A horse named Bear

~ Chapter 18 ~

~ Chapter 8 ~

It's funny how fast time flies. Six weeks went by like nothing. It was a Saturday. Bear and I were planning on going trail riding later today. Our first ride since his accident on the track. The big race was in three days and we had a lot of work to do before we would be even remotely ready.

I wake up with nothing on my mind but Bear and the big race. A text from Luke was on my phone. I simply ignored it, slipping on my sneakers and throwing on an old red sweatshirt. Today wasn't the day to goof around with Luke - my best and only friend at this stupid academy.

In the six weeks since I had found out Christina wasn't a jockey, I had been plotting a way to get back at her. All I had to do was win this race, then the name Kiana would be known around the entire academy. After that, I use the newly gained power to take her down. It was all so simple.

After throwing my ratted hair into a ponytail and brushing my teeth, I throw open the dorm room door and rush towards the stables. It was barley even 6:30am and not a single person was in the halls. Perfect.

Making my way through the dormitory, I finally manage to get to the front doors. Throwing them open, I take in a deep breath of fresh air and sigh. It was warm, the sun already showing its rays over the vast mountains. The perfect time for a trail ride. "I'm coming Bear."

Breaking into a full sprint, I take off. It was literally seconds before I reached the barn. Throwing open the doors, my eyes flash to Bear's stall and I scream. "BEAR!"

His startled eyes meet mine, instantly turning to pure joy. A nicker escapes him as I run to him, throwing my hands around his neck. "Good boy.. Good boy.." I whisper softly, my face buried in his mane and tears running down my cheeks.

"Let's go riding."

With a devilish smile spreading across my face, I tack up the large stallion and lead him over to the mounting block. With one final deep breath, I leap into the western saddle - the one I use for trail riding. Giving his sides a light kick, I close my eyes and feel his muscles ripple the way they always do. Finally, after what seemed like years, something felt familiar. "Let's go boy!" I shout the minute we get out of the barn, giving him another kick and watching as he canters up the first trail we see.

The canter soon turned to a gallop. Not long after, a dead run. We flew through the forest like never before. My eyes were closed, my hands gripping the reins as hard as they possibly could. My grip was so tight my nails were digging into my palms. I didn't care. I didn't care about anything. All I knew was that I was finally riding MY horse again, and that I loved it.

It wasn't long before we actually ran out of trail. Bear stops, his chest rising and falling quickly as he struggles to catch his breath. A bead of sweat runs down my forehead. The sun was clearly visible now, beating down on both our backs. A small creek runs below us and Bear begins to drink the freezing liquid.

"Whoa.." A huge smile was now on my face, my eyes practically glowing.

Before the pair stood the waterfall Luke and I had jumped off of the day I had ridden the white mare; Sunburst. The memories flowed of that day. The day I thought Luke had died. I shake my head, pulling on the reins and turning Bear around. "Well, we better be getting back boy. Luke might be worried."

I chuckle, giving the stallions sides a quick kick and we go walking back down the trail we came.