we built this city on broken glass

Nadya was, for all her nervousness, doing rather well. He could see that confusion in her, that hesitance, even as she worked with the well-aged school pony whom had undoubtedly experienced children and even adults off all manners of experiences crawling all over him. For all her fear however, Nadya remained seemingly determined. Frost hardly surprised in the least but that very manner of conviction. Nadya was not a being to give up easily. Not in anything, even those things that gave her fear as this entire exercise surely did. There was something to be admired, surely, in her quiet determination and yet even Frost was unwilling to push too far- not after the morning they had already experienced. Her nervousness seeming to get the better off her the moment that girth pinched at the ponies skin and prompted that squeal of irritation. That sound, that reaction, enough to send the woman scrambling away with the assurance she was entirely done with that task. The idea of that saddling seemingly to much for his girlfriend today. The idea that she might accidentally hurt him with that same task so clearly disturbing her.

Those singular assurances were offered to her all the same. Frost reminding her of that importance of saddling and yet this afternoon he pressed it no further. It would only distress her and there would surely be time enough for that later. Frost capable of being....kind with those he cared to be kind for. The stallion drawing her easily to his chest to let his lips brush her forehead in that touch of warm affection. He was hardly allowing her to escape that task entirely and yet for now he was permitting it to be brushed over. Tomorrow he would prompt her to try again. That riding itself, in this moment, was the far more significant task. He released his hold on his girlfriend only to step away from her to begin to remove those layers of clothing. Frost hardly caring for the sight it surely offered Nadya. After all, she had seen every part of him before.

That shift came easily enough, the man replaced with the towering, draft-type stallion. His animal form far larger and heavier than his human figure could ever hope to be. Frost momentarily eyeing that railing that ran the length of that practice yard. Hmm. It was...lower then he recalled and yet he had suspected for some months his equine form had not ceased to finish growing. That full adult stallion height, it seemed, not yet reached. Such thoughts, for now, were easily cast aside as those heavy, feathered feet turned him toward his girlfriend. That uncertainty that seemed to taint her frame was...unusual. Frost's head tilted ever so slightly in curiosity. He could sense her apprehension. She had seen his equine form endless times and never shown any fear of it before, although, truly, this was one of the first times she had ever remained in her human figure beside him when he was shifted. Was his size merely daunting for her? Then again, her she not seen him rip apart a man with his teeth only hours before? Her fear, perhaps, was justified in some measure even if he held no desire to ever display that aggression toward her.

That soft, white muzzle extended to bump softly against her, the woman flinching notably as Frost's gaze continued to linger on her, that fear still seeming to permeate from her figure in waves. The man very near considering returning to his human form if only to lessen that anxiety. Was she truly afraid of him? Of all the beings in this world he had so tried to make fear him- Nadya had never been his intention. An unusual feeling of sorts settling within him and yet, this time, the man so chose to address it. His mind reaching effortlessly for her own.

"Naja, it is still me, no matter what skin I wear. Horses are dangerous animals, it can be.....shocking, the first time one is given to witness what a horse can truly do. Especially when it is so we are so often portrayed as docile and an animal for little girls. The truth, I fear, can be confronting but you hardly need fear me. I will not bring any harm to you, I never have."

The horse, as an animal, deserved far more respect then many surely gave it. Nadya, perhaps, having witnessed that very shock today and yet respect was far more valuable than fear in this. Fear of him would achieve nothing. That soft explanation following then before he moved to easily lower himself to the ground. Nadya, it seemed, brave enough to attempt that ride as she swung one leg over,her hands brushing his shoulder before entwining into his mane.The woman, now seated, querying after just exactly what might happen. Frost responding by pulling his forelegs out and rolling forward onto them, the stallion only half risen before the very slipperiness of that smooth, short fur proved to be his girlfriends undoing. Nadya tumbling back to thud onto the ground as Frost's head angled back to eye her. One violet eye raised beneath that snowy white forelock before his lips lifted in that clearly 'horsey' grin. How much he had taken Alexanders riding skill for granted.

"Try again."

He offered simply, lowering himself once more are Nadya climbed back on. Frost waiting, this time, until she was in a more secure position and braced for that rise before he did. That standing up by far the most challenging part as his legs unfolded and his figure heaved upward before at last achieving that stand with Nadya still gripping his mane. That whisper not to go fast met with a soft rumble of sorts, the closest sound to amusement he could manage in this form.

"I won't go fast, though the canter is by far the easiest gait to ride too. A saddle will make my back far less slippery to sit on. Horses have short, flat fur, that is why you feel like you are sliding all the time. Use you knees now, use them to grip and try not to lean forward even though it is tempting. Sit as upright as you can. I will just walk for a few laps first, until you get used to the movement. Are you ready?"

That first step was almost tentatively taken. Frost slowly pressing forward until that decently paced walk had been established, affording Nadya every chance to feel that movement. Each leg and muscle moving beneath her. Frost keepin that pace steady and even all the same as they circled that practice yard. His mind reaching gently for her own once more.

"Remember to breath, Naja. Relax your body, go with it. You have natural balance, so use it. Keep gripping with your knees, I know it can be tiring- riding is hard work. How do you feel? Are you ready to go faster?"

FrosT