Nathan stepped out, and frowned when he saw the mare. "Poor girl." He murmured. He pulled the door shut, and walked over slowly, waiting for Cheveyo to finish his dancing. "Hi girl." He said softly, reaching for the broken lead rope.

Onyx had been excited to finally find Cheveyo after their years apart. Her feelings for the stallion were still strong and she felt comforted and protected by his side. When Cheveyo finally stood still she spotted the boy that was reaching for the lead rope that hung from her halter and paniced. She pinned her ears back and snapped her teeth at the boy's hand berfore darting backwards to stand behind Cheveyo. Cheveyo was shocked by Onyx's sudden behavior. The black mare had always been well-tempered, but now she seemed on edge as if she were waiting to be beaten or whipped. He turned towards her and nuzzled her neck, calming her and telling her that Nathan wasn't going to hurt her. She watched the boy with nervous, frightened eyes even though the boy spoke softly. The last time she had been near a human they had beaten her with the leather whip they used to punish all of their horses.

Nathan looked offended, and glanced at his bleeding hand. "Hmm." He turned away, walking away from the pair to show Onyx he wouldn't bother her. He crouched by the river, ignoring a black swan that was pecking at his pockets, spilling bread crumbs which it gobbled up, and rinsed his hand, examining the small wound. It didn't hurt too much, and would heal right up. If it didn't get infected. He put his other hand in his pocket, tossing crumbs for the rest of the birds.

Cheveyo noticed the blood on Nathan's hand and followed the boy to the river. He sniffed the bite mark and nickered, concerned. Onyx stayed where she was. She felt bad for biting the boy, but her previous owner used to roughly push her head around with the halter until it rubbed raw spots on her face. She lowered her head, her ears pinned back and snorted softly. She was surprised the boy hadn't hit her for bitting him.

"Its okay, I'm fine." Nathan said, patting Cheveyos cheek. He glanced back at Onyx. Her halter was too small, he needed to get it off. But he couldn't if she was so afraid.

Cheveyo nodded and nuzzled the boy's arm, still worried. He noticed how the boy looked back at Onyx and saw the tight halter and winced as he saw the spots where the halter had rubbed her skin raw. He whinnied to the black mare, who cautiously approached, keeping Cheveyo between her and the boy. She stood by the stallion's side, watching the boy. Cheveyo nuzzled her neck before reaching over and grasping the broken lead rope in his mouth and handed the lead rope to Nathan. Onyx was about to struggle and put up a fight, but stood still when Cheveyo pressed his side to hers. She looked from the boy to the stallion nervously, not knowing what was going to happen.

Nathan slowly stood, and began undoing the buckle. It took a few minutes to work it open, but when he did, it slipped off from around her poll, and he gently slid it off her nose. "There we go, girl. If you trusted me, I'd wash you and put some medication on your wounds." He held his hand, palm up, out towards her, to show her he wouldn't hurt her.

Onyx shook her head as soon as the halter was off, happy to be rid of it. She was surprised when the boy held his hand out towards her even though she had bitten him earlier. She looked over at Cheveyo, who nodded in encouragement, before sniffing the boy's hand. He didn't have the scent of alcohol or the other rancid smells her old owner had. Cheveyo smiled and tossed his head. He nudged Onxy's neck, telling her to trust Nathan.

He gently tickled Onyx's nose with one finger, smiling. "Good girl." He murmured.

Onyx snorted and lowered her head. She suddenly leaned heavily on Cheveyo as the strength in her legs seemed to vanish. She hadn't eaten or drank much because of her halter being so small and every time she opened her mouth the halter would rub on her raw skin. She was dehydrated and hungry. Cheveyo nickered worriedly when Onyx leaned on him and looked over at Nathan.

Nathan jogged to the barn, and came back with a bucket. He dipped it into the river, and held it up to Onyx's maw.

