The she-devil arrives. [open]

[Sync]

Ieuan grumbled incoherently as he turned the trailer into the driveway of Park, wincing as his wrist caught the gear stick. The bruising on it had flourished to a dark gray, in the perfect pattern of a certain Piebald mare's ivories. Ieuan had been forced, forced being the key word, to go and collect Dafydd's new steeds. At first, he'd been game for it. It was a chance to go and visit his grandparents, he hadn't seen them for a while and Dafydd had allowed him four days to do so. He'd been gone since Friday, and now it was Tuesday. He was supposed to have returned yesterday. The delay? Caused by the before mentioned piebald mare.

Anyway, he'd been looking forward to it at first. Until he found out who he was returning with. Ziggy hadn't bothered him in the slightest. The blue roan quarter horse was a firm family favourite and Ieuan completely understood why Dafydd would want to take on the beautifully tempered gelding. Then, Dafydd had dropped a bomb shell. Ieuan also had to bring back Shiloh. He'd instantly started to protest, thinking back to very vivid memories of being kicked, bitten and thrown by the disgustingly behaved mare. If people thought his gelding, Laurence, was bad, they'd obviously never met Shiloh. Eventually, he'd been bribed by Dafydd to go. Promised that he wouldn't have to attend lessons on the Tuesday or Wednesday. Sighing in annoyance, Ieuan totally regretted agreeing. He could have got so much more out of the deal if he'd bothered to bargain.

Onto the reason why they were late. Shiloh had flat out refused to get into the trailer, kicking out and snapping at anyone who tried. Ieuan's grandmother, whom was the only person Shiloh listened willingly to, hadn't been there to help Ieuan and his grandfather. They'd given up after four hours, deciding to try again tomorrow when Ieuan's grandmother was actually there. They'd have a lot more luck then. A smug Cob was led back to her stall, left to torment Ziggy in the stall beside her. The next day, his grandmother had managed to persuade the mare into the trailer on the second try. Not without her giving Ieuan a nasty bite on the wrist and standing on his foot. His grandfather had just managed to dodge a kick, but had earned a bite on his upper arm. His grandmother, who was now taking her turn to be smug, remained unscathed. Ieuan had left shortly after loading Ziggy, with a promise of returning in the Christmas holidays.

Now they found themselves pulling up to Campbell stables, where Ieuan parked the trailer and slipped from the vehicle. He then rummaged in his pocket for his phone, pulling it out and typing in Dafydd's number. After two rings, his uncle answered. Without giving him chance to say anything, Ieuan spat out what he had to say. "You can come and unload her. I refuse to go any closer than I have to to unload Ziggy. She's your problem now." he growled, hanging up before his Uncle could disagree. There was no way he was unloading the wretched mare, but he did have to get Ziggy out. He knew that the poor gelding didn't want to be as close to the volatile mare as he was. Opening the trailer's rear door, he set on untying the lead rope that held the blue roan in a safe distance from his already protesting 'companion'.

Just as Ieuan and Ziggy's feet hit the ground, Ieuan spied Dafydd appearing around the corner of the stables. Upon seeing Ieuan with the Quarter horse, Dafydd's pace increased and a broad grin stretched over his lips. Ieuan rolled his eyes, but patted the neck of Ziggy fondly. You couldn't help but be pleased to see the permanently happy gelding. As Dafydd finally reached them, Ziggy gave out an excited whinny. Tossing his head in delight, both Dafydd and Ieuan laughed in response. The older male patted the geldings shoulder in greeting, and then a kiss on the horses maw. "Hello Ziggy, I'm so glad to see you again." he grinned at the equine, before turning his attention to Ieuan. Not before noticing the bruising on the boys wrist. "She really was as bad as you said, then." he winced, flinching from the boys annoyed glare. "Yeah.. Just a little bit." Ieuan snapped, leading Ziggy away and leaving Dafydd to deal with Shiloh.

Shiloh seemed to growl when she heard feet on the ramp of the trailer, her frame tensing and coiled ready to react. Dafydd noticed this, and took the furthest distance from her to keep safe. He appeared in her line of sight, and a flash of recognition shined in her oracles. Dafydd grinned as he saw her relax, confirming the belief that'd he'd always believed. Dafydd came only second to his mother in Shiloh's eyes. This made him certain that he was the perfect person to take on the pretty, but angry, mare.

