[/html]Engelmann snorted. He was a calm pony, and when he spoke up Anu turned to listen. She and Alder had been tapping the trees while waiting for the sap to run, and Anu had brought the pony along to cart the sap back to the pack lands for boiling. It was the longest the wolfess had been away from the lands of Crimson Dreams for quite some time, and she was glad that her Courtier son had been able to join her. His strong arms were quite helpful.
Anu took the roped from the red spotted stallion, allowing him to roam and find water and sustenance as he saw fit. He never roamed too far, and the gray female felt it right to give the hard working and obedient creature a rest. They needed to collect the sap, chase after rusty handled buckets and make sure the iron spouts were still flowing. She began a small trek through the wood, alone as Alder was doing the same in the opposite direction.
It was a time and energy consuming task, but Anu found the silence of the hardwood forest soothing and restful. Another bucket could be seen in the distance, and she walked softly through the dapple sunlight that shown through the thin and leafless branches.