Recovery

Conversations Of Fallen Warriors

Urdu leaned against the railing of the fence, watching the stallion paw the ground in between dancing from side to side. His nostrils flared and she could see the whites of his eyes as he shifted to keep her in his vision. His ears flickered forward and then back, tight to his head as he reached his muzzle toward her, baring his flat teeth as if intending to bite.

He snorted angrily at her and she bared her teeth and did so right back, sending him to rear and run around, his tail flaring in the wind. She ignored the approach of the man named Ray until he stood at the fence beside her, his green eyes watching the horse as well.

They observed the animal's movements in silence for a few moments.

"You're teasing him." The man's voice was soft. "He's captive prey."

Urdu inclined her head. "He's trying to be brave, but horses are born cowards. All herd based herbivores are."

Ray was silent for a long while, before shrugging. "But it's nice to have something understand you without fighting, without judgement."

"Yes. It understands that I want to eat it." Urdu shrugged, flashing the man her teeth in a grin. When he gave her a blank look, she rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to."

"I know. Oz would be upset if you did." Ray offered, as if that mattered. But there was a flash of emotion that told her it did matter to this man here. "He says he's almost got him backed."

"Backed up?" Urdu blinked and glanced at the horse that was creeping closer to them. Though the stallion stopped when she paid attention to it, then reared and made a loud whinny.

'No. Someone on his back." The man watched the stallion's display curiously, head tilted to the side. "Do you like children?"

Urdu hesitated, turning and sniffing the man. "You met the offspring."

"They have names. Hewie and Allie." Ray offered stubbornly. "Meri visits frequently, and... I enjoy seeing them. I'm glad she brought them for me to see."

"What's so important about a name?" Urdu shook her head and glanced back at the horse, who was standing next to her and reaching through the fence to nuzzle at Ray's hip.

She watched as he grinned absently and pulled some sort of hay cube out of his pant pocket, patting the stallion on the neck and feeding it to the beast.

When he was done, he turned to look at her. "I spent most of my life without one. It... dehumanises someone, removes their individuality. Makes them... less."

"I was five hundred and twenty-three when I received my name. I found it in a book. Sometimes I regret choosing it. The version you know is also a human language and people are very confused by it." Urdu offered a shrug. "But it fit, and I've had it for a long time, now."

"So you know why a name is important." Ray offered, glancing at her curiously. "You dislike them?"

"No." Urdu shook her head, holding out her hand, knowing he was referring to the new godlings. It took the quasi-human a moment, then he placed one of the hay cubes in her palm. There was no grin, no attempt at a knowing expression. He just gave her a horse treat. "I think they are... quite..."

"Unique." Ray offered, watching as she put her hand out into the pen. The stallion danced around for a moment, before inching closer. The horse craned his neck as far as it would go, reaching with his lips and shuffling closer before finally being able to pluck the cube out of her hand. "They're clever, and I like their personalities."

Urdu laughed, the sound spooking the damned horse as she side glanced at him. "They're infants. Though not as bad as demons, they are too young to have personalities."