𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐄//𝐏𝐉𝐌 𝐅𝐅

🐴25

It's been hours since her personal vet had left her side in search for the weak horse she had requested. Though she was firmly standing her ground on this new plan of hers, Haemi couldn't help but felt doubtful of exploiting the horse like this but after multiple times of reassurance from Jimin that he will attend to the horse immediately after the steeplechase, Haemi felt a little at ease but still nervously biting her lips.

She watched from the other side of the fence as Lion galloped across the field with few other horses while bucking playful before settling down on a part of the pasture to graze. The water spray that was planted in the grass would activate every now and then to water the pasture and the horses would play around with it. Usually she would smile and giggle at Lion's free spirit but Haemi found herself frowning and sighing from stress.

Haemi dipped her head low as she fiddled with her fingers, waiting for her anxiety to ease down. The sounds of hooves slowly approached her but the girl remained unbothered as she stared at the ground.

Her attention was snatched when something sniffed her hair. Haemi glanced up to find her tall palomino staring down at her. The big horse lowered it's neck and rest his head on the fence, asking for a tender pat from his beloved owner who seemed dull and gloomy today.

Haemi softly smiled at Lion's cute gesture and patted him. Her pats became softer and slower and soon she started stroking his neck. The motion of her hand that dragged along his neck showed obvious signs of stress and heavy heart so Lion intended to cheer her up.

He lifted his head and bumped his nose into her stomach before stomping his hooves as signs of excitement. Haemi quickly caught onto his little gesture and knew he was asking for something.

"Wanna go for a ride, bud?"

Lion's eyes sparkled and he started bouncing around and rising his tail. Haemi smiled at her horse but also felt sorry that she hasn't been able to attend to him as she worked hard on the mission and also the fact that she has a boyfriend now.

"Alrighty! Lets-"

"Haemi...."

Before Haemi could swing herself over the fence to join the bubbly horse, a voice lowly spoke from behind her and interrupted the duo's moment.

Lion whipped it's head around to see who was talking but it's eyes immediately focused on something else other than the voice. He took slowly steps towards the fence again after bouncing around and stretched his neck as if he wanted to take a closer look or a sniff of that something.

Haemi turned around and there stood her hot boyfriend/personal vet with a horse. It was a gray horse with black mane and tail. Unlike the other horses that were packed with muscles and shinny coat, this horse was dull in color, skinny at its hindquarters and it's rib bones were quite visible.

However, that wasn't the only thing Haemi was taken back. It was the gray horse's behavior. It wasn't responsive at all judging by how quiet it's ears and tails were. It was sniffing at Haemi nor Lion when it first met them and plus, it's head was hanging low and looked drained.

A sigh left Haemi's lip when she scanned the horse. Her heart broke just by the looks of the poor thing. She didn't weather to be happy that Jimin found a weak horse or the fact that a weak horse is actually possible to find in River Stable.

Jimin gently tugged on the lead rope as the gray horse wasn't responsive. He led it to Haemi who was still a little stunned by the horse's poor appearance.

"Haemi, meet Sawyer. Sawyer this is your rider for the steeplechase."

Jimin introduced them but the couple got no response from the horse which was a bad sign already since horses are supposed to be curious at new or strange things.