Walter's Horse

[Walter Grace]

(( Before Wolf Attack Thread ))

He had found a wild horse running around the meadow, not too long ago. It was definitely wild, some told the knight it was un-tameable. But headstrong Walter thought otherwise, and kept the stallion. A completely white horse, healthy as a...well, horse. It was fairly big, and completely useless to Walter in his demon form. But, none the less, Walter wanted a horse, so he caught one.

Walter opened the gate to his horse's part of the stable. On the gate read 'Thunder'. That was what Walter had named him, for lack of a better name. And the horse stared at Walter. Most likely with hate. And Walter only looked at it with happiness. A love-hate relationship.

The demon carefully took Thunder's saddle and reins from the small shelf, and placed it on the horse. Thunder did not struggle, which he normally did. At this Walter was happy. Had he won?

Walter lead the horse to the fenced in area in which they could practice running the horses. Some of the guards were sitting on one of the benches. And after spotting Walter, they gave off a huge grin, knowing what he was about to do. Again.

"Alright boy, lets try this again..." he smiled, patting the Horse on the muzzle. Thunder huffed. Walter carefully went to Thunder's side. Nothing. He placed his foot through one of the slots. Nothing. Swung his leg over and through the other slot. Nothing. He took the reigns, completely tense, and relaxed when nothing happened. The guards looked surprised, and one of them grinned, giving a thumbs up.

Thunder, without warning, bucked right up onto his hind legs, giving out a loud whinny. The demon could barely hang on, and once Thunder jerked back slightly more, Walter fell off the stallion. He landed with an 'umph,' and the horse was soon back on his feet, continuing to whinny. In this time, probably out of success.

Thunder kicked backwards, sending dirt flying at Walter. Some landed on his face, and the rest on his shirt and pants. Teeth clenched, Walter slowly sat up, wiping the dirt from his face and eyes, before giving the stallion a dirty glare. The horse only trotted around in victory, as the guards laughed their asses off.

[Deleted]

((ok ok fine.... you have had to wait long enough...))

Delliks threw a stack of hay onto the pile and stacked it up properly. He wiped the sweat from his brow, and huffed, trying to get some of the dust out of his throat. Money was tight right now, seems he had moved to a land where just about everyone fought, no really need for a mercenary with those circumstances.
In order to keep food coming in and you know, survive, Delliks had taken up a job in the castle stables. It was way too near to the castle than he wanted to be and he often had to deal with stuck up nobles. Truthfully he hadn't had to deal with any yet but he was sure at some point he would.

He had walked over to the well near the fenced area for horse training with a bucket. It was time to change all of their waters. He himself also laughed at the man who was trying to tame the stallion.

He shook his head, the man looked as if he had never ridden in his life. Or maybe he had never had to train the horse for himself before. Maybe he was one of those rich nobilities that had everything prepared for them in prime condition.

He none the less was interested so he continued to watch as he lowered the bucket down on the rope to draw water.

[Walter Grace]

(( LOL Thanks! ))

Walter stood up once more, and brushed himself off. People seemed to be watching now, not too much but enough. The demon scowled.
Thunder whinnied once more with victory, making Walter even more frustrated. He had a general idea on how to tame a horse. This one was just a clear pain in the ass.
He folded his arms as he glared at the stallion, ignoring those around him.

"You are going to obey me whether you like it or not!" Walter scowled, stepping forward. At this, it was like a challenge to Thunder.
Thunder ducked his head down, ready to charge. "H-Hey, no doing that!" Walter warned.
The horse charged at the demon. Quickly, Walter jumped beside it and grabbed it by the reigns. He hoisted himself up, and quickly took his place on the saddle.

"Haha!" he grinned. Bu it was a short lived victory.
He did not hold tight enough as the horse came to a very abrupt stop, and picked his hind legs up, causing Walter to go flying through the air.
The demon hit the fence right in front of Delliks with a thump. The stallion once again trotted in victory, as ever more people laughed.
It was funny. A knight being beaten by a horse. It wasn't as if Walter could harm the horse.

Losing some of his temper, Walter through a ball of dark magic at the guards. They jumped out of the way with yelps, and it hit a tree. The tree gained a hole through it.
"Great, you made me kill a tree, thanks guys!" he yelled at the guards.
"You tried to kill us!" one said. Walter shrugged and flipped them off.
The other people just chuckled, and continued on with what they were doing. Thunder watched curiously at what Walter was doing. The guards grumbled, and began to chat quietly amungst themselves.

Walter stood up, but felt a sharp pain in his wrist. With pursed lips he looked around. No one looked like they would know anything about a sprained wrist. Then he spotted Delliks. Closest person near by, why not ask.
"Hey, you, do you know anything about sprained wrists? If you don't mind I would appreciate a quick look," he smiled sheepishly, not without giving his horse a glare. Damn thing hurt my wrist...

[Deleted]

Delliks couldn't help but smile a little bit. He pulled the bucket up with the rope and sat it on the stone ledge. He looked Walter up and down first before answering his question.
"I know a thing or two, yes. I imagine your real problem is that horse eh?" he chuckled, the man seemed to now how to ride, but he wondered if he had ever tried doing what he was doing with a wild horse. Things were a bit more complicated with those, especially if you wanted to do it right.

[Walter Grace]

An eyebrow was raised, but it quickly lowered and Walter grinned to agree.
"Yeah. I don't think he wants to work with me on this. I'll get him eventually!" he reassured, looking at the trotting horse with a smile. Thunder stopped, looked at Walter and huffed, trotting off to the other end of the area.
Walter couldn't help but chuckle a little. Maybe not.

