I keep getting side tracked by my memories.
Just like every other clan, we have extended ourselves beyond what we thought possible, then some. There are those that were responsible for the fence. As I said earlier, we lost post so the pens are not as big as they were, but by the grace of the Sky we did not lose that many animals to death in the fire. So we have a dilemma of how to pen all the animals with less materials. At one time, the fence had four rails between the post, but now it will only have two of wood and the middle one of rope. And some of the animals will be put in a ramuda, kept together by riders. It is just how things are going to have to be for now.
We do have injuries that need to be tended to. Pads of feet that were scorched, coats and manes that fell victim to sparks and ash, pulled muscles and tendons from the run to safety, and mares that are not doing quite so well. All of these things have to be taken care of, because it will not be that long before we are looking at the trek to the Northern grasses. We need to start sharpening claws, trimming hair, looking for anything that might make an animal a liability rather than viable. People bring their mounts by daily, to be tended to, which results in us being very busy.
I am a realist and know that there are animals that will not be making the trip with us. There are a few that we will put down, sadly enough, but there will be those that we will simply leave behind. But anyone that knows me, knows that I will not leave a kaiila behind, that I think there is any hope of prolonging their life. If an animal has served its' rider with the loyalty that kaiila do, they deserve every consideration.
And each day, we have patrols of kaiila clan members, back tracking and trying to round up strays and bring them back into the fold, just as I know there are outriders looking for stray bosk. It is no different for us. And each day they come back with fewer and fewer beast, which tells me, we have pretty much recovered all that we will.
Now comes the task of replacing kaiila for those that have lost them. Ash lost his beast, so I have been looking at my war kaiila, choosing one that I think will fit him. It is a large, black beast by the name of Sandine. He is strong, loyal and I have been looking for just the right warrior that would have the hand to handle him, and I think that might be Ash.
I have also had as many roans that I am not familiar with, cut from the others for Silken to look at, so she can see if one of them might be the kaiila that Tengfei gave her.
And then there are the foals. I think that is one of the rewards of my job, seeing the younger ones' choose their first mount, or choosing them for them. I have already picked out two fine little beasts for my girls, and two more for Chabi and Himself. I can't wait to show them. To me, it is just such a special thing, getting your first kaiila. Call me sentimental.
Just like every other clan, we have extended ourselves beyond what we thought possible, then some. There are those that were responsible for the fence. As I said earlier, we lost post so the pens are not as big as they were, but by the grace of the Sky we did not lose that many animals to death in the fire. So we have a dilemma of how to pen all the animals with less materials. At one time, the fence had four rails between the post, but now it will only have two of wood and the middle one of rope. And some of the animals will be put in a ramuda, kept together by riders. It is just how things are going to have to be for now.
We do have injuries that need to be tended to. Pads of feet that were scorched, coats and manes that fell victim to sparks and ash, pulled muscles and tendons from the run to safety, and mares that are not doing quite so well. All of these things have to be taken care of, because it will not be that long before we are looking at the trek to the Northern grasses. We need to start sharpening claws, trimming hair, looking for anything that might make an animal a liability rather than viable. People bring their mounts by daily, to be tended to, which results in us being very busy.
I am a realist and know that there are animals that will not be making the trip with us. There are a few that we will put down, sadly enough, but there will be those that we will simply leave behind. But anyone that knows me, knows that I will not leave a kaiila behind, that I think there is any hope of prolonging their life. If an animal has served its' rider with the loyalty that kaiila do, they deserve every consideration.
And each day, we have patrols of kaiila clan members, back tracking and trying to round up strays and bring them back into the fold, just as I know there are outriders looking for stray bosk. It is no different for us. And each day they come back with fewer and fewer beast, which tells me, we have pretty much recovered all that we will.
Now comes the task of replacing kaiila for those that have lost them. Ash lost his beast, so I have been looking at my war kaiila, choosing one that I think will fit him. It is a large, black beast by the name of Sandine. He is strong, loyal and I have been looking for just the right warrior that would have the hand to handle him, and I think that might be Ash.
I have also had as many roans that I am not familiar with, cut from the others for Silken to look at, so she can see if one of them might be the kaiila that Tengfei gave her.
And then there are the foals. I think that is one of the rewards of my job, seeing the younger ones' choose their first mount, or choosing them for them. I have already picked out two fine little beasts for my girls, and two more for Chabi and Himself. I can't wait to show them. To me, it is just such a special thing, getting your first kaiila. Call me sentimental.
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