A Day at the Stables ((Bicran))

[Kandarra]

V'koran sighed as he groomed his bay stallion, Shif. Things hadn't really been the same around the weyr since the hurricane. Jessa had gone off and transferred to another weyr, and his runners were more edgy than they'd ever been, which made working with them difficult sometimes. But he had Verith, at least.

Of course you have me, the brown said sleepily from his spot near the lake. We are one.

The weyrling brownrider smiled, remembering their Impression fondly. Yes we are, he said simply. Reassured, he finished grooming Shif and turned to Halo, the bay gelding who shared a stall with the stallion. They had shared a stall as long as V'koran had had them, because they got along and Halo calmed the wild spirit of Shif-- sometimes. Shif wandered over to the wall facing out into the stable, probably to collect treats or cause trouble, or collect treats, then cause trouble. V'koran grinned. It was certainly a way to meet people, even if he only introduced himself to apologize directly afterwards. He faced the other runner as he groomed Halo to keep an eye on him.

[seneth]

It’d been a long morning, filled with beasts, running, lessons and chores. The blonde lad sighed, fingering the black rock stains in his trousers. Wont be easy t’get them out… Bicran thought turning into the Runner stalls. Here was easily one of his favourite places in the Weyr. A place where he could quietly gather his thoughts, work with his skittish runner and stall an overly excited pup during lessons. The same pup that’d injured his leg, but still insisted on exploring and…meeting new people. But not yet…! Food first, He nodded, reaching over to feed the pup by hand before settling the rest into the feed bowl. As he watched the young canine eat, his blue eyes softened. Got t’start training this’n soon… He nodded, before moving on to check on the runner.

He was in the motion of pulling a few treats out of his pouch when he spotted Shiff. With a curious eye he studied what he could of the runner before he approached murmuring soothing noises. His upturned hand offering the runner a tasty treat for the chance to study the Northern variety.

[Kandarra]

Shif eagerly stuck his head over the stall wall to sniff at the offering in the stranger's hand. He grabbed it with his lips, chewing it rapidly, then flipped his nose up, nearly hitting Bicran in the face. He then grabbed a bit of the man's trousers and pulled, determined to find more. He snorted in frustration when he didn't.

Alerted by the snort, V'koran looked over. Not again! he thought, moving over to pull the runner's nose away from the other man's pants. As soon as he had, he settled himself between Shif and the newcomer, holding up his hand in warning to the errant runner. He stuck out his other hand. "I'm V'koran. I apologize for his behavior. I've never been quite able to break him of his mischief."

Halo plodded over at noticing that he was not being paid attention to anymore. He stuck his head over the wall and nosed gently at Bicran's arm. "This one, however, will not tear your trousers." To demonstrate, he rubbed Halo's nose affectionately.

[seneth]

Smiling at the eager runner, Bicran managed one curious glance before the beasts nose came flying in his direction. Blinking, he almost went cross eyed as he leant back instinctively back. He’d had more than enough numb or bleeding noses to last him a long while. But before he could even consider soothing the over eager runner, he’d…grabbed him! Grateful his trousers had been bitten where they had, his blue eyes widened. Now this was a first, he thought barely managing to keep standing. His stunned mind glad for well timed assistance.

Blinking at V’koran he suddenly grinned, taking the lads hand. “T‘is allright,” The tall candidate chuckled. “I’ve seen the sort, there be no need t’apologize…name’s Bicran.” He said in way of introduction, eyeing the runner. As they were joined by a second, he didn’t flinch away from the gentle touch. Biting back a second chuckle, he offered Halo’s nose a rub. “Be they both yours…

---

Admin's Note:[/hr] Mind if I offer this’n a treat?” He asked, knowing some runners were more dominant than others, and could act out during times of feeding. With a thoughtful expression he untied the pouch, grabbing himself a small handful before offering it to V’koran. That way both runners could eat at the same time, he thought logically. His eyes admiring what must’ve been Northern varieties of Runner beast.

[Kandarra]

V'koran recognized instantly the distinct Keroonian accent. Not that hold of origin necessarily dictated one's skills, but to find this one in a runner stable was no surprise to the brownrider. "It's nice to meet you, and yes, they're both mine," he replied, taking the offered treat and moving it under Shif's lips. He made a low, short hum, which was his way of telling the runner to behave. "The one you're feeding is Halo, he's the nice one. You've got to watch out for Shif here, though, as you've learned." He let out a laugh of his own, remembering the many times the ornery stallion had gotten him square on the rump with his long teeth.

"Good to meet another native Northerner in these parts," he commented. "I'm from Ista, myself-- a small hold specializing in runners. That's where these are from. They had the same dam, different sires." Which accounted for Shif's spirit, he knew. Even if he'd been gelded, he would probably still have had quite an attitude. "Do you have any runners here?"

[seneth]

Tucking away his pouch Bicran offered his own handful of treats to Halo, an curious glint in his eyes. “And a’fine pair they be too,” He commended with a smile, chuckling at V’koran’s words. “Will keep an eye on that’n,” Bicran grinned, despite knowing that his good nature might lead him into a similar situation. Shrugging this off he turned to the other lad, “So how did yeh get them t’be here, ship an’ then rode ‘em?” He asked curiously, wondering how much marks it’d cost to do such a thing. Maybe the twins’ll bring one o’mine over… He mused, thinking of his siblings and how old they might be now.

