Spring Briar Stables discussion

Aspen heard a whistle and looked up to see Rhine. She didn't care. She didn't want anything but to see Bonnie. She saw Rhine jump the gate, so she decided to go around the side. She walked past the gate, following the side of the fence until the horses can into view. She clucked a few times, giving Bonnie time to process the noise. Bonnie looked up and whinnied. She trotted over and whinnied again, begging Aspen to come see her so she didn't have to leave the shade of the tree. Aspen slipped through the gap in the fence and ran over to Bonnie. She wrapped her arms around Bonnie's neck, not noticing the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Je t'aime, mon beau cheval."

Aspen looked around for an empty stump or something. Bonnie seemed to understand and want what she craved. She walked over to the other horses and stood next to a reasonably climbable tree. Aspen smiled and laughed, a soft chuckle, really. She clambered up the tree and hopped on Bonnie's back. Bonnie looked back and nuzzled Aspen's foot. Aspen draped herself forward, laying across Bonnie's back with her head near her shoulders. She gave Bonnie a small thump with her heels. Bonnie started walking forward.

Aspen ignored Rhine. She could fall asleep right here, right now. It wouldn't hurt her unless something spooked Bonnie. Bonnie started doing her prancing, wanting to go faster. Aspen laughed and sat up. She grabbed a hunk of Bonnie's mane and squeezed with her legs. Bonnie went straight into a canter, exactly what Aspen had expected. Bonnie arched her neck and held her head just so, as a true english horse. Aspen loved it. Bonnie ran in circles around the tree, sometimes dodging in between horses to make Aspen giggle and smile.

Tobin halted at the beginning of the pastures with the reins in one hand and the blanket in another. He draped the blanket over Wings's back and walked him towards a fallen tree. He mounted and circled Wings around twice before letting him walk forward. Wings pulled at the reins. Tobin smiled and let out more reins. Wings whinnied and started cantering towards the outside fence of the nearest pasture.

Bonnie snorted and tossed her head. Aspen tossed her head back too, letting her hair flow behind her. This is what it was meant to feel like, being free. She arched forward, leaning into Bonnie's excessive running. Bonnie slowed to a walk and took a deep breath. Aspen felt it, too, and it felt amazing. Bonnie walked forward, veering away from the other horses and into the setting sunlight. Aspen still held her mane tight, but knew this is what it meant to be one with your horse.

Bonnie understood Aspen. Aspen trusted this horse with everything because she couldn't tell anyone her secrets or about her past. Aspen started to spill everything out to Bonnie as they walked across the pasture. She knew no one could here her, or at least that was what she thought. "Oh, Bonnie...today's been the worst. I just wanted to ride with you and then that stupid lesson had to start. And that stupid girl had to run into me and embarrass me in front of a decent boy. I was a total idiot! I don't want to be rude to her, but it's not like she's treating me any better. I guess I'm taking this the wrong way, but I don't see how else I can deal with her!"

Aspen lied backwards on Bonnie's back, messing with her tail as Bonnie stopped to graze. "And she is my roommate! I can't stand her. I was emailed later about Oliver, my brother. You'd love him, Bonnie! Except now he has a prosthetic leg from the knee down. A terrible soccer accident. Then she tried to act all sympathetic, but I knew she was faking it. There was no way she could have made it any more fake! And I don't even get to ride you tomorrow. I know Riley has our best interests at heart, but I just don't understand her logic."

Aspen sighed, hearing Rhine mumble, but ignoring it. She continued playing with Bonnie's tail as she grazed. "If she would just listen. Riley says we're so much alike, we just don't get along. I don't see it She's a snooty brat with a perfect life, and I have unforgivable parents and a now disabled brother. I hope Natia is okay. I don't know what I'd do without her."

Bonnie lifted her head and nickered. She took a step forward. Aspen hadn't been paying attention and lost her balance. She slipped and tumbled off of Bonnie with a yelp She landed on her side in the soft grass. Looking up, she saw what had gotten Bonnie's attention and narrowed her eyes. This is all her fault!

Bonnie noticed Aspen and whinnied at her, seeking her approval of life. Aspen sat up and gripped her side. It hurt badly, but not enough so she couldn't move. She was probably just bruised. She looked at Bonnie and nodded. "Merci, Bonnie," she said, indicating herself to be okay enough for now. She looked at Rhine from where she sat, glaring at her. "Pas grâce à vous!"

Aspen winced at the pain in her side. She rolled her eyes. "You don't get it! You never will! You don't even try to show interest in my life. I came here as an escape from those people! And you are no different from my stupid transfer parents. I take that back, you are different. At least they cared enough to try!" She clucked her tongue, giving Bonnie a heads up that she needed to head over to help her soon. Aspen caught herself as she swayed forward in pain and agony. She never took her annoyed stare from Rhine.

Aspen shook her head. "I am fine, thank you. I don't need your help." She stood up and tripped forward, falling on her face. She narrowed her eyes, trying to keep from crying. She needed help and she knew it, but she couldn't admit it to Rhine.

Aspen sat up again. She stood up and staggered over to a small tree stump to sit down. As she sat down, Bonnie came trotting over from her previous warning. She nuzzled Aspen, seeing if she was okay. "Je vais bien, Bonnie, vraiment. Ne t'inquiète pas pour moi, ma fille." She was trying to ignore Rhine's attempt at friendship.

See? She just gives up! Aspen sighed and turned around. "If you tried to understand me, maybe see from my perspective, you'd understand why I am who I am." She stood up slowly on the stump and jumped up on Bonnie's back. Bonnie whinnied and stomped her foot. Aspen gave her nudge and Bonnie started walking, carrying Aspen back to the fence.

"It's not that easy. You wouldn't understand. You've had a perfect life! I've been thrown between house and home for years. You just don't get it," Aspen replied sharply. She took a deep breath, her side still searing in pain. She gave Bonnie a kick. Bonnie whinnied and took off at a canter. Aspen grabbed Bonnie's mane and held on, her other hand gripping her side.

Bonnie slowed as she reached the fence. The cantering hadn't helped Aspen's physical state at all. Her side now her more than before. She gritted her teeth, not caring anymore. She wrapped her arms around Bonnie's neck before shooing her away. "Merci, Bonnie, merci..." She turned around and slipped through the fence and started limping back to her dorm.