A/N: So, the inspiration for this story came when I was walking to school, thinking about how much easier the walk would be if I could ride. And then my imagination ran away with me and this story born.


o·a·sis

noun /ōˈāsis/
oases, plural

A fertile spot in a desert where water is found

A pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation


Alec Lightwood was horribly jet-lagged and hopelessly lost. Lugging two heavy suitcases behind him, he walked around Brisbane International, swearing he had already walked past that cheesy gift shop with the tiny stuffed koalas holding miniature flags with the Union Jack stamped in one corner and the Southern Cross in the other three times.

This was not how he was planning on spending his winter… Sorry, summer holidays. Everything was backward in Australia and Alec couldn't make any sense of it. And now he was completely and utterly lost in an airport that wasn't even that big, and if he missed his flight, he would be spending the rest of his holidays frolicking in Brisbane until he can get another flight to Longreach. And Alec added mentally there aren't exactly a lot of people dying to get out to Longreach. The place was in the middle of nowhere. He could barely find it on the map, even.

Alec sighed. He was going to miss his flight. He walked up to one of the airport security guards, who were sitting there eating a burger. Alec surprised he didn't have a beer in his hand. 'Excuse me?' He said, in his slight British accent.

'G'day' the man said, dropping his burger on the seat next to him and shaking Alec's hand vigorously 'And what can I help you with today?'

Alec consulted his ticket to Longreach before answering 'I need to find gate 24'

'Gate 24?' The man said, taking Alec's ticket from his hand and examining it 'Longreach, aye? Won't be needing that there, mate' he said, gesturing at Alec's jacket.

'What?' Alec said, feeling dread in his stomach. He had read that Queensland was known for its perfect weather, beaches and beauty. He told the man that.

He laughed a big rumbling belly laugh. Alec pinked, slightly miffed. He was yet to get used to people laughing all the time. 'Yeah, sure mate. You'll read a lot of things about Queensland. When it's not flooding, raining, so hot you leave the house in your togs, or on fire, the weather is perfect. And in Longreach, you won't need a jacket. You've arrived in December, the heat of summer is just getting started' He winked, pointing in the distance to a large corridor. 'Gate twenty four is just down that way. And good luck, sounds like you'll need it. Why on earth is a pommy like you headed to Longreach anyway?'

Alec was surprised at the invasion of privacy, but the man seemed innocently and genuinely curious. He sighed. 'I'm spending the summer with family. They live on a farm some way out of Longreach'

The man nodded. 'Good luck mate, you'll need it' He repeated.

Alec had tried not to let his conversation with the man get to him. Sure, he was nervous about visiting his cousin Isabelle, who lived on a farm with his aunt and uncle in Australia. His parents probably just wanted to get rid of him, deciding to send him to Australia for the Australian summer holidays. He was going to miss out on some school back in England, but his parents thought that living and working on a farm would be a good learning experience for him. 'You'll experience a whole different type of life, Alec!' His mum had implored him. Alec wasn't totally opposed to staying in Queensland for his holidays, even though the nearest city of Brisbane was approximately one thousand, one hundred and seventy kilometers away. Alec had worked out the distance in case the lack of civilisation got to him and he had to walk back to the city (which would take one hundred and eighteen hours)

At least he wouldn't be totally at a loss in Longreach. With any luck he could spend the whole summer riding. Riding was the one thing he loved to do most. He wasn't sure what it was, the partnership of a rider and horse, the exhilaration of a high speed gallop, or the precision and accuracy needed to perform a high-octane dressage test. Alec had done it all back in England and dominated his region's show circuit. He knew his aunt and uncle owned plenty of horses, but his downfall would be that none of them where trained for English riding. It would suck if I don't get to do any jumping or dressage while I'm here… Oh well Alec thought as he scanned his ticket for boarding onto his plane to Longreach How hard can learning a new style of riding be?


The plane was small, with the red and white kangaroo on the tail. Alec's seat was at the back on the plane, and there weren't many people on the plane. There was a family of four with two screaming children, and a shaggy looking blonde man dressed in khaki. Alec took his seat and fastened his seat belt as the plastic-looking woman in the Qantas air-hostess uniform gave a robotic demonstration.

Once the plane was safely in the air, Alec took out his pamphlets on Longreach that his aunt had sent him from Australia. There were actually things to do in Longreach. He read that the plane company he was flying with originated in Longreach, and it was one of the only places in the world to view completely preserved dinosaur tracks. It was also home to the famous Stockman's Hall of Fame, where the best and bravest of Australian stockmen where honoured for their ability. Wow Alec thought, as he stuffed the pamphlets back into his carry-on bag that sure would be a lot of fun- if I was five years old.

