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Post by Lillian Alexis Keller on Apr 10, 2011 15:09:21 GMT -5
Lily Keller && Romanidon't you wish you were a fly on the wall?So that's the garden to your right, and here's the academy barn. There are several academy horses here, but stay away from the stallions, they can be vicious, especially if you don't know how to handle them. Geldings are in the middle ten stalls, and mares in the first ten stalls. Pick your horse, and the stable hands will groom and tack your horses up for you."
Lily walked to the back of the barn, where her stallion was. His name was Romani, and he was a cremello Anglo-Arabian. "This is my boy, Romani. He's a big lovable sweetheart, especially for being a stallion of his breed, normally, his breed can be very tempermental, but he takes after his mama. I raised him myself." Lily led him out into the aisle, and began grooming him. When she was finished, she put a hackamore on him, nothing else. She would be riding bareback, Lily hated riding with saddles and all of the other tack. When she rode bareback, she felt more in tune with her horse. "You're going to want riding boots, in the tack room should be some extra boots of every size."
[/left][/blockquote][/blockquote] [[note:I'll be moving this thread around the site, to the different boards.]][/blockquote] |
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on Apr 10, 2011 15:37:12 GMT -5
Robin nodded slightly to tell Lily she had heard. Walking slowly down the aisle, her eyes flickered from stall to stall, occasionally smiling as she viewed the mares in these first ten stalls. Finally, she stopped at the end of the section, in front of a wide stall containing a calm looking Appaloosa.
After motioning over a stable hand, the older man helped her lead the montgomery black horse, (her plate read 'Link') over to a cut out in the wall near Lily. At first watching the man begin to saddle the mare up, she variously asked the man if she could try to finish it. With a few pointers, and a several flashbacks later, Link was saddled up and ready to go.
Slowly, Robin grasped the front of the braided reigns and lead the mare cautiously over to where Lily stood, already having retrieved the right sized boots several minutes ago.
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Post by River Tam on Apr 10, 2011 17:32:43 GMT -5
**THE WORLD KEEPS TURNING**
She doesn’t trade her shoes. She figures the vintage leather boots she always wears resemble riding boots enough to pass. River steps cautiously into the room, her gaze flickering around at the horses around her. She can hear everything they’re saying. It’s almost too much. They’re so loud. So curious. For the second time that day, she bites her lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Shh… Quiet. Please.” she murmurs, knowing that the horses will understand her. Most of them ignore her. The mares turn to look at her, but she walks past them, picking her way carefully, as though one wrong move will set off an explosion. One of the geldings, a pitch black Thoroughbred, looks straight at her with large, intelligent eyes. River stops in front of him, extending her hand palm-up. She flashes back to ten years before now, when she was five, standing in front of a horse almost identical to this one. She remembers how when the groom tried to saddle the horse, he reared and almost took out a fence. The stubborn little girl she was, River refused to pick another horse. She learned to ride bareback.
The shining silver plate on his door reads Altair. Flying Eagle. After flagging down the old groom and slipping the bridle over Altair’s head, River swings onto Altair’s back, her legs hanging loosely down by his flanks. She clucks softly and joins Robin and Lily, holding the braided leather reins loosely.
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Post by Lillian Alexis Keller on Apr 10, 2011 18:12:12 GMT -5
Lily Keller && Romani
don't you wish you were a fly on the wall? Lily noted their choices, they'd picked safely. Both horses were calm, and used in the begginners' lessons. They'd be safe mounts for the girls. "Everyone ready?" She noticed that River also rode bareback, which wasn't unexpected. Lily smiled at the fact that she hadn't switched her shoes. Oh well, least they won't slip through the stirrups if she's riding bareback.
Taking one last glance at the girls, Lily nodded. "Let's head off then." She squeezed her legs ever so slightly, imperceptible, unless you were an experienced instructor. Romani set off at a brisk canter, and was soon to the first trailhead. It was a basic trail, only a few obstacles of low intensity. She planned on showing them the saltwater creek that split the island in two. There was also a chance that they might see some wild horses on this trip.
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on Apr 10, 2011 19:40:46 GMT -5
(Oh, wow. Thanks, Dawn. Now I feel in-superior with my saddle. XD Well, you'll regret it if we get lost and have to make shelter with the saddle. Which, you know, would never happen since one of us can change into a bird and fly to safety, one probably can never get lost, and the other can see around her in pitch-blackness. But, you know, it could happen. Then, you'll thank me. )
Robin lightly nudged the Appaloosa into action, nervously bringing the horse into a trot. Eventually, seeing how far ahead Lily had already gone, Robin eased Link into a gentle lope-- quickly gaining ground and closing the distance between herself and Lily to about two horse-lengths. There, Robin pulled slightly back on the reigns, slowing the mare down and taking time to enjoy the scenery without the fear of being left behind.
