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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 17, 2009 19:54:09 GMT -6
Dani swung open the doors to the common room. She had just come from her early morning jog around campus. She had been listening to one of her favorite songs on her lime green iPod Nano, You Belong With Me by taylor Swift. She walked in the room and flopped down on one of the soft comfortable couches and looked at her phone.
"1 new message" it read. she opened her inbox and read the message: Dani, we miss you a lot, but we know you are having fun. We said hi to Jen (Dani's BFF in Wyoming) for you, and she said have fun back. All of the cattle are doing fine, and we can't wait to see you again! Love, Mom, Dad, and William
Dani smiled. Of course she missed her best friend, but she was going to make other best friends, hopefully. She was very lucky, having her family, horses, and other animals back home.
She picked up a girly-girl fashion magazine. How boring... she thought. She didn't care for fashion much at all, except for formal parties and graduation stuff. Dani wasn't a girly-girl, but more of a cowgirl/ranch girl. She put the magazine back on the coffee table. It was at that time she wished someone would come into the common room.
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 17, 2009 20:35:02 GMT -6
Skylar Williams
There was just something about how Sky woke up that told her it was going to be a bad day. Promptly at six a.m. despite the weekend, Sky's alarm clock went off. What happened? Well, that little abrupt return to conciousness sent her crashing onto the floor out of her bed, scaring her roommate awake, nearly throwing her alarm clock out the window and storming off to the shower. Why had she not rolled over and gone back to sleep like her disgruntled roommate? Because once Sky was awake, she was awake for the day. It was an unfortunate trait she inherited from her mother.
Sighing, Sky raked her fingers through her brunette hair, still damp from the shower as she clomped down the stairs. She was wearing jeans faded nearly white in parts, old cowboy boots, a Rascal Flatts concert t-shirt and had a buckskin-colored stetson tucked under her arm. Sky didn't need to look in the mirror to know she probably looked as irritated and tired as she felt. Some of the other students that were awake took one glance and made a point to stay out of her way since it looked like Sky was ready to start snarling. She was not a morning person when it involved falling out of bed too early on a weekend.
Putting on the stetson, Sky sighed and tried to quell her irritation. She'd just go out with Solo and ride for a while or something and come back, maybe take a nap. Sky knew her mom wanted her to stay on the grounds today even though every other student was allowed off grounds during the weekends. It didn't matter anyway. Sky's truck was in the shop, her mom was busy and she really didn't have any reason to head into town. Might as well hang around the school, maybe baby Hotspot and Solo for a while.
Heading into the common area, headed for the little imitation kitchen that really only had a microwave and mini-fridge to its name. She ignored the person lounging on the couch wearing what looked like jogging sweats. Who would be running at this time of day in their right minds? Considering the girl didn't look familiar, Sky just wrote her off as a freshman and pulled open the door of the mini-fridge, snagging a coke and popping the top. She felt like shit, probably looked like it but caffeine helped.
Leaning on the counter dividing the kitchenette and lounge area, Sky sighed, closing her eyes and trying to decide what to do with herself. Six thirty was WAY too early to be awake on a weekend. Weekdays that was fine because class started at seven thirty. Now she had nothing to do that needed to be done in a great hurry. She'd worked Hotspot yesterday and Solo deserved a weekend in the pasture after a hard week of lessons. What was girl to do? No ride, nowhere to go and no one around but a lousy probably self-absorbed freshie. Most freshies were like that, high on getting into an elite riding academy and having egos ten times too big for their itty bitty blond heads. God this day was going to be boring.
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 17, 2009 20:58:44 GMT -6
Dani looked up as the brunette walked through the door. She smiled at the girl. Probably a junior or something. Hey, I'm Dani. she said. Nice to see someone else around here. Of course it's early, but I'm used to getting up at this time to help my dad and the other cowboys feed the horses and stuff. She explained.
Dani got up and grabbed a dr pepper out of the fridge. She opened the can and took a sip. How many horses do you have here and where are you from? She asked, trying to make conversation.
She looke at the junior, who looked quite skeptical. She's probably thinking how stupid blonds are, but we aren't. she thought. Dani gazed around the room, clearly bored with the brunette's crude glances toward her.
