<table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>(http://www.dfwd20.com/photopost/data/522/medium/Human_Fighter1.jpg)</td><td><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: edwardian;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 2.65em;">Alfreic Slate, Soldier</span></span><br/><em>Pensive, Re:  Kolette, Ashley;  accompanying hunters M. Dupont, R. Dupont, F. Martin, K. de Brest, I. Motague, Sylria, A. Browley, I. Campbell, L. Montague, Bella</em><br/></strong><hr/><br/>Ashley vaguely reminded Alfreic of himself when he first came into the possession of Hornet.  The caramel was just a pony then, given to him by a friend of his father's.  He recalled the first few afternoons when Hornet and himself trod across the plains and foothills of Lucine at breakneck speed, laughing hesitantly against the gushing wind.  But that seemed so long ago now, and Alfreic did not know what it was like to enjoy a ride.  Not when one had had their fill of riding on horseback.<br/><br/>But that massive muscled beast couldn't forget so easily what it was like to run for no reason other than to feel the ether.  At Ashley's demonstration, Hornet became willful and disobedient to his master's soft-spoken command.  The devil eyed his master from beyond the haunch as if to say, 'come on, dad--let's go!' but Alfreic would have none of it.  He neighed and nipped, and for no other reason than because he was angry, he kicked at the hounds accompanying them.  But Alfreic did not relent on his reign and held Hornet steady with a great deftness.  Hornet lowered his head, seemingly defeated.<br/><br/>There were not very many things that Alfreic could enjoy in life, but he did at the very least enjoy his horse.  He enjoyed his quirks and his impurities, and it brought Alfreic a great deal of guilt to see Hornet so.  He watched Ashley return, pawing at the side of Hornet's neck, inaudibly cooing his animal into calmness.<br/><br/> "I am ashamed to say that I am markedly jealous of the freedom she enjoys," Alfreic said to no one in particular about Ashley with a deep sense of melancholy.   "Were it that my bones did not ache and my mind did not wander, there would be no hill left standing that I wouldn't charge up and over.  I am certain that good old Hornet wouldn't mind."  <br/><br/></td></tr></tbody></table>