Post by Alonza Smith on Jan 3, 2011 10:28:07 GMT -5
((Open! =D Feel free to join and be annoyed by Alonza's Alonza-ness. XD ))
Issilt was a beautiful city. Alonza admired not only its stunning architecture, but also for the way the white willow trees swayed in the wind brought by the river. If she had the choice, she would move there. But her devotion to her farm kept her nestled comfortably in Riyer. And there she would have been if not for the shipment she needed to make to the port in Issilt.
The shipment was eggs mostly, though there were a few retired chickens in a cage at the back of the trolley as well. This was a modest trolley, rather old and worn, which was driven by Alonza and pulled by one big horse named Willow. As the trolley arrived at the port in the designated area, and she might add an hour earlier than planned, Alonza hopped down from the driver’s seat to guide Willow gently backward, then unhook him from the harness.
The big, burly men waiting there would handle unloading the shipment from the trolley, which left Alonza nothing to do for some time. Fortunately, she had brought a saddle for Willow in case she decided to venture through town. Good old calm Willow stood patiently as she unstrapped him from the trolley and walked him forward a few paces to get his bridle and reins on. Next was the saddle, which was quite large for a twelve year old to handle and so after watching Alonza struggle for a few minutes, one of those big, burly men came over to help. And calm old Willow just stood there the entire time as he was strapped and unstrapped and turned and put through many other such exercises.
Thanking the man and allowing him to go back to work, Alonza struggled her way up onto Willow’s back and sat there, taking hold of his reins. “Okay, Will, we can’t go far,” she said to the horse, who flipped an ear back as if listening. She nudged his sides with her heels, his sign to move forward, and he was steered through boxes and crates and carts and the small crowd of arriving people waiting their turn to unload their things. Alonza was high above them on the back of the mighty draft horse, who took everything in his stride and ignored as people chattered nervously about him while he walked. They arrived at a dock where they could see the river, and Alonza tugged the reins to stop the horse. Willow didn’t take much convincing, though. As often as he saw humans walking on them, he was fairly certain the moment he walked on one of those little wooden platforms above water it would break and he’d fall in.
With an excited smile, Alonza slipped from the saddle just as sloppily as she had climbed up, then took the rein from Willow’s back (which required her climbing halfway back up) and led him to a post she assumed was for docking smaller boats there, where she tied the rein to keep Willow from wandering off while she explored. She made an initial dash for the dock, then realized what a bad idea that was and managed to calm her excitement long enough to walk calmly to the end of the dock. “Look! There’re fishes!” she exclaimed with excitement, crouching down for a closer look. “Aw, they’re so cute!” And all the while she babbled on about the fish, Willow stood there stoically, giving only a glance to passersby as he waited patiently for Alonza to get bored.
Issilt was a beautiful city. Alonza admired not only its stunning architecture, but also for the way the white willow trees swayed in the wind brought by the river. If she had the choice, she would move there. But her devotion to her farm kept her nestled comfortably in Riyer. And there she would have been if not for the shipment she needed to make to the port in Issilt.
The shipment was eggs mostly, though there were a few retired chickens in a cage at the back of the trolley as well. This was a modest trolley, rather old and worn, which was driven by Alonza and pulled by one big horse named Willow. As the trolley arrived at the port in the designated area, and she might add an hour earlier than planned, Alonza hopped down from the driver’s seat to guide Willow gently backward, then unhook him from the harness.
The big, burly men waiting there would handle unloading the shipment from the trolley, which left Alonza nothing to do for some time. Fortunately, she had brought a saddle for Willow in case she decided to venture through town. Good old calm Willow stood patiently as she unstrapped him from the trolley and walked him forward a few paces to get his bridle and reins on. Next was the saddle, which was quite large for a twelve year old to handle and so after watching Alonza struggle for a few minutes, one of those big, burly men came over to help. And calm old Willow just stood there the entire time as he was strapped and unstrapped and turned and put through many other such exercises.
Thanking the man and allowing him to go back to work, Alonza struggled her way up onto Willow’s back and sat there, taking hold of his reins. “Okay, Will, we can’t go far,” she said to the horse, who flipped an ear back as if listening. She nudged his sides with her heels, his sign to move forward, and he was steered through boxes and crates and carts and the small crowd of arriving people waiting their turn to unload their things. Alonza was high above them on the back of the mighty draft horse, who took everything in his stride and ignored as people chattered nervously about him while he walked. They arrived at a dock where they could see the river, and Alonza tugged the reins to stop the horse. Willow didn’t take much convincing, though. As often as he saw humans walking on them, he was fairly certain the moment he walked on one of those little wooden platforms above water it would break and he’d fall in.
With an excited smile, Alonza slipped from the saddle just as sloppily as she had climbed up, then took the rein from Willow’s back (which required her climbing halfway back up) and led him to a post she assumed was for docking smaller boats there, where she tied the rein to keep Willow from wandering off while she explored. She made an initial dash for the dock, then realized what a bad idea that was and managed to calm her excitement long enough to walk calmly to the end of the dock. “Look! There’re fishes!” she exclaimed with excitement, crouching down for a closer look. “Aw, they’re so cute!” And all the while she babbled on about the fish, Willow stood there stoically, giving only a glance to passersby as he waited patiently for Alonza to get bored.