#we went riding with the stable owner

[cultofdixon]

“I love you” told in a silent way

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • Eldest Greene!Daughter • The archer and eldest Greene daughter grew close when they met and even turned into a few things. Little did they know that they were expecting • ANGST/SFW/NSFW - Implied Sex / Quickies / Hickeys / Biting • TW: Canon Violence / Injuries / Self Harm Scars / Nausea / Talks of Abortion / Amputation / Pregnancy & Birth

Requested by: Anon

Daryl tried to be sneaky when it came to getting one of Hershel’s horses. He thought it be easier to maneuver through the woods on horseback instead of his bike. Wouldn’t be as loud either.

The man didn’t know anything about horses. Especially with putting the saddle and reins on. But he was trying to be quick so that none of the Greenes would notice.

Little did he know he was being watched.

“You forgot the saddle pad. Protects their back from the saddle…the friction and all”

The youngest Dixon quickly dropped the saddle and didn’t think of aiming his crossbow given the woman he turned toward didn’t seem to be armed.

“Who the hell are you?”

“The owner of the horse you be takin’. Don’t care if you do just thought you might need a hand before you take off”

“I’ve got more questions first—-“

“You want a name or somethin’? Or like why didn’t I show my face when your group stumbled into the ranch with a half dead boy?” She tilted her head after saying all that, watching the man’s body relaxed when she said all that. “I’m Y/N Greene. The eldest Greene daughter and I didn’t show my face because I’m not all too friendly with strangers and my old man isn’t all too proud of me”

Now Daryl was completely relaxed for some strange feeling growing in his chest. This total stranger didn’t leave out anything in the initial meeting…he didn’t feel like he had to pull it out of her.

“Can I at least get your name?”

“Daryl. Uh Daryl Dixon”

“Well nice to meet yea. Let me help you get the saddle on and you can take’em wherever you need to go”

“Ain’t gonna like…question why I’d be takin’ your horse?”

“The best thing about being invisible…is I already know why you’re doing it so I’m gonna help in my smallest way” Y/N got the saddle pad from the open cabinet in the stable approaching her horse to get him set up. “You’re trying to find that Carol woman’s daughter? I’d be careful when riding. Nelly is skittish sometimes”

“That’s understandable when a sicko comes by”

“I’m saying…be more careful with anything as small as a mouse when ridin’” Y/N warns as she tightens the saddle on carefully before taking the reins and handing them to Daryl. “If you don’t come back before nightfall, I’ll come and get yea”

“Not gonna need it” Daryl frowns gripping the reins keeping his gaze to the floor until she started to walk away when he brought his eyes back on her.

When Daryl left the farm, Y/N made her existence known to the others from his group given only Lori and Daryl knew of her. Lori only knowing because she accidentally stumbled across her when she needed air after learning what happened to Carl.

The eldest Greene still kept to herself but started to be help to these new people whenever it was asked. She even understood what Maggie was talking to her about when it came to how strange some of them were with one another. But also being mainly an observer, she told her sister more details.

“Have you seen that Dixon guy recently?” Y/N asks her sister Beth watching her shake her head, leading her to leave the house heading toward the stables.

To her surprise, Hershel stood in a bit of a mood when noticing their horse was gone.

“You know who took her?”

“Yeah and I gave the okay. Now I gotta—“ Y/N went toward one of the stalls when Hershel grabbed her upper arm. “Seriously old man. What now?”

“I don’t trust these people” Hershel sung the same tune ever since this group joined. Y/N quickly pulls her arm out of his grasp avoiding eye contact as she pinches the bridge of her nose to contain herself from exploding. “First we lose another of our people because they were left alone with this guy”

“To save the sheriff’s son—-“

“Then the Glenn fella is hitting on my precious Maggie—-“

“She’s a grown ass woman who can make decisions for herself—-“

“Then your stupid decision to let one of them use one of our horses led them to ask for—-“

“SHUT IT” Y/N hissed. “I ain’t bein’ blamed for stupid shit, dad. You’re a sweet old guy that wouldn’t turn away good people but of course it’s driving yea nuts how high maintenance it is. Now get out of my way”

Her father didn’t leave the stables and watched her go into one of the stalls to push over some hay to reveal her hunting rifle strapping it on her.

“What are you doing?!”

“Going out to save one of them from whatever bullshit he got himself in”

“Seriously?! How can you easily let someone in? How can yea risk your life—-“

“I have given too much to this world that I’m not about to let it take from me. Yeah…I may not know much of this guy but some cosmic whatever is telling me he’s worth it” and with that Y/N left for the woods.

Y/N didn’t walk aimlessly like the Dixon fella might have because she grew up in these woods. She’s seen his crossbow and knows he’s a hunter but unless you know your surroundings, you’re learning as you go. Which meant the fall that Daryl took when Nelly bucked him off, Y/N knew the spot he’d fall into. Daryl had just pulled the arrow out of his side to take out the walker trying to get him but when the sounds of another undead came, he knew he was done for.

Until the sound of gunfire rung through followed by a thud. Daryl in his exhausted state looked up from where he fell finding a blurry blob that was Y/N with her rifle still in a readied position. He scoffs slightly out of annoyance toward himself mainly but a bit toward her that he directed to her when she slid the side of the slope reaching him.

“You’re an idiot…”

“Says the one bleeding” Y/N frowns setting her rifle down beside her, helping Daryl sit up with some resistance. “Gotta close that better or you’ll bleed out before we get back”

“Why do you care? If Merle were here he’d make jokes about a girl touchin’ me”

Y/N sort of ignored his words. Merle? Must be family or at least someone close he’s thinking of because of the blood loss. Least she didn’t have to worry about hallucinations…at least when she’s there.

“I just do. Is that a good enough answer for yea?”

“For now”

“Good” Y/N shrugged off her flannel leaving her in a tank top making the heat rise to Daryl’s face as he turned away when she brought her shirt around his torso to apply pressure to the wound. “When we get back, the old man will patch you up”

“How’d yea even know I’d end up here?”

“I know these woods a bit too well, Dixon”

“So…yea could’ve warned me?”

“Nah. Then that would be doubting your abilities now wouldn’t it?” Y/N frowns bringing his arm around her shoulders hearing him groan when getting back on his feet.

Getting back to where they were was a struggle and resulted in Y/N carrying Daryl on her back to the best of her ability. A few bumps along the way but they made it. Now it was a slow walk back to the farm.

Though neither of them could’ve calculated what’s about to happen, to happen.

Once the two were in the clearing, Y/N heard muffled shouting while Daryl clung onto her really feeling the blood loss get to him. His feeling instantly changed when he felt her tense beside him when the group of men came running over. Daryl scoffs straightening up the best he could, glaring at Rick who held his colt in his face once again.

“That’s the third time you pointed that thing at my head” Daryl scoffs. “Gonna pull the trigger or what?”

Then the ring of a shot powered through and nicked Daryl in the head. The force caused him to fall over and Y/N to instantly approach his side to get him on his back making sure he was still breathing.

“I was kidding” Daryl groans, squinting his eyes from the pain in his head as Rick and Shayne quickly came over to help the guy onto his feet while Y/N got up continuing to carry his gear and grow an unsettling taste in her mouth when Andrea came running over admitting to her firing.

Dale noticed the look in the Greene’s eyes and felt the need to step in front of Andrea when she made her way over to them.

“Next time, if you’re ever unsure about the shot you’re about to take? Don’t take it” Y/N kept her cool and even shot the girl a temporary smile that faded into the resting neutral while she caught up with the others.

The poor guy laid uncomfortably in the bed while Hershel got to work on his stitches. Once the info about Sophia’s possible whereabouts, Hershel couldn’t help but speak his mind.

“If you didn’t go out in the first place, my daughter wouldn’t have felt obligated to save your ass”

“No one told her to come and save me. I would’ve come back somehow”

“Given your injuries, Dixon. Be a little more thankful that Y/N girl went and saved yea” Rick scoffs picking up the map from the bed and leaving to give the man some time to rest without people bothering. Hershel followed behind Rick watching him bother Y/N to get her input on their whereabouts regarding Sophia.

Night came and everyone was having dinner in the dining room while Daryl stuck in the room he was in. Carol came and went, gave him food and thanked him for not stopping his search for Sophia. He didn’t wait to leave until the house fell quiet indicating everyone was asleep. But right as Daryl was about to sit up, Y/N quietly pushed the door open resulting in the archer scrambling to cover his back.

She’s seen them but before his sake, she wasn’t going to say anything. Y/N tossed a bottle of Tylenol in Daryl’s lap making him relax and the sheets fall from covering him. “The old man is gonna want to check your bandages later. Change them and check for infection. Yknow, the good stuff”

“At this hour?”

“Man was a vet. Overnight shifts to check on the more critical asked for late night checks. Yeah you’re a person but it’s just how he does things”

“Can’t…You like check them for me? I hate being in here”

The pondering look on Y/N’s face took a minute before falling into a neutral expression with a hint of a smile followed by a shrug.

“Your tent is the furthest from the group yeah? By the bike?”

“Wild guess”

“But I’m right, right?” Y/N smiles warmly. “I’ll have to get some stuff then meet yea there. But go out the back, that door doesn’t squeak when opening it” she tells him back on her way out of the room.

It took him a bit to get out of the house given he was stitched up and sore from the incident still. But he didn’t think he took that long when finding Y/N leaning against the tree closest to his tent smoking.

“How long—-“

“I just got here. I am faster than you given the circumstances”

“I wasn’t the one that fell on their ass after carrying me up that slope” Daryl scoffs approaching his tent to unzip it but bending slightly caused a whole lot of pain that he stopped. Y/N tapped his shoulder indicating for him to move as he did with a groan followed.

The Greene tossed her cigarette to the ground and stomped it out before opening the tent letting him in first obviously then entering herself.

“You’re gonna have to take your shirt off again, or at least unbutton enough just for me to get to your bandages”

Daryl sat on his cot with a huff and a bit of an annoyed look infused with self-hatred. “You saw’em”

“I only saw what you’re willing to show” Y/N brought herself to her knees setting her first aid box next to him on the cot watching him from the corner of her eye take off his shirt dropping it on the floor next to her. “You’re not the only one riddled with a past, or…scars that explain it. Alright, may I?” She reached to touch the bandage waiting for his approval which was a nod from his end.

Her touch is so…light Daryl thought watching her work with taking the bandage off with wetting the adhesive so it wouldn’t tug at his skin. Gentle… he held the new bandage for her watching her double check her dad’s handy work. The slightest concern graced her features but immediately dissolved.

“My stitches would’ve been neater. But it’ll do the job” Y/N comments as she took the bandage from his hand and started applying it.

“You also some form of doctor in this family?”

“Fuck no” Y/N laughs lightly. “I’ve lived in the city for so long that I’ve encountered my fill of chaos probably within the first year. But ten years later is when I decided to sell my soul back to this fucking farm”

“You hate it here?” Daryl questions instantly, watching Y/N clean up her stuff before leaning back on her hands on the ground. “This shit is a luxury. Even before the apocalypse”

“Mm. I don’t know you well enough to go into grand detail about why this place is really just a burden. But you’ve seen how the old man is. Imagine being his kid on the receiving end to his bs”

“I guess that’s fair” Daryl slipped his shirt on when listening to her speak. “Some parents aren’t fit to be parents”

“As much as that is true, maybe even speaking from your own experience. Most situations involving multiple children, there’s always a favorite. But in this case, there’s the disappointment and the two perfect daughters”

“Why are you sharing this with me?”

Y/N shrugs reaching into her back pocket taking out her pack. “You’re relaxed aren’t you?”

She got that right. She got him to stop thinking about his injury, and a little bit about how his search was pretty much a failure.

Once Y/N put her lighter away after lighting her cigarette, she only took two puffs before Daryl carefully leaned over taking it from her mouth to give it to himself.

“I’m taking that as my leave” She laughs lightly as she brought herself to uncomfortably stand in the tent, hunching over just a bit.

But as Y/N reached to take her kit, Daryl took a hold of her wrist tugging her into his lap catching a bit of a confused look from her. Making his anxiety rise slightly that he read her kindness wrong and part of her didn’t expect much.

“Do what you plan on doing, Dixon” Y/N brought her arm around his shoulders as her other hand gently made sure his bandage was secure but also place itself on his cheek.

It took him a second longer to think about his action before pressing his lips against hers. The softness of her lips against his made his heart start racing and her hand moved from his cheek to his chest to confirm such.

When the morning came, Daryl woke with a groan sitting up in his coat to find beside him being empty but Y/N still remained in the tent getting her jeans back on. He admired the work he done on her neck but his eyes fixated on the burn scars he caught a glimpse of resting on her thighs. She could sense the staring and tensed only for a moment until her pants were back on.

“There’s not enough make up in the world to cover your attack on my neck and chest. But I don’t give a fuck who notices”

“Don’t know about your family, but these folk don’t know when not to include themselves in other’s business. They are def gonna ask where mine came from” Daryl chuckles lightly bringing himself to completely sit on the cot referring to his own hickeys that were more on the neck and shoulder. Including a bite mark that Y/N couldn’t help herself last night, it was either that or wake the whole tent city. “It’s still early”

“Yeah but just like your folks, my family is nosey. Especially my sisters.” She sighs while buttoning up her flannel even if she does prefer it open, just needs a minute to get inside and in her room before the interrogation starts.

“Y/N.”

Y/N turned to Daryl once she sat on the ground to get her shoes on as she could sense the hint of worry coming from the man and she could only assume was toward what he saw.

“We’re not so different” Y/N states finishing tying her shoes. “Mine were just. Self inflicted”

He couldn’t contain his concern even if in his own special way it was only noticed through his eyes and body language. Y/N could read him and part of Daryl worried about that.

“You stop?”

“Don’t be—-“

“I ain’t gonna be one of those nut jobs that tell yea “please stop for me”. Only you can really make that decision”

“Well, I did. When I moved back”

“And how long ago was that?”

“Three months before the world ended” and with that Y/N took her leave, leaving the first aid kit with Daryl giving her a reason to come back.

Even if a part of him wanted to go after her.

The two had their alone time a few times before news of “walkers in the barn” spread to the group. Daryl felt a sense of betrayal since Y/N cares so much about their safety in the past few days that she didn’t tell him anything about it. But when he went to the back door where he’d usually meet her, he heard shouting from inside coming from her.

“Walkers in the goddamn barn, old man?!”

“People are in that barn. Good people. I’m protecting the—-“

“They’re already gone! They stopped being themselves the second the infection spread from the bite”

“You don’t know that”

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Y/N scoffed pinching the bridge of her nose trying to contain her anger and failing. “I swear to god if I open it—-“

“—You wouldn’t—-“

“—-and find mom in there after you said she just “disappeared”. I’m going to prove you she’s not mom anymore”

Daryl couldn’t help but flinch when he heard the ring from the slap that came from Hershel’s hand meeting Y/N’s cheek. Normally one would cry but instead she kept her composure and decided to reframe from saying another word or she would’ve acted instead. He quickly stepped away when the door flung open seeing the anger in her eyes and body language. The single tear that rolled off her cheek made him act without realizing and gently brushed it away watching her relax but not enough to fall into his arms and stay there. She pulled herself away shooting him a temporary smile before walking into the woods behind the house to clear her head.

The eldest Greene only returned to the shouting happening and then sudden gun fire which led her to grabbing hers on the way over to the commotion happening by the barn. Y/N froze beside her father watching Maggie comfort him while the others started shooting down the walkers that flooded out. She heard quick footsteps coming as she stopped whoever, Beth, from going any further as she held onto her. She held her as she sobbed watching the dust settle and one walker left started stumbling out.

Sophia.

Daryl quickly latched himself onto Carol before she could even get close to her daughter. Her sobs grew louder the more she was restrained from seeing her little girl that was soon ended by the sheriff that left her all alone in the first place. Rick will forever take that as his fault and won’t ever forget it.

It took them all a second to adjust to what happened as Daryl helped Carol on her feet only for her to thrash out so his grasp from anger and loss. Y/N did her best to keep Beth away from the carnage but she slipped from her grasp causing her to follow her little sister to the pile of walkers.

“Beth, no that’s not—“

“That’s our mom!” She cried as she brought herself to her knees beside the corpse pushing the one on top of it off her. “Ma…”

Her screaming caused everyone to act. The men quickly grabbed at her pulling her away from the reanimated corpse as Y/N quickly came through and slammed her foot into the skull of the sicko. There was a pause in the chaos of Beth screaming, Carol sobbing, and a few of them bickering. Just a pause to let what happened sink in.

“Y/N…” Maggie exhaled watching her fixated gaze to her foot coated in the aged blood as she slowly lifts her foot and stepped away. “Y/N, wait!” She quickly followed her as Y/N made her way past their father.

“I never should’ve come back” Y/N frowns continuing on her way to who knows, and on her route she took the pack of cigarettes out from her back pocket tossing them to the ground which only those who knew would understand.

But she kept her lighter.

After taking care of a few things, Daryl was finally left to take care of himself. Even if he wasn’t going to. His anger feasted mainly on himself compared to being toward others, granted he doesn’t have any reason to be mad toward anybody except for maybe Rick or Hershel for that barn bullshit. Or Shane. Hell he was frustrating himself. He wasn’t going to do anything with her in that sense but needed to find her.

It didn’t take much searching because as much as she hated the place, Y/N stuck close for a lot of reasons. Daryl only found her when she tossed an acorn at his head from above where she sat on one of the branches.

“Obviously looking for me”

“Not for that though.”

“I didn’t do anything if you’re thinking—-“

“No. Well, not entirely” Daryl shrugs watching her climb down the tree to be level with him. “You stalled. Stayed in…the corpse”

“If your mother turned, and you had to end her the way I did…you wouldn’t move right away.”

“Thankfully my mom died in a fire she caused”

“Thankfully?” Y/N scoffs watching him shrug again which made an ill laugh escape her lips. “I wish she didn’t die that way.”

“I wish you didn’t have to be the one to end it. Entirely. I’m sorry”

“Daryl…” Y/N frowns looking him dead in the eye waiting for it. Waiting for him to say it even if his anger started to get the best of him in the moment. “It’s not your fault”

“Stop”

“It’s not”

“But it is!” Daryl snapped in her face realizing she flinched and given all the feelings in the air that day, she couldn’t keep her guard up in that moment. “She wasn’t even mine. Not my daughter. How could I blindly care so much?”

“I was like that in the beginning of whatever we are”

“What?”

“Caring so blindly. I didn’t know you and I came and saved you. Well until that annoying blond put a bullet in you…almost. Then I saved you. In my own way.” Y/N crosses her arms bringing herself close enough to lean against the tree she was just in. “Sometimes, you just care and don’t need a reason. Then the more you know a person all the reasons come to light”

“I care about yea, yknow. Even when I didn’t know a thing”

“You cared about her, without knowing a single thing. From what I heard, there is a person at fault but even then? Rick shouldn’t bully himself for a child running from danger. Kids don’t listen. That’s why they have parents to care for them. Or siblings. It’s harder when the kid has to care for themself. But that’s beside the point…” She turned her head in the direction of the house. “It’s all a shitshow. The end of the world. But we make do with it. Care about those we’ve just met or learned more about in such a little time”

“We need all the people in our lives for as long as we can” Daryl frowns bringing himself closer as Y/N moved her arms to her sides watching him get close enough that she could feel his breath on her. But he brought his forehead to rest against hers, feeling her hands find purchase on his neck. “You’re allowed to fall apart”

And she did. In the comforts of his presence then his arms…and his warm embrace. Things continued to escalate at the farm that eventually, it was set ablaze. All the commotion caused everyone to scramble, lose a few, and meet up on the highway. Daryl’s anxiety shot up when he couldn’t find the eldest Greene sister with her other sisters that were driven to “safety” by Glenn and Hershel.

