Into the Sunrise [Kendall]
Jun 20, 2013 12:08:02 GMT -5
Post by Aurum on Jun 20, 2013 12:08:02 GMT -5
Bae woke up early, before the sun or her brother, Roan, were up. The Twilight just before sunrise was her favorite time to go riding. it was cooler than during the day, but it was still light out, unlike night rides. Her neighbor, who Bae trained horses for, gave the girl permission to come and go in the stable as she pleased. The horses responded so well to her, it was almost like she could speak their language. Bae quietly pulled on her leather boots and a new shirt. It was dirty, but still cleaner than the rest. It used to be her mother's. It was light grey with a small V-neck and the letters S.F. were roughly embroidered on the top left. Sorrel Fescue, Bae's mother. Bae brushed the uneven lettering with her thumb. She sighed and slipped outside.
Only one horse was up when Bae entered the dimly-lit barn. It was a black yearling, whose wooden nameplate read Soot. Bae pulled a tiny piece of old carrot out of her pocket and fed it to Soot. The horse quietly munched as Bae unlatched the door. She reached up and pat the yearling. He snorted into her hand. Soot was a great horse. He was a bit wild, but nothing Bae couldn't handle. The best thing about Soot was that he was fast. So fast when Bae rode him, they were able leave all of her worries in the dust. And that's what she planned to do.
There was only one saddle for all the horses, so Bae only used the saddle when training. The rest of the time, she rode bareback. She worked her fingers through the yearling's mane and leapt onto his back. Soot could feel her desire to run and snorted impatiently. She tugged at him gently, reminding him who was the guide. She wasn't in charge. No one can really make an animal with spirit do something they didn't want to. She knew she was simply there to make decisions and ask the horses to do them. Her horses saw this, and respected her for it. She liked to think so anyways.
Bae walked Soot out the open door and down a well beaten path. When they got into the field, Soot tensed, waiting, ready. Bae smiled and pulled the two worn sticks out of her bun, letting her hair down. She tied them to her riding breeches with a small piece of leather. She leaned in close to Soot, tightening her grip on his mane and gently squeezed her legs, urging him forward. Soot took off, responding perfectly to Bae's direction.
Her hair whipped out behind her and she felt free. Free from the pressure of living in the Districts, free of having to worry about the next meal and free of life all together. She and the horse were one and they were the only ones in the entire world. The sun started peaking up over the horizon, bathing the world in the golden first light of morning. Bae breathed in deep and smiled. This is where she belonged. On the back of a horse, free as a leaf in the wind, riding into the sunrise.