All Work. No Play. [Janitor]

[scarletcross]

Saturday. The sun was high in the sky, signaling the time to be around noon. Kali turned to look up at the sky, shielding her eyes from the sun. Her pale skin sparkled slightly in the sunlight and she soon found it too uncomfortable, and retreated to the shade of the stable. There, she went about her daily chores along with aiding the new comers with random things around the stable. Horses were being saddled to race in thirty minutes, and well dressed beings examined them so they would know on which to bid. Thier soft language was heard, but only to Kali who knew how to speek to them. The young racers were anxious and excited, the older horses found it to be the same thing, different day.

The owner of the stable, more or less Kali's master shadowed the door way. Her violet eyes shot wide as she busied herself with the closest thing which happened to be polishing tack. Her short black emo-ish style hair hid half of her face as she worked. Kali trembled a bit, afraid that he might find something wrong and come for her. Unfortunately, he had. "KALI!" His voice roared. She knew better than to try and hide so she dropped her things and went to him. "There are two stalls that havent been mucked out! TWO! Do you hear me!?" He grabbed a handful of her hair because she was looking down. He brought her face closer to his as she stared with frightened eyes. "CLEAN THEM!" He threw her to the ground, where she slid and crashed into the woooden door of the stall.

Everyone around them knew this was normal, and Kali held back her terrified tears as she scrambled to her feet, dashing off to retrieve the nessicary tools for the job. Kali was limping now, and her shoulder hurt from the impact of hitting the door. None the less she let the silent tears fall as she completed her job with no words back to him, no defense what so ever.

[The Janitor]

There hardly anything that could match the feeling of the setting sun on your back after a hard day's work. It was something Jack loved about the day. Although he could find many things he liked about the night as well. A little late, he thought taking his hat off to run a hand through his short hair. Night wasn't but a moment away. It was about the same time he would be riding. Even though he had a slight fear of riding horse which was made worse by the dark. He couldn't shake the thought of his skull being crushed like a berry.

Wouldn't be too long before he shipped out across the sea. A few important people had contacted him about traveling to rural Europe. Things were getting out of hand when it came to the super-natural residents. So his services as a hunter were required. Roads didn't reach everywhere and some were not that good. It was too much territory to cover on foot so he'd need to travel by horse. Problem was he didn't really know how to ride one. Not to mention how dismount quickly, fight, or shoot while mounted. Wonder how the calvalry pulled it off back in the day, he thought. That was one reason he had the black duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

He walked through the open door of the stable to find it some what empty. That was fine by him. He got nervous when surrounded by a large number of people. Hopefully someone is still here, he thought. The idea of paying for a service and recieve it bother him a bit. A little something he referred to as "ethics in business". Fortunately he heard someone over the noise of the animals. Unfortunately they didn't sound too happy. Noticing one of the stall doors open he eased up very slowly to see what was going on. Sounded like the man he had contacted about the horses.

He was just in time to see the guy throw somenone to the ground. One thing that did not sit well with him was mistreating help. Quickly he stepped back out of view long enough for the worker to pass by. Then slowly he stepped into the stall. "I'm the guy that called about a horse. Need someone who can teach me to ride and knows the animals." he stated keeping his eyes on the ground. The brim of his hat kept his face out of view. Then without any warning he darted forward seizing the man's shirt and pinning him against the nearby wall. Even though he was a little guy it was scary how he could handle things when they turned sour. Looking up with eyes that could burn through a glacier. "And you better not lay a hand on anyone else so long as I'm here. Got it?"

[scarletcross]

Kali sniffled as she scooped out piles of droppings in the two stalls she had seemed to have forgotten. Wheeling away the wheelbarrow her eyes caught the sight of her master being pinned to the wall by someone. For a moment she was hoping he was finally getting what was coming to him. But he nodded and it seemed to be over. She only sighed, her old converse squeaked a little when she hauled the hufe bag of shavings onto her shoulder. Kali limped back, the weight on her shoulders making the pain much sharper than before. She tripped and almost dropped the bag to the ground, but caught herself. Kali sighed and ripped open the bag, putting half of the bag in each stall. They were clean now.

Just as Kali was about to limp off and crawl into a hole somewhere to lick her wounds like a hurt dog her master called her over. She jogged over, the pain in her ankle and shoulder searing with her movement. Her violet eyes looked down, her body trembling a little. her cheeks flushed to see the man there next to him. "Yes sir..?" She asked softly, her voice sweet like candy. "You are to teach this man to ride. Since you are all i have here...." He spat back at her. Kali only nodded and turned off hoping the man would follow. She stopped on the west wing of the stable where the older, calmer horses were along with Blake. Blake was a large black Arabian stallion that no one dared to go near. He would nip at everyone accept Kali, she he became hers in a sort of way. He was her only friend. Kali turned gently to face the man, her eyes still down too shy and nervous to look at him. "Is this your... uhm... first time riding...?" she asked in almost a whisper.

[The Janitor]

As soon as the man nodded Jack let go of him. Still cautious just in case a fight were to break out. He took a moment to size him up before turning away. Not too impressive. He could still hold his own and win the fight easily. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a roll of fifty dollar bills. Tossing it the man's way. The payment as was agreed on the phone and a little extra just in case any other expenses popped up. Without another thought or look he walked out of the stable.

