₊˚𖦹 ࣪.𓋼𓍊𖤣𖥧‪𖡼‬𖥧𖤣𓍊𓋼. ࣪𖦹˚₊‧

Days came and went. Walt and Daine continued to work the horse who seemed to have no drive to do anything. He was fully comfortable being stationary with his life. It reminded Daine of someone very familiar to him and Walter wasn’t hiding the fact that he thought the same thing.

“You know, as we’re approaching the one week mark, I really do think this pairing couldn’t be more perfect.” The older man teased, walking on the other side of the stallion Daine now nicknamed Arcadia. The brunette just sighed in response. They were walking to the vet clinic that wasn’t too far from the main stable. Usually they used carts, trucks, trailers, or even rode there but this was just a small routine vaccine check. It was also to sneak in any exercise for the dark Loshenka.

They could see the distinct array of buildings weren’t far now. Arcadia was still lazily walking along, snorting as if he had just run a couple miles. Daine tried not to roll his eyes when they finally stopped, Walter quickly heading inside to let them know the trio had arrived. While waiting, Daine took his phone out and took a small browse. 

Many things were still on his mind; especially now that he was going to therapy and rehab again. Rehab for alcohol specifically, he wasn’t going to stop doing weed anytime soon. Some other things were things that happened the year prior. His sister was one of them. Daine stared at the contact number he had landed on, staring at his sister’s face as she posed with him for a picture. He too had changed. They were teens when the photo was taken. Sure he hadn’t been happy but better than where he was right now. It stung him like no other pain. Maybe his ex had been right. That he was a fuck up, too immature, too hotheaded, too-

“Hey!!”

Daine nearly dropped his phone in surprise, Arcadia stumbled back in surprise before going back to his lazy nap. The man let out a short sigh, shoving the phone back in his pocket as Walter chuckled. “We didn’t mean to scare you. Promise.” The older man spoke softly and with kindness as he took notice that Daine seemed a bit upset and lost in thought.

He was about to go into Walter about being a dick when a shorter figure next to Walt caught his eye. This must have been the vet.

“Hi! I’m Carmen, nice to meet you!” She held out her hand for Daine to shake. He took it and returned her greeting. Her hair was dark, long, and cut in a shaggy wolfcut. She had tan skin, and maroon scrubs. In her hands was a small box of supplies. “So, this is Arcadia?” Daine gave a nod, stepping aside to allow her to examine.

Carmen did a once-over of the horse. “He is decently fit, though obviously gaining weight. But! I have heard you have been trying to get him back into the swing of things.”

“You could say that.” The brunette said, holding the lead and watching. Once the vet was done looking to make sure Arcadia didn’t have any injuries, she opened her box. It had a bit of paperwork, needles, medication, and a couple other things a vet may need. Snapping on a pair of blue gloves, she started to get the stallion prepared for his shots.

Stepping up on a stool to reach the tall neck, Carmen attempted casual conversation. “So, where do you come from? Heard a lot about you but I always want to get it from the horse’s mouth.” She had to stop herself from laughing at her own joke. Daine rubbed his face. His least favorite question. “Just another town in Maine.” Carmen let out a hum at his answer. The man knew he hadn’t answered her fully. However she was a fool to think he’d just tell anyone about what happened. Afterall, he still had nightmares.

Trying to clear the air Walter cleared his throat. “Daine is going to go for his first ride in Arcadia tomorrow. If you want to watch, we'll be in the grass arena.” Great, now someone was going to be watching. He sent a cold glare Walter’s way, the older man not paying any mind.

The woman smiled, drawing up the vaccine. “I’d love to but I’ve got a busy schedule ahead of me tomorrow.” Thank fuck.

Walt nodded, going back to leaning against the wall and watching.

Daine held Arcadia’s lead as the vaccination was administered. The stallion flinched a bit but nothing major. Did this horse have any sort of drive at all? Did he even care?

That was one thing Daine was going to find out tomorrow. Bright and early.

₊˚𖦹 ࣪.𓋼𓍊𖤣𖥧‪𖡼‬𖥧𖤣𓍊𓋼. ࣪𖦹˚₊‧