Darkest Hour to Brightest Day [Kenren]

[Cavallo]

Jeff Saunders & Abastor - Conditioning

The afternoon sun was warm in the cold November conditions. Jeff was bundled up, his features hidden under his black face mask. The cold was biting today and even though things got cold back at home, this new kind of cold in the States was causing his lips to chap and his teeth to chatter. He decided to make sure that he wore his face mask on the next ride he had scheduled. Hidden behind layers of fabric, Jeff was finally able now to concentrate on the horse he was scheduled to be exercising.

Intrepid didn't normally exercise their stock on the public tracks, but Jeff was eager for a change in scenery and he could tell that his favorite black colt was ready for it too. Abastor was every inch a superb racehorse, but it seemed he'd reached a standstill in his career. Aba was better than this and he was eager for the Bucephalus son to shake it off. It was just a matter of time. There wasn't much else for him to think about, other than the horses he had been entrusted with. While it meant his rides got superb attention, it also meant that he rarely left the stable grounds.

The high energy colt tossed his head as he moved powerfully over the turf. His long, black legs moved with a fluid grace until they rested on he outside rail to scope out the current situation of the public tracks. There was the usual horses breezing and Aba's locked onto each horse as they moved. His every trained instinct telling him to give chase. Jeff pulled the black colt in and slapped the black's neck affectionately. Well Aba...looks like a track...just like any other. What do you say we tear it up? The black colt tossed his head, his right foreleg striking the ground in a regal display. He was more than eager to be off.

[Kenren]

Grey's Wisdom & Halexia Suhail

<sub>Whisper wasn't the type of horse that Hal normally rode. It had nothing to do with quality or accomplishments - it was personality. Hal normally rode the most aggressive and hard to control horses that Valkyrie had to offer. She had a hand with them, and instinctively knew how to handle them - plus, they seemed to like her. Perhaps it was her carefree attitude appealing to them, but she couldn't know for sure. Either way, is was somehow refreshing to mount up on a horse that didn't have a mean streak. Whisper could be a nervous horse, but he was a sweetheart and wanted nothing more than to please. He had really been coming into his own lately, overcoming his fears to let loose the fantastic racehorse inside. He'd been lightly raced this year, but he'd done very well in the starts that he'd had. And now it was time to work him away from home. He'd been doing well shipping from Valkyrie to the track for races, but Cole thought it might be good for him to get some works in as well at the busy practice track. So far it was going fairly well. Hal was frankly surprised by how well he was handling it, but she supposed it wasn't quite as bad as race day. Just different.

Cole gave her a leg into the grey's saddle, and she got comfortable as the horse skittered sideways. She was pretty used to his antics, and she patted his neck when he finally settled. Cole started to give her instructions, but something caught Hal's eye, and she almost immediately tuned him out. There was a horse and rider toward the side of the turf track, looking to be getting ready to start. She couldn't see the guy's face, since he was severely dressed to handle the chill in the air, but if anything could be said about her, Hal was good at recognizing certain things about people. And horses, really. And his build and even the contours of the face mask told her that there was one attractive man about to start a work on one attractive horse. She was smiling when she cut Cole off, waving her hand without taking her eyes off of her target. "Mind if a freestyle a bit? I'll treat him well, promise." She quickly looked down at the trainer, innocence in her eyes. Innocence he didn't believe for a minute. However, he grunted assent. "Fine. At least pay some attention to the horse, though, alright?" His voice was exasperated, but he knew Hal was a dang fine rider. Even if she had her eye on something - or someone - else, she'd get the job done.

Set free, Hal asked Whisper to move forward, jogging lightly onto the track. Her jacket was zipped snugly up her body, chocolatey hair tied in a long ponytail at the base of her neck, underneath a warm hat. Whisper looked ready to start up the middle of the track, but she steered him to the side, toward the man she'd put her sights on. She got close enough just in time to hear his words, and nearly laughed at the horse's response to his voice. But mostly she was interested in the voice itself - potentially handsome and foreign. She couldn't ask for more.

She brought Whisper to a stop a rather polite distance away - after all, she didn't know anything about the other horse. And with some of the psychos that she rode, she didn't take any chances. "Hey, Tall and Dark. Mind a little company?" Her voice was light and playful, and she sat in a relaxed manner in the saddle - Whisper seemed content to wait her out, and for that she was thankful. Couldn't socialize on a horse that wanted to fight all the time, now, could you?</sub>

[Cavallo]

<sub>Jeff was just about to press his black colt forward, when he heard the close approach of another rider. This wasn't just a horse passing by, he heard the horse slow down and stop a respectful distance. The black Bucephalus son locked his fierce gaze onto the grey colt. His eyes flared with life and he sidestepped lightly over the turf, every muscle coiled in his body to lash out and break away from the rival colt. Jeff wheeled the black colt around and turned to see who exactly was getting his colt all riled up - granted it didn't take much to get Aba going. Aba was a commanding presence, fierce to behold and pleasing to the eye. As his eyes relocked onto the grey, he danced on the turf on his toes, Jeff rode it out, completely in control and turned to face the source of the voice. "Hey, Tall and Dark. Mind a little company?" Jeff turned to see a woman sitting astride her rather sedate looking mount. He felt only a nanosecond of envy at the easy task she appeared to have, but Jeff knew himself too well. He enjoyed the more spirited rides and he wouldn't have had it any other way.

