Silver Hawk Ridge: Winds of Change

{ Chapter 7 }

I had to rush more so than usual to get to elite team practice. I'd done it enough times back home, but wandering through school in riding clothes felt weird no matter how you sliced it. By the time I'd gotten to the elite horses barn, I was huffing. Man, I was out of shape. At first I thought I was late, but I didn't see anyone else.

   "Savannah! Beating everyone to the punch as usual!" I turned to see coach Flint writing in a notebook. "You're slated in on Addison, so go ahead and go into the arena and you'll get set up". After tugging my boots and helmet on, I walked in and saw a line of elegant horses being held by grooms. I was directed to a grey stallion with the most subtle flea-bitten pattern. He was almost as tall as Rega. I was boosted onto his back and sent out on the rail. The rest of the team was in before long and we were going through the motions. Today was focused on jumping, per usual. Granted the number of us that were fully versatile we're having a bit of a moment today.

"Emily, this isn't dressage session. Why are you riding that way?" Mr. Watts boomed out. "Get your seat forward again. See how Kennedy's keeping that half seat into the turn?" One thing to note was that it wasn't like he was yelling so much as he was just being loud to be loud. He and coach Flint were always significantly less stressed with this group of us. I absolutely loved working with Addison. Despite being a stallion, he was a happy little goofball and sweet as pie. Kennedy, Emily, and I were on the more experienced horses for the harder classes, whereas the others were working with some of the younger horses this week.

As I worked with Addison, I was already falling in love with him. He didn't have the same focus as Rega, but he had so much more free energy. I felt like he was going to shoot out from under me if I gave him the control. I was more than happy to give him the direction he needed if he was pliable.

"That's it Savannah! Deepen that turn! I promise it'll pay off. You got it!" I folded up neatly as he took the oxer with a little extra bounce.

"Good job! I know it doesn't make sense right now, but I promise when you see some of those courses it'll pay off." Coach Flint said with a smile on her face. I felt my cheeks glow a little bit. After working on some of the remaining agility, it was time to call it and go eat so we could get back to classes. By the time I made it into Equine Sciences, I was pretty sure I had a light sheen of sweat on my forehead. Izzy wasn't far behind either.

"Hey you two. Still alive?" Delaney teased. She passed us two post workout smoothies and some grapes and cheese cubes. What an angel. I glugged down more of my massive water bottle.

"Something like that. What's going on with the varsity team?" I asked, taking out my notes for the new chapter as I observed the board

"We're getting ready for another show. When you guys are down in Texas for Crestwood, we'll be going to a two-day jumper show in Carbondale, Illinois hosted at SIU. It's not supposed to be anything huge, but coach Watts said something about 'exposure factor" I don't know. It's all new to me". I knew how she felt. Not a lot really happened for major shows back home in comparison to here. Now that'd we'd entered second semester, everything was kicking up to high gear as we went to more shows. We'd really only had the one show back in September in addition to demonstrations at the local schooling and county shows, but this semester we were to expect at least one show a month at the varsity and national level. In addition to all of this was the school showcase in March. Everyone on campus would be invited, as well as an invite extended to our friends and family. It may have only been the first week back at school, but there had already been a team meeting. And speaking of things going on with the team-

"You think they'll have captain selections soon?" Delaney asked. They had ended up postponing the addition of captain positions in the teams last semester because the team structure had been so new, not to mention the amount of change that had occurred in so little time on the varsity team. Now they had deemed us more steady and fit for captain positions. I had to pray to god that Delaney wouldn't have to deal with Jenny as a captain (or obviously any of my other friends for that matter, and knowing that she likely wouldn't even come close to consideration).

"Probably. The sooner we have them in place, the better" Izzy noted. The teacher shushed us from the front of the room as class began. I paid as much attention as I could, but I could tell the first order of business back in my dorm would be a massive nap. Besides, even if I hadn't saved the nap for after classes, I already knew the majority of this information. That's what blow-off classes were for. Eventually I had plodded my way through Equine Sciences and AP US History and found myself back at the dorm showering for the second time that day and changing into a fluffy, Sherpa quarter zip and leggings, my feet swathed in thick aloe socks. After tossing my hair into the messy bun, I was happy to exchange my contacts for glasses as I settled at my desk. I know I promised the nap, but homework first was always the best solution. Thankfully, there wasn't much of it. I had to appreciate the mercy of this week because it sure as hell wasn't likely to come again.

"It is so 2x + 7 + C you piece of crap!" I whined at my laptop. The integral homework I found myself muddling through was not fun by any means. I hopped into the homework chat to see what the deal was. Turns out there was a trick I missed with achieving the integration, but it was a minor one. After begrudgingly correcting my answer in the computer. Three hours later and the dining room answered my stomach's mating call for food that had been persisting through the homework. Now that it was all done, I slid on my Birkenstock sandals over my socks and made my way down to dinner. The others had followed suit and we were now seated at our usual table.

"I know that school food is stereotyped as literal crap on the bottom of the Earth's shoe, but there is a perk to being spoiled at this school", Delaney gushed, mouth partially full of chicken curry. I laughed at my best friend's antics, knowing I had been the exact same way.

"Anyone else want to go down to the barn with me later?" Avery asked. As much as we both loved our horses, Izzy and I declined out of sheer exhaustion.

"Were you not just down there?" Morgan teased.

"Yes, but spending time and goofing around with your horse is a different experience than work!" Avery protested. She had that one right.

"Amen to that sister" Madi chimed in. "I will be happy to go if someone pushes my chair, because my arms have had enough for the day after therapy". She had been working insanely hard. She had been upgraded to crutches, but was advised to still use her chair when she was tired to prevent any undue strain on her still-healing body. Eva happily offered to take on the task, despite being new to the group. One thing I had noticed is that Eva provided even more cohesion to an already close friend group. We had already arranged to do our first sleepover of the semester with her. She had immediately vowed to show us how to do homemade crepes (thankfully the kitchen had just been stocked). Much like Morgan and Bianca (who were still adorable as ever), Eva was a small, but mighty, force to be reckoned with. Her delicate, pale face would go from sunny and pleasant without a single wrinkle, to crinkled up and red within a second if you decided to stray from being a decent human being.

"You guys go, I will be indulging in my nap as soon as I get back in the room" I laughed.

And after a quick text to Drew, that is precisely what happened.

A/N: sorry for more short fluff, but I promise the continued patience will be rewarded.