Flowing jet black shimmers in the atmosphere

Passing over a slim river of white; an intruder in the silken dark

Such is the beauty of this tall moving night.

Tucking the short pencil behind a hidden ear, Valentina flipped the cover of her black notebook over the tapestry of poems within. She slipped it into her pocket then flickered blood red orbs up to the softly snorting creature before her. The stables were quite warm in the peak of summer. Humid, too, though sweat failed to bead across the pale face. She had rolled up the long white sleeves of her uniform anyways before choosing to head out here. Reaching an ivory hand out to the black beauty, the open palm came to rest on the soft blowing nose. Its comforting presence received a contented flick of a flowing tail. Ears pricked forward in a stiff arch to cone the girl's alto voice into an audible melody of words.

"Let's go for a little ride, Noire." Coral pink lips announced with a sleepy softness.

The horse gave a twitch of the ear and puffed out a warm breath in return. The stillness of the stables was inviting, and rejuvenated the fresh face as she proceeded to gather equipment for her jet black mare. It was in the stillness like this that the poetic thoughts flowed rampantly through her rosen mind. She managed to tune them out though it only felt like the weight of the small beckoning book was getting heavier in her pocket. A dark saddle was carefully slipped atop the tall horse, the flexible straps located and cinched. Next was slipped a bit into the horse’s mouth. She pulled the rest of the comfortable bridle up and latched it just behind the swiveling ears. Noire was known to be slightly head shy, but the beautiful Friesian remained unmoving during the process. This contented Valentina. It appeared as if the horse was getting more comfortable with it over time. Grabbing the reins in gentle hands, she led the horse outside of the dusty stable air into the full warmth of the sun outside. Sunlight shimmered across the horse’s coal black coat like water. Simply beautiful.
With one final securing check, the black-haired prince swung herself onto the tall horse with ease. White boots slipped into the dangling stirrups while lips parted to cast out a soft French command:

“Aller, Noire.”

The mare gave a gentle shake of her head and propelled into a gathering trot. Stormy clouds of black tufts feathered about each moving hoof. Valentina held loosely to the reins. Lulled by the peace of the atmosphere and the lull of the motion, she felt relaxed. Flicking the reins, she motioned for the horse to accelerate around the spacious corral. Noire obediently blurred into a half-hearted canter. The prince on the tall black horse felt calm for once, so she closed her eyes, trusting her horse to guide itself along the white fence edge. Rattling quietly in brief breaks between fluttering locks of black hair, meanwhile, flashed a single earring in the shape of a silver cross.

Pale hands were lost in a mass of vibrant red locks and crimson hues were turned up toward the sky to take in the mass of clouds as they passed by. It was such a long walk to the stables, not really, but it seemed like it to the bruised up Gael. She sighed softly and dropped her gaze back to the path before her as black boots tapped along the stones. After a long, physically and mentally demanding summer vacation all she wanted was some silence and company that wouldn't ask for anything but companionship. The only place she knew to find that was with her steed Ceana.

Zephyra gathered up the last of her curls and slipped a black band around them to draw the silky locks back from her features. Thankfully there wasn't a mark on her face, the rest of her body though.. To put it lightly, she was unlikely to ride for a few days at least. That wasn't why she was going to the stables anyway. She winced slightly as she lowered her hands and rolled her left shoulder, trying to release some of the tension. The silence that surrounded her started to weigh heavily on her limbs, even the chirping birds seemed to have silenced and after spending a few months in a castle full of people it was hard to handle. So she did the only thing she knew would break the silence. Admittedly, she wasn't the best singer in the word and she didn't believe she could hold a tune in a bucket even if it was made of titanium, but nonetheless, she was quietly singing in English to herself. A song she had heard on the playlist the airline had supplied on the WiFi. And her thick accent was twisting the syllables, so that didn't help much.

The closer she got to the stables, the louder she sang, the chorus flowing out and her pace matching the beat of the song she heard in her head. Then she realized she had matched the beat to something she was actually hearing. All sound from her was cut off as she peered off to the side of the stables where a pair were jogging around the arena. The girl pursed her lips and shifted her path to take her over to the fence, where she could lean and watch the duo make their rounds. She remained in the shade so that it would be less likely that she would be noticed. After all, she was here for relaxation purposes. The horse was what caught her attention mostly. It was hard to change something so ingrained into your psyche. The stride was paced and well clipped, muscles were well proportioned. From this distance the coat looked well groomed and the mane and tail were kept at a reasonable length.

