RP:Meet My Horse
Summary: Meri, Penelope, and their horses meet for the first time.
Northern Sage Forest
The time was mid-morning and the sun was filtering through the whispering leaves of the willow trees. There were birds chirping and if one was still and silent long enough, they could even see tiny little mammals like squirrels and rabbits scurrying about the forest floor. Despite the sunshine and happy sounds of the forest, there was something somber about this particular area. Meri could not quite put her finger on it. Maybe it was the general look of the willow tree -- they were not called weeping willows for nothing. Maybe it was all in her mind, and the next person traveling through would find this place a pleasant as can be. To be honest, the pregnant woman did not spend too long dwelling over that detail. What currently held her attention captive was the 'S&D' carved into the trunk of one of the ancient willow trees. As old as the carving was, the wound was still present. Meri stood in wonder. Who was 'S'? Who was 'D'? What was there story? Was there ending happy? Tragic? Or maybe they have not found the end to their story yet and have just traveled on? As all of these thoughts stew through Meri's mind, her gray mare mulls about her lazily. Saddle and reins are currently on the horse, but the blonde woman does not have hold of the reins. Kadence is free to roam about and graze freely, but the horse seems wise enough to not stray too far from her companion. The woman's outfit at present was nothing fashionable. As the belly grows, and it is a fairly decent size at this point in time, the will to try and be 'cute' diminishes. It's all about comfort for Meri. Loose-fitting pants, a baggy shirt.
Penelope was up bright and early. The woman did the normal chores for Yerrel: cared for his patients, fed his and her own horse, and now it was time to stop by the herb shop to pay a visit to the store keep and help out. This herbalist job was the main job that she was good at. The freckled woman saddled the cream-colored horse, pulled herself up, and threw her leg over. She was dressed in a white, flowing, tunic shirt and a pair of black leather leggings and a pair of chunky loafers. Not the correct riding shoes, but she knew her way around Delilah by now. “Off to the shop, Dee,” the woman squeezes the sides of Delilah and holds the reigns for balance and to lead the way. The petite woman takes the longer route as the sun takes time to shine at its’ fullest. Frizzy hair bounces as Delilah trots through the forest. From afar, the observant healer notices a woman with a round belly. Pregnant. The mossy doe eyed girl is in awe. With a content smile on her face, Penelope leads Delilah towards where Meri stands. “That carving has been there for ages. I always thought that they may have been forbidden lovers. Y’know, like the books,” she smirks. By Penelope’s looks, she appears rather girly, but natural all the same. She fantasizes, but she knows of the darkness that the land betrays. Wise, but she plays naive for her own pleasure.
Kadence perks up even before Meri does, call it some sort of horse intuition. The horse could sense the approach of another horse well before Meri even registers the sounds of someone drawing near. Normally Meri was more attentive, but her mind was scattered into so many different places right now. It was not until she heard Penelope's voice that Meri's blue eyes drifts off into the direction of the woman. Petite, with frizzy hair and freckles. She seemed friendly enough with those doe eyes and that content smile, but Meri knew better to underestimate those of this land. "Ah, forbidden lovers. I don't suppose I have put my nose into too many books to be honest with you, but from what I hear it is the stuff of tragedies, no?" Blue eyes tear away from Penelope and back to the carvings on the tree, Meri taking a step closer to reach out and run her fingers across the tree's tattoo. "Hm." Meri's attention has not strayed from Penelope for long, her eyes find focus back on the petite woman soon after the hmm is issued. "Meri is the name." A toss of her chin is issued toward the gray mare, who is cautiously approaching both Penelope and Delilah. Kadence is curious to know if the cream-colored horse is friendly, but seems to be of the slightly shy temperament herself. "You and your friend are?"
Penelope canted her head. “Could be tragedy. Considering the ‘weeping’ of the willows,” the woman offers a shrug. Delilah comes to a full halt before Penelope slides off. Once loafers land on solid ground, she slowly steps towards Meri in precaution. “Meri,” there was a chime in the voice of the healer. Excitement. “What a pretty name. So simple. Y’know that in some villages I’ve studied, your name means ‘the sea’.” The cream-colored horse then slowly begins to trot over to Kadence and snorts with no sign of aggression – Dee is curious as well, but not as cautious as the other. The freckled woman then smiles half-heartedly. “Penelope, and that there is Delilah,” Penelope lifts a digit to point at the horse making the rounds. “Just passing through, really from Yerrel’s hut. The local healer of Kelay.” Moss eyes flick onto Meri’s plump belly with a grin. “When are you due?” The human was fascinated by birth – she might have been a family planner or specifically a female doctor for her fascination of babies. Maybe because they looked like creatures from another world when they came out of the womb.