Then the rustling of the woods were heard and few thought it was more of the walkers. But suddenly, Y/N stumbled out falling against the slope that led to the freeway and before any of her remaining family could rush to her…Daryl was already at her side helping her stand and she was met with a tearful gaze coming from the man that she didn’t care about keeping it a secret anymore…Y/N pressed her lips firmly against his for a short lived kiss before he brought her entirely in his arms holding her.

“Oh you so owe me” Maggie made the comment toward Beth as she glares at her sister. A bet was made. If that wasn’t clear.

“How long have—-“

“No time to act like a father right now. We need to find shelter for the night.” Rick cut off Hershel and gave Daryl a look to start the ride with his bike since he can maneuver and find a path easier. But instead of Carol being on his bike, Y/N took that spot rightfully and not like Carol was complaining.

It was a short ride but long enough for Daryl to realize Y/N’s trembling from the shock of watching her home burn and the struggle of getting out of there alive. She didn’t go unscathed but the cuts were small and not so deep. Daryl still took care of them.

After Rick’s whole speech, it was time to call it a night and stick close to everyone. Daryl took first watch which meant Y/N sticking with him.

“Your old man didn’t look too happy about us”

“He’ll have to get used to it.” Y/N whispered to him feeling his arm snake around her shoulders keeping her close. “Cant believe it’s gone”

“I’m sorry”

Y/N shrugged a little before bringing herself closer to him enjoying the warmth he emitted. “Least I got these on my way out” she pulled out her pack of cigarettes which made a laugh escape Daryl’s lips.

It took some time to get used to the idea that they were going to be moving a lot until something more permanent came along. But they also needed something permanent to come by the end of nine months because Lori was pregnant.

Everyone noticed how stressed Rick would get when Lori would shut him out for his decision making that lead them here so a few did their best to keep that level low.

“Daryl and I are gonna go hunt for dinner while my old man and Carol set up camp for the night” Y/N informs Rick on her way out. “Glenn, Maggie, and T-Dog should be back soon with whatever they scavenged from the few houses around”

“Thanks Y/N, be back before nightfall” Rick stated watching her nod before following Daryl out of the house they decided to make their shelter for the night.

As much as they did what they told Rick what they were going to do. They planned on other things.

“Fuck—-“ Y/N cursed adjusting herself against the counter even with Daryl pinning her against such. “Maybe we do this on the floor next time” her hands slipped resulting in Daryl picking her up still deep inside her velvety walls and forcing her against the wall.

“Better?” He huffed watching her arms move to find purchase around his neck.

“Yes, please continue” Y/N begged as Daryl instantly latched his lips against hers picking up the pace thrusting inside of her using the wall to his advantage so he could bring one of his hands to her clit helping her reach her release.

Her toes curled and heels dug into his back when she reached her high and felt Daryl remove his hand from her clit to have a better grasp on her while he quickened his pace and thrusted harder reaching his own release, spilling inside her warmth. They held onto each other catching their breaths.

“Holy shit…” Y/N gasps softly when Daryl adjusted his stance still inside of her. “So…”

“Round two?” He smirks followed by one appearing on her features pressing her lips against his. Before the two suddenly flinched to the sound of a spring lock. “Shit”

“Mm. Maybe later?”

“Imma hold yea to that, sunshine” Daryl kisses her once more before pulling out of her helping her gain her balance using himself as her steady.

After helping clean up, Daryl checked the trap they set pulling out a raccoon that unfortunately met its end. Y/N stepped out carrying a few finds that would help a few with keeping warm during the colder nights. Blankets, sweaters, etc.

“Think we should set up a few more traps before we head back”

“Sounds good” Y/N extended her hand for Daryl to hand off the raccoon so he could set them up. “I’m gonna put some of these things by your bike so I can sweep around”

“Be careful yeah? I’ll join yea when I’m done”

Y/N kept the catch attached to her backpack on her while the blankets and clothes were left on his bike. She went through a few houses near the one they both were in and stopped in one of the few two stories finding a few more canned goods and took note of how secure the building was. Maybe they could move there for a few weeks? She thought while stepping through the place some more, stopping at the fireplace finding the photos coated in dust. She extended a hand toward one deciding to dust it off and find an old married couple behind the glass. They looked happy. In love. Y/N didn’t quite understand the feeling she was feeling in her chest when staring at the picture of a random couple.

“Anything good?” Daryl’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she sets the picture back where it was.

“Nothing I haven’t already put in my bag. I’m ready when you are”

Heading back was quiet and that didn’t concern Daryl much given it was getting late. But Y/N started to act off that it even concerned her. She was more exhausted than usual, finding herself sleeping more in her spot of the house wherever they moved, she ate less, took more of the first night watch shift, and went out less with Daryl. Every time she did, Daryl mainly kept an eye on her and their conversation was smaller than usual. This has been going on for a month, and they’ve been house hoping for three so far. It was about to become winter.

Y/N was taking a longer night watch given Rick, Daryl, and Glenn decided to head out for a small hunting trip to bring back enough game to last them through winter. Even if Daryl said he was going to hunt through the cold months just not as frequently. She was once again lost in her thoughts while looking out into the darkness staring occasionally at the trigger line. Worrying about the group, missing Daryl, fearing what could happen—

“Sweetheart?” Hershel whispered for those sleeping inside but was loud enough to get Y/N’s attention. “How are you feeling?”

Ever since the fire, Hershel has been trying to rekindle the father daughter relationship with his oldest. Even if in her head, he’s always going to be her dad and it wouldn’t take much to repair it. He’s already apologized enough. But she expected it again tonight.

“I’m tired”

“I’ve noticed. Are you falling ill with somethin’? I can go out with Maggie to go look for—-“

“No, no. I’m not sick” Y/N frowns watching her dad take a seat with her. “I don’t feel good. Yeah…but the other thing is just. I love him but I’m afraid to tell him”

Hershel couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him which only brought a glare and a huff out of his daughter. “I told your mother that I loved her, first. She didn’t say it back and honestly? I didn’t expect her to. I just want her to know that I loved her. Then a few months later she tells me she loves me too. For some they say it immediately back, or they take a while. But that doesn’t mean what they do for you, has zero trace of love toward you.”

Y/N couldn’t help the little tears that spilled from her eyes when her dad said such. Hershel gently brought his arm around her shoulder bringing her in so she could rest her head on his shoulder continuing to cry if she needed.

A couple more days passed and the sick feeling turned into vomiting and migraines every other day. Y/N couldn’t shake a feeling and decided to act on it.

“Y/N…” Beth shook her older sister awake as Y/N slowly sits up looking to the other side of her seeing Daryl still fast asleep then she turned to the window finding it still dark out.

“What’s wrong?” She whispers tucking the loose hair in Beth’s face behind her ear.

“I started my period…and I don’t have anything…”

Y/N nodded knowing exactly what she was asking as she tugs her pack over to them rummaging through it. She then realizes she missed her period.

“Uhm. I don’t have anything, love. Maybe ask Mags in the morning? I’ll ask Carol if she’s stumbled across any”

“Okay…” Beth frowns watching her sister go into her bag knowing she at least had pain meds and gave it her to see a small smile form for a moment before she shuffled back.

Her anxiety started to eat at her and she knew the only way to know for sure is to get a test. But that will wait for the morning.

“Hey I’m gonna take a car into the nearby town. Sweep the place one last time before we move again before the weather goes from just cold to snow”

“Sounds like a great idea.” Rick stood up grabbing his coat. “I’ll tag along with you and Daryl”

“If Daryl wants to tag along. I was gonna ask Mags” Y/N states receiving a confused and concerned look from Daryl while her sister lights up with a smile. “Maybe you and Glenn can do one last hunt and check the traps before we move?”

“Alright. But he’s gotta keep up with me like yea do”

“He will” Y/N laughs softly smiling as Daryl snuck in a kiss on the cheek when no one was looking. “We’ll be back before nightfall”

“Yeah I’ll make sure to get some baby stuff if we come across it” Rick tells Lori only to be met with an avoidance in her gaze as her hand stayed on her already showing belly. Y/N couldn’t help the staring toward the two before squeezing her eyes shut and quickly stepping out once she got her backpack and a coat.

Maggie took care of driving and Rick took the passengers, leaving Y/N alone in the backseat scribbling in this journal Maggie found for her on a run with Glenn. She mainly wrote her concerns and the obvious one plaguing her mind was

Is she pregnant?

They were reckless, now he’s going to leave her.

Does he even like kids? He doesn’t talk much to Carl…

“I don’t know what I’m doing wrong” Rick frowns looking out the window as Maggie turned to him for a second with a confused look. “She’s mad about it all. What happened with Shane and being pregnant in the apocalypse. She thinks because she had a c-section she’s more likely to have another and we don’t have the tools for it. So it stresses me out…thinking I’m gonna lose my wife. But I can’t voice those concerns because she’s mad at me. Pregnant and mad”

“Pregnancy makes women feel all their emotions times 100, Rick. It’s going to be rough for a while” Maggie pats his shoulder glancing back to find Y/N looking a bit more pale than before. “Sis, you alright?”

Without another word, the second she felt the car stop…Y/N quickly ran out ditching her things and going to vomit into the near by bushes. Maggie frowns unbuckling her seatbelt and about to check on her when she noticed her journal in the backseat. Her hesitation made Rick get out to check on her older sister while she picked up the book to read it.

Maggie wasn’t going to tell Y/N she read it. But then read those entries and felt the same anxiety her sister felt for a moment.

Maggie gave Y/N some time to recollect herself after bolting out of the car. But she didn’t mean to corner her in the pharmacy section of the mini grocery store.

“Mags what’s up with that look on your face?”

“I uhm. I’m sorry”

The apology caught Y/N off guard until Maggie just let it out.

“You’re pregnant?” Maggie frowns and the negative look on her face only made Y/N feel so much worse on the matter. But instead of tears, it was anger.

“AND?! So what if I might be pregnant? Like that isn’t going to be a fucking issue when we already have a pregnant woman in the group and look how she and her man are doing. I haven’t even said I love you yet to Daryl and I don’t even know if he wants kids” then the tears suddenly broke out as she stared at the pregnancy test box she had in her hand. “I can’t get rid of it. I don’t want to lose him. The universe took too much from me already, I can’t lose anymore” she sobbed, Maggie didn’t wait another second bringing her sister into her embrace holding her protectively.

“Y’all are gonna try and see if that car works? Just the two of you?”

“It’s not the first time I hot-wired a car by myself” Y/N stated with Maggie nodding to confirm such.

It’s not that Rick didn’t trust the two, it was going to be night soon and that was his concern. But he also needed to get all their findings back.

“Fine. But you have to camp out if it gets too late”

“We’ve got this. If the lights work, we’ll drive back” Maggie smiles as Rick sighs letting them rock and leaving.

The two gave each other a look and Maggie went into her bag taking out the few pregnancy tests handing them to Y/N. She went back inside one of the buildings to do her business while Maggie got started with hot-wiring the car.

“Y/N I don’t feel good…”

“Yeah I know, bug. I’m sorry I’m working as fast as I can” The sixteen year old Y/N tugged on the wires from under the dash to get the car started while her baby sister Maggie continued to groan in the backseat. Being left to babysit while the folks went into town was killer. Especially when no one expected Maggie to have a skyrocketing fever.

“Sis…” She cried the entire drive as Y/N did her best to be a smooth driver into town and to the nearest ER.

“I’ve gotchu, bug. Everything’s gonna be alright”

“Everything’s gonna be alright” Maggie frowns rubbing Y/N’s back as she did her best to contain her tears while they drove back.

“It won’t…it just won’t” Y/N wiped away her tears taking the remaining time back to collect herself. She took out the cartoon of cigarettes from her bag staring at the thing knowing her sister’s gaze to burning a hole into the side of her head. “I’m not going to do them, bug” she frowns rolling the window down and tossing the box out hearing the sigh of relief.

“Good…I need to keep you safe. So it keeps my niece or nephew safe”

The smallest joy brought a temporary smile to grace Y/N’s features even if the uncomfortable anxious feeling clawed at her back over how Daryl will react.

When they arrived back, both Glenn and Daryl were waiting outside the house that was lit from the fire T-Dog got started in the fireplace to keep everybody warm. Glenn instantly went to Maggie’s side checking her in his anxious way that was immediately reassured. But Y/N remained in the car with her head down, driving Daryl nuts internally until he noticed Maggie give him a look to join her and that only made his anxiety worse.

“What’s wrong with—-“

“Just let them be. Cmon, gotta give Beth something” Maggie smiles tugging Glenn along back inside until it was just Daryl and Y/N.

The archer shut the door once he entered and before he even said a word, the eldest Greene daughter exhaled.

“I’m pregnant”

Daryl expected more from her but was met with her silence and honestly, that made him worry for her instead of thinking of his feelings about the news. This explains why she hasn’t been feeling well—-but she could’ve let him in. Makes sense why she wanted to go on a run with her sister—-but he could’ve been there for her. Y/N found out alone for a moment—-yet Daryl could’ve help her the second she did.

“You thought I would leave yea”

Y/N instantly shot her head up turning to him as if he read her mind. Daryl gave her a bit of a disappointed look that was met with brimming tears.

“I’m not gonna leave yea. Never.” Daryl stated as fact which led the tears to spill. “I just wish I help you through it. Yeah you had your sister. But you mean so much to me and this is our future. I wasn’t gonna go anywhere before, I definitely ain’t now” he finished his thought as he stepped out of the car rounding to Y/N’s side and gently pulling her into his arms letting her sob into him as he protectively held onto her.

The winter started to present itself and the news stayed within the three (four if you count Maggie blabbing to Glenn, which was only a matter of time before they all knew). Which led to once they found their home to hold off the winter, Daryl brought himself inside after checking the one trap he placed sitting down beside Y/N.

“There’s something we’ve got to say to you all” Y/N started and felt anxious with everybody staring. Guess the fire took away more than just their safety, but her confidence.

“She’s pregnant” Daryl finished resting a hand on her thigh gently rubbing his thumb in a soothing motion for her to relax.

Before any positive thing said can be thrown up in the air. The shocked expressions turned instantly to confusion and toward Lori when she scoffed toward the news.

“Seriously?” Lori beckoned Y/N to confirm it herself as she did with a nod even if her expression fell when the woman started laughing. “Great that’s just great”

“Lori—-“

“No, shut it Rick. It was already trouble taking care of my pregnant self. What makes y’all think we can take care of two? You two should’ve been more careful and found abortion pills”

“Woah! You don’t get to get to be a bitch just because you’re pregnant” Carol hissed drawing a shocked expression out of the Grimes who quickly turned to her husband for a defense. “No you started this on your own and you will finish it”

“None of us asked for you to be pregnant.” T-Dog adds abruptly. “That shit just happens sometimes. No timing is ever perfect”

“But still—-“

“No you don’t get to talk to my——“

“girl like that” Daryl snapped cutting Hershel off. “Don’t take a good thing and fucking stomp on it just because you’re miserable. You have to remember a few of us have some bullets against yea and I ain’t afraid to fire every single one of them if you come at her again” he frowns bringing his arm entirely around Y/N keeping her close, ignoring the tense look on Lori’s face as Rick’s disappointment turned to a bit of sadness when hearing such. But it was quickly shifted to a smile when his son turned to him then toward the two.

“Congratulations?” Carl laughs the tension away resulting in Beth quickly moving over to hug her sister as Hershel made his way patting Daryl on the back before kissing the top of Y/N’s head.

They were going to be okay. Their village will make sure of it.

The winter months were brutal and miserable for everybody. They had to move once through the cold because the roof collapsed in a section of the old house that made it dangerous for everybody. The group ditched their cars and stayed in the neighborhood just for the winter because of the snow. They’ll go back to the cars later, T-Dog and Beth took care of carrying their extra items that weren’t apart of everybody’s individual packs. Carol and Hershel took care of getting the fire going and getting food for the day ready, Hershel also took care of checking both Lori and Y/N every now and then to make sure they are alright. Rick, Glenn, Maggie, and Daryl were the ones in the watch rotation and as much as he protested, Y/N would tag along with Daryl.

“No”

“I’m not that pregnant yet, Daryl. I can go out with you.”

“It’s snowing”

“So?”

“I go huntin’ by myself all the time and I’d rather yea stay warm than suffer with me”

“And you think it’s going to sit well with me having you suffer the colder conditions?” Y/N glared at the man getting frustrated with the back and forth, Daryl was going to argue again when he noticed both of her sisters shaking their heads not to try. Pregnant or not, she will continue to argue until she’s blue in the face.

“Fine. But layer up” Daryl states letting her get ready as he goes into his pack taking out his poncho to put it on over his layers.

The two went through the center of the neighborhood, Daryl hating the snow and Y/N enjoying it. He only hated it because it made tracking animals difficult and before he could tell her about heading back…

“I love you” Y/N tells him watching him freeze in his place as she anxiously adjusts the rifle on her back gripping the strap. “I don’t expect you to say it back now or in a few months or years. I just needed you to know that I love you and you mean so much to me”

Daryl brought himself close pressing his lips firmly against hers bringing his arms around her. They enjoyed themselves for the moment until Y/N heard shuffling and expected a walker but when she looked behind him. There were deer. But when Daryl got a look, he stopped her from readying her rifle which brought out a confused look from her until she noticed a buck making its appearance along with two babies.

Now they were watching the family just be, making Daryl look over to Y/N watching her smile at the display as he brought his hand to rest on her small bump. She glance to his hand for a second before smiling more and resting her hand over his before continuing to look at the deer family. Thankfully on their way back they got a bunny and a few squirrels that made themselves known in the winter.

It wasn’t long before the warmer months came back and Y/N couldn’t ride on Daryl’s bike anymore. She stuck with Glenn and Maggie and with the moving from house to house increasing. T-Dog and Rick took lead with sweeping the houses they come across before the group resided but Daryl followed behind after checking on Y/N. But when herds came through, they didn’t wait and went straight back into the car and only the road.

“Let’s go hunt” Daryl tells Rick watching him nod as Hershel held him back to talk about Lori’s condition given she’s in her ninth month compared to Y/N in her seventh.

Daryl picked up his canteen from his bike going to Y/N and making sure she kept hydrated when the weather got dangerously hot.

“Gonna go hunt with Rick. We’ll be back soon”

“Stay safe, yeah?”

“You too” Daryl quickly kissed her cheek before going with Rick.

