Stranger Things

Horse's name: 791 ERR Macklemore
Rider's name: Jarin Jackson
Link to tracker image: Summer Voyager Tracker | Jarin Jackson
Prompt: Chapter One: A Stranger in the Night | Main Quest
Collaboration: No

Horse's name: N0125 WRR Corona
Rider's name: Sydney Brannon
Link to tracker image: Summer Voyager Tracker | Sydney Brannon
Prompt: Chapter One: A Stranger in the Night | Main Quest
Collaboration: No

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Jarin was buzzing with excitement. His new friend had come in! He had already met the mule when he first went to look at him to adopt. The previous handlers wanted to make sure Jarin would be able to handle a deaf mule. Mack and Jarin bonded right from the start. He was already such a well-behaved mule. He responded well to Jarin's cues. When he got a bit awkward in the saddle, Mack would slow down or stop until Jarin got himself re-positioned. They had a lot to learn about each other, but Jarin felt connected to the spotty wonder right away. Tristan and Sydney said he couldn't get another horse...so he got a mule.
What really bonded the two was when they told Jarin that Mack was completely deaf. He had never been around a deaf horse or a deaf mule before. They explained that he watched body language and read off of that. Jarin was sure to buy a couple sign language books s he could brush up on it. (Not that that's what the previous handlers had intended...) 
He crammed loads of signs into his head so he could have a proper introduction with Mack. He signed his name and how happy he was to have him. Mack stared at Jarin with a pleasant expression. He was just waiting for a cue he understood, not really comprehending all of the waving fingers going on. His ears perked forward when Jarin folded down his ring finger and middle finger, forming the sign for "I love you". Mack brayed loudly and trotted about his stall, swishing his tail, arching his neck. He knew that sign very well and was so excited to see his new human knew it too! 
Jarin gave Mack a big hug around the neck! This was a perfect match!
Sydney had been tacking up Corona in the mean time. The mare and he were getting along quite well. She was a hardy mare. She could probably break a leg and she'd still treat it like a flesh wound. Sydney respected that kind of nature. He didn't have a need for weak or needy horses on his team.
His faithful Quarter Horse, Hank, was starting to get up in his years. Not that he was slowing down, but Sydney took pity on his favorite horse. He let him carry on as a lesson horse and an occasional show horse. In the meantime, he looked for other horses to fill his hoofprints - not that any would ever replace him completely, not even after he was long gone.  But he could enjoy the thought trying out new horses. He liked the look Corona had. She was all business and no silly shit. 
He was finishing up cinching her when he heard a godawful bray echoing through the barn aisles. It sounded like a donkey being skewered with a hot javelin. "What the hell?" When did RidgeRunner get a mule?
He led Corona down the aisle to where the sound had come from. "Jesus Christ..." He saw two spotted, long, white ears pop over the stall wall. This thing was...something else...It looked like one of those color-it-yourself painting kits that 5yr olds did at summer camp. And this one was creative, alright. 
"Hey, Sydney!"
Sydney hung his head, sighing, "Jarin..."
Jarin looked out of the stall, gleaming, "Have you met Mack yet?"
Sydney rubbed his brow, "Jarin, please...please tell me that this mule is not yours..."
Jarin laughed lightly, "Well, of course he is!"
Sydney could just die..."Of course..." Of all things Jarin came home with...this is why he couldn't be left alone to make decisions. A mule....he went and got a mule... "Why?" Did he even want to know?
Jarin shrugged, "Well...you guys said I couldn't-er- shouldn't get another horse so I got a mule! And he's deaf but he knows sign language!"
Oh, it got better. Good...Sydney was not pleased with Jarin's reasoning. He sighed, looking the goofy creature over. He cracked a grin. For some reason, this was somehow perfect for Jarin. They're both oddballs and completely useless. Sydney chuckled, "Deaf with those big ass ears?" Oh, the irony. 
Jarin stuck his nose to the sky, waltzing out of the stall, "He's quite talented, I'll have you know! He can even do western dressa-aaah!" Jarin's foot caught a hold of something  hidden in the straw. He tripped and was hurled from the stall, face first. 
Sydney busted a gut laughing. He doubled over with his hands on his knees. It never got old to see someone eat the floor! 
Jarin groaned, peeling his face off the floor and pulling his glasses out of his eye sockets. He sat up and glanced over to what he had tripped over. It was a satchel he had never seen before. Inside of it, looked like a weird bumpy rock. Jarin crawled over to it to investigate. "Sydney, have you seen this bag around before? I was sure it wasn't here yesterday when I cleaned this stall out for Mack."
Sydney wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffed. He sauntered over to get a look. He shrugged, "Dunno. What the hell is that shit in there?"
Jarin poked at it, "It's heavy."
"Don't just touch it, moron!"
Jarin jumped back, "Why not!? Is it dangerous?"
Sydney scoffed, "Hell if I know! Just leave it alone. Whoever owns it will probably come back and get it when they remember it."
Jarin was sure he felt something move when he had touched it. He flipped the satchel shut and gently removed it from the stall. He hoped whoever left it would come back soon. He didn't like weird things he didn't understand...
Sydney didn't look like he trusted it either. Especially if it had found its way to Jarin. Nothing particularly good happened around Jarin. He was a menace to the world even if he didn't mean to be. It was then Sydney noticed Jarin's odd get up. He was used to him wearing his stupid jods for his English riding but this? "Jarin, what the hell are you wearing? First a mule, now this? How stupid have you gotten?"
Jarin looked at his athletic wear. He shrugged, "It's what the endurance riders wear! I want to try it! It's comfy!"
Sydney gathered Corona's reins up. He was done trying to understand the strange creature that was Jarin. Whatever was in that satchel was more normal than Jarin the Alien. He shook his head hopelessly, "Jarin, I wish you the best in life, honestly. Jesus..." He walked off with Corona to start his day out.
Jarin turned his head, not understanding why Sydney was being sarcastic. "Ah, Sydney! Wait! What was that supposed to mean!?" He quicky hopped to his feet and closed Mack's stall door. He chased after Sydney, leaving the satchel sitting in front of Mack's stall...Did the bag just move on its own? 
(1157 word count)

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+7 pts each (+5 for main prompt +2 for text)

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I was able to power through this and get it done before I disappear for the weekend! WHOA! I've impressed myself xD 
So, here we are! Let the questing begin! I've got two more extra quests to squeeze in and a crap ton of other shows I want to do :'D Why is everything due May 31st? I'm dying </3 I'm trying xD 

Mack/Jarin/Sydney/Corona/Art © Drasayer 


SAI/Photoshop CS6