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Post by silverdreams on Jun 29, 2007 14:24:11 GMT -5
Gabe walked along the empty trail, it looked to be long untraveled and brush grew close making the trail very narrow. Gabe lightly touched Blues sides, telling him to keep up his working walk. Blues ears perked up and he picked up his walk, playing with the bit in his mouth and snorting softly. Gabe stretched his legs in his saddle took the reins back in one hand again. He pulled gently on the reins and Blue came to an abrupt stop, Gabe swiftly dismounted in a fluid motion. You could tell be had been doing it all his life.
He grabbed a pack out of the saddle bag and began to unfold a canvas sheet. He set up a few poles and made a simple tent. The location was perfect for his campsite. The tent was under a large shady oak tree and a creek ran about 10 yards from the tent. He untacked his Blue Roan Stallion and let him loose, knowing that he wouldnt wander far away from him.
Gabe wiped the sweat from his brow and took off his hat, he looked at he cool water running through the creek and grinned to himself. He took off his boots, shirt, and jeans leaving on his boxers and ran to the creek, jumping in the cold water. He got himself thoroughly wet and scrubbed any dirt from his hair and body from the long ride to the perfect spot. He climbed to the shore and lay on the bank in the warm sun...." Nothing can get better than this " he thought to himself.
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jun 30, 2007 0:35:29 GMT -5
Marissa and Moon played together in the creek, the mare chasing the blonde girl, snorting as she giggled, splashing, soaking each other with their play. No one would have ever guess that it wasn't a filly and a girl. They never would have guessed that it was a woman and a mare. They played like children, thoroughly enjoying the others company, sharing a bond that was rare in any kind of creatures, human or horse.
Though the mare was almost as tall as her owner at the shoulder, she didn't harm her at all, she simply chased her, nibbling at her untucked, unbuttoned, oversized western shirt, giving it a gentle tug whenever she caught the edge or, if she cornered the girl, she could nibble at the frayed end's of her white tank top that she wore underneath the faded western shirt. Other times she would swirl unexpectedly and the game would reverse, leaving the young blonde to run through the creek after the mare, grabbing at her long mane or tail, whichever was closest.
When the mare was lucky she'd capture the straw cowgirl hat from the girl's head, she knew that when she got the hat that the chase became much more fun. So far, today, the hat had been well guarded by a delicate female hand that clutched it tightly to her head as she ran, but she wouldn't remember for ever, and when she forgot, Moon would get the run really going.
She still wore her leather headstall, but with a rawhide bosal instead of a bit and horsehair reins that Marissa had braided herself instead of the usual leather. She wore no saddle. Marissa had tied the reins into the mare's mane so when she lowered her head to drink they stayed at her neck instead of slipping down to her ears, of course, they were loosely tied so that the mare had full range of motion with her head.
All of it had been a habit that was branded into Marissa, something that she hardly even thought about when she went riding. It was all mechanical, just like grooming, or cleaning stalls. It required little thought, which was good, for Marissa's mind was never were it seemed to be. It was always far away, except for now, it was in the moment. There was too much joy to be mechanized at a moment such as this. Even though it was a regular routine, it required all of her attention, as did the mare that acted like a filly.
She giggled as she raced down stream, the mare tearing after her, catching her easily, then, they turned, running back upstream, laughing and snorting at the same time. Suddenly, Moon found her opening as Marissa slipped, her hand falling away from the straw cowgirl hat, decorated with turquoise beads to match her eyes. By the time Marissa righted herself, Moon was headed down stream, holding the hat of victory gingerly in her jaws, her eyes laughing at Marissa over her shoulder.
Marissa was racing after her in a second, demanding that she return the hat, but the mare had no inclination to allow the girl rest. She lifted her ebon banner high, dancing, always just out of reach, teasing the girl as they ran downstream. Marissa's voice echoed off the surface of the water, loving and gentle despite the curse words she muttered. Give it.. back you little... mongrel you. She panted, growing winded from the exertions.
Though she was used to running three miles a day, running in water was much harder. She stopped, and the mare stopped. She inched forward, the mare crept away, always keeping about five feet between them, teasing her. Give it, Moon! She whined, chasing the mare still, her sweet voice echoing much farther down the creek, but she didn't worry about it, it wasn't as if anyone came out here anyways. Well, not that she had seen. Yet.
Neither of them expected to see anyone out here, especially someone practically naked. When they rounded the bend in the creek Marissa didn't see the man, and Moon didn't either, but she smelt the stallion as she stopped the game, dropping the hat in the water and nickering, trotting up the bank to investigate the male.
Marissa looked up, suprised to see the fine stallion without any device known to man on him. The first thought in her mind was that somebody must have lost him, for she still couldn't see the man or his tent through the brush on the side of the bank which was higher than her, but not her mare.