He pulled down his face mask exposing his firm, handsome and rugged features. His blue eyes rising to the challenge he heard in the woman's voice. He smiled, a full set of white teeth flashing in the cold. His blue eyes took the woman in. She was sitting, completely relaxed and at ease. She wore confidence easily and had complete control of her mount. The grey looked to be about the same age as his Aba and he tried to place the colt. I can always use some company. He smiled again, biceps flexing slightly as he kept the black colt underneath him reined in. I was just about to unleash my boy here on the turf. Name's Jeff, from Intrepid, you?

He liked what he was seeing, this was a rider who was carefree, but still in control. He wondered why he'd never seen her before on the tracks, surely he would have remembered her. Surely. Abastor, stomped an impatient hoof as he eyed the colt. He really didn't care who the colt was, he just wanted to go and run.</sub>

[Kenren]

<sub>The man turned toward her, expertly holding back his black mount, and he freed a hand to pull down his face mask. Ah, yes, there it was - strong, rugged features, much as she'd imagined would be there. Reality was always better, though, and she smiled back at him. "I can always use some company," came the response, and Hal was practically delighted inside - sometimes the jockeys she met were arrogant, wanting nothing to do with a name or face they didn't recognize. And he was a jockey, she was sure - he was confident enough on his horse that she'd put money that it was the experience of a jockey. "I was just about to unleash my boy here on the turf. Name's Jeff, from Intrepid, you?" Jeff, Mr. English and Exceptionally Gorgeous. She would remember.

"I'm Hal. My cousin owns Valkyrie." She decided not to say that she wasn't a jockey, for the same reason most didn't bother with her - if he was the sort to lose interest if she wasn't true "competition", she'd keep the fact to herself for now. He was just too much fun to pass up right now. Hal leaned over, patting her colt's neck, looking up at the man from her position. "And this is Whisper. Grey's Wisdom. I feel like I've seen your boy before, but I can't place him." Mostly because Hal was surprisingly out of touch with the actual goings-on of the racing world. She rode her horses, she did her job, but she didn't involve herself more than that. Whisper, on his end, seemed to be noticing the black colt beside him more and more, perhaps because of his occasional displays of antsiness - Hal straightened up, motioning toward the track with a tilt of her head, steering Whisper out. She didn't want him to start getting anxious, because he didn't do well when that happened and she'd rather not get yelled at by Cole. She allowed Whisper to open into a trot, but not too fast, waiting for Jeff to catch up.</sub>

[Cavallo]

<sub>"I'm Hal. My cousin owns Valkyrie. And this is Whisper. Grey's Wisdom. I feel like I've seen your boy before, but I can't place him." His crystal blue eyes saw the woman before him with complete clarity. He smiled as she introduced herself. Ahh. She's from one of the newer stables... The stable's name brought recognition and he nodded his recognition. He patted the antsy colt, as the black thoroughbred looked intently at the other colt, ears pricked. This is one of my main rides, Abastor or Aba. His voice was filled with pride as he spoke of his mount.

He noticed that Aba's intensity was causing Whisper to veer in that direction. He watched as the woman, Hal, steered her mount into motion towards the turf and he didn't hesitate to let Aba follow through on his inner urge to move. Anything was better than standing still where Aba was concerned. He saw that she allowed her colt to enter into a trot and Aba quickly fell into a competitive sync with the grey. He studied the woman as he drew closer and then parallel to her. Her eyes were intoxicating. He gave her a winning smile as Aba quickly and effortlessly matched the colt's gait. He tossed his head, still eager for whatever was to come, but he could settle in this moment for a trot.

I haven't seen you around before. It was a fact and he knew he would remember her if he had seen her. She was beautiful, confident and looked to be a natural on a horse. He tried to think if he had ever seen her on the tracks, but he was drawing a blank. You look to be a natural in the saddle. It was a compliment of sincerity and he meant it. She was full of life and he was drawn to that. He realized as he trotted down the green in tandem with Hal, that he was actually having a bit of fun. This was a refreshing change. Blue eyes locked onto Hal's with a firm confidence. It's refreshing to have some new competition on the tracks. Do you enjoy working for your cousin? He arched an eyebrow in curiosity. He had yet to of met anyone from Valkyrie and now the cousin to the owner had fallen from the sky into his lap and so far...it was a pleasurable experience.</sub>

[Kenren]

