A Slight Swim

[DJ]

Hope gave the mare a squeeze to walk on and gripped tightly with her thighs unsure of why she was slightly nervous.

The mare walked slow, but rhythmically, and Hope attempted to settle down into the swinging of the mare's barrel. She forced herself to breathe: in through her nose and out through her mouth, although her chest was tight and uncomfortable and her lungs were seemingly reluctant.

Maybe it's because I'm riding alone, she suggested to herself. I never ride alone on the trail. And she wasn't even sure why she was doing it today, but Dazzle needed training and Hope was unable to find anyone else to ride with.

The dappled grey equine stepped carefully along the trail, heading slowly toward the beach. Her chest was slightly damp from the heat and her back was sticky under Hope's legs.

"Well Dazzle, I hope you'll like the water." Hope stoked her neck as if to comfort the mare who was currently sluggish as she dragged her feet among the dirt on the path. It seemed as though the rider was comforting herself.

Hope lifted her hand off of the braided lead rope and flicked a bug off of the dark hunter over-sized shirt she was wearing to cover up her bikini. She grasped back onto the lead rope quickly, not noticing her white hands from gripping it so tightly.

[Bree]

Micheal cantered Pie along the trail her hands letting Piceous have her head. The horse stayed in a steady canter that breathed life into the moving ground underneath them. The melodious three-beat clicking of Pie's hoofs sent a shiver of excitement up her back. Her eyes beamed with certain pleasure. Her legs gripped the sleek ribs of the black Hanoverian. Unlike her normal wear she donned a blue halterkini with a boy short bottom. Her hair whisked in the breeze circling behind her and twittering here and there. The nylon hackamore bridle jiggled with every stride.

She cantered on until she spotted Hope.
"Hey, Hope" She called from a ways away not wanting to spook her horse. The sound carried loudly but soft to not startle either one of those up ahead.

[DJ]

Hope jumped and tensed a bit at the unexpected voice. She turned her body to peer behind her without letting go of the leadrope.

"Oh! Hi, Micheal." Hope gave a slight smile to the other rider and turned forward again, tightening her left leg on the mare's side. Dazzle yielded to the right, moving away from the pressure, and Hope relaxed her leg as much as it would relax.

Hope gestured to Micheal to move to her left side on the trail, so they were able to walk side by side.

She wanted to fan her shirt, from the heat, but didn't want to let go of the lead rope, connected to the mare's purple halter.

Hope continued for the beach, wanting to get into the cool river.

[Bree]

Micheal smiled rawly and shot her eyebrows up. Without another emotion she trotted Piecous to the left-side of the trail. Slowing down Pie to a walk she relaxed her hands making sure to keep her reins even. Piceous stretched her neck trying to loosen Micheal's grip on the reins with no avail. The horse tried to prance in place wanting to go back to a faster gait. Micheal paid no attention to Pie and sat deeper halting any other forms of mischief her horse would try.

When Hope's horse came closer to her, Pie started to grind her teeth. Tightening her upper thighs Micheal signaled her to knock it off. They steadily walked on, waiting for perhaps Hope to talk first.

[DJ]

Hope looked ahead, feeling awkward in the silence. She wanted to break the thick air, but was unsure of what to say.

"So. You ready to swim?"She spoke quietly, not to scare the other rider or horses as she sliced the silence. She smiled awkwardly, scolding herself in her mind at the pointless question.

"I'm hoping Dazzle likes the water." She gave the damp mare a stroke along her neck and sat back up, still looking forward, waiting for the beach.

[Bree]

Micheal rocked gently to the slow gait squinting her eyes from the blinding sun. She looked a moment at Hope she seemed agitated or maybe modest. Juggling these thoughts in her head she remembered that she had been asked a question. Looking forward she replied in a flippant manner.
"I suppose I am, it will be welcome in this heat."
Her eyes held a certain quality that looked like they were about to cry but still held an icy look. The thought of what lurked in the back of her mind was enough for her to cry but why did she feel like it here? If certainly this had been happening for a long time why now, of all times, did it finally hit her? She closed her eyes to block out the sun for a moment. Her hands were clutched tightly to the reins but when she realized it she released the pressure o Piceous' mouth.

[DJ]

Hope deepened her seat on the mare's wet, sticky back and released her tight grip on the mare's reins to raise her seat and wipe some of the grey hair, damp from horse sweat off of the backs of her legs and bottom. It was itchy and uncomfortable, adding to her awkward feelings.

She grasped back onto the reins, not quite as tight as before, and bit half of her lip, unsure of what to do or say as the silence crept back up on the girls.

She reached up, brushing a loose bang out of her face, and tucking it behind her ear, avoiding the helmet strap getting in the way.

She rode forward, avoiding any sudden movements to add to the strangeness of the ride.

[Bree]

Micheal ran her shaking fingers through her loose hair. Piecous shook her head to shake the tension off of the reins. Micheal pictured cutting the tension with a knife, a thought that made her raise her eyebrows. Why are you acting like this, you've talked with Hope before. She didn't know why she froze up but she knew she would be happy when she had something to do. She hoped to see the water ahead but all she saw was trail. She let out a sigh that shattered the silence in a million invisible pieces.


OOC: Mind if I go totally physco on Hope? Not AT Hope but like with Hope. xP

[DJ]

They rode on.