The stallion stood in perfect site, out of the way of bush and brush, making him easy to see. Marissa started to the bank with thoughts of catching him in her mind until she remembered her hat. Cursing playfully at the mare, she ran after the hat that had gotten a good ways away in such a short time.
She didn't see the man on the bank as she splashed through the water merely a few yards away from him, nor did she see his tent. All she focused on for the moment was catching her "lucky" hat before it got away for good.
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Post by silverdreams on Jun 30, 2007 3:31:32 GMT -5
Gabe sat up quickly as he heard the laughing and splashing that created such a comotion in the creek whose banks he lay on. He laughed to himself as he saw the girl chasing around a horse who proudly paraded a hat in her mouth. Gabe stood, realizing he was sitting there in his boxers which were now dry from the warm sun. He ran back and slipped on his jeans and boots. He grabbed his hat and whistled for Blue, who came cantering from down creek. Blue slid to a stop tossing his head and snorting, Gabe made a makeshift halter from a bit of extra rope and tied Blue to the tree. He didnt want his young stallion to pull a move on the girl mare.
He walked to the edge of the water again and sat on a stump, enjoying the "parade." He laughed to himself as he saw the girl, whom after a second look he had become quite a bit more interested in, chasing around the mare.....with no luck.
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jun 30, 2007 9:05:17 GMT -5
Marissa finally caught up to the hat, bending down, sweeping it up. She growled another curse at Moon and tried to shake the water out unsuccesfully as it was just as soaked as she. She replaced it on her damp blonde head, making quite a picture in her soaked blue jeans, western shirt, white tank and her moccassins. Her wet locks didn't help the picture any, but, nevertheless, it was an interesting one.
Turning to go fetch the mare, she was shocked to see a guy, not even three yards away, watching her intently. In fact, she was so spooked that she jumped slightly, stepping on the patch of moss that was hidden beneath the water, causing her to slip and fall on her rear, only causing her to become even more soaked.
She looked up at the man, still shocked to see anyone, then she looked over his shoulder, now seeing the tent and the newly-tied stallion. Her teal colored eyes looked back to him, she closed her open mouth with a soft click of her solid white teeth.
Finally, she remembered that she had feet of her own and, for the first time that day, she gracefully rose to her feet, never taking her eyes off the handsome man. Sorry if we disturbed you. She muttered, her words insincere, her cheeks blazing red from embarrassment. She looked down, unable to keep his gaze. No one had ever saw her and Moon play before, so never before had she been embarrassed about it, but, now, she couldn't control her blush if she had an instruction manual on how.
Moon didn't notice the awkward situation that her owner and friend was now involved in, all she noticed was the stallion that was tied to the tree. When the guy haltered him she trotted after him, nickering even when he was tied to the tree. She stood beside him, reaching her nares to his even though her shoulder brushed against his. She had never seen a stallion before, for she had been raised on a ranch that only raised females.
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Post by silverdreams on Jun 30, 2007 12:54:31 GMT -5
Gabe jumped to his feet as she slipped, he reached out his hand to help her up off the ground. " No disturbance Ma'am.....sorry i didnt mean to scare you. I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be this far out here....my names Gabe " he said looking the girl in the eyes. He took off his black stetson and brushed his damp hair back with his hand, he grinned and rubbed his stubly chin. He hoped he hadnt scared her or anything, he noticed that she was blushing and looked nervous....
Blue's nares flared and he nickered softly, his ears were perked and he extended his head and reached around to make his nares even with hers. He fumbled with the rope in his lips and untied himself. He nickered again softly and blew warm breath from him nares, taking in her scent.
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jun 30, 2007 14:21:49 GMT -5
Marissa rose on her own, glancing at him awkwardly. She nodded when he spoke, glad that they hadn't ruined his day with their rambuncious ways. [/b] Me? Scared? Naw, just... suprised.[/b] She stated, glancing at him, the blush leaving her cheeks when she realized she wouldn't be reprimanded for acting like a child. Despite the ungraceful fall she took she stood straight, tall, proud. She boldly offered her hand small hand as she looked him square in the eye, no longer bashful or shy in anyway. [/b]I'm Marissa, and that shy girl's Moon.[/b] She said, nodding to the mare that began tugging at the stallion's ebon locks before she swirled and ran away from him, her games never ending. After they were introduced she glanced about at the crude, but comfortable looking campsite, realizing that she had probably woke him up, or interrupted whatever he had been doing. When she glanced back at him, she noticed that his hair was damp and and he was shirtless, not that she hadn't noticed that before , but she was just beginning to piece it all together.[/center]
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Post by silverdreams on Jun 30, 2007 21:04:57 GMT -5
Gabe smiled and took her delicate feminine hand in his larger, slightly calloused hand. He was a ranch hand not to long ago, but the promise of a fresh start prompted him to move and start a new life in this place. " Very nice to meet you " he said with a small grin " Thats Blue " he said motioning to his Blue Roan foundation quarter horse stallion. Now that they were closer he noticed that he was talking to someone that most would say was way out of his league. She was quite attractive, even if she was soaking wet....she somehow captured him. He stared in her eyes for a moment and then looked at the ground realizing he was staring....he quickly ask " So do you come out here often? " he asked
Blue squealed playfully and turned on his hind quarters, showing his excellent quarter horse breeding, in a split second he was galloping full out by her side. He stretched his neck out and began putting distance between them.
