Archives: Search for Azala
Chapter 20: Into the Storm...
After everyone had eaten and prepared to travel, the horses were saddled, the carriage’s horses hitched, and bags packed. Seri came waddling out of the inn and into her carriage, eager to be on with the journey. Estas directed the mercenaries, and everyone was arranged at the same points they had been the day before. Orion took the rear, Estas and Sairina flanked either side of the carriage, while Phaeton and Luria rode out in front. Kitsa sat on top of the carriage to get a better vantage point, since she didn’t ride. Valkyria had been invited to ride Seri’s horse in Lanir’s place, so she could lead the group. Meanwhile, Lanir would join Kitsa atop the carriage. Y’ezela would drive again, and Air would likely sit up in the seat with her, however, the two girls hadn’t made their appearances yet.
While the rest of the group were mounting their horses and taking position, Y’ezela hurried out with her traveling gear. She had dressed in a fresh outfit, this one being a blouse and pair of breeches as opposed to her usual flowing garb. Aside from that, the half-elf had a blush on her cheeks that anyone could see, even with her dark complexion. Throwing her pack under the seat of the carriage, she scrambled up into the seat and mumbled an apology to Estas.
Orion was quiet as they came out of the inn. Valkyria was right. Though the air was calm, he could feel the tension. Something had to give soon. Loosely securing his bow to the side of his saddle, Orion mounted and hefted up his quiver onto his back. From a short distance, he watched Kitsa pull herself up. As much as it was ineffective for combat, he wished she could ride with him, so that he could shield her from the wind when it came.
Air followed Y’ezela out, quickly stowing her backpack under the seat like her sister and taking up a seat beside her. She wasn’t as apologetic to Estas as Ez was, but she wasn’t discourteous either. She gave him a soft nod of acknowledgment and sat calmly waiting for the others to get the show on the road.
Valkyria took up Seri’s horse, as offered. While she wasn’t comfortable riding an animal through a sandstorm she knew that she had to keep in front of the group to keep them moving in the right direction. “Alright, folks, keep your eyes on me. I’d feel a lot better if we had a life-line extended from the carriage to the single horses to make sure that we don’t lose anyone but as long as we go slow we shouldn’t lose sight of each other. Visibility in a sandstorm can get pretty harsh. Anyone who has hoods or scarves, cover your face as much as you can with them.” When everyone complied with what she said, the thief lead them out of Blade and into the desert. She had mentally mapped the course last night, first they’d head as far along the road as possible then cut to the southeast and follow the underground river as far as the oasis. It was a simple task when one wasn’t facing the brutal fury of a sandstorm, but for someone of Valkyria’s prowess, she’d guide them safely to their destination, albeit a little weather beaten.
The group had rode for nearly an hour, putting Blade behind them. Estas was nervous about leaving the main road, and with his reservations about Valkyria, he didn’t fully trust her guidance. He had to remind himself of her affection for her newfound siblings though, lest he lose sight to his paranoia. The winds had been slowly rising as they rode, but now the gusts were coming harder. The high elf was protected from the east wind by the wagon, but he saw the gusts of sand kicking up around them. Giving his horse a little encouragement, he rode forward a few paces to look beyond the wagon. A wall of sand was the only thing that could be seen to their east, some distance away. It was eerie and terrifying, but the high elf easily kept his fear in check.
“We should make our final preparations for the storm,” he spoke loudly to the group. “Y’ezela, stop the wagon so Kitsa and Lanir can get inside. Sairina, come around to this side.”
At Estas’s order, Y’ezela stopped the team drawing the carriage. The horses obeyed, but they stomped anxiously. The half-elf understood exactly how they were feeling; she shivered as she saw the wall of sand coming towards them. Her mother was a Flaim native, and they often traveled through the country, but they had always stayed in cities during the sandstorms, locked away in inns. Y’ezela had only glimpsed the storms. While they waited for Lanir and Kitsa to move, Y’ezela borrowed some of Air’s gauze and wrapped it around her face, covering her mouth and nose.
* * *
Kitsa had watched the storm building in the east with a sense of awe and intimidation. The weather of the desert was new and incredible to her, and it was exciting. She could almost feel the chaos Sylph and Gnome had been thrown in, just as Valkyria warned. “Come along, Lanir,” Kitsa said to the half-elf sitting atop the carriage with her, and she climbed down the back. As she touched the ground, she gave a smile of assurance to Orion before heading around to the side of the carriage.
