The Descent {OPEN}

[Cassie Cavanaugh]

CASSIE CAVANAUGH



Cassie decided that she had needed a break from all her school work as well as just people in general. Sometimes, she wondered if she was more concerned with trying to fit in than she really needed to be. But this was a trail ride, meaning that the moment that she had Starlight had stepped out of the stables and onto Canterwood's endless acres, it mean that she left everything behind at school. No worries, no thoughts about being popular, just riding, and honestly, that was all that she needed. Starlight himself was thrilled to be out on the trail now, his nostrils flaring as his trot extended without even needing to be told and it only made Cassie laugh.

She knew this was what her horse was meant to do. He was far from home, far from the wilderness that he used to know. Even when Starlight had been caught, they still used him for chasing down his own kind. The man who had been looking after him for her mother, now long gone, told her all of these stories about Starlight, but also about the wild horses of Australia, "Just think if they saw you now, what would they say about you being a show horse?" she asked as they headed into the woods and straying from pathways, feeling that adventure was needed. While her horse was often lost and confused in the ring, he made up for it on rough terrain.

Up ahead, there was a fallen tree, but it hardly striked fear into the pair at all. She only had to sit the trot and move her leg a little for her little brumby to pick up the canter. Starlight charged down the path and easily hopped right over it and continued on before they broke down into a trot again. Fall was always a wonderful time, the air was crisp. It wasn't too cold, nor it wasn't too hot. But the best part were the changing color of the leaves. Instead of the luscious green, everything looked like it was on fire. A terrible idea really, but to Cassie, it just made everything seem beautiful. Between random breaks, and looking out over scenery, Cassie and Starlight were lost to a new world of discovery that Canterwood had to offer.

Nobody was missing them though, that much she was certain of. They climbed up and down hills, and crossed through shallow rivers. Before long though, they found themselves moving a long a steep part of the woods now. A wild snort escaped Starlight as they walked along the edge. He yanked his head, the reins sliding in Cassie's hands as he looked down the decent. Glancing over her horse now, she looked down. There were trees and bushes, not all clumped together though. Leaves littered the ground and there were fallen logs as well, yet Starlight kept on yanking at the reins, getting close to sliding right off. It didn't take much for her to realize that he wanted to go down it.

Biting her lip, she glanced down again, "What do you think boy?" she asked him, and a whinny escaped Starlight. Cassie had only done this one other time, and it was a dangerous rush. But she had faith in Starlight, he would take the lead and all what she had to do was give him his head and lead back. After a moment, she turned Starlight around and headed away from the edge, putting a good distance between it and them and they just stood there. Hazel eyes glanced ahead, knowing the drop that laid just beyond there. Did she really want to do this? Starlight pawed at the ground now, bobbing his head up and down. Like a race horse in the gate, he was ready to go.

Everything seemed to go quiet, like Cassie's world was put on mute. There was no birds, no bugs, not even the breaking of twigs and leaves. If her horse was making a sound, she didn't hear him. Then she gave Starlight his head and squeezed his side. Starlight lunged forward, kicking up dirt and dead leaves as he did so as he so and headed straight for the ledge. Taking a leap, he hopped over the edge now and landed on the hill, his hooves gliding over the dirt now as they raced down. Cassie was leaning all the way back in her saddle now, and only had one hand on the rain. She felt like she was on a roller coaster where the air was pushing her to stand up.

They just took a straight line, Starlight eagerly handling any obstacles in the way by jumping over them or running straight through them. Cassie felt branches and leaves claw at her but she just ripped them aside. After what felt like the longest moment of her life though, Starlight hit the bottom and cantered forward before dropping down to the trot and then the walk and then stopping. A gleeful whinny escaped him as he tossed his head, happy to have down that. Cassie herself felt like she was out of breath as she glanced back up the descent that they took, "I can't believe we just did that," she commented breathlessly.