The two stumbled across the prison, which then led to the group taking out walkers in the field to give them shelter for the night before heading inside. The group huddled by the fire talking about Rick, what the prison could do for them, and a few miscellaneous things. Maggie happily let her older sister use her lap as a pillow as she laid on her side using her blanket to cushion her belly from the ground.

“Lot of movement today?”

“Yeah…fucking think this baby loves kicking my ribs” Y/N huffed out a laugh as Maggie brushes back her hair smiling at her watching Daryl return to the group with Carol. He knelt behind her resting his poncho over her before getting comfortable. “Done with watch?”

“We’ve got a gate. Besides, if shit happens it’ll alert all of us and Rick hasn’t left the gate”

“You check on him?” Y/N whispers to Daryl when she moved onto her back for a moment to look at him.

“Do I have to?”

“No, but he shouldn’t have to burden what’s going on with him alone. Even if you don’t quite understand it”

Her words rung in his head especially when they dealt with the prisoners, then the Walker outbreak, losing Lori, almost losing Hershel and Carol…it was a lot. Things seem to only escalate and it didn’t help that all the commotion rendered Y/N speechless and she hasn’t spoken a word the moment Lori died.

She could die too

He will raise this baby alone

What will happen to her family?

She can’t die

She won’t die

Y/N stayed by the gate when they left and she knew her dad and Carol were watching her every move that when the cars pulled in she stepped away after opening one of the doors herself even when Carol came with her protests.

The car pulled in and Y/N waited for Daryl to come out but when everybody except him, she gave Rick a confused look while he hung his head.

“Daryl’s not coming back” Glenn ripped the bandaid off watching his partner shoot him a glare for not taking easy. But in Y/N’s head he did the right thing by just going for it.

“We ran into his brother and he’s not a great guy” Rick started. “But blood is blood from what Daryl told us…we just. Can’t let someone like Merle in the prison with us. He’s not a good guy and I’m sorry but Daryl’s not—-“ when he reached to lay a hand on her shoulder, she immediately smacked it away.

“You touch me and I cut your goddamn fucking hand off” Y/N glares at the retired sheriff watching him nod and step away. She glances down to her belly shutting her eyes tight turning away from everybody and started walking back to the prison.

This baby is half her and half him.

If the roles were reversed, she would’ve left with her sisters.

But that doesn’t make it okay for him to go.

“Has she spoken to anyone? Was snapping at Rick the only thing she said?” Carol asks Maggie as she nods while the concern grew on her face.

“Our daddy went to check on her and the baby. Heartbeats good. But going from a lot of movement to it being still…He thinks we should only worry if it stops for the remainder of her pregnancy.”

“Someone should get her to move. Walk around the prison or somethin’. Sitting there will make it worse for her” Hershel shared his concern as the three looked at Y/N sitting on the mattress Daryl pulled out for him originally on the catwalk.

“Nah. Get in an actual bed” Daryl protested Y/N sitting on the mattress but she did anyway.

“Last I checked a mattress is an actual bed”

“Don’t be smart with me, woman” Daryl sat up leaning into her space watching her stern look fall when he started showering her in kisses. “Least lay down with me”

“I wasn’t gonna stay sat up this entire time” Y/N playfully shoves him.

Y/N brought her attention to the young grimes bringing himself up with stairs with two bowls of food. Carl sat down beside her handing her the second one but she refused.

“Please?” Carl frowns watching her gaze turn to him with a look of ‘why?’ as in why would he be doing this for her. “We’ve…uh. We’ve lost enough people”

A sigh escapes her lips as she gently caresses the young one’s cheek giving him a small thoughtful smile before taking the bowl from him and eating.

“Y/N whisperer” Maggie whispers to Beth as the two were the ones to have Carl send up the bowl because Y/N wouldn’t snap at somebody who recently lost their mom.

They both froze when her gaze turned onto them when she finished the bowl of stew. Y/N handed the bowl to Carl as he stacked the empty bowls getting up but noticed her get up with him. She struggled at first and gestured toward one of her sisters to help as Beth quickly made her way up the steps helping her.

“Take a walk with me?” Y/N asks her youngest sister as she smiles nodding. Once the two met the end of the steps. “You too?” She asks Maggie watching her smile warmly.

Soon the three sisters were on the other side of the prison walking in silence and staring at the occasional walker but kept their focus on what’s in front of them.

“If something happens to me. The two of you will take care of them yeah?”

“Nothing is going to happen to you, sis. Nothing” Maggie’s smile instantly faded when her sister said such.

“I know, bug. But please”

“This is your first. Nothing like what happened to Lori will happen to you…” Beth frowns trying not to cry at the thought of losing her older sister. “Can’t lose you…I won’t have it”

“Beth, sweetheart, I know everybody is going to do everything they can to not let the worst case scenario happen…I just. Need the reassurance”

“They will be loved and cared for…if worst comes to worst.” Maggie brought her arm around her sister as Beth did the same, both on either side of Y/N. “We all will be okay”

The moment they got close to the main entrance, the gates were being opened to let in Daryl with his brother Merle shortly behind him. Y/N watched Maggie retract at the sight of the older brother as she brought herself over watching Daryl light up slightly but avoid her gaze.

“So you’re Merle”

“And you’re the woman my brother knocked up. Boy would not shut up about you being the reason he needs to come back. Who woulda thought someone softened my baby brother” Merle smirks and before another word came out of Y/N, everyone around watched her sock the man hard enough in the face that the force knocked him on his ass.

“Your brother is amazing to me even if I want that punch to also be at him for leaving” Y/N frowns looking down at Merle as she held her belly a moment followed by a sigh. “But that was a hundred percent meant for you”

“You just fucking met me”

“You kidnapped my sister and her partner. Beat him to a pulp and let that disgusting man touch my bug.” Y/N stared blankly at the man as it held so much anger that made him nervous. “Just be glad Daryl is your brother. Or I would’ve put a bullet in yea” she stepped away with Beth and Maggie following her while Daryl helped his brother to his feet.

“I like her” Merle smirks and was immediately manhandled by Rick to be put in their makeshift cell since they’re living in the actual ones. The same cell Michonne was in until she got on their good side.

Daryl hesitantly went to the catwalk finding Y/N there as he brought himself to sit with her. The silence was killing him but the way she soften when he returned to her. She couldn’t help but take his hand into hers while the other continued to rub circles on her belly.

“Are you—-“

“Oh I’m mad. But I have to keep calm or the baby won’t move” Y/N frowns feeling him let go of her hand to bring his on her belly thinking it will work…and it did. It was the smallest kick but it got tears to form in Y/N’s eyes making Daryl wipe them away and try to contain his own for his actions. “Are you okay? You ain’t going to leave again right?”

“Right. I ain’t leaving…I promise. I really promise this time” Daryl brought his arms around her holding her as she adjusted to lay comfortably in his embrace.

The plan about the governor escalated and succeeded. He was no longer a threat, but they lost so much in the process. Y/N found herself in the field where they buried their own, holding a flashlight for Daryl as he was burying another body. But it was his brother. The others wouldn’t approve but Y/N knew how much Merle sacrificed and thought he should be honored in a way. Daryl appreciated it. Even if he couldn’t control the tears that fell when he finished burying him. Y/N the best she could, wrapped her arms around him resting her cheek against his back.

“He did good”

“He did good…”

About a month went by and the Woodbury infusion went smoothly, and those started helping making the prison more of a function home. The one finished thing was the water plan that T-Dog brought up, thankful for him.

“You’re hovering”

“Okay?” Daryl scoffs leaning against the cell door to their room. “It either me or your old man”

“As if he’s not already there” Y/N turned to him with an annoyed look listening to Daryl sigh before Hershel made himself known. “I’m not going to fucking pop”

“That’s a creative way of putting it. You’re close to your due date. We want you to be safe”

“Yeah whatever.” Y/N pushed herself up and off the bed as they both were quick to her sides. “Okay I will kick that fake leg and make you fall and kick him in the balls if you both don’t stop hovering”

“Okay I will listen but I ain’t stopping him” Hershel pats Daryl’s shoulder. “Call me or Dr. S for any change”

Daryl nods watching him go as he gave a blank look to his girl crossing his arms. Y/N instantly glared at him but he kept his stance.

“I want to take a walk”

“I’ll go with yea.”

“Fine. But I’ll punch you over if you pick me up when I’m too tired” Y/N waddled past as he crossed his heart before following behind her.

There was a lot of commotion outside. Rick started working on the farm with Maggie, Glenn and a few Woodbury folk were clearing walkers, Tyreese was helping Carol build the outdoor grill along with Sasha helping with getting tables in, Beth was taking care of Judith as Carl rambled on about some comics that Michonne found for him, and Michonne was out on her weekly runs. Daryl helped around but mainly took the morning and night shifts when Y/N was asleep so that he would be there for her the rest of the time.

“Alex?”

“Nah, we ain’t having a boy anyway”

“I get it. But if it happens we still need a name”

“Robin goes both ways”

“God you’re so fucking lucky I like that name. And Fallon. But not for a boy name”

“Mmm…” Daryl glanced around thinking about a name for her sake. “Mark”

“Do you like Mark?”

“No”

“Then why did you—-“ Y/N scoffed. “Hunter’s mark?”

“You wanted boy names” Daryl shrugs. “Mark is a name. Hunter is also a name”

“Next thing you’re gonna say is Striker and that’s because of a brand of crossbows” Y/N continued to walk leaving Daryl a bit surprised that she knew that before catching up with her.

They were walking for two hours and Daryl was confused for half of the walk wondering why she even decided to walk for that long. Until she went back inside grabbing onto his shirt giving him a pain filled look.

“I thought it was nothing”

“What was nothing?”

“The fucking pain, Dixon. It’s too much”

It clicked a little late for Daryl but he instantly picked up Y/N only for her to start punching his chest in protest. “HERSHEL!” He shouted for the man while bringing his girl to the infirmary of the prison.

“Stop” Y/N whines hunched over in the bed as the contractions were awful for her. She smacked away Hershel’s hand when he tried to get a blood pressure cuff they found on her. “It’s too much. I’m not ready” she sobbed.

“I know sweetheart but the baby is. I’m gonna—-“

“Hell fucking no. I’m not having my dad check down there” Y/N covered her lower half with the blanket as Daryl felt her squeeze the crap out of his hand. He can take it.

“Beth. Get Caleb right now” Hershel shouted watching her exit the room as a small group formed at the entrance. “Unless you’re helping. Keep that area open”

When the other doctor arrived, Y/N was already reaching an uncomfortable amount of pain as she leans into Daryl feeling him rub circles on her back not like it did much. The words the doctor was saying weren’t registering but when he gestured for the blanket to look making her nod quickly.

“Yeah baby ain’t waiting. She’s crowning. We have anything for gloves?” Caleb asks as Hershel shakes his head before handing him a towel to catch the baby in. “Well alright.” He set the towel down for a moment and dunk his hands into the bucket Glenn got once he was asked earlier so it would be a bit more sterile. “You have to push on the next contraction”

“No…” She whined gripping Daryl’s hand tightly again. “It hurts I don’t want to”

“You have to sunshine. You have to push”

“But I’m tired” She whined followed by sobs as Daryl brushes the hair out of her face pressing his forehead against hers.

“Cmon sunshine. We gotta meet our little one” He whispers to her looking her in the eye as her voice started to tremble. “I love you. I love you so much Y/N. You’re being so strong right now and gotta continue to be alright? You gotta push now”

Y/N started to sob even more from the pain, the anxiety, the deceleration. She nodded listening to her partner as she waited for the next contraction to push resulting in her screaming which had a bit of an echo through the parts of the prison close to the infirmary.

“Good almost there” Caleb reassures. “One more big push”

“One more sunshine. One more and our little one is here”

One more push…led to the room filled with sobs. Tears from Y/N continued, tears broke out from Daryl, and the loud sobs that erupted from their baby girl being handed to the mother. Soft congratulations left the doctor’s mouth but nothing registered as the two’s attentions were glued to this little girl. A healthy little girl.

“You did good, mama” Daryl choked up wiping his tears looking at their little girl in her arms finally calming down. “She’s perfect, yeah?”

“So perfect” Y/N sobbed through a smile turning to him as he instantly kissed her. “I love you…”

“I love you” Daryl smiles keeping his family close.

When night fell, they moved back into their cellblock once everything was cleaned up and Y/N was well enough to walk. She was fast asleep in their bed as Daryl was wide awake sat up in the bed beside her holding their little girl that looked up at him with the same blue eyes he had.

“You are…so perfect, Robin”

[cuubism]

Dreamling Olympic Equestrian AU, the Sequel (less Olympics, more Equestrian)

-

Hob wished he could say he took a ‘reasonable’ approach to dating Dream after the Olympics. In actuality he basically just went home with Dream and never left. He helped him get Jessamy settled in, and then Dream wanted him to stay over, and then Hob made him breakfast the next morning, and then—

He did eventually have to go take care of his own horses, and generally get back to his real responsibilities, but it was done with reluctance. Damn him, but he’d immediately started missing Dream. Too attached, too quickly, that was always his way.

And then not a week later Dream had invited him to bring his horse and go on a hack, and, well. Maybe Hob wasn’t the only one being unreasonable about it.

Safe to say they had never really gotten rid of each other after that.

By the end of the year Hob did very much the opposite of getting rid of Dream. Which was to say, marrying him. He was now the proud owner of some very cliche wedding photos of them leaning over to kiss each other while on horseback. He wouldn’t change a thing.

Afterwards, they’d both sold their respective properties, pooled their resources—mostly Dream’s resources if Hob was being totally honest—and bought a place together.

Hob still remembers finding the farm on the market and taking Dream to see it for the first time. He’d been so excited for Dream to see it. Dream had such high standards and Hob had been sure they were going to have to compromise on something, but this property had everything Dream had ever expressed wanting in a farm and other things besides. Rolling fields and connections to nearby bridle paths. A massive indoor arena for riding in inclement weather. Three-sided shelters in all of the paddocks. Automatic waterers. Heated wash stalls. The damn floors were heated too, not that they used the stalls much, but Dream’s geriatric ponies would surely appreciate it come wintertime.

(Hob had been extremely charmed to learn, upon first visiting Dream's farm, that Dream still owned the incredibly fancy ponies Hob had correctly assumed he'd grown up riding as a child. They were now ancient and feral and tended to bite anyone other than Dream. It was delightful.)

Hob’s favorite part of the property was the house. It was set a bit off from the main barn, close enough to be an easy walk but out of the way of the traffic if one was to operate the place as a full-service livery. Dream had loved the cottage at Hob’s previous farm, and this house was much the same, quaint and cozy with its own pond and meandering garden path. It even had a screened-in patio for Dream’s persnickety cats to sunbathe.

It was all perfect. Dream had actually squealed when Hob brought him to see it. It was lucky Dream had money otherwise Hob would have probably done something illegal to afford the place just to see that look on his face every day.

Six months and an amount of money Hob didn’t want to think about later, they had their own farm and had started taking on clients. It should have been idyllic. In many ways it was. Jessamy and Hob’s retired event horse, Ellie, were getting along swimmingly in their big field. Dream’s feral old ponies were rampaging about the place. The amount of space was a bit dangerous, as Dream kept sending Hob photos of pretty horses for sale, saying we have the space for it, Hob. He didn’t seem to care that the prices of said horses were upwards of one hundred thousand pounds.

It was both a blessing and a curse to have married someone who came from money.

All the better to get clients in so the stable was actually making some money instead of just bleeding cash in exchange for more horses. And this was where the trouble began. Because Dream may have been disagreeable around people but he had a soft spot for troubled horses. And when troubled horses intersected with the clients that made them that way, well. That was how they got this.

“I was led to believe I’d be getting results,” Roderick Burgess was saying as Hob stepped into the arena, leaning against the wall to watch Dream ride. “Surely an Olympian should be able to do better.”

Hob grit his teeth, but didn’t say anything, yet. Dream could handle himself.

“If you don’t like my methods, you’re free to take your horse elsewhere,” Dream said. He was trotting the horse—its name was Ruby—in a big circle at the far end of the ring, riding on a long rein, just trying to get it to bend and loosen up its neck. It didn’t seem to be particularly easy for the horse, which was troubling considering a horse that had had ‘a few years’ of training—according to Roderick—should be able to at least do basic flatwork. And should be less stiff about it besides.

“We both know that won’t happen,” said Roderick. He was probably right—now that Dream was starting to get a sense of the horse’s poor prior training, he wouldn’t want to send it elsewhere—but Hob nevertheless wanted to walk over to Roderick and toss him out of the ring. Wasn’t the point of owning your own place that you could kick out clients you didn’t like?

“Perhaps if you’d been honest about his issues, we’d have better results,” Dream said, turning across the middle of the circle to change the bend. Ruby tossed his head, struggling with the change in direction, but Dream persisted in asking him to bend and eventually got him to drop his head again, now stepping up into a canter. “I was promised a horse at at least third level yet you’ve brought me one that struggles with basic self-carriage.”

Hob thought expecting any results yet was unreasonable considering it was only the first time Dream had even gotten on the horse. He’d only gotten it in last week, and just lunged it yesterday.

“You have to be more aggressive with him,” said Roderick dismissively. “Just make him do it.”

“Am I paying you, or are you paying me?”

And on it went like that, Dream working through his usual regimen, slowly building up the difficulty, Roderick nitpicking and criticizing all the while. Hob didn’t know what he really wanted. Maybe he just got a kick out of being an asshole.

Hob did love watching Dream ride, though. Watching him work with an inexperienced horse wasn’t nearly as seamless as it was when he rode Jessamy, but his patience and light touch were always a delight to behold.

Dream eventually took up his reins, gauging the horse’s ability to go around in a more collected frame. That ability was dubious at best, but Dream kept at it, working in circles of various sizes, transitioning up and down the gaits. He would get the horse where it needed to be eventually, Hob knew. If Roderick didn’t keep interrupting with unreasonable demands.

“Are you going to do any lateral work at all?” asked Roderick with annoyance, predictably interrupting again, and Hob could almost hear Dream’s jaw clench.

“Yes, I am getting to it. It’s a horse, not a racecar.” He turned the horse down the quarter line, lightly brushing the end of his whip, which Hob hadn’t seen him use yet, against its flank to ask it to step sideways and under.

And at the first touch of the whip Ruby exploded.

If Hob had looked down for even a second he would not have seen it move, it was so fast—the horse bolted sideways away from the whip, head thrown up, legs scrambling. Dream pulled back hard on the left rein, trying to stop through a turn, but Ruby just plowed right through it, tossing its head. Hob heard the bang as they—or more likely Dream’s knee—hit the arena wall, and then Dream yanked harder and managed to turn, spinning the horse into a circle until it was forced by the tight angle to slow to a nervy walk.

Hob had automatically lurched forward to try to help, but realized fast enough that rushing over would only make things worse. He watched, tense, as Dream finally brought Ruby to a halt. A lesser rider would have been thrown; Hob was glad Dream’s seat was better than that.

“Ah, yes,” said Roderick nonchalantly from where he was still sitting, ankle crossed over his knee. “He does not enjoy the whip.”

“Were you planning to inform me of that,” said Dream, out of breath, “before or after we went through a wall?”

