War and Peace

Silent a moment she finally said "I do no feel hungers pain anymore, if you wish to know my last meal was roughly a week ago" he seemed interested in enough, drifting off in thought she ran through several thoughts and memories coming back to thepresent when his voice filled the air again. "Ice did different things to us, Roseadora was one of her first experiments with animals, i was more ofa later model. I did not go out of my way to save him, he was collateral damage. I was sent in to kill a man who by chance was about to finish your father off" she explained firmly and without much empathy or emotion. The food smelled... good, that was strange the sensation of wanting food, shaking her head a little and pushing the worrisome snippet away for later she shifted her weight on her well balanced feet and waited for more questions

She took the food without complaint and sat down beginning to eat neatly enough once the chair had been offered. Melissa stayed silent mulling over his question before speaking "The mare is here because Ice wants her to be here. It may seem like coincidence but with ice there is no such thing. I believe I owe you for your act of kindness from back then, If it suits you I will remain here for a while and make sure here is no risk of Ice turning up and destroying everything that is here that you hold dear" returning to her food she cleared her plate, standing she returned to the kitchen and meticulously cleaned her utensils and plate before they were dried and set away. Listening to the wind beginning to pick up she was reminded of other windy nights, her thoughts dangerously guiding her down the path to memories she'd long believed held no effect on her. During the war she'd been exposed to pain and suffering beyond count and yet had not thought it had any impact on her, she'd already endured such things and hadn't realized that over the course of the years she'd become distant almost cold. Like ice. Yanking the thoughts away she moved away not exactly sure what she was planning and ended up staring through a window at the dark land outside thew armth of the house

Rose was not happy, her legs hurt, lashing out a vicious kick backwards she paced along the confines of her paddock unable to help but to fence walk. Seeing the human with the donkey she came to a halt and watched them, peering through the fence, pawing at the ground a little in an attempt to say what the matter was. She'd started to trust the man, he hadn't hurt her and the brushing he did was nice, striking out behind her again she snorted and nodded irritatedly. Melissa didn't help, instead she eventually left the house and sat up on the roof watching the stars. The lighthouses of the sky that flashed their lights at one another, they were all millions of miles away from one another just the way she was. Even with her brother she'd never been within distance, she wasn't sure how to explain it, the bright harvest moon hung over the land like a lamp illuminating everything. Ice was planning something, it was why the horse was here, and Melissa had begun to guess what it might be.

A cat greeted him with narrowed green eyes, it was a tabby and seemed a little rough around the edges. Renees house was small, and there were only three rooms, a kitchen-living space, her room and the bathroom. Cramped and a little claustrophobic inducing, she was seated at the old fragile looking table that was her dining table. Carefully writing in a thick book, she stopped when she heard his steps, turning and seeing the look of love in his gaze her thin features returned the look, closing the book she stood and moved over to hug him. As always he was so warm, and safe, "um I think I'm doing okay" she spoke muffledly into him, always feeling like she was on the verge of tears these days, which was bad tears only made people irritated. "Whenever I get scared I turn into the rabbit" Renee admitted softly taking deep breaths "and... and I think she wants to fire me" feeling upset with herself when she noticed the tears beginning to slide down her face she wiped them away apologizing quietly "S-s-sorry, I'm always crying at the moment" she didn't want to cry all the time and make him angry and feel bad, she should be happy she was around him again.

Watching him enter her domain her ears came forward, allowing him to walk up to her she sniffed the offered hand then kicked out with a rear leg demonstrating how unhappy she was with the metal around her pasterns. A gentle hand rubbed over her neck and coat, the touch was nice, listening to him speak Rose sighed softly agreeing. Fingers moved through her thick ginger and black mane, the comment about getting them off causing the mares head to lift a little, brown eyes watching him a moment before she moved away from him, spinning slowly she turned her rear to him and picked up a back foot letting it hang there. if you can get it off then get it off now im sick of this fucking thing around me ankles! it hurt and she wanted them off, turning her head to look back at him intently she wondered whether or not he'd understand. He seemed more switched on than most, but that didnt always mean her meaning was going to get through.

Gentle fingers brushed away her tears then lifted her chin up so his mismatched eyes could take in her quiet dark blue ones. He wanted her to stay at the house, she nodded, this place had been all she'd had for a while, she'd been proud of how well she'd done on her own well. For her this was doing well, she'd come a long way from the damaged thing she'd been at the end fo the war, even now it seemed she'd hardly gotten past her past. Dark coloured eyes revealed the depth of love she felt for him, tightening her hold on him slightly she murmured "Okay" she didn't need to ask how she would learn to control her changing or how Rochelle would be kept on a leash, she trusted him to know the right way for her to go. "I love you, so so much" so much it hurt, so much if filled every fiber of her being and it still felt like there was so much left over. She'd bring what small things she had here back to his house, right now she was safe and everything was going to be okay. Everything would be because she wasn't alone anymore,, she had him.