Occ; Not my best but I do have a visual reference thankfully XD This is the scene I was trying to recreate! Just jump to video marker 32 to see the ride!

[Cassie Cavanaugh]

Occ; bumping

[Chloe❥]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #f1f1f1] Silk sheet, blue dawn, Colgate, tongue warm Won't you quit your crying? I can't sleep One minute I'm a little sweetheart Crisp morning air had my boy King on his toes, dancing and whirling around like a maniac just being a stallion. Oh it's these moments that I wanted to know why my parents had insisted on buying me a stallion instead of a sweet hearted gelding. Know going back into my memories I can almost blame my instructor, she had a stallion herself but she had a harder hand then me. Mrs. Tally had encouraged me to use a whip on King on more occasional then I would have liked but she was behind me now, I was at a great boarding school with an exceptional riding program and I wasn't about to start thinking about my old life. Yet, why do I call it is such a name as Old Life. It seems as if I'm naming some old western TV show of some prairie family living off the land. But, It isn't like my old life was that different, wait a second. Just scratch that. My old life was completely different. I had a sister who made doggy clothes and a mother who conducted a fashion show every Tuesday night! That's not even mentioning my father who had taken so much time and energy into my riding career, he would spend hours taking shoots of me and King riding around. He even managed to get my good side when I was mucking King's stall! Ugh, even though I hate to admit it (even to myself) I missed my parents. My father mostly. Feeling the stallion beneath me quiet and calm, I noted my surroundings. Sweet pine trees bordered the trails witch lead to many unique and wondrous places here at Canterwood. I had only heard quite a bit about these trails, many girls had told me about their 'magical' dates here while others told me about the exotic scenery. All of the stories had spurred up my curiosity and King did a great job of scenting my many emotions. Gawking up at a giant tree with the name of I couldn't answer, I just let my eyes and mind wander through the woods, catching the many beautiful living and non-living things that called Canterwood their home as well as me. King's feet stopped moving witch led me to wondering why, looking around I soon found my answer. A steep slope witch no horse with the blood-lines of King could manage to travel down, stoop before me and my horse. I really was beginning to wonder if all of these beautiful landmarks were man made or natural. Leaning onto my stallion's neck, I ran my eyes down the slope and then from the right side, to the left. Fare further down to the left, lay a slim pathway witch zigzagged it's way down the slope. Perfect. "Common boy, lets see what's down there." I mumbled into his chestnut mane. Only halfway down the slope, I head a beat. It was rather uneven like the sound of honks in New York traffic. If I had grown up anyway else, I would have probably had a better idea of what they sounded like. Craning my neck and turning King around, so he wouldn't spook and run down breaking all of his sporting bones, I watched a horse and a girl run down the hill. It was petrifying but amazing all at the same time. Her horse took every nick every bush and just plowed down in a beeline to the bottom. My eyes filled with amazement as I watched her, I knew what horse she was on. A Brumby from the Australia's. I only knew this from my first time riding, I had eaten up all the books I could get about horses. I had been a little girl in love with the idea of an animal that could sweep me off my feet and have enough strength to carry me where ever. When the horse reached the bottom, I felt King turn toward him and start to trot in the little zig-zag pathway. His small trot became one of our many Dressage moves, a slow carful canter. King knew that he had to watch his steps in the ring for a judges eye, but here he had to watch his step for his own life. On reaching the bottom, I clucked to King, allowing him to lengthen his canter and stretch into a slow gallop. Reaching the girl and her Brumby, I dropped my jaw, and pushed my head the slightest bit forward an in awe look. Hoping I didn't look to stupid I responded to her own statement, "I can't either." And next minute you are an absolute creep tags: cassie word count: i will get to that lyrics: obsessions by marina and the diamonds this template was made by madcap @ caution.