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 17, 2009 21:19:31 GMT -6
Of all the people in the school, Sky just had to run into one of the few that was actually awake at six thirty in the morning! Oh God this day was just getting better and better. It was amazingly hard to not roll her eyes at the freshie's insane enthusiasm at being up. God she was a blabber mouth. Would probably tell her life story to an empty room. The urge to roll her eyes became so much that Skylar gave in and rolled her eyes anyway. Grabbing her soda, Sky slid down the counter top away from the hyper freshie. She didn't quite have the energy to just get up and leave. Some distance was better than none though so Sky just cast her a glare. Another cowgirl. Of course, Sky did her share of roughing it with her dad, she drove a beat up truck that wheezed when it started, loved the smell of hay when it had just been cut and had ridden in national rodeo competitions for two years.
"Listen freshie, I'm not in the mood for a loud-mouthed cowgirl that thinks she knows better just because she's awake at an unholy hour" Sky replied sourly.
Normally she was far from sour, downright hospitable around other students but right now she was cranky and tired but not tired enough to sleep. She had nowhere to go and all the time in the world to get there. That was not how Sky liked to operate. She loved being busy, keeping her hands moving and constantly being told to do something or finding something to improve and fix. When Sky got to times like this, she got restless and snappy simply because she was bored out of her mind and in this case sleepy plus mad at herself for not turning off her alarm clock.
"If you must know my name is Sky and I've been in this damn place since it opened. I have two horses and if you go near them I'll cut your arm off." Sky said this in one breath, the thread dead serious. She was protective of her babies, especially Hotspot.
Hotspot had been a rescue, caught in a car wreck while being transferred as a young filly. The mom had been killed and Hotspot had been put up for adoption. Now that Hotspot was a yearling, the Appaloosa saw Sky as her mother and Sky was very happy to keep the sweethearted filly all to herself though she did share with some people when they caught her on a good day. Now was not a good day, at least not for the moment. Solo was a single-rider only and ignored anyone that came near him unless it was Skylar which also made her quite proud. He was passive enough but only gave his full attention to Sky.
Taking another drink of her soda, Skylar put the can down and rubbed her eyes. Thank god she wasn't wearing any makeup. She didn't usually wear it but somedays she chose to. Today it was just too much effort.
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 17, 2009 21:51:49 GMT -6
Dani rolled her eyes at the other girl. She wasn't really surprised at the other girls attitude, but Sky's rudeness sparked something in her. You probably don't know, but when you refer to me being loudmouthed, and also when you say, I quote "cowgirl that thinks she knows better just because she's awake at an unholy hour", I just HAVE to ask myself why on earth YOU are up?! She smiled sarcastically.
I'm not going near her horses nor am I going near her unless I have to! She said to herself. She finished her soda and threw it in the recycling bin.
She raised an eyebrow and stared Sky in the eyes. And unfortunately, I realized that we are in most of the same classes, so you better get used to it. And, no offense, but I feel very sorry for your roommate AND your horses when you are like this! At least I have friends back home. I don't know about you though. |
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 17, 2009 22:04:23 GMT -6
Sky rolled her eyes, not bothering to answer the girl's first question. Why she was up was her own embarrassing fault and not the business of some nosy freshman. Besides, she said awake. Skylar was conscious but far from truly being awake. Whatever. Rubbing her eyes again, Sky tossed out her half full soda, not really interested anymore. Taking a deep breath Sky decided she should probably get off her high horse and settle down. Being up early was no reason to go ripping people's heads off, as tempting as it sounded. So, Skylar just shrugged.
"Whatever kid. As for back home, you are obviously new here so I'll pretend you didn't say that. If you'll excuse me I need to find something to do before I really go kill somebody."
Grabbing a denim jacket she'd brought downstairs from her dorm, Sky shrugged it on, flipping her hair over the collar. Since it was early there would still be a slight chill and the jacket would be enough to keep her from feeling uncomfortable. Luckily the pasture was near the dorms, easily in walking distance like everything at Firefly Fields. If Solo was near the fence she could give him a good morning kiss and maybe get rid of some of her bad attitude before it became her undoing.
