Disclaimer: I don't own Wild Horse Island or any of its characters, the wonderful Terri Farley owns them. I only own the plot and Dancers Fire. If I owned WHI Cade and Darby would be together already 3
Chapter 1; Riding Hoku
"Whoa" Darby said as her filly Hoku shied at the boy's presence. "You know Cade's not gonna hurt you girl"
"Man, we've been working with her for over two weeks, think it's time I just hop on Hoku and ride her?" Cade suggested pushing back his golden hair.
Darby pondered this and ran her fingers through the Mustang's vanilla silk mane. "It might make her lose trust in me if I let you ride her when she obviously doesn't want to be ridden by a male yet"
"Yeah, maybe, but look I can groom and tack her up now. I think it's time that I give her a ride" Cade stated
"F-fine" Darby gave in, hopping out of the newly purchased western saddle and handing Cade the split leather reins. Hoku flung her delicate golden red head up and pawed the dirt. Her intelligent black brown eyes stared into Darby, as if saying 'what do you think you're doing, just handing me over to him' Darby chuckled and patted Hoku's velvety ink black muzzle. The beautiful horse sidestepped when Cade stroked her shoulder. "It's alright Hoku" Darby crooned; the filly stopped and let Cade hold her. "Okay" Darby exclaimed, taking the reins back, why had she handed them to him in the first place? "Go over to the fence and climb up to the second or third rail" Cade did as he was told. "I'll hold Hoku's reins and you get on her back, I'll lead her around for a while so she gets the feel of it and if she's alright then I'll hand you the reins and you can ride her for awhile, sound good?"
"Sounds good" Cade smiled giving her the thumbs up. Darby stopped Hoku by the south side of the fence, and waited till the Mustang was calm before she said it was 'safe' or at least somewhat safe to get on. Cade nodded and lowered himself into the seat of the saddle. Hoku snorted a snort that shook her whole body and she let out a quivering whinny. Darby murmured unintelligible words to her horse and Hoku seemed to calm down slightly. The girl began leading the sorrel filly around the round pen slowly. Hoku behaved almost perfectly, her only misbehaviors being a few tiny bucks and attempts to nip Cade's jean clad legs.
"Silly Hoku" Darby said in a sing song voice, swinging her long ebony hair over one tanned shoulder. "No biting or bucking be a good girl."
"She's being pretty friendly" Cade said quietly, daring a pet to the horse's flame red neck. The young mare shivered and kicked out her hooves slightly, before settling back down and letting Darby lead her again. After walking the mustang around for about twenty minutes, Darby and Cade deemed her manageable for the time being. Darby handed the reins up to Cade and the fifteen year old took them in his hands.
"Wow she's being so good" Darby nodded proudly to Hoku, who was walking around the corral comfortably. Darby watched the ivory white star marking on the filly's chest rise and fall as she walked then trotted about the pen. "Did you know that in 1286 King Alexander the third of Scotland died when he rode his horse off of a cliff in the middle of the night?" Darby asked randomly, it was something interesting she'd learned in history class back in Pacific Pinnacles.
Cade laughed lowly "Nope, can't say that I knew that" His posture was relaxed and his hat was placed casually on his blonde head. Suddenly a loud whinny sounded out and Hoku froze, her whole body quivered and she answered the whinny with one of her own. The horse that had neighed wasn't one of Iolani's Quarter Horses.
"Oh no" Darby gasped when she seen a beautiful blood bay stallion step from the depths of the rain forest. "Cade, get off of Hoku now" But Cade, just like Hoku, was frozen in place staring at the magnificent beast. He was about 15.5 hands tall at the withers; his coat was deep metallic flame red and his mane, tail, muzzle, ear tips and leg stockings were midnight black. His hooves were cracked blue horn, his eyes were a strange baby blue and a delicate vibrant white blaze ran down the stallion's face. In conformation he looked like the finest blooded Arabian, with a tiny dished head, a high set flowing tail and a rippling mane, along with well built legs and muscles. The stallion stirred and his move was fluid and graceful. "Dancers Fire" whispered Darby, hypnotized by the sheer beauty of the wild animal. It was true, the horse moved like a dancer and his coat was fire red. The stallion, Dancers Fire, stood stark still and pinned his small ears back, his teeth tinged green with grass, were bared. A halo of sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the stallion's flaming coat with pools of liquid gold. "Oh he's lovely" That was the moment Hoku chose to bolt. The golden red filly reared up, flailing her delicate legs about and letting out a piercing scream. "Hoku" Darby whispered calmly, "its okay my pretty girl" But Hoku would have none of it; she lashed out her legs and bared her teeth. "Hoku!" Darby said louder this time, but the Nevadan mustang burst into a choppy gallop around the large round pen. Darby bit her lip and backed up against the wooden fence, her blue eyes were wide, what could she do? Cade was holding onto the reins and he grasped chunks of Hoku's milky blonde mane, he was starting to have trouble controlling the unruly young horse. The wild horse, Darby had deemed Dancers Fire, let out a whinny and moved at a flowing canter until he stood at the gate. So close that if she had wanted to, Darby could've touched him. "Get away from here" Darby said through clenched teeth to Dancers Fire. The bay stallion cocked his head, his intelligent pale eyes staring into hers. Hoku suddenly backed up and moved at a dead run towards the fence, she soared over the highest rail and landed perfectly. Cade's warm brown eyes were wide and he looked at Darby helplessly. "Get off of her" Darby commanded when she seen the filly was planning to make a break for freedom. Cade hopped off the still moving horse and tumbled into the lush Hawaiian grass. The two teens stood slack jawed and openmouthed and watched the scene fold out before them. Dancers Fire reared regally and moved into a proud prance, then he began galloping and Hoku, Darby's loyal tomboy filly, followed.