He pulled back the sleeve of his jacket, and looked over his own wrist. He really had no clue what to look for. Had he just hit it too hard and it hurt? Was it a sprain? Broken? He couldn't tell, so he wouldn't try and diagnose it himself.

"My name's Walter Grace. Haven't seen you around before," he stated. He knew most faces in the castle, not many names but he would recognize a new person when he saw one.

[Deleted]

Delliks, looked at the knight's wrist when exposed it. "I am Delliks of Core. You probably haven't seen me because I am relatively new. I had to get a job here so that I could keep my belly full."

It was swollen enough to suggest a sprain, but by the looks of it it wasn't a bad one nor broken. Level II maybe.
"It is only a minor sprain, not too hard to heal up, but by no means instant healing either."

"Wild horse?" He asked as he looked at Thunder and picked up the bucket of the ledge.

[Walter Grace]

Relieved to hear it was not broken, Walter began pulling his sleeve down once more.

"Yes, I saw him running in the meadow not too long ago. He didn't put up a fight when I took him in, more or less I think the things smarter than it looks. Just toying with me," Walter gave out a sleek smile, looking at Thunder once more.

The horse seemed to glare at the two as it lapped up some water.

Walter turned and looked at Delliks with a shrug. "I'll be able to handle it...eventually. I hope."

[Deleted]

Delliks chuckled shaking his head, "Lad there are two ways to tame a stallion, and I regret to inform you good sir that you are doing neither of them. Do you want a tool, or a partner?"

[Walter Grace]

A bit taken aback, Walter furrowed his eyebrows. "I've never thought any living being a tool. So of course I would have to say a partner. Though, Thunder over there doesn't seem to want to be mine."

[Deleted]

"Would you want to be his if he took you from your home, strap a large, heavy leather device on your back and just jumped right on? I have to ask you sir, did you even give time for his trust to build first?"

As much as he liked talking about proper horse training, he still had to deliver water to the other horses. "I should get this to the other horses, you good sir are welcomed to join me if you wish."

[Walter Grace]

He held his tongue as Delliks spoke. Sure the man was right, but at the same time you could say that about all horses. Besides- he had tried. Everything seemed to be going fine at first, until Walter tried to ride him.
Fed him fresh apples, groomed him and let him out all day. Walter thought he was doing pretty good. Maybe he just didn't give the horse enough time.

"Sure, I'll join you," Walter nodded. Looking round towards Thunder, he rummaged through his pocket. Out came a small apple.
The horse noticed it, clearly, but tried to ignore it. The demon through it towards Thunder, and the horse couldn't resist. It caught the apple, and began eating.
With a satisfied smile Walter jumped over the fence with his good hand. Once next to Delliks he nodded.
"Lead the way. We can talk more on how I can gain his trust, then," Walter spoke simply.

[Deleted]

Delliks nodded and began his way to the stables. The bucket swayin gently as he walked.

He noticed Walter had fed the horse. The fact it ate the apple he offered was a good sign, but it wouldn't come up to him to take it. Why would someone try and ride something of it would come up to him first. It almost made him chuckle. "So I see you feed it. Probably have it groomed since it did come from the wild and didn't look 'wild'. I would figure you skipped walking eh?"
An incredibly important step, walking the horse around gaining that bound of friend and equal rather than slave and master.

[Walter Grace]

"Tried," he chuckled. "He wouldn't let me whenever I tried. I wasn't about to force him on a walk, you know?"
Walter placed his hands behind his back, holding them together. His wrist was sore of course. He would need it checked.

"So how do you know so much about stuff?" Walter asked with a grin. Horses, wounds, the man was clearly knowledgeable.

[Deleted]

Delliks chuckled stuff about stuff? It was probably the best way to put it.
The barn smelled of fresh hay, and of course fresh poo. Delliks began the long process of pouring some water into each horse's respective water trough.

"I am, well on better days, a mercenary. Core is a huge area, horses are essential to life as well as treating injuries."
He took a larger than normal step to avoid the land mine. "Hmm, no walks eh? What did you try to lead it with?"

[Walter Grace]

Nearly stepping in the horse feces, Walter stumbled out of the way. He stood straight, and continued on talking.
"A few things. His reigns, gently of course. Food. Treats. Friendly gestures. He probably doesn't like me," Walter stated simply, with a broad smile.
His nose wrinkled at the stench of the stables of course, but he ignored it.

[Deleted]

"Try just some rope next time. Let him sniff it and check it out, make sure he is comfortable with it." He poured the last of his water out into the last trough on this side of the stables. He wiped the sweat away, he would have to go back for another bucket.

[Walter Grace]

"Hmm...I'll try that next time...for now I think he needs a day," Walter smiled sheepishly.
Noting the man looked worked, Walter offered, "I'll help you out with the next round. Sorry, I should have thought of that before."

[Deleted]

Delliks laughed, "You are a good sir! But please it is my job soon it for me would be like robbing them in there." He says as he motions to the castle.

[Walter Grace]

Walter raised an eyebrow, then laughed.
"No no, I insist. I'm sure a knight is allowed to help someone who is helping them," Walter shrugged as he made his way out of the stables.
"Might not seem like much, but you are helping me out. I might actually have a chance with Thunder now!"

[Deleted]

Delliks shook his head, if he insisted. "Alright fine then, your assistance is accepted."

He followed Walter out of the stables. A knight eh? Interesting enough he would begin to judge his character in secret.