Going to a cabinet, Sky opened it and grabbed a box of sugar cubes. Choosing a couple, Sky tossed them into a Ziploc bag and stuffed them in the pocket of her jacket. Ignoring the freshie, Sky stomped out of the dorms, making a line for the pasture fence. The stallion pasture was between the dorm building and the barn where most of the arenas were centered so that mares during classes wouldn't cause an uprise among the stallions being pastured. Heading toward the fence, Sky climbed over easily and perched on the top rail and whistled.
Two stallions were in the pasture, both raised their heads and came trotting toward her. One was a handsome, sturdy buckskin stallion and the other a spindle-legged Thoroughbred. The Thoroughbred hung back but the buckskin nickered and trotted upt to her, nosing her pocket expectantly. Sky smiled and fished out a sugar cube for him.
"You wouldn't believe my morning" Sky informed the buckskin, her beloved western champ otherwise known as Lone Ranger or Solo in the barn. "Can you believe there are people that actually get up this early on purpose?"
Solo snorted, bumping his girl's knee expectantly for another sugar cube.
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 18, 2009 8:58:50 GMT -6
Dani watched Sky stomp out of the room. Whatever she thought. She walked back to her dorm room, and changed into her riding clothes, which was boots, jeans, tank top, and a light-weight sweatshirt. As she walked down the path to the stables, she saw Sky sitting on the pasture fence. Dani walked to Fire's stall, and clipped on his lead, and then did the same to Eclipse.
I wish Sky and I could be friends, don't you Fire? And that would mean that you would be able to meet her horses. She kissed Fire and Eclipse on their muzzles' and then they walked down to the pasture.
After Dani turned her horses into the pasture, she sat on the fence a couple yards away from Sky. Look, I... She glanced at her horses. I'm sorry about back there, in the dorm. I shouldn't have said what I did. I'm sure you have lots of friends. She laughed a bit. Wow... Your horses are beautiful! She looked over the stallions form. A thoroughbred it looks like... she thought. |
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 18, 2009 11:00:58 GMT -6
Skylar stroked Solo's muzzle, appriciating his acceptance of her crankiness. He really was a sweetheart, if only for her. Smiling just a little, smiles were not for mornings, Sky pushed Solo's muzzle gently away from snuffling at her pocket. She had to save some treats for Hotspot if she was ever going to convince the filly to try paying attention. Running a hand down Solo's muscular neck, Sky appraised the stallion with a careful eye.
His coat was a dusty shade of golden buckskin, no dorsal stripe or facial markings. Solo had sturdy legs made for working, standing only fifteen point two hands tall. Even so he was plenty tall for her since it seemed like Hotspot would average out to about sixteen hands when she was grown. For his part, Solo had only four black stockings and a ruddy tawny mane and tail to his name along with a tolerant personality that was highly desired in a four year old stallion. He wasn't born wild but that was fine with Skylar. He was the last present her dad had given her before her parents split, leaving her with a mom she couldn't stand being the same room with, a school of snobby rich kids and just a horse to help her through it all.
Looking up when she heard someone coming, Sky sighed inwardly. It was the freshie, leading two horses toward her. One was a brandy-colored Arabian and the other a sturdier looking paint. The pain was tall for his breed but the Arabian looked roughly the average height, somewhere under sixteen hands but just above fifteen hands tall.
"The Thoroughbred isn't mine, he's one of the school horses, Berry, not even full Thoroughbred, half Welsh Pony actually."
Sky whistled and the crossbred gelding and he ambled over willingly enough. He was only a little taller than Solo, dark red roan with a dark wine-colored face and stockings. His mane was deep bay and he had a pleasantly round belly, sturdy legs and the elegant neck and head of a Thoroughbred.
"Really you're right kid, I don't keep a lot of friends around. Who needs em when I've got handsome boys like these?" Sky laughed, patting Berry's neck.
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 18, 2009 11:28:53 GMT -6
Dani laughed too. Yeah, that's so totally true! I've got my handsome girl and guy with me right now. The paint mare is Eclipse, and the arabian gelding is Fire. They are my sweeties! She stroked Eclipse's mane as they talked. She saw Sky over look her horses, and smiled a bit.
She opened the pasture gate carefully and brought into th pasture Fire and Eclipse. She unclipped their leads and let them go off to graze. Dani fiddled nervously with the lead ropes, as she watched Eclipse touch noses with Berry. By the way, I hope I'm not bothering you. I suppose a lot of people think I'm annoying, but I don't try to be. She said, telling the truth. I miss my friends back at home.
