It had struck again.. her wanderlust. Zeph sighed into the warmth of her hunter green scarf, making a soft white cloud puff up out of the fabric. She would have been happy to remain in bed for another hour or two at least. It was too early for many of the student body to awake let alone bundled up and making their way through the snow drifts. Yet her body wanted to move. She couldn't linger in that quiet room any longer. So.. here she was wandering the campus with daybreak lingering on the edge of the world.

The lamp posts lining the the walkway kept her in a relatively know area, that was until she became lost in her thoughts about a certain blackhaired senpai of hers. Crimson eyes watched her path without really seeing it as her shoulders hunched against the wind. She was so consumed by her thoughts that she didn't catch where she was walking until she was only a step away from the Corral's fence.

A soft squeak and sudden jerk sent her down onto her backside with a soft thump. She groaned weakly and pouted before pulling herself out of the snow bank with a long hanging branch of a nearby tree. The Gael tried to brush herself off but the chill had already set in and her lanky frame was wracked with shivers. Her arms crossed over her middle as she made her way to one place she told herself she would stay away from: The barn in Spican territory. Really she had promised to stay away from Spica completely after that first run in with its Student Council President. Which thankfully her ability to randomly spout things that made no sense allowed her to get away with no harm or foul play. No real choice now.. if someone came in she would simply hide until they left.

Her trembling hand slid open the door enough so she could pass into the warmth then firmly shut it behind herself. Zephy stomped her feet to announce herself to the beasts around her, not wanting to spook the gentle giants. After she began stripping down until she was left in a button down and damp trousers which were tucked into her ever present, knee high boots. Now that she had the wet clothing off she needed to do something to get her blood pumping so she wouldn't freeze. With that she headed straight for the tack room and pulled out the needed tools for stall cleaning and laid them in a nearby wheelbarrow. Once the tall girl had all she needed she wheeled the barrow to the first stall and tentatively opened the door. Leaving the tools in the hall she slid the door shut behind her and held out a flat handed.

"Ba mhaith liom tú aon dochar, cara." Her voice was lowered as she slowly took a small step foward and waited for the horse to close the remaining space between them. She smiled when the animal stretched out its neck to press its flared nostrils against her hand and sniff; deeming her worthy enough before turning back to eating the last of the previous nights grain. Knowing now she wouldn't spook him the Gael turned and opened the door a bit more so the barrow could sit just in the doorway and she began her work, humming old Gaelic tunes of love.

As usual every Thurday she made her way right on schedule to meet Prince Tsuyo, her beautiful dapple grey Arabian horse. She'd briught her poetry book, and hugged it to her chest, watching her breath curl up from her lips. She stroked the sides of the cover with her gloved hands. Blue scarf with spica embroidery from the school store pulled up to her chin.

She wore knee high brown boots over thigh high black socks and her Spican uniform. It was cold, but she didn't mind, more excited about seeing her friend than anything else. She entered the empty barn and went straight for his stall.

"Greetings Sir Prince!" she said, producing an apple taken from the dining hall. The stallions ears swiveled toward her and he immediately turned, violent eyes shining with intelligence. He took the apple, crunching it happily and then nudged her side with his nose, flicking his tail. "It's Emily Dickenson today, I hope you like it." she said, and he whinnied, a high pitched sound of encouragement. She began reading.

After she finished a few poems out loud, she shivered, and Tsuyo neared her, dragging a blanket in his teeth that had been draped over the door of his stall over to her. She took it and climbed on his back (with his help) and lay forward, petting his neck. She started talking to him about her day, what she had for breakfast, various gossip she heard from around school and he listened, snorting and adding a whinny when it seemed necessary, but soon enough she fell asleep on him, warmed by his body and still hugging the book. Not long after a girl came in and started cleaning the stall nearby. Tsuyo went about his business, munching on some hay listening to her hum, the girl in his back remained asleep, sighing happily.

Eventually Tuyo poked his head out to get a look at the stranger, or he tried, ears perked up neck stretching. Eventually he gave up, stepping back carefully so as not to disturb his charge.

Zephy's mind was mostly on her work, removing soiled and bringing in new wood chips, saw dust and straw to make fresh bedding the horses. She kept her humming as she went down the line, emptying the wheelbarrow now and again. The work was enough to keep her more than moderately warm and not too soon after she started she had taken herself down a few layers. A sight to see some would say in her homeland, the fledgling Prince had rolled up the sleeves to her button down shirt and tied her long hair back with a piece of twine from a straw bale. A bit of dirt even smeared across her sweaty cheek and a piece of hay was sticking haphazardly out of her bound hair.