“I would have thought you could handle it,” Roderick said.

Hob kind of wanted to punch him in the face. Instead he went over to Dream.

Ruby was standing stock still now, breathing hard, and let out a loud huff, nostrils flaring, as Hob stopped at Dream’s side. Dream scratched the horse’s neck.

“Are you alright?” Hob asked quietly.

Dream nodded, handing the whip to Hob, though his expression was pinched, and Hob worried for his knee. “Once more and then we’ll be done. I don’t want to end on that note.”

“You cannot let him get away with that,” said Roderick sternly, seeing Hob take Dream’s whip. “He must tolerate the whip.”

“And I’m sure persisting now will teach that effectively,” Dream bit back. “Do you want an explosive horse, Roderick? Because that is what you have handed me, and if you insist upon pushing the matter like this, you will only make it worse.”

“I hired you to fix it,” Roderick snapped.

“Then let me.”

Dream brought the horse back up to a trot, did a lap around the ring and then came down the quarter line again, this time asking him to leg yield over just by bending him around his leg. Ruby was tense now, jiggling the bit in his mouth and fighting Dream’s hand, but he did move over, and once they’d reached the wall Dream let him drop back down to a walk, letting his grip on the reins slide down to the buckle. Ruby snorted loudly, dropping his head to the floor as he walked anxiously on the long rein.

“You do not have to beat him to get what you want,” Dream said, turning to Roderick.

“You care too much about their feelings,” said Roderick dismissively.

“Not caring about their feelings has gotten you very far indeed,” Dream said back.

He halted the horse by Hob and hopped down, stumbling on the landing and leaning hard on his left leg. Shit. Hob knew he’d hit the wall. Goddammit, Dream.

Before Hob could take the horse from him, Roderick’s kid, Alex, crept into the arena and came over, eyeing his father as he did. Normally Hob considered Alex kind of a liability to have around the farm—he was convinced the kid was going to get himself kicked in the head at some point—but now he handed him the reins. It was Roderick’s horse, the two of them could deal with it right now.

“Make sure to walk him out,” Hob told Alex, and then, ignoring Roderick, who’d already focused on Alex, presumably to berate him for something, he wrapped an arm around Dream’s waist and led him out of the ring.

By the time they made it into the lounge, Dream was leaning heavily against Hob’s side, limping on his right leg. God, Hob hoped he hadn’t broken something. He could only imagine how long that sort of knee injury would take Dream out.

Hob sat him down on the couch. “Can I take a look at your knee?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Dream said, even as the corners of his lips were still pressed tight in pain.

“Dream, I heard you hit the wall from the other side of the arena.”

Dream sighed, but finally started unzipping his boots.

“Breeches, too,” Hob said.

Dream gave him a look but, having removed his boots, started stripping off his socks and black riding pants as well. He looked small like that, perched on the couch in just his black boxer briefs and short-sleeve polo. Hob winced at the sight of his knee. It had already turned horribly purple from his impact with the wall. Hob crouched by him to look closer, taking Dream’s ankle in his hands, turning his leg this way and that, carefully testing the motion. “How much does it hurt?”

“Tolerable,” Dream said, watching Hob intently. Hob mentally increased all of Dream’s descriptions by several degrees of pain. “I don’t think anything is broken, or sprained.”

Having looked closer, Hob didn’t think so either; he was pretty sure it was just bruised. A nasty bruise, though. “Should keep off it for a few days, though.”

Dream sighed, put upon, but didn’t contradict him.

“I’ll get you some ice.” He had ice wraps in the freezer, and pulled one out, laying it over Dream’s knee.

Dream’s lips twitched up in a small smile. “That is for horses.”

“Well, now it’s for humans, too.” He sat beside Dream on the couch as he iced his poor knee. “We should get it checked out if it’s not any better by tomorrow. Don’t want to risk permanent damage.”

Dream touched Hob’s shoulder with light fingers. Hob was, unfortunately, speaking from experience on this matter. Though in his case it had been less ‘deciding not to get it checked out’ and more ‘completely obliterating the joint to the point that it was kind of moot.’ Hob had shown Dream the video of that fall a while back. It was not a pleasant video.

He still had a mostly functional shoulder, though.

Fortunately, Hob didn’t usually have to worry about that happening with Dream. Having a horse flip on top of you was the kind of thing that was more likely to happen when you decided it was a good idea to gallop at solid objects. Which Hob had done. Frequently.

He was kind of glad he hadn’t married a fellow adrenaline junkie.

“I can’t believe Roderick put you on that horse knowing it was going to react like that,” Hob said. He really should kick the guy out. Prick.  

“Roderick created that reaction,” said Dream. “He hardly cares if it gets someone thrown, so long as that someone is not him.”

“I care!” Hob exclaimed. “It’s our fucking stable. He can’t just use you as a crash-test dummy.”

Dream raised an eyebrow. “I am not easy to crash.”

“That’s not the point, Dream. I’ll kick him out, I swear to God.”

“I can handle Roderick Burgess. And the horse. You needn’t protect me.”

“Maybe I want to,” said Hob. He took the ice off Dream’s knee and took another look at it. The bruise only looked more hideous. “Maybe part of being your husband is that I get to protect you.”

Dream touched his cheek fondly, but said, “If we send him away, he will only take the horse to someone else, and nothing will improve.”

Hob knew it was true. He would have just bought the horse and given it to Dream just to get Roderick off the property, but he was pretty sure Roderick would just take the money and go buy another one so that wouldn’t really accomplish anything in the end.

Hob was always going to end up doing what made Dream happy anyway.

“Just…” he rubbed Dream’s thigh, careful of the bruise. “Be careful. God only knows what else he’s taught that horse to do.”

“We will find out, I suppose. Roderick will not be happy with me, though. I intend to take the horse back down to basics. He will doubtless be furious.” He did sound somewhat satisfied by the thought of it.

“Roderick can get on the damn thing himself if he’s so upset,” Hob said.

“That would be entertaining to watch, though less so for the horse,” Dream said. “Perhaps he will make Alex ride it.”

Hob rubbed his forehead in despair. “God help us all.”

“Indeed.”

“You should go back to the house and rest a while,” Hob told him.

“First I want to make sure they haven’t managed to kill Ruby,” Dream said. He levered himself to his feet, handing Hob back the ice wrap. “Besides, I am fine.”

The way he limped about while pulling on his breeches and paddock boots belied that, but Hob knew better than to argue further. At least he wasn’t getting back on the horse.

He went with Dream—only limping a little bit now—out to the barn, where Alex was getting Ruby settled in his stall. Alex looked distinctly nervous brushing the horse down, but hadn’t managed to get it—or, more surprisingly, himself—killed yet, which Hob counted as a win. Roderick was nowhere to be seen, which was probably for the best.

“Did you walk him out?” Dream asked.

Alex nodded anxiously. He seemed intimidated by Dream—which, to be fair, was a common experience for most people. Hob frequently had to remind himself that the version of Dream he saw every day—curled up in the kitchen alcove with his tea and a cat on his lap, chasing his ponies around the barn, resting his head in Hob’s lap for Hob to play with his hair—was not the version most people saw.

Ruby seemed little worse for wear for his ordeal. Dream pet the horse’s nose fondly, and it tried to nibble at his palm.

“We’ll try again tomorrow,” he said, to the horse, now ignoring Alex. “We’ll sort it out, won’t we?”

Ruby just tried to nibble on his fingers again.

With another pat to the horse’s nose, but no more words for Alex, Dream strode away again. Hob followed. Once they were out of the barn, he caught up to Dream and scooped him up in his arms, Dream clutching at his neck with a squeak.

“I’m carrying you home,” Hob said, starting off for the house. “You’re not walking.”

“I am not an invalid,” Dream protested.

“Oh, I should put you down, then?”

Dream clutched at him tighter. “You would not dare.”

“Thought so.”

And so he carried Dream down the short walk back to the house. After all, Hob thought, this was the whole point. He couldn’t necessarily prevent Dream from getting on insane horses or dealing with insane clients. But he could be there at the end of the day to carry him home.

[andorology]

Sanguinity: Chapter 2 a rebelcaptain regency au

While her resistance to its being sold away had softened within the last fortnight, Jyn’s cautious apprehension of the property’s new owner, Cassian Andor, still stood steadfast. It alarmed her that she still did not know much about him. She conceded to her father’s judgment in choosing him, of course, but if he were to be their new neighbor, she felt her concern to be not at all unreasonable.

After having asked the more pertinent questions on the details of the business, she finally asked, “So Papa, Mr. Andor—are we to meet him soon?”

____

In the wake of the life-changing news about her family's situation, Jyn Erso copes through her studies. She inquires about the new owner of the Lah'mu estate, Cassian Andor, only to find nothing significant—that is, until a visit in town bodes an unexpected meeting.

(or: Jyn meets an Andor, though not the one she's expecting)

Read Chapter 2 of Sanguinity below the cut, or read it on ao3.

Jyn, in response to the tumultuous emotions brought about by the recent events that befell her family, had since then turned to dedicating most of her time to her studies. She thought it would be a good distraction, and not to mention an opportunity for her to finally get into botany, a subject which she had been, for a time now, nursing an enthusiasm for. 

In addition to poring through stacks of books and encyclopedias on plant species, behaviors, and, histories, she had also begun a journal for her annotations and sketches, filling the pages at a rapid speed that at the end of each day, she would have achieved filling more or less twenty pages. 

Whenever she went on her daily walks, she always made sure to stop by trees and plant bushes, collecting fresh flowers and leaves, which she would, when she got home, begin to dry and press. These easily became her favorite additions to her journal. Day in and day out, the sickly smells of various English flora would fill her bedchamber, sometimes even becoming so sickly that it gave her a headache. 

When it reached that point, she would go out riding. Though she did not always do it, she would always find herself unable to stop for respite, even during the hottest hour, and despite the aching muscles in her back and limbs signaling for rest. Vallt Park’s winds soothed her too much to resign from them, and she felt a liberating sense of space and movement in riding her mare through the fields at great speed.

These had been most of Jyn’s days, and she loved every second of them. 

The distracting effects these endeavors had on her did not last long, however, for indeed as Mr. Erso had expected, the negotiations surrounding the matter of Lah’mu Hall’s trade proceeded quickly. 

In no time, just two weeks after their discussion at breakfast, everything was settled. Their life changing was no longer an imagined future—it was becoming material, becoming real.

Jyn had just walked back from the stables when Mr. Erso, meeting her in the courtyard, gave confirmation of this final development. “All the papers have been signed,” he divulged to her as they entered the house together, arm in arm. “They should be moving in within the next few days.”

“So it’s finally happened,” Jyn remarked. “I am glad things went smoothly, Papa.” 

Mr. Erso looked down at her as though she had just told him a joke. “You are taking this surprisingly well.”

Jyn smirked. “Well, while I still mourn the loss of my childhood home, I am also now beginning to view it without such a reticence, especially since it was in exchange of a very important monetary gain for the family.”

Mr. Erso quietly mused at this statement. “And does this outlook extend to the matter of your marrying? I should hope that you are warmer now to the idea.” 

Jyn looked up at her father and gave him a teasing brow. “With you and Mama’s endless sermons on the advantages of it for the last two weeks?” 

Mr. Erso smiled, slightly embarrassed, though Jyn knew he was not really sorry for it. 

“But you would be glad to hear,” she continued, “that they are not entirely ineffective. If marrying will serve the benefit of preserving my current comforts, and more importantly the continuance of my endeavors, then I suppose I shall do it.”

Mr. Erso nodded approvingly. “That is a most welcome thing to hear from you, Jyn. I am grateful.”

“At the end of the day, I trust you and Mama's advice too much to not heed it. Which is why,” she added earnestly, “Papa, I also trust that we shall emerge through issue with the farms in victory.”

Mr. Erso did not speak for some time, reflecting on the remark. “You certainly are sanguine about the success of what we are about to do, Jyn.”

Jyn looked at him funny, as though it was obvious. “With you and Mama at the helm, I do not doubt it.”

Her father stopped in his tracks, which surprised her. Then, gently, but also more seriously, he told her, “Look, it is well and all that you should have so much faith in us. But Jyn, the fact that we are asking you to marry may be a sign that this has a possibility of not ending well.”

Frowning, Jyn asked, “Do you not think I should believe in it?”

Mr. Erso shook his head. “That is not what I’m saying.” 

“Then what are you saying, Papa?” Jyn sounded genuinely confused. 

Mr. Erso sighed. “I’m saying, sanguinity is an admirable sensibility, yes. But sometimes, it has its place. I know we have been lucky for most of our lives, Jyn, but that luck runs out even for those who have had an abundance of it.” 

To this Jyn did not know how to respond. She also felt the mild injury of having been corrected for her optimistic sentiment on their current predicament, but a part of her knew that perhaps, her father was also right. 

For a while both of them did not speak. Feeling the weight of her father’s gaze upon her, she looked wistfully ahead. They proceeded to walk in silence until they finally reached the door. 

She took a deep breath, and on a lighter note said, “Anyways, I shall miss Lah’mu Hall.”

“We all shall,” her father replied, squeezing her hand on his arm.

While her resistance to its being sold away had softened within the last fortnight, Jyn’s cautious apprehension of the property’s new owner, Cassian Andor, still stood steadfast. It alarmed her that she still did not know much about him. She conceded to her father’s judgment in choosing him, of course, but if he were to be their new neighbor, she felt her concern to be not at all unreasonable. 

After having asked the more pertinent questions on the details of the business, she finally asked, “So Papa, Mr. Andor—are we to meet him soon?” 

“Settling into the house might take a while,” he explained, “with so little crew at his disposal. He says he does not know for certain when he would call on us, but he has committed to its being done, so we are assured of it happening at some point.” 

Jyn frowned. “I see. Did he say anything else?”

Her father hummed in thought. “Nothing much of note. He’s rather frugal in conversation.” 

This Cassian Andor was giving Jyn nothing, and it was beginning to frustrate her. 

“Except,” Mr. Erso mildly exclaimed in sudden recollection, which perked Jyn to eager curiosity, “he did say that he’s looking forward to it. He says he wishes to properly meet you and your mother.”

Jyn groaned quietly. “Anyone in his position would say that, Papa. That does not say anything about him at all. Calling on us is just common courtesy, especially because we had just given him a new estate.”

Her father smiled. “But it does say something, Jyn. It tells us that he is a man who has common courtesy.” 

Jyn looked up amusingly at her father. “Shall we throw a parade for him, then?”

At that her father laughed heartily, which soon infected Jyn herself. For a short while they shared in this small joy, which she was glad for, knowing full well that ahead of him lay the risk and uncertainty of dealing with the farms. And for Jyn, there was marriage she had to prepare herself for.

“As I have already said once,” said her father after they had quieted down, “I think you will like Mr. Andor.” 

“What makes you sure of that?” Jyn asked. “And for you to say it twice, too.”

“Well, I have, for all my life, been in business with all sorts of men. Eventually I’ve honed the ability to sense their disposition even before they speak.”

“Incredibly lucky for Mr. Andor, then. For it would seem that he does not speak much at all.”

Her father laughed again. He planted a kiss on his daughter’s head before heading up the stairs. “I will see you at dinner, Jyn.”

Now alone in the hall, Jyn found herself looking out the closest window. She knew that just beyond the horizon, Lah’mu Hall stood. It would hopefully go on enduring for many years, now that it had its new master. She thought about Mr. Andor for a short while, wondering what he was like, before she ascended the stairs herself, and returned to her studies.

As the date of the Rook ball was fast approaching, Jyn finally found the self-restraint to break free from her preoccupations and go out to the modiste, where she had fitted for a new dress about a week prior, and which was now ready.

Accompanied by her chaperone, she walked the distance between Vallt Park and the town. There, shops of various trades were gathered together, and with the day already well into the middle of the morning, a thick crowd had already populated the streets, all rushing to their own businesses and affairs. 

Since she was there anyway, Jyn decided to first take a quick detour to the press shop. There she perused through the day’s pamphlets, hoping to find anything that related to her current botanical interest—but found, to her great dismay, no such paraphernalia. She would note this absence, and go on thinking about it regretfully for a while. 

She settled on purchasing a pamphlet on something somewhat adjacent, flower arranging, which did not really do much to satisfy her disappointment.

She finally stepped out, walked across the street, and turned around the next corner to head to the primary point of her errand.

The modiste’s building was a small, two-story establishment with glass windows that displayed various fashions. As she pushed on its door, the bell rang daintily, echoing damply against the shop’s walls inside. The air smelled of unwashed fabric and perfume, with mannequins donning both finished and unfinished couture standing around the room. 

She found that there was nobody there but her. “Hello?” she called out.

From behind the doorway appeared the modiste, Mrs. Finchley, a middle-aged woman with a volume of curly hair. She welcomed Jyn with a smile. “Ah, Miss Erso!” she exclaimed. “How lovely to see you. You are here to pick up your new dress finally, yes?”

“Sorry for not having claimed it sooner, Mrs. Finchley. I have been preoccupied.” 

The modiste teasingly raised a brow. “What is it this time?” 

Jyn gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Plants.”

The modiste smiled and nodded. “I see. Well, please give me a moment. I shall fetch you your dress.” She then disappeared into a backroom. 

While Jyn waited, she passed the time looking closer at the shelves of fabric rolls, feeling and rubbing the tabs of samples between her fingers. By the corner, she lightly ruffled through a display of hanging ribbons, then inspected the trays of floral ornaments she assumed were to be sewn onto hats. 

As she was checking out a rose ornament against her head in front of a small mirror, the shop’s door opened from behind her. 

It gave way to a lady about her age, perhaps just a year or two younger. In the mirror’s reflection, Jyn observed her features—dark hair, light bronze skin, and an overall pretty countenance. Her clothing looked plain, but judging from its clean tailoring and the sheen of its smooth silk, Jyn suspected it was an expensive one. She guessed the girl to be a genteel lady, at least from the poised and graceful way she carried herself.

She watched as the lady looked hesitant while going round the shop, clearly indicating that it was her first time there; whatever it was she looked for, she could not seem to find it.

Another merchant of the shop, the modiste’s assistant, appeared. “Welcome!” she said to the lady. “Are you here to fit for a dress?”

“Oh no,” the lady said, smiling, “I am only here to look for a reticule. I was wondering where you might have a collection of it?”

“Our hats and purses are in the showroom. I’d be happy to show them to you, if you would kindly follow me, Miss…”

“Andor,” the lady supplied. “Miss Andor.” 

As if lightning struck her body, Jyn suddenly tensed and quickly spun on her heel. She regarded the lady again, registering her appearance anew in light of discovering her name.

Before the lady, Miss Andor, disappeared with the modiste’s assistant into the show area, Jyn’s curiosity finally got the best of her. In a split second she made the decision to call out, “Excuse me, Miss Andor?”

The lady stopped and looked at Jyn, half confused, half curious. “Yes?”

“Forgive me,” Jyn said uncertainly, “but I overheard your name and cannot help but wonder. Are you, in any way, associated to a Mr. Cassian Andor, the solicitor who just moved into the village?”

Miss Andor, though wary, smiled kindly. “I would say I am more than associated to him, really. I am related to him; I am his younger sister, Kerri.” 