Memories swirled back at a mile a minute, and Robin remembered how to position herself in the saddle to make this half-trot more comfortable. Taking the braided reigns in one hand, she stroked the black maned neck of Link; wondering if the horse would like mints, as Tiki (a horse she used to ride) had once had. Robin shook her a few strands curly hair out of her face, glad she had before braided the rest of her hair back before-hand.
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Post by River Tam on Apr 11, 2011 5:42:21 GMT -5
(Hehe, you're welcome :3) **the world keeps turning**
Her eyes flutter shut. Her face turns to the sky. Remarkably, she keeps her balance as Altair starts off toward Lily and Robin, as well as Romani and Link. This brings back so many memories. Not of learning to ride-- of home, and her mother and Simon… She swallows the growing lump in her throat, and opens her eyes again. They shine with fresh tears, which she quickly wipes away with the back of one hand.
The others are getting farther away. She squeezes slightly around Altair’s barrel, pressing him into a quick canter. She presses herself down into his back, twining her fingers in the base of his mane. The distance gradually closes, until she pulls back on the reins, slowing to match Link’s and Romani’s speed.
“So, um, where are we going, exactly?” she asks tentatively, not wanting to blindly follow a girl she had just met earlier that day into territory she had never seen before. It’s not that she doesn’t trust Lily-- she does, kinda. She’d found it hard to trust anyone lately. Robin seems trustworthy enough as well, she decides.
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Post by Lillian Alexis Keller on Apr 11, 2011 16:11:28 GMT -5
Lily Keller && Romani
don't you wish you were a fly on the wall? "This trail will take you to the highest point of the island, and we'll be passing alittle pond, several groves where wild horses like to hang around, some hot springs, and the little creek that split the island in half. The view is amazing up at the highest point." Lily replied, turning around to look at the two girls. First up would be the hotsprings, Lily was glad she'd changed into shorts before leaving.
"First obstacle, if you're not comfortable with jumping, you can always go around!" Nudging Romani into a slow gallop, she positioned herself. Romani leaped over the log, and landed gracefully. Cantering a ways off, she stopped, and looked back at the other two. "Hotsprings are just ahead, and the horses will want to go in them. They don't go past most horses barrels, but we'll want to remove the saddle if Link goes in, Christina."
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on Apr 11, 2011 16:31:49 GMT -5
:::::::::::::::::
"The key to change... is to let go of fear."
::::::::::::::::: Robin blinked, before nodding quickly. It had surprised her to hear her old name, the name she had left behind so long ago. Lost in thought, she hardly noticed as she nudged Link into a soft lope until the duo was soaring over the barrel. Startled into a grin, the girl relished the feeling of flying, until Link's hooves hit solidly on the ground. Loosing the smile, Robin clicked the reigns and swung Link to the left; slowed down, only slightly, in case River came out much faster than what Robin expected. Whipping her braid out of her face, which had whapped Robin sorely in the fore-head upon landing, the girl slid her head side to side enjoying the scenery. Although she worriedly noted the clouds in the distance, she figured they looked fluffy and white, despite their size and moved on. Leaves seemed to float around like rain, swirling beautiful shades of yellow, red, and the classical green. They littered into a small stream that ran along the path, giving a curious but pretty look to the area. ::::::::::::::::: (Hahaha! Envy my post-sig!) |
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Post by River Tam on Apr 12, 2011 5:40:35 GMT -5
**the world keeps turning**
River shivers, one large shudder, more out of expectation than fear, and squeezes her calves. Altair’s gait slowly, steadily increases until the two are galloping, the horse’s long legs flashing over the ground. River breathes in, out, in, and then Altair leaps.
The girl’s face tilts toward the sky, the moment seeming to stretch on in eternity. Leaves swirl around, crackling softly as they hit the ground. The wind shushes softly as it moves through the trees. The springs, not far ahead, bubble softly, gurgling and splashing, almost like laughing. River echoes the sound, a light, jingling laugh bubbling up from somewhere inside her. A leaf lands on her forehead for a second, a redish orange one. Like fire. A giddy grin stretches across her face.
The jump is over far too soon, Altair’s hooves touching down with a solid sound. The pair races out in front of the others, still galloping, until River is able to twine her fingers in the reins, which had fallen from her grasp somewhere in the ecstasy of flying, or almost flying. She turns her mount slowly, not much paying attention to what she’s doing, thinking more of how it felt to be in the air, on Altair’s back. She wonders why she ever quit riding before. The smile fades slowly, and by the time it is gone, she is back with the other two, silently vowing that she will never stop jumping.