The girl reached up to cup her chin as she continued to judge the beast. A well bred Friesian to say the least. But it seemed there might be a problem with her bit at the way she kept chomping at it. It wasn't really her place to say anything.. The horse was suffering for the overlooked issue though. Zeph flared her nostrils at this turn of events. So much for a quiet evening. She stuck one foot up on the fence then hoisted herself up so she could sit in the top rail, facing inwards and gave a wave once she caught the riders attention.

Round the dusty corral the monochromatic pair glided. Each striking hoof faded into one, and soon the motion itself became nothing but a sleepy rhythmic blur. Even the warmth of the spiraling summer sun melted into a lethargic haze. Though it wasn't any of those aspects that caused the wine-colored orbs to flutter open. It was a voice. Someone was singing. Albeit, in a heavy accent, but the melody itself was arguably distinguishable. The voice only amplified in sound as it neared the stables. Then it terminated all of the sudden.

Blood red eyes searched for its origin but came up empty. Onlooking eyes didn't quite bother her; with all the attention - although completely unwanted attention - back at her previous all-girl's academy, she got quite a plethora of eyes on her. Although she would be branded as a lair if she were not to confess that sometimes in presence of an auissnce, even if only just a single pair of eyes, made her slightly tense. After another cantered round, she swept her scarlet gaze across the white fence line again. Lo and behold, a maiden was suddenly present. One crowned by flowing red hair that shimmered in the sun. A lovely sight, and notably the first soul she'd encountered at Astrea. She shook a few hazing poetic lines from her head, deciding to catalog them in the recesses of its rosy capacity for a later time.

A wave was soon performed by the red-haired stranger. Valentina offered an inviting tilt of her head, short raven-colored fringes fanning out at a downwards slope at the performed action. Hoisting the reins gently in firm hands, rosen lips pushed out a soft click to her horse. The jet black creature snorted and slowed its canter to a light trot, flowing mane and tail coming to rest at a relaxed ballooning arch. The mare obeyed the gentle command of the reins and curled her neck in a slight sideways curve to turn. The rest of the muscular body followed like a train car. As the pair neared the girl, the princely girl pulled back gently on the reins again to slow the horse to a stop before her. At this angle, shaded by the surroundings and looking down at an angle from her tall horse with her naturally narrowed eyes, she would look arguably intimidating. Though when she spoke next, she applied a tone of quiet warmth to try and distill that unfortunate image had the girl thought of her as that. "Hello, maiden."

Before the duo reached her perch on the fence, the Gael hopped down and into the corral. She didn't want to spook the beautiful creature so she tried to make her landing soft before standing to her full height. Even with her impressive height the rider was still looking down upon her, but it didn't matter much. It was hard to intimidate this Miator student. Especially after all she had seen over the break. Add the soft lit of the girl's voice and it made her seem fairly harmless.

A slight dip of her head was given as she looked up to the princely being through her bangs. Of course she was trying to hide the soft chuckle that clutched at her ribs. Maiden? She was far from that.

"Greetings, Knight. May I?" She extended her hand toward the black beauty she was perched upon, but not as you normally would toward a dog or cat. No, her palm was angled upward, fingers straight as she allowed the horse to snuffle at her hand.

"A fine friend, you have."

The words were murmured softly as adoring eyes swept once more over the horse. Up close she was even more gorgeous, not a blemish to be seen in her coat, her feathering was even immaculate after a jog around the corral. After the horse seemed to come to a calm state with her she slowly slid her hands over the well muscled jaw, rubbing under the bridle that secured the bit over her tongue.

She didn't let the touch last long and took a small step back before straightening the sleeves of her flowing button down then lightly brushed off the dirt that had collected on the buttery soft surface of her cream riding pants. She then extended a hand out to the girl, placing a smile on her lips that could rival the brightness of the sun.

"I'm Zephyra."

Knight. That was a title the princely girl hadn't quite heard in a long while. Nonethless, she offered a confirming bob of her head in response to the red-haired beauty's request. Scarlet eyes trailed the outstretched hand. It was flat and angled up towards the horses's muzzle. A proper gesture, and one that pleased the dark-haired rider. She safely concluded that this girl knew quite a lot about horses and equestrian itself. Tall, furred ears pricked in a curious arched meanwhile at the extended hand. A soft puff of air rolled out to greet its flat surface before the soft muzzle came down ever so slightly more to skim another scenting breath over it. With the new face identified, Noire rolled her head back up a little to look at her just as a hand slid across her jaw. The mare remained in a tranquil state, lulled into a sense of comfort by that gentle hand. She breathed out a few more warm puffs of air, nostrils inflating and collapsing softly at each breath. When the hand became absent, the Ferisian ascended her feathery head again. "Thank you kindly."