Sairina, being on the west side, had seen the storm building, and she was terrified. The priestess was wrapped in a cloak with a silk scarf wrapped around her mouth and nose to keep the sand out. Her hands and knees were shaking, so when she heard Estas’s order, she quickly moved over to his side the wagon and guided Aeru between the carriage and Estas, the safest place she felt she could be.
Orion watched the others prepare to take protection stony-faced. He knew that, like the others, he was resigned to that terrible wall of sand. The only thing he could really do to prepare himself was to push all of his hair into his coat and close it tightly around his neck. The air would soon be filled with fine grains of earth, something he was not looking forward to breathing in. Never before in his life had he felt as though he would have to do battle with the very world around him.
Lanir had stared at the sand storm as it built; it was getting bigger in the west the more they traveled! The half-elf was in shock for a moment, but he was suddenly knocked out of it as the carriage stopped and he heard Estas call out some orders. He nodded and looked at Kitsa, who had already climbed off the top of the carriage, and quickly followed after her.
Kitsa knocked on the door of the carriage as warning to Seri, then opened the door. She found the high elf mother-to-be sitting on the bench seat at the end of the carriage. The seat across from her was full of packages and a wicker bassinet, which Mirael obvious bought for her. Seri even had her legs propped up on the other seat. There was room beside Seri for both Kitsa and Lanir, but it would be a tight squeeze. “Excuse me, Seri, but we must sit in here,” Kitsa said.
“Oh yes, of course,” Seri said, putting her feet back down on the floorboards. She leaned forward to look out the door and her emerald green eyes widened in wonder. “Oh my, is that a sandstorm?”
“Yes,” Kitsa replied, then pulled herself into the carriage. The quarter-elf squeezed passed Seri and the packages, avoiding touching the high elf as much as possible, and with much maneuvering, she sat down beside Seri on the far side of the carriage. The high elf would sit in the middle while Lanir would be on the other side. “Hurry in, Lanir,” Kitsa said. The storm was growing closer with each passing moment.
Lanir watched as Kitsa squeezed herself through the packages and the high elf. He sighed as he pulled himself up into the carriage and did the same thing. A light pink tint and a small nervous smile came on his face as he did so. The half-elf sat down by Kitsa and sighed, the place he was sitting in was very uncomfortable, but he could deal with it.
* * *
Orion was happy Kitsa was safe, but the thoughts in his head couldn’t help but turn to him and his horse. His mare had never gone through something like this. Could she take it? No one would know until it hit. Orion moved up to the edge of the carriage. Visibility would become weak soon. Perhaps Estas was wise to place him, a better shaman, in the back, since, if Orion got lost, he could probably find his way back to them if the spirits came to his aid. Even then, Orion had no interest in tempting fate.
* * *
Air covered her face quickly, getting ready for the storm, but noticed that Valkyria kept her face open, odd to say the least since she was the one telling everyone else to cover up. Air remained quiet however, as an impatient look spread across Valkyria’s face as she stared at the approaching wall of sand. “Kinda scary, ain’t it?” Air whispered to Y’ezela.
Y’ezela nodded and glanced back out to the approaching storm again. Per Valkyria’s suggestion, all the horses were tied to the wagon, and Luria and Phaeton took this task. The two mercenaries had sections of rope prepared now, and hurried around the group, handing off a length for each of the riders to tie to their saddles, while they tied the other ends to the carriage. Finally, they tied down their horses, and prepared to follow Valkyria’s lead.
“We are prepared, Lady Valkyria,” Phaeton spoke as he mounted his horse off the half-elf’s flank.
Valkyria nodded, satisfied that her orders were being followed. Urging Seri’s steed onward, the tall half-elf led the group into the wall of wind and sand. It was against the horses wishes to enter such a dangerous jaunt, but the desert-wise Valkyria knew each grain of sand better than her own body. This was her home, her domain, and even a the wall of ever-changing sand wasn’t going to be able to change anything about that.
