FSE

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For a busy business bovine, days off are hard to come by. There's almost always work to be done, or disagreements to sort out or papers to sign. So, Rhannah likes to enjoy a day sitting in her reading room, naturally lit by a sun gracing the fields of her land.

Halia, meanwhile, is working around the house, fixing up some things, painting other things, and putting away the last of the moving boxes. Slowly, but surely, this place is starting to become a home that the owner can be proud of--an owner who has her act together and doesn't have to worry about being broken and...

Halia snorts, stomping the ground, stopping what she's been doing.

"Something the matter?" Rhannah's voice calls out from the reading room.

Halia closes her eyes and clenches and unclenches her fists. She blows the hot air through her teeth, but the wind rushes through the hollow of her muzzle, which only serves to reminder entirely of how broken she-

She let out a quick burst of frustration before she stomps into the room, staring down at the cow sitting on the chair, one leg crossed over the other.

Rhannah turns her page, humming delicately to herself, pretending she hasn't heard the horse's arrival.

"Rhannah..." Halia speaks up.

The cow doesn't respond, just drawing her finger over the page.

Sighing, Halia rubs the back of her neck, trying to roll the tension out of it. "Mistress..."

"Mistress, what?" Rhannah says, placing her bookmark in her book and closing the page. She puts it on the side and then folds her fingers together, placing her hands upon her lap.

Halia slumps her shoulders. "Mistress, I'm... I'm sorry..."

"There you go," Rhannah says, a twinkle in her eye. "You mustn't have those bad thoughts. Thank you for being such a good horsey."

Halia's cheeks burn. "I... I guess I'll get back to it, then," she says, beginning her turn.

Rhannah tuts, unfolding her leg and then standing up. "Now, where do you think you're going?" she asks, placing her hands upon Halia's shoulders.

"I... I was going to paint the living room," Halia says. "I found a color that really works, and-"

Rhannah turns her around, looking Halia deep into the eyes, and states. "You apologized, but what's next?"

Halia frowns, tensing up. Rhannah's fingers squeeze upon tense muscles.

"I... I really appreciate..." Halia begins, closing her eyes, a shudder coursing through her.

"Yes?" Rhannah whispers, walking up behind her, whispering into the horse's flicking ear.

"I really appreciate... being able... to organize your house."

Rhannah squeezes Halia's shoulders. "Hm?"

"O-our house." Halia continues. "And, I appreciate it if..."

"Yes..."

"If you gave me space."

Rhannah instantly lets go and steps back, sitting gracefully back into her chair. "There you go. But, that's not what I had in mind when I said to name two things you appreciate."

"R... right..." Halia says, feeling awkward standing there, all of a sudden.

"Please," Rhannah says, tapping her hoof upon the floor. "Sit and think about it."

Halia sighs and lowers herself down, sitting criss-cross with her hands resting upon her knees. "This what you want?"

Rhannah leans in, resting her cheek upon her palm, with her other palm supporting her elbow. "It's not really about what I want. It's about what you need, and you need to appreciate things about yourself, Halia. If you can't do that, then you remember what happens next."

The sing-song in her voice makes Halia's heart race. But is it in stress? In panic? No, not really. This is new territory for her, this strange relationship. She swallows, but her mouth is dry. "W-well," Halia says, thinking about it. "What about how I'm still able to kick ass."

"Oh, and you do!" Rhannah says, her voice alight with excitement. "You are a strong woman, Halia, despite your limitations and yes, even because of them."

Halia nods. "Well, I mean, what else?" Her mind races, but this time, the voice in her head doesn't think about all the things she's done wrong. "I am thankful that I have the support I need here from you and..."

Pain throbs through her. She rubs at her knee. Rhannah frowns upon seeing it.

"Halia," the cow's voice penetrates through the fog of pain. Even as Rhannah speaks, Halia imagines herself hopping out and driving into town, emptying the pharmacy of all of its contents and- "Halia!"

"S... sorry, M... mistress," she says, bowing her head lower. "It... it hurts."

Rhannah hums upon hearing that. "Yes, it does, and I have no idea how that feels. But really, would you just give up if your opponent were beating on you with no end in sight? Or would you pick yourself back up and fight back?"

"I'd... I'd fight back!"

"Why?"

"Because, I can still kick ass!"

"Right!" Rhannah says. She picks herself up from the chair and sits down at Halia's level, crossing her legs as well. "Now, then, the pain, the addiction, they are beating you down, but you can fight back, and you're not alone in that fight!"

"I... I need a distraction and, I'm... I'm thankful you can give it to me!"

Rhannah smiles. She then hops up and holds her hand out. "Come on, then. Why don't we get this painting done together? It's about time I do some heavy lifting around here.

"S... sorry, mistress..." Halia says."

"Hm...? About what?" There's honesty in her voice this time.

"I just had another bad thought about myself."

"What's it this time, pet?"

Pushing herself up, Halia begins to head her way back to the living room. "It's just that I thought there's no way I deserve someone like you in my life."