FSH: Better End To The Day

Posted on Thu Jul 17th, 2025 @ 1:24pm by Sr Journeyman Rena

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Far Site Hold
Timeline: M3 D6

Rena had bathed and dried herself and hair dressing in a pair of shorts and vest top by the time Bensen had finally ventured into coming to search for her. Her hair was piled up haphazardly as she sat on the bed trying to restring her guitar for the first time in a long time. She paused looking at him intently relieved that soon they would have a seperate living area that would give a little more space. The bruises were evident on her left side but she looked all cried out and just worn out.

Bensen had tried to give Rena time. He was new at this and really didn't know what an accurate amount of time would be. he finally just decided to go check on her and make sure she was okay. “Hey,” he said softly, stepping into the room. “Am I okay to be here?”

“Technically your rooms too.” She said quietly indicating that Brenna was asleep already having exhausted herself out being up before dawn. “So yes you are okay to be here.” She awkwardly picked up the guitar and struck a cord while listening to see if it was right. She fiddled with the tuning pegs and struck the strings again a lot more satisfied.

That he still wasn't used to. He sank into a chair, not wanting to bother Brenna. The girl had been up early. “How are you feeling? I know how much it hurts to have the lead rope yanked from your hand.”

It hurt a little to play but she carried on striking soft cords as they spoke. She wanted to play again. “My arm and side hurt but I have been worse. I just … I am sorry I didn't mean to yell at you all and make you feel guilty.” Senabena would be her first apology as she saw the way the teenager's face had crumbled as she revealed why she had wanted to go out with Thunder. “Today has been hard.”

“They probably will. Thunder is a strong runner. I've had my share of those injuries.” He was just glad they were the only ones she had. Bensen shook his head. “It's okay. We understand now. We were all just worried and I can't imagine how hard it must be.” He considered his next words. “When you are feeling up to it would you like to take a walk with me?”

“No it’s not acceptable. My moods cannot keep hurting people. I really did not mean to worry anyone. I planned to walk to the edge of the jungle and back so a candlemark or so as I was restless and full of energy and something f upset the herd beast as we got to the edge and that’s when Thunder yanked, I yanked him back but he yanked harder and kicked out so I had to let him go after he knocked me in the mud.” She sighed, stopping striking the soft cord and put the guitar down on the bed. “I need to go find a drudge to sit with Brenna incase she decides to rise and change but I can do that.”

“Sweetheart you have been through a lot. No one expects anything different. You just worried us all but it's okay. Your reason makes perfect sense.” He sighed. That sounded like Thunder. The runner could definitely be flighty. He was just glad the runner hadn't hurt Rena. “Thanks.”

The woman nodded and grabbed up a skirt putting it over her shorts and disappeared out into the corridor finding Senabena’s maid walking towards them. The teenager nodded and offered to come and sit there herself as Senabena was still in the grand hall and would not require her. “Lord Bensen.” The ladies maid bowed formally to the man.

Bensen inclined his head. “Good to see you,” he smiled. He then turned to Rena. “Ready?” He asked gently.

“Thank you.” Rena said to the young woman again as she slipped on some shoes and grabbed up a cardigan. “I am. Lead the way.” She prompted not sure where he wanted to go.

Bensen held his arm out for her. He then led the way back out to the stables where Star instantly put her head over her stall and whinnied. “I thought I could show mine and Oseben’s favorite place to think. Figured we could take Star for a walk too.”

The harper was reluctant to head back to the stables that day but stood next to Bensen she had no option but to follow him. “Oh?” She wondered leaning up to stroke Star’s nose.

“I promise Star is not anything like Thunder. She is very sweet and due any day herself,” he said as the mare bumped Rena’s hand. “Are you okay with that or should I leave her?” The mare turned loving eyes on Rena as if pleading for the walk.

“If you are sure it’s safe this time of night and safe for her to go wandering around this close to birthing then lets go ahead.” Rena said stepping back a little in looping her arm from his.

“We won't go far,” he promised. “And it will be good for Star to stretch a little bit.” The mare bobbed her head in agreement as Bensen clipped a rope to her halter. She gently stepped out of her stall, nuzzling Rena's shoulder before doing the same to Bensen. The poor girl looked huge but she seemed happy enough to be out.

Rena smiled at the runner nuzzling her as much to say we aren’t all like Thunder. Rena smiled and scratched her stomach as she rushed to catch up. “Poor thing looks ready to drop. I know how that feels Star.” The pregnant woman assured the runner as she moved to open the door to let them out.

“I know. That's why we won't take her far. Or you,” he assured. “I want to keep both ladies happy.” Star stood quietly beside Bensen's shoulder her delicate ears flicking. The mare was definitely sweet.

Rena smiled a little. “I have months to go. This lady not so much.” Rena sighed quietly wrapping her cardigan around her a little more hiding her bump a little more as she watched the Runner walk out with not even a hint of the feistiness that Thunder was showing as they passed his stall and out into the yard. “So where are we going?”

“No i won’t be surprised if we have a foal in the morning,” he admitted, shaking his head as Thunder was still full of it. He was going to have to run some of the stallion's energy out. “There's a grove of trees just on the other side of the stables we used to go to all the time.”

Rena nodded and followed smiling as the grove of trees gave into sight. They were old twisted trees that were part of the jungle once upon a time but now isolated and used by holder children to play in if the trampled grass were anything to go by. “It is pretty. I believe this is where Oseben used to bring Brenna to play in the ‘jungle’.” She said thinking about it. There was no way Oseben would have taken a Brenna that far alone so then coming there made sense.