She gauged the distance that they traveled through the thick blanket of wrathful sand by feeling the jarring hooves against the road. Her eyes could see no better than any other in the group but she could feel the pull of the desert in her bones. She was going the right way. After several miles down the road she carefully guided them off the beaten path taking the time to count the strides of her temporary mount until she verified that she was adjacent to the underground river. The sands were shifting, and with their shifting came the burning feeling of the sand cutting across the faces of all those who dared trespass on its dance. Even with their faces covered, the heat and pressure were felt.
In the distance a thunderous boom broke the silence of the dance. Valkyria cursed to herself. The storm was getting dangerous, the sand rubbing against each other in their furious dance was causing excitement amongst the sylphs who were igniting electricity between the sands. For a moment Valkyria was tempted to take them off of her chosen path to avoid the worst of it, but decided against it. If she decided to change the route now they would be lost in the storm. She urged Seri’s horse onward, albeit more cautiously, keeping her ears searching for the sound of the sand’s thunder.
Orion was more or less unshielded to the desert’s fury. With a sleeve over his mouth and nose, the silver-crowned elf could barely leave his eyes open for the fire that ensued there. His horse had quite a time dealing with the desert herself. Her hooves slipped and her eyes squinted shut, leaving her only guiding light to be the reins around her head. All he wanted to do was summon up spirits, but he wondered if Sylph, or any other spirit, would be able to fight themselves for their sake...
The storm nearly overwhelmed Y’ezela. She could feel the sand finding its way into her clothing. It scoured her face, despite her attempts to protect it. She had gotten so much sand in her eyes at this point, she didn’t even bother to rub it and instead soldiered through the discomfort, keeping her eyes open only a slit. The horses drawing the carriage had been hard to keep moving, and Y’ezela had to slap them with the reins until they moved. Now, the trudged along, heads low, fording through the storm.
Sairina kept her head lowered and clutched her cloak hood as tightly around her face as she could, while her other hand hung onto Aeru’s reins. Sand had invaded her eyes, and she kept them half-lidded or closed so her lashes could filter out the sand. Her eyeliner was probably ruined from the tears that streamed from her eyes, washing out the sand. The storm was overwhelming her, even though she wasn’t bearing the brunt of it. All she could do was cling to her reluctant mare, every muscle tense. Her horse plodded onwards, almost defeated, and kept following a straight line until it was told otherwise.
* * *
Sand scoured the western side of the carriage and grains found their way in through every crevice. It was beginning to pile in the corners, in the folds of Seri, Kitsa, and Lanir’s clothing; there was no escaping it. Beyond that, however, there was something more disturbing to the more experienced shamans. As Valkyria warned, Sylph and Gnome were thrown into chaos. There was an electricity in the air, and it made Seri tense, far more than the screeching wind and invasive sand. The high elf clenched Kitsa and Lanir’s hands for comfort.
* * *
Valkyria led the group onward, following the underground river. As the group took to their new path the storm grew in intensity, almost as if to block the path. Valkyria, wise in the ways of the desert knew that this was a sign that the worst of the storm was over, and they’d be getting into calmer winds. She just hoped that the others didn’t misinterpret the growing intensity as the storm getting worse. The storm always got worse before it got better, a rule known to the nomads and desert folk.
The pace set was sluggish however, horses hooves slipped in the soft sand, the stinging wind and burning sand did little to comfort the beasts of burden. Electricity danced in the air, making crackling booms over the wind, as the dry thunder burst the sand’s epic silence. Each mile they moved seemed like an eternity, and as the intensity of the wind increased, so did the difficulty moving.
Still, Valkyria led the group onward, and breached the storm not two miles from the oasis she had planned on taking them. With the sandstorm behind them, everyone could relax. The wind was still vocal however, so Valkyria couldn’t give commands over the deafening roar of the storm behind them. Onward she pressed them till they made way to the oasis.
The storm had began to quiet, only a few sand gusts whipped at the group, and Y’ezela could see ahead. The half-elf could see the towering palm trees of the oasis, and she gave a sigh of relief. She was looking forward to taking a break so she could get the sand out of all the crevices it had crept into. Undoubtedly, the rest of her team felt the same.
After Valkyria came to a stop alongside the spring, Y’ezela couldn’t stop the horses fast enough. The two horses drawing the wagon came to a halt at the edge of the spring and began to drink eagerly while Y’ezela hopped out of the seat. She gave her cloak a shake, then yanked it off as if it were a poisonous snake. Unwrapping the gauze from around her face, she started shaking out all her clothing, her hair, and scratching the grains of sand out of her ears.
