Bring out the animals [Day 2, early evening]

[Matsu Kogo]

Akil held the reins towards Kogo, shrugging. "I wouldn't try going to fast with him, but a light jog around the circuit should do him well."

She looked at Shinjo-sama. " I will be careful." She comes up to the stirrup and speaks softly to Setem, running her hand down his mane. When he appears calm to her, she mounts. "How do I ask him to go?" She asks, keeping the embarrasment off her face with success.

[Shinjo Akil]

Setem is calm enough, though he shakes a bit as the unfamiliar rider climbs on him. Akil is still holding the reins, though, which seems to be enough to help keep the horse calm. "Easy, Setem. Let's be good, now." He smiled up to her, handing over the reins. "Just tap his sides with your feet, and that should get him walking."

[Matsu Kogo]

Setem is calm enough, though he shakes a bit as the unfamiliar rider climbs on him. Akil is still holding the reins, though, which seems to be enough to help keep the horse calm. "Easy, Setem. Let's be good, now." He smiled up to her, handing over the reins. "Just tap his sides with your feet, and that should get him walking."

She takes the reins from him with a strong and graceful hand. She settles into the posture she had begun learning the day before. "Was that Mekhem just now that you spoke?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"Indeed. He understands both, but seems to listen to me better in Mekhem." He eyes Setem calmly, who responded, unsurprisingly with a snort.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Indeed. He understands both, but seems to listen to me better in Mekhem." He eyes Setem calmly, who responded, unsurprisingly with a snort.

She smiles down at him. "They do have their own funny ways, our companions do." She taps Setem's sides and is pleasantly happy when it works. "But he is a beautiful creature."

[Shinjo Akil]

Setem begins a slow walk, and Akil followed beside, nodding at Kogo's words. "Funny ways is a way to describe it," he nodded, "Setem is stubborn, to say the least. But there certainly are a number of ways to persuade him to do what you need him to do. Next time you think you might see him, make sure you bring apples."

[Matsu Kogo]

Setem begins a slow walk, and Akil followed beside, nodding at Kogo's words. "Funny ways is a way to describe it," he nodded, "Setem is stubborn, to say the least. But there certainly are a number of ways to persuade him to do what you need him to do. Next time you think you might see him, make sure you bring apples."

Kogo moves with the horse, finding it easier than the day before. "I will definitely remember that, Shinjo-sama. Noburu is a mischevious one, I will admit. Some mornings, she likes to play pounce and chase when I have barely woken up. With a cat her size, I assure you it wakes one immediately." Kogo ponders for a moment. "Her weakness is unsurprisingly meat, though she has an unsurpassing fondness for fish filched off one's plate." She chuckles quietly at that.

[Shinjo Akil]

"I'll keep that in mind," he smirked, "it may save me from being mailed." Though that led to a moment of consideration. "Noburu stays in your house?"

[Matsu Kogo]

"I'll keep that in mind," he smirked, "it may save me from being mailed." Though that led to a moment of consideration. "Noburu stays in your house?"

Kogo nods. "In the Matsu family homes, there are spaces where the lions spend time together and sleep at times. But there are also times when Noburu will come and sleep in my room, though not in my bed. She is too large for that anymore." She pauses a moment. "But that is a rare occasion and could be changed. She is not a cub anymore, to be coddled so." [i]

[Shinjo Akil]

"I imagine your husband will appreciate it," he laughed, "it would make for an awkward morning the first time, in any case."

[Matsu Kogo]

"I imagine your husband will appreciate it," he laughed, "it would make for an awkward morning the first time, in any case."

Kogo masterfully controls her face, though its a bit close. She smiles broadly though. "I could definitely see that being startling. To be sure, even for me, she can be somewhat alarming in the morning, mostly with her breath." She chuckles to herself.

[Shinjo Akil]

"Oh believe me, I know." He smirked, "at least once, when we haven't had time to set up proper stables but needed sleep, this one has put his head across my body. I think I have spoiled him too much."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Oh believe me, I know." He smirked, "at least once, when we haven't had time to set up proper stables but needed sleep, this one has put his head across my body. I think I have spoiled him too much."

She laughs, not seeking to cover her mouth in this moment. "I can imagine that. They can be so lovable but so heavy, our companions. But it is hard not to spoil such stalwart ones." She looks back lovingly at Noburu.

[Shinjo Akil]

"Indeed," he grinned, looking over to Setem for a moment before looking up to Kogo. "Would you like to go faster?"

[Matsu Kogo]

"Indeed," he grinned, looking over to Setem for a moment before looking up to Kogo. "Would you like to go faster?"

She looks at him. "If you think it advisable. I will not claim false skill in this matter." She smiles down. "But then again, challenge is always exhilarating."