A New Beginning

[Bree]

Tuesday

The steady clicking of Piecous's shoes rang through the aisle. The black Hanoverian was well built with the look off good training each muscle shined with it's own brilliance as each step made them tremble. Pie's bright blue eyes looked on every new territory with the look of aire about her.

The girl leading her ,17 year old Micheal, quickly pushed back a stray piece of blond hair. She took in the wonderful smell of the barn the horses, hay and leather combined to make a delight to her senses. Her tall build made her a good size for the Hanoverian who now whuffled a sigh in her ear.

Micheal smirked and talked quietly to Pie, "It's nice to be finally settled down isn't it?"
The horse as if it actually understood bobbed her head up and down then settled her head munching on invisible hay.
"You big ham. You know you'll have to get used to horses now, you're no longer on your own yard.", Micheal whispered pulling up one eyebrow for dramatic effect.

Micheal looked at each stall trying to find the one alloted for Pie.
"Ah, here it is." ,she sighed peering into the stall to look and see if there was any bedding in it, thankfully there was. "Well here is your new home. Until heaven knows what my parents will cook up." ,Micheal whispered the last sentence tapping Pie's muzzle. She wiggled her mouth trying to break up the last thought. Turning Pie into the stall she checked all the vitals; water, hay and lock. Another deep sigh broke the silence as she closed the bottom door.
"Wish me luck." She whispered through a half-hearted smile. At Piceous's snort she dropped the grin.
"Pretty bad, huh?" She said palming her horse a piece of carrot and one last pat. She walked off slowly then walked back wards to see what Pie was doing, eating of course. She whipped around to head out into the blinding sun.

[Bree]

Wednesday

The morning dawn brought the bird's singing, the sun's shining and Micheal. Her dark, blond hair pulled tight in a blue hair pretty. Her clothes held a pristine quality without trying, the blue shirt clean from any wrinkles was tucked neatly into her khaki riding pants. The bright blue eyes she usually had were dampened by black circles around each one. The custom-made, John Lobb, riding boots from Herm she wore shined bright even in the dim light and made an sickening thudding quality in the barn where only the sounds of vague shuffling could be heard.

Micheal let out a yawn that she thought might have broke her jaw. She rubbed her eyes and pushed away the tears that accompanied the yawn. Another yawn broke her step but she didn't bother to wipe her eyes instead she groaned softly.

Piceous stuck her head out of her stall and looked her way. A deep nicker vibrated the piece of hay dangling from her clenched muzzle. Pie's blue eyes begged her to come closer.

"Hey girl.", Micheal said as the rubbed Pie's cheek she smirked as she pulled the strand of hay from her mouth and Pie quickly ate it back up. After palming a piece of carrot she stepped into the stall. Piceous' mane and forlock was dotted generously with hay and shavings.
"You don't like to eat you food you like to bathe in it.", She tried to smile but it wouldn't come. Pushing past the rock in her throat she croaked, Oh Pie, they were yelling again I..I couldn't sleep. Another yawn was plain evidence of that.
Pie whickered gently as Micheal pulled each strand of hay out of her hair. "I'll be back.", she whispered ducking out of the stall and heading for the wheelbarrow and pitch-fork.

After she had cleaned the stall and checked her hay and water she leveled off Pie's grain and dumped it into her corner bucket. After Pie nosed her to be sure that she wasn't getting anymore treats she dug deep into the feed. Micheal gave her one last pat and closed and locked the stall door. Leaning over the stall door she said only for Pie,
"I'll work you soon, there is no way I'm going back to you-know-what until I absolutely have to.", At Pie's flicking ears she walked off down the aisle and out-side.

[Bree]

Thursday

It was early in the morning when Micheal came to the stable. Her appearance was much the same, minus the dark circles she bore yesterday. The dark blond hair, pulled into a tight ponytail, swung from side to side with every step she took. Yesterday she was thin and stretched but today her blue eyes were full of life, amazing what a good bit of rest can do for oneself. Her full lips glistened with the sheen of freshly put on lip-gloss. She peered into some stalls admiring the figures within and enjoying the never mistakable horse smell. The dim lights above draped the whole barn in an ethereal glow. The stable aisle seemed dead, only the steady sound of her boots treading was it's weak heartbeat.

Micheal walked up to Piceous' stall. The big black Hanoverian opened her eyes from her peaceful doze and walked to the stall door. A silent nicker, only distinguishable by the quivering nostrils, warmed Micheal starting from her feet and traveled to her cheeks.
"Too early for you, Pie?" , she laughed, "Well at least someone's happy to see me." Micheal's eyes rolled but when she looked at Piecous she smiled again. She straightened out Pie's forlock and rubbed her poll fondly. Pie's eyes drooped until they were completely closed, a simple touch was so therapeutic for both of them. When Micheal stopped Piceous opened her eyes she chewed softly then rubbed her face on the front of Micheal's shirt. Micheal grinned looking down at her white shirt which now sported black hairs. "I wonder what my mother would say if she saw my new clothes like this?" She snickered at the thought. Reaching down into the pocket of her pants she produced a carrot that Piceous took gratefully. She munched it happily then blew carrot breath in Micheal's face. Micheal blew back into Pie's nostrils an old Navajo trick meaning that she accepted her friendship.

She patted Pie and went down the aisle coming back with wheel-barrow and rake. She set to work emptying the stall. Piceous moved politely whenever she needed to.

After she had finished forking in the new shavings she checked her water and gave her her morning feeding and refilled the hay net.

"After your finished I'll put you into the pasture.", She said tapping the stall door and walking away.

