The Fire Horse (On Hold)

Chapter•6/4.2• Initiation?•

Pyro flicks his mane on delight and gives a small snort. I rub the side of his muzzle. Not once in the years I've known him have I ever imagined this happening. Well, maybe just once.
He willingly let's me slide on the saddle and saddle pad. His body flinches at the girth when it tightens to a higher hole. I give him a pat of reassurance. I have to use Grant's old bridle. The bit is somewhat worn and the straps are in desperate need of reajusting. I whisper to him as I lift the strap over his ears. He listens intentily.
"Good boy Pyro good boy" I coo. He swivles his ears atentivly and pushes his muzzle into my side. A giggle escape my mouth and I push him off playfully.
"Am I interrupting something?" I hear in a joking tone. My eyes narrow and I whip my head around, my hair flying with it.
"Miss me?" He smirks, leaning against the wall.
"I feel so miserable without you, its almost like having you here" I say in a honeyed voice.
"Burnnnn!" A voice buzzes. I crane my neck to look over Grant. A blonde haired boy struts toward me. He pushes past Grant's shoulder and pulls me into a loose hug.
"Hiiiii!" He cheers, pulling away.
"My names Phillip!" He chants with a glint in his blue hued golden eyes.
"Cass" I reply, giving him a well earned smile. I jumble up Pyro's reins and pull them over his head. He gives a snort of protest but reluctantly let's me lead him out of the barn. Phillip walks beside me, Grant-thankfully out of sight. Phillip's hair is bleach blonde white and he wears a tight black T-shirt that outlines his skinny but muscular frame.
"Lab tells me your our newest member" He comments with a girly giggle. I can't resist a grin.
"Wait, your a Flame?"
"Just like you sister!" He pokes me in the side. A certain brightness lifts from inside me that I didn't know was still there.
"Omg, are we like best friends now?" He say with a gesture of his hands.
"I think we are Phill's" I respond, draping my arm over his shuoulders.
"I mean we have to be, everyone else on the Flames are pretty much hot douches"
I can't stop the laugh coming out. Pyro rears his head nervously.
"Easy boy" I say. He mellows when he realizes I'm not in danger. Phillip opens the gate to a fenced in pasture. The ground is smooth grey rock. I wince at the thought of falling onto that. I push the fear into exitment and mount Pyro. He's also nervous, there's five other Fire horses in with us. The arena's so big I forget its fenced in, my guess is close to an acre. I feel the rush in Pyro's hooves but keep a firm hold on his reins witch is clear that he respects. I loose sight of Phillip but scan the riders for a head of blonde. I quickly spot him on a red Fire horse with white specks. Despite the misleading coat I can tell she's pure Fire horse by the scorch on her muzzle and hocks. Pyro let's out an unsuspected whinny. I push him into a trot with a squeeze and kick of my heels. I focus on the trot and start to move into a steady post, going up with his hooves. He slides to an abrupt but impressive halt in front of Phillip's mare.
"Why isn't there a lot if stallions?" I ask, something I've observed.
"Most of them kill each other" He answers, craning his neck to check his stirrups. I open my mouth to answer but my new friend cuts me off.
"Corra, behave" He orders to the mare as she flicks her hooves.
"What division are you in?" I ask.
"Jumping with Grant and Jay" He explains briefly.
"You should you talk to the members of whatever division your interested in. I'm going over to the jumping course, Lab and the Western's are over there and racing's out back" He says with a cluck of his tongue. Corra goes straight into a canter and gives a buck. Phillip keeps a remarkable position and presses on. Pyro glances back at where he knows I am, waiting for my permission. I urge him forward with the slightest pressure of my legs. I immediatly go into jockey stance sensing the bunched muscles of pre-sprint. My jacket flows gently in the wind but for the most part stays clinged to my body. My hair is tucked into my jacket collar to prevent blindness by strands. I feel Pyro's stride extend as we make a small sip down a slant. The wind carreses my body and streams his mane into my face. With moments of panic I eventually close my eyes to avoid the hair to poke me in the eye. All I see is a crescent of brown, black and red before I relaxe and let put full trust in Pyro. His gate slows slightly and I anticipate a soon stop. I press his faster, needing speed. I can only imagine the blur of black and red we must be. His strides become shorter and I release my stance slightly. He slows to a canter and then a steady trot. I flutter I open my eyes and the light of the day greets them. His mane hovers and bounces over his neck. I feel his panted breathing and let the reins loosen. I notice one boy, mounted on a stallion, wearing black. Seems to be the traditional attire for the Flames. Luckily I've seen enough of the Trialed Games to know the Waves wear blue, the Nomads wear white or grey, the Boulders dress in brown or green and the Flames stick to black, orange or red. I've also seen that the Nomads and the Waves have the most girls. I know I'm not the first girl to join the Flames, the first was a 16 year old named Rosemary. She died decades ago. The other is retired at 23 from an injury during the games.
This young mans eyes follow mine. I meet his stare for a brief second before focusing on my riding.
I don't plan on making an idiot of myself.
"You Cass?" He calls when we're a few feet away and the horses are both grazing. I keep a tight hold on Pyro's reins even though his head is ducked and I have to lean forward to reach.
"Yeah" I reply, trying to force a casual tone.
"Lab said you were cute"
I can't stop the blush filing into my cheeks.
"He was right" The boy shrugs.
"Your practically in the Flames, we all ran over to Rob's office and insisted you join"
"Why would you do that?" I ask with a furrowed brow. Why would they be that nice to stranger?
"Two reasons" He starts, now circling me with his horse. Pyro's attention is now on the stallion-to him a possible threat.
"One, we need a new racer. Last one got his skull buckled in on himself" He searches my face for a reaction but I'm proud to say he found none.
"Two, we all know what happened to your dad, and it takes some real guts to be on the back of that horse after what happened and honestly, we need some real bravery"
I nod.
"I think you've found the right girl"