The saddles were buffed, the bridles polished. Each filled stall was clean, fresh with hay and water. Heath brushed dusty paws against the denim pants that he wore, without shirt but belted with the same think leather and heavy buckle as always. With his dark furred hand detangling the roughly chopped mane the man look down the long corridor, wondering what else he would do before his departure. It was just beyond noon, and everything that he needed to complete was done and then some. The chores would not go unfinished and the horses untended even if he wished to keep his profile low within the Miracle lands. There was little time to relax, and the male was hoping for nothing other then a moment to breath without fear of being approached by his leader.
A horse’s call beckoned his attention, though he did not need to check to know the maker. Lumière hung her nose out of the barn door of her stall, her head moving up and down in protest. She and the pale stallion would leave with him, only to return in the break of dawn to free the horses to the pasture when the sun had just risen. Knowing that the coy-wolf was moments from departure she reminded him that she was to leave as well. Heath walked slowly, tired from the day’s work and opened her door. The mare took her leave and trotted without cause towards the large gate. Heath let Stark out of his stall as well, though the mellow stallion moved far slower to the exit. Once outside, the late fall’s air calling him further into the open Heath headed to the pasture instead of the forest that surrounded the farm and track.
His two companions followed, happy to spend time among the grasses of the fields with so little competition. The male opened the fence’s gate, and watched as the mare and stallion took the pasture with delight. Just a moment, it was all he needed. Just a minute without fear of being brought to his knees by their King. Gold eyes watched the two unleashed horses, and a small smile came to his face. The first since he had left Ruri’s home.