The hand soon returned, though this time not directed at the horse. It was accompanied with a radiant smile, one that threatened to warm the rider's own into a rare slight one. It was then that she noticed that the girl appeared to be quite tall, if not a few inches taller than herself. An uncommon sight for a girl. Valentina shifted in the comfortable saddle to arch herself forward. Locks of short black hair slipped passed an ear like water, exposing the single cross earring that rattled quietly and glistening with each conserved movement. A lily-white hand met the offered one. She gave it a light shake in greeting before arching herself ever so slightly more forward to lay a soft kiss upon the back of it. It wasn't anything of flirtatiousness or romantic antics at all; just a gentlemanly form of greeting that chivalry used to instruct when introducing oneself to a maiden.

"Zephyra. A pleasure to meet you, m'lady." Returning the hand to its awaiting owner, she straightened herself up to her full height once more, letting go of the reins with one hand to sweep an arm over her broad chest. "Valentina la Croix."

The introductory name glided out with a natural French accent. Valentina retracted the swept arm to run a gentle, hovering hand through the thick silken cascade of her horse's mane, receiving a soft snort from the placid mare. "I can tell that you have an admirable fondness for horses."

"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure." As she drew her hand back her smile faded to a lopsided smirk. The Gael then brought both hands to the horse. Long digits stroked over her muzzle then tickled under her chin, making the horse lip at her shirt sleeve. This brought a playful chuckle from the tall girl.

"I am well acquainted with the gentle hearted beasts. They love more fiercely than any being I've met. And their loyalty knows no bounds."

A slight bow of her head allowed her to press a soft kiss to the mare's velvet soft nose. Her hands proceeded to stroke up the length of the horse's muzzle to her forelock. Then she craned her head to the side as a loud whiny pierced the quiet atmosphere and she giggled once more.

"It sounds like I'm being called. Ceana must have heard me coming. He's such an impatient one. He'll be upset if I make him wait much longer." As she spoke the horse's nickname her accent shown through more thickly than before.

Zeph drew back from the pair and bowed at the waist. Returning back to her full height, she flipped her ponytail over her shoulder then turned toward the stable doors that were still open.

"I'll return shortly. If you don't mind a partner, I'll ride with you for a while."

She didn't exactly wait for a response as she strode purposely into the enclosed area. It wasn't long before she returned, leading a lean arabic stallion. He was prancing on his toes and trying to nuzzle at Zeph's shoulder as they walked and she kept pushing his muzzle away as she grinned. Once they were outside he paused, catching sight of the mare and his ears perked forward. The redhead took this chance to swing up into the saddle with ease. It didn't take much to lead the black and white stallion over to Valentina. Once they were closer his subtle marks started to pop, the white spackling across his flanks that melded to a deep grey lower on his barrel as well as the dark grey that covered his muzzle and faded to black up near his forelock. After easing him up next to the woman, she reached out and patted his neck.

"I haven't personally ridden him over the summer, but a friend of mine has been exercising him for me. He seems a little antsy to run. You up for a little race?"

Scarlet orbs looked on in content as the red-haired girl fawned over the mare. Noire wasn't too fond of strangers. She was one of a skittish disposition and a high-stepping nervous stride at times of anxiety or caution. It was all the more pleasing to see the black beauty in such tranquility with this girl. The mare enjoyed every caress and washed soft breaths over the unfamiliar girl's face, ears pricked forward and dark eyes brimming with playful curiosity. Valentina gave a pleased nod at the girl's fond words. Horses were strong, loyal creatures with the capability of expressing a large array of emotions. To her, Noire was almost like another human being in a sense -- well, all horses were to her -- and it was a reason why she herself possessed such a passion for them. "I could not have said it any more perfectly myself, m'lady."

From somewhere a whinny suddenly sounded. It wasn't one of distress, but rather, one of impatient beckoning. Of course this girl would have a horse. The tall rider mirrored the bow with a slight decline of her own upper body, acknowledging the girl's brief excusal. This girl certainly did have an interesting accent. Valentina had one herself; a strong, poetic French one; but it was not nearly as noticeable nor heavy as Zephyra's. She wondered from what background it originated from. It wasn't quite a proper inquiry to ask upfront upon first meeting, but should conversation allow, she decided she might just ask later on.

