Bringing Home A Wedding

Clara was settled at home, gently snuggling the infant she held against her chest; the little creature slept peacefully against her. He was only a week old, and luckily, she'd convinced Yin've that she didn't need to follow him out. Her husband was off investigating a group of horses, ones he'd mentioned she knew about, but she couldn't be certain. She gently bounced the baby, cooing softly to him and kissing his forehead when she finally heard the whistle signaling that her husband was home. She looked up for a moment, not really that amused with the fact that he was being loud, and obviously about to burst through the door. 

 

"The baby is sleeping, Yi, what are you doing?" Clara groaned out. It'd been about a year since they'd gone to the wild herds and tied a ribbon in Zuppa Toscana's hair, so she didn't know why he was so excited; she'd honestly forgotten about the mare besides the impression she'd left. She stood up slowly, careful to rock her son closer to her, and walked towards the door before slowly pushing it open. Her eyes were tired; her body, the same. 

 

"I have a gift for you!" Yin've almost screamed it, his voice bright and bubbly as he rushed to scratch on the mare standing beside him gently. He smiled, the mare taking a lazy step towards them. Clara's eyes widened a bit as she patted Lani's back gently, staring at the mare. There was no way Yin've brought her back that mare that he'd tied a ribbon to, right? That wasn't the same mare; there was no way. She swallowed hard, walking towards them, Yin've smiled more. "She just came back, she's still learning to be led on the halter, but she kept her ribbon in, look!" Yin've cooed out happily, moving to pull the ribbon out from underneath her mane gently, coloration dull and brown from the year in the dirt and sun, Clara swallowed hard, tears starting to well in her eyes. The mare leaned gently into the halter before tugging back at the gentle readjustment Yin've made. 

 

"You brought her back," Clara echoed quietly, walking over slowly, careful to make sure that she didn't spook the mare. She stood with an arched neck, holding herself in a way that made her look even prettier than she had when she'd first met the mare. "What's her name?" Clara asked gently, going to softly scratch at the mare's neck, her hand readjusting to carefully support the baby's head, Lani still sleeping, a few softer sounds of irritation slipping out, his feathers flaring a bit as he fussed slightly. 

 

"Her name was Zuppa Toscana, but for her registered name, I decided on CY Calling Out Your Name. You can give her her barn name, but I thought a pun on how I went to tie the ribbon and got you to marry me with it, it'd be cute?" Yin've breathed out, hoping that his wife wouldn't be angry that he'd already given the mare her registered name, he loosened the halter slightly when the mare moved, arching her neck towards the baby and releasing a low snort at him. Lani whined some more. 

 

"Can we call her Cali?" Clara asked softly after a moment, her wings flaring slightly, defensively drawing the baby closer when the mare turned towards him. Cali let out a loud snort, huffing quietly before gently pressing her nose against the baby's stomach, releasing a soft noise. Clara tensed, staring at the mare before she relaxed some as she saw the gentle snort, the mare relaxing as she gently nuzzled at the baby, being gentle with him despite her size. Lani released a few giggles, calming down some before laughing more at the further nuzzle. 

 

"I think Cali would be a perfect name. Are you sure you're okay with the registered name? I don't want you to be upset because I named her?" Yin've asked softly, his brow furrowing tight as he moved closer, trying to gently scratch at the mare, a way to distract her to remove her from the baby, until he heard the loud squeal of a giggle Lani gave, he tried not to laugh some at the movement. "I think she and Lani like each other a lot, that's good, isn't it?" Yin've asked out softly, sighing quietly, shaking his head. 

 

"I love her registered name, but why'd you pick CY?" Clara asked softly, smiling as she reached to scratch the mare's head gently; the mare snorted quietly, leaning more into the scratching. "You're such a good girl, you're amazing." Clara gently whispered to the mare, leaning her head to press against the mare's. Cali perked up some, moving to nuzzle her face gently into Clara's face. 

 

"I pick CY because Clara, Yin've, our names?" Yin've gently breathed. "We can figure out a ranch name that uses CY later! I like the idea that we have our names in her name; we don't have a ranch name! I thought it was cute!" Yin've sounded almost desperate to explain, snorting quietly, his brow furrowing some before he smiled more. "Is that okay? I don't mind if we go back and change her registered name, that's fine too!" Yin've expressed that he doesn't want his wife to be upset. He swallowed hard, staring at Clara as she and Lani snuggled tight to Cani. Cani pulled her head back, finally, after a moment when she remembered the feeling of the halter, snorting and stomping as she stepped back, shaking her head, and tugging a bit on the rope. Yin've laughed a bit. He smiled as the baby burst out laughing at the mare. 

 

"I don't really mind," Clara explained with a smile. "I love it, I love her, Lani loves her, don't you think that's all that matters?" Clara asked out with a smile, arching her head slightly to the side, smiling. "We should go settle her into the pasture. You'll have to build her a stable now. How unfortunate, I get to watch my husband build something."

 

Yin've laughed, nodding some as he started Cali off towards their pasture, they'd just removed a few steers to take them to slaughter, so it was empty, maybe a bit cow-smelly, but it was fine. He was so happy. Cali was certainly the best wedding gift he could've ever gotten.