#elsewhere

Nessa looks for her mentor - or one of her mentors - checking for Mister Bix at his likely haunts.

Which is under a truck.

She watches his feet for a moment, then cautiously calls, "Mister Bix?" Not wanting to startle him and make him bonk his head or anything.

"Mmm ? Oh hey, Nessa. What's up? Give me a sec. Just making sure htis oil pan is in good shape"

"I was wondering if you'd be available to take a little trip with me. I wanted to thank Irene for helping me out, and I had an idea. But with those hunters still on the loose, I know I shouldn't go out alone." A hoof drags on the floor a little. "Would you be my escort? It's out on the trails a bit, but your truck could handle it, if it's not too much of an imposition."

"No trouble at all.," he says slidingg out with a smile

"I wonder if Sparrow would ever be interested in horses for the hold. A lot of those trails are hard to travel by car, and there's so much to see out there."

"Huh? Well, some cousins considered stealing horses from this noble hold known for them... you take commoner land, we ake your fae seeds.. okay mostly they just wanted to wear masks and cowboy hats... but the elders put the kibosh on that idea. Probably wise. As for the baroness? Not sure"

"I hadn't thought about fae horses." She admits, "I know they're out there, just like Sparrow's dog? That Ladybird, I swear she understands every word the Baroness says. But even normal horses might be helpful on patrols." A smile over to Bix. "Or if someone wanted to keep up with one of the Phillips clan."

"She does, Ladybird is..well, fae hounds are smart, but they tend to have a knnack for cerain trainggs. A fae hound guard dog hears a lot.. and is fierce to defend. A fae hound support animal? I think Lady Bird kknows what troubles folks more than some therapists." A grinn at her comment "your clan IS pretty cool. Makes me wish you had a twin brother"

She can't help a grin at that. "They've cloned sheep, so who knows? It was an idea. Dad used to run hikes and trail rides pre-Covid, but I don't know if that tour company is still in business."

"well, your bigggest supporter in getting horses might be Otha. She loves the out doors and animals. Probably because Animals can't tell her she's wrong' A grin and he prepares the truck "I'll drive you to Irene's now if you like"

"Sure! ...oh. Will her mother let her go out to play with strangers, though?"

"mmm ... good quesion" he rightly doesn't know

Nessa looks disappointed, and ponders this. "Oh! I'll ask Ashlee to call her. Then she can meet us."

Ashlee, it turns out, is happy to provide cover. She's a nice (If terribly ugly) girl

"Ask her to come meet us here, if she can?" Nessa requests.

And so, Irene gets a text; Hey, could you meet at ... And gives instructions

Irene makes her way out on her bike!

Nessa is waiting out front with Bix, and waves to her as she arrives!

And Bix waves

Wave!

Trotting over. "Irene, thanks for coming out. Are you up for a little trip today?"

"A trip?" Bright smile. "Sure!"

"See... I felt bad about you losing your pony when you helped me. I've been trying to think of how I could make that up to you, as well as thank you - I mean really thank you, not just words - for helping me. I can't get you a pony - for starters, where would your mom keep it? And they've gotta be expensive! But... I can show you some real horses. That is, if you'd like to go look for them?"

"Ohhhh - like mustangs? Wild horses?"

She nods! "When I first met Sparrow, I was watching a herd, a little ways out past the trails where there is good grazing land. They were scared off by some rustlers - and then Sparrow scared THEM off... but I think maybe they'll have come back by now."

Bix ponders "I bet they must have"

"That sounds exciting! Do you think there might be unicorns?"

"What do you say, Irene? If you want, you can even ride with me. Or Bix has his truck - but it's up to you."
She considers this, and looks to Bix, unsure!

"You don't mind if I ride? It was fun last time!"

"Whatever you like" he says

She smiles. "I don't think I'd like it if people started thinking of us as animals, or servants as mounts. But I see no problem with being asked, or offering. I liked listening to you having fun. And it didn't feel wrong."

"Well, I get piggyback rides from Peter, and he's not a mount."

She grins. "Much the same, then!"

"He and Melwyn are real nice. I'm glad they came back."

"I am, too. It's important for you to have other piskies around. They'll understand you better than anyone else. And you can learn about what it means to be a piskie. Me? I'm just guessing, and hoping that I'm not filling new kith reference books with my own ideals. "All Centaurs love chocolate eclairs, and dislike parsnips..." a grin.

"Oh, but chocolate eclairs are really good...."

"Right?? And Hope makes them with a touch of cinnamon..."

Bix grins "Parsnips are good for long tails I hear"

"I've never had a parsnip."

Nessa's tail gives a swish! "Quite fine in that department, thank you!" She lowers down so that Irene can get on her back. "You let me know if you are uncomfortable, okay?" She has a blanket pad. "If we go riding more, maybe I can look into some sort of saddle." Thoughtful. "This I use to cushion a basket so it doesn't rub when gathering plants, but it should be comfy, I hope?"

"And parsnips are like if a potato got mad an wanted to turn bitter." She makes a comical 'ew' face.

"You're going to bias the poor girl against parsnips"

"Ewwww."

"Well, I remain open to trying them. Maybe with enough butter."

"But you know.... if I still don't like them? It's not my fault." A cheeky grin. "After all, it is a centaur trait after all. It is known!"

"Ha, my great Aunnt, our Hearth, could probably make em in a way any would like, but yes, it is known"

"I don't like turnips. They're kinda stringy."

"They're touh little things too if you don't cook them right I'm told"