Afternoon:: Much Needed Relaxation (Andrew)

East Eden, the home away from home. Haru had managed to come out to this place after a pair of rather rough days and nights that had come back-to-back. While his leg and body still ached from simply being over worked and a lack of rest, he felt at peace with himself for once in his life. Like he had released something pent up deep within and could now after all this time simply rest. Sure he had other things to worry about like the future and all that jazz, but by some miracle he had shut down his overthinking mind and just focused on enjoying the present moment. All appointments, practices, and all else that typically filled his day, he had requested to be cancelled much to his mother’s horror; however, for the first time ever he stopped caring about playing peacemaker with her and fought against her usual ways of trying to guilt him back into work. He needed a break desperately...and after everything he had been through recently? He would fight for his right to rest and in time win that battle.

So with well deserved vacation time in hand, Haru would head out to East Eden alone despite his condition and after a walk down to the ranch, he would get his painted horse Yoshiko and take her out for a ride. He wouldn’t use any form of saddle or reigns for the horse preferring to ride it bareback and simply let the horse go where she wanted. He would ride around the fields a bit before gently directing the horse to a nearby gathering of trees when his body had enough of holding on for the moment. Once they were at the destination, he would slide off the horse and walk about on his own a bit, the horse naturally following him due to its own whim. When he arrived at the base of one of the large trees, he would sit down and after watching nature for a bit, he would eventually settle into the soft grass. Resting on his back, he would watch the leaves above dance in the light wind as birds chirped and bugs hummed.

Yoshiko, on the other hand, would watch her owner for a bit before deciding to lay down to the left of him. Looking over at the horse Haru would pat her gently before refocusing back on the leaves above and the nature all around. It was such a pretty day. One that was perfect for relaxation and a nap. A nap, hmmm...it was tempting, but for now the young man would stay awake watching the swaying tree branches above.