Time heals all wounds (Arzu)

[Serenade]

Eddie drove as fast as he dared, terrified to upset the precious burdens that were bumping along in the trailer behind his truck. Rage still thrummed through his veins as he thought about Due and Luck, and how he first saw them. They were in desperate need of attention from a vet, with Due being wounded from a whip and terribly emaciated. Luck was in a little better condition than Due, but he was still in danger.

Luckily they were close to home. In fact, Eddie pulled into the driveway right as he was thinking all of this, coming to an easy stop in front of the yearling and foal barn. This would have the most room, and since there were no other horses in there, they would be in relative peace and quiet while they recovered. Plus, no Kyss or Devan to harass them.

Leaping out the door, Eddie hurried around the side of his truck to the trailer, swiftly unlatching the doors to check on Due and Luck.

[arzu]

Lucky whickered to his friend, hang in there buddy don’t let go now. He whickered again, Due lifted his head slightly but has they hit a bump he let it smack against the trailer, I wont let go not yet Due coughed out. He closed his eyes, wondering if he could keep standing until they reached there new home or if he was going to fall and hang himself. He kept his eyes closed but shook his head and took another wheezy breath. Due earth to Due. Due opened his eyes, the trailer has stopped moving Due just simply nodded and closed his eyes again, the trailer door was open but Due did not even flinch just stood there in his sort of dozed state, Lucky shifted un easily wanting someone to look and care for his friend, it might even help if Due got a bath and that blood and the wounds could be washed off and then his friend need a vet. Lucky pawed and whinnied to the man a plea for help.

[Serenade]

Concern shot through Eddie as he evaluated the condition of the horses. Due was near collapse, and Luck was agitated with worry for his friend. Eddie swiftly lowered the ramp, clambering into the trailer to unhitch Due so he could lead him out of the trailer. Eddie took care with the yearling stallion, ready to try and catch him if he seemed like he was about to fall. Step by step, Eddie led Due gently to the barn, heading straight for the patch of cement where the hose and such were located. A bath was definitely needed before anything, to get the dirt and blood out from his coat. He had no idea what color this colt was under everything. Easing the colt to a standstill, hopefully, Eddie quickly clipped him into crossties. He didn't want to leave the colt alone, but he had to get Luck out of the trailer as well. Steadying Due, he turned and jogged out of the barn, heading for the trailer. Hurriedly, he led the little miniature out into the sunlight, careful with him as well. Luck wasn't in as bad a shape as Due, but he was still cautious. He entered the barn, murmuring to Luck, bringing him to stand right near Due, not wanting to separate the two. Turning, Eddie turned on the water, filling up two clean buckets and leaving one next to Luck, he held one up to Due, wanting him to drink and regain a little strength before he started bathing him, fearful of what might happen while Due was in this condition.

[arzu]

Due walked obediently along behind his new owner, stumbling here and there but nothing major and nothing that he could not regain his composer before going on. He was clipped into a wash stall and he lowered his head and dozed off again, hearing the sound of boots and an eager Lucky Due pricked up a little. Water was given to both and Lucky dove into his and Due was not far behind him, he finished the water and nosed around in the bucket for more but there was none. The water seemed to help as Due became a little bit more alert he could hold his head up now and was nearly not as tired but he was far from better. Lucky looked up at his friend and seemed to settle as he looked better, Lucky knew that Due was a handsome young stallion under all that mud in fact the stallion held a very nice coloring and pattern that made him one of a kind. Due propped a hoof and waited for the cleaning to begin he knew it may hurt but he was use to the pain and so a little soap in the wounds was a good price to pay.

[Serenade]

Eddie blinked as the entire bucket of water was emptied before him. But it seemed that the water had revived the colt a bit, and he was standing a little straighter, a little more alert. Placing the bucket on the ground, Eddie refilled it with water, though this time he didn't offer it to Due. Taking the hose, he attached a nozzle to the end and set it to shower. Allowing the water to come out steadily, but not blasting, Eddie hoped this wouldn't pain Due too much. He wished that he had warm water, but with the sun filtering in, he didn't think the colt would get chilled by the cold water, and who knows, maybe it felt good to him.

He gently ran the water over Due's back, lightly examining the myriad of cuts and welts as some of the mud and muck was rinsed away. They were quite ugly, though he hoped none of them were too deep. He continued moving around Due's body, running the water over his legs, on his chest, under his belly, trying to get every little bit of him wet before getting the shampoo.