"Hello sweetheart." he smiled, reaching out for her to scent him. She did so hesitantly, and Dafydd only reached out to run his hand along the length of her face when he was sure she wouldn't bite him. Her frame relaxed further at his touch, and she allowed him to undo the lead rope and back her from the trailer with no problem. Ieuan, who had returned from putting Ziggy into his stall, stared opened mouth. "How? You- Gah!" he grumbled in frustration, returning to the stables to spend some time with his own horses. "I'll be in Lady's stall if you need me." he told his Uncle. Dafydd just chuckled. "C'mon then Shiloh, lets get you settled." he told the mare, beginning to lead her to her new stall.

[Onzy]

Bella and Max made their way down from the dorms to the stable block. Both seemed a lot happier, Bella because she and Kian were finally on speaking terms again, and Max because Ieuan was supposed to be back today. Max couldn't help but have that extra bounce in his step and all he really wanted to do was listen to Ieuan's moaning and groaning. After all, after such separation like the summer holidays had made him realise how badly he missed Ieuan even if it was for a day. This time wasn't just for a day, but four and the whole weekend had been oddly calm. There was no going to the pub because Kian and Bella were real homebodies now. Max had instead spent it in quiet solitude riding and training for the show season of the following year. Hawk was coming back into training after a colic op, and the bay mare was doing fabulous. Well, walk/trot work was boring, so Max alternated it with outrides.

Bella couldn't decide if it was the hormones, or her unnatural tendency to be happy, but she felt a void had been filled in her heart. Kian had all but ripped her heart apart, and though she wouldn't admit it to Kian, she wondered if keeping the child was a good idea. They were young, and so far they hadn't exactly talked about the future. The doubt remained there though, soon she would have to talk with Kian without frightening the daylights out of him. He was starting to resemble Dafydd when Kris was pregnant, and though entertaining at the time, it was different when it your own boyfriend. She wondered how her parents would take the news, but that was a bridge to cross when they got there.

Max listened to Bella tell Kian's puppy tale, and couldn't help but laugh. It were stories like that that made him very glad that he was gay, and Ieuan was getting his child fill with the twins and horses. To Max, his horses were his children and that was about as much responsibility he could handle right now. Are you even allowed at the stables? he asked Bella wearily, because he didn't quite want to face Dafydd on that matter. His own brace had come off two weeks before, but he hadn't let that stop him. His doctor had a fit when he told the man that he had still been riding even with the injury, something about the knuckle not being able to heal, stress on the bone, etc. He hadn't quite been paying attention.

Bella glared at Max with the question. No thanks to him was she told not to ride, but he was also the one feeling guilty and she often joined him on outrides. You didn't seem to be complaining yesterday, she retorted, and knew that he was starting to feel the guilt about deceiving Dafydd. She also felt it, but she couldn't be without her horses. When she Kris what it was like not ride during the pregnancy, the older woman had said that it was like her right hand being removed. For Bella it was much more than just a hand. It felt like part of her soul had been removed until she had discovered that Dafydd hardly frequented the trails, and so Manor had been a safe companion each day for a few weeks now. Basically nothing had changed. So why are we going down to the stables? she asked, just knowing that Ieuan had gone to fetch horses, whose horses she didn't know.

Ieuan is delivering Dafydd's new mounts and I just want to be there to welcome him back, Max answered, seeing a trailer already parked and Dafydd with a mare. He also saw Ieuan entering Lady's stall. Max headed in that direction, and stopped by the stall door. Hey love, you look shattered, he commented on his boyfriend's appearance, worry creasing his face.

Bella's blood ran cold. So now Dafydd had new horses, and unless they were like Andy, she doubted that she would be able to ride as much. Her brow creased with worry and she bit her lower lip. Her expression cleared up though when she reached the trailer and Dafydd, a smile in place. She's a beauty, she said, referring to the mare but keeping her distance at the same time.

[Sync]

Ieuan was still grumbling quietly to himself as he opened Lady’s stall. Just as he was about to close the door after him, familiar vocals caressed his audits. A sigh of contentment left him as he turned to greet Max, a wan smile attempting to curl at his lips. ”It was a long weekend.” he murmured, reaching forward to clasp Max’s hand in his own. The movement caused his bruised wrist to protest though, his expression contorting in response. ”That mare is evil. I have no idea why Dafydd wants to take her on.” he growled, looking at the haughty mare who had her intelligent oracles locked on Bella who was approaching. ”Actually, yes I do. He‘s always had a certain fondness for lost causes.” Ieuan chuckled dryly, thinking of himself and Kian in that category. Not many people would take on two unruly teenagers such as himself and his best friend. How much more difficult would Shiloh be? Shaking his head to clear his mind of all thoughts Shiloh, he smiled softly at Max before pulling him into a warm embrace. ”How was your weekend, anyway?” he asked, wanting to banish his own from his mind. As much as it was lovely to see his grandparents, there was only so much of their fussing he could take.