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jun 30, 2007 21:24:44 GMT -5
Marissa watched the stallion, for a bit, then looked back to the man, offering a friendly smile. Likewise. She stated, smiling at the stallion's name. All the time. She said, thinking that he was probably wondering why none of the trails looked used. In truth, she never rode on trails, well, except for the few that the deer left, but she hadn't ever rode on the trails that were meant for horses.
She had been raised on a reservation by her adoptive mother, a Cheyenne woman whose own child had died, and, while she didn't believe a lot of the religions she had been taught, she did believe in preserving nature.
Moon picked up speed gradually, seeking to get a bite out of his tail.
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Post by silverdreams on Jul 1, 2007 0:08:08 GMT -5
Gabe nodded and looked towards the water and smiled mischeiviously. He threw his hat aside and ran towards the water, diving in swiftly. For a moment he stayed underwater then he slowly surfaced and shook the water from his hair. He smiled up at Marissa and yelled " Come on in.....your already wet anyways " he waited a second hoping she would accept.
Blue bucked playfully and stretched out even more, staying away from her teeth
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jul 1, 2007 0:36:16 GMT -5
Marissa watched him for a second, uncertainty showing in her teal colored eyes, but the playful side in her wouldn't allow her to refuse and she neatly dived in, despite the burdensome western shirt that was three sizes too big for her. When she resurfaced, she was a few yards from Gabe, looking up at the sudden squeal that rose from the bank.
Moon had squealed in frustration, running as fast as possible until she saw Marissa dive in out of the corner of her eye. At that second she plowed to a stop, swirling daintly and heading back towards her owner with an inquisitive eye. When she reached the water, she jumped in, causing a phenominal splash, nickering as she resurfaced and swam neatly towards Marissa, ignoring the stallion for a moment.
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Post by silverdreams on Jul 1, 2007 12:50:24 GMT -5
Gabe laughed and dove under as the mare jumped in, he surfaced and splashed around on the surface. " Help, help im drowning " he whined in a girly tone trying to hold back laughter. He slowly sunk down so he was submerged underwater.
Blue slid his hindquarters underneath him and came to an abrupt stop. He pranced and trotted back to the water. At the waters edge he slowly sunk his muzzle in the water and slurped up water noisly. He pawed at the water splashing the clear pristine water in al directions. Blue tossed his head up in the air and reared playfully before charging into the water.
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jul 1, 2007 13:10:37 GMT -5
Marissa laughed as Moon swam up to her, barely keeping her head above water. Then she grabbed a fist full of mane, pulling herself onto the mare with ease. She glanced at Gabe as he went under, but she wasn't worried about him. He appeared to be a strong swimmer, nevertheless though, she pointed Moon towards the underwater figure.
Moon easily swam towards Gabe, stopping a short ways from him, wary of her own hooves that struck out to keep her afloat. Then she spotted Blue running into the water and she turned her head, whinnying to him as she started out on a new path, ignoring what Marissa silently asked of her with her slender legs.
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Post by silverdreams on Jul 1, 2007 13:19:33 GMT -5
Gabe kept a straight face and continued to slowly sink....
Blue stood in a knee deep patch of water and slowly went down down. He rolled in the water, getting his body completely wet, he swiftly rose and shook himself of excess water. He whinnied playfully back and began to walk to the mare, the water got deeper and deeper.
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Post by .:x:.A.rtemis.:x:. on Jul 1, 2007 13:25:54 GMT -5
Marissa saw Gabe's form sink deeper into the water, but she kept her cool. She slid from the mare's back, holding her breath as she slid through the water, catching her breath once more before she dove under, handsout, trying to find the man in the darkness under the water.
Within seconds she found him, slipping her hands around his chest until she could try to support his weight with her own. She didn't think about how close she was to him, or anything else, all she thought of was how she was going to get him out of the water. She allowed them to sink until her feet struck the bottom, and then, using all the hidden muscless in her legs, she pushed off, moving through the water almost quickly, despite the weight of the man that felt like he was asleep.
Moon ignored the people and swam until her feet struck the ground, plunging out of the water and running towards the stallion, prancing playfully.
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Post by silverdreams on Jul 1, 2007 13:39:08 GMT -5
Gabe took in a small breath as she brought him to the surface...he wanted to laugh but he kept his cool. He let his body remain limp in the water.
Blue crow hopped in the water and then picked up a canter, his tail was raised high and his head point up. He whinnied loudly and slowed to a trot, plrancing around.
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