Like the rest of the horses, Estas’s mount was eager to drink and the white stallion wasn’t going to allow anyone to tell him no. Estas rode his mount up to the spring, then dismounted. The water was a pleasant sight to him as well, and he knelt down on the bank and scooped out a handful of water to wash the sand from his face.
The priestess rode her horse up to the spring as well, and as soon as Aeru stopped with her nose in the fresh water, sucking it up as if she hadn’t seen water for a week, Sairina slipped out of the saddle. The priestess tossed the hood off her head and took off her cloak, shaking the sand from it. “Ugh...it just gets every where. Give me a nice, moist, sea-side city any day,” the priestess complained as she tried to get more sand out of her hair and clothing.
* * *
Seri could hear the storm growing weaker outside the carriage, and sunlight began to filter in through the curtains again. Finally, the carriage rolled to a halt and the sound of people dismounting and talking seemed to signify that the storm was stopped and they were going to pause for a rest. “Lanir, open the door, would you?” she asked of the half-elf sitting next to her.
Lanir held onto Seri as they rode through the storm. He was wishing that he can be back in town, but he decided that it would be better to wish that everything was alright with Seri. The half-elf had his eyes closed as the sand slipped into the carriage and started going everywhere, he only opened them for only a few seconds to check on Seri and Kitsa. Once the carriage came to a stop and Seri asked him to open the door, Lanir quickly went and did what she asked. The half-elf jumped out of the carriage and held his hand up to help Seri out.
With Lanir’s support, the pregnant high elf awkwardly climbed out of the carriage. Once she was out, she gave a sigh of relief and stood straight, leaning back slightly to stretch her back. “Thank you, Lanir,” she said politely, then she began to walk toward the spring leisurely, just happy she could stretch her legs. Sand was piled everywhere in the carriage and she was tempted to clean it, but for now, she just wanted to stretch. “Kitsa, will you please refill my canteen?” she called back as she walked.
The calm after the storm was much appreciated. Orion, eager as he was to eradicate gnome’s remainders from his various limbs, maintained his relaxed pacing as he dismounted Soiff and led her first to the water’s edge. Like the others, Orion had discovered sand’s uncanny ability to find even the smallest of spaces to dwell. Even his ears felt gritty. The white-silver jacket slid off of his back and released a small cloud of dust from both within and without. Holding the dirtied garment before him, the elf attempted to shake it out. No matter how much he whipped it about, however, it always seemed as if more sand was coming out.
Kitsa popped open the other door of the carriage on her side, then hopped out. She heard Seri’s request just after she stepped out, and with a sigh at the bad timing, she leaned over the gritty floor of the carriage to pick up the nearly empty canteen. As she stepped back out, her first concern was Orion, not the spring. She glanced behind the carriage to see him shaking out his jacket. Aside from likely being very sandy, he appeared to be fine. Despite the fact that she would have rather gone to check on him further, she followed Seri’s order and went to the spring to refill the canteen.
Lanir smiled at Seri and gave her a nod when she came out the carriage. The half-elf walked over to the spring and drank some water. I am glad to have this water... but it feels like sand is in my pants, the boy thought as he sighed and continued to drink.
Hands on her back to support herself, Seri walked toward the spring a few steps and looked about the oasis. It was a lovely little place, though sand covered much of the plant life after the storm. This had been an interesting experience, to say the least, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to experience it again—or maybe that was just the pregnancy talking. Seri was always eager to learn more, and perhaps if fear for her child’s life wasn’t a factor, she might have made an attempt to exert some measure of control over the storm, just to test her limits as a shaman. At the thought of what she could have done, but now didn’t have the strength or confidence for, the high elf sighed and silently cursed Azala for seducing her.
After filling Seri’s canteen with fresh spring water, Kitsa returned to the high elf by way of climbing through the carriage (as the horses blocked her direct path to the high elf on the other side). After giving Seri her water, Kitsa hurried back to Orion. “I hope the storm was not too rough on you,” she spoke, coming up alongside her much fairer lover. “I worried for you.”
Orion held up his jacket to Kitsa. “I think this took the brunt of it,” Orion said, looking over the once white jacket, now a dusty brown. “Perhaps it will be time to go shopping for new clothes after this.” Orion smiled a little trying to reassure her. “It was cruel, but I am fine.”