Dafydd had been forced to stop by Shiloh, who was currently unsure of the gate leading into the yard. The mare tossed her cranium nervously, before narrowing her oracles when she heard approaching vocals. Dafydd, who had also heard them, frowned at their familiarity. He looked up just in time to see Max disappear with Ieuan, and to see Bella coming toward him. Dafydd gave a sigh, unhappy with the fact that the girl was near the stables, but returned the smile she flashed at him when she approached. As much as he should be annoyed, he liked to see her somewhat happy. He knew all about her reunion with Kian, and his present to her, so knew exactly the reasoning behind her good mood. He wasn’t going to dampen it. Not today, anyway. ”She is, isn‘t she? I wouldn‘t come any closer though, Bells. And not just because of your condition,” he smiled at her apologetically, ”She‘s extremely volatile. Ieuan‘s got the bruising to prove it.” The amused chuckle that escaped him as he looked fondly at the painted mare showed how much he adored the temperamental horse. He’d always had a soft spot for her.

”Since you’re here, you can come and meet Ziggy too.” he told Bella, coaxing Shiloh into a walk. The mare had been eying Bella warily, but had offered no other reaction to the girls presence. It probably helped that Dafydd hadn’t revoked physical contact with the mare, helping to sooth her accordingly. Gesturing for Bella to follow, he led Shiloh who was being surprisingly willing directly to her stall. Her stall was quite far back in the yard, due to the fact that Andy was to be kept away from the hustle and bustle of the front of the yard. The gelding, while being rehabilitated, had enjoyed the peace and quiet. He’d only been surrounded by a number of other staff members horses. For this, he was pleased. Shiloh wouldn’t have taken kindly to being crowded. She was to be placed beside Ziggy, with him beside Andy. ”Kian came to see me this morning.” Dafydd told Bella conversationally as they walked, looking at her from the corner of his eye. ”He‘s a lot happier.” he added, a grin on his lips as he thought of the boy. It slipped slightly though. ”He‘s trying his hardest, y‘know. He‘s also going out of his way not to offend or anger Alexi, Andrew or Max.” Dafydd, himself, was growing quite worried about the contempt aimed at Kian by the boys who protected Bella so fiercely. It was soon going to start taking it’s toll, and nobody could really guess how Kian would react.

They finally reached the stables and Shiloh paused contemplatively as Dafydd opened the door. Her nares flared in her hesitance, her hooves clattering in a short, unsure dance. Not one to push her, Dafydd waited until she was sure enough to go in herself. Ziggy’s blue roan cranium appeared over his own stall door, nickering assurances to his companion. Shiloh’s audits quivered at the noise, before taking hesitant steps forward. Dafydd followed her into the stall, only unclipping the lead rope instead of taking her head collar off too. He knew, that if he removed it, it would take forever to get it back on. And he planned on turning her out later in the day, just because she didn’t do well being cooped up for long. Retreating from the stall to leave her to settle, he closed the door behind him and turned his attention back to Bella.

”I don‘t mind you being down here Bella, and don‘t think I‘m stupid enough to believe that you haven‘t been riding. You and your accomplice,” he nodded his head in the direction of the stall he knew Max was in with Ieuan, ”Aren‘t as sneaky as you think. Just please, be careful. And I‘d appreciate knowing where you are, just in case you get into trouble.” He told her quietly, trying to mask his disappointment. Offering her a soft smile, he decided to change subject quickly. ”Anyway. You‘ve met Shiloh, and this handsome devil is Ziggy.” he beamed, walking over to the friendly gelding. ”They were my parents, but they are downsizing and were not able to sell this pair on. So I offered to take them on.” he told her, before catching sight of a curious Andy in the neighbouring stall. His attention was instantly grabbed by the much healthier looking chestnut, and he found himself gravitating toward him. It wasn’t often that Andy would willingly look over his stall to see what was going on.

