Standing on the beach, the ocean’s salty water up to her knees, was Alia. It was a change to see the woman on the beach. Normally she was found with her nose stuck in a book at the coffee shop or sitting in the park on a bench; just reading. But not today. Work had been especially crazy that day, computers were crashing left and right and the phone was ringing almost continuously all day. She needed a break and the relaxing waters of the beach sounded like a good place to be.

She had a vibrant orange one piece bathing suit on that only showed the top part of her back, straps crossing to make an ‘x’ around her shoulder blades; jean shorts were worn over it. Her black t-shirt had been left further up the beach away from the water next to her towel. Hair was pinned up in a bun. It had been streaked recently with a lighter blonde and brown to give depth and contrast to her dirty blonde hair. Emerald eyes were fixated on watching the setting sun. It had been a while since she’d watch the sun set over the ocean. The woman had forgotten how magnificent it was.

High tide was coming soon and so she turned around and slowly treaded out of the water and back to her towel that was laid on the ground. She sat down in the grass where the sand ended and dirt began so she could dry off her legs.

The only problem with exercising horses at an open beach was that there were also other people who could get in the way. Such as that girl in the orange swimsuit. Montrez swore under his breath as the mule got away from him, once again trying to challenge his authority as the trainer. He yanked back on his hold, slammed his feet deep into the sand, sending it flying into the air. It might have sprayed on Ms. Flourescant, but Montrez prevented the animal from running into or over anyone. He successfully veered it off its course and brought it back to himself.

"Sorry," he called out to whomever might have been in the way. His voice wasn't extraordinary, a little grainy from his cigarettes, but it only added an endearing quality to it. Chocolate dreadlocks were pulled up, off of his neck and rather high on his head. His odd colored skin was shining with the spray from the water and his shirt grey button down clung to him with the wetness. It was rolled up to his elbows and untucked, his shorts were canvas and he had nothing on his feet. There were supplies for the horse a short ways away with his shoes and towel.

Of course she jumped slightly as she turned to see a mule headed for her. The slight spray of sand on her was not nearly as bad as the idea of getting trampled. Getting up she took her towel and brushed the sand off of her that was sprayed on her from his sudden planting of his feet.

”No need to be sorry. I hear mules are hard to handle.” Voice was calm even after she had a mule heading right at her. That didn’t mean her heart was slightly beating faster than the normal though.

"Yeah, sometimes."

The lead rope jerked again when Montrez pulled the animal back to himself, with the aid of his powers, deciding that this wasn't the best idea. He thought that maybe the surf and sand would have an effect on the mule, but was obviously wrong.

He pulled the mule back up to where the trailer was parked and managed to get it in, locking the doors and heading back down to where he'd left his things.

"Sorry, again."

She picked up her t-shirt and started walking away from the beach, but towards where he was collecting his things. He apologized, yet again.

”And I’ll say again that it was no big deal.” She said with a smile on her face, but sincerity in her voice.

”Do you come out here often?”

He shrugged at her reply, if that was how she felt he wouldn't apologize again, but saying it twice established it. He picked up his leather flip flops, shaking the sand from them and setting them down with the rest of his things.

"Sometimes, when I can, yourself?"

”I rarely have time to make the effort to come down here. But when I do it’s always a pleasure.” She could be considered a person with no life if one stopped and took the time to think about it. All she did was work, read, sleep or eat. That was the vast majority of her life and it kind of bothered her at times. But oh well. What can a person do when work takes up all the time? At least she was taking a few art classes at the moment to get her to relax some. Especially after her incident with Kaldun.

”Do you bring your friend down as well when you come?” Friend being the mule that just attempted to run her over.

No, he shakes his head.

"It's the first I've brought him. I doubt I'll be bringing him back anytime soon."

Stupid thing, misbehaving. He wants to be working with the gray mare, but she is the lesson horse and thus occupied at this time.

She chuckles at his response.

”Perhaps he was just excited to be out on the beach for the first time.” It’s not like anybody could understand what an animal is saying. Well, unless there was some person out there that could do something like that. She’d never met a person that could though.

He doesn't know exactly what they're thinking, but with as much time as he spends around them, Montrez has a pretty good idea.

"I don't think so. He's been fighting me all day." It's the blunt truth, but not harshly given.

”Well stubbornness is a popular personality trait.” She said shrugging her shoulders. ”Perhaps he was just having a bad day.”

Montrez shrugs, gathering his things and deciding not to comment. He doesn't need to because he sees no point in arguing with a person less knowledgable than himself.

When he spoke nothing in return she suddenly felt like she was intruding upon him. She stopped walking.

”If I’m bothering you, you can just tell me to go away.” She said with a laughing tone of voice to show if she was it was no hard feelings if he told her to basically scram.

"You're not bothering me," he shook the sand from his sandals, "I just don't talk much."