xp_logs | Crystal and Sooraya

Crystal comes to the stables to go for a ride and discovers that although Sooraya enjoys spending time with the horses, she has not been riding at the mansion.

Sooraya drew in a deep breath as she stepped into the stables, her small smile growing as the scent of horses, hay and leather filled her nostrils. She had been coming here almost since she arrived at the mansion, first at Nathan's suggestion and then on her own whenever she could find the free time. She loved being there among the large, warm, calm animals that reminded her of her childhood.

She said a few words in Dari as a large bay gelding stuck his head out of the nearest stall, raising her palm to rub over his cheek and down his neck. She giggled as the horse lipped her headscarf, and apologized for not having brought a treat from the kitchen for him. She only came to groom the horses and sit with them; though she longed to ride, it still seemed presumptuous to use these magnificent animals for her own enjoyment. Besides, it was nice just to be here, where she could forget about the madness of the mansion and classes and studying and the other students and just be herself.

Crystal approached the stables, lost in thought. So many things had changed recently, and were still changing. She had done her best to play down her concern over the ghetto situation, not to mention the worry she had felt for her sister. Now Medusa was back, and she was safe, and perhaps now things would return to their normal level of insanity.

Crystal floated into the stables and caught sight of another figure. "Greetings, Sooraya," Crystal said, recognizing her suitemate.

Sooraya glanced over her shoulder, still smiling as she nodded to Crystal. "Hello, Crystal." She gave the gelding another pat before stepping back from the stall, folding her hands in front of her. "You like horses too?" she asked, a bit surprised. She didn't run into many other students out here.

Crystal smiled at Sooraya:, a genuine smile, not the fake-yet-convincing ones she found herself using quite often. "Yes, I do; I even have my own horse at home. Everyone in my family was schooled in equestrianism, but I am especially partial to it. I enjoy horseback riding and I like horses as well. They are very calming animals."

"Yes, I agree." There was certainly something soothing about being here in the stables, and Sooraya was glad that Crystal found it so as well. "I come here when I like to relax," she ventured softly. "When homework is too much. My head will be clear when I am here and then it is not hard to concentrate."

Crystal nodded, still smiling. To her, flying was the best method of relaxation she had ever come across, but horseback riding was close. She could create winds of her own, but feeling the air as your horse galloped across an open area was quite exhilarating. Just spending time with horses was also wonderful.

"Do you have a favorite horse to ride?" Crystal asked Sooraya.

A slightly apprehensive look came over the Afghan girl's face, and she shook her head quickly. "Oh, no, I do not do that... I only clean and touch them."

"Oh, I am sorry, I just thought... You seem to like the horses so much; I assumed that you also enjoy horseback riding," Crystal said. Sooraya was afraid to ride? "It is ok; you do not have to ride them if you do not wish to do so."

Sooraya bit her lip, stumbling forward a little as the horse behind her stretched out his neck and nudged her back. "I do wish to," she confided in Crystal, "but... it is strange. They are not mine to use."

Crystal gave Sooraya a quizzical look. "What are they here for if they are not here for you to ride?"

"I..." Sooraya clamped her mouth shut, unsure of how to answer this. In a way, she envied Crystal and the confident air she projected, but the truth was she still wasn't used to having so much at her disposal. "You are right. It is only strange, to want to do a thing and to do it. I do not know I am so lucky sometimes."

"I came to go riding; you may join me if you wish," Crystal said. "Perhaps for your first ride here, it would be better if you did not ride alone."

"Yes?" Sooraya asked, her expression brightening. "I will like that very much. Thank you, Crystal."

"Have you ridden before?" Crystal asked curiously, wondering if Sooraya already knew about the proper ways to groom and tack up a horse before the ride.

For some reason this question made Sooraya grin, and she nodded once again. "Yes. I have. Not with lessons, but... I know."

Crystal smiled. "Good. Now choose your mount; I am going to ride the palomino over here."