At last he was satisfied, and carefully began washing Due with soap, ignoring the muck and grime that was coming off his coat in layers. He gingerly rubbed soap in the wounds, wanting to get them clean before the vet came to look at the two of them for him. As all the grime came off Due's coat, Eddie was pleasantly surprised to find that he had a beautiful and interesting color and pattern. Black roan sabino, now there was a combination of color and pattern after his own heart. Eddie paused for a moment, rubbing Due's nose and murmuring to him, making sure he wasn't hurting the colt with the washing.

[arzu]

His ears flicked uneasily as the water hit his body but he soon relaxed and began to enjoy it. Due had not had a bath in ages actually if he remembered correctly he had never experienced a bath, he shook his head as the soap hit his wounds, he moved a bit away but settled despite the stinging in the wounds. Lucky watched his friend making sure he was not being hurt more then he already was but the man was doing good things for him, it would be nice to see Dues coat again and his mane untangled along with his tail. It would be wonderful to see his friend running about again and enjoying the good life. As the man rubbed his nose and then murmured to him Due took the opportunity to lip at his face and then his hair, before licking him. He turned his head away and raised it, he wanted to squeal so bad and make noise but he knew he was not allowed to. So he settled for a snort, Lucky looked up at him, Due what are you doing why are you not making all sorts of noise. Due Looked at him, I cant im not allowed to. Lucky shook his head, you are not with him any more you are with someone new. Due shook his head he just could not do it not yet maybe in time.

[Serenade]

Eddie chuckled as Due lipped at him before licking his face. He gave the colt a light push on the nose as he moved back around him. Refilling the bucket, Eddie began pouring the water carefully back over the colt's coat, getting rid of the last of the dirt and soap. If only Due were healthy, he would be a fine specimen to behold. Already Eddie could see the conformation of Due, and saw that is was of top breeding. How anyone could treat such a sweet and valuable horse was beyond him. As Due turned his head and raised it, Eddie was confused. Such a movement was made when an equine desired to make a sound. However, Due remained silent, snorting only. He paid it no mind at the moment, only giving Due a light pat before moving him next to Lucky.

Eddie smiled at the mini stallion, and ruffled his mane. Your turn little one. Untying the rope, Eddie walked Lucky to the crossties. He pondered a moment, then just left the lead trailing on the ground, watching Lucky to see what he would do while filled up the bucket with new water. He came back over to the little stallion and poured the water over his back. Eddie could see under the filth that he at least was better off than Due was.

[arzu]

He felt like a big fat loser. He lowered his head as he was lead to were Lucky was and then Lucky was put into the crossties and the bucket was refilled and dumped over his body, Lucky whickered and pranced slightly at the waters feel upon his back but he soon settled and dropped his head slightly, his long mane still in knots and clumps, just like his tail and much like his friend Due. Due shifted uneasily and then settled, he raised his head and turned it but he still could not make himself make a noise. He sighed and lowered his head for a little z. Lucky turned his head and grabbed a hold of the mans pocket and began to chew and tug. He could be a pain sometimes, he shook and watched as water went every where. He whickered and whinnied again, his sliver coat already coming threw, he was also of good breeding but he could only do things like pull were as his friend could be broke to ride and show, that would get you noticed big time in the show ring. He snorted and waited, wanting the rest of his bath.

[Serenade]

Eddie laughed as Lucky tugged at his jeans, and gave the little stallion a light push away. Impatient little fellow, wasn't he? Eddie brought the bucket of soap and water to Lucky's side, and began to gently wash the stallion. He knelt beside him, and scrubbed vigorously. With all the muck and grime, Lucky certainly needed it. There were no open wounds that he could see, so Eddie was not as gentle as he was with Due, though he was not rough by any means. The lovely silver dapple of Lucky's coat began to show through, and Eddie was impressed. Here he had two valuable and beautiful horses, hidden gems, and they had been hopelessly abused and neglected.

He rinsed the little stallion off, pleased that he was clean and in better health than Due. Eddie led Lucky back to Due's side, and rubbed Due's muzzle, considering his next move. Most important would be the vet, but he needed a farrier and to get the knots out of Due and Lucky's manes and tails. For the moment he just stood with his two equines, scratching and petting them, before he made another move.

