She honestly didn't get enough attention from him. She instantly perked up when she caught sight of him coming down the hallway to her stall. Ears hard forward, she'd nickered and blew, pawing at her bedding to knock her hoof against her stall door. He paid people, of course, to take her out and exercise her nearly every day, but he knew that was too utilitarian for her. She was an intelligent beast, inquisitive and friendly, and she liked to see new things, go new places. The arena was boring, and it wasn't often her trainers took her out on trails around the stable.
Her bridle jingled as he hung it on a hook beside her door, taking up her halter and slipping inside the stall to put it on her. The mare lowered her head obligingly and pranced out of the stall, happy to be hooked up to cross ties and get a good brushing before she was saddled. He made sure to scrub out the dirt she'd accumulated in her coat from being out in the pasture before he got her pale blue saddle pad, layering it beneath her saddle with its polished black leather. It had a little dust on it, but nothing that wasn't to be expected in a place like this. He didn't bother paying anyone to upkeep his saddle, but he did take care to wipe it down when he used it, and oil it regularly. It fit Firefly like it was made for her, which it was, as he settled it over her withers and pushed it back into place. He made sure, this time, to wrap her lower legs in their guards before he got her bridle, knowing she'd be too excited to stand still once it was one. There was no telling what the trails were like today, and he didn't want any scrapes to mar her silky coat.
Trotting out of the stable yard loosened something in Trey's chest and he took a deep, chest expanding breath as he turned his horse towards the woods. He felt lighter suddenly, and at the same time more relaxed, than he had been even at home. No one was here, but him and Firefly, and if anyone came upon them, it was assuredly going to be another rider using the trail, not some member of the opposite faction. Birds called in the trees as he passed beneath the branches into the cool shade. The rustle of the wind through the brush and the steady thump of Firefly's hooves were the only sounds to bother him, and he rather enjoyed them, soaking up the peace this activity always brought, wrapping it around him like a blanket. Here, he didn't have to be anyone, didn't have any responsibilities, and didn't need to do anything more than settle into Firefly's smooth trot, his legs flexing as he posted.
Trey made sure to choose the trail he knew wandered off up into the hills, setting his horse to a pace he knew she could keep up for quite some time. He had hours to spend here, and he fully intended to take advantage of every last minute to be away from it all, just being... His mind emptying of everything but his connection with his horse and the woods around them. With just him and Firefly, there were no overly loud noises to alert wildlife, so their ride was filled with small animals who didn't seem to realize they were there at first. He saw many, many birds of all kinds, some lazy racoons, and a family of deer who bounded away from the trail when they caught sight of him. Up the slope he rode, winding back and forth as the trail went, his thoughts adrift and formless. Firefly seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself, by the way she kept her ears perked forward through most of it, only flicking them back from time to time as animals moved around them. It took her quite some time to wear off the over abundance of energy she'd left the stable with and settle down into a brisk walk, rather than a trot, that allowed Trey to finally sit in her saddle and relax his thighs and calves.
At the top, there was a rest place that had been carved out of the surrounding greenery by the people to upkept the trails, the many people who used them enjoying the piles of stones that had been stacked as make-shift benches. The trees and brush had been cleared away to give a wide, uninterrupted view of the sky and the valley below, offering an idyllic place to rest after the trek up. Trey swung down from the saddle and unpacked the water bottles he'd put into his saddle bags, unfolding a pop-up bowl to hold the water he poured out. Firefly was grateful to have it, sucking it down in great horse-gulps till it was gone, and Trey settled on one of the piles to look out over the wooded valley. He'd stay here for hours, if he could have. Maybe even forever, if that hadn't been an entirely childish thing to wish for.
The sun was low on the horizon when he finally mounted up and headed down the path back to the stable. The hill cast everything below it in shadow, and as he rode, he saw small lights start to appear and dance among the trees. His horse was unbothered, but he watched them with curiosity as they flitted about, coming closer as they trotted past. The colors were what struck him... more than the greenish yellow of normal fireflies, these little lights came in magenta, green, purple... A rainbow of colors that changed even as he watched. Trey tried to coax one into his hand as it came close, but it darted out of his reach, almost teasing him. They turned the wooded trail into a faerie path, growing a deep sense of wonder in him. He felt like he rode somewhere... other. Somewhere that wasn't the same place he'd come from... he'd have almost believed someone if they'd told him he'd passed into the fae realm.
It was only when the lights started to thin out and disperse, and the stable came into view in the evening twilight, that the spell the fireflies had woven broke. Even his own Firefly seemed to come out of it, shaking her head and snorting as she woke up from whatever trance she'd been in. Trey felt... out of his own body as he dismounted and took her inside, going steadily through the routine of untacking her and brushing her down, wiping down the spots that were dark from sweat and rubbing after the long ride. Firefly was happy to be put away in her stall and given a measure of grain, settling in to lip sleepily at it and stand with one leg hip shot. Trey left her there to take her gear to the tack room, packing the saddle, bridle and leg wraps into the locker he got for stabling Firefly here. He remembered, belatedly, to wipe down his saddle with a leather wipe before closing and locking up.
He didn't run into anyone as he made his way out to his car parked out front, dust clinging to the sides and wheels to dull the shine it usually had. His keys jingled as he dug them out of his pocket, his lights flashing as he hit the unlock on the fob.
His mind was still on the fireflies as he slid into the posh, leather interior of his car, a sense of strange other-worldliness clinging to every movement. Trey knew he needed to go, that he should start his car, but he sat there, hands in his lap, and let some of that peace he'd felt in the woods steal over him, wrapping him up again. Nothing really felt real, right then... this space he knew so well felt strange to him, like it belonged to someone else, even as he recognized every detail he'd seen hundreds of times before. The peace felt so heavy, he couldn't bring himself to break it, couldn't stand to start the car and hear that mechanical growl of the engine in this strange place.
A breeze teased its way through his open window, and for a moment, he saw a small, flickering pink light dance closer before it winked out again.
Quote:
The Fireflies (6) : In the warm summer nights, little glowing lights begin to bob and dart through the city. Fireflies are mating, so this isn't uncommon in itself; in the past few days you've probably seen hundreds of fireflies. What makes these lights so unique is that they seem to change color; you might see a blue one, a green one, a red one. They flicker randomly, and something just seems off with them. If you come into contact with one, you will find yourself with a strange electric jolt. They cannot be caught, and will flicker away if you pursue too aggressively. This isn’t the first time they’ve appeared in Destiny City, but no one’s been able to tell where they came from or where they’re going. No matter how quickly you chase them, they always seem to disappear before you can find any answers.
Word Count: 1522
