Mistress of Tantrums {OPEN}

[Cara]

Cara walked to the pastures, carrying the yellow halter and lead that she had for Missy. Standing at the gate she gave a sharp whistle and smiled as the chestnut's mare shot up and she looked over. "Come on." The girl called and she climbed over the gate as the mare walked up to the gate and thrust her head into the girl's chest. "Let's go and do some work in the arena." The girl said as she slipped the halter over the mare's nose and flipped the poll strap over the mare's poll and fastened it.

Leading the mare to the arena had been a battle from the start, but she got the pony there. She was being firm by fair, she listened to the pony when Missy said she didn't want to walk past something and stopped until the mare needed to be close to her again and walked past whatever was scaring her.

Once in the arena, Missy's head shot up and her back hollowed. The chestnut's ears were back - but not flat - as she looked around with wide eyes and flared nostrils.

"You're okay." The girl whispered as she did no more than hold on to the end of the lead rope, letting the Connemara cross have her head as she sussed out her surroundings. The arena obviously brought back horrid memories, but the girl needed the mare to get used to being in the arena as she would need to eventually work Missy in here on a daily basis. "Yes, I am still here." She whispered as the mare pushed her nose under the girl's arm. She placed her hand on the mare's neck and could feel the pony trembling beneath her touch.

Knowing that words would do nothing to console the frightened pony, Cara allowed her body language to speak for her. She heaved a long drawn-out sigh, her posture was calm and relaxed. She was telling the mare that nothing would hurt her while she was there. Cara was the head of their herd, a very respect position to be in, but also a position where she needed to be very aware of her surroundings. If someone came upon them and the girl flinched - consciously or sub-consciously - she would just confirm that the mare had something to be afraid of.

Removing the lead rope from the halter, Cara walked away from the pony and cross the arena. By removing the rope, she was telling the mare that she had two choices; she could either follow the girl and explore the arena or she could remain where she was, alone and exposed, but the choice was hers to make alone.

The student had barely walked four steps when she heard the gentle hoof-fall of the mare as she followed the girl. Before too long, Missy was walking along behind the girl with her nose on the human's shoulder.

[Sync]

She'd been sat up in the back of the viewing area for ages. Many had passed through and she remained unnoticed. It was a cold day, but she was wrapped up in many layers. Jock was sat closely to her, remaining unusually silent. She was pleased with this, as some people had been exercising their horses in the arena and he hadn't warned them with his usual symphony of growls. He hadn't given her presence away. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her, her chin hooked into the top of her coat, her chestnut locks falling over her face. She peered at the empty arena, finding the barren place strangely soothing. Sighing deeply, it had an emotion hidden. She'd never felt it before, but it seemed to be relief. Her head cocked in confusion, she hadn't thought two days here would have soothed her so much. The relief didn't last long though, she jumped as the sound of hooves reached her. She'd been so wrapped up in her own thoughts that it scared her more than usual. Placing her hands around Jock's jaws, as he had began to growl, she kept silent as a girl advanced with a pony. She watched as the girl coaxed her along, and Charlie looked up in surprise as the horses' body language changed. Charlie felt as if she could relate with the mare, she'd felt the same emotions on many occasions.

Charlie was absolutely fascinated by the way the girl worked with the horse. The girl made her whole frame relax, obviously trying to convince the pony that she wasn't going to hurt her. Charlie found herself completely absorbed as they worked, even finding herself willing for the mare to calm. The girl then removed the head collar from the mare, and walked away from her. Charlie noted that the mare took a while to decide whether to follow or not, but in the end she decided the follow her owner. Charlie couldn't keep the slight smile that appeared on her lips. Before long, everywhere the girl walked, the pony followed with her maw placed tightly against her shoulder. "Amazing." Charlie said quietly, causing Jock to look up. She reached down to pat him affectionately, her oracles still on the girl and her pony. Charlie had no idea how much of a bond you could build up with a horse. She'd only experienced it with Jock, but he was a dog. Shaking her head in astonishment, she looked down briefly. Then, a slam of a door made her jump. Her leg jolted a little bit too far and caught the seat in front of her. Charlie flinched, and automatically looked at the arena. She knew the girl would have heard that. She just hoped she wouldn't scare them too much, her whole frame began to shake at the thought of it. She tried to say she was sorry, but her mouth just opened and closed pathetically, no sound following out. She clamped it shut and hoped the girl wouldn't be too mad, if she was, Charlie would flee instantly.

TAGGED! Cara/Open
WORDS! 515
NOTES! Tis okay, will get better though.
LYRICS! Just Smile by Nat King Cole
CREDIT! Created by myself, Syncydoodle. Ask my if you want to use it (': Steal it, I shall hunt you down and set my moose upon you. <3

[Cara]

Every being of Cara's body radiated calmness, a calm that was reflecting in the mare as well. The girl picked up her pace and jogged forward at a nice gentle pace, she grinned when she heard the mare pick up her pace and follow at a trot.

Turning around so that she was jogging backward down the long side of the arena, Cara turned in at the corner and jogged down the diagonal and laughed as the mare stopped at the corner and thought about it, looked left and right before she trotted after the girl. Cara used this time to watch the mare as she trotted forward, she liked the way that Missy picked her feet up nicely, tucked her chin in and moved forward from her haunches rather than her forequarters.

She stumbled backwards as the mare trotted up to her and thrust her head into the girl's chest. "Let's go." She said as she turned around and jogged off again. Once getting to the corner, she changed direction. Once they were going down the long side again, she turned around again so that she was facing the chestnut pony.

Everything was going so well, then a door slammed somewhere not too far away and Missy danced backward, once again her head in the air and her back hollow. Cara fought with every nerve in her being that wanted to freeze, knowing that she needed to remain calm for the sake of the pony. She swallowed hard as she forced herself to breath normally.

A sound from the viewing area caught her attention. Turning her head, she caught sight of a girl with hair the same colour as the mare that had been following her around the arena. She turned back to Missy, knowing that formalities would have to wait until later. Missy was still dancing on the spot, her head high, eyes wide and nostrils flared. Cara breathed in and out, and finally released a sigh. She smiled when the pony echoed her sigh and pushed her nose into the girl's chest, once more seeking safety in the human's personal bubble.