Kitsa chuckled at the once pure white garment. “Do not worry, I am sure we can beat the sand out of it,” she said, then looked back up at the elf. With his assurance that he hadn’t been damaged from the vicious storm, Kitsa’s heart lifted, despite the fact she could see he was no worse for wear. The quarter-elf woman draped her arms over his shoulders and leaned in to kiss him gently, as unconcerned about who saw it as usual.
* * *
Seeing her half-brother go to the spring, Y’ezela decided to check on him; though he likely had a better ride than she did. She fetched her own canteen from her sand-covered traveling pack under the seat of the carriage. I hope the sand didn’t damage any of my instruments... she thought as she walked over to the spring. Kneeling beside Lanir, she dumped out the old, stale, warm water, then dunked her canteen into the fresh spring to fill it. “So, how was the ride, Lannie?” she asked him as her canteen filled.
“It wasn’t too bad, Seri seemed a little scared though,” he responded to Y’ezela while he refilled his own waterskin. The half-elf glanced back when he heard Seri call to him, and then Estas. “Were you alright up there?”
“Yes, though I could use another bath,” Y’ezela grumbled. She felt sand in the crevices of her clothing, and nothing short of stripping and jumping into the spring would relieve the feeling. “That sand gets everywhere.”
Lanir chuckled slightly and pulled his waterskin out, then plugged it again. Before getting up, he gave his hands a washing in the water, then rinsed his face. He felt gritty too, and even in under the cover of the carriage, sand seemed to have seeped into his boots and clothing. “Well, I’d better get ready to head out,” he said as he stood up.
“I wouldn’t get too eager to leave, the horses need to drink their fill. I bet they’re starving too,” Y’ezela replied, she would need to bring that up to Valkyria. Unfortunately, horses had this effect on schedules. Though they could get you somewhere faster, they needed their rest now and then. With a nod, Lanir walked away and circled around the carriage to meet Sairina.
* * *
Air hopped down off the wagon and shook free the sand in her clothes. While it was possibly the most interesting experience she had of late, minus the time she spent with her sister, Air wasn’t about to wish to brave another sand storm to see if that was all the desert could afford to throw at them. Removing the tie from her hair, she shook loose all the rest of the sand from her head, and casually pulled her hair back to get it out of her face. Kraw was nowhere in sight, but that didn’t worry Air in the slightest. She knew that animals knew their way around better than most people, and when it was safe to fly he’d catch up with her and the rest of them. Noticing that no one was readily approaching Valkyria, Air moved over to her older sister.
“What?” Valkyria responded to Air’s presence sharply. The storm was over but the half-elf’s senses were preoccupied with keeping a stern eye out for the dangers that came with the passing of the storm.
“Nothing...I just wanted to talk,” Air admitted, her ears drooping at the sudden sharpness in her otherwise carefree sister’s voice.
“Talk to someone else. I’m busy right now, Air,” Valkyria suggested, a little softer in tone this time. There was no sign of them yet, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t out there. Like wraiths of the sands, they stalked waiting for unsuspecting people stranded by the storms to rob them and cart off anyone or anything of value. Desert raiders. Unaffiliated with any guild, tribe or group, they were the true danger of the desert.
The storm had passed by this area leaving which meant that they’d be on the move again. Valkyria’s concern wore on her youthful face. As she could feel the waters of the underground river flow through the body of land claimed by the sand, she could sense their foreboding presence, even if they weren’t there. It was the paranoia of the desert her mother had taught her. Things need not be there to be felt. “Hurry it up,” Valkyria barked. “The quicker we’re out of here the better.”
Seri sipped on the fresh water she had been provided as she listened to Valkyria. “Very well then,” she acknowledged. “Kitsa, Lanir, you should return to your posts on the roof and watch for trouble in the distance,” the high elf told the two rangers. With that said, she returned to the carriage and hauled herself back inside.
Estas heard Valkyria’s warning and took heed. He may not have cared for her, but they were entrusting their lives to her, and she was the one who knew the desert. All he had to really base her trust on was her connection to her family; Air, Lanir, and Y’ezela. The high elf refilled his own canteen while he was at the spring, and as he finished, he rethought Seri’s order. If there could be trouble from raiders after the storm, he didn’t want one of their weaker members flanking the carriage: Sairina, in this case.