Her eyes wide, Jyn registered this revelation with fascination.

Where she had thought previously that she did not know anything about the new landowner of Lah’mu, it would seem that she had no idea how much she did not know. A sister! How come her father never mentioned a sister? Then it instantly dawned on her; come to think of it, Mr. Erso had always said “they” whenever he referred to him. Her folly, she supposed, was in assuming he only meant Mr. Andor himself and his staff.

“A sister,” she said, amazed. “I did not know he had a sister.”

“I’m sorry," replied Kerri, "but do you know my brother?”

A chuckle escaped Jyn’s mouth. “No, I do not, really. In fact I have not even met him. I’ve only heard of him from my father.”

Miss Andor shook her head in bewilderment. “I don’t think I understand.”

“Oh!” Jyn exclaimed. “Forgive me, I’m being rude. I have not introduced myself: I am Jyn Erso. My father is the landowner from whom your brother just bought the Lah’mu estate.”

Kerri’s face took an instant transformation from confused caution, to total relief and delight. “Mr. Galen Erso, yes!” Then with a look of wonder she exclaimed, “You’re Miss Erso!”

Jyn nodded. “Yes, that would be me.”

Kerri squealed. “Goodness, we finally met! I heard of you from my brother—he has mentioned you a couple of times.”

Jyn was quite taken aback as she processed this fact. “He has?”

Kerri nodded. “Yes. He was rather curious about you, too—especially because of what Mr. Erso has told him of you.”

“Is he now?” She was even more taken aback. “It would seem my reputation has preceded me. Whatever did my father say?”

“He told him of your pursuits for self-education,” Kerri answered, “which, if I may say so myself, and upon your solicitude of course, is something I personally admire.”

At that, Jyn could not resist a smile; she always welcomed any approbation to her pursuits, even though, regardless of whether it was given or not, it was something she did not need. 

“I imagine some others do not regard it as you do,” she said. “But I hope my father did not say anything else to your brother that I did not know about.”

Kerri shook her head. “No. That was all he knew of you, really.” 

Jyn could almost laugh, not at all unaware of the irony of it; it would seem that everything she knew of Cassian Andor, and everything he knew of her, were only what her father had said of both of them. But she supposed, if Cassian Andor did not know much about her, then she would be all right with not having known anything about him in return—at least not until they met. 

“Miss Erso, I cannot tell you enough how glad I am to finally meet you,” Kerri expressed. “Because you see, I don't really know anyone here, or where things are supposed to be (in fact, I had gotten a bit lost on the way here). So I have since hoped that we could get to know each other, and maybe even become friends.”

Where Jyn’s curiosities had only been previously affixed on the character of Cassian Andor, upon finding out now that he had a sister, she found herself growing just as eager to know more about her too. And because her disposition came off as undoubtedly sincere and cheerful, the only natural course for Jyn to take now was to like her. 

She smiled. “Of course. I am not one to turn down a chance of making new companions. And besides,” she added cheekily, “I am in dire want of interesting conversation.”

Kerri chuckled. “I hope to be equal to it, since I am sure you are very knowledgeable about various subjects. I confess I do not take particular interest in arithmetics and sciences, but if you are particularly predisposed to discussions of art, then I am all ears. I do love to paint. I find it soothing.”

Receiving this new information about Kerri warmly, Jyn was even more assured now of their potential friendship.

“Miss Andor,” she intoned, “that alone already makes you superior to most men I have talked to; they barely bother to scratch the surface of compliments and pleasantries. They assume we have nothing to talk about that is worthy of their male proclivities. Well, either that, or they just do not know how to converse with women. Unfortunately, it is both sometimes.”

Kerri laughed again. “Well then, perhaps, when you find the time soon, you can visit us at Lah’mu, and I can show you my paintings.”

Jyn briefly paused to reflect, slightly hesitating on the offer. “I admit it will feel strange to walk those halls now,” she said, “but I would absolutely be delighted to see your work.”

A grin formed on Kerri’s face—and then, to Jyn’s surprise, it suddenly changed to regret. “But ah,” she said dolefully, “we are still in the process of settling in, so it might not be until next week before we can welcome visitors, or call on anyone.”

Jyn nodded. “Yes, as I have heard.”

“But are you at least to attend this Friday’s ball? Mr. Rook sent us a last-minute invitation yesterday, and we thought it wise to go so we could begin our acquaintance with the village.” 

“Well then,” Jyn said, her face lighting up, “you might be glad to know that Mr. Rook himself has appointed me consultant to planning it, so I am by extension, also its host—which means that I will be there, from start to finish.”

“Now I am much more looking forward to it than I have already been!”

Kerri’s enthusiasm infused a lightness to Jyn’s spirits, but then the recollection of the ball’s importance with regards to progressing her friendship with Philip suddenly entered her mind. Her feelings took on a pensive turn, something which she concealed from her new acquaintance. 

“Yes,” she said, smiling. “I too am looking forward to it.”

It was then when Mrs. Finchley finally returned from the backroom, holding a large striped box. “Your dress, Miss Erso.” 

“Speaking of,” Jyn said, receiving the box, “here goes my dress for the occasion.” 

“Funny,” Kerri remarked, “I am here to pick a reticule as an accessory to mine.” She then straightened her frock then nodded. “I shall see you on Friday, Miss Erso.” 

Jyn nodded.

“And you shall finally meet my brother,” Kerri added when she was finally in the doorway to the showroom. “I’m rather excited, for I think you will like him very much. I know I do. Until then!”

Without much else to do, and eager to take a ride on such a fine day, Jyn finally left town to head back home. As she walked, she reflected upon her conversation with Kerri. Notwithstanding that it had revealed her pleasantness, it had also, to her surprise, produced yet another assurance of Cassian Andor’s agreeableness. 

Though Jyn still did not know him, she could not deny that there was merit to be acknowledged in having his character vouched for twice, first by her father, and now by his own relation. 

When she would meet him on Friday, perhaps a third assurance, which would now come from herself, would be the charm to manifest it true. She remained wary as one stranger would be of another, but she was less doubtful now of their acquaintance. 

Besides, she very much liked his sister; what were the chances of her brother being any different?

[6rookie-writer0110]

We won't run forever

Beth Dutton x Male Reader

Request - Could you do beth Dutton x male reader

You are sleeping in your bed but your cell phone started to ring. You don't wake up and it stops ringing for now but a minute later, it rings again. This time you picked it up

“Hello?” You yawned.

“Y/n, it's me, Beth. I’m in jail and I need you to bail me out” Beth said.

“What? What time is it?” You yawned again.

“Y/n! Listen carefully. I need you to bail me out now!” Beth yelled.

“Don’t yell or I'm not going” You said.

“Fucker” Beth said.

She hung up and you sighed heavily. You get out of bed and you look at the time and it's almost five in the morning. You start to get dressed then you drive to the police station.

After a while, of waiting for them to release her and you paying a fine. She finally walks out of the police station and then gets in your car.

“Why they did arrest you?” You asked.

“I’m sure they told you before you paid,” Beth said.

“Come on, Beth,” You said.

“I don't want to go home,” Beth said.

“So you are not going to tell me?” You asked.

“We should get coffee,” Beth said.

“Fine,” You said.

You are Beth’s boyfriend and sometimes it can be complicated. But you and Beth don't live together but she has some of her clothes at your place. You used to live in the city then moved near the ranch then you met Beth at a bar.

You drove to a small restaurant and you ordered coffee and food. You keep staring at Beth and for a few seconds, you two don't say anything. She drinks her coffee and then takes a piece of your sausage.

“I got into a fight,” Beth said.

“I know, I can see the cut on your bottom lip. But why?” You said.

“She should have known not to mess with me,” Beth said.

“She had it coming then,” You said.

“Yes, she did” Beth smiled and then drank her coffee.

Later, you take her to your place. You lie down on the bed then she lies next to you, then she puts her head on your chest. You put your arm around her and she sighed.

✫ ✬ ✫ ✬

You and Beth went to a bar to have a good time. She ordered the drinks and you have your arm around her waist. You and Beth are smiling at each other and she kissed you on the lips.

“I told you this would be a good idea,” Beth said.

“Good thing I listened to you” You smiled.

You kissed her on the lips. She grabbed your hand and headed to the dance floor. She placed your hands on her waist and she put her arms around your shoulder.

“You know that I don't dance,” You said.

“You do now,” Beth said.

She kissed you on the lips and you started to kiss her back. Later, Beth went to get another beer and she started to drink it then she turned around and noticed someone flirting with you. She had her hand on your arm and you moved her arm away, but she did it again. And Beth felt jealous and she hates when someone flirts with you.

Beth rushed over towards her and then punched her in the face. Now, everyone in the bar started to fight and Beth punched the woman again. A guy was going to hit your girlfriend, but you punched him in the face then grabbed a beer bottle and smashed it on his face. The bar owner called the cops, but everyone continued to fight. Beth kicked a guy in the nuts then he fell and you grabbed a guy by his shirt and threw him toward the tables. Beth starts to fight another woman and Beth grabs the woman’s hair and throws her on the floor. A guy punched you in the mouth but you grabbed his shirt and headbutted him in the face. He fell and you spit blood on him and the cops arrived.

“Arrest everyone!” The cop yelled.

The cops started to grab everyone, and you and Beth got arrested. The cops made everyone stand in front of the bar. They handcuffed you before they got Beth, she punched the woman again who flirting with you.

————

You are riding your horse alone. You have a black eye from the fight at the bar and Beth has a cut on her cheek. You head back to the ranch and before you head to the horse stable. You people yelling and you rushed towards the barn. Roarke Morris is on top of Beth and he is yelling at her. Then she scratched his face and he started to scream, you jumped off the horse then attacked him.

“Y/n!” Beth yelled.

You start to punch Roarke the face. Then he hit you on the side of your face and you fell. But you and Roarke stand up fast then you attack him. You grabbed his gun and he didn't notice you took it, you fell to the ground then he grabbed the pitchfork.

“They deserve to lose everything!” Roarke screamed.

Roarke always hated Beth and her family. His main was mission to make Beth and her family lose the ranch.

Before he stabbed you with the pitchfork, you pulled the trigger. You shoot him three times in the chest and Beth runs towards you.

“Y/n, are you okay?” Beth asked.

She touches your face and you are breathing hard.

“Are you okay? Why did he attack you?” You asked.

She kissed you on the lips, then she helped you stand up.

“He thought I stole his horses. Fucking, idiot. He came over to make me confess then I smacked him and we started to fight until you came” Beth said

“I believe you, Beth. What about his body?” You asked.

She takes the gun away from you.

“He was never here,” Beth said.

You nod then she kisses you again on the lips.

You helped Beth take Roarke’s body to the middle woods. You started to dig a deep grave then Beth pushed his body into the grave. Now, you start to fill up the grave and she started to help.

“He never came to the ranch,” Beth said.

“He didn't,” You said.

You and Beth continued to fill the grave. Then she hid the gun far from Roarke’s body. She dug a deep grave and put the gun inside, she started to fill it up with dirt. You and Beth walked away and she lit a cigarette. You helped her get on the horse then you got on the horse. She wraps her left arm around your waist and you head back to the ranch.

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Part 2: Does the Devil Have a Heart

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x OC

Summary: There's something particularly intriguing about the woman Charlie found sleeping in the stable that morning.

Word Count: 3,009

Notes: Warnings for references to animal abuse and injuries.

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Chapter 1: The Red Haired Woman

The gate to Charlie’s yard swung shut behind Tommy was a clang, the sound echoing in announcement of his presence. Taking a slow drag from his cigarette, he stalked forward, shoes kicking up mud. It had rained heavily the night before; the thunder and racket of droplets crashing against his roof keeping him awake for most of the night. Coming to a stop by the edge of the cut, he rubbed irritably at his eyes, fighting to hold in a yawn. 

He really could not continue only getting a few hours at most of sleep a night. Otherwise, he was going to start getting sluggish.

“Tommy,” Charlie said, approaching him with slow steps, wiping his hands on a rag.

“Charlie,” he greeted back, taking his cigarette between his fingers to pluck it from his lips. “There’s a new shipment coming in in a few days, I need you too…” he trailed off as he finally got a good look at his uncle’s face, the prominent, worn lines in his forehead creased from more than just age and hard living. “What?”

Charlie cleared his throat. “We have a…not a situation, per se, but…”

“But what?” 

Charlie shifted from foot to foot, glancing around as though worried that there might be someone lingering around who could be listening in. “This morning, I went into the stables to feed the horses, and I found a woman sleeping there.”

Tommy blinked, lips pursing. Squatters weren’t the most unusual thing, but he’d thought that they’d fixed the problem with the fancy new locks he’d made Charlie and Curly put on the gates. And the reputation he’d been amassing for himself since his return from war worked wonders to scare all the others away.

“So?” it was an annoyance, but they weren’t housing any contraband of particular significance that could be stolen at the moment. Most of the time they just sent the squatters on their way with a stern warning and little fuss. “Just make sure she didn’t steal anything and send her on her way, as usual.” 

Charlie’s jaw set a little. “You don’t understand, Tommy.”

He raised an eyebrow, annoyance beginning to crackle under his skin. “No? What don’t I understand, Charlie?”

“She was sleeping in Wraith’s stable.”

Tommy went momentarily stiff with shock, fingers squeezing a little on his cigarette.

Wraith was a huge, young, black stallion Tommy had acquired not long after getting back from France. His previous owners had intended to put him down due to behavioral issues. Issues that, Tommy suspected, were a result of them abusing the poor boy. When he’d heard, he’d offered them a handsome amount in exchange for the horse, and had kept him housed at the yard ever since. 

Wraith was difficult. Temperamental, willful, and distrusting. It took working with him every day for months until he trusted Tommy enough to consistently let him near him. He was even standoffish to Curly, of all people. He only ever let Tommy ride him, and had on more than one occasion tried to kick or bite Charlie and Curly when they entered his stable to clean or to replace his food and water.

Tommy let out a short, humorless laugh, shaking his head, half believing Charlie to be playing some sort of joke on him. No way in hell would his grouchy stallion allow a fucking stranger into his stable with him. 

“I’m not joking, Tommy.”

His laugh died, smile fading. “That’s not possible.”

“That’s what I thought too. But I swear to God, Tom, she was in there, laying right up against him, fast asleep in the stable. That grouch of a stallion even got all upset and…protective when I tried to get near her.”

Tommy stared at him, baffled. “Where is she?”

Charlie jerked his head towards the tiny living quarters where they had a kitchen, washroom, and a few spare, tiny bedrooms. “I invited her in for breakfast.”

“You what?”

“What the fuck else was I supposed to do? Tommy, the horse who hates everyone–” off of Tommy’s look, he amended “everyone but you, didn’t even fucking whinny over her being in the stable with him,” but looked out over the cut, face suddenly grave. “And that’s not all.”

Tommy sighed, grinding his teeth together. Of all the fucking things to happen today…

“What?” he pried, despite knowing that he would probably regret it. Charlie looked at him again. 

“That girl is covered in barely healed cuts and bruises. Crude bandages all over her. She looks like she was run over by a fucking car. Or worse.”

“Did she say what happened?”

Charlie shook his head. “I asked, but she clammed right up. Looked like she was about to cry and started shaking like a leaf. Whatever happened to her, I think it may have fucked her up just as bad in the head.”

Tommy turned the information over in his mind, examining it from every angle. “Did she say anything else?”

“Not much. Just mumbled something about needing to get out of England,” he shook his head. “But with those injuries, that girl has no business going anywhere. At least not until she’s healed.”  

Tommy shot him a sharp look, already knowing where he was going with this. “We aren’t running a fucking charity here, Charlie.”

Charlie’s gaze sharpened, and for a moment, Tommy was certain that he saw a look of disappointment cross his features. He turned away from it, not wanting the reminder that even his Uncle Charlie, who always seemed to have a soft spot for him, now thought him but a cruel and heartless monster. 

“We could let her work here in exchange for enough to live off of. Just until she’s healed,” Charlie suggested. 

“In one breath you say she isn’t fit for travel and in the next you suggest putting her to work doing hard labor?”

“Not hard labor, just…things that would help out around here. With the increase in business, Curly and I could use a little help anyway.”

“If you need another stablehand, you should’ve told me so we could go about hiring one properly.”

Charlie raised his eyebrows. “Properly?” he quoted back. Tommy nodded.

“The people who work here need to specialize in discretion and moral flexibility. How do we not know that the second she sees a box of contraband, she won’t go running to the police? Or gossiping amongst other women at the pub?”

“I’ll keep her away from that stuff. Only have her working with the horses, cleaning your car…that sort of thing.”

Tommy grinded his teeth together in frustration over his uncle’s stubbornness, staring out at the cut and the smoky expanse of Birmingham that surrounded it.

“Tommy…if you would just come in and see her. The look in her eyes…you’d understand why I’m so insistent.”

Tommy stared at him for a very long moment, jaw working as he weighed the possibilities in his head. On one hand, they did not know this woman. She could be a spy. Or a thief. Or, hell, a fucking undercover copper. He wasn’t about to risk his family’s welfare for her. But on the other…Charlie’s instincts when it came to people were rarely wrong. 

And Wraith had trusted her. 

He let out a small growl, glowering at the skyline of his city. “She doesn’t even look at any of the contraband, and you don’t discuss anything regarding the business with her, do you understand me? She cleans the stables, brushes the horses, changes their feed…that is all. And once she’s healed, she leaves.”

Charlie nodded. “Understood.”

“When the next shipment comes in a few days, store it with the rest and make sure your new…stablehand,” he ground out the word as if it were made of shards of glass, “doesn’t handle any of it.”

“Alright,” Charlie slung the rag he was holding over his shoulder. “Anything else?”

Tommy shook his head. “No, that’s it.”

Charlie moved to leave him alone, then hesitated. “Do you want to come say hello? It might do you good to at least meet her…”

“No,” he had no interest in her, he told himself, even as a part of his mind prickled with intrigue. 

Wraith trusted her.

Charlie nodded, like it was the answer he’d been expecting. “Right. Well, I’ll be seeing you then, Tom,” he set off back the way he’d come. Tommy kept his gaze on the cut, watching the cold waters rush past. He wondered if the medals he had chucked into it had rusted over yet.

“Her name is Lucy!” Charlie suddenly shouted back over his shoulder. “In case you were curious.”

Despite his better judgment, Tommy couldn’t quite convince himself that he wasn’t. 

∗ ∗ ∗

Shoulder leaning against a stack of crates near the entrance to a warehouse, Tommy listened in brooding silence as Charlie reported to him on their inventory. Everything was running according to plan. Polly was still giving him a little trouble in the betting shop, not yet ready to fully hand over the control she’d been given during the years of his absence. But he could manage her.

He had eyed the stables regretfully when he stepped into the yard that brisk morning. It was his intention yesterday to take Wraith out riding, but time had gotten away from him. 

Poor boy. It was a shame that he would only let Tommy ride him, or else he could have asked Charlie or Curly to take him out to at least stretch his legs a little. 

