OPEN THREAD Who: Frankie & OPEN Merope (co-starring Gandalf, Dandelion and horse extras) Where: The Stables When: Saturday (backdated slightly) What: Frankie allows himself the minimum dose of nostalgia
Frankie was done sulking. He'd been full to the brim with that when everyone had randomly changed ages on him. When he heard that Ava was gone... well, it was a punch to the guts, and he'd felt numb for a day or so. But it wasn't as though this was the first time a girl he liked had been vanished out of the village. Whoever or whatever was making things happen lately must really have it out for him.
Mostly he had just been angry. He'd blown up twice now, at two of his best friends, and hadn't impressed anyone in the process. As usual he kept trying to imagine what his dad would say. Whether he would be on his side in any of it. He didn't want to be angry all the time. Only now he wasn't angry. Just... empty.
He was heading back from a walk to the castle, with Gandalf trotting amiably beside him on his lead. He decided to take the wide route that would lead him by the stables, for some reason. As he drew closer, he felt an unexpected lump grow in his throat. Ava's horse, Dandelion, was leaning out of her stall, watching them approach with interest.
Before Frankie could stop him, Gandalf had started barking like a mad thing, tugging and jumping at the end of the lead. All the horses chuffed and stamped in protest at this small hairy intruder.
"Gandalf!" Frankie heaved on the lead. For such a small dog, he generated a lot of force. "You menace. Stop that right now!"
Gandalf's barks faded and he looked up at his master with an innocent doggy expression. Frankie rolled his eyes. "You can stay right here," he said, tying the lead to the post furthest away from the horses. "Behave."
Ignoring the dog's whines of protest, he hopped over the fence and padded gingerly over to the horses. "Um... shh?" he tried, carefully reaching up and patting one on the nose. After a moment this seemed to calm it down, so he did the same with the next one, and the next, until he reached Dandelion.
"Hey," he said softly, placing his palm on her nose with a little more confidence. "How you doing, girl?" It was amazing, he thought, as the animal nosed happily at him. Before he met Ava he would never have dared even come this close. Funny. His hand stalled a little as he thought back to that perfect evening on the beach, and Dandelion nudged at his hand impatiently. "Sorry," he said absent-mindedly, resuming his stroking. "I just miss her, you know?"
The horse harrumphed as though in agreement. He smiled sadly. "You too, huh? You're okay though, right? Someone here must be looking after you. I can't just keep taking in people's animals when they leave. I've got enough problems." Gandalf barked from his post as though he took offence at this. Frankie ignored him. "Sorry he got you all riled up. He's got no manners. Bit like me, really." He sighed.