Who: Kitty OTA What: Doing some chores on a free afternoon When: Around 1pm Where: Stables Rating: G to start
It wasn't exactly hot out, but Kitty was enjoying the warming trend in the weather and decided to take advantage of it as much as she could. Classes and other distractions had been keeping her busy for so long that it was a startling realization for Kitty when she figured out her last trip to the stables had been before the attack. There were plenty of other people who went down there every day as part of their routine so it wasn't as if the horses were being ignored or had been abandoned. But it had once been part of Kitty's routine as well. Being out of commission for so long after the attack not only kept her from dancing for awhile, but it took away her morning run and her desire to walk across campus.
With old jeans and a pink shirt on, Kitty pulled her hair back into a ponytail and grabbed her iPod before setting off for the stables. There were kids outside on the lawn also enjoying the warmth of the afternoon. Soon enough they'd be complaining it was to hot to do anything, so it was nice to see them enjoying themselves. Though it was warm out where the sun fell, the trail down to the stables was lined with tall thick trees that blocked out most of the heating rays during the day. Because of this there were still piles of snow and the temperature felt like it would have been more appropriate for mid-February.
Once the path broke through the treeline there was another dramatic change in temperature to the warmer, and the stables came into view. The wide barn doors were opened, which meant people were there or had been. A quick peek inside showed her most of the horses had been let out to pasture. Only two were left, a pinto gelding with a healing sore around his eye and over his cheek, and a pregnant coal black Clydesdale that was pacing her stall and snorting. Kitty went to this stall and looked in over the stall door. She watched the horse for a minute before clucking her tongue and getting her attention. "Hey baby," she purred. "Hey Lakota."
The horse snorted before coming closer, as if telling Kitty her warm greeting was better offered elsewhere. It made Kitty smirk. "I know, it's been awhile. I'm sorry." She tilted her head. "I'm coming in, okay?" Pulling her hand back, Kitty lifted the latch before slipping inside the stall. She'd been freshly mucked out and fed, but her coat looked a little rough. "Which boy has been taking care of you?" she asked in a lilting tone, her hand running over Lakota's side in inspection. "It would have to be a boy who thought a pregnant female should be put away and not let out with everyone else." Straightening, she walked around to Lakota's head and stroked her cheek. "What do you think? How about a nice bath out in the sun and we'll go for a walk after?"
After a quick trip to the tack room, Lakota was lashed into a bridle and led out into the sunlight. She shook her ebony mane and snorted, shoving her massive head against Kitty's shoulder in obvious appreciation. It only made Kitty giggle. "I take it you forgive me, then?" Once the horse was tied to the fence by her bridle, Kitty made a few more trips back into the barn to grab what she needed: a curry brush, a bucket of warm water with special shampoo giving it suds, a hoof scraper, a thick and heavy towel, and finally the blanket and saddle she'd need afterward. Popping in her earbuds, Kitty grabbed the curry brush and the bucket, and got to work sudsing down the horse and giving her a good bath.