Maybe an hour into her work she finally came to the Arabian. Her eyebrows rose up toward her hair line as she first noticed his gorgeous coat then her gaze drifted along his fetlocks to his back where she let out a soft gasp. Had this girl been there all night? Should she try to wake her? Maybe go inside the stall.. or just speak? What if she had caught ill? All of these thoughts rushed through Zeph's mind and she moved without thinking her plan through.

"Shh, boy, it'll be okay." Both hands were placed in front of her after she slid open the stall door, leaving it open just a bit incase she needed to beat a hasty retreat. Her voice was lowered to a soothing cant as she made a slow pace across the stall toward him.

"I'm only here to check on your master. I mean her no harm." A palm was raised toward the large horse's nose so he could sniff her and judge her intentions for himself. Respect was the first step in gaining an animals trust and she sure wasn't going to break that first unspoken rule among the fine trainers she tagged after at home. "Just want to make sure she's warm, handsome. All is well."

The horse stepped back, ears swiveling uneasily as his violet orbs watched attentively, he listened to the red head and let out a breath through his nostrils that came out in a cloud. He swayed uneasy for a moment, but then his head inclined toward her hand and he seemed to relax, when she called him handsome, he raised his head high and nodded, making a high sound of approval, then turning himself so she could better examines his charge.

She cooed quietly, "Tsuyo nn..." she said. He made a soft sound, as if to soothe her. Smiled and nuzzled into his mane. The truth was, in spite of the blanket, and even laying on this proud creature, she was pretty cold. She wouldn't notice, but to the touch her cheeks would be alarmingly cool. Heat was needed indeed, though the situation was not at all critical.

He looked at her, as if waiting to see what she thought of the girl on his back, though he wouldn't understand her condition. AS far as the stallion knew, there was nothing more wonderful about times like this, but the weather, which only bothered him a little, would certainly cause more harm than good if she stayed like this.

The humming eventually made its way through Chibi's dreams and she followed it, realizing it was real and eventually awoke. She had drooled a little, but Tsuyo didn't mind, he'd think it was funny. She smiled and was going to greet him, but instead saw the red head right there. She blinked and snuggled a little more, not fully awake.

"Oha-yo..." she blinked, "what's for breakfast?" she mumbled, maybe she was still dreaming after all?

A quick bow was given to the intelligent creature as she tried not to smile at his antics. Even for a horse he seemed overly attentive to his charge, surely he would protect this girl to the end. She had more faith that the girl hadn't been there too long with his attitude, but then her knuckles gently brushed the girl's cheek and jerked back from the chill of them. It was certainly long enough. Crimson hues blinked a few times as the girl stirred and she cocked her head to the side.

"O.. oha-yo." She murmured back reached up to ruffle her own hair only to remember it was tied back, so she stopped short and dropped her hand back to her side. "Why don't we get you warm then I will fetch something to eat?" The Gael reached out once more, this time just poking the girl's cheek. "You've been here quite a long time, it seems. I could also get some hot tea while I get food if you like." Her voice was soft and flowing as if she were talking to a young colt, not wanting to cause it a scare. Which she curtainly didn't want to occur with this girl and happen to get trampled by her overly intelligent steed.

"But first you need to get down from there so we can wrap you in more blankets and get you by the heater in the tack room. You're almost chilled to the bone." Zephy offered a smile and a leg prop which she made out of her hands by lacing her fingers together.

"H-hai," she muttered, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She reached toward the other girl for help getting down and climbed down from Tsuyo. "Ne, Tsuyo-chan, be good okay?" she said to the horse, still holding the blanket around herself. He bobbed his head and snorted happily.

She looked back at the taller girl, "Tea would be nice, I can't feel my fingers," she chuckled, realizing she was indeed really awake. She waved at Tsuyo shyly as they left, as if she were waving at a dear friend. Tsuyo watched until they were out the door and he heard the lock.

Chiyo walked with the taller girl, staring at her. "You're really pretty, like a Princess from a fairy tale," she said, unaware she might be thought rude. She just....couldn't help looking at someone like that, tall, red hair, red eyes. Wow. So different. Especially compared to short, ordinary little Chiyo.

In the tack room, she kept staring, as if mystified, swinging her legs as she sat on a tall stool by the workbench and she let her imagination wander. What if falling asleep on Tsuyo had transported her to a magical land and this beautiful stable-hand had found her and was secretly a Princess who would take her to the castle and show her amazing things! Ah, of course she knew better, but she loved to pretend, but she kept this fantasy to herself.