A relieved smile came up on Hope's face as the water appeared a while ahead. A long way, but hey, at least it was visible!

It seemed like an eternity they'd been riding in the silence and it was so good to finally see the glassy river, looking so smooth and cool and delightful in the heat.

Her breathing quickened a bit in excitement as the water neared.

OOC:: Feel free. <33

[Bree]

Micheal looked ahead the river loomed ahead like an oasis in a desert. Its cool waters begged to be used and its lapping shores seemed to beckon to a weary traveler. She took in a deep breath it wouldn't be long now. Immediately her throat clenched would it always be like this? Waiting for the next release from her inner suffering? How can she go on always looking for another escape for the moment from her life? Micheal took three shaky breaths before noticing a familiar lump forming in her throat.
Don't you dare. Only children cry.
Clenching her teeth she tried to at least get to the water but nothing could hold it back now. A lone tear feel down her cheek. Thoughts flooded her head most of them had something to the effect of 'How could they do this?' and 'Why?'.
She burst into tears as she stopped Pie. Piceous turned her head and sniffed her foot wondering why they stopped. She wrapped her arms around Pie's neck and buried her head into her mane. The soft hair soaked up the dropping tears. She felt like turning Piceous around and just galloping away from everything but she was glued to the neck of her horse the only sign of movement was her rising and falling back admist her sobs.

OOC: You asked for it. XD

[DJ]

Hope gasped a bit at the sudden bursting tears and flung herself off of Dazzle. She stepped over to Pie and Micheal and put her arms around the girl's waist as a half-hug only because of the sticky, uncomfortable weather nudged her away from the full-hug feeling, and frankly, she could read Micheal's neck to hug her there.

"What's the matter?" Hope said in a shaky voice, unsure of what was wrong with the sobbing rider. She wanted to talk to her, but if Micheal didn't want to share, that was fine too. She didn't want to upset her even more.

Hope pulled one of her hand away and placed it on Pie's shoulder as the other hand stayed around Micheal's rising-and-falling back, with the irregular breathing you get while crying.

[Bree]

The warm touch made Micheal realize that she wasn't alone which made her feel much worse. She tried to groan but it just made her cough. Piceous turned around and sniffed Hope but stood still. Micheal lifted her head and back-handed her tears away then looked up and rolled her eyes to clear them. She blinked several times her eyes were red and puffy. The water ahead looked so cool and inviting but she new it wouldn't drown out the heat she felt creeping into her cheeks. She took a deep breath and huffed loudly. Staring at the sky she thought of what she cold say, she didn't dare look at Hope.
"I...I can't... I don't... I don't understand why they're doing this." She croaked swallowing the persistent frog that accompanied crying.
"They.. they made a promise. If not to themselves then... then to me. I shouldn't be doing this it's not like I care a thing for them but I can't help it. They're my parents."
She managed to look at Hope.
"I'm so sorry, it seems so horrible but I just don't want to care anymore I want to be by myself I want to just go away.... No, I want them to leave."
She gathered her reins, the thought of running away was so childish but she couldn't help it. It would make her parents happy. The only reason they showered her with gifts anyway was just to out-do what the other did it's not like they cared about what she really wanted. But she was seventeen nearly eighteen why did this hurt her so much?

[DJ]

Hope studied Micheal's face. She saw the girl eyeing the river.

"I feel terrible for not quite understanding, but do you want to go down to the river and talk? It's bloody hot here and I'm sure you're not very comfortable."

Hope didn't understand if Micheal meant she wanted to be left alone by everyone. Maybe just her parents. Or she wanted her parents to go away. A thought popped into Hope's mind of inviting Micheal to stay with her or at the barn, because she certainly didn't seem happy, but she brushed the thought away thinking that wasn't what Micheal was talking about, although she would certainly be welcome at anytime she wanted...

Hope waited for Micheal's reply before getting back on Dazzle to head to the river or turning back.

[Bree]

"Yes, please." she replied quickly. Happily would she leave this spot. Maybe I can drown myself while we're there. Instead of being sad she was now more embarrassed for the sudden outbreak she definitely was not one to share any of her personal thoughts or matters. But the silence made it worse.
"I'm going to get an apartment when I'm eighteen. My birthday is in a few months so luckily it won't be long. It's not like I see them much anyway, they're hardly ever home."
Micheal waited until Hope had mounted before she clucked to Pie to walk on. She felt like such a rich brat.

[DJ]

Hope threw herself ungracefully onto Dazzle's back before asking her to walk on.

She was thrilled when they finally reached the river. Hope dismounted Dazzle again and stripped her extra-large tee of revealing a strappy bikini. She tossed the shirt onto the picnic table on the side and climbed onto it before remounting Dazzle, making the task easier.

She squeezed the mare to walk on and she went down the small hill into the water.

It deepened quickly, but the mare lifted her head, lifting her upper lip and closing her nostrils as Hope hung onto the lead rope and clung onto the mare's mane, as she floated above her back, no longer sitting.

Hope loved the feeling of a smiling horse, with a high head and thrashing, powerful legs keeping both beings above the water.

"I'm glad you were so reluctant to get in," Hope joked to the eager mare.

She decided to let Micheal calm down a bit and maybe after the swim, or during depending on how she was feeling, Hope planned to talk with her because she was really disturbed by the girl's emotions, thinking something was wrong.