<sub>"Abastor, huh? I'm sure I've heard the name." He'd probably raced against a Valkyrie horse at one time or another, but as stated, Hal didn't keep up with things as well as she probably should. The girl allowed Whisper to extend his trot once the black colt moved up, hands steady as he lipped at the bit. "I haven't seen you around before," came the delectable accent, and Hal gave him a sidelong glance, a sly smile pulling her lips. "You look to be a natural in the saddle." Hal took the compliment, knowing it was true. There was nothing cocky in her thoughts, but she knew it was fact. She hadn't needed to be schooled much when she was younger, picking up the art quickly, but that wasn't unusual - it was true with anything she truly set her mind to. Unfortunately, she rarely utilized that talent. Some called her lazy, but she was just not incredibly motivated. "I normally only ride at the farm," she said by way of explanation.

"It's refreshing to have some new competition on the tracks. Do you enjoy working for your cousin?" He seemed genuinely interested, so she answered easily, starting with a laugh. "One doesn't so much work for my cousin as keep things running in his absence. He's in Saudi Arabia - or maybe Turkey? He's not home much since he travels for business, and whatever else catches his fancy. His wife hired our trainer, and he's the one that really runs things." Thinking about her cousin made her a little sad, but it was just because she missed him. He'd had a good hand in raising her, which was part of why they were so similar - he was her partner in crime, the flip side of the coin. "As for working at the farm itself, it's great. Never boring." She looked at him again. "And Intrepid? What are things like there?"</sub>

[Cavallo]

"I normally only ride at the farm," He nodded as realization began to dawn on him. There was a reason he didn't see her on the tracks or that she seemed unaware of some of the major players on the track fields. While Abastor had had a much lighter career this season, he was still a name on the tracks. He quickly pieced the puzzle together. She wasn't a jockey, though, he saw her potential for so much more. She had the natural talent to become a superb jockey. Her hands were firm on the reins, her seat confident, she had Whisper under her complete control. He wasn't put off by her status, a rider was a rider in his book. Some riders were cut out for the tracks on race day and others were more adapt at breezing and exercising, but he could tell from her manners, style and talent that she might very well be one who could make it on the tracks.

"One doesn't so much work for my cousin as keep things running in his absence. He's in Saudi Arabia - or maybe Turkey? He's not home much since he travels for business, and whatever else catches his fancy. His wife hired our trainer, and he's the one that really runs things. As for working at the farm itself, it's great. Never boring And Intrepid? What are things like there?" Abastor was attempting to bite for the bit, eager to be off, but Jeff had a firm hold on his head and pulled it in and returned his attention to the independent Hal. He was quite taken with her fierce independence and he found it easy to answer her questions.

Intrepid is always busy, but I can't complain because it's never dull. I find myself growing at home there more everyday. He smiled at the thought of the staff. Nick Landing and all of the staff there is great to work with. Dedicated to excellence, but very family focused. They are like extended family. His voice held the warmth he had for the Intrepid crew. Being thousands of miles away from home, it was nice to have people here that he could do life with. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. The horses are great and it feels like home. He paused, noticing that he was starting to sound too mushy. Sorry, you got me going on a rather personal topic. He smiled apologetically for his sentimental rant. You know, I think you should try and attempt the jockey life.. He let his sentence trail off, eyebrow arched letting his words sink in that he had come to realize her job as an exercise rider. There was no judgement in his voice. He never had been picky about who he called his friends, but he was always one to push his friends to become better. He saw the talent in her and hoped she'd become aware too.

[Kenren]

<sub>"Intrepid is always busy, but I can't complain because it's never dull. I find myself growing at home there more everyday." His smile as he said it spoke to the truth of his words. "Nick Landing and all of the staff there is great to work with. Dedicated to excellence, but very family focused. They are like extended family. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. The horses are great and it feels like home." Hal understood - Valkyrie was very much like a family as well, not least because a lot of the staff were related. Minske was Cole's son, Tigris was Mae's brother, and she, Hal, was Naos' cousin. Perhaps it gave them all a sense of camaraderie - no one ever ganged up on each other, especially because the three exercise riders were so close. It really was nice. Jeff paused, then flashed her a smile. "Sorry, you got me going on a rather personal topic." She shook her head, brushing off the apology. She understood. Then, more surprisingly, he said, "You know, I think you should try and attempt the jockey life." Hal turned blue eyes to him sidelong, a sly smile on her lips. So he'd figured it out, hmm? He was sharp - she liked that. She gave as much of a shrug as she was able in her current position. "I've never really thought much about it. I could I suppose, if I had the right incentive." Her words were teasing and purposeful, though at that moment Whisper took the chance to bite at his bit, enough of a signal from him that he was getting antsy, so she didn't continue. The colt's grey coat was showing just enough sweat that he was feeling warmed up enough to be ready to go.

Instead, she said, "Alright, we should probably get these boys moving. Since I was told to wing it, what's on the schedule for Aba? I'll match."</sub>