Guys, I swear, I'm not doing this on purpose! These people are too emotional! It's not my fault! Okay, maybe it is… ¬.¬ But don't worry, I have something really cute planned! :D Thanks to my loyal reviewers/followers/lurkers, you're the best! (Yes, even you lurkers)

Yes, I ride hunt-seat IRL which is part of the reason I thought I would get carried away and start making it a horse care tutorial. Luckily that didn't happen, and memorials should be made to commemorate my patience and self-restraint. Also thanks for pointing out my typos, later I'll go back and revise but for now I'm a lazy butt. :/

Oh, and guys, still looking for an editor! If you are one or you know one, please message me.

8. Loki was used to waking from whatever cramped position he had been on the couch, stretching, and making his way to the bathroom or the kitchen, depending on how great either need was. But today he found himself on the floor, his head resting on Nala's thigh, though it had undoubtedly been in her lap before she slumped over from exhaustion. He gingerly sat up, cracking his neck from where he had slept on it at an odd angle. Nala stirred at the alleviation of pressure on her leg and sat up, blearily rubbing the grit from her eyes. She looked at Loki, mild surprise in her eyes.

"I didn't kiss you, did I?" back to her jokes. Loki cracked a smile.

"I sure hope not. I would have to wash my mouth for weeks" he retorted, getting somewhat stiffly to his feet, surprised at how rejuvenated he felt after that one good night's rest. Nala looked a little worse for wear as she scrambled to her feet, a skull-splitting yawn interrupting her efforts.

"You better watch it Snow White, if you ever get scared of the dark don't count on me rescuing you again." she laughed lightly, padding into the kitchen to get her coffee started and breakfast ready. He seemed to be in a much better mood than he had been all week, actively participating in back-and-forth rebuttals. It was fun now that he wasn't taking them so seriously.

"Excuse me for a moment." Loki said, ducking out of the kitchen. Nala raised an eyebrow but made no comment as she started the toast and sipped her coffee, swirling the dregs around the bottom. He wasn't gone for long.

"Let's get back to work Sunshine!" Nala announced, putting her mug in the sink and trotting to the breezeway, tugging on her paddock boots. She frowned when they would go on right. She adjusted the angle of her foot and tried again. She muttered a few choice swear words and wiggling her foot to try and get them on.

"Having fun?" Loki asked quietly, a playful lilt to his voice. Nala squeaked with surprise and sat down hard.

"Boatloads." she growled. "And quit staring at my ass!" Realizing the cause of her misery was the fact that the laces had been tied tighter than normal, she huffed under her breath and fumbled with the laces. Loki grinned.

For once the sun made an unusual appearance, peeking over the mountain tops like a shy wild animal awakening from his den. It lit up the whitewashed sides of the barn and the dewy grass on the lawn, giving sparkling depth to things that might have missed Nala's notice before. Everyone seemed to be in jovial spirits, even the horses. There was an extra spring to Simon's plodding step and Louise flittered around her paddock like a butterfly. Loki, the horse, was being a bit frisky that morning and almost knocked his namesake to the ground before bashing him into a wall. Nala had to snatch his lead rope before he galloped away and led him, bucking and kicking, to his pasture.

"Everyone's in a good mood." Nala remarked as Loki blew off some steam, rolling, leaping, galloping, and bucking in his field.

"It would certainly seem that way." Loki leaned against the fence, the slight morning breeze ruffling his raven locks. Nala tugged at one of the flyaway corkscrew curls that formed a slight cowlick slightly to the left of her part, twiddling with the end absentmindedly as they paused in their work to watch the black horse's antics.

"Are you going to ride him?" Loki asked, thinking about the time he and Nala polished her tack. Nala sighed.

"I don't know. He's still really high-strung. I hope in a few more weeks he'll calm down." she replied, looking foreword to the day when she could throw a saddle over his back. Loki nodded as he watched him toss his elegant black head, his long ebony mane flying everywhere. He had developed a personal connection with the horse when he found they were alike in more ways besides the name. "I have half a mind to set him free." Nala mused, her gold eyes acquiring a dreamy state. "All he wants is to be wild and free, not to live inside a stuffy stall or paddock."

"Why don't you?" Loki asked. It did seem a shame to keep such a wild creature in the confides of a stall.

"Because he'd never survive. He's a delicate thoroughbred. He isn't built for survival. Call him a court noble; he's fancy and useful, but he wouldn't last a day in the real world." The connection to the roles of the rich in Asgardian, and apparently Midgardian society, allowed Loki to draw parallels in Nala's and her horse's lives that he otherwise wouldn't understand. He nodded in sympathy and understanding, feelings that usually didn't surface in his mind. He began to understand the dark horse's mind, primitive though it was.

"Do you want to ride?" Nala asked suddenly, looking sideways at Loki. He shrugged.

"I have before." he replied shortly.

"Yes but that was only to get from one place to another. This time you'd be riding for the fun of it." she said, a spark of excitement in her eyes. She might as well have suggested that they ride in the car for the fun of it; all the same, he felt there might be more to horses than he previously thought.

"If you insist." There was no use in stubbornness when dealing with Nala. It was her way or the highway.

"Ready?" Nala asked, tightening the reins a bit on the eager Louise. Loki nodded, unsure. She had given him Simon for the ride, him being the easiest to control and the safest for beginners. "Follow me, and make sure he doesn't eat the grass." she added, noticing that Simon was already eying a stand of tall grass. "Remember: heels down, head up, and keep a light feel on the reins." Loki let slip a length of rein. Simon wasn't going anywhere.

Nala nudged Louise's sides, and she tossed her head and started forward at a brisk trot. It took a bit more nudging to bring Simon to a lazy jog which only just kept pace with the rapid, flashy action of Louise.

"Keep up!" Nala called, clucking to Louise and squeezing her sides until she bounced into a canter. Simon followed willingly, accelerating into a smooth lope that covered distances easily. Loki had no trouble sitting his level gaits. He adjusted the reins in his hands, leaning forward in the saddle, allowing him to go faster.

The meadow came upon them suddenly. It was large and rimmed with trees, with golden and green grasses blowing in the wind. Louise flicked her tail and tossed her head, and Nala loosened her reins. The mare took off, with Nala yelling "Catch me if you can Reindeer Games!" Loki grinned and urged Simon into an enthusiastic gallop. He thundered across the even ground, gaining on Nala and Louise in increments. Nala grinned wickedly and clucked to Louise, urging her to go faster. The grass seemed like a green carpet was being pulled out from under them as they flew to the other side of the meadow.

Suddenly Nala veered off to the side, lightly bumping Simon, who seemed completely unfazed. Loki grinned wildly and sent Simon into the broad rump of Louise, who squealed and bucked playfully. Nala laughed and patted the mare's neck as she slowed, the fire in her eyes only stoked from their gallop. Even Simon was feistier than usual, tossing his head and pawing the ground as they slowed to a leisurely trot.

"I won that race." Nala said, her head high, smiling broadly. Loki smiled and shook his head.

"You must be mistaken. I believe victory goes to me." He said evenly, giving Simon a sloppy pat on the shoulder. Nala chuckled and turned Louise around, keeping a tighter hold on the reins then she did coming here. Loki followed, nudging Simon's sides. "I'll race you back!" he called over his shoulder. Nala rolled her eyes and galloped after him.

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