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Post by Lillian Alexis Keller on Apr 12, 2011 19:23:56 GMT -5
Lily Keller && Romani
don't you wish you were a fly on the wall? Lily smiled as River breezed past them. Lily nudged Romani into a slow gallop, it was a straight, flat stretch from here to the hot springs. Romani loved the hot springs, they were probably his favorite place on the whole island.
Finally reaching the springs, Romani pulled to get in. Lily though, restrained him. She didn't know if the others were going to let their horses in. After a few minutes of silent arguing with Romani, she let him wade in the shallowest of the pools, almost up to his shoulders. Romani sighed, relaxing in the hot water. His eyelids drooped half-way, Lily smiled, and rubbed his neck. "Come one in, the water is great,"[/b Lily said, turning to look at the two girls.
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on Apr 12, 2011 20:02:30 GMT -5
::::::::::::::::::::::: "But all good things...":::::::::::::::::::::::[/center][/size] Go, Go! Robin yelled inwardly, barely suppressing her glee as Link transitioned into a leaping gallop. They skittered around a sharp bend, moving in one fluid motion, and then was the prairie-like-fields.
WhooooooooooOOOOOSH! The grass flattened as the duo whirled by, and Robin was half-surprised they didn't catch fire under the pounding of Link's hooves. Instead, the only thing left of their trail was slightly trampled looking grass.
Unfortunately, all good things, must come to an end. Robin and Link slid to a halt beside the warm rapids of the spring, both seeming to radiate an aura glee and breathlessness, both their shoulder's heaving. Quickly, not wasting a moment, Robin swiftly dismounted, a fluid and musical business and hoped onto the ground.
"...but we'll want to remove the saddle if Link goes in, Christina." Robin, almost not thinking about what she was doing-- unclipped the saddle swiftly and removed the blanket underneath. She rolled it up into a long, almost fajita-like shape, and tied it with her satin red scarf, not wanting it to get wet. Then, Robin swung herself back up onto Link and guided her into the warm, but very clear and beautiful water. |
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Post by River Tam on Apr 12, 2011 20:54:07 GMT -5
**the world keeps turning**
Lily rushes past her, and River spurs Altair into a quick canter, falling into line behind Robin. Her mount, sensing the approaching springs, lets out a small whinny. She laughs, low in the back of her throat, and says to him--
“Soon. Be patient.”
In just a moment, she reaches the springs, and pulls back on the reins, stopping right at the edge of the water. The reins are almost pulled from her grasp as Altair strains for the relief of the water, but River resists. She loops the reins in a knot so they won’t fall off into the water, and swings down onto the ground. “Go.” she says simply, and, without a second thought, the horse lunges forward into the stream. She steps back out of the mud and drops down onto a dry patch of grass, pulling lighty at the green blades with her fingers.
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on Apr 13, 2011 18:53:19 GMT -5
::::::::::::::::::::::: "Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes - every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man."
:::::::::::::::::::::::[/center][/size] Robin, ontop of Link's back let her fingers trail through the water by bending half-way over the black spotted side of her new friend, in a way that tested her flexibility greatly. The ripples that appeared when her fingers trailed through the clear blue water fascinated her, and she sat in silence for a few minutes as Link relaxed in the shallow water. But something was off. Robin silently bent back up straight again, tilting her head and twisting it backwards to stare at River.
River. If her name meant a powerful form of water, why didn't the girl herself get in? Tying the reigns like River had done, Robin leapt gracefully down into the warm water, and waded her way over to the bank where River sat. At first, Robin said nothing-- simply thinking as she stood. Finally, without a word, Robin extended a hand. |
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Post by River Tam on Apr 13, 2011 20:16:30 GMT -5
**the world keeps turning**
They’re probably having dinner right now. Sitting at the table, wondering how my day was at School, wondering why I haven’t written for days, months, years. I wonder if they miss me. Of course they do. How could you even think that?! Stupid River. Or do they? Is Simon a doctor yet? Is he still in medical school? Is everyth-- A drop of water lands on her knee. River jumps.
It’s only Robin. A soaked, dripping Robin. She surreptitiously wipes the droplet with the back of her hand, and looks up. Right at the other girl’s extended hand. “I’m good here, thanks.” she says, smiling to take the edge off her words. She hopes it didn’t come out too harsh, with the biting, razor-sharp edge she had developed over the years. It wasn’t meant like that. More of, thanks for caring, but no thanks. But that’s not right either.
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