Hooves hammered the ground at a death-defying rate. The beast felt only freedom and peace. His rider felt the wind through her hair and heard the screech of an eagle above her head. Both horse and rider felt as though they were flying with the eagle in a perfect rivalry, daring the other to go faster yet dancing together in complete harmony. The sun began to settle in the horizon and the pair found themselves bidding farewell to their loyal friend the Eagle, as they turned homeward bound.
I returned to the stables, hair tangled from the windy ride. Spirit, my faithful friend, had a small sheen of sweat over his coat yet showed no sign of fatigue. He held his head in a carefree manner, no troubles or woe's. It was often that I found myself with a degree of longing towards his way of life, yet that feeling never lasted long as Spirit never hesitated to involve me in his world. He has been my best friend from the age of 9. His mother was a wild horse, strong and brave. She passed away during the birth of Spirit, near our ranch and with the herd no-where in sight and no one to take care of the lost foal we took him in. My grandpa helped me to raise him and train him, and taught me everything I know about horses. He too passed in the summer of last year. I miss him a lot but I know that he never truly left us; his whole life was this ranch.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Fern Fielding and I live on my Grandpa's ranch, otherwise known as Bear Wallow Ranch in Glenwood Springs, Colorado with my mum, dad and two older brothers Charlie and Glen. We're known for our cattle mainly but we have a lot of land used for people to keep their horses with us for a fee. It is about now that I should tell you that I am in fact adopted. The Fielding family took me in when I was eight. The truth is, I am what is known as a savant, which is a person who has special gifts such as telepathy, telekinesis and one gift individual to you. Thanks to the social services system set up specifically for savants, the loving Fielding family who cared for me and taught me how to control my gift adopted me.
What is my gift you ask? Well, to put it simply, I can communicate with animals, but the line doesn't stop just there I can also feel there emotions. For example I can tell if they feel threatened or sick. Which is quite helpful when you love animals as much as I do. However as much as I understand animals there is one thing I just can't get my head around… people. I am not the most socially capable person you will ever meet, which is why my nerves were on a major high this evening. A new rider was joining our ranch today. Don't get me wrong, I speak to the people at our ranch but most of them have been there since I was adopted and it's not very often that we get new people arriving on our ranch. Ugh, just my luck, I arrived back just as the new arrivals drove in. To avoid any small talk and awkwardness, I rode Spirit straight into the barn and hid in our stable. Spirit knew about my awkwardness around other people and constantly pushed me into situations where I would have to speak to the same species as me but as much as he pushed me to fit in I just seemed to recoil into my shell like a turtle. This is why it was vital to get Spirit back to his stable so that he couldn't take me over to the new comers.
Just as I slid the stable door shut my only human friend, also best friend, came whizzing round the corner at full speed. Faheema had been my best friend, like spirit, since I arrived and even though I was shy and never talked, she never gave up on me and now when we're together I feel like I can talk to her about anything.
"Have you seen the new guy? I have never seen a specimen as god like as this and don't even get me started on his horse!" she squealed, currently unable to control the volume level of her voice.
"Sshh, I'm pretty sure half the ranch heard you if not the new guy himself. Also I know that you've been getting into your biology class but I'm pretty sure that calling a person a specimen can be slightly offensive."
"Yeah Yeah whatever spoil sport. Once you