The plane ride lasted only a few hours. Alec had arrived in Longreach airport, which had more passing similarity to a train station, and had managed to feel even more tired and jet lagged than before. His uncle Robert was going to meet him at the arrivals lounge, and drive him out to the property, which was over six hundred and five acres of cattle fields and barren land. At least Alec knew they had a couple of arenas out the back and a stable where they kept their horses. He knew that his cousin Isabelle was a keen rider also, and competed in barrel racing. She had sent him pictures of her champion racer, and Alec couldn't wait to meet the gorgeous liver chestnut he had seen in her email.

'Alec! Over here!' Alec turned to see his uncle waving him over with his akubra. He was wearing worn in blue jeans and a red-flannel t shirt, and spoke with a typical 'Aussie bloke' accent. 'How are you doing, Alec?' Uncle Robert said as he took Alec's suitcase out of his hands.

Alec nodded in return 'Fine- pretty jetlagged' he said, trying to indicate he was not in a good mood. Uncle Robert seemed to have unconsciously catch on, because he was fairly silent while taking Alec to his ute, after informing him that the car trip would take about thirty minutes and he should use that time to catch some shut-eye before his cousins bombard him.

Alec looked interestedly out the window as they drove through town. Although everything was small and extremely red (From the soil, Alec had guessed) the people he had seen bustling about town seemed happy and content. They all walked around with purpose, as If everyone was only in town for their specific reasons, not to just stay around and chat with each other. And most of all, everyone just seemed so… Cheerful.

Soon the red buildings turned to red soil, as they drove out of town. Alec began to drift to sleep as the land turned more and more barren, only waking to view some Kangaroos hopping in their path.

After about half an hour's drive, Uncle Robert pulled the ute up at rusty gate. He got out, slipping his akubra onto his head. He slipped the latch off the gate, and pulled it wide open enough for the ute to fit through. He walked back to the car, noticing Alec had stirred awake. 'It's about a four kilometer drive from the gate' he said as he drove the ute slowly the gate. He stopped the ute about two meters from inside the gate and opened the door to get out.

'Wait' Alec said 'Your house is four kilometers from your front gate?'

'Welcome to Australia' Uncle Robert said, winking and slamming the door.


Soon, the house began to appear in the distance. It was very large and classically white, with a navy tiled roof. It was two stories, with a small granny flat about a hundred meters from the main house. There were quite a few trees around, and what Alec assumed was his Aunty Maryse's garden patch of an assortment of flowers Alec didn't recognise.

As they neared the homestead, Alec could see the three arenas that they had on their property, along with the barn. He thought he could see a figure in one of the arenas, and he squinted his eyes, trying to get a clearer view.

It was a man, sitting atop a gorgeous blood bay stock horse. He was loping around the arena, looking gloriously relaxed in the saddle, like he had been born to ride horses. When the ute drove slowly past the arena, the man gently slowed his horse to a walk and offered a wave to Uncle Robert, who waved cheerily back.

'That's Magnus Bane, one of our junior jackaroos. He's working around the farm for the summer holidays but is quite the experienced horseman and will be working with the horses for the remainder of his time here'

Alec stared at the rider's relaxed seat and the casual way he held the reins in one hand. I don't think I could ever ride like that, Alec thought. In dressage he had been taught to operate as a team, with Alec giving the subtle, smooth directions and his partner, his thoroughbred gelding Danley Park Galileo (Or Gal for short) following them with the upmost precision. This rider rode like he was taking a Sunday stroll, his happy mare looking just as relaxed.

The car pulled up at the side of the house in a cloud of red dust. As soon as the ute's engine spluttered to a stop, the door to the beautiful house burst open, a girl with long hair as black as Alec's catapulted out of it. She ran down the stairs and yanked the door of the ute on Alec's side open. Two dogs, a blue cattle dog and a border collie raced after her, dancing at her heels as she beamed at Alec before throwing her arms around him.

'Alec! I've missed you so much!' She shouted, squeezing Alec tight. Alec laughed, putting his arms as best he could around the girl while his seatbelt was still buckled. 'Alright Isabelle, let him breathe' Uncle Robert said, appearing behind her. She let go of Alec, grinning sheepishly.

'It's good to see you too, Isabelle' Alec said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the car. The two dogs pranced and barked at his feet. Isabelle grinned, grabbing their collars to stop them jumping on Alec's jeans. 'This is Rabbit' she said, indicating with the blue collar of the Border collie 'And this is Neo. Max named him after Neo from The Matrix' Alec laughed. It was so like Isabelle's nerdish younger brother to name a dog after a sci-fi movie character. Isabelle had told Alec that Max's horse (who, like most of the Lightwood horses, had been raised from birth) was named Chewbacca.

