Straight From The Forges

[lorilie]

Rylee was quite relaxed as she drove down the road to the new Academy where she'd signed on to be the new blacksmith. In the seat next to her perched a Savannah cat, the mix of a Serval and a house cat. While these creatures were often over twenty thousand dollars, Rylee had aqquired her loyal pet from a wealthy businesswoman, of whom's cat had recently birthed some kittens. She had gifted the tom to Rylee when the woman had fixed a dangerous bout of founder on her favorite horse for a good many months, and had done a worthy job.

The resulting gift was named Thoth, for the Eygptian god of wisdom. The creauture peered out the window, then turned and looked at Rylee, who smiled. "We're almost there, Thoth."

They pulled up to the drive and rode in silence to the main office. Rylee opened her car door and exited, Thoth watchinghe rwith interest, but not moving. She went up to the bulding and entered. "Hello? Anyone home?" She asked to appearently empty room.

[.Rissa.]

After checking in a new student just prior, Betty rose from her chair and went to the room down the hall that contained a snack machine. Lunch break was over, but she didn't get to eat earlier, and she didn't figure staff nor students wanted to listen to her stomach grumble.

Her black heels carried her heavy frame down the carpeted hallway. They clicked into the small tile room. Her big brown eyes studied the choices, honey buns, candy, chips, ah-ha, the peanut butter crackers looked good. Her manicured red nails slid two quarters into the slot and she punched it 'B7' on the number pad. The spirals started to spin, and the crackers were almost out when a corner got hung on the chips beside them. The spirals stopped and nothing dropped to the slot. The receptionist growled under her breath, "Kirk! Are you in here?"

The sound of heavy footsteps walked down the hall, "Yes Betty?" his masculinh voice filled the tiny room.

"This thing won't give me my crackers," she said in disgust. Suddenly her mood change, "Were you talking with Kris? Any change?"

The vet's brown eyes studied the machine, he quickly returned to the woman hearing his little sister's name. He swallowed lightly, "No," he said in a low voice, "If I ever see that b*st*rd again, I swear I'll kill him for what he did to her."

The sound of a woman's voice caught both of their attention, "I'll see what I can do about this," the man replied. He then turned back to the machine.

Betty sighed sadly at the man's remark to his sister. She put a caring hand on his shoulder, "Thank you," she said in return to the snacks and walked briskly down the hall, a freindly smile on her face as a woman came into view, "Hello dear," she smiled, "Sorry about that, I was trying to sneak off for my lunch break," she added with a pure voice of humor, "What can I do for you today?"

[lorilie]

Rylee smiled at the woman and replied, "It's no problem, ma'am. I'm Rylee Gorman, the new farrier, or blacksmith, whatever you want to call me."

The small built woman didn't really pocess the look of a farrier. Only five feet, two inches tall and ninety-one pounds, she was a decieving figure.

The Greek woman heard the voice of a man in the depths of the building's belly, and she cocked her head slightly as though to see his figure, but no more interest was shown nor presented. She waited patiently for Betty to finish with the computer before adding; "Oh, and I have a horse as well. Her name is Mercury. Did she arrive alright? Oh, and I've a cat as well, Thoth. He's with me in th ecar, though."

[.Rissa.]

The black receptionist returned to her seat, "Well, Miss Gorman, we were expecting you! Especially since the last farrier went on vacation for a while, and the vet knows a little about it, but there's no way he could ever be able to do a full time job with it, or get done what really needs to be done," she shushed her jabbering and started typing on the computer.

No sooner, did a well-built man enter the room from the hallway. His scraggly face was quite attractive to some women. He carried a package of crackers to Betty, then turned to look at the new staff member, "Thank you, dear." His brown eyes gazed over her figure, "This is Rylee, the new farrier," Betty was saying. The vet swallowed, "Pleasure to meet you Rylee," he extended his muscular arm that seemed to stand out even more thanks to his tighter fitting t-shirt. His palm was large and open for the woman to take.

Betty turned back to the computer to finish up what she was typing.

Outfit: Click<3

[lorilie]

Rylee met the muscular, tall man in the eye, bold, as she always had been, and smiled, replying, "The pleasure is mine, sir." She took the broad palm, and with the strength of a man, shook it, her coarse palm rubbing his.

Rylee felt his eyes on her and wanted to snap; 'Take a picture, it'll last longer', But refrained from doing so, instead ignoring it.

"So, you guys have any horses needing to be shod at the moment? I'm desperate for some work. Though, come to think of it, Mercury's hooves could always do with a check-up.." She mused the last part thoughtfully, thinking about the last time she'd worked on the pony.

The back of her mind wondered the name of the man in front of her, the one eying her so. Just exactly who did he think he was? She felt the need to challenge him to something, maybe a football game, or a race, barefoot, in jeans. Not a horse race. Even if Rylee knew how to ride, she had no other horse besides her little mutt of a pony, and Mercury wasn't rideable. Maybe if she got enough pay, she would go horse-shopping.

[.Rissa.]

The man was impressed by the girl's hand shake. His eyebrows rose slightly. Her words were polite, but there seemed to be nothing else in them. The man wasn't necessarily checking her out, just summing everything up. He had heard of women farriers before, and never doubted their expierence. Though, men are naturally stronger, so women would just have a harder time, but they could still do it.

The printer spit out a paper and Betty took it. She smiled at the woman, waiting for her to finish speaking, "I'm sure if you talk with the barn managers they'll hook you up."

The vet frowned in thought, "If you wanted an imediate job, my stallion could use a trim, and I'm not busy with any clients at the moment," he offered with a small smile and shrug of his shoulders.

