A Slight Swim

[Bree]

Micheal nudged Piceous to the edge of the water. Come to think of it she had never taken Piceous swimming. There's always a first time for everything though. Pie sniffed the water raising little wells in the shallows. Micheal nudged the horse on. She stepped in willingly but stayed in chest deep water. Micheal wanted to jump in but didn't want to push her horse. Gently she asked Pie to go a little deeper. The rising water felt good on her naked feet. She splashed a little water with one foot. Piceous stopped and looked intently on the spot where the drops had landed. She dipped her muzzle into the cool water and blew air bubbles.
Micheal smiled slowly.
"Feels good doesn't it?"
She pet Piceous scratching her neck. The horse walked deeper into the water and Micheal let her choose where they would go. Piceous stepped up to her withers. Shaking her head her muzzle splashed Micheal with tiny dribbles of water.
"Real nice."
She said wiping away the slobber water. Piceous sipped the water eagerly.

[DJ]

Dazzle swam around for a while more before heading towards the bank, wanting to get out. Hope allowed her to step out of the water and climb up the sandy beach.

Dazzle stood and looked around before extending her neck and shaking. Hope gasped and hung onto the horse's mane, but the shake was too powerful to stay on a wet horse. Hope slid off the side of the mare onto the sandy ground becoming sand-covered and gross-feeing.

She stood up and brought Dazzle over to the picnic table, where she happily munched on the nearby leafage around it.

Hope traveled back to the water, leaving the mare to eat with her halter on and climbed in, careful to stay out of Micheal's way. She swam out to the rock and climbed up onto it, sitting down and dragging her feet around through the water.

[Bree]

Micheal had to look away to keep from smiling. She knew that feeling. Piceous stepped in enough to swim the horse instinctively swam. Micheal swam off of the horse staying close the her side. Pie quickly headed back to the ground. Micheal climbed aboard as Pie stepped onto ground. Her horse dripped with water as she started to shake off the excess. Micheal groaned and jumped off quickly before she would suffer the same fate as Hope.

After Piceous finished shaking Micheal did a flying mount which didn't work as well on a wet horse. She had to grab mane to keep from falling off the other side. Chuckling she pulled herself upright and walked Piceous near Hope. She sighed and lept down and waded into the water. The water rose higher than she could swim so she floated on her back up to Hope staying in the water. She really didn't feel like talking but she knew Hope must have some questions.

[DJ]

Hope smirked to herself when she saw Micheal slip off of Pie. She swam over to where Hope was sitting and Hope didn't want to make eye contact in a threatening sort of way, so she just looked down at her feet she swished back and forth in the water.

"So." Hope paused. "What's up?" She didn't look up, just stared down.

She didn't want to be nosy, but she really wanted to know what was up.

[Bree]

Micheal took a deep breath. What did bother her most about the situation? She felt horrid whenever she was around her parents but that's not a reason to cry, especially when your not around them at the time. She hated it when they argued but they weren't mad at her or yelling at her in fact the contrary they out-did each other in giving to her.
"I guess I'm sad that I'm not anything to them except something to spite each other with."
She tried to shrug but it didn't work too well in water. It forced her to loose her balance and dip into the water. She shook her head and blew off the drips of water that glided down to the tip of her nose. Piceous was a gift from her father, her Hermes saddle from her mother, dressage lessons from her father, what next? But like a rush of air something came over her that she realized.
"My parents are getting a divorce and there is nothing I can say that will make them change their minds. It's like... it's like I was a mistake and they'd both be happier if I had never existed then nothing would have gotten in the way of their happiness. Who cares what I need and want. Is having a normal family so much to ask?" Her mouth moved back and forth as she thought. Had she said too much?

OOC: It's so hard trying to think of what a girl going through a divorce would act like. DD:

[DJ]

Hope felt terrible for Micheal, and wasn't really sure what to do. She wanted to wrap her arms around Micheal and give her a tight hug, but kept herself under control by looking at her feet, dipped in the water that was starting to feel chilly.

She snuck a peek at the horses, who were happily exploring the forest-side on the beach.

She nodded at Micheal's words, trying to understand although it had never happened to her. "Well, I know at least three people who care?" Hope wanted to give Micheal a hug, and it was so hard not to, but she tried to stay under control, not wanting to make Micheal feel comfortable.