Onyx drank gratefully from the bucket, the water soothing her dry throat. She drained the bucket in only a few minutes and looked up at Nathan, gratitude in her eyes. She continued to lean on Cheveyo. He nuzzled her neck and he could tell she wouldn't have lasted much longer in the wild with the halter on. He looked towards a few large willow trees beside the river and led Onyx over to them, letting her lie down in the cool shade. He trotted back over to Nathan and nudged his arm. His whinnied softly, asking Nathan if Onyx could stay with them and when the young stallion glanced over at the black mare the affection he held for her was clear.

He laughed. "She needs help. I'll help her. I'm not so heartless, boy." He pat his nose. Then he turned towards the barn. The side wall facing them looked fresh and clean clad in the cream stone. There were two doors towards the back. Connecting to the stalls. Nathan opened the top half of both doors, to let the stalls air out. He came back and filled the bucket, pouring the water into a wide trough before the first stall, perpendicular to the wall. Along the half where there were no doors, there was a big rectangle of gravel, kept in by big beams of wood, and on one side the water trough. There were rings on the wall for tying up horses, and two hoses attached. He filled the bucket and emptied it into the trough 7 more times, and then filled it and put it down by Onyx. He went into the house, and pulled out a package of rolled oats. He added milk, and boiled water, mixing it together. He opened a cabinet and pulled out a few tubs, adding 2 scoops of each into the bran. He brought it out to Onyx, and sat cross legged near her head. "Here girl. This'll give you the nutrients you've been missing, and energy." He held the bucket of bran mash out, though it was more of oatmeal.

Cheveyo watched Nathan before going to stand in the shade a few feet from Onyx. Onyx had already emptied the bucket the boy brought over and had watched him fill a trough with more water. She pinned her ears back nervously when the boy sat down beside her, but her earlier fear had nearly gone away. She sniffed the bucket and the scent reminded her of the food one of the stable hands at her old home used to feed her when she had been over worked by her owner. She stuck her muzzle down in the bucket and began to eat. When she finished she sighed and streched her neck out, laying her head on the grass.

He gently stroked her neck. "Rest up girl." He took both buckets, rinsed them out, and brought them back full. "Don't drink too fast." He whistled a tune as he walked to the barn, opening the bottom halves of the doors, and getting to work cleaning out the cobwebs and dust.

Cheveyo looked down at Onyx as she closed her eyes and waited until her breathing evened out. He listened and looked for any threat or danger, but when he couldn't find any he walked over to the barn. He moved over to where Nathan was cleaning and stuck his head through the door only to sneeze as dust filled his nose.

He laughed. "I agree." He stepped out of the dusty barn. "My whole house will be dusty for a week." He sighed, patting Cheveyos neck.

Cheveyo tossed his head and snorted. He rubbed his head against Nathan's arm. He suddenly whipped his head around and spotted a small herd of deer down by the river. He watched them drink from the river and he stomped a hoof. He reared up and let out a loud whinny. The deer looked up startled and took off into the trees. Cheveyo lowered himself back down and watched them run. He hadn't seen many deer this close before. They didn't run like horses did and they were small.

Nathan scowled, despite the amusement in his eyes. "Hey. Be nice, this was their home long before it was mine!"

Cheveyo lowered his head and pinned his ears back, looking like a young colt being scolded by a lead stallion. He hadn't meant to chase them off, he had just wanted to see how they would react. He looked up at Nathan and nudged his hand, apologizing.

"Its all right boy." Nathan laughed, rubbing Cheveyos forehead. He just couldn't be mad at that horse.

Cheveyo nickered and rubbed his head against Nathan's arm. He looked back over at Onyx and knew that she would be sleeping for a while to try and regain her strength. He looked back at Nathan and then to his back, wondering if the boy wanted to go for a ride.

"Sure. But not a trek. Just around the paddocks? I don't want us to wander far..." His eyes went to Onyx, worry flitting through them.

Cheveyo nodded. He wasn't going to let Onyx out of his sight until he was sure she could take care of herself.

Nathan smiled and hopped nimbly onto Cheveyos back. "You wanna try jumping? The walls are all like 3 ft, nothing compared to earlier." He shook his head, still in wonder as he thought back.