[lorilie]

Rylee smiled at Betty. "Thanks, I'll do that." Her attention was drawn back to Kirk, and she nodded. "My stuff is in the car. I'll give you a lift to him and we'll do what we need to. Hope you like cats. Mine's in the car too." She tipped her hat to Betty and walked out to the blue car, opening the door and getting inside.

She reached over to Thoth, who'd been purring in the passenger seat, and pulled the cat into her lap. The big feline opened his eye to look at her, but soon closed it, not really caring where he was, as long as he could sleep.

Rylee waited for Kirk as he made his way out, scratching Thoth behind the ears as he dozed on her legs, his heavy weight comforting,

---

Outfit: Here

Thoth

Info On Savannah Cats

Notes: About Thoth- He's a tomcat, unneutered at current, and is about forty inches at the shoulder and weighs eighteen pounds, and is quite friendly. ^^ First generation Savannah.

[.Rissa.]

The vet listened as the woman spoke. She a very authorative way about her. It was so different, Kirk hadn't figured out if it was a good or bad thing yet, or wether he liked it or not. One thing was for sure, this gal wasted zero time in getting down to business or details. As the girl left the office, both staff members turned to look at eachother, "Good luck," Betty giggled.

"With what?" Kirk frowned, "A date or staying alive?"

The man exited the office and walked over to the vehicle parked out front that he could see Rylee in. He opened the door and slid into the seat, only then noticing the huge and strangely marked cat, "Wow, now that's a cat." He eyed the thing, "What kind of cat is it?" he questioned. His brown eyes looked out the window, then a thought struck him, "I'm sorry, you'll have to pardon my rudeness, I'm Kirk Clarkson, one of the vets," he said, his eyes now turning back to the cat, "My stallion is at the clinic, it's not far from the barns." he added.

[lorilie]

"It's no problem Mr. Clarkson, just try not to be a stranger next time you meet someone. And this is Thoth, a savannah cat. They're a mix of a several and a housecat. He was a very welcome gift frmo a grateful cliet who's horse I'd helped through founder over a number of long months."

She turned down into the vet clinic, following the signs. "Okay then." She said when the car had halted. "You just go ahead and get him, and i'll get my supplies. If you hold him, I'll be able to get him and nice and fleet footed right out here."

[.Rissa.]

The vet was silent at Rylee spoke. She was very blunt and straight to the point. He wondered is she was that way with her words, or everything else too. As the car pulled up to the clinic, he knew the latter was right. He didn't even think she took time to look around the place.

Kirk opened his door and got out, making sure that the cat didn't jump out his side of the vehicle, "Okay, I'll bring him out," he turned back to look at the woman as he headed into the barn. His footsteps triggered a couple neighs from the two residents. In the middle stall, Beauty hung her head out. The animal was being brought back to health after she was discovered on a near-by ranch. His calloused hand rubbed her nose, knowing she wanted food, not affection. He then made his way to the last stall, that was housing his stallion Flame. The gorgoues chesnut nickered a freindly 'hello'. The vet easily slid the halter over his face and let him out. Upon hitting the hot sun, his coat gleamed red and gold in banner waves as it moved over his body. His small ears were forward looking at the sight ahead. His breathing was calm and relaxed, "He's an old pro at this," Kirk mentioned with a smile. It was nice to know a job would be easy right?

[lorilie]

Rylee gave a low whistle as the magnificent animal storde into sight. "That's a horse." She murmured, approval echoing her tone.

She walked up to him and let him sniff her hand before she touched his forelock and silky ears, smiling at him genuine awe and happiness. She began to talk to him, forgetting the handsome man beside the stud. "You know, I really shouldn't say this, but you put my little chestnut mare to shame." A chuckle graced the statement, and the woman then turned to her bag of supplies and pulled out the heavy leather apron, putting it over her head. She then pulled out her tools, then set herself next to the stallion's left fore, picking it up and beginning to gently pry the old shoe off.

[.Rissa.]

Kirk held the lead rope in one hand, and he stroked the chesnut's thick, muscular neck with the other. His brown eyes watched as Rylee got her things ready, "Surely not, what kind of horse is she?" the man inquired hearing her statement.

Flame willingly lifted his foot. His calm personality only seemed to leave him under two conditions, when on the track (which was closed down now) and when in a pasture with mares near-by. Other than that, might as well call him a gelding. He turned his head around, as his foot lifted and he sniffed Rylee's lower back of her shirt, to see who was over there. Kirk lightly jiggled on the rope and he turned his head back around. The man's hand rested on his forhead, and he started to stroke the animal. The stallion settled down, lowering his head and almost closing his eyes. His ears were cocked back to listen to the farrier and the feeling of his frog and hoof being messed with.

[lorilie]

Rylee laughed as she pried off the shoe and set it down. She planned on removing them all before replacing them, just to make the process go faster. "Oh, he outshines her. She's an eighteen year old Icelantic pony. I've had no money for a horse." She lifted up the hind hoof and pulled the old shoe out, then did the same with the other two, before taking the old shoes over to her set of new ones and comparing.

She luckily had his size, and took some nails over to the animal, before picking up his left fore and hammering the shoe in once more, gently so she didn't nick him or hurt him.

[.Rissa.]

Kirk listened as Rylee spoke, nodding his head. He wasn't in it for the money, but being a vet had it's advantages. It was sad, how important farriers were in the horse world, but they made less money than every-other horse occupation, and they had back-breaking work. Someone has to do the job. The man was surprised she didn't wear a back brace or any kind of support, but Flame held himself up good, his hoof jst needed something to rest on.

"I have never seen an Icelandic pony," he commented, "Don't let him fool you, he just hasn't been turned out yet." he said with a grin, referring to the shine in his coat. As soon as he turned to roam, it would either be roll in dirt, or get wet in the pond, then go roll in dirt.