Looking to V’koran he nodded, “It is, an’ t’find another who knows runners, very good.” Bicran smiled, nodding as the lad told him of his own runners. “Which type o’runners did yeh focus on? Like your two?” He asked, giving Halo a friendly pat. “Am from Keroon myself, uncle owned a beasthold n’my father n’the rest of us were brought up tendin’ and breedin’ the beasts. We hads a’few heard beasts, Runners n’ a few canines, which we bred. M’self was tryin’ t’breed a sturdy runner beast, thick in hide n’pelt, t’ride on high grounds or durin’ snow.” He sighed wistfully, “M’first was a’fine little lass, unusual markin’s and all, father says she be doin’ well.” The Keroonian nodded. “Had t’leave her when I was searched…but her sire, be mine.” He added before shaking his head at the lads question.
“Nah, the one near the empty stall…the black’un, I borrowed him, he’ll be returnin’ with the next tithes. Skittish sort, so have t’ride him early…good blood though.” Bicran pointed out, “Have yeh noticed how different the Southern runners be t’the Northerns? The Journeyman I gots him from says many of Southerns were wild when they gathered ‘em up.” He mentioned eyes wide at the prospect of seeking out wild runners. Imaging the blood stock, and types they could get then.

[Kandarra]

"Yes, my father paid for their transport. I had to meet the ship at the docks and ride back, but it was worth it. And I had to choose between four. That was the tough part." He missed his other runners, but they had been more subdued than Shif, so he had opted to take the wild one and his stablemate.

"Shif, besides his temperament, is a prime example of the kind we were going for. A loping gait with good stamina and wiry strength, perfect for long-distance riding. Good messenger mounts. My brother dabbled a bit in an all-around mount, but he'd only just started when I left, so it'll be Turns before he'll see the traits he wants come through."

V'koran leaned out of the stall a bit to see the runner of which Bicran spoke. He whistled appreciatively at the good conformation. "Good blood, indeed.. where in Faranth's name did you 'borrow' a runner like that? If I had that one, I wouldn't let him out of my sight."

At the question about the difference between Southern and Northern runners, the brownrider paused to think for a moment. "Well.." he began slowly, formulating the right phrases in his mind. "I think that the Northern are more refined, and more diverse in type, because we've been breeding them for specific purposes. But there is great potential in the Southern runners. They have traits that we've lost through selective breeding. They're rougher, sure, but that could be good." He nodded in emphasis, deciding that he had said everything he'd meant to without overtalking it.

[seneth]

“I didn’t think…” Bicran murmured, nodding at V’koran’s words. That would be possible for him too, but it’d take time to get his runners from the hold to harbour. Then there was the voyage…he shivered slightly he’d never been on a boat before. “How were the Runners on the…ship?” He asked with a slight frown. “Yeh did well gettin’ from port t’here with no trouble…I only had t’come from a near hold, and the herder warned many a’time of felines, wild wherries and wild dogs.” The boy nodded glancing up at Halo, and then Shif.

As the lad spoke of the runner breeding his expression turned thoughtful. “Sounds a good type t’have…could we go t’Northern Gathers if we have time?” He asked hopefully. It’d been over two turns since he’d been home, almost three turns since he’d been to a Northern Gather. Looking over to his borrowed runner he grinned. “From a’local hold he is, beastherder Jal knew m’uncle…also I took a’injured runt canine off his hands. Saved him some trouble with his own offspring…” Bicran chuckled softly. “Soot be sleepin’ in the stall next t’the runner…he seems a Southern type too.”

Leaning on the stall slightly he nodded at the riders words. “Aye, I agree with you there…but some o’the blood here does seem t’be better. Would be good t’test em against ours…see if they match in speed an‘ strength.” Bicran mused, “Once they prove t’be good, I bet they’ll get a’good name…soon those in Northern will want ‘em. Well the traits…and markings.” He added, with a slight smile towards his borrowed runner.

[Kandarra]

((OOC: Sorry, I completely forgot this was here!!))

"Well, the warder from the ship said that they did fairly well, though there was a rough patch halfway and Shif kicked out a bit. Overall, they seemed fine when I got them. The trip back was.. interesting," he said, turning the corner of his mouth down. "It only took two days because they're good with distance and I could switch up, but I saw a lot more movement in the brush than was comfortable." He shifted a bit at the memory, remembering the flashes of spots and stripes he had seen. "We were lucky."

V'koran thought for a moment about traveling to a Gather. "Probably not any time soon," he concluded regretfully. "I have Verith to attend to, and I probably won't be able to travel freely until we've graduated from training. But if you've enough marks, I'm sure you could hire a rider to take you when the time came."

V'koran eyed the runner thoughtfully. There were, indeed, some good traits there, and a lot of potential. Of course, his way of breeding runners was more involved than most-- some people just bred two strong animals together in hopes that they would produce stronger offspring. Which, he admitted, was one way to go about it. But having grown up at a hold where they bred runners full-time, he had a longer view of it: isolating traits, breeding two that showed those traits the strongest, breeding that offspring with others, and so on.

"Oh, I'm sure those up North will want the Southern runners.. just as those here in the South will want Northern ones. A sort of 'numbweed's always bigger on the other continent' type thing." He laughed. It wasn't a proper example, because the numbweed was bigger in the South, but it would do.