((Brothers)) in all but //blood\\

[horseplay]

Silently stepping into the barn hallway, Dreyken's brown eyes took in all his surroundings, annoyance marring his features as he realized more newcomers had arrived and they'd misplaced his "essentials." He frowned as he had to go and dig around in one of the tack rooms, hitting his knee on one of the low saddle racks. Finally, after putting his hands on his grooming kit, he strode out of the warm room and headed towards his stallion's stall. A grin broke out across his tanned face as Hellion, his Andalusian stallion, peered around the stall door and whickered warmly. Putting his hand on Hellion's nose, Drey said quietly,"Ah, boy, I've missed you too."

Without bothering to put a halter on the silver-grey stud, Dreyken Marshall slid into the cozy stall beside his companion, running a hand down Hellion's neck, over his withers, across his back, and down his flank. Murmuring wordlessly, Dreyken's soothing voice reassured the stallion, who was starting to become overly excited at his "colt's" arrival. With a satisfied snort, Hellion touched his nose to Drey's side as they got to know each other all over again. Drey had just returned home the night before from a meeting with his late parents' lawyers, and the drain on him was emotional as well as physical.

Reaching down into his kit and picking up a curry comb, Dreyken was, as always, grateful for the brother he had in Hellion; when all the family he knew had passed, Hellion was there. When relatives he hadn't known existed had come with greedy eyes to try and gain some inheritance from his wealthy, dead parents, the Andalusian had been there. Desert Moon Stables had been a part of the picture, too, but had it not been for his brother in all but blood, he wasn't sure what would have become of him.

[jazz]

"Eine interessante Sitzung, ja Firecracker? Come on, breakfast is over, no more lazy business, yes?"
Mai's soft voice was smooth and natural, followed with slight sound of hooves upon the floor. She had just come from the paddock after a nice conversation with Adam and a new girl along with seeing Adam's newest mare, a beautiful white Arabian. A good start to the morning and she hoped that the rest of the day would be just as good.
Leading her bright mare to her stall she let her inside and shut the door, giving the soft muzzle a pet before moving down to the tack room easily. With only a glance inside she immediately knew that some of the new members had been rummaging and replacing things in the tack room. Her three good Eventing saddles(one for each event) had all been moved off the racks that clearly said 'Firecracker' and one was even upside-down on the floor. Furious she quickly picked up and moved all of her stuff in the right place, making sure the saddles where unharmed and grabbing her (hidden) grooming kit, she stormed silently out of the tack room, muttering violently to herself.
"" Dumme, dumme mitfahrer. Don't, das sie, um wissen nicht zu berühren, was nicht ihr ist?""
Coming back to the stall she opened the door and Firecracker's head raised from her manger, audits flickering in curiosity. "I am beginning to zink zat I need to lock up our things in a separate room. All these newcomers are starting to drive me crazy, ja?"
Mai sighed, toning down her voice a bit as she started to work upon Firecracker's coat with a sigh before glancing over and re-noticing the others within the barn. She gave a light blush and smiled over at them.
"Sorry if I disturbed you, I em, get a bit carried away when I am.. frustrated.." she went ahead and apologized, knowing she had been a bit loud in the stall and had to wanted to disturb anyone.
Firecracker had been aware of the other two in the stall the whole time, and when they where finally spoken to by her filly, she turned her head to nuzzle her girl lightly. Then, raising her head happily she gave a greeting whinny to the horse and the other boy across the hallway from them.

**What an interesting meeting, yes
***Stupid, Foolish riders. Do they know not to touch what is not theirs?

[horseplay]

As the sound of another's voice reached his ears, Dreyken lifted his head off of Hellion's thick neck and peered around the stall door into the hallway. He didn't see another rider, but he noticed movement in Firecracker's stall and assumed it was Mai rummaging around in the tack room. Turning back to his stallion, he started to run a comb through Hellion's long mane, his nimble fingers easily working out the snarls and tangles.

A smile pulled at his lips as he heard the German rider's angry mutterings, and he chuckled as he pulled the last knots out of Hellion's mane. He had been absentmindedly tracing a dapple on Hellion's flank when he dimly realized Mai was speaking to him. Lifting his head, he grinned dazzlingly as he replied, "It's not a problem, dahlin' (thick southern accent, mind you). I can sympathize with your frustration; It would seem no one knows how to ask before using someone else's equipment anymore." Hellion snorted right on cue, drawing a laugh out of Drey as he looked over at Mai to see her reaction.