Reaching into his waistcoat, he pulled out his pocket watch. It wouldn’t take long for this meeting with Charlie to come to a close. Perhaps if he managed to wrap up his errands early enough, he could swing back around to the yard and take the stallion out for a short trot around town. 

“You look tired,” Charlie remarked. Tommy shot him a glare, stuffing the watch back into his pocket. 

“I’m fine.”

“You’re stretched too thin. Have you thought of bringing someone else on?”

“Someone else to do what?”

Charlie shrugged. “I don’t know. Run errands for you. Take notes at meetings, maybe spy on a man or two if need be.”

Tommy huffed, rubbing at his eyes. “Yeah, well, if you find anyone qualified for such a position, you let me know.”

Charlie looked like he was tempted to say something, but thought better of it. Fishing in his pocket, Tommy pulled out his cigarette case, jamming one perhaps a tad too aggressively between his lips, snapping the case shut and tucking it away in exchange for his lighter. 

“You were telling me about the last shipment,” he urged Charlie to carry on after lighting the cigarette. He was eager to get out of there as soon as possible. In the time since Charlie had taken on his new stablehand, every time Tommy stopped by the yard, he always tried to convince him to come say hello to her. And every time, Tommy refused, ignoring the odd twinge of curiosity, and something else he couldn’t even begin to identify, curling in his gut. 

It was a wonder that he hadn’t accidentally bumped into her on his many visits to the yard, but at the same time, he was making a concerted effort not to, and Charlie had mentioned that he was keeping her to mostly indoors work to prevent her straining herself too much or accidentally staggering upon some of the more…questionable items that they kept at the yard.  

Charlie continued to inform him about the status of everything in his gruff voice. Tommy listened in silence, only grunting now and then in acknowledgement.   

The click of hooves against the ground caught his attention, and his head raised from its downturned position to search for the source of the sound, brow furrowed. 

A moment later, from around the corner, moving at a steady trot, came Wraith, his huge black figure unmistakable as he moved gracefully along the packed mud.

And astride him, riding bareback, was a petite woman with deep, rich, dark red hair, shorn short around her chin in loose curls. Even from a distance, he could tell that her features were delicate, almost doll-like, with round cheeks, full lips, and large eyes. Her expression was pinched in concentration as she skillfully maneuvered Wraith with a gentle pull of the reins. Her red hair swung around her pale, freckled cheeks as she did, soft curls brushing along her jaw before she shook them out of her face.   

Tommy was so focused on watching her beautiful face, that he didn’t even fully process that she was riding his fucking horse for a moment. His lips had parted of their own accord, caught in a sudden, unfamiliar moment of complete speechlessness as he watched her ride past him. For a moment, her eyes–she was close enough by then that he could make out their color as that of a very dark green, the likes of which he had never seen before–met his, and she blinked as if taken aback, doing a double take and then staring at him with a look of unbridled fascination. 

He was used to women looking at him with lust. And he was pretty sure he detected a trace of attraction there, no doubt, but the look of intrigue and something else entirely in those green orbs made his heart rate pick up, throat suddenly dry. 

She pulled Wraith to pass across in front of them, pushing him into completing another circuit around the yard. Tommy finally was able to catch a glimpse of the barely concealed bandages and stitches under the loose sleeves and collar of her clothes–whatever Charlie had given her to wear was too big for her tiny frame. And upon narrowing his eyes a little, he was able to make out the light purple of faded bruises on her skin.

Tommy tracked their movements with his eyes, and his breath caught at how effortlessly she handled the stallion. To the untrained eye, one may not have been able to catch the way that she shifted and tightened her legs against the horse’s sides at specific moments to give him silent commands. And despite her small, slight frame, she was strong. Tommy could see it in the way her legs moved and the way her grip adjusted on the reins. She was riding Wraith with zero trouble, as easily and as casually as if she were walking across the street to the market to do her shopping. Wraith, who never let no one else but him ever ride him.

Tommy didn’t know if he was jealous or impressed. 

Something, slumbering where it was locked away deep in his chest, stirred, cracking one eye open inquisitively.

“Tommy? Tommy!”

He jerked as if rousing from a dream, blinking and then coming back to himself all at once, face snapping around to Charlie. His uncle’s eyebrows were raised, cheeks twitching as though trying to fight back what may very well have been a smile. 

Tommy coughed, hastily looking down. He could feel his face heating a little at being caught practically gawking at a pretty woman like a smitten schoolboy.

“What?”

Charlie didn’t say anything for a moment, shifting from foot to foot. “That was Lucy.”

“I figured.”

“She’s been a big help. She’s great with the horses. Almost as good as you. And Wraith likes her, so it’s not as much of a pain in the arse getting him fed and his stable cleaned.”

Tommy nodded, keeping his eyes focused downward, for risk of catching sight of the red-haired woman again and falling into another bout of mindless staring. 

“She’s a hard worker. Very observant, and a fast learner. Her injuries are healing well, so I’ve been letting her take on a little more work as she feels comfortable,” Charlie continued on.

Tommy thought again to the bandaged cuts he’d spotted under her oversized shirt. “Did she say what happened to her?”

“No,” Charlie’s voice dropped gravely. “I don’t think she sleeps all that much. And the other night she woke me and Curly up because she was screaming in her sleep.”

“Screaming?” Tommy frowned. 

“Curled into a ball and cried after I woke her up,” Charlie hesitated. “She didn’t want me to touch her.”

Tommy’s brows pulled together, stomach churning a little at the implications. “After you decided to take her on, I ordered some background checks be done on her. They should come back soon.”

“Right.”

“Anything else?”

“I don’t suppose you’d like to come say hello. She really is a nice girl. And she loves the horses,” Charlie shot him a sly look. “You two would get on splendidly.” 

“I have things to do.”

Charlie nodded, clearly having expected it. “Another time, perhaps.”

“Perhaps,” Tommy said, knowing that he had no real intentions on following through. If Lucy was truly as nice as Charlie said, it was all for the better that he stayed away from her. For her sake.

He said farewell to Charlie hastily, clapping him once on the shoulder, then shooting one final look towards where Lucy was still guiding Wraith into a light trot around the yard. Her red hair was a bright blot of sudden color in the otherwise monochrome gray of the yard. Of all of Small Heath and Birmingham, actually. 

Again, his mind prickled with curiosity. Why was she here? Where the fuck had she even come from?

And what the hell had happened to her?

He looked away quickly, walking briskly towards the gate before she could bring the horse back around to this side of the yard. Shoving one hand in his pocket while the other gripped his cigarette, he tried to shake all thought and pondering about her from his head.

But try as he might, he couldn’t dispel how, in the brief moment their eyes had met, he could have sworn that just from that single glance alone, she had understood him better than anyone else had in his entire life. 

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Thank you for reading! Please consider leaving a comment, reblog, or like. I always appreciate feedback and love getting the opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts!

[celeluwhenfics]

Since we’re talking horse girl histories and you’ve already let slip the FASCINATING detail that you were once a horse-mounted sheep herder, would you also like to share more about your time as a horse girl? Inquiring minds would love to know whatever you feel like putting out there! ♥️

This is a long overdue reply! Thanks for the ask, and for your patience... Here we go, story time! Be ready for a long rant and too many horse pictures.

Basically, from age 8, I've been that girl completely obsessed with horses. After consistently nagging my parents, I got to get weekly riding lessons and sometimes a summer camp week. (Lucky kid, I know!)

One of my first lessons, wasn't this boy GORGEOUS?! His name was Monty. Not from Monty Python, but from Monty Roberts.

I got to the point where I could volunteer at the stable without being too much of a nuisance, and I participated in two very small jumping competitions. However at age 12 or 13 I decided to stop, being busy with a ridiculously demanding school. This is also when I started being much more serious about piano. (Which is another story entirely!)

Capturing the essence of being an 11yo horse girl in the year 2000. The tshirt says "Harry Pony"

Fast forward to when I was 22, I somehow got a little money of my own, and for some reason, my very first thought was, HORSES. So I got back into it, fell a couple times pretty hard, and became just as obsessed as I had ever been, if not more.

In parallel to doing my MA, I mucked for lessons, assisted a friend trainer, read lots, had a half-pension for a couple months, and sometimes assisted in "babysitting" entire barns for a couple days when the owners were on holiday. I did some jumping, but I was most interested in dressage. I never got to a super good level as a rider, but I really got a good variety of experiences.

I adored this guy I had in half-pension in 2013... He sent me flying through that fence a couple times, but he was the best. Sapporo ❤️

Then I was incredibly lucky that my MA advisor was a horse girl too, and she invited the whole class to retreat seminars on a farm which had about 80 Icelandic horses. My heart exploded for these little guys. I would visit that place (aka paradise) as often as I could. This blessed farm and the lovely family that owns it is the inspiration for the Aldburg paradise in which the pHORSEuasion flashbacks will happen...

I learned Icelandic, and I organized that the summer after I finished my MA (like literally 48 hours after defending), I flew to Iceland to soak in its unique horse culture.

First, I volunteered at the annual horse competition, Landsmót Hestamanna, and saw some of the THE most impressively gorgeous horses the country had to offer, in a surreal scenery, and under a sun that Would. Not. Set.

Then I went on a 1-month intensive language course in Reykjavík, slept little, did too much grammar, broke up with an annoying boyfriend, and tried speaking with locals. But after that the real thing started.

I moved to a sheep breeding farm in the North East (aka edge of the world, super isolated, big nearby metropolis is a 300 people village), that had been looking for an au-pair to help with farm work, guesthouse work, babysitting, and horse riding. I stayed there for only two months, but oh boyy. I don't even know where to start with sharing this experience.

But it will be for another post!

Btw my DMs are always open if anyone has horsey questions or would like some horsetopic-specific beta-ing when writing about Rohan, if you need help with some research of if you want to make sure that a riding scene is realistic! I'm not a horse professional but as you can guess I've been through some stuff... 😅

[belethlegwen]

Real Life, Sorry

How do I tell some of my best friends in the world that I am leaving them?

Like, specifically it's a work thing. I love these girls to bits and pieces. If I could handle it, if I could keep it up, if I could roll the dice with them and take these gambles that the year keeps throwing at all of us, I would. Over and over again, I would.

I signed paperwork today. I agreed to a job offer at another location. It's different; it's probably not going to be 'as good' in so many ways as what I have/had with these guys. But it's going to be easier. It's going to be stable. It's what I need for the next year; maybe the next two.

Two of the girls I've spoken to about it, but it was before it was fully set in stone. Tomorrow I pay rent for my current place, and I feel like I need to be upfront and tell the business owner/person I rent from that I'm gonna be gone (before, technically) by the end of the month. I need to start telling my clients. I need to figure it all out.

It's terrifying. For all the not-great parts of the last four years, these girls are the reason I survived the pandemic and the reason I was able to do what I do and love for this long. I'm still going to do what I love! There will be less control, but again: sometimes you need to let another person take the wheel for a while and just ride.

I don't know that I've ever left a job where I was missed after I went. I don't know that there's been a job I've left where there wasn't just... resentment or something for me in the wake of me going, no matter how it happened. Maybe that's just the paranoia, maybe that's just my anxiety, but I'm terrified it'll happen this time. I'm terrified at least one of them will see it as some kind of betrayal; that I'm abandoning them while all of this shit is going on.

I love them.

I'll miss them.

Maybe they won't miss me.

Maybe these pipe dreams of getting through the next year alive and being able to reevaluate, reassess, and regroup with them and go back to this are just that.

But for a while we had the best thing I ever had and I have to tell myself I can always be thankful for it. For any bad, there was so so so much good. There will be good for me wherever I go; I'll make it good. I know I can. They've shown me I can.

Life changes. It feels like life won't stop changing; that it's all changing.

Normally when there are major periods of change in my life, I've previously had dreams of Orcas and dolphins. They haven't shown up this time. I don't know what to make of that. The dreams always involved me seeing them in the distance, or hearing of them, and not being able to get as close as I wanted to. Not being able to really see them. Maybe this time I'm more in control. Maybe this time it's not something running away from me.

I hope I get to see the Orcas, finally.

Sorry for the ramble and rant, I was exhausted when I got home at 5pm and made the mistake of slamming back a Monster Java. My feelings are everywhere.

[classtrialguru]

Okay here we go.Being a horse jockey must be an exciting profession and I am here to explain the in's and out's of Ace's talent.

Origins

While modern horse racing was introduced in the 18 century, the earliest records of the sport came from the Greeks as they had chariot racing as one of the competitions of that age, so horse racing was inspired by this activity, then it spread to neighboring regions like the Middle East, Africa, Persia, and more . Races in the medieval times were conducted to determine one's speed on horseback. The King's Plate races were introduced by Charles the second which were the first ever races that gave out awarded prizes and when the rules of the sport were first made known.France then established the Prix du Jockey Club in 1836. Betting on the winner has also been around since Louis the 14th.

The Process of a Horse Jockey

Well to become a horse jockey you got to learn how to ride a horse which probably means that Ace learned how to ride a horse prior to becoming a professional horse jockey. The legal age of becoming a horse jockey is around sixteen in America and England. Then you go to an academy like the Bluegrass Community Technical Colleges Equine program which is located in Lexington, Kentucky or the Professional Racetrack Exercise Rider/Jockey Program in Olds College in Canada, and The British Racing School in Great Britain. They also have to have a high school diploma or GED.They are also required to pickup a job in that profession like a stable hand or groomer which means Ace probably knows how to clean a horse in the proper way your suppose to clean a horse. Then you would need to get an apprenticeship license which in the US you would need to pass all their exams and be placed in a racetrack for sixty days by a committee to get hands on training. Another thing that a jockey would need would be a professional and personal reference which personally makes me think. Who was Ace's personal reference like sure he is very talented with riding horses, but with his overall personality assuming that his bark with no bite type of behavior was a thing before he went professional and went like "yep he'll be fine". I mean yeah the reference might be he's parents, but anybody else that was close to him would probably know how he would react in such a dangerous sport, but back on topic. You would then need to compete against schooling race and get your journeyman jockey license. To get your journeyman jockey license you would need to have a two year degree from jockey school and the schools usually limit the amount of students to twelve per year.Next thing to do is hire an agent and join a jockey's guild. The guild's bargain for their members and will provide life insurance, disability benefits, and will advocate for safe working conditions.

On The Tracks

Now that we know the process of becoming a horse jockey, I think we should get into the general stuff they do. The average salary for a jockey is around $52,645 and the crazy things that they only get five percent of what they win. They do a lot of calisthenics like squats and burpees, they're also some weightlifting thrown into the mix. Jockey got a riding simulator to practice how to ride and balance on the horse properly. They usually eat foods with high in proteins and fibers, but they diet themselves and drink little to no water since the weight limit of a jockey is one hundred and twenty five pounds. The horses also have to be one hundred to six hundred. pounds. The colors the jockeys wear are actually for the owners or trainers that employ them and the tradition was influenced by racing events in Italian city communities. Now there are five types of racing that range from flat racing to Steeplechase racing. Flat racing is the kind of usually racing where the jockeys and their horses go around the track to the finish line. National hunt racing or better known as jump racing has the horses jumping over hurdles to the finish. Endurance racing is a fifty to one hundred mile that takes the horses and their riders through different kinds of terrain like forests and mountains. Quarter horse racing is a race that's a quarter of a mile to see which horse can go the fastest under such a short distance. Lastly we got steeplechase racing which is basically the same as national hunt racing, but with different obstacles like water and bushes. There's also a race for horses that haven't won a race. Horses can get over excited because they know they are about to race so the routine in a stable is designed to keep the horses calm.

Betting

Investigation Time

So betting on horses is a complicated system of statistics and the ability of the horse you're betting on. So the least complicated bet would be the straight wagers, which the person would bet on if their chosen horse will win wager it will need to get first place, for place it would need to get first or second place, and for show it would need to get into first to third place. The minimum you can bet on them is $2. Exotic wagers are more complicated and difficult to win since you would be betting on multiple horses. So Exacta is where you bet on which two horses will get in first and second place, Quinella is like Exacta but the places of the horses you bet on can be interchangeable, and for Doubles you can bet on two horses that are in two different races. A technique used by a group is known as show parlay, where the group will bet on the same horse and double the amount they bet on. This is the repeated till they lose their bets.

So now we're at the final stretch. Now it seems that Ace can't do a lot to help solve a murder but he is very strong and stubborn which helps when bodyguarding the crime scene or helping with arguments as an extra insight. He also definitely has a lot of knowledge on workout equipment because of the requirements of his talent, which I will admit is very specific in the case that there's a gym in this chapter and if it was anything else then he would just be a bodyguard. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask at any time.

[centeris2]

An article about Taina Malen, from Marketing at Star Stable Entertainment!

https://animationxpress.com/latest-news/star-stables-taina-malen-journey-building-a-gaming-community-for-girls/

(I sure hope this shows up in the tags)

Since it’s an article, not a video this time around, I’ll paste it here for folks to read easier, under the read more because it’s a rather long article, but highlights include:

Taina Malen, chief business developer officer and chief marketing officer, has been at SSE for 9(+) years

Not specifically stated, but I’m guessing she’s the reason JA and every single other real life musician was brought in to SSO, since JA showed up in 2014, 9 years ago. 

“they plan to expand on” their book publishing. hah. hahah. hahahahahah. Guess this was when they were trying to keep things quiet. 

They “explored” licensing with toy companies, but now the focus is on Android to expand their market soooo that toy deal we heard about is gone?

It is very much Girl centric, Girl Power, Girl Gamer, for Female Audiences, the Female Market, stuff.

Seems the average SSO player sticks around for 4 years, which is a lot longer than average games keep players around. Many players are still sticking around after 10 years. Yay longevity

They talk about Ride With Us. It’s... a lot of fancy nonsense.

SSE is currently working with Ferly and Cake Entertainment on an animation, so I guess Mistfall hasn’t died? But looking for financing and distribution (dear god Star Stable Streaming I can see it now)

SSE is working on a Live Action pitch. God I hope it’s just more of those silly live action commercials they did a super long time ago but I fear it’s not.

Give the actual article a read below, or with the link above!

The gaming industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years. While men have traditionally dominated the gaming industry, female pioneers have broken boundaries and paved the way for future generations of female gamers and leaders. One such leader is Taina Malen, the chief business development officer and chief marketing officer of Star Stable Entertainment. Malen’s contributions to the gaming industry serve as an inspiration to aspiring female gamers and leaders, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the industry.

Talking to AnimationXpress, Malen, who has over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry having previously held positions in CANAL+, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros, opens up about her journey and the industry.

“Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing companies,” said Malen, who comes from a background in music, film, TV and pay TV. “I, along with some former colleagues, started an esports initiative called Esportal before joining Star Stable.” Esportal is still operational today. Interestingly, one of its owners was also a shareholder in Star Stable.

When Malen joined Star Stable, it was still a small team of 14 people. Her role was to set up marketing disciplines, customer service and brand extensions such as music, publishing and animation. “Over the past nine years, the company has expanded to over 200 employees,” she said. “Throughout this journey, the mission was to build a platform for girls in tech and gaming, and this has remained a constant. The vision that ‘every girl is a hero’ has guided everything the company does, including the development of the game Star Stable Online.”