Renee gently pulled away before she did something stupid, "I need to get a couple of things before we go" she stepped away and moved to the corner of the living space where her small mattress was, lifting up the heavy old thing she pulled out from underneath some old drawings as well as a couple of note books that were crammed full of writing. Tucking them into the satchel that closely resembled her original one, she moved around the room only taking the drawings that were neatly scattered around. Once they were done she stroked the cats head, hesitantly wondering if the dark tabby with its two front white paws and bright green eyes would be allowed to come back with her. It had always been comforting having the she cat there, a reminder of geezer the old alley cat that had died a few months before she and killian were separated by the nazi's. Taking a deep breath silently resigning herself to the fact that Pixie wouldn't be allowed to come back with her Renee murmured "R-Ready to go"

Flicking her ears irriatedly she watched as he left and returned with a rope thing designed to go on her face. Sniffing his hand and then the rope thing she was a little wary when he slipped it on her head lifting up sharply althogh she didn't move away. Once haltered she followed him obediently occasionally giving a small hop to kick out with her back feet, once tied up she snorted and kept an eye on him as well as what else was going on Hurry up Kangaroo Jack! They hurt she thought to herself angrily, managing to keep herself from lashing out with a back hoof again as he moved down her side to inspect the metal instead she flicked her tail annoyed with her predicament. Her ears flattened to her head as she spotted a figure she half recognized watching them from a few meters back, what was the female assassin doing here? Was she sent from Ice to hurt her? becoming worried and wound up at the thought she pulled back, the pressure of the halter behind her ears ended up with her rearing up a little. Realizing the mare didn't like her Melissa backed off pretty quickly, wandering off to find a lonely place to watch the night sky. Uneffected by the obvious dislike of the ginger animal, once the assassin had left Rose relaxed pretty quickly although she continued to make a somewhat frightened snorting sound.

Love blossomed on her features at his fingers touch to her cheek, face going a dark pink when he reminded her that he loved her and added that he was proud of her "I want to come with you, its just hard to take in" however she perked up as he mentioned the cat "I can bring her with me?" whatever hesitation she'd had before melted away as she picked up the kitty cat cuddling the now disgruntled looking thing to herself. She'd named the cat Royal, as she always seemed to have the royal refined air of a queen, most of the time anyway. "Properly ready now!" Renee piped up happily

He spoke and rubbed her neck until the woman had gone, remaining standing in one place quite obediently, eyeing the post she was tied to she stretched out her head and began chewing on it. Pausing to sniff his hand when it was offered then returning to her work not caring what he was doing as much, he'd said he'd get it off and it was at a stage where she trusted him. Her tail flicked and she paused to look back at him when he began working, it hurt but it wasn't 'unbearable so she kept still continuing to keep a close eye on him. Tossing her head when it got particularly painful she gave no hinting of wanting to kick, the leg remaining motionless until the copper was off of her leg. Nodding her head up and down she snorted and pawed the ground wanting the other one off and for the stinging pain to stop.

The woman nodded "yes, I'm sure, I like the idea of being near your children more often and near you" the naturally sweet renee smiled letting him take the bag and taking comfort in his touch. He was really there despite how often it felt like she was dreaming, he was there and she was safe because of it. "I know you'll make everything okay" she murmured softly, one of her hands freeing itself from the cats fur to touch the back of his hand that was tracing over her cheek

It was harder to keep still for the second and she fidgeted alot more, finally he was done, once he'd moved away she lashed out with a back foot before settling. Sniffing out the carrot she eagerly devoured it, despite flinching a little when his hand lifted to her forehead, watching him carefully. The wind caused the mare to shiver a little, ever sensitive to the cold, watching him hunch his shoulders she nudged him firmly before searching his pockets for more treats. Letting him lead her back to the paddock, kicking out with her back feet as the cold wind made her wounds sting fiercly she stood as he released her halter. Nudging him again in silent gratitude she wandered off, heading over the trough she dipped her muzzle into the cool water taking a long refreshing drink. Melissa was sitting outside, with the shadow that stayed with her always played in the palm of her hand squeaking wanting her to guess what creature it was.