[arzu]

The little stallion snorted and then whickered as he was pushed away. His bath was finished and he let out a whinny, Due jumped by the sudden noise and touch, he really had the itch to let a call of his own go and so he raised his head and allowed one to escape him but it was horse and raspy from the years of not being used. He shook his head and looked at the man, was he going to finish grooming him? He wanted more attention from this man. He nudged his hand and pranced slightly, tossing his head he whickered and side stepped hitting Lucky, he looked down at him with an apologetic look in his eyes. Lucky shook his head and tugged at his lead rope, it was in his mouth and he was tugging it just like a dog, Due was puzzled but none the less let the little guy have his fun.

[Serenade]

Eddie smiled as Due made a sound, though it sounded odd. He mere gave the young stallion a few pats before he walked over to grab a comb. Both Due and Lucky needed to have their manes and tales combed out. They were clean but they were still very knotted. And he was sure that once he got the knots out, he would find even more grime stuck within them. He paused over the box that held the grooming equipment, and pulled out his phone, scrolling through the contacts to the vet. Dialing the number, he spoke with the vet, and asked him to come out to the farm to check on these two to make sure they didn't have heartworm or something of that nature. Once the vet agreed, he hung up, and grabbed the comb. Walking back to Due and Lucky, Eddie began to work the knots out of Due's mane first. They were tough, woven in deep and twisted fitfully. But he was slowly working them out as he went along, murmuring the Due and Luck the whole time, scratching them and patting them as he worked.

[Phantom]

He finished the call about the two horses and quickly got his things together so that he could go and give the pair of horses a check up at Maplewood. He figured that the horses probably needed vaccinations, but he would find out exactly what they needed once he learned the past history of the horses. He arrived at Maplewood shortly after leavingthe animal clinic. He had never checked these horses over before so of course he wanted to get blood tests for both of them, it would tell him if there were any unseen dangers for the equines so that he could fix them as soon as possible. He approached the two equines and their owner, he assumed. Hello, you wanted me to check the health of a pair of horses? he asked

[Serenade]

Eddie was very worried about the conditions of Due and Lucky as he continued working the knots out of their manes and tails. He had good knowledge about horses after having grown up with them, but then again he had never encountered something like this, had never come across a pair of horses this underweight and this neglected. Half of his attention was focused on listening for a car in the drive, and he did not have to wait long after calling the vet. Tires crunched on the gravel up to the main lot, and Eddie left off the grooming to meet the vet. A young man approached, inquiring after the horses, and Eddie sighed with relief before extending his hand in greeting. I'm Edward Jansen, the owner of Maplewood. I purchased two horses this morning suffering from severe neglect. I know a lot about horses, but I've never encountered this. They're in the barn, if you would follow me please? With that he turned, and made his way back to Due and Lucky. He reached Due's head, not wanting the colt to fear the vet, even as he reached down a bit to give Lucky attention as he waited for he vet to join him.

[arzu]

Due did not freak when the man entered, he had a little moment when he heard the tires coming up the driveway, he thought he was going back to that awful place or the man had herd him many miles away. He shook his head and relaxed offering the vet a hoarse call. He sighed and lowered his head, Due was severely under weight a couple hundred under his weight were as Lucky was maybe only a hundred under his normal weight. Dues ears tipped forward, as he wheezed and caught his breath. To much experiment for one day, he propped his hoof and lowered his head it was almost touching the ground, he just wanted to lay down right here. Lucky threw his head up and freaked at his friends sudden fall out, he whickered and looked at the men it almost looked like well what are you waiting for, fix my friend!

[Phantom]

He wondered what situation the mentioned horses were in as he shook the owner's hand in greeting. Although even the smallest things could be life threating. Minor could lead to major and so forth. He followed the owner until he had saw the horses for himself. First thing he had noticed was that both of the horses were underweight. One was more severe than the other, the low weight could cause problems for the horses too. Second thing he noticed, the breathing issue which could be an respitory problem of some sort. He looked to the owner "Seems as if they have a bit of a respitory problem and a bit of weight loss He said first before taking out the stethescope from his vet bag. He would have to check both of the horse's heart rates before anything else, but they probably sounded a bit off. He went to each of the horses and checked their heartbeats before writing the results down in his notebook. He checked their lungs after he was done with their hearts, it was more a problem with the lungs than anything else. Something that could be easily fixed of course. There wasn't much he could do now for the lung problem. "I am going to need to run a blood test on them also, just to make sure nothing else is wrong"He spoke as he placed the stethescope back into his bag. "It is only a minor problem of the lungs however a diet with nutrients such as protein and calcium should clear that up" He spoke again as he wrote a few more thing onto the paper.