The Andalusian looked quizically at his colt when Dreyken burst into laughter, ears flickering in interest. He lifted his head and eyed the mare across from him as she whinned a greeting, and after a long moment he replied with a bass nicker, letting her know how pleased he was to have her and her filly's company.

[jazz]

Mai, whom was starting to give Firecracker a good curry smiled as she was replied to by the other rider. She hadn't really noticed which stall, horse, or rider was across from her, but the familiar southern accent told her everything she needed to know.
"I'm glad someone understands. I cannot understand why zese people think zey can just use witzout asking, and zen not put it back where it was." She said with a sigh and Firecracker agreed with Hellion with a snort and the distinct sound of a hoof pawing at the floor of the stall. Mai gave a slight laugh and finished the curry, going back over with a firm brush.
"So Dreyken," she paused a moment, her accent making his name sound quite interesting, "How 'ave you and Hellion been doing?" she asked, moving on to Firecracker's mane, working on it so that it would be as silky as her coat was after the good thorough but quick brushing she had given it.
Glancing across the hallway she saw that Dreyken had been working on the beautiful mane of his Andalusian stallion, whom seemed happy to have them both there as company. Mai smiled as Firecracker moved to bring her head over the stall door, audits flickering. At the sudden movement toward herself, Mai ducked out of the way and blinked "Easy Fire, calm down a bit." a soft pat upon the mare's neck brought out an apologetic wicker before Mai continued working upon her mane.

[horseplay]

Smiling to himself at her ...interesting accent, Dreyken replied to Mai's query, "Hellion's been fine. He's getting fatter and fatter everyday." Ignoring the question about himself, Drey went on, "We've been having some trouble with our lead changes lately, though. I don't know if it's him or me, but somewhere the signal is off." After a moment of looking into the Andalusian's large, dark eye, he said softly, a bit ashamed, "I'm pretty sure it's me. Hellion, noticing his colt's sudden mood swing, shoved his nose into Drey's outstreched palm and wuffled contentedly, assuring him it was none of his own fault; rather, the blame lay with himself. Drey smiled halfheartedly, then, forcing himself to put on a happier front, he turned to Mai and asked, "What about you?" When Firecracker shoved closer to the door, making Mai take evasive action, Drey grinned and said, "I can see Fire's still as ... fiesty as usual."

Turning his sharp head back out the stall door, Hellion snorted softly and reached out as if to take a closer whuff of Fire. Drey put a hand on his stallion's thick, muscled neck and murmured, "Whoa, boy. Back in the stall with you." Pressing lightly with his other hand into the stallion's chest, Drey was able to convince Hellion to back up, taking his head out of the aisle.

[jazz]

Mai smiled as she listened to Drey explain what was going on, giving a small chuckle as he told her Hellion was getting fatter and fatter everyday, which she was sure was just a joke.. With his explanation of how their lead changes where acting up a bit, and how he was sure that it was his fault.. Mai disagreed with (both) him and wondered if it had just been an off day for them.. "I am sure you two are both fine. Maybe it was just an off day.. we all 'ave them." She assured him easily, knowing that both himself and Hellion where quite the team on the Dressage ring.

Mai smiled as he asked what was up with them before commenting on how Fire seemed feisty, as usual. "Ja, never a dull moment with zis one.. I'm thinking of taking her out later.. let her get out a bit of this energy.. She's been building it up quite a bit lately, despite our trail rides and training.. anxious for the show season I suppose.." Mai said with a smile, patting her mare's neck easily before getting in front of her and pushing lightly, trying to coax her head out from the door. Reluctantly, the mare obeyed, but not without a snort of protest before nuzzling the girls chest and heading for her pockets, looking for treats. "Oi, you've 'ad your breakfast, now behave yourself." Mai commented lightly and the mare snorted again, tossing her mane and raising her head, giving a nicker to the stallion across the hall. Thankfully, she didn't move for the door again, and stood with her ears forward toward the other horse as Mai went about trying to finish grooming her.