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Sooraya grinned again as she and Crystal guided their mounts out of the wooded area by the stables and towards a more open field in front of them. The Afghan girl had chosen a slender chestnut mare to ride, bridling her but eschewing a saddle in favor of riding bareback. She could feel the warmth spring of the horse's step beneath her and leaned forward a bit, urging her to a faster pace. The mare responded willingly, picking up a slow canter that covered the ground easily.

Crystal urged her palomino to match the speed of Sooraya's mare and rode alongside her, making sure to keep enough distance between the two horses. She looked over at Sooraya, glad to see that she appeared to be enjoying herself.

Sooraya's horse seemed to take the nearness of Crystal's mount as a challenge, and she tossed her head - Sooraya could almost hear the animal ask to go more quickly. Glancing sideways at Crystal, she shouted "Faster?"

Crystal's head turned slightly to look at Sooraya. She didn't say a word, but simply grinned in response as she and the palomino raced ahead of Sooraya and the chestnut mare.

With a bona fide laugh Sooraya gave her mare her head, urging her after Crystal as they headed across the field. At the far end stood the mansion, a small hedge serving as a barrier between the wide, grassy expanse and the more manicured confines of the garden.

At Crystal's request, her mount slowed to a canter, but Crystal realized that Sooraya's mount was gaining speed. Again, the palomino took off, galloping even faster this time.

The two girls bent low over their horses' necks, moving swiftly across the lawn and past the school. Their horses were neck-and-neck, first one gaining the lead, then the other. Sooraya could hear the wind whistle past her ears and grinned, her legs wrapped around her horse's barrel tightly. She couldn't remember having this much fun in a long time - it was like they were flying.

Crystal smiled, noting that their "race" seemed to be an equal match. Of course, it wasn't a real race...they were just enjoying a ride without a destination. And if they kept going straight past the mansion itself, they'd find themselves at an impasse... Crystal's horse slowed down a bit and turned slightly, changing direction in order to run past the other side of the mansion.

A moment later Sooraya noticed the change in course and slowed her mount as well, following Crystal's lead and guiding the chestnut around the mansion. They eventually headed back towards the stables, slowing their horses in order to cool them off and smiling at each other happily. When they reached the stables Sooraya dismounted, patting her horse's neck firmly and murmuring words of thanks to her.

"I come here to ride at least twice a week," Crystal told Sooraya. "You are, of course, allowed to ride on your own, but if you would prefer to ride with someone, you are more than welcome to join me whenever I go riding."

Sooraya peered over the mare's back at her suitemate, her cheeks a bit red still from the ride. "Thank you," she said with a nod. "It is very fun. I think I will like to go again with you."

Crystal smiled at Sooraya. "I will let you know the next time I decide to go for a ride. You do not live far away from me, after all." As an afterthought, she added, "Have you ever been bowling? I have never been bowling, but a group of students are going to go bowling soon, perhaps you would like to come with us? I need to speak with Kyle, he was supposed to find a nice place to go."

Bowling? Sooraya vaguely remembered that word... "I have not been to bowling. Thank you. I will like to go... but I must learn how."

"I believe that we will learn how to bowl at the bowling alley itself," Crystal told Sooraya. "It will be a new experience for both of us." Crystal was interested in comparing and contrasting her reaction to bowling to that of Sooraya.

"Yes, it will." Sooraya's horse snorted and shifted impatiently, obviously wanting to get back to her stall. Sooraya smiled again at Crystal and gathered up the reins in her hand. "Thank you, Crystal. It is good, to do these things together. You are a good friend."

Crystal blinked, taken by surprise at Sooraya's last statement. "I...thank you, Sooraya. I am sorry that I did not know that you enjoyed riding but had not yet done so here, I am glad that I was able to help you."

"Yes. I am glad too. And I think the bowling will be fun. We will try to make the strike... but not three? That is the rule, yes?"

"I am not sure of the rules of bowling; we can ask Kyle," Crystal said. "He has gone to many bowling alleys and is surely well-versed in the rules of the game."

Nodding, Sooraya gave Crystal another smile and turned to lead her horse down the aisleway of the stable. She was very happy, having enjoyed her ride with Crystal very much. And she was going to get to go bowling! Could she get any luckier?