SSO Winter Prompts 2020

1. Cozy (Canter Ella)

Elena struggles to stay awake after a long night of protecting the people as Canter Ella.

Elena slumped down into the fresh straw, letting out a long and tired sigh as her companion munched on a well deserved meal. Another long night of protecting the innocent, wrapped up barely an hour before dawn. With the mask and hat removed and hidden once more, Elena allowed herself a moment of quiet. It was warm in the stable, much warmer than the winter air outside, light flickering through the cracks in the shuttered windows from the lamps in the yard. She knew she needed to get up and head to bed, grab a few precious hours of sleep before her day would begin.

Leading a double life was exhausting, and didn't leave much free time. But it was hard to deny her heart and convictions: she was doing the right thing by donning the guise of Canter Ella every night. There may have been no obvious rewards, but Elena's heart was warmed every time she protected an innocent person for tyranny and threat. It helped that the Contessa was oblivious, not noticing when Elena had to sneak off for a nap during the day so she wouldn't collapse. Besides, when else would she be able to ride Tintoretto?

As if knowing her thoughts, the large black stallion lifted his head from his food and moved over to her, big nostrils widening to smell her before blowing hot air on her face. He titled his head and leaned in before she had reached his nose, meeting her hand as she stroked the velvet and whiskers.

She was so comfortable in the stall, she didn't even notice any straw poking through her clothes. But if she didn't get up and go to a proper bed she would be terribly sore. Sleeping in an upright sitting position did that to a person. But she couldn't make herself stand up just yet.

The friesian nuzzled her face, getting a bit of oat stuck to her cheek. She patted him again; she needed to get up, told herself she needed to stand up now. But it was so warm and dark, she could only make out the outline of her steed and the faint glint of light in his eye.

Her hand fell to her side, head lulling. Her bed was too far away, maybe she would just have a little nap... just to get a bit of energy back.

Quiet footsteps echoed through the stable, too early to be another stable hand starting their day. The other horses that had not spent all night galloping around the countryside twitched and perked up, giving her a look and a sniff before going back to resting, too early to get up.

The steps stopped outside Tintoretto's stall, the stallion shifting and giving her a curious, but tired, look. The woman glanced past the horse, noticing a leg that the horse's body did not manage to conceal, even in the darkness.

"Cozy night?" the Contessa Columbina asked with a knowing smile.