[Cassie Cavanaugh]

CASSIE CAVANAUGH



Cassie was still arching her neck a little to take in the whole hill, that probably hadn't been the greatest idea in the world the more she stared at it. She trusted Starlight completely, and she knew that he knew what he was doing even if she hadn't entirely known, but just think, what if Mr. Conners had been out here? The thought alone made her grimace, knowing fully well that a stunt like that could kick her off the advance team without so much of a second thought. Still, that wouldn't be so horrendous since well, Cassie still didn't believe that she and Starlight belonged there, they simply just could not hold their own against their fellow teammates, Heather and her horse Aristocrat in particular.

The young girl had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even realize that there had been an audience. Starlight had caught on now, his ears twitching a little and glancing over towards the approaching pair. A whinny escaped him and he pulled on the reins a little. The leather slipping through her hands had caught her off guard and by surprise, quickly bringing her back to reality now as a girl rode forward on this beautiful chestnut horse. Starlight himself, hadn't been so certain though and Cassie wondered why, unless that horse was a stallion. She knew they had a reputation for not always being the greatest with geldings, and that horse looked like the Hulk compared to her own little brumby.

Still, a shy smile could not help but to grace Cassie's lip now, slightly embarrassed by the girl's shock and awe, "Oh, well, I'm sure there are plenty of things that your horse can do that Starlight certainly can't." A snort escaped Starlight, who seemed to disagree with that. The response from her horse only caused Cassie to laugh, but she quickly came back to the situation at hand, "Um, if you don't mind, can this be our little secret? I'm probably not suppose to be doing that out on trails or anything." Or at all, she was certain that her dad would probably throw a cow if he ever see her do such a thing either and lock her up on the funny farm. In fact, Cassie still couldn't get over it.

But here she was being rude, "Oh! I'm Cassie Cavanaugh by the way, this is Starlight." Of course, she had already said her horse's name but there was always the change that it might have gone over the girl's head. Hazel eyes looked back over the chestnut stallion again, he was certainly a beautiful horse, the girl was also quite pretty. Even on horseback, she looked like she was confident and very much had a sense of fashion. Maybe it was Cassie's turn to be in awe. This girl was new though, probably a transfer because she had never seen her before, and she was certain that she would have remembered her. Even more so, somebody who seemed as nice as her, "So, are you new here?"

[Chloe❥]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: #f1f1f1] Silk sheet, blue dawn, Colgate, tongue warm Won't you quit your crying? I can't sleep One minute I'm a little sweetheart Changing my expression, I smiled genuinely and noted the girl's own features. Sweet sugar brown hair swept over the girl with long beach waves, very in season and shaped the girl's thin face well. Her cheek bones stood high casting shadows behind and a bit under her cheeks. The girl's eyes were not as striking as her hair, but their soft brown color made her seem even more welcoming. My eyes transferred to her horse, who stood high and proud probably knowing how amazing it's own feat had just been. Having a past with high personalitied ponies, I knew this Brumby was no acceptation. His paint marking were anything less than dull. With bright golden hairs fading in a dabbing like way into the white, his braveness went along with him. Looking back and fourth from horse to human I couldn't understand why they looks so good together. The girl not to big nor to small for her horse. They matched like silver and gold, like a taxi to it's driver. I have to admit, truly I now have envy for her. I was far to small looking for King, he to bold. We looked awkward flying across the trails or in the arena, I looked like a small toddler driving a full heavy duty Toyota F250. Shaking my head the slightest bit, dismissing the thoughts I managed to listen to what she said. "If you mean total aggravation, then yes." I said in a joking voice giggling a bit as the Brumby snorted at her comment. "Oh course, my lips are sealed." I said making a little zipped motion over my lips, just to fashion what I said. I felt King shift his weight uneasily, in his natural instinct, he wanted to start a little fight with the other horse. And by little fight I meant tear that horse up. Stallion's didn't get along with any horses, mares were not very nice unless it came to breeding, geldings were accepting but stallion's seemed to see a gelding as a less soul. Stroking Kings bulky neck I mumbled a few comforting words into the air, hoping she didn't find me awkward or crazy for doing this I snapped my head up apologetically. "Sorry, my voice comforts him. I hope you don't find talking to horses strange." I said hopping to get a good reaction back from her, I didn't need any rumors float around saying how I was crazy enough to talk to animals. Glancing around a bit a grand idea passed through my head, maybe this girl could join me on the trail. She would definitely be a great addition at the barn, maybe she had been in the advanced team or at least like me, hoping to gain a spot there. Looking back at her, letting my eyes drift over her Brumby once more, I listened to her greeting. "Yes, fairly new here. I transfered from a private school in New York." I said, pausing for a brief moment hopping to let my city explain a bit of myself. "Chloe Green, and this big hunk here is my boy King." So what if I didn't fit with my horse, he had a name for himself that was more the fitting, in fact it was probably one of the words that described him the most. And next minute you are an absolute creep tags: cassie word count: 558 lyrics: obsessions by marina and the diamonds this template was made by madcap @ caution.

