Thanks for the thread! =)
Word Count → 563
Hati Catori was at the stables again, finding himself drawn irresistibly to the warm scents of hay bales and horsehide. Since his first riding lesson with Alder and the mighty Hawthorn, Hati's confidence had grown a little, and he was visiting more and more frequently. He still did not have a horse of his very own, though, and he was beginning to chafe under all the bragging his brother did about the lovely mare Hwin. Still, he didn't feel right asking Alder or his father for his own horse until he knew how to properly ride horseback, so he would have to be patient and continue practicing on the stable's communal horses, namely Jolie.
The midnight-furred wolfdog padded lightly through the barn, hoping to catch sight of Alder today. But the stablemaster was out, presumably riding, and it seemed all the horses were out grazing as well, judging by the empty stalls. It was midday and the sun was high in the sky, early summer warmth making the air pleasant if a bit humid. Hati emerged from the gloom of the stable, bright light momentarily blinding. He blinked rapidly, pale eyes watering as he raised his arm to shade them. He was growing more accustomed to the dark of night, but horses were diurnal, so he would have to tread both worlds as he matured. The fenced pasture was nearby, the dappled herd gathered to graze peacefully or nap under the warm sunlight.
Hati's eyes slowly adjusted to the bright outdoors, and he observed that the paddock's water trough was nearly empty. Obediently, the youth ducked back into the stables to find a metal bucket, hanging on the wall near the saddles and bridles. He carried it outside for a short walk, locating the river they used to cool down the horses on days like this one. He knelt to fill it with the cool water, hoisting it up with a bit of difficulty. His youthful frame did not have much strength to it, and he had not been shifting long enough to build any muscles. A determined look settled on his face, and he gritted his teeth, carrying the heavy bucket back up the slope towards the pasture. It sloshed water on his feet with each step he took, but it could not be helped. The horses would get dehydrated, and Alder was not in to tend to them. Hati had too great a sense of responsibility to simply wait for someone else to do it.
Finally he arrived at the fence, clambering awkwardly over the wooden slats of the enclosure, and then stretched his arms underneath to drag the water bucket through. He hoisted the rusty handle up again, laboriously carrying it to its final destination, where he dumped it in the trough. The fresh water spilled into the basin, the noise attracting several of the more outgoing horses. Hati leaned against the trough to catch his breath, sweat beading up on his nosetip. He was trying to pick up more chores around the stables, with the hope that his presence would endear him to some of the horses that resided there, and he might meet the one that would become his partner. So far the herd mostly regarded the quiet wolfdog with indifference, so he had a long way to go to build the kind of rapport that Alder had.
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