Bensen laughed. “Probably. We played here as kids and then as we got older we came here to escape for just a bit.” The place held a lot of memories. All good of course. “I'm not surprised he shared it with Brenna.” Star huffed behind them.

“I can see why. It's quiet and out of the way. He never shared with me so thank you for sharing.” Rena turned and scratched the runner neck before she walked a little further into the grove and stared up at the moon.

“Of course,” Bensen smiled. He stood by Star and let Rena explore. She couldn't go far and when he looked back at Star he had a bad feeling they might have a foal sooner then he anticipated.

Rena stood in the moonlight for a moment before she turned and smiled at Bensen. She felt relaxed and the guilt no longer ate away at her. She moved back over seeing Star looking more and more uncomfortable. “Oh Star. We need to get you back.” Rena said, seeing the subtle changes in her.

Bensen scratched the mares sweaty neck. he knew she had been close. “I'm sorry, Rena. I didn't mean for this to be so quick,” he said, turning Star toward the stables.

“Come on, let's get this momma in her home and make her comfortable a little.” Rena said brushing off his apologises and led them quickly back to the stable. She noticed Johu was still around.

“Lady Rena?” He questioned hoping she was not there to take Thunder out again; he would have to stop her this time. He could not go through that worry.

Bensen gently coaxed Star back to her stall. The poor girl was all sweaty. As soon as she was in her stall she dropped to the straw with a moan. “looks like we’re about to welcome a little one,” he told Rena and Johu.

Johu looked at Bensen and smiled a little understanding what was going on. “Poor thing.” Rena murmured, doing a quick check that she had water and hay for afterwards before stepping back. “Is this her first foal?” She asked softly her sympathies going to the runner after her own labour 3 turns ago.

Bensen leaned on the stall to make sure Star was okay. He knew the runner could handle this herself but he wanted to be close by just in case. “Third,” he answered. “She usually has them quickly but I just want to make sure. This is her first foal with Thunder as the sire.”

“Which explains why she has made things difficult.” The beastcrafter whispered to Rena making her snort with laughter and touch Johu’s arm in thanks for his attempt to try and cheer her up. Her and Thunder were never going to live the day down but at least a foal being born would be a happy end to her day.

Bensen glanced back at them but then quickly turned back to Star. The mare was his pride and joy. He and Oseben were hoping this little foal would prove itself a fast and kind runner. Star grunted again, her sides heaving. It wouldn't be long.

Rena smiled at the beastcrafter as he noticed the glance back and took that as his hint to back up a little. “Thanks Johu.” She was relieved that someone was treating her now like a widow or something to walk on eggshells around. Rena stepped up to Bensen putting an arm around him as she tried to look over the stall to see Star.

He pulled Rena close. “Won't be long,” he whispered, watching Star. And about a candlemark later a very wet newborn lay in the straw, her mother licking her clean. “It's a filly,” Bensen smiled.

“Is that good?” She wondered looking up at him. She did not know at all whether it was good or bad but the runner looked healthy enough and Star was taking care of her. He was smiling so she suspected it was good but she wanted to learn. “I also feel like this is giving you false expectations for my own labour.” She teased a little as she stepped down from the bucket she had gotten to stand on and stomped her feet circulating the blood a little.

“It is good,” he assured her. “If she turns out to have the stamina of Thunder and the personality of Star we'll be able to use her to breed,” he answered. Bensen cringed a bit. “Ooh I'm guessing labor isn't always that smooth?” It wasn't like he had ever been around a woman in labor before.

That was great and exactly what Oseben would be happy about too now she understood. It was his dream to have a good breeding stock to sell like Enabon and his gold fire lizard with her eggs. “I see that you and Ose are playing a long game.” She stated before laughing. “Labour can be long and nowhere near that smooth but Star did so well.” She said turning the conversation back onto the runner. she did not want him to worry just yet when they were only just getting comfortable together.

Bensen nodded. “We are. This little one is very important to see how things progress.” He just wished his brother could have seen the foal. “Star did. It's always so amazing to see a new life. Look,” he whispered as the baby struggled to get her feet under her.

Rena climbed up onto the overturned bucket again to look over the stall and smiled. “Beautiful sight.” She looked happy at seeing something positive connected to the runners. “Thank you for showing me all of this tonight after what I did today.” She turned around on the bucket to look at him, smiling that with her extra height she was as tall as him now.

The tiny goal finally managed to wobble over on spindly legs to where she could start nursing. Bensen turned and smiled at Rena. “I'm glad you were here. And don't worry about earlier. I understand why you did it,” he said softly.

She nodded and glanced at the foal again and smiled. The foal look adorable with such unusual colourings and patterns but she knew that Brenna would love to meet her in the morning. “I am going to head back so that Senabena can have her maid. Come to bed when you are ready, okay.” She soothed gently caressing his cheek. She had gotten accustomed to having him there

He closed his eyes briefly at her gentle touch. Even in such a short time he had gotten used to being with her. “Alright. I won't be long. I just want to watch a few more moments.”

“Take your time, " she assured, quickly climbing down and taking one last look at the foal and her mother. The day had started badly but ended positively with a new life that Oseben had helped create before his death. “I’ll try and wait up but no promises.”

“You don't have to,” he assured her. He knew she needed her rest. He wouldn't be far behind her.

Rena smiled gave him a smile and disappeared off to head back to the Hold. She would try her best but she had no idea if sleep would come easy or not.