[Cassie Cavanaugh]

CASSIE CAVANAUGH



At the other girl's joke, Cassie felt laughter bubble up inside for now, an easy grin resting on her lips. She had known this girl for less than a few seconds, but already, she knew she liked her. Her answer alone showed that she was easy going which was a nice change to some of the other girls. Still, Cassie knew that she should still probably mind her manners and her ideas as best as she could. After all, trouble was the last thing that she was looking for, "Oh, I'm sure it's only teasing," she replied to the girl's joke, glancing back at the chestnut stallion, "I must say, you are quite brave." There were no words needed to further explain by what she meant.

It was true that Cassie had no choice in Starlight, he was left for her. But even if that were so, she could never chose anything else but a gelding. Mares made her nervous enough as they were, and even geldings proved to have their quirks (Starlight certainly did) but she could never imagine riding a stallion with all of that spirit and fight within it. Ring work with teams would probably be a challenge depending on where this girl would place, after all, Cassie knew that there were quite a few mares owned by the riders here, and if not that, but the school horses as well. Speaking of riding though, it seemed that her new acquaintance was keeping her secret, "Thank you so much, I owe you." Cassie replied, and she really meant it, and secretly hoped that the girl could tell.

During all of this though, their horses were still eyeing each other with the suspicion that the other might commit murder. Cassie knew the tendencies that could follow between stallions and geldings, she had read about it some where, as well as the wranglers in Australia told her as well. They did not get along too well, she assumed it was mostly stallion mentality rather than a geldings. Starlight himself though, could be known for looking for trouble as he still stood there, ears twitching on occasion staring at the other horse, whose weight was now shifting. Cassie was certain if the horse anatomy allowed it, Starlight would be puffing his chest out right now.

After a moment, she fidgeted with the reins a little cause the bit to tug in his mouth and her horse's attention went back to her for a few seconds, just as the other girl began to talk to her own horse. A few moments passed before she apologized now for talking to her horse, and Cassie did nothing but laugh, "Oh no, I don't find that strange at all. I'm guilty myself of such an act, as I'm sure many people here are but they just might not want to admit it." After all, girls were more likely to admit to such things, but Cassie wasn't so sure that a guy rider would, they'd probably think it unmanly. Then the girl finally relieved who she was, and Cassie certainly found herself interested, "New York City? This place must feel very small then compared to what you're used to."

She had never been to the city before, but she'd seen enough pictures and television shows to know what it was like. Full of life and excitement. Cassie nodded her greeting now, smiling, "Pleasure to meet you Chloe Green, and I think King fits him quite perfectly," she added on now before glancing down the trail. Would it be to forward to ask if they continue the trail together? After all, Cassie didn't want to seem needy for friends, but it did look like they were heading the same way, "Um, did you want to ride together? There's still at least another mile and a half of it and well, I'm sure it's boring riding by yourself..."