As heavy as the thoughts are on Meri's mind right now, Penelope's observation about her name brings a sincere smile to Meri's lips. It also prompts Meri to roll up her sleeves enough for Penelope to catch a glimpse of the full-sleeve tattoos that Meri has on each arm. One is a mermaid, the other is a kraken sinking a ship. "Is that so? You know, I've never really thought much about the meaning of my name, maybe that explains my love affair with the sea." Meri's demeanor relaxes a touch when Penelope mentions that is associated with one of the local healer's, and Kadence seems content to try and make friends with Delilah, in that the gray mare is standing quite near the other horse and giving her some gentle sniffs. A thumb is hitched to her own horse for a belated introduction. "Kadence." Meri parts her lips to speak a question of her own, but Penelope beats her too it, shifting the subject toward her pregnancy. The smile that Meri was wearing on her lips wanes, "Ah. I don't really know. By my accounts, I probably got knocked up in like...End of September? Maybe middle of October at the latest?" And yet Meri looked significantly further along than the time frame listed. By the dates listed, Meri should be around four months. She looks more like six. Or seven. "Long story short, it is a werewolf thing. I just have not had the chance to sit down and ask questions about how all this works. The one gal I know with her own werewolf children is awful busy." Meri's initial question is not forgotten, in fact now is a great time to try and steer the topic away from the awkwardness of her pregnancy. "So what does your own name mean then?"
A graceful smile washes over the warm face of Penelope as she gazes at the tattoos on Meri’s arms. “Charmed about the art. I’m guessing you have a lot of experience on the water?” Penelope always went to collect clay from the beach; she never had a reason to sail. The woman then smiles to Kadence as Meri introduces the steed. “Oh—“ Meri continues, and the healer is patient enough to let the woman speak about her enormous belly. “Werewolf? Wow,” she tilts her head. “You know, I’ve read about wolves,” the girl is surprisingly not scared. “I heard pregnancy with wolves is a lot shorter than a normal human pregnancy…? Is that correct?” Penelope, however, stops short due to the conversation swing. “Oh! My name? I’ve read multiple things. Some say it means a duck, and some people say a weaver. Weaver makes sense—I’m a healer, I guess. More of an herbalist.” She shrugs.
Oh my, Penelope was full of questions. But Meri did not mind and the smirk that forms on her lips is evidence of such. The sleeves only remain rolled up for so long, there is a light breeze out today and Meri is inclined to keep herself warm. The last thing she needs is to catch a cold. "Ah, maybe not as much experience as some but definitely experience enough," Meri explains while fixing the sleeves of her shirt. Penelope's lack of fear when Meri speaks of being a werewolf is not really noted, the woman has not been one for long enough to really encounter negative reactions to her new state of being. Not wanting to ignore the inquiry of if Penelope's understanding was correct, Meri bobs her head in a nod of confirmation. Correct indeed. The conversation bounces to the meaning of Penelope's name, and this answer causes Meri to lift a brow. "I think I would go with the interpretation of weaver over duck too, and it's definitely fitting since you're an herbalist." Meri's smile falters momentarily as she considers how similar Penelope and Callum are, both herbalists who make deliveries. These reminders of her ex are pushed to the back of her mind, "Well, Penelope, I believe when we first bumped into each other you said you were off to the shop? It's been a pleasure chatting with you, but I suppose I should let you be on your way. And I should also waddle my way back to Cenril." Like a duck. Maybe she'd manage to be bothered to get up onto her horse somewhere along the way, waddling all the way to Cenril sounded like a lot of work.
Wonder filled the woman easily. “I’m glad you agree,” Penelope says will a small soft smile. The woman then sort of shifts her torso to try to stretch out her back while standing. Delilah is now off sniffing at some bushes. The freckled woman nods as her frizzed hair blows in the small breeze. “Why, yes. I almost forgot! Thank you for keeping me on my toes,” she grins wide. “I hope you three travel safely to Cenril.” She was now counting the baby. “Can get a bit rocky in those parts, though you should know since you love the seas.” She paused. “Take breaks. Hydrate well. If you find yourself in Kelay again, you should stop by. I’ll stock you up on some soothing oils or something,” she snickers. The herbalist whistles for Delilah and the horse slowly trots from behind Meri to Penelope’s side. “Good girl,” moss eyes locate Meri again. “It was a pleasure, Meri. Truly.”
It takes a moment for Meri to register who the third person Penelope was referencing, the confused expression on her face is telling of this. And then that light bulb turns on and Meri suddenly has clarity. Her child, duh. Good going, mommawolf. The two women agree that it is best for the two of them to carry about their days, but not without a few parting words. Penelope's joke about natural oils earns a chuckle from Meri. "Natural oils? I think I might need something stronger than that. Coconut oil doesn't cure everything you know." Meri keeps her tone of voice light, punctuating this statement with a wink. "I will come by and pay you a visit sometime. It was nice to meet you too, Weaver." Once those words are uttered, Meri gently takes up Kadence's leather reins, both horse and owner are on their way in the direction of Cenril.