She nodded, looking a lot more comfortable now. Gesturing to the back of the kitchen she led Nevin to a small door, that led into a small store room, and from that outside. Bright daylight came to their eyes as well as the smell of hay to their noses.
“We've got mounts,” she gestured as she walked at a building just to the side, where a horse's head could be seen poking over the edge of a half door. “You can ride, right?”
As she came to the stables a loud ‘cawk’ came. A smile brightened in Stare's eyes as she began to run, heading over to a half-door that was mostly closed. Throwing it open she revealed the presence of a bright and merry chocobo head.
“Hi,” she said quietly and rubbed the bird's beak. Her eyes turned and looked at Nevin as he approached. “This is Sen.”
Nevin felt a spike of curiosity that rapidly grew into delight. For a moment he was confused, until he realized that the emotions weren't his own, but Aphrael’s. He shifted on his feet as he tried to suppress the grin that tried to break out in response to his familiar’s emotions, and instead raised an eyebrow as the bird-mount turned to look at him with a curious eye.
Creeeaar! Sen squawked at him joyfully, craning her neck towards him. Nevin tentatively reached up and stroked the bird’s neck, his eyes wide.
“I…. Knew how to ride, once. Horses don't like me these days, so I haven't had a chance in a long few years. And I haven't seen a chocobo in that time. I…” He swallowed, roughly forcing down the lump in his throat as the bird preened itself on his scratching fingers. “She's beautiful.” At that point, Aphrael reached them, her crimson-stained wings flaring out wide as she landed heavily on Nevin’s shoulder, trilling a happy greeting to Stare and Sen. At the sound of the flute pipes, horses started to poke their heads out over their stall doors to see what was going on.
Stare let out a soft laugh, her eyes glancing to Aphrael briefly. She gave the crow a formal bow of her head. “I got used to riding one out in the flock lands, where my people came from. When I found a breeder over the mountains it was little difficulty getting some over. Sen is mine, but that's Rai is in the back,” she stepped to the side to nod at a dark red chocobo at the back, feeding.
Rai glanced up and fixed them with a single proud eye. Stare found herself smiling and took up the reins attached around Sen's head and opened the door. The fine black beast revealed his dark glory, all six foot tall of it. Leading him over to a stand she nodded to Nevin.
“You can use Rai if you want.”
Meanwhile she grabbed a saddle and began lashing it to Sen's back, who stood perfectly still and patient.