Dani sighed and slumped over the fence. She remembered that last day before she left, her best friend there on a trail ride with her just outside of Yellowstone Nat'l Park.
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 18, 2009 11:56:43 GMT -6
Reaching out, Sky grabbed Solo's halter as the buckskin snorted. What was Dani thinking? Jumping off the fence, Sky kept a firm hold on her stallion, looking over at Eclipse. "You might not want to let her in here. Berry's a gelding but Solo's still a stallion. This is the stallion pasture. The mare pasture is just across that fence over there, a few of the school mares might be in there for her to socialize with."
Sky wasn't trying to be rude. There had been problems before they'd sorted out pastures where prize show mares had gotten pregnant while in pasture with stallions which meant big trouble for the riders and the school. Now the stallion and mare pastures were parrallel but they didn't have the problem of unexpected pregnancies. Really the pastures were just one big pasture that was cut in two. Geldings could be put either with the mares or with the stallions, usually with the stallions when yearlings and foals were with the mares since they were still male and a few geldings had gotten rough with new foals before.
"And don't worry bout it, everybody's like that when they come here. It's a new place, its ok to not like it or be lonely." God she was starting to sound like her mother!
Solo snorted and stomped his hoof, impatient with Skylar's holding and, well, eager to meet the new mare. It wasn't often mares got slipped into the stallion pasture unless it was just one stallion and one mare when the school agreed to let a stallion stud. Solo had studded once last year and his foal was a colt out in Colorado named Solo Sundance. Last Sky had heard the yearling was being broken in for western styles just like his parents, Lone Ranger and Dance to the Sun.
"Once we're done here I need to check the school mares anyway."
Skylar gave Solo a sharp slap on his hindquarters making the stallion snort but set off across the pasture though he was reluctant. Sky hopped the fence, opening the gate for Dani to lead Eclipse out. Most of the school mares would be in pasture today so they could put Eclipse safely away and get her little chore done.
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 18, 2009 13:26:29 GMT -6
Oh, right! Whoops! She quickly clipped the mare's lead back on. Thanks. She said as Sky opened the gait for her. She led Eclipse through the gait and walked toward the other pasture for the mares.
So your mom owns this school? She asked. Dani, as you could tell, was getting bored because there was nothing to talk about. She patted Eclipse on the shoulder. They soon reached the other pasture with the school horses in it. They were quite pretty. She opened the gait and wlaked inside, letting Eclipse go loose. So, were you born here in Kentucky? she asked. I was born and raised in Jackson, Wyoming. It's right neext to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. It's so beautiful back home, and it can get hot there in the summer, but most of the time it's cold. She sat on the fence watching the mares graze.
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 18, 2009 13:58:03 GMT -6
Sky followed Dani toward the mare's pasture, counting in her head as she saw each horse. Kel, Heart, Lady, Cammy and Angel were all their along with her own Appaloosa yearling filly, Hotspot. Leaning on the fence while Dani led Eclipse in to join the others, Skylar sighed. It wasn't as easy as people thought, being the daughter to the owner of an elite invitation-only private school. The only good part was she practically had her own herd of twelve school horses and two of her personal mounts. That was probably the one and only perk of being the daughter of Sonya Williams.
"Yeah, my mom owns this place. I used to live with my dad until the divorce. Got pretty messy and I landed here. The only highlight is the horses but that's about it."
Boosting herself up, Sky stood on the bottom rung of the fence, arms folded over the top rung and whistled. Ears flicked up and heads raised. The horses ambled over, curious about Sky and her newcomer as well as the new mare. The first to reach them was Hotspot, lively and elegant on slender legs with a leopard-spotted Appaloosa coat and baby blue eyes. She went to Sky, snuffling at her shirt and bumping her nose against Sky's shoulder and chest. Following Hotspot were the more social of the school mares.
Rebel Angel, a spunky chestnut Mustang went toward Eclipse followed by the chestnut Irish Hunter that was Dublin's Lady Luck. Your Best Days, a gorgeous if not arrogant chestnut Thoroughbred, headed to investigate Dani with the brown Missouri Fox Trotter that was Heartache Tonight following on her heels. True to hr name, Camera Shy, the bay Dutch Warmblood, hung back watching them all wearily. She was always the shiest, despite anyone actually having a camera with them. Skylar knew from experience, when setting up the school webpage that getting a picture of Cammy was difficult. The mare practically had a phobia of cameras.
