Small Steps ]syncydoodle[

[Myssi]

Hooves pounded the ground in four differant rhythms of four as the three geldings and the mare thundered around the pasture, dirt and grass flinging from their hooves, snorts sounding throughout the air.

A slight girl with brilliant blond hair flew after them, a smile flashing on her face and a spotted dog loping next to her, his floppy ears up an alert to the animals in front of them. Melissa soon slowed, her breath escaping her as she came to a halt, hands on her knees, watching the horses. Sparks flopped in front of her at her feet, blue eyes closed as he panted.

The smallest equine, the arabian mare, was the fastest. she ripped ahead of her male counterparts, bucking and leaping, bounding over the ground in quick strides. Following her came the two English trained geldings, the leggy, almost ugly bay crossbred and the heavier-looking grey Warmblood. Bringing up the rear was the laziest of the lot, the palomino Quarter Horse.

Her herd, Melissa's four legged family. She knew every one like the back of her hand - Shamrock, the mare that had been there for her the longest and through everything. Levi, known in the show ring as "E Ripa a e Gurtha Eala", the quirky, rather unappealing horse who'd taught her the English style of riding. Loopy, or Fire Nectarine, who was the newest and her silly big show horse. And finally, Samba, Konani, who was her treasure. A gift from her father, she'd trained the gelding and taught him everything he knew.

Her father.

Chuck Bass, she knew, was as complicated as any person ought to be. But to her, he was more complicated than usual. Her birth father who she'd found and met for the first time after a riding accident where she'd fallen off his horse and suffered a concussion dramatic enough to send her into a coma. A coma that'd stopped her heart. There, Chuck had asked for a DNA test to be done. And it was - the match was found.

That had been two years ago. And it seemed like so much had happened in that short amount. Her father and she had fought, but made up. She had met her grandparents - her grandfather being decent, but her grandmother disliking her and convincing her husband to reject their grandchild as well. Melissa sighed at the memory, sitting down to watch the horses. Yes, a lot had happened in two years.

She blinked a little. Soon it would be three years. Her birthday was soon. How could she have forgotten? Well, quite easily considering how she was so preoccupied with other things like school and her horses, but still. This was something quite important. Seventeen was a big number. It was a step forward. Or a step back? Another sigh. So many things to think of, yet her mind could only become so full before information would start to pour from her ears, and she might need that information that was falling from her ears. It might be rather relevant to important things like class or her horses or acting or moose. Moose were very important to her.

Yes, she had much to think about, but right now, watching her horses and with the breeze lightly sifting through her ponytail, maybe it could wait another day.

[Sync]

Summer found herself reluctant to head home after her shift at the police station. With an extra officer now working with them, there was no longer the need for her to be working the hours she had been. It was a blessing and a curse. The black haired female decided to make a stop at the yard, to check on her two horses. She'd done so this morning, but knew Fable at least wouldn't pass up on extra attention. Looking down at her attire, she deemed herself suitable enough to go for a ride too. She decided on the trails, which though situated on college grounds, town residents were also allowed to use. Bear, her large German Shepherd, bounded along beside her as they made their way to the yard. It was near enough for it to be a comfortable walk from the station.

Twenty minutes later found herself carrying her Knabstrupper stallion's tack toward his stall. The large equine tossed his head in excitement, but Summer barely noticed. She was wrapped up tightly in her own mind, mostly thinking about Chuck. She was now engaged to the man, and carrying his child. Both facts excited her greatly, she was finally getting what she'd always wanted. A boyfriend, Fiancée, that loved her and treated her well. Who actually loved her for her, and didn't want to change her. Yet, Summer's mind couldn't help but stray to the child Chuck already had. Melissa and Summer hadn't got off on the right foot, and had never really managed to bond as much as Summer would like. She wanted to get to know the girl, but never really knew how to go about it. As she tacked up her equine, a thought dawned on her. Trail ride! Summer smiled in accomplishment as the thought struck, deciding the obvious way to get to the girl was through what she loved. Horses.

Fable, Bear and Summer made their way up to the college quickly, the stallion looking around curiously as they headed through the main entrance instead of the side entrance he was used to when they went to the trails. Summer had a quick stop to do before she rode him out on the trails. Dismounting Fable as they came to a stop outside the barn of the college, she waved over her brother Sam, one of the grooms at the college, who looked at her curiously. "What are you doing here?" he asked, patting an excited Fable on the neck whilst simultaneously giving Bear his attention. "Building bridges. Can you get me Melissa's tack? For the English horse, the one Chuck likes to talk about..." she searched her mind for the name of the horse, and then grinned. "Levi!" Sam rose a brow, but did as his sister asked.

Summer, now leading Fable and having Bear walk at her heel, made her way along the line of pastures to head to where Sam had said he'd seen Melissa last when taking a few horses out. Carrying the girls horses' tack, she huffed in relief when the blonde female came into view. "Melissa?" she called out, drawing closer and then placing the saddle down beside the girl. Fable snorted, his ears forward in a friendly fashion as he saw the girls' four horses playing. He remained calm though, but Bear was a no hope. The mass of dog dropped down on his front half, his frame poised to play with the dalmatian at Melissa's feet. "Would you like to come on a trail ride with me? Bearing in mind that I won't take no for an answer." she grinned, though there was a hopeful twinge to her expression as she awaited her answer.

[Myssi]

Sparks was the first to react to Summer's voice, though it could have been the other dog to draw his attention. Snapped from her thoughts, Lissa turned her head to watch the raven-haired female walk toward her, curiousity sparking in her stainglass eyes.

While Melissa had felt spite for the woman in the beginnings of her father's relationship, she'd gotten over the whole thing with some time. Perhaps her assumptions that helped her get over herself, but she'd never voice them aloud. They were for her mind only.

Some might call her troubled for how quiet she'd become over the last three years - almost muted in a way. She was stifling herself, but Melissa would argue she was at the peak of her brilliance - a light no one but she could see, it seemed. She almost became sane around others now, a thing that scared her family; namely, Jay and Spencer, though in the background, she was unaware of how worried Chuck was for her.

Trivial things at this moment. She had a father's girlfriend in her pasture, with her tack.

"Salutations and greetings, Summer. To what do I owe for such a surprise?" Clever eyes rand over the woman, and caught the glint of metal on her left hand. The ring finger. So, her ESP had been correct in assuming her fathe rwould reach the decision of proposing the this woman. This was a pleasing note to Melissa.

At Summer's proposal, Melissa glanced at the tack, then out to her horses. Obviously Sham and Samba were not English trained, which narrowed her choices to Loopy or Levi. While she adored Loopy, she didn't feel like taking the somewhat spooky gelding out on an adventure today. She'd prefer someing with a reasonably sane head.

She rose to her feet, a shy smirk in place. "You've a deal then." She raised her hands to her lips and blewout three soft notes, not unlike an owl hooting. Levi's head came up, jug-headed and placed on a somewhat thin neck before he cantered up to his rider. She smiled, and reached up to scratch behind one floppy ear before she grabbed her red plaid blanket and saddle, placing them on his back, over the rather mountainous withers. Then went the girth, and finally, she was pulling the bridle over his head.

She was wearing her converse shoes and a pair of jeans, but Lissa was not too concerned with that at the current time. Who needed riding clothes anyway?

She looked at Summer, the gaze quiet. "I'll go mount up on the fence, then?" The started to lead the seventeen hand crossbred over to the wooden structure, the rest of the herd watching their rider and counterpart with some interest as the dogs raced about in their pasture.