'ALEC!' Max appeared now, in the same manner as Isabelle did. He had thick brown hair that stuck up in tuffs and large glasses. Unlike Isabelle, he stopped short and stared up at Alec with adoring eyes. Alec's aunt Maryse quickly followed, a warm smile on her face

'Welcome, Alec! Everyone, come in for afternoon tea'


They sat around the kitchen table, eating biscuits and drinking lemonade. 'It's far too hot for tea' Maryse had said, before setting down large jugs of icy cold fresh homemade lemonade. Alec had to agree. He had already stripped down to just his t-shirt and was wishing that he had worn shorts instead of jeans.

They discussed England for a bit, Alec unsuccessfully trying to push down and hide his feelings of homesickness. Finally, Isabelle stood up suddenly, and slapped her hands down on the table. 'I'm sure Alec doesn't to talk about England' she turned to Alec 'Want to try out the horses?'

Maryse tutted 'Now Alec's had a long trip and he's probably jetlagged, I don't think now's the best time-'

'No' Alec interjected 'I'd love to'

Alec had quickly raced upstairs to his beautiful spacious room with the king sized bed, and changed into his jeans and boots. He had brought jodhpurs, but he didn't think that people in the Outback wore jodhpurs. He guessed right when he saw Isabelle walking in the hall in a similar pair of jeans and boots, however her boots where just regular boots with a small heel, and his were low-cut English riding boots.

They walked down to the set of arenas that the Lightwoods had near their house. 'Dad had these built for us. I practise barrel racing in here, and they are a good place for Max to ride in an enclosed space. None of our paddocks are small enough for Max to ride in, except for our holding pen, but Dad wants to keep that clear, and our corral which is too small, and we normally use it for lunging'

They approached the arena were the man was still riding the bay mare. Flecks of sweat covered both horse and rider as they attempted a series of reining moves that Alec didn't recognise. 'That's Magnus' Isabelle said 'He likes to work on reining in his spare time with his horse, Ace. Isn't she gorgeous?' Alec had to agree, the mare certainly was beautiful. Alec wasn't familiar with the conformation of the Australian Stock Horse but this horse was beautiful by any standards. She had a graceful, clean head which was carried by a beautiful, arched, following neck. Her back had a perfect curve to it and her legs where fine but looked very strong. Her tail was thick and flowing, and was well off the ground although it hadn't been trimmed properly like Alec would trim Gal's tail to. Someone had been taking brilliant care of this horse, and Alec guessed it was the boy that was her rider. He slowed the mare to a walk, and then halted near the fence. Slipping his feet out of the stirrup irons, he swung his leg over her rump and gracefully sprung to the ground. 'Hey Magnus' Isabelle greeted him as he took the horse's reins from over her head. 'Hi Isabelle… Who's your friend?'

'This is my cousin, Alec. He's staying with us for the summer holidays'

Magnus slipped off his akubra, revealing a long mass of black hair. He smoothed the hair back before offering his hand to Alec 'Well, hello Alec. Welcome to Australia'

Alec gripped his hand 'How do you know I'm not Australian?'

'You are far too pale'

Isabelle giggled. Alec flushed, slightly annoyed. So shoot me, I'm not freakishly tanned like the rest of you.

Magnus dropped Alec's hand, and slipped his akubra back on. 'You ride, Alec?'

Alec glowered 'Do you breathe?'

Magnus laughed, as if Alec's annoyance was of great personal amusement to him. 'Alright, want a go?'

'Huh?'

'Let's see what you got' Magnus offered him the reins 'You can ride Ace. Don't you worry, she's a real sweetheart'

Without a backward glance, Alec swung his leg through the fence of the arena, then the rest of his body. He was just about to mount, when he felt something was wrong. He turned to Magnus. 'Have you got a helmet?' he enquired, not wanting to ride without one.

Magnus laughed, and then quickly stifled it as Alec glared at him. 'Uhm, no. But here, have this' Magnus took off his akubra and handed it to Alec 'It's a magical akubra. It'll stop you from falling off. Oh wait, good riding should do the trick, too'

Alec scowled as Isabelle and Magnus laughed good-naturedly. He lifted up his left leg and placed it into the stirrup, swinging himself into the saddle. He gathered up his reins, Ace bucking her head slightly at the loss of freedom. He was just getting into proper position when he felt something blocking him. It was the two knee pads of the stock saddle, forcing him to sit deep in the saddle. Alec adjusted his position to fit the saddle. It felt more secure and relaxed but security wasn't exactly something Alec needed in a saddle, he was more comfortable on the back on a horse then he is on his own two feet. Alec frowned slightly, and with a smart tap of his heels, they were off.