As Estas stood and screwed the cap back on his canteen, he called out to Lanir as well. “Lanir, I want you to ride Sairina’s horse,” he announced, calling to the half-elf further down the spring’s bank. “Sairina, ride in the carriage with Seri,” he said to the priestess who was closer to him.
* * *
Orion breathed in deep as Kitsa braved a kiss. Even in this barren, chaotic land, there was something serenely sweet about her. It was hard to imagine feeling like a cascade of anything, but was indeed how he felt, something flowing rapidly between them and through them. It didn’t matter how passionate the touch; it had the same effect upon him. It only lasted a few seconds, but it had the meaning of many years. Breaking the kiss at the call of her name, he sighed. “Unfortunately, I am not the only one who desires you,” he said at last.
With an eager smile, Kitsa withdrew from Orion, running her dark fingertips along Orion’s pale cheeks. “I will see you...” Kitsa paused, of course she’d see him, he was riding right behind her. “Well, I will be with you again soon!” she corrected herself, then pulled away and hurried back to the carriage with a lightness to her step before she climbed up the side of the wagon and took a seat on the roof again. The quarter-elf prepared her bow and waited patiently for the rest of the group to get mounted again.
* * *
Y’ezela finished refilling her own canteen, drinking some of the fresh spring water, and cleaning up a bit before she headed over to her newest discovered half-sister. “Excuse me, Valkyria, but I think we’re going to need to take a little longer than you’d like to tend to the horses,” the bard said. There was a sweetness to her voice, and a bit of an apology, trying to show that she could understand if Valkyria was frustrated by the setback, but it was something that couldn’t be avoided. “If we don’t let the horses eat, they may not be strong enough if we come across trouble on the road we need to run from.”
Valkyria’s face twisted in anger for a moment, but she held it down and sighed. “Listen, if we don’t leave here right now, you’re putting the lives of all us here in grave danger. Following the sandstorms there are two dangers apparent to the desert: the first is raiders, they don’t belong to any guild, peoples or alliances, they only live to plunder from people traveling through the desert. I know about this place thus they know about this place. It’ll be their first stop after the storm has passed. Whatever they find they will take—horses, women, supplies—it doesn’t matter to them. The other great danger is the monsters. Storm’s over and it’s not like they have shelter, so they weathered it out in the storm. They are thirsty and hungry and we look like a big fat meal to them. Considering the welfare of the horses is fine, but we can get them food elsewhere. I’m considering the welfare of the entire group here. We have to get a move on, now.”
Y’ezela realized the necessity of their situation, with a frown. Nodding to Valkyria, she turned away to prepare the horses. All of them were drinking thirstily, but food would have to wait. She felt horrible for having to drive them on empty stomaches, but it was necessary for all their survival it seemed. As Y’ezela turned back, she passed by Air. “Come on, let’s get back up in our seat,” she said as she returned to the wagon.
Seri’s sensitive ears overheard the conversation between Valkyria and Y’ezela. Her elven nature was full of concern for the animals they had strapped into servitude, but she had at least been able to bite back her complaints since the trip began. She and Estas had purchased horses of their own, but they treated the animals with the utmost respect. Now, however, they were expecting these poor beasts to carry and pull on empty stomachs. Seri wanted to assure them all that they would be rewarded for their hard work, but she didn’t dare climb out of the carriage and approach any of the horses from behind while they drank. With a sigh, the high elf shut the door on her side of the carriage and waited for Sairina to join her from the other side.
* * *
As Lanir came around to take her horse, Sairina recalled what she considered earlier this morning. When the half-elf approached, the priestess smiled sweetly to him. “There’s Aeru,” she said, pointing out her blood bay mare with its nose in the spring. Taking his hand, she patted it softly. “Take good care of her, alright? She’s a little skittish, so keep a firm hand on her reins,” the priestess explained, then slipped by Lanir, brushing her body against his casually as she headed to the wagon to join Seri.
Lanir blushed softly as he watch Sairina. He didn’t know to say, so he just nodded to her and watch her leave. With a sigh, the boy went over to the horse and crouched next to it. He waited until the horse had drank enough and once she did, he smiled at her and jumped onto her back. “Alright girl, are you ready to go?” he asked with a small smile as he rub the horse’s fur.
