios is the personification of the sun, a fitting name for such a horse as the one nudging the back of her head.

Miss Aniss smiled, that same smile that was only a quirk of the lips and suggested she knew more than she told, “He likes you,” she commented, gesturing to how impatient Helios was getting from his lack of affection.

Kalli turned her body at an angle in which she could see both the teacher and the horse and resumed petting him, “I guess. I think he just likes the attention.”

“You know Miss Kallisto, your mother was always a virtuous rider during her time at Themyscira.” Kalli perked up at the mention of her mum.

“Really?”

“Oh yes. Always sneaking off the stables to care for the horses, taking them out for late-night rides. There was this one horse, Terragon, your mothers favourite I think, she rode him almost every day around the island. He was the perfect horse, fast, strong, agile, the ideal steed I suppose.” Her voice wavered and Kalli feared the story was going to get upsetting. “But, things happen I suppose, he injured himself during a training sequence on the beech, broke his hind leg and could not run any longer. Horses aren’t made to be broken.” Kalli’s fear was right. This was sad. Without thinking she leaned closer to Helios, wrapping an arm around his neck in an unconscious effort to comfort him and herself. “I assumed you know what happens to horses when they’re injured, yes?” Kalli nodded, Miss Aniss carried on, “On Themyscira we honour them like any other warrior, give them an Amazons burial. Your mother cried for days.” Kalli sniffled, trying to hold back the tears no matter how hard they tried to fall down her face and expose her in front of her teacher. Miss Aniss looked to the ground and frowned, “I almost feared that was one of the reasons she left.”

Kalli sniffled once again and turned away, staring at the ceiling and refusing to cry.

Miss Aniss placed a hand on her shoulder, ignoring the way Kalli flinched under the touch, “Have you thought of taking equestrian classes, Miss Kallisto?”

Kalli shook her head, “No, no I didn’t think of it.”

Miss Aniss looked between the young girl and the stallion, who was nudging Kalli gently, “I think it may benefit you.” She took her hand away and made towards the exit quietly.

Kalli turned to look at her teacher one last time that night, patting Helios softly and called, “I’ll think about it Miss Aniss.”

She couldn't see, but a smile, a genuinely kind smile, came across her teacher’s face. “Okay Miss Kallisto, please go to bed soon so the Brownies may tend to the horses,” She expressed before finally leaving.