The company’s core product is its game, but it is into book publishing as well. It has 15 titles in 14 languages at present, which it plans to expand on. The team sees this as a great way to expand its brand by promoting its characters outside of the game. They also create their own music, with some of their characters being artists in the game. They have collaborated with female singer-songwriters and artists to bring their game characters to life. Malen’s interest in music began early on when as a youth, she went on tour with Europe, the legendary Swedish rock-band, which taught her about the industry and broadened her network. She has studied journalism and is passionate about communication and writing. She believes that entertainment is all about “emotion and connecting with people,” and loves working with creative individuals.

Along with that, the company has explored licensing opportunities with Just Play as their master toy, and collaborated with H&M in the Nordics to connect with brands that focus on female audiences. This year, they plan to expand onto new platforms such as Android as they continue to seek out ways to get their product into the market.

“The primary target of our game is girls, and we pride ourselves on being the world’s leading horse game,” she shared. “While horses are a crucial aspect of the game, it’s not just about collecting and riding them. Our game is full of magic, mystery and even evil forces that players can work to overcome and make Jorvik Island a better place.”

There is a lot of text in the game, so it’s essential for players to be able to read. Their core players are typically between the age group of 8-18 with 14 being the average age . “As young girls aspire to be like older girls, our player base spans a wide range of ages, making it challenging to target a specific age group. Our players tend to stay with us for around four years and more, with some of our oldest players staying for 10, which is quite a long time in the gaming industry. Overall, our game offers an exciting experience with weekly updates that keep our players engaged for an extended period.”

When the company began 11 years ago, the concept of a “girl gamer” was non-existent. They aimed to create a brand that focused on producing quality entertainment for girls who did not associate themselves with traditional video games that involved first-person shooting. Despite the industry’s slow start, it has become more receptive to female gamers in recent years. Although there is more entertainment available now that appeals to any gender, there is still room for improvement when it comes to creating content specifically for girls.  

“There are a lot of men making the games and products. Women developers are quite scarce,” Malen said. “However, at the company where I work, we have more than 50 per cent women across the board, including younger generations. In general, I feel that the gaming industry has been male-oriented since the beginning and it still is. Based on my experience in the entertainment industry, I would argue that this is changing in the country where I am, but I’m not certain if this trend applies to the rest of the world.”

Malen shared that their new marketing initiative called ‘Ride With Us’ acts as a brand platform for the business. The platform’s purpose is to give customers a way to connect with the business regardless of their interests, age, or stage of life. The first campaign under this encourages everyone to take part in the community of the brand, highlighting the fact that despite differences in appearance and behaviour, there is still something that unites individuals.

[youtube link to Ride With Us video]

To inspire more women to join the gaming community, she added, “The most important thing is to stay true to yourself and believe in what you want to do. If you have faith in yourself and trust your instincts, I think you can accomplish anything. I believe that as long as I stay true to my values, whether they are personal or professional, and trust my intuition, I can overcome any obstacle. If more women stand their ground and get the chance to be heard, the world will be a better place.”

Star Stable is currently working with Cake Entertainment and Ferly on their long form animation, the script for which is ready. They are looking for the final piece of financing and distribution before launching the production. Additionally, they have finalised a live action concept that they will soon start to pitch to companies around the world. Aimed at a young adult audience, they plan to produce this project with someone, yet to be seen.

[echointernationaljumpers]

RAINY DAYS AFTER HEATWAVE

Lauren's POV

It's not a lie when I tell you that this September (the part of it that has gone by anyway) has been the hottest we have had in 50 something years. We have had temperatures above 30 degrees celcius, which is definitely not normal for September in Denmark.

Anyways today it was apparently turning around and September is finally becoming the Fall month it was supposed to be (let it out girl!). So when I went towards the jumping arena to get some training with the latest newcomer, Denali, done it was of course raining.

To be fair it had rained most of the day, which is why I had postponed the riding until it was absolutely necessary. The indoor arenas are not completely finished on the inside yet, and the obstacles has yet to be put up, so if I wanted to train jumping I had to do it outside.

Putting on my best fall gear, and had tacked up Denali and of we went!

And the beginning it almost didn't rain. The sun was up and shining, so I would probably have spotted a rainbow if I wasn't so busy with Denali, who was very much keeping me on my toes today. He was quite frisky.

I should probably present him though. He is an English bred Appaloosa gelding, but should be view as very green, as he even at 12 years of age hasn't tried much in his young life. He was broken in barely a year ago, and after more than half a year the young owner deemed that the gelding was too much for her.

So he ended up here, and I have been training with him intensively since he got here. Honestly, I don't know what Vivian was thinking when she took him in, as this is after all a Sportshorse stable and a Jumping stable mostly, but maybe Denali can excel still? Maybe she will even let me do some cross country with him in the future - that could honestly be a lot of fun!

Anyways, it went pretty well we the training. He was jumping well (and yes, Lottie has learned about angles at her photography class!), and Lottie snapped a few good pictures for the blog, so that was nice. After all, if I am riding most of the time, when am I supposed to take pictures?

Another horse at the stable that puzzles me a little is Chief (RL Jester's Chief). I don't exactly know what he is doing here, but he is cute, so yeah, why not. Vivian claims that she is holding him for a buyer, but I haven't seen said buyer yet. Maybe she just saw him, and needed him. HA! Who am I kidding, then Vivian would actually be capable of human emotions and/or believe in love at first sight, which she definitely doesn't!

Anyway, bringing Denali out to Chief was a joy. The two (well three) spotties gets along very well, and Denali and Chief is often seen grooming and scratching each other. Pinkie has joined their herd, so it's only the three of them, since he doesn't seem to like Toémme very much (what a shame), and then Kozak, Toémme and Cou are sharing a pasture. Seems to fit everyone very well, and it makes for a much calmer pasture climate, so that's all good.

Rain was getting stronger as I watched the spots in their natural habitat.

Soon after both Chief and Denali wanted to go inside, and I honestly don't blame them. Soon it will be blanket time, especially if it keeps raining like this. Pinkie didn't seem to care much about the rain though, as he stayed far away from the entrance, grazing.

[secretlywritingstories]

My horse's stables have been sold. It's been a long time coming really. They announced to us just over a year ago that they would be selling and now the time has come. But even with the long warning, it feels abrupt and it's messing with my head when I think about it too much.

It was one of the first things I saw this morning when I opened my eyes. Maybe that's on me checking my email that early, but usually it's comments from AO3 greeting me and those are wonderful to wake up to. This was not really.

And it's generally good news. It'll be another family who'll live there. The mother is a rider too, and they want to continue hosting boarder horses. So, it's entirely possible that I can keep Moneypenny in the stable that has been her home for the last 15 years and the place that has been my escape from the world just as long.

Ownership shifts on the 1st of December, which is sooner than I would like. They are going to renovate the stables, which they have been direly needing, but that also means temporary displacement of the horses. I don't know how they're going to go about it all. I don't really know what I am going to do about it.

It's still early days. The contract was signed just last night. The current owners and the new owners will have several meetings over the coming weeks to sort things out. And the riding tack shop is staying for the moment and the family are probably keeping their own horses (five horses, most of them youngsters and one sold abroad) on the property until they find somewhere new.

They strive to make it a smooth transition and it'll probably be fine. I am still facing the choice as to whether I want to look for somewhere else to board Moneypenny or I am going to stick around in the stable under new ownership. I don't love either option, but I do like the idea of staying in the familiar, if I can.

I love the nearby forest, I know every nook and cranny of the stable and the rest of the property. It's comfortable and easy. Moneypenny shares a field with another boarder, so she also has her usual partner if that person decides to stick around. She might. We're from the same riding school originally, and she moved her (old) horse to the stable just a handful of months after I moved mine.

Maybe it'll be good. We've been stuck in a weird transitional period where most of the boarders moved, we had a couple of temporary ones come in but the stable that at most housed over 30 horses went down to under 10. It didn't affect me that much because I was just hanging out with my horse, but there was a sense of life and community lost.

It might get restored now with new owners, a renovated stable and presumably new boarders coming too. I want to meet the owners to make my own judgements, but I am leaning towards staying. Change is such a bitch and anything with Moneypenny in particular makes me flare up so easily.

Spending time with her in comfortable and safe surroundings have always been something I run to whenever things get too overwhelming, whether with school, work og just inside of my own head. And this stable has been the backdrop of it for a decade and a half. A lifetime really. And Moneypenny is happy there. She could be happy elsewhere too, I know it. She's much less fussy than her owner.

And I'm happy for the old owners. I want them to have the freedom not to constantly have to take care of a stable. It's endless work. Day in and day out. I could not do it. I hope the new owners will be a breath of fresh air and bode good things ahead.

Change is coming, whether I want it or not. And it's healthy enough to be shaken up sometimes. Even if it makes me want to thrash around and pout.

[milfjagger]

long horsey post under cut to save my followers who don’t care

i think i rode a pony for the first time when i was about 5 but i started lessons when i was 7!! my sister started at the same time aged 5 and my mum took up riding again having not ridden since she was a kid. (btw all of these photos are from this really cute memories book that my mum had printed for me and my sister ♥️)

we used to go to northern ireland to see my dad’s family pretty much every easter, and we usually also combined it with a trip to donegal in the ROI bc that was where my dad used to go on holiday as a kid! there was a riding school in rathmullan where you could take the ponies along the beach and that was where i had my first gallop!!! my dad doesn’t ride so he always walked along the beach and tried to get pictures; this is me on a pony who i think was called pearl iirc (i have a really good memory for the names of horses for some reason even if i only met/rode them like once)

by this point we had moved from devon to hertfordshire and i absolutely fucking hated it there BUT they did have a very big and very good riding school in walking distance from our house . we had lessons there every week and when i was 10 my mum bought a horse from them! he was called boris, he was a big chestnut irish draft who was sooo handsome and sweet and everyone was so jealous of him lol but here he is 🧡

boris was supposed to be the family horse but my mum is tall and didn’t really realised how much too big he would be for me and my sister (and my brother who rode for a bit before he decided his horse allergies were too bad to continue 😭), especially bc he was only 5 when we got him and he grew about 3 inches from then (finishing at just under 17 hands). i was already like 5’3 at age 10 (early puberty lol) so was able to ride him a bit but my sister couldn’t really bc her feet barely reached the bottom of the saddle. for a while we loaned (for free, from another owner on the yard) a 14 hand haflinger called tommy who i have literally NO pictures of but if you google haflinger that’s pretty much him, they only come in one colour. tommy was absolutely fucking mental and the strongest pony ever, i remember one time i was cantering on him and literally couldn’t stop him at all so i just had to sit and wait until he got tired 😭 we also did some jumping on him and rode him in our lessons which was always slightly terrifying but we had a lot of fun on him until he went lame from a health condition and his owner put him in retirement. then the stable owners told us they had a pony we could loan for free (mainly for my sister) but quote “it’s not a nice pony” and that is the story of how we got isobel, who we have now had for 17 years, is 25 and completely retired from work. she is a very small (12 hands) roan rescue pony who was extremely nervous and unhandled (she had been turned loose for a year before we got her, she wouldn’t let most of the staff near her and her mane was down to her knees and super matted) but my sister was super patient with her. i rode her a little bit but i was already bordering on too big for her. she was 100% my sister’s pony and my sister ADORED her. we all still love isobel so much even though she is grumpy as fuck she’s so cute and she deserves to live out her retirement in peace and be a friend to mum’s current horses ♥️♥️♥️ this is isobel (first pic with my sister soon after we got her 17 years ago and another recent one)

isobel had some limitations though, mainly that she was terrified of jumping and given what she went through before she was rescued by the rspca we didn’t want to push her too much. our riding school was super jumping focused and at the time me and my sister were both really into jumping (and we thought isobel was only gonna be temporary) so mum decided to get a pony that was bigger than isobel but smaller than boris and would be able to do some jumping. which was when we got cookie, who was an absolute legend and i really hope she’s happy if she is still alive today ♥️ she was a skewbald irish cob with one blue eye and one brown, just over 14 hands and came highly recommended by the riding school who had owned her briefly, but she was being sold by a private owner. we had kind of a rocky start with her (when we went to try her out, me, my sister and my brother all rode her and told mum that she scared the shit out of us, but my mum was like “well it’s this pony or no pony”) and she was completely mental for about 3 months and would just buck and run off constantly but luckily we had trained at the school of tommy (and isobel who could also be kind of quirky) and i started really enjoying her. my sister was still nervous but she had isobel who was much smaller and also now that we had 3 it meant we could all ride together which was super nice :) cookie was an amazing jumper for a cob and so pretty ♥️ she had quite severe hayfever and was very bothered by flies so she had to wear a fly mask in the summer and would toss her head quite a lot and in many ways she was not an easy pony at all but we literally loved her and learned so much from her bc she was so weird and crazy. i always think there are two types of cobs, the ones that are basically walking sofas and the ones that are a bit fucked in the head and she was definitely the second type LOL. here is a pic of me jumping on cookie!!! this is from when the riding school took a bunch of school horses and other kids’ horses to a cross country course and i literally fell off at least twice that day and the yard owner actually got on cookie to try and sort her out and she was like fair play lol that pony is spicy!!! but at least we got some good pics before that

pretty soon after we got cookie we moved back to devon and we were only planning to take cookie and boris bc isobel still belonged to the school but they basically insisted we take her, handed over her documents and she was ours 😭 we moved into a farm with its own stables and joined the local pony club, which kinda sucked tbh it was really cliquey and no one really thought much of cookie bc she was a cob and they all had expensive show ponies or thoroughbreds lol. she could easily jump a course of the same height as their horses but she wasn’t really fast enough to win the timed jump-offs …but we still got some rosettes ♥️ I didn’t take boris to many events bc he was mainly mum’s horse, and at this point my sister was really confident on cookie and wanted to ride her all the time so we thought about getting another horse that would be just mine. we heard from someone at our old yard in hertfordshire that she was looking for a home for her super nice dressage horse, but he would be super cheap bc he had health issues and intermittent lameness. i remembered the horse and had always thought he was really sweet and friendly and we ended up getting him, bc it was an amazing opportunity to have a really highly trained horse and have some fun with him when he was sound, but we did kind of know his time would be limited before he went completely lame. his old name was literally FUGLY which was so cruel and inaccurate but i assume he was a really goofy looking foal or something … anyway i was having none of that negativity so i named him lenny 🧡 he was a big 17 hand chestnut warmblood (oldenburg i think but you need a phd to understand european warmblood breeding) and was such a goofy silly head but so sweet and unlike any horse i had ever ridden and i was so extremely excited to have him. he was also best friends with boris who was a similar size and colour and they looked so cute playing together in the field 🥹♥️ this was lenny (with my mum riding him lol i never rode him at a show for reasons i will get into)

we had just got lenny and we knew he was kind of delicate so there was no way he was going to pony club camp to do jumping and all sorts, so for my first ever pony club camp (age 15) i took boris and my sister took cookie. and on literally the FIRST DAY we were having a jumping lesson, boris tripped and i went over his shoulder and broke my collar bone 😭 i had to go to hospital but luckily he was fine and he actually stayed for the whole camp and i think one of the pony club mums rode him and had a great time 😭 and then basically i couldn’t ride for weeks and was super nervous to get on even when my shoulder was better, especially bc lenny was new and a lot more of an advanced horse than i was used to. my mum absolutely fell in love with lenny though and got into dressage on him. I didn’t really ride much for ages after that and even when i did i usually rode cookie. then boris was diagnosed with arthritis - he could still be ridden a little bit though and had medication to manage his joints. I can’t remember if mum sold him before or after we got my sister’s next horse bailey but she ended up selling boris to someone from pony club who said they just wanted a horse to do light hacking on and we could visit him whenever, but within a few months they had sold him, probably for a profit and by lying about his health which was so incredibly irresponsible, infuriating and heartbreaking. so I have no idea what eventually happened to boris but i suspect he was put to sleep within a few years 💔 it’s really sad and i hate that person so much for lying about what they wanted him for and then potentially tricking someone else into buying a horse that wasn’t fully sound. fuck them forever fr boris was so sweet and deserved way better

anyway as i said my sister wanted to do more jumping and especially cross country jumping, and she was getting to a level where cookie couldn’t really keep up with the other more sporty type horses so she ended up getting a 15.2 hand bay irish sport horse called bailey. he was also kind of quirky and for a long time she would fall off him literally every time she took him to an event. my mum would be waiting at the finish line to take a picture and see bailey come running in without her 😭 he was so funny though, when you groomed him he would reflexively start grooming the wall with his teeth as if he was mutual grooming with another horse it was so cute ♥️ this was bailey

because my sister fell off so often over jumps, and bc we had lenny who was highly trained in dressage, both my mum and my sister got really into dressage, my mum on lenny and my sister on both lenny and bailey. i get sad talking about those two bc they both had to be put to sleep, lenny first when he went fully lame from his long term injury. he also had a tumour on his ear which didn’t look good and we had to do the kindest thing for him 💔 my mum was devastated (she absolutely loved him, maybe even more than boris) and one of her friends very kindly bought her a big orange rose to plant in his memory ♥️ and then with bailey, it turned out the reason he kept bucking after jumps was bc he had arthritis in his front legs and would be in pain when he landed. he eventually went fully lame and was in constant pain and again it was the kindest thing for him but it was incredibly sad as he was still quite young. i think at some point bailey overlapped with the new horses mum got for herself and my sister but my timeline is wobbly bc i wasn’t really into horses at the time. i did cry a lot over those two being put to sleep and i cried when we eventually sold cookie, but she went to a really good home with someone who really loved her and may still have her to this day (we lost touch but cookie would be about 23 and could well still be alive).