REnee followed him with royal comfortably in her arms, entering the room that was to be hers after him she set the cat down and turned to look at him in the doorway. Nodding she bit her lip before she gave in and hugged him tightly "Thank you" she whispered softly struggling not to cry with all of the thoughts and feelings that were whirring through her mind. Releasing him she glanced down as the pretty feline arched her back along her legs clearly stating that the girl was her property

Melissa had showed no response to Julians words apart from glancing at him once, remaining outside she slept restfully enough to be awake at her normal hour. Stretching she moved over to stare through the fence at the ginger mare, and ignored the vicious look it gave her instead speaking "I know you are a humans mind stuck in a horses body. I no longer work for Ice, infact i came here to keep the man safe from her. They say animals can tell when someone lies, tell me am I lying now?" close enough to the fence to be bitten she spoke then fell silent letting the mare think it all through. Hearing the horses response she nodded, she could agree to be neutral with one another, she had not expected the horse to love her after all. Animals didn't like her. Stepping back from the fence she moved away aiming to find a decent place to go through her favoured exercises that kept her inshape and fit. That included alot of running, perhaps the man would have something for her todo that involved running or hard work. So she returned to the house, entering silently, ignoring the dust that covered her skin and coated the inside of her mouth and throat she waited for him to appear.

Good he seemed eager to put her to work "I can kill, however i am certain I am able to do whatever it is you assign me" she wasn't that hungry and thus remained out of the kitchen with the small black creature sitting on her shoulder blinking interested amber eyes. Displaying nothing as he headed for the door collecting his wide brimmed hat on the way she didn't hesitate in replying "I do not know how to ride, however that is irrelevant I am more than able to cope o my feet" after all she could become a bird at will "And my wings" her hair was irritating it had begun to escape its tight braid and tickle her skin. Unable to tolerate it like that she released her hair from its plait and calmly redid it so it was tight and neat once again. It was strange how she'd endured so much only to feel nothing when she thought back on it, perhaps it was the only way she knew how to cope, to bottle away the emotions and focus on feeling nothing. Naturally there were times when emotion broke through, refusing to let herself consider the outcome of emotion she studied him not understanding any of the emotions on his face she could only read her brother everyone else was just another she couldn't read and didn't understand

He grunted at her then turned and headed off, completely silent, Melissa followed taking in intently the way the man readied the horse he'd chosen. Becoming aloof out of nature she took the reins and followed him to what looked like to her a round cage that held no escape for the bigger animal. Turning to face him as he went into detail about how to get onto the beasts back Melissa showed no response, no nod of understanding she merely turned and did it. Pulling herself up and inspecting her new surroundings thoroughly she warily tucked her feet into what he'd called stirrups. The long length of leather that was attached to the contraption on the horses head were also inspected, satisfied for now she regarded Julian indifferently. It was so different sitting up there, much different from flying or walking which were the modes of transport she was most used to. One hand ran along the animals neck with the grain of the fur, it was surprisingly gentle, she didn't understand why he was so insistent on this it would have been quicker for her to fly, however she wasn't one to loudly voice her opinion. Her personal opinion and thoughts on matters didn't matter, she was there to do a job, it was done correctly or failed there was no grey area and no room for speaking when there was no need

Again there was no sign of understanding, no nod or mention of it, instead her heels applied pressure to the sides of the animals sides. Carefully appearing expressionless as he began moving forward she began to figure out the most comfortable way to sit, with that sorted out she tested out the geldings steering. Asking him to cut through the middle of the ring, managing to side step past Julian and to go the other way, slowly applying more pressure with the reins until the horse stopped she silently set a mental note about how much strength was needed to ask the horse to a halt. Asking him forward again with her heels, it had been a while since she'd learnt something new and despite her dislike of change it was a welcome breath of fresh air. She didn't understand the term 'soft horse' he was actually quite firm when she'd stroked the side of his neck, however her mouth remained closed. She didn't seem fearful or worried of the new movement, appearing neutral and relaxed enough there was little tension in her body. If anything the movement of the horse walking forward reminded her of the donkey, as a bird she'd ridden on the animal a few times back during it all.

She nodded "No questions" she replied calmly, following his directions she guided the horse out of the round pen. The red mare flicked her ears watching the procession, quite happy with herself now that the shackles were off of her back legs. Bored stiff with sitting around in the paddock she called out to the man and nodded her head up and down lets go do something instead of just sitting around with our hands up our asses! she complained snorting almost rudely at him. She liked working and keeping busy, she was so used to being busy that suddenly stuck in a paddock by hersefl with nothing todo was a shock of sorts

Pleased with the food she happily devoured the food, she had enough time to amble over to the water trough and take a long refreshing drink. Lifting her head she watched the human wander up with a halter, sniffing his hand and nosing it she took another sip of water ignoring the hand rubbing over her neck. Her head lifted again and she dropped the water in her mouth back into the trough, letting him slip the halter on without too much fuss although she admittedly disliked the halter it reminded her of when she'd been used by ice. Wandering alongside him she kept an eye on everything that was going on, ears flicking around listening to the noises of the other animals, entering the round yard without a fuss she turned to face him head on fixing him with a look.