::Dream Come True::

[quel]

It was warm in the morning, even if the wind was starting to blow. The beginning of autumn, not Jamie's favourite season, but not his least favourite either. He didn't have much opinion on any season, they were all very similar. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his dark brown jacket, the zip half way done up. He wasn't too cold, otherwise he'd be wearing a coat. His slightly tousled brown hair was just being messed up by the wind, not that it made any difference, that was Jamie's look anyway. It was odd to have a morning free with nothing to do, he was usually all over the place doing something or other. Caring for his own horse, helping out the Doctor. Anything. This morning was an odd occasion when his horse was taken care of, his jobs done and he had to do until about two that afternoon when he was hoping to take his horse out for a ride.

Out of nothing else to do, he'd wandered down towards the pasture land, not really leading his feet, they led him. He took his hands out of his pockets and leant his elbows on the wooden framework of the gate. In the feild were four of Willow Brooke's horses. Two younger than a year. He leant his chin on his folded arms, watching one of the foals, Flash, spring lightly across the slightly damp ground, Lou watching from a few paces away. The other two occupants were more sedate, both standing in the cover of one of the large trees. Jamie hoisted himself up onto the gate, swinging his legs over just as Flash trotted over, Lou following behind slightly more sedately. Jamie held his hand out to the chestnut mare as she nudged his knee with her muzzle. Flash danced between the gate and Lou's side, impatient to get going somewhere else.

[layla]

Seeing the foals that Willow Brooke owned had been irking at Layla constantly. One of her hobbies back home had been going to examine foals with her father. Whether it was looking at a foal to buy or looking at a newborn foal, Layla loved being around the little creatures. Their cuteness alone easily won her over. They easily had a softened spot in her heart.
Though it was a few weeks before she could do so, Layla managed to sneak away from her own mare to visit the brood mares and their offspring. Lately she had been spending a lot of time winning Queenie's trust. It didn't take too long. The devilish horse already enjoyed giving Layla a hard time. Still, they had a close connection to each other.
Layla zipped up her black jacket and stuck her hands in her pockets as she entered the Mare and Foal Pasture. She was hoping that no one else was out there. Since she wasn't in charge of a mare and foal, she doubted that she was allowed in that plot of land. Cutting her miraculous streak of staying out of trouble didn't sound appealing. Yet, at least. As soon as she was more settled in, her disposition would change. A light smirk tugged her lips as she continued into the pasture. It didn't take a long time for her to spot a foal romping through the grass with his mother close by. She chuckled softly and sat on the ground. The same couple walked toward her, obviously curious about the stranger. "Hey there," she muttered softly, slowly raising a hand to gently pat the foal. The mare watched her cautiously. Layla smiled and patted the larger horse as well. Finally, the two wandered off to graze. Her eyes caught site of a guy on the fence. He was around her age, a year or two older at the most. She was quite sure he was a student, seeing as he was so young. All of the staff she'd met so far were around middle-aged. Layla stood, brushed the dirt off of her jeans, and walked to the fence. She sat on the rail a good 20 feet from the stranger. Her social skills were still at a low. With a soft sigh, she leaned back against the fence and watched the horses.

[quel]

Jamie caught the sight of movement out of the corner of his eye. At first he supposed it was just another of the foals, but he looked up anyway. Not a foal. A student. He'd seen her around the barn when he'd been up to bring Calliq in or just groom the large chestnut stallion. Now which horse had he seen her with...It was Queenie wasn't it. Yes, he'd been up to give the mare a check up with the Vet only two days ago. As the youngest member of staff by a considerable amount, he tended to get landed with any job they could give him. He gave his lessons to anyone who would listen and happily gave his own ways of punishment to those who didn't. Most of the students gave up on the resentment to authority when the person trying to help was usually only a year or so older than they were. Or in some cases only a few months.

Jamie watched the student, trying to remember the name written on Queenie's vet records. She'd been there for over a month or so, maybe more, he couldn't quite remember. Steen, it was the name that came to mind. He hadn't had a lesson or a one-on-one with her yet, and the name Layla was the other name that flitted into his head. Lou nudged his knee at that point, and he looked down, stroking her soft head with the back of his hand. Jamie didn't look up as he was joined on the fence line but continued to fuss over Flash, the little chestnut looking strikingly like a small Calliq. He looked over at Layla. "Hey Layla, how's Queenie going?" He asked politely, turning his head towards her as Flash trotted off in another direction, Lou following more sedately.

[layla]

Layla watched the foals and their mothers with a serene smile. A familiar black and white mare with her foal walked to her. The two were Jules and TJ. Originally, these were the two she had been assigned to. That was when she had lied and said that she couldn't ride at all. Putting forth effort in this place wasn't on her to do list. When the school found out that she grew up on a horse ranch riding, they moved her up to Intermediate and to a more difficult horse.It had all turned out okay. Layla loved Queenie already. The mare was already trusting of Layla and loosening up around strangers.

She glanced over and saw the guy looking at her. Her eyes scanned him over for a moment as she tried to think of his name. Though she hadn't really hung out with other students, some small conversations in the stables existed between her and others. The only person she was ever really comfortable with was her sister, Charity. That reminded her. She moved her gaze from him to the mare pasture. Once again, Charity seemed to be avoided her horse. Right as she was going to go look for her, she heard the guy say her name and ask about Queenie. Right then she remembered who he was. Not a student, but one of the staff members. He was the same one who had given Queenie a check up. She'd mainly just hovered around the stall when he looked her horse over, so she hadn't really caught a name.

"Queenie's doing good. She's definantly not skittish anymore. Her new hobby is stealing the lead rope out of my hand when I'm trying to clip it to her halter," she replied with a soft chuckle. Jules almost seemed jealous at the mention of Layla's horse. She nudged the girl's shoulder, demanding attention. Smiling, Layla patted the horse's side.

[quel]

Jamie could remember when Queenie had first arrived. Coming down from the trailer, yanking continuously at her lead rope. She'd been put in her stable and really wouldn't let anyone near her until she'd found that they were completely safe. Sitting in the aisles with the coloured mare watching you from the back of her stall was incredibly boring. She hadn't calmed down in the three months she'd been at Willow Brooke. She really needed someone that was always there, just to groom her as it were and fuss over her. No-one had the time with all the other horses that needed taking care of, especially since they had about six new foals at that point coming in. Especially Cobalt, the herd leader of the foals, he was a complete nightmare sometimes.

Star's blanketed appaloosa body was easily recogniseable against the dusty greys and black and chestnuts of the other foals. Flash's contrasting chestnut coat was detectable as the colt trotted up to the filly. Star took off at once, circling the feild with Flash skidding in behind. Energy loss was not something these foals ever failed with. It was almost tiring watching the little herd of foals they had here as they galloped round and round without a break for minutes on end. They'd once found Race in the feild, having broken the fence and found his way over to the feild. With Cobalt and Dakota having a tearing race across the feild in persuit of the big paint horse. Race was like an endurance racer, a pure bred galloper that could go for miles. Jamie really had a soft spot for the gelding. He was great fun to race against with Calliq who was one of the most competitive horses Jamie had ever ridden, he refused to get beaten.

Jamie gave Layla a smile. "Good to hear, she's really improved sicne you've been here." He complimented as Twink came over for a bit of attention. "She's great to ride out on, but better in company. If you ever want some company on a ride, I'd be happy to take one of the horses out with you, she hates going out on her own." She didn't usually care which horse it was, but she was damned strong, even if a pelhem bit, if you tried to take her away from the stables without a companion.