anyway then my mum had a big 16.3 hand piebald warmblood called stan and my sister had a 16 hand grey british sports horse called george. stan was older (15 when mum bought him) and very experienced and well trained but he was extremely grumpy and difficult a lot of the time and everyone except mum was scared of him 😭 and george was a super sweet youngster who was definitely my sister’s favourite horse ever (except probably isobel) but he kind of scared the shit out of my mum bc he was young and nervous. then my sister went to uni and mum had to sell one of the horses bc she wouldn’t be able to exercise two (we still had and still have isobel but she is too small for any of us and retired anyway, not to mention no one would ever buy her lol) and she decided to sell george for some reason even though he was the way nicer horse. my sister was obviously sad but she follows the new owner on instagram and it looks like george is still doing well to this day :) so mum struggled with stan for a few years and then decided he was basically too old to be competing anymore, snd that was probably why he was getting so grumpy, so she sold him quite cheap to someone who just wanted to do light work (and was really happy with him, he was a beautiful horse for the price they paid). and also if mum had kept george then she would probably never have got athena, who is her current dressage horse and my mum loves her to bits. she is a 16.1 hand dark bay warmblood and is basically perfect for mum in every way. she’s not the most friendly horse but she’s really calm and easy to handle and i love her a lot ♥️ this is athena aka bean aka babina she’s such a fancy girl

athena also has a few health issues though (literally classic our family’s luck with horses) and was off lame for ages in 2018-19 and since it was just athena and isobel at home mum was itching to ride so she spent ages looking for the perfect “project horse” i.e. a young horse that had been backed (ridden) but not really trained so she could do some training herself. after looking at about 20 horses she found this funny little 5 year old grey mare who was maybe 15.1 hands at best and really cheap. and that was bubbles aka bugs who I literally love so much she is soooo cute and friendly and has turned into such a nice little horse. she is the one that i ride now when i visit my parents and she is such a sweet girl i absolutely love bubbles ♥️ look how cute she is (ft. me jumpscare)

mum wouldn’t let me ride bubbles straight away though bc bubbles was young and i was really out of practice, plus bubbles needed a confident horse to go out hacking with (i.e. not athena who is too delicate for such things) so one of my mum’s friends really kindly started letting me ride her horse bonnie :) then through 2020-22 bonnie’s owner wasn’t riding so we moved bonnie to the farm and i loaned her full time. she was a little 15 hand bay baroque type lusitano who was bought for literally 100 euros from a meat factory in portugal 💔 she was also literally evil and would attack you while you were grooming, feeding, putting on rugs, tacking up or basically anything that wasn’t riding, but as soon as you got in the saddle she adopted the chiller nature and was really fun to ride, very speedy but really solid and unflappable, presumably bc she used to be a bullfighter and carriage horse back in portugal. despite how mean she was i loved bonnie and she gave me so so much confidence in my riding and i don’t think i would have got back into horses without her. me and my sister rode loads together during lockdown, switching between bonnie and bubbles :) she was also there for me when i wanted to take on another loan horse, a smallish cob called misty, who threw me off quite badly on like my third ride on her and i was terrified to get back on, so i got on bonnie instead and got my confidence back (misty went back to her owner, who then sold her bc he was a professional trainer and even he couldn’t fix whatever was wrong with her lol and she was supposed to be a riding for the disabled horse!!! she was dangerous fr!!!!)

but anyway then i went back to uni and even though my mum kind of wanted to keep bonnie, she wasn’t going to buy her from her owner after all the work and training and money that she put into her and her owner unfortunately really needed the money from a sale (a lot more than the €100 she paid for her…. thanks to the work of literally me and my mum and not bonnie’s actual owner but i digress). I would have bought her myself if i had the money and the time but i don’t live with my parents and the farm is about 1.5 hours drive away and i can’t reasonably ask my mum to look after my horse all the time especially bc she is such a nightmare to handle. and i can’t keep a horse nearer to me, it’s way too expensive and i don’t have the time 💔 but on the plus side i am definitely confident and competent enough for bubbles now (i don’t really ride athena, i wouldn’t get much out of her as i’m nowhere near trained to that level) and it meant i felt really confident on my riding holiday even on a more spicy horse… bc i know i can handle it !!! my mum even admitted yesterday i am “quite a decent rider” and coming from her that means a lot 🥲 ♥️ and i can ride bubbles whenever i visit my parents!! anyway here’s me and my sister on bonnie and bubbles 😁 thank you for reading if you got this far

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Apparently, current or former horse girls converge towards Rohan stories...

Wid and Guth's story is full of beautiful horse scenes, particularly the one where Guth rides down to the river with no hands and Wid is drooling at him (so are we tbh)! Also, gold star for only including one small scene with the "only one horse" trope, and a justified one!

Care to tell us more about your real-life experience with horses?

Oh, goodness, yes! Horse girls unite! Loving Rohan is just a natural state for us! ♥️🗡️🐎👑

I grew up around horses. My grandparents had two at their farm when I was really little (too little to ride, but not too little to make myself a giant horsey friend!) and I’d hang out with them whenever I could. Then when I was 7 or 8, I started riding at one of the horse farms around where I grew up. I’m no Guthláf (👀), but I was a pretty good pleasure rider and a decent jumper.

I worked at a stable for years both doing barn chores and helping to exercise the long-term boarded horses whose owners couldn’t ride every day. In the process, I got a Might As Well Have Been Mine horse, whose name was Polar. His owner was lazy, so I was pretty much the only one to ever ride him. He was gentle and sweet and goofy and had a canter so smooth you wouldn’t even feel like you were moving at all. Just a 10/10, no notes kind of boy. I still miss him!

My riding days came to an end as I was finishing high school. I had a Guthláf experience and hit my head on a fence post (it was FINE, I had my helmet on!), which made my mom REALLY antsy about the whole concept of riding. Then I went away to college, where riding wasn’t really an option, and I haven’t lived a very riding-friendly lifestyle ever since.

I’d love to get back into it, but I’d probably annoy myself by how rusty I’d be. Maybe someday…and if I ever found myself with a horse by some miracle, I’d absolutely name it Syndrigan in honor of Guthláf’s special girl. Thanks for asking! ♥️♥️♥️

[jamie-rainsong-rrp]

~ I n t r o d u c t i o n ~

Hi! I’m Jamie Rainsong, and I’m an Irish/Jorveigan eventer currently residing in the Harvest Counties. Until I get my own stables (soon, hopefully), I’m living at Sunfield Farm with my parents.

~ Pinkman , ‘Jesse’ ~

Jesse is an 8 year old, 16.4hh Selle Français with some Thoroughbred bloodlines. He was bred by Baroness Silverglade to two Grand National horses, was bought by a stables in Jorvik City, and the Grand National was what his first owners had in mind for him. He never made it to the racetrack, because his owners went bankrupt. He was sent to an auction, and that’s where my parents bought him for me. He was my first horse of my own, and despite him being a handful sometimes - he’s also very sensitive - he’s a total gem of a horse who will jump his heart out. Right now, he specialises in showjumping and cross country, but I’m going to try and get him into endurance riding when he builds up enough muscle and skill.

~ Deer Hunter , ‘Mike’ ~

Mike is a 15 y/o, 17.3hh Dutch Warmblood x Irish Sport Horse. He was born in Ireland, where my dad is from, and he was trained very well in showjumping and dressage. My dad bought him when Mike was two, when we were visiting Ireland and saw Mike at an auction. We knew we had to have him, despite having no intention of buying a horse at all. It was the best decision my dad has ever made. He’s such a sweet old guy, and still competes with no sign of slowing down. He’s been there, done that, having competed in the RDS and the Governer’s Fall Arena.

~ Long Hard Times To Come , ‘Raylan’ ~

Raylan is a 7 y/o, 15.3hh Mustang gelding. Very little is known about him, but I know that he was most likely born in Wyoming over in America, on government-owned land, before being brought to Jorvik. I’m pretty sure he was once part of the Mustang Makeover, as he has good ground manners and knows basic things. But other than that, I know nothing beyond the fact that he was neglected and abused before I adopted him from the South Hoof Rescue. He’s an amazing horse, just very green and a little clueless. But I love him all the same. Plus, he’s very brave for such a green horse. He’s starting his competition career, slowly but surely, and I can’t wait to see how he does.

[robinismywifee]

Back to the Old House - Chapter 4

August 23rd, 2034

[4 weeks, 5 days since beginning of Chapter 3]

Raines age: 16 years, 6 months

Ellies age: 15 years, 3 months

CW: none?

Words: 1920

Masterlist

Raines POV:

Today is the first day of patrol. Maria was super impressed at the gun range and she gave me a week before doing the real patrol job, just making sure I was ready to be around new people, taking me out to eat and shit.

It's been difficult, but I need to pull my head out of my ass.

I woke up early, 6am, patrol started at 7am, but Maria wanted me to eat beforehand. I brushed out the knots in my hair and brushed my teeth, got dressed, just jeans and a black tanktop, as it was still summertime, and my black canvas shoes.

I swung my bag over my shoulder and equipped my holster around my theigh for my gun.

"Hey Maria" I said in a sleepy voice, rubbing my eyes, making my way into the kitchen where Maria sat at the stool infront the counter.

"Hey, you seem tired. You sure you're still up for it?" she said, sipping something out of a steaming mug.

"Yeah yeah, i'm sure- it's just early"

She nodded, "you want some?" she gestured to her cup, "uh, what is it?"

"Coffee" she smiled proud, "oh, no thanks, never had it. Wouldn't wanna waste any"

"You sure you don't wanna try? It has caffeine in it, get you out of your tired mood"

"Not really, i'll be fine with water."

"Would you rather us go to get breakfast or me make you something?"

"Uh.."

Well I would definitely rather stay here to get food, but I should probably go out to eat so i'm not too overwhelmed with meeting this Jesse guy.

"Let's go out?"

Maria smiled, she gulped down the last splashes of her coffee, placing the now empty mug on the table, "i'm glad you said that"

୨♡୧

After I ate only half my food, since it felt like i was gonna puke if I ate anymore, me and Maria left to go to the stables.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't finish it.." I practically mumbled to her as we walked

"What? No. Don't be. You probably have lots of anxiety right now and i'm proud that you even tried. I'm also very proud that you're going out of your comfort zone to do this job."

I felt confused. Why is Maria so nice to me?

she wouldn't be if she knew the real me.

I stayed quiet. Thinking of how happy her words made me feel and thinking of how much I didn't deserve to feel that happiness.

"Hey" Maria waved to the guy who worked at the stables once we arrived, "We're gonna have you take this guy. We found her injured a few months ago but shes healed since, and fully trained. She's a good girl who was in need of an owner. She doesn't have a name yet either, so feel free to name her. This will be both of you guys first time on patrol" Maria smiled, as she handed me the horses rein.

I nodded, getting up on the horse. "perfect, now just follow me" Maria said softly, I followed next to her slowly riding my horse until we made it to infront the exist, I saw 7 other people on horses. They all looked to range from ages 18-30.

"Sorry for the wait. We got new patrol people, this is Raine" Maria introduced me to everyone, as I shyly waved. It felt weird considering i've been in town for weeks now, and yet I only know about 6 people, 2 of them I dont even know the names of.

"Hey Raine! I'm Jesse" one of the people said, it was the guy closest to me and looked to be the same age as me. His smile was gentle and he seemed nice. Maybe this won't be too bad.

"Hi" I awkwardly said, unsure of what else to say as he already knew my name.

"Great, I hope you two become friends as you'll be working together from now on, that is if everything goes well, but im certain it will."

Maria continued to talk about saftey precautions and which partner group was taking which route, Jesse already had taken this route before from when he had did group patrol, so I was basically just gonna have to follow him.

Once the gate opened, every partner group went separate ways, and it was just me and Jesse.

"So, I heard you came in weeks ago and was in the hospital for awhile. I also heard you got out of it weeks ago, where you've been?" Jesse asked in a curious tone, glancing to the side to look at me for my answer. When I opened my mouth nothing came out, he spoke up before I could make an embarrassing scene. "Sorry, that could be very personal, I dont wanna overstep anything.."

"Uh- no it's fine. I- I was just um.. I mean, I was in a coma? So I was recovering.. from it.. i've been staying at Maria and Tommy's place."

God, I sound so fucking stupid. Also im lying. I've been done recovering, i've just been staring at the wall in bed letting my own thoughts consume me.

"Oh, thats cool. Maria and Tommy are nice dudes."

It was awkward silence since I didn't know how to reply, and by the time I thought of just saying 'yeah' it was too late to reply.

"So what's it like being in a coma? I heard you dream some weird stuff- oh, and when people visited you, could you hear them?"

I softly smiled at his excited banter, he actually felt nice to be around and didn't make me that type of uncomfortable yet.

"Uhh, no weird dreams that I remember. Just was sorta blank. And, I wouldn't know. It's not like anyone vistied me"

"What do you mean? Of course she vi-" Jesse started saying, but stopped talking in the middle of his sentance. I scrunched my brows confused.

"Uhh.. sorry," he let out a dry chuckle, "forgot what I was gonna say"

What the fuck was that about?

I nodded, feeling awkward.

"Uhhhmm. So what made you wanna do patrol?"

Jesse asked, "Oh, just thought i'd be good and could help out."

"Nice.." Jesse nodded looking at me, as I stared down at my horses mane. "same.." he said, stretching out the A.

"Welp, Maria had us take a short route since its our first time and we're young, so.. here we are"

Jesse said, once we made it some office type building.

I didn't say anything, we entered it and Jesse signed us in. "You don't talk much, do you?"

"Guess not."

He nodded, pukering his lips and blowing air out. "Hey, you wanna know a fun fact about me?"

"Uh.. not really?" I asked, confused of why he kept trying to talk to me as we searched the building. "Can I tell you anyway?"

I shrug, not caring.

"Okay, well, my girlfriend, is actually the one that found you. You know, like right before you passed out in that coma."

My eyebrow's scrunched, and my face visibly showed confusion. What is he talking about? Ellie was the one that found me and shes not into gu-

"Dina, is her name"

Oh right. They were in groups.

I nodded, "Nice" I said not knowing how else to respond. "I think you and Dina could be friends. You'll have to meet her one of these days"

"No thanks" I said, cutting him off. He looked at me confused, "Oh- I just meant, i'm not really.. a social person, and meeting you is enough for me.. for awhile.."

His confusion dropped as he understood. "Gotcha. Well, still, it's a small town, you're gonna have to meet her eventually. But yeah, sure, take your time"

The rest of the patrol was boring silence broken up with Jesse throwing in information about himself that I didn't need to know. He even told me his shoe size? He's kinda weird. But definitely better then most, he wasn't being weird to me in that way at all and I feel like I could relax around him.

We finished the job and made it back to Jackson. It only took us a few hours since we had a short and recently cleared route. We didn't run into any infected or anything.

The people at the gates said hello to Jesse and welcomed us back, I figured that they didn't know my name. We rode to the stables, the stables were empty except for the same person working from before, and a black haired girl standing off to the side, looking as if she was waiting for something. She looked odly familiar.

Jesse was infront of me when I heard the girl speak up excitedly, "Jesse! How was it?"

Jesse smiled, "Hey Dina,"

So thats her? Fuck I hope Jesse doesnt try and make me introduce myself.

"It was pretty chill, we had a short route and no trouble. No infected or anything."

Jesse got off his horse and put the horse in its assigned stable, while I did the same. I saw from the corner of my eye Jesse and Dina hugging.

I could feel their eyes on me once they stopped hugging. "Raine? This is Dina"

I took a breath before turning around, "Hi" I mumbled, barley audible. "Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm glad to see you up!"

Are you though?

I nodded slightly, pressing a fake smile that I thought was convincing when in reality it wasnt at all, and then turned around to leave.

Once I left the stables and was out of their view, I heard Jesse apologizing for my behavior.

Why the fuck do I act like that?

I speed walked to Marias with my head down, feeling my heart pump fast. My cheeks were red from embarrassment.

Once I got to the house, Maria was already in the living room, and was alerted by me slamming the door shut that I was back.

She got off from the couch and ran over to me, "Raine? Whats wrong, did you get hurt? Did you get bit?" Maria asked me in a calm voice, but you could hear panic and worry behind it.

"No- no im fine-" I took a deep breath, feeling my cheeks grow more red from being even more embarrassed, since I was starting to have a hard time breathing over it.

"Well what's wrong? Was it too soon to go out?"

I shook my head, bringing my hands to cover my face, "No, I just- I dont know, I think it was just- alot, for such a short time." I breathed out, pushing past Maria to get water from the kitchen.

"Oh, i'm sorry hun, are you gonna hold off on patrol for awhile, or are you gonna stick with it?"

She asked, following behind me to the kitchen.

"No- I can still do it. Im fine. Tomorrow at the same time?"

She nodded, "Are you sure? How was Jesse? Do you want to switch him for someone else?"

I immediately shook my head no. That would just cause more trouble, and I would have to meet another person.

Before Maria could talk more, I took my water and went to my room.

[i-am-a-fan]

Happy December 25th! I have come bearing gifts :D! A Bo Fu centric ficlet :>

Arrow after arrow connected with sparkling glass vases lined up like army men on the fence around the horse stables and sent the sound of glass shattering up into the gold tinted sky.

Bo Fu sighed with content as his last arrow hit its mark and the glass vase was reduced to shards. His temporary moment of peace however was shattered by the familiar nicker of Bo Fu's second least favorite horse, Kion.

Kion was an Akhal-Teke, a breed of riding horse known for their speed and glossy golden coat, and Kion was no different. He had a very shiny coat and was probably one of the fastest, if not the fastest, horse in the stables so the horse had an ego. Which was exactly why he was Bo Fu’s second least favorite horse, what type of horse had an ego?   

"Oh shut up," Bo Fu retorted back before even lowering his bow to give Kion a "don't-even-give-me-that-crap" look. 

Kion nickered again, a bored look on the horse's face. 

“Relax! We have celestial spirits to do that!” Bo Fu said and as if it was rehearsed celestial spirits glowed faintly into existence and began to clean up the glass shards. 

The Celestial spirits were like the designated janitors of the celestial realm, any time a mess appeared they’d be there to clean it but you couldn’t tell them what exactly to clean and not clean so it was honestly a coin toss whether they were actually helpful or not.  

Kion gave Bo Fu another look before taking a mouth full of Bo Fu’s head fur and giving it a hard tug.

“OW! HEY!” Bo Fu yelled as he reached up to check if Kion had given him another bald spot. Thankfully all his fur was still there though his head was pretty sore. 

He glared at the horse, “Dude, uncool.” 

Kion went in for another try at ripping out Bo Fu’s fur but Bo Fu managed to evade the chompers only to trip on the tip of his own bow. 

Snap.

Bo Fu felt his bow snap in half as he used it to try and keep himself from falling thus, despite his efforts, he fell over into a pile of what he hoped was mud. With his luck there was a very good chance it was horse droppings, Kion then proceeded to nicker and snort in a way that Bo Fu knew all too well as horse laughter.

Great. Once again he was a laughing stock for a horse.

Bo Fu slapped his hands down into the “mud” and sent a spray of it up onto his face, Kion laughed harder.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want but we’ll see who’s laughing when dinner time rolls around,” Bo Fu grumbled. Kion immediately stopped laughing and gave Bo Fu a look that read, “watch-what-you-say-next-monkey”. 

Bo Fu was tempted to throw some “mud” at Kion because of it but decided against it in the end. He didn’t need to be on the receiving end of the horse’s, and probably Kion’s owner’s, wrath. 

He stood and wiped himself off as best he could. He then picked up the broken halves of his bow, he wasn’t too broken up about it; this was the tenth bow he’d broken that year, and headed to the back of the stables to grab a shovel and a bucket.  

It was on the way to get said shovel and bucket however that Bo Fu saw something that thoroughly increased his mood; the guards to the lemon orchard were leaving their position! 

It was one of the only plus sides of working at the horse stables; there was a perfect view from the stables to the path the guards took to check in to, or check out of, their position guarding the lemon orchard. Which meant it was really easy to know when it was a good time to sneak into the orchard and steal some lemons.  

The lemon orchards honestly didn’t have that many guards, two at most, because the Celestial realm was much more focused on guarding the immortal peach orchard, especially after the whole Sun Wukong incident, but honestly the whole Sun Wukong incident was why all the orchards had guards nowadays anyways. Including the lemon orchard, but Bo Fu was more than happy to believe they had added guards to keep Bo Fu from stealing their realm famous lemons and not some Sun Wukong related reason.

Bo Fu grinned and in a split second decided to make a break for the lemon orchard instead of cleaning up the “mud”. 

AHHHH I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!