[Bree]

Without moving the water seemed to grow cold. She thought about what Hope said. Although while some people did still care it's not the same. She bit her bottom lip. Looking at Hope she had a new appreciation for her trainer. It was like someone really did care for no ulterior motives.
"Thanks, Hope." She smiled slightly. Micheal had never been one for showing exactly what she meant. But she started to feel uncomfortable with the silence. Ever muscle in her body ached to move away from the discomfort.
"I think we might want to head back. Before the horses get into any trouble." The horse excuse was as much as she could come up with. A smile crossed her face executing the excuse perfectly. She began to swim to the shore shaking with the cold of the blowing wind.


OOC: Sorry, a bit rushed. :/

[DJ]

"Awh. Anytime." Hope was relieved that Micheal seemed to be feeling better, although she wasn't positive that's how she was feeling, although that's what her body lanuage showed.

Hope gazed back up at the horses. "Good idea." She swam across to the shore, staying close to Micheal. Hope didn't mind getting out of the seemingly chilly water and the slowly chilling air, still sticky and warm, but the sun was starting to set back in the sky.

She bounced back up onto Dazzle. Her long shirt covered her bikini. She started up the hill back onto the main trail feeling much more comfortable on the lazy horse. "Want to fasten the pace a bit?" Hope looked toward Micheal. She wanted to canter, but if Micheal didn't want to, that was fine too.

[Bree]

Micheal looked at her naughtily and jumped up on Piceous pressuring her into a hand gallop. The wind blew through the air and whipped her back. As she looked behind her to see Hope it covered her face blurring her vision. Although Pie had been out of the water for a bit she was still hard to cling to being damp. She breathed a sigh of disgust as she tried to feel Pie's mouth then remembered she had put the hack-a-more on. At least when she hung on she wouldn't be sawing Pie in the mouth. She was glad that Piceous was still warmed up or she wouldn't have galloped.

[DJ]

Hope smirked and tightened her thighs on the mare, moving her into a canter. She followed behind Micheal and Pie along the trail.

Dazzle moved easily, following behind Pie, but not going up her butt. Hope was impressed Pie was allowing Dazzle even this close without pinning her ears.

Hope clung onto the mare's mane, not wanting her to tuck her head in and collect with the halter pressure on her nose. She wanted her loose and comfortable.

[Bree]

Micheal felt Piceous for any signs of uneasiness and sign of discomfort. Not seeing or feeling anything she looked behind her to see Hope closer than she thought.
"Good girl, Pie."
Holding the reins with one hand she signaled Hope to come up beside her keeping a close eye on her horse. If it went as she hoped she could break Piceous of her dislike for horses if indeed it came from fear.

[DJ]

Hope slowed Dazzle and asked her to squeeze between Pie and the trees on the trail side.

"Good girl." Hope lightly spoke, watching Pie's facial expressions.

OOC:: I'll let you describe Pie. :3

[Bree]

Micheal could see Piceous roll her eyes to look at the oncoming horse her nostrils flared trying to catch her scent. She didn't feel any tensing but only that she wanted to go faster.

Micheal looked ahead and let Pie go the horse poured on more speed passing the other horse and just when she was clear she slowed Piceous to be behind Hope's horse. Piceous protested fighting against the hold she had on her. Pie threw her head up and pulled to her heads extent.
"That's right, you want to catch up to her don't you?"
The horse snorted in unison with her gait.
"Just a little bit longer."
Whispering into the horse's ears she pulled her back further. She ignored the burning sensation in her hands. She got into position and clucked her faster releasing her hold. Piceous shot forward reaching up to the horse ahead. Micheal let out a laugh but the wind blew it away. She looked at Hope and winked as she started pulling Piceous to a walk. The wind had made her eyes water like tears.

[DJ]

Hope turned to watch Micheal and laughed at her when Pie shot forward, wanting to catch up with Dazzle. Her herd instinct must have been kicking in, wanting to be with other equines.

"She's doing awesome!" Hope exclaimed towards Micheal who was now closer to her again. Pie pinned her ears when getting closer, but didn't tense up next to the mare.

"She's out in the paddock alone right now, correct?" Hope asked, thinking Pie needed a pasture-mate.

[Bree]

"Right now, yes."
Micheal said rubbing her horse's rounding neck. Piceous reached toward the other horse but her ears were back so Micheal pulled her back in to line.
"I think she may pull out of this yet."
Piceous sighed as put her head down with her ears back listening to Micheal. She laughed at the unhappy look Piceous made. She was just waiting for her to lick her muzzle then she would know she was ready to be friends.