He followed the stable worker matching her pace step by step. She couldn't have been very old. No more than twenty. Only she looked like a teenager. With her extremely pale skin he pegged her for a vampire immediately. Seemed like a joke that someone so young would be teaching him how to ride. He expected someone older. Although he didn't push the idea out of his mind so easily. There were plenty of people a whole lot younger than he who were expert riders.

When she stopped near one of the stalls he noticed the large black horse. Nervous he took a step back and gently set his bag on the floor. Never taking his eyes off the animal. Although he never really had anything to do with horses he didn't expect one to be that big. He nearly jumped out of his skin when heard the stable worker's voice. "Yes, this would be my first time riding. Would our friend here be working with us tonight?"

[scarletcross]

Kali shook her head gently, cheeks turning pink. "Not Blake. He's mine." She said a little more firmly as the horse craned its neck out over the little half door, trying to get a whiff of the new person. The stallions ears were laid back flat, a ferice look in his eyes. "He doesnt like people..." Kali walked over and touched the horses neck. Blake seemed to melt at Kali's touch and turned into a big baby. The horse nickered lowly, a quiet noise as his soft muzzle rubbed her cheek. Kali smiled gently, and planted a kiss on it. "You," Kali began, walking away from Blake. The horse was instantly ridgid of the new person again. "...Will be riding one of our older, gentler horses." Her voice was still very soft, it seemed as though she didnt want to spook the animals.

Kali walked past each horse, her eyes seeming to read how the horses liked the man. When she made a full circle around the stalls she stopped and looked at him. "Just... uh... walk past each stall... See which one you like.... If you like the horse its much easier for you...." Kali was rubbing her shoulder, and flinched when she hit an ecspcially tender spot. Blake looked concerned, and Kali have the horse a half smile as he grew sad. Kali waited paitently, watching the man.

Finally she didnt want to wait any longer and flicked open Blake's lock to the door. She let it swing open and the horse walked out. "Dont worry." Kali began softly. "He follows me and wont come to you unless i tell him." Her voice was so innocent, and she leaned her head against the Stallions neck. The huge horse towered over the girl, but was as sweet as pie to her, even slightly positioning himself infront of her to protect her. Kali was a fragile girl, and Blake knew this. "Tell me when you find one..." she called.

[The Janitor]

"Doesn't like people... I can tell.." he answered backing up to the wall. He wanted as much distance as possible between him and the animal. Wonder if they bite, he thought. As big as they were he didn't like the possibility of losing a finger or something. Now he knew how the Aztecs felt after seeing horses for the first time. "You may have to help me out. I don't know these animals. So it's kind of hard for me to tell which is 'older' and 'gentle'."

Very slowly he took a step forward and picked up his bag. Trying not to make any sudden movements. Last thing he wanted to do was spook an animal that outweighed him by more than half a ton. "I'm going to need one that doesn't scare easily. Especially when it comes to loud noises." he added patting his duffle bad. He brought along a few targets and a little .22 caliber rim-fire rifle. Every shot sounded like a fire cracker going off. Center-fire would have been preferred however it would have been too loud. That and he still didn't know how to ride.

[scarletcross]

Kali slid under the belly of the stallion, the horse not looking surprised in the least. "Well, if you knew his past you would be a little hateful too, now wouldnt you?" Kali said while she walked down the isle, her voice with a gentle, yet hard edge as she saw the stallion reaching for the mans hat out of the corner of her eye. Blake, instantly sensing the tone, pulled his massive head back and hung it low in apology. "He'll definately test you, all you ahve to do is show him whos boss." Kali then stopped at the end by the big door. "Why are you so afraid of such gentle creatures? Their only dangerous when mistreated or frightened, and if either of those happen its the person riding or taking care of its fault."

Kali's violet eyes glittered as she stopped at a stall about midway down the isle. "ALL of these horses are old and gentle. These are your retired show, race, and other types of horses. They all are well experienced as well." She still never looked directly at the man, always something past him for she was trained to never look at someone directly, having to be at her level. Kali was a slave, nothing more, nothing less. She accepted that as soon as her father thrust her into this. It was over ever since they took her friend away.

With a sigh Kali rolled her eyes at his exaggerated slowness as her hands fiddled with the bottom of her black band tshirt. "You dont have to move so slow, act normal."She then turned, her converse tapping a little as she opened another stall. A sleek gray horse moved out from behind it. Next to Blake, the gray gelding was small, but was really normal sized. "This, is Sarge. He's an old mounted shooting horse. I dont really think anything scared him anymore, and he doesnt have as much fire since he's been castrated." She walked up, her limp more noticeable now since she had still been putting weight on it. "He's gentle and a real sweet heart." with those words the horse gently touched its warm, velvet muzzle to the mans hand. "He doesnt bite. Pet him and get to know him a little..." Kali then limped over to Blake who offered his neck for her to lean on. "No, I'm okay Blake." She patted his onyx neck. Her marble colored skin was ghostly against the black coat of the horse. "I wont take you out riding until you relax......" she said and slumped against Blake, who held her up, a twinkle of concern in his eye.