"Are you real?" she asked after a short while, watching her walk around, still looking in awe, "Your hair is so...magical!"

When the girl reached out for her Zephy blinked and drew her hands apart to place them on the tiny thing's waist instead. It was easy enough for the first year to lower her to the ground this way as well even though she wasn't quite use to it. It was this tiny shred of embarrassment that led her to a brisk walk from the stall to the tack room. Right when her finger tips brushed the handle of the door her words settled in her ear drums.

"Uhm.." She really wasn't use to such honesty, brisk almost rude honesty from Asami, yes. This.. innocent question left her with her mouth parted slightly and head tilting. "I am no princess, miss." A shy smile pulled at her lips and she slid the door open and ushered the girl inside before pulling a stool close to the heater for her to sit on.

After a quick glance around the room she took note of hot plate with a kettle next to it. Obviously something of this nature had happened before or someone simply liked tea after their rides. Either were sensible reasons to the Gael as she filled up the kettle from the faucet above the trough and set it to boil. Now all she needed were tea leaves.

The redhead had been quiet the entire time she focused on her list of things needed to be done to get the chilled girl warm once more. That focus was quickly broken by another harmless sentence however and she glanced over her shoulder to the figure wrapped in a horse blanket. A little smile touched her lips when she heard the kettle start to bubble and she turned back to the task at hand: tea leaves.

"I am real, that is sure enough. I touched you, did I not?" There was a playfulness in her tone, for she was not reprimanding, but teasing. "But part of your assumptions are correct. You see, I am not from this land. I traveled across many seas and battled countless villians to find this peaceful place." The preteen paused in her speech as she reached for a jar on the top shelf that looked like it held her sought item and once she removed it from its place she turned to the girl and leaned against the wall.

"I am a child of the fae." She giggled softly, "I'm just playing with you. I'm just like you and everyone else here. Arrived by plain and not a drop of royal blood in me. Fae or otherwise." Zephy pushed off the wall and made her way to the heater so she could partake in some of its warmth as well. On her way there she reached out and gently ruffled the girl's hair. "I'm Zephyra. You can call me Zeph, Zephy. Whatever you like."

For a moment she leaned forward on the stool, eyes sparkling and lips parting. She imagined daring swordfights on the high seas, giant monsters of the deep, a swash-buckling adverturer stiid before her...no a mystical fairy! Leaving her homeland fleeing the unwanted marriage her father was forcing her into, maybe she was a seele being blackmailed into marrying into unseele court! Ah, but she was joking. She pouted a little, looking adorable with her round eyes.

"Hey, you almost got me," her hair was ruffled by the magical girl....or maybe...maybe that last part was the story this magical fay princess was telling, realization swept over her as she heard the girl's foreign name. She nodded excitedly, "Okay, Zeppu-chan!" she winked, "You're secret is safe with me, I'm Chibiru Akayuki, first year Spica student. And that was Tsuyo, he's a Prince." she said matter-of-factly.

She held her tiny hands out to the heater, which was working really well, already starting to fill the room with it's heat. "But....you can call me Chibi-chan, everyone does," she said, looking at her short legs dangling from the stool. She'd been given the nickname because her classmates thought it was cute she was so small for her age. She probably was as tall as the girl's ribs if she were standing beside her. "Tsuyo-kun likes you, so I do too. Ano...where did you learn to make tea like that?" Chibiru was lucky if she could make it with a teabag and not burn herself, she didn't know how to do it this way with actual loose tea leaves.

"Zeppu.. Chan." She had to cover her mouth to keep her grin from showing to the girl, even a little chuckle was muffled behind her fingers. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Chibi-chan. You as well, Tsyuo." Her voice raised a fraction as she turned her head toward the door so it would carry to the Prince's ears. When she turned back to Chibi she gave a bright smile. "I'm a first year too. At Miator."

The kettle whistled softly just as she turned to check on it and she gave a happy hum. Zeph turned off the hotplate and used a discarded glove to grasp the handle of the kettle so she could pour the steaming water of the leaves. "My grandmother taught me a few things. She enjoyed tea very much this way and her hands were not all that great after tending to horses for so many years, so I would make tea for her. She instructed me in the proper ways to do so."

The redhead smiled fondly over the tea that was slowly darkening as it steeped. After a short pause she lifted both mugs and turned toward Chibi so she could pass her a cup. "It is still too hot to drink, but it will warm up your hands. Just be careful."

Zeph returned to the wall next to the heater after passing off the hot drink and rolled her own between her palms. "So Chibi-chan, what were you doing sleeping out here? It could have been a dangerous situation if I hadn't come across you."