"By all means." While the red-haired girl departed to retrieve her horse, the raven-haired prince stroked her mare's neck. Noire snuffled the dirt and swung her neck to look back at her rider affectionately, ears swiveling to cone in the sounds of her surroundings. Shortly after Zephyra had departed she had returned with a stallion; one of an Arabian breed and sporting a black and white coat. She took a moment to admire the horse and the splattered monochromatic markings. The timid Friesian's ears arched in a curious angle towards him, soft nostrils expanding and collapsing as they took in the scent of the new, unfamiliar horse.

"A lovely stallion you have." She commented warmly. The mention of a race threatened to draw the corners of the prince's lips into the start of a rare smile, but she dodged it by letting a relaxed breath fall past her conflicted coral pink lips. That was something she hadn't done in quite a while. "A race, you say? If you are up for one, than so am I."

Being bred historically for dressage and driving, Friesian's weren't quite the racing type; speed was exchanged for elegance and show. But they had a moderate speed when up to full charge and could carry themselves for quite a distance. Granted, not as much as they could when at an elegant trot, but they certainly weren't the slowest of equine breeds. Not only that, but Noire wasn't trained just on strict basics -- Valentina had made sure to visit all aspects of the breed, weaknesses and strengths included, respectfully when riding.

Smiles weren't a new expression for the girl, not since coming to this hill. Before she had been much like this Prince next to her. Silent and offstandish to a point. Always polite.. but this place had changed her. For the better she believed. Not only this place, but a certain person had helped her she the beauty in the world. Through the good and bad. She gathered the reigns more securely in her hands as her mind lingered on a certain white haired sensei. Zeph glanced at the other rider from the corner of her eyes as she easily kept her prancing horse in check.

"Thank you. He's stubborn, but a good steed." He had finally had enough and spun in a quick circle, kicking his back legs up in as he bucked about. All Zeph did was raise the reigns slightly so it wouldn't pull his head back and pressed her rear down into her seat. She huffed softly as he settled back down. She reached out and gently flicked one of his ears.

"Don't do that, jerk. How would you have felt if I fell off?" All the beast did was lower his head, puff out a breath and shifted under her as if he were actually sorry for his actions. Since he was settled, Zeph looked back over at the girl, smiling as she tucked a wild strand of hair behind her ear. "So that race. Where should we go to?"

Her crimson gaze swept down to the beautiful mare before she shifted in the saddle and glanced back up. "I'll try to reign him in a bit to make it fair." She always had a fairly competitive side when it came to her lively hood. After all she had been raised on a horse farm in the hills of Ireland, though farm would be a bit of an understatement. It was the grandest brooding stables in the entire world if you were looking for high end Arabians or Buckskins. Not that she really talked about it to anyway.. ever. The only one who had been to see her home was Asami.. and well that was in the past now. And until it was her time to take over the family business, she really had no reason to return to the Gable. So why talk about it? This was her home now. And these girls were her family.

Stubborn, indeed. Valentina confirmed this when the stallion suddenly tried to buck off his rider. Fortunately, the red-haired girl was able to quickly maneuver the situation to a more controlled one. It was without flaw. The prince wondered just how many times the stallion had done such a thing. Noire had only bucked three times during the time the tall prince rode her, though it was mostly due to an uncomfortability caused by the rubbing of the saddle or jolted position of the bit, all of which the skilled rider had worked restlessly to fix as to not put the horse in any discomfort and cause her to suffer. "Are you quite alright?"

Looking back to the stallion - whom seemed apologetic for his previous outburst -, the princely girl pondered the appropriate location for a race. In France, there had been open, rolling pastures beside meadows and vineyards, white-fenced roadside paths, and a collection of forests to race through. That was the components of the countryside, at least. She didn't know too much about Astrea's campus entirely yet, so she drew off of what she had seen and scoured the surrounding area with decisive eyes. The arena itself was small, but the surrounding area was of an ample abundance of space and backed up to Spica's forest. There were paths, too; most were small walking paths; but there were a few large enough for equestrian use. That might be able to work. Loosening the reins slightly in her pale hands, she ran the idea through her mind one more time before voicing it.

