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8, Wild Horses

The rest of the session taught Britta another section to add onto the pattern dance, and by the time they had learned that it was dusk. She rolled out her shoulders and wondered if Diana felt as tired. Holding back a yawn, she noted the Fox's instructions to complete the pattern dance every moment they got, and was so tired that she couldn't muster up any enthusiasm at the fact they would be learning something new the next day. When they were released, Britta made her way to the food-court, filled a plate with food and walked wearily back to the cabin. Diana was already there, eating her food hungrily.

"Hey" she said as Britta sat down.

"How was it?" She answered.

"They'll make us train up high soon." She sighed.

"We'll get you used to heights soon enough." Said Britta. "I'm going to get up earlier this morning to go see the stallion, then I'll wake you up and we'll go for a ride, leave our horses at a place where they can graze and run to the cliff. If you climb it then you can have a wash in the stream."

Diana gritted her teeth. "Fine."

"You do want to do this don't you?" Said Britta. "Because if you decide to leave now then I don't think I'm coming. There were a few moments today when everything just felt right. Everything was where it should be and this is where I'm meant to be."

"You've only been here a day." Said Diana, amused. "But I know what you mean, and no, I'm not going to leave."

They finished the food and Britta took the plates up and hurried back. She didn't encounter anyone who talked to them and was pleased with how well they were fitting in. She and Diana found their way to the well near the back of the camp. Bracing herself on the uneven ground, Britta set to work hauling up the bucket. It came up easier than the one at the Abbey, making her realise the state of disrepair it had been in. Diana filled up a rough wooden bowl with the water, balancing it carefully as they walked back to their cabin. She set it on her bedside table and Britta splashed water onto her face before climbing into bed. Though she could hear the noise of others up, she knew that if she wanted to continue with the morning routine she had designed, then she needed a good night's sleep to rest her sore muscles.

In the morning she woke up suddenly as if someone had yelled in her ear. It was earlier than the other day and her eyes were groggy with sleep. She glanced over at Diana, the lines in her forehead smoothed over with sleep. Britta smiled slightly and the walked over to the bowl of water they had put between their beds the previous night and splashed some on her face. More alert, she tied the shirt she wore at night back around her waist and pulled on her armour. Now they knew the basics of riding, they would be spending the whole day learning about their weapons and exercising. She stretched and then silently practiced the whole pattern dance until she got it without any mistakes. It didn't take long and her body remembered the movement from the previous day.

Britta then wished herself luck, pushed open the window and made her way to the stables around the big house. She had to climb through another window to get into the stallion's stall. He balked when he saw her sudden entry and pranced backwards, his large hooves leaving dinner-tray sized prints stamped in the manure-covered floor. Britta stepped forwards warily, trying not to imagine those very hooves stamping down on her.

"It's okay, I just want to talk to you." She bit her lip when she realised she'd spoken normally. She stopped and listened to his fast breathing and saw the whites of his eyes. He was scared and ready to rear up and neigh loudly. Britta concentrated. "Shhh," She said, and this time it came out as a soft nicker.

"Can you understand me?"

"Can you understand me? Leave, human, leave me alone, you will not ride me. I will not be ridden."