"Come on Cammy, say hi" Sky called to the mare.
Cammy snorted and stepped back defiantly. Sky rolled her eyes.
"Don't know why she's so shy, she's been around for a while. This is part of the school herd, these lovely ladies along with Berry. Camelot, Red, Blackie, Spots, Knight and Snow are probably in the barn but you won't have to worry about them since you have your own horses."
Sky leaned over and kissed Hotspot's nose. "This is Hotspot by the way, another year or so and she'll be trained. Did you train Eclipse or Fire yourself?"
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 18, 2009 14:21:05 GMT -6
Dani gazed at Hotspot and smiled. Well, my Dad, one of my friends, and I trained both of them. They were born on our ranch. She explained. Obviously, Fire was more high strung, so we took longer training him. But they've both turned out great, if you ask me. She laughed. I remember when both of them were Hotspots' size and age. They were best buds growin' up together!
Smiling, Dani asked another two questions. Is she going to be trained in western or english, and do you have any dogs or cats here?
She smiled again at the thought of her own two collies named Bear and Pepper. She had gotton them for her 5th birthday. Her Mom had explained that they were the familys', but more Dani's than anyone else's, and that they would help guard the ranch
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Post by Sonya Williams on Jun 18, 2009 14:38:46 GMT -6
Sky nodded, stroking Hotspot's soft muzzle. She wasn't exactly sure how she was going to handle Hotspot's training. The filly had the attitude and willing enthusiasm that would make her a prize show horse but Sky was rather unwilling to approach her mom about training. Maybe her mom would just one day decide it was time to start training? Solo wasn't getting old any time soon so there wasn't any real rush to train Hotspot other than Skylar's own impatience to ride her gorgeous filly. Hotspot had an amazing personality in Sky's opinion and according to vets the perfect build for both being a good show horse and someday a prime broodmare. All positive signs that made Sky just impatient to get started but she didn't want to rush and hurt Hotspot.
"I haven't really decided too much. She's going to be my all-around mare. Mom insists we train her in English pleasure at least but she's going to be going the same way Solo went, straight for a western arena full of barrels and a calf or two."
Sky smiled and Hotspot snorted. The Appaloosa ambled toward Dani whom was still being inspected by the "Queen" of the FFA herd, Your Best Days, former racetrack star and arrogent, loving being the center of attention. Before Sky could snag Hotspot's halter, the filly got up close to sniff at Dani. Of course, Kel, didn't like that. The chestnut Thoroughbred whinnied loud and shrill, swinging her head to knock Hotspot's shoulder making the filly falter. Hotspot whinnied and tossed her head, rolling her eyes and half rearing. Kel snorted loudly, stomping her hooves at the younger mare as the other mares retreated, scattering across the pasture at trots and canters.
"Kel! Stop it you two" Sky barked, jumping the fence and grabbing the cheek strap of Hotspot's halter, pulling the filly away from the agitated Thoroughbred. Hotspot followed Sky, snorting loudly and swinging her tail wildly, blue eyes still rolling slightly. "Kel gets into it with everybody, she's an old racer and has an attitude that makes sour milk look good, she loves to show off and push Hotspot around" Sky told Dani, standing between Hotspot and Kel.
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Post by Dani Elkwood on Jun 18, 2009 14:57:40 GMT -6
Dani laughed. I know. Sometimes Eclipse will get bossy around Fire, and she makes him rather mad! Look at Eclipse now! She's doing her stuff again. She smiled. Watching Eclipse boss around other mares was funny. The sassy mare pranced around the field like she owned the place. Do you have a favorite subject in school? she asked. Most people knew already that Dani's favorite subject was the riding, but otherwise, she would have to say that it was yearbook and American History. She found it very facinating to study about the Native Americans, the revoultionary and cival wars, the old presidents and the pilgrams, and the old settlers that made her home a state. She whistled and Eclipse cantered up to her. The paint was very tall for her breed, but it made her rare and special. She was so tall, that Dani, sitting on a tall fence couls slip onto her back with no effort what so ever.
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