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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 16:33:50 GMT
Macy walked out of the stables in the local fields, looking round. It was early on a Sunday morning, and she was meant to go for her weekly riding session, which she hated. Her mother was a very skilled rider, and made Macy learn how to ride when she was young, hoping that her talent will pass on to her daughter, but unfortunately, it didn't. But her mother persisted in her daughter riding, hoping for the day she'd come home with a rosette.
With all what had been happening, Cardsdale had only been opened for the students the day before, but it was only for students who had to go into it, and they had to have teacher's permission. Macy thought this could let her not have to riding, but apparently her mother had insisted that she had to go rinding every week without fail.
She went back into the stable, put on her gear and went to her favorite horse, Tabby, a small, brown and white one, that most people overlooked because of it looking quite underfed, or something, but Macy liked this about it.
She hoisted herself on Tabby's back, and sighed. She began to do some trots to warm-up, but neither Macy, nor Tabby seemed to be enjoying it.
She heard someone go into the stables, and she peered in, finding a boy standing there. It was the one who woke her up in 3am. "Hey!" She called over. She'd do anything to not ride today.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 16:52:53 GMT
It was so great to finally get out of that school. The atmosphere was so thick you could barely breathe. Jude had tried to get further in Catch 22, but found its talk of war gave him a headache. And the way the main character kept calling everyone crazy didn't help either. He knew people were crazy; but it wasn't nice to be reminded of it at the moment. So now that Sunday- and his riding lessons- and rolled around, he was more than a little relieved.
Okay, so Jude didn't actually need riding lessons. In fact, you could hardly call what he got lessons. The orphanage paid enough out (as some sort of scheme to help their 'gifted' kids out) including the school's orphan privileges that Jude could scrape together enough money to pay to take a horse out of the stables a few Sundays a month and go riding.
When Jude had been growing up in Texas, his dad hadn't done much in the way of earning money. Often, Billie could leave for days on end, leaving his two kids to fend for themselves. Sometimes they just went out and begged for a bit- Jude learned quickly that the dirtier and skinnier you looked, the more sympathy you won. The trick was to stay away from the coppers. Eventually, after a number of close calls, Jude realised he'd need a more stable way of creating money for himself.
Out in the more wild parts of the Texan countryside, a crazy old farmer kept a whole bunch of horses in his fields. His daughter kept them in pretty good shape, though some of the horses turned out pretty wild. Jude was allowed by the girl- who seemed to take a bit of a shine to the young boy- to practice horse-riding. She could teach him all sorts; and he was galloping and jumping like a pro at just about eight years of age.
That's when the tricks began.
And that's how Jude began to generate some extra cash.
Jude patted the young grey horse at the end of the row, having been giving permission by the farmer to take him out for a ride in the fields, and began adjusting the reins. He couldn't wait to get onto his horse, and back out into the open countryside.
He loved riding. And he loved showing off his skills.
Suddenly, a vaguely familiar cry greeted him, and Jude turned in surprise to see Macy, the Head of the Academics. She was on Tabby, the under-fed horse that most people tended to avoid. Jude cast a half-guilty look at his own, healthy and strong horse he'd chosen, Graphite.
Poor Tabby.
"Hey!" he called back, pulling himself up.
Kicking his horse and moving him forward, he walked steadily over to wear Macy and Tabby were. His horse towered over hers. Poor, poor Tabby.
"I didn't know you came riding here," grinned Jude.
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 17:02:04 GMT
Macy sighed, and stroked her horse's dirty-creamed coloured mane. "Yeah, but my mother makes me. I don't really like riding, but I have to." Tabby began to walked forward, and Macy pulled on her reigns, trying to stop her. "Yeah, I didn't know you rode here, either." She watched his horse, Graphite, looking over the fields, as if it owned the place. "So, have you been riding long?" She asked, maybe he had just begun, or maybe he had been riding for years...
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 17:14:47 GMT
Jude nodded enthusiastically. "Years, and years. I used to get sort of lessons before I came here. Except I didn't have to pay. The woman who taught me was just good-hearted."
He didn't really understand what Macy was doing here if she didn't like horses. He'd learnt that riding was something people generally loved, or loathed. But if Macy's mother was making her... and she hated it... what was the point?
"Sorry, this is gonna sound really rude; but why's your mom making you do something you don't like?"
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 17:24:31 GMT
Macy rolled her eyes, she wasn't really in the mood to sit and go through her whole life with someone she hardly knew. "I don't know, she's just like that. She dosen't have powers, no-one in my family does, I kinda...well, it's hard to explain how I got them, but I have them, anyway. So, my mum dosen't really know what it's like with them, so, I guess, she wants me to learn how to ride, so it's like something we have in common, apart from blond hair. She wasn't a very good mother, growing up." She looked round the field, and down the valley, where Cardsdale was. She could see the tops of the trees in Blueberg forest, too.