Ieuan rose a brow when he heard Dafydd’s words to Bella about riding. ”I‘m guessing you were her accomplice?” he asked Max, amusement colouring his words. Lady, who was bored of being ignored by both Ieuan and Max, shoved her cranium in between the pair of them and demanded some sort of attention. Ieuan rolled his eyes but willingly began to run his fingers along the mares neck, scratching gently in various places. ”He‘s going to be keeping a closer eye on you now, by the way. You usually manage to slip under his radar, but you won‘t be as lucky anymore.” Ieuan chuckled indulgently, quite pleased that his boyfriend was going to have to be more careful. Dafydd was like a hawk when it came to keeping an eye on his students if he had to. Ieuan would know, he was always a prime suspect. Then again, he was also fond of disappearing so that not all of his antics would reach his Uncle. If he knew half of what he got up to outside the college, the man was sure to have a heart attack.

[Onzy]

Max listened in silent pleasure to Ieuan. He didn’t want take pleasure in his love’s pain, but the voice, no matter how tired, was always a comfort. He laced his own fingers through Ieuan’s, a gentle squeeze followed to offer reassurance and comfort. He grinned when Ieuan commented on the mare, and made a mental note to stay a good distance away from her. Being pulled into that familiar and warm embrace, a small sigh of contentment escaped Max. It seemed separation was not a good idea and would have really preferred to join Ieuan on his weekend. The whole debacle with his father had actually brought them closer, but he still had doubts about his parentage. His uncle knew something but wouldn’t tell him. His mother knew obviously, but she was also as silent as the grave. “My weekend was boring. The love birds were lost in their own world and I actually had to do something on my own. Ruthie was with Jace and Alexi was with Clary I think. I was the only one without my boyfriend,” he said, grinning mischievously.

Bella noticed that the mare was a tad bad tempered and didn’t need Dafydd to warn her. Her hackles rose slightly when he referred to ‘her condition’ and she was tired of being treated like a fragile porcelain doll. She was pregnant, nothing more and nothing less. She wondered how Kris dealt with Dafydd during her pregnancy, but remembered that Dafydd was as scared of Kris in the same way that Kian was scared of her, with or without the pregnancy hormones. She wasn’t really in the mood for conversation, so just followed Dafydd towards the back of the stables. It wasn’t an area that she frequented often, but came down once or twice a week. Her interest pricked when Dafydd mentioned Kian and his happiness. Did Dafydd know that Kian had gotten a puppy? He probably did, but chose not to mention it. Then there was the small issue of Max, Andrew and Alexi. She sighed deeply, a frown crossing her face. “I know. Max is caught up with Ieuan at the moment, but Andrew and Alexi... After my accident they became really protective, Andrew because he was driving and Alexi because he saw, well heard, me flat line so many times. I told them to back off, but one is my twin and the other is like a brother. It’s a hard bond to accept,” she answered, wondering what those three had caught up when she hadn’t been around.

When they finally reached the stalls assigned to Dafydd’s two new ones, Bella gravitated to the friendly blue roan gelding. Allowing him to sniff her hands, she scratched under his mane absent- minded. Her father like figure returned his attention to her, and Bella heard his words. That guilty look that she had been hiding appeared instantly and she worried her bottom lip slightly. “It’s not just Max that’s been riding with me,” she whispered, diverting her gaze to the ground. “It’s Kris as well,” she added, knowing that Kris hadn’t been telling Dafydd that part. If he suspected it, then he didn’t say anything, but if a fight broke out because of her, then she wouldn’t know how to say sorry. Bella was glad when the topic changed, and she nodded. The arrival of the new horse had made her remember when she had first gotten Synergy. The borderline pony/horse had made life fun for a while and she missed him dearly. Dafydd was fussing over Andy so Bella just stayed with Ziggy. “How’s things with Zoe going?” she asked, just to make conversation where she wouldn’t really have to make an input. According to Kris her sister-in-law was more than a handful and from what some of the guys were saying around campus, they weren’t disagreeing.

Max heard Dafydd quite clearly, and grinned bashfully. “Erm, she forced me into it,” he answered, and laughed when Lady barged in between the two of them. He played with her mane, his grey-silver orbs looking at Ieuan the whole time. How he had survived the summer, he didn’t know. “Just like he keeps a close eye on you? I wonder what will happen if he found out some of the things I know,” he retorted, the mischievous glint returning again. “You know, we could always ditch this place, go up to my room, cause even more rumours,” Max added on, gauging out Ieuan’s reaction.