The figure had emerged again, yet this time it was different. This time, they were atop a horse.
Drawn to their graceful movements, I watched them eagerly as the horses pace quickened from a trot to canter. They slipped so easily into the saddle and stirrups, it was almost as if they'd had a custom made one. The more I watched, the further my fingertips drifted from the stone wall.
shit.
I'd roamed so far apart from the structure, I hadn't even noticed myself beginning to slip. I shook my mud covered boots, sliding a little closer to the flowing creek. That was quite a fall..
Gazing my head back and noticing the quite obvious gap between the wall and creek, did I really fall all that way? I pick myself up from the bank of the creek, brushing my crimson robes with my hands, smearing small lumps of mud across it. Not managing to refrain myself, I stepped over the tiny stream of water, climbing up the other side of the ditch. I grabbed onto small weeds and rocks, lifting my body weight up the ditch and to the fence, in which bordered the stable. I grasp a fence pole, hoisting my feet up onto the first plank of wood and throwing my weight over the fence. A harsh thud sound escaping from beneath, I landed on my knees, dusting them off while wincing slightly from the landing. Wasn't one of my best moments. I was losing to a battle of excitement which had been brought to my attention when I'd, again, noticed the stranger. I could make out that he was a male, riding atop the horseback. I ducked behind a bunch of hay stacks, which looked as if they'd been freshly delivered this morning with how neatly they were bound together.
"What do you think, then?"
What was that?
I peered through a small gap between the stacks, trying to get a better look. A group of girls sat together on benches just out front of the stable, the male on the horse in front of them. The villagers must have broken in again, I thought to myself. I leaned closer into the hay, adjusting closer to the hole to get a glimpse at the male.
"How do you do that? That was incredible." I attentively listened to the compliments being thrown at the rider, he was so confident in himself it was almost annoying, but I couldn't help but agree with the female. I'd seen the way he strides on the horse with such ease, it was incredible to watch. Brushing away the occasional hay, jabbing in my arm, I listened into their conversation. I found it interesting, I wanted to learn more about these people, while keeping my presence hidden.
"That black stallion over there, you think you could ride him?" There was a sudden flood of questions, I'd feel overwhelmed if I was him, but he just took it so easily. I knew what I was doing was probably wrong, but I couldn't seem to help myself.
This was the most freedom I'd had in a long time.
"Of course I could, are you doubting me?" I'd hear him question, yet again in his clearly overconfident tone.
"Of course I'm not Stephen, I just heard.." she paused, I could sense an uncertain presence just by looking at her. Stephen, I thought to myself, I've heard that name before. My thoughts were cut short when interrupted by Stephen.
"Heard that he was difficult to ride?" Stephen added to her unfinished sentence, smiling to himself and looking over at the horse. I looked at it too, it was beautiful. The stallion was presented neatly, with hair the colour of charcoal. It's coat was beaming in the sun, the shine was almost blinding. Horses down here were supposed to receive the best of care, but I never thought that a horse could be that healthy. I kicked at the haystacks a little, trying to pry more room for myself, assuming I'd be there for awhile. A dry thud sound escaping from beside me.
not again.
I leaped our from the pile of hay, my disguise now disintegrating into the meadow's grass. How stupid. I ducked into one of the stable stalls, attempting to hide before I'd be noticed by the group. I must have got out just in time, not only a few seconds before I'd scattered into the stall, Stephen had made his way over to investigate.
"That's weird, you saw me stack that this morning, didn't you?" He questioned for his friends, I pressed my stomach closer to the ground, trying to keep hidden behind the gate. My eyes scanned around the small stall, was there anything I could use to cover up a little? Hide under even? I pulled a decently sized rag from the corner of the stall, I assumed it must have been a horses bed, or something upon the lines of that at least. I slipped the rag around my shoulders, attempting to wear it like the cloak I'd worn earlier in the day. The stench on manure was highly apparent, this wasn't very appealing. It didn't have to be too appealing, as long as I wasn't caught nor seen, especially by Stephen. He seemed as if he was the type of person to make a huge fuss out of it, I hoped he wouldn't recognise me if I'd been caught. I watched anxiously as he studied the hay stacks, feeling my palms begin to heat up and sweat as I waited. He couldn't be any slower, I thought. It was as if he knew I was here and wanted to make it as painfully torturous as he could. I knew he didn't seen me, he would have said something by now if he did. I felt myself sigh quietly in relief, relaxing my head down a little and squeezing myself into the corner of the horses stall, which happened to be empty. The panic returned yet again when Stephen and his pack began to follow the scattered bits of hay, I hadn't thought of that..
"What on earth are you doing in there?"
Stephen, I'm screwed.