"I never knew my father, either, so it was just the two of us, well, and her boyfriends, but they never lasted long." She continued. Wait..why was she pouring her heart out to someone she didn't really know? She sighed again, and started to make Tabby walk around the field.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 17:28:50 GMT
Jude kept in pace with Tabby, quite cheerful to have someone to talk to. He felt a bit bad for Macy now, but he sort of liked her. It was probably because they had the whole bad parents thing in common. Well, in his case it was bad parent. His mom was probably alright.
"My dad didn't have powers either," Jude replied, pulling back a little on Graphite in case the horse got impatient and tried to speed up. "He didn't really care about me and my sister though- or what we did with ourselves and our powers. So, he wasn't really a very good dad. Might've been better if my mom hadn't died, but I don't know for sure."
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 17:35:01 GMT
"Oh, I'm sorry." She said. She didn't like when popele would tell her about how their mother was dead, or had been taken to a mental hospital, or something. She never really knew what to say. It was strange here, at Orchid Hill. People seemed to be more compassionate towards each other. Back home, the kids wouldn't even care if you died. Everyone was split into their own groups, well, Macy was just by herself, and her weird powers, but here, everyone had a story.
"So, did you fight in the battle?" She asked, changing the subject.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 17:39:39 GMT
"Yep." Jude shifted uncomfortably on Graphite.
It was exactly the topic he hadn't wanted to think about. Or talk about. But conversation was conversation.
"Did you?"
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 17:44:24 GMT
"No, well...everyone apparently fought, even if you weren't in the battle area, but in my eyes, we didn't. The Academics were made to wait by the school, and say that we're guarding it. I don't think it was too fair, though. My friend did fight though, but I don't think he wanted to do it." She said, making Tabby go into a fast trot. She had felt the horse wanted to go a bit faster, and Macy had finally let it do what it wanted.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 17:50:56 GMT
Graphite seemed to sigh in relief beneath him. Jude leant forward, patting the horse on its neck.
"Good boy," he said softly, then straightened up to look at Macy again.
Being an Academic must be tough, really. Everyone always expected a lot of them- they were the bearers of the knowledge after all, that this war was over. Knowledge was a powerful thing- but it was more often than not underestimated. Jude would've liked to be smart, but he wasn't really... academic as such. Besides, he guessed he wouldn't be able to stay in the school all the time. He had to get out, and do things.
"Does it get a bit boring then, not being able to go out and take an active part in the war?" he asked her.
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 18:11:22 GMT
Macy nodded, her eyes seemed to be fixed on Tabby. "Yeah, it does get annoying. But I don't know if I'd want to fight...well actually, I would want to fight, I don't know if the rest of my group would want to fight. I think it's kinda split." She gripped the reigns, but she could feel frost growing up her arms, from the inside of her leather gloves. "I don't know, maybe the Academics should just stay behind the lines, it's probably best." She said, but she even couldn't believe her words. They went round the edge of the field, heading towards the stables again.
"So, are you going to Halloween party? I'm meant to be organising it but I have no idea what I'm meant to be doing..."
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 18:21:07 GMT
"Yeah!" Jude brightened up immediately. "Can't wait! Love Halloween- love all holidays, actually. D'you want any help with the party? I can help. I'd love to help."
Graphite seemed to sense his excitement and Jude shushed him quickly. He didn't want to be rude and leave poor Tabby behind. That horse didn't look too good.
And he would love to help with the party. He never got to go to proper parties when he was a kid, so he used to have to improvise a lot with his birthday and Tameron's. The real things always gave him a buzz.
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 18:36:28 GMT
"Um.." Macy was slightly startled by his enthusiasm. "Yeah, you can help if you want, but I think Jessica Harte will probably be trying to do eveything..." She thought of her fellow Academic, who had been trying to control her group from day one. "But you can come and help decorate the common room, if you want. I could do with some help, actually."
What Macy didn't want to say, was that her group wouldn't be too happy with a member of the Spies helping, when this was their time to shine.
They had arrived back to the stables, and Macy slowed.
"So, do you want to do some jumps?" She asked, looking at the jumps that had been laid out in the middle of the field.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Oct 28, 2007 19:32:27 GMT
Yes, yes, yes!
"I don't mind," he shrugged, and Graphite grumbled. He kicked the horse and it slowed slightly. He flashed a sheepish grin at Macy. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
He imagined neither Macy or Tabby were really enjoying themselves.
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Post by Macy Deltine on Oct 28, 2007 19:47:03 GMT
"Are you under-estimating us?" She raised her eyebrows in pretend shock. "I may not like riding, but it doesn't mean I can't do it. Come on, Tabby, let's prove the mean boy wrong." She told her horse. She walked over to one of the medium jumps, and kicked Tabby into a canter. She felt a rush of adrenalin when she landed back on the ground. It all passed in a flash. She turned round and looked smugly at Jude.
"See?" She asked, walking back towards the stables.
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