"To the end of the forest and back, should that prove a sufficient course. And I appreciate that, m'lady." She announced, running a hand through the fringes of her jet black hair. It caught on her single cross-shaped earring for a moment as it passed, causing it to twist and flash with vigor in the sun. It mattered not to her how the race went; it was the experience and the company of her beloved horse and a fellow equestrian-lover and the moment of it all that would really be the true win in her book. Stroking the groove of her mare's neck, she patiently awaited the approval or disapproval of the other.

Of course, it was highly unlikely that she would ever fall off a horse. The beast would have to roll and catch her beneath itself and the ground to get her off it's back. She had been riding since before she could walk. Literally since before she was even born, since her mother was and equestrian as well. So it would take much more than Ceana's little fit to shake her.

"Oh, perfectly fine. He tries to test me every once in a while and keep me on my toes." As she spoke a fond smile came over her lips and she brushed her fingers through the proud stallion's mane. When she looked back up the stately Prince was already talking about the route they could take. Zeph was fairly familiar with the forest since that was where she spent the better part of the last year while not in class. A slight nod of her head had the red curls that draped down her back bouncing a bit. "That sounds like a suitable area. I know a wide enough path that travels through most of the forest. It starts out with enough space to have two side by side, then it thins out later on."

With both hands curled around the horn of the saddle before her in a lazy position, she didn't bother to direct her steed with the reigns, instead she gently applied pressure with her left knee, making him turn right toward the gate of the corral. Figuring Valentina would continue on up beside her as they moved out of the dirt ring and onto the crisp grass surrounding the fenced in area, swaying in time to the footfalls of their mounts.

"Start the race on the edge of the forest, end it by being the first back into the corral?" It was really more of a statement than a question, but she changed her tone a bit at the end to make sure it sounded like a question. Just incase the other girl had different places.

Zeph shifted in her seat, settling a bit more comfortably and lightly pulled back on the reigns as Ceana tried to step up his pace. After all she was no liar. She would take it slow, at least the first part of the race. On the return back to the stables it would be an all out gallop through the trees. She needed the chance to lose herself to the adrenaline and movement of the beast and it was likely Ceana needed it just as much as she did. But companionship with another equestrian made that choice easier to put off for now even as she felt the excitement of her steed shiver under her saddle.

A horse that liked to keep his rider ready for anything. Valentina gave a slight chuckle. Surely, this girl appeared to possess a knowledgeable background in the equine, so she found no reason to worry further. It really was nice to meet another with a passion for equestrian activity and for horses. Refreshing, too.

When the crimson haired rider started her horse off towards the corral's gate, Valentina gave a soft flick of her reins to signal her mare to follow. The timid Friesian exhaled a soft snort and trotted alongside the two at the stallion's flank, furred hooves striking the ground gently with each high-stepping step. The mare had a tendency to walk like that when she was nervous. Valentina blew a soothing, gentle rush of air from between slightly parted lips, reaching a hand down to stroke the mare's swaying neck. This calmed the black beauty a little. Noire gave a dismissing shake of her head, the riding equipment rattling quietly against the broad sides of her face and neck at the action. "Good girl, Noire." She cooed softly.

The sound of soft heads of grass crunching under each striking hoof-beat of the two horses soon crackled into the tranquil air. Noire glossed her gaze over the tempting greens; she knew better than to grab a mouthful of it, especially when being ridden. The stately prince would make sure to feed her when they returned to the stables. Whether win or lose, the mare would deserve a nice meal either way. Valentina gave a nod to Zephyra's arguably half-inquisition. "Yes, that would be a perfect course."

Pulling back a little on the reins, the prince straightened out her equine mount, swinging her neck ever so slightly to the right so the sleek black body would follow. A swirling wave of the feathery coal black tail floated after it. Just to be able to sit atop a steed beside a fellow rider and her mount again felt invigorating. Valentina couldn't help but let her stoic mask melt to a slight pleased smile for a fraction of a moment. How she had missed being in the saddle. She loosened up on the reins and gripped them with one hand, using the other to brush a misplaced strand of jet black hair behind an ear as she once more looked to Zephyra. The cross earring flashed among the thick silken mass of black hair.  

A rose-haired maiden; 

Princess to an arabian prince of a speckled gray and white manifestation.  

And beside, a white prince upon a mare draped in the stormy beauty of the night. 


She shook the poetic lines from her mind. 


"Ready, m'lady?" Her voice remained stoic, yet there was a masked edge of anticipation - excitement - under its poetic lull.