Ace had already been warmed up, so after half a circuit, Alec made a small tap and she started in a bouncy, uneven trot. Alec frowned, trying to get into Ace's groove, but he wasn't feeling it. She tossed her head, her trot becoming short and choppy. 'Give her her head' Magnus called from where he was sitting with Isabelle on top of the arena fence. Alec scowled but followed Magnus' advice, loosening his grip on the reins slightly. Ace immediately relaxed, her strides becoming longer and more even. The stock saddle inhibited Alec from rising the trot, but he became comfortable with sitting the gait. After a couple of circuits of trotting, Alec was ready to ask for the canter. He tightened his reins, and on the next turn his outside leg slid behind the girth and he tapped Ace. She broke into the a fast canter, and Alec forgot to sit back and ride it as she threw her head up and cantered down the long stretch of arena with her reins held tightly by Alec and her head high in the air, the knee pads of the stock saddle digging into his thighs.

'Woah!' Magnus called from the fence, and Ace instantly slowed. Alec pulled Ace to a walk, and he moved her over to where Magnus and Isabelle were sitting.

'What?' Alec said, irritably.

Magnus wasted no time in correcting Alec's mistakes 'You gotta stop controlling Ace, and start working with her. Riding is a team effort, especially out here, where sometimes the horse is right. Sometimes the horse best knows where to go, where to step, if something is safe or not. It's very important if you're riding out in the bush to always listen to your horse, instead of just telling them every little thing what to do. Loosen up in the saddle, sit deep, keep a relaxed hold on the reins, and go with it'

Alec was smarting from this little speech. He had always prided himself on being an expert rider and didn't like being talked to like he was a beginner. And this coming from a rider who didn't even wear a helmet! Even an experienced rider can fall and injure themselves very badly, everyone knew this. Alec had certainly heard enough horror stories of bad falls to never not wear a helmet for the rest of his life. Instead of telling Magnus what he thought of him, he just said 'Do you guys have an English trained horse?'

Magnus and Isabelle smiled at each other. 'You're in luck' Isabelle said as Magnus jumped off the fence, and disappeared into the barn. Five minutes later, he reappeared, leading with him in an English bridle, a stunningly beautiful black gelding and carrying an English saddle and saddle pad. Isabelle held the reins of the gelding while Magnus quickly tacked up the rest of the horse, and Alec wanted to leap over the fence and hug that glorious English saddle.

Dismounting Ace, Alec patted her neck 'Sorry, girl' he whispered before handing her reins to Magnus, who handed him the reins of the black gelding. 'That's Maryse's horse, Henry. That's his barn name, his show name is much longer' Thank you, I had gathered that much information on my own Alec thought bitterly as he mounted Henry.

The horse instantly felt better to him. He seemed so much more… Attentive. Ace had been responsive and attentive too, but Henry seemed more ready to follow any command. Alec tapped the horse into action, and after a couple of circuits of warm up walking, Alec asked for the trot.

Finally, a comfortable rising trot! Alec changed leads a couple of times, before asking for the canter. Henry's canter was wonderful and rocking, and Alec felt very relaxed, and hoped it was a huge contrast to his abilities then what he displayed on Ace.

He could hear Magnus and Isabelle talking on their fence, so Alec thought let's impress these mofos.

Alec slowed Henry to a trot, hoping that he had some basic dressage training. There were no letters on the arena, so Alec had to improvise. Once they reached where B should be placed, Alec sat deep in the saddle and signalled for leg yielding, and to his joy, Henry responded.

Alec could still hear that Magnus and Isabelle weren't very impressed, so he continued for the trot and started to signal for Henry to perform a shoulder-in. Okay, someone has trained this horse, Alec thought as Henry followed his commands seamlessly.

Finally, Alec decided to ask for a half-pass. Tapping Henry into a canter, he began to signal a half-pass, and the horse complied, half-passing across the whole arena. Magnus and Isabelle burst into applause as Alec paused in the center of the arena with a very square halt, and dipped his head with a hand salute as if he were in a real dressage test. He dismounted, and led Henry over to where Isabelle and Magnus where on the fence.

'That was awesome, Alec! You're great at dressage!' Isabelle gushed. Alec smiled, not wanting to mention that they were fairly simple moves.

Magnus didn't look as impressed. 'Yeah, that was pretty good, but that's not going to help you much out here'

Alec scowled. This Magnus is such a downer he thought as he stared at Magnus, who was staring into the distance as if he was thinking very deeply about something


A/N: There you go! The plotline for this (as all my stories) is shaping and is actually turning out to be a lot more elaborate then I first anticipated xD And if anyone is curious, I'm a English trained rider since I was a young'in (I think eight or nine) I am also a Queensland girl, have lived in rural Queensland for a couple of years (although now I live in one of the cities) and I've been to Longreach and it's beautiful. Also, if you are unfamiliar with any of the terms used, feel free to ask me (Or Google it xD) and I'll post a glossary for all to read

Please review, it's lovely to write all about my home, horses, and TMI all at the same time, and I hope you enjoy it to

P.S Qantas and Longreach Tourism, you're welcome for the free advertising.