Soul Riders | Star Stable

Leaving | Chapter 3

Linda was at home, petting her cat Misty while working away at her computer, she had documents lying around her bed and a plate of cheese and crackers. Her fingers clicked the keyboard relentlessly, until finally she stopped and examined her work. A tab was open on the Oxford site, and a button appeared at the bottom of the screen, complete registration for fall semester. Linda took a deep breath and clicked.

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Lisa was riding to see Alex, maybe she could put a stop to Linda leaving. The soul riders had a duty, and Linda was about to abandon it. Her feelings felt so confused on what was right, but she felt this is what needed to be done.

Alex was chilling outside in Valedale, she had a nice chair to relax in outside and Tin-Can nearby munching on grass. She sipped her fresh lemonade, as she heard hooves walking closer. By her? She open her eyes and saw Lisa and Starshine in front of her.

"We need to talk," Lisa dismounted Starshine and sat on the grass by Alex.

"About?" 

"Linda, she is thinking about leaving Jorvik to go to Oxford." Lisa replied. She twirled the grass in between her fingers.

Alex groaned, Lisa looked alarmed.

"What is it?"

Alex waved her fingers around vaguely, "all of this, I'm trying to keep it together but I didn't realise how much work this is. Maybe the other Druids were right, maybe I won't be good at this." She sighed.

"Well you looked like it was fine, I didn't know that you felt this way, you should have told the others." Lisa said gently.

"What am I supposed to do? Forbid Linda to leave? She has a life, who am I to just say she has to stay here. I don't know what to do, I wish Elizabeth was still here! Everyone is coming to me with problems, and I wish they would figure it out on there own." Alex got up and stormed off towards her horse Tin-Can and rode away.

 Lisa decided she would take things into her own hands, so she sent a message to the group with : Anne, Linda, and Alex. "Let's meet tomorrow on Fort Pinta beach, I think we all have something to say right now." She clicked send, and hoped it would resonate with them all. 

"What time?" Anne's message said.

"How does 4 sound?" Lisa replied.

"Good," replied Anne.

"Good," replied Linda.

Lisa had yet to hear from Alex, so thought she would just let her cool down before asking anything of her.

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Lisa was waiting on the beach, as Linda and Anne arrived.

"Have you heard anything from Alex?" Lisa asked the girls.

They both shook there heads.

"I think she is kind of mad at me, so I understand if she doesn't want to come..." Lisa trailed off.

"What happened?" Anne asked.

Lisa looked down, "I told her about you Linda, how you were...planning to leave. I just don't want you to go." Lisa looked desperate.

"You were gonna leave!!" Anne looked shocked.

"I think we should discuss it together, once Alex gets here." Linda said.

As if on cue, Alex rode up on Tin-Can. She had a smile across her face, Lisa was happy she wasn't mad anymore. Alex dismounted and joined the girls. "What did I miss?" 

"So, as all of you now know, I have wanted to go to Oxford ever since my parents left to teach there." Linda paused. "Last night I-," another pause. The girls were hanging on her every word. "Last night I registered for the Fall semester."

The girls all gasped in shock, "How could you!" Lisa shouted at her. Linda smiled.

"I'm not leaving, well not for long at least. I'm taking online courses instead, I get to go to school and still be here with you guys. I would have liked to go to Oxford, but Meteor wouldn't be happy." Linda sighed. "But I also remembered that story about the horses that leave Jorvik, and I didn't want to take any chances." 

The soul riders embraced, but Alex stopped. "Not for long?" 

"Well I thought I would go to Oxford to visit my parents and see the Library to pick up some resources. I should only be a week."

"When are you leaving?" Anne asked.

"In a few days, but I will be back before you know it. Trust me" 

They all departed, going there separate ways, Lisa was happy with this outcome. Now everything was still OK.