Meanwhile, in a separate time frame...
Jan 4, 2010 22:51:20 GMT -5
Post by Evie on Jan 4, 2010 22:51:20 GMT -5
She pulled her leg over the saddle and slid down. The sudden movement made the zebra's ears prick up, and he huffed nervously.
Evie, however, moved slowly so that she was in front of the horse on top of which Laurent was sitting. Rubbing his nose, she murmured and cooed softly and slipped him one of the sugar cubes. The crunching seemed to attract the zebra's attention--apparently his owner had been fond of leaving treats. This was the reaction Evie had been hoping for--it was a trick Kat had taught her for skittish horses. Any horse that had been fed sugar cubes would notice if another horse was given them, and when you had something the horse wanted, it would be more likely to stand still long enough for you to put a halter and lead line on it.
Making the same clicking noises and still cooing, she turned towards the zebra. It had stood up fully now, and she moved very slowly towards him. He took a step back, and she stopped, placing the sugar cube on the ground and moving away. There was a pause before the Zebra moved tentatively forward to grab the sugar, then shy away nervously.
She placed another, but this time the zebra stood his ground after taking the sugar.
"Laurent, if you happen to have any rope, now would be a good time to tie a slipknot with a big enough loop to throw around his neck," she said slowly. She held out her hand with the final sugar cube in it, and there was a long pause before the zebra inched forward. Unfortunately, some kind of forest inhabitant chose that moment to rustle around in a treetop, spooking the zebra, who lifted his forelegs into the air, knocking Evie over in the process. He sprinted back off into the trees, leaving Evie in a mud puddle.
She burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Evie, however, moved slowly so that she was in front of the horse on top of which Laurent was sitting. Rubbing his nose, she murmured and cooed softly and slipped him one of the sugar cubes. The crunching seemed to attract the zebra's attention--apparently his owner had been fond of leaving treats. This was the reaction Evie had been hoping for--it was a trick Kat had taught her for skittish horses. Any horse that had been fed sugar cubes would notice if another horse was given them, and when you had something the horse wanted, it would be more likely to stand still long enough for you to put a halter and lead line on it.
Making the same clicking noises and still cooing, she turned towards the zebra. It had stood up fully now, and she moved very slowly towards him. He took a step back, and she stopped, placing the sugar cube on the ground and moving away. There was a pause before the Zebra moved tentatively forward to grab the sugar, then shy away nervously.
She placed another, but this time the zebra stood his ground after taking the sugar.
"Laurent, if you happen to have any rope, now would be a good time to tie a slipknot with a big enough loop to throw around his neck," she said slowly. She held out her hand with the final sugar cube in it, and there was a long pause before the zebra inched forward. Unfortunately, some kind of forest inhabitant chose that moment to rustle around in a treetop, spooking the zebra, who lifted his forelegs into the air, knocking Evie over in the process. He sprinted back off into the trees, leaving Evie in a mud puddle.
She burst into uncontrollable laughter.