「 flowers tossed to the wind 」- open, grooming.

[truce.]

[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 1.5;"]･ﾟ✧ — In this time and age, there weren't many opportunities for such an anxious soul to feel relief and peace. For the most part, Elinor's mind was constantly fluttering between the worry of getting hurt and the fear that someone else she loved would get hurt; there was never any peace for the wicked. Until Ellie found solace in grooming the Lodge's stable of horses. It wasn't quite what she'd once imagined her life to be - as a child she'd always wished to style and gussy up other people... But, this was strangely comforting.

Sliding her hand into a rubber curry comb, she stood on her tiptoes as she reached up to brush the large mare's neck, sure to be gentle with the composed and gentle horse. Her eyes followed as the brush picked up small hairs of chestnut, circling the brush across the mare's body. With the bitterly winter weather that the Lodge had been facing recently, it was no surprise to often find the horses in the stables, kept away from the chilling gusts of wind and cozy with their stable rugs on. Some of the horses were jittery whenever Ellie would wander into the stables; she could only assume it was because they were hoping that she would take them out. But, this mare... She was relaxed, eyes sinking shut at the comfort of having some human company. 

She'd never quite learned how to ride a horse. She could remember as a child her parents allowing her to go on a lead rein stroll down the beach on a Shetland and, for a couple months afterwards, she would insist that she take should take lessons in riding. It never happened, though the dream was still always there. She paused, taking a step back and smiling gently at the progress made, before she sauntered out of the stall to search about for a hoof pick. Perhaps somebody at Flintlock knew how to ride, and they could teach Ellie - she knew that she'd have to ask at some point, because she knew she'd love it. After all, she'd taken a liking towards the senior mare, and it would only make sense for her to make more of an effort with her in the upcoming year.

[HAYLEY]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: calibri; font-size: 8pt; color: #484848; line-height: 22px;"]in the twenty-one years since the world had largely ended, hayley had picked up plenty of skills. she had, after all, been raised in it. among them included things like patching up wounds, building a fire with some sticks and rocks, and killing someone with a plastic spoon. she liked to think her skillset was diverse and relatively useful; after all, it had gotten her thus far. she'd been introduced to the world long after cars stopped being a thing, and as such, she was well skilled in the arts of travelling on things other than her feet, including bicycles, boats, and yes, horses.

she was coming from the storage house, carrying a rather large bucket of hay in her arms. it wasn't anything fancy, just leftover stores for them until springtime, but it was plenty heavy and, as she entered the stables and dropped the bucket on the ground, she let out a huff from the weight of the several dozen pound bucket. she was about to set out to dishing out the food for the animals when her eye caught ellie and, deciding she deserved a break, the brunette straightened and offered the blonde a smile.

❝hey, ellie, right?❞ she greeted with a slight smile, stuffing her hands in her pockets as she approached the woman. they hadn't spoken much since she'd joined with the wounded man. she wasn't entirely sure what the deal was with them, but she had the manners not to outright ask are you guys together? ❝it's nice to see someone else hanging out with them. i feel like they get lonely down here.❞ she mused, in reference to the horses, gaze shifting to the newly groomed mare.

[truce.]

[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 1.5;"]･ﾟ✧ — Elinor's gaze darted up as she heard the stable doors creak open, exchanging a soft glance between Hayley. She straightened up, cracking a coy smile as she dusted her hands off. She'd not been at the Lodge for very long, and so she had never really had the chance to get to know everybody in the group yet, but Hayley seemed kind. Hayley seemed like somebody Ellie wanted to trust. "Yeah-" She smiled gently, quickly tucking her hair behind her ears. "Hayley, right?" Asking for confirmation, Ellie already knew the brunette's name - she couldn't ever forget the name of the person who saved Mick's life. The woman's selflessness was something that Ellie would forever be indebted to her for.

"Loneliness can break the spirit. That's why I like to keep them company; I see it as a mutual benefit." She murmured softly, pastel eyes meekly following Hayley's gaze over towards the mare, hooking her lip between her teeth. She was silent for just a moment, before she peered back over towards the younger woman, asking, "Do they have names? I've really taken a liking to the mare... To all the horses, actually." Her lips slowly curled into a timid smile, hesitating before walking back over to the chestnut mare. "I want to learn more about horsemanship. I find it's really peaceful down here."

Shy but assured, Ellie knew what she wanted to do to involve herself in the Lodge. After all, this group saved their lives - they were safe now, the least she could possibly do is lend a hand around here. She slowly pressed the palm of her hand against the mare's cheek, stroking her soft coat before tickling under her chin adoringly. "Would you like me to help feed them? You deserve a break; you work so hard around here, I noticed." Tilting her head, she glanced back over to the brunette. Ellie sometimes was naive when it came to people, but for the most part she could tell when somebody was a good person. In her eyes, Hayley could be seen as one of the best she'd met in a long time.