[Bree]

Friday

Micheal was getting used to being here in the morning while the stable still slumbered. Her hair, which usually swung in a tight ponytail, was up today in a tight bun. Her riding pants and polo shirt fit snuggly giving her a pristine and simple quality which made her now, more than ever, look her European roots. Her face was stoic like in a deep thought, Bearing neither smile nor frown, until she came to Pie's stall and immediately going in.

The horse's eyes pleaded for her; Piceous wanted her touch and warmth. Micheal submitted scratching her favorite spot, right on her poll, until the Hanoverian nodded off. Piceous and Micheal sighed at the same time which made Micheal softly grin. Taking a piece of horse cookie from her other hand she let Pie lip it up from her outstretched hand tickling her palm with her whiskers.
"You need a trim.", A smile started at the corners of her mouth but it faded as quickly as it started. Another sigh shook echoed throughout the barn. "It's really happening, Pie." Looking down she shook her head. "I guess I always knew but never prepared for it.", Her eyes were moist and she curled her lips. "It's not like I care.", She said managing to muster a smile. "Yes you do; stop lying to yourself." She shook her head erasing any thought.
"But I'm here now and I still have you to take care of." Smiling she rubbed her poll and then set off for the wheelbarrow and pitchfork. She finished the stall in recored time and refilled Pie's hay manger and refilled her water. Then, measuring the right amount, dumped her grain into the corner bucket. She bit her lower lip and pet Pie before letting herself out of the stall and disappearing into the outside.

[Bree]

Monday

Early mornings were draped in monotony for Micheal. The haze and chilling wind set the stage for the first few rays of sunlight coming from the rising sun. Each ray danced against the barn side in perfect ecstasy knowing not and wanting not. A tinge of jealousy crept over her sending chills that twinged her tall frame. You need serious help. Lately the voice inside her head had taken on a sarcastic note. She shook her head and sighed, which had become a fast forming habit. But perhaps for the first time she actually agreed with her inside voice.

Micheal did enjoy the stables when no one was there yet, although she didn't mind human companionship it paled in comparison to horses. She felt that each horse had a story, a personality and a bright mind that made them so easy to connect to. But other horses had not the pull that Pie had on her. The sleek Hanoverian still took her breath away. Bright blue eyes, a trait both Piceous and Micheal shared, greeted her every morning. She rubbed her horse's poll fondly as she slipped into her stall. Never did anything smell better than horse. She took a deep breath filling her lungs with the divine scent.
"You're a goddess you know that?", Piceous twisted her head to look at Micheal her quizzical expression made Micheal laugh. She rubbed along her neck under her mane while she left the stall.

She returned with wheelbarrow and pitchfork and finished up her chores making sure to water, feed and refill Pie's hay manger.

The sun rose quickly bathing the grounds in its light a sight that made Micheal grin. Nothing was better than this; the bright morning, a crisp day, and being with her horse, hopefully the day would fare as well as the morning.

[Bree]

Tuesday

Like usual Micheal's hair was worn in a tight but low ponytail. Its contents, a dirty blond that shimmered in the new morning's light.
Her breeches and polo, which had a small "East Coast Dressage Clinic" logo, fit comfortably around her tall but muscular build. Her arms showed the signs of many hours riding for many years.

Micheal leaned up against the outside of the barn to watch the sunrise for a bit. The purple skies that surrounded the tip of the orange ball reflected on to the ground in a dark essence. Scarcely a wind was blowing and all she could hear was her own breathing. She felt like the only one in the world. If only that was possible. She stopped that thought she had met many nice people here and just because other people... "No, I'm not doing that... here."

She walked into the barn like all her troubles were manifested in that one spot and walking away would leave them all behind. She hardly looked into the other stalls that held the dozing creatures. She needed Piceous and nothing else mattered. The horse never failed her. As soon as Pie saw her she nickered to her happy to see her. A smile crossed Micheal's face.
"I wish I could stay here with you. That would be perfect." She rubbed Pie's poll, afraid to even think of it for knowing it would never happen. Yet another thought crossed her mind. "I could always get my own apartment." She whispered hopefully to Pie. What a solution. She couldn't tell if the voice was being sarcastic or not.
"I'll be back, you know if you did your own chores I wouldn't have to do this." She smirked and walked off to get the stall cleaning supplies.

When she had finished putting the new shavings into the stall she had thoroughly hashed out every good and bad detail and put them into a list in her mind. The good out-weighed the bad. "The only problem I see is that I'll have to be eighteen, but my birthday is in a few months perhaps if I pay in advance... No, I'll wait but it has to be done. For my sanity." Piceous bobbed her head.
"Ham." Micheal shook her head and finished up her chores of watering and feeding Pie.

[Bree]

Wednesday

Mornings were beginning to be a regular occurance at the barns to Micheal, early mornings that is. She could come later but she hardly trusted anyone, even if it was her best friend, to take care of her beloved Pie. Yet, with all that, perhaps there was another reason. The clear lines of Micheal's face told of her European descent. She had pale skin even though she was outside at the stables most of the time. Her hair was down but somewhat frizzy and she sported jeans instead of her crisp and clean breeches she usually wore.

She grabbed the pitchfork and wheelbarrow before she even went to Pie's stall. But when she did reach it a familiar face greeted and nickered sofly.
"Well, I can't wait until I'm eighteen." She said shaking her head. Pie snorted wrinkling up her muzzle.
"My thoughts exactly."
Micheal entered Pie's stall and quickly fished out the dirty shaving and after dumping them put the new shaving in.
"Sorry I have to leave you so soon. I have some errands to do."
She rubbed Pie's poll briskly and set off for her feed and a flake or two of hay. Scopping out the correct ammount she dumped it into the corner feed bucket and while refilling Pie's water bucket at the spigot she placed the flakes of hay into the manger. Returning then with her water bucket and placed it on the hook on he wall.
"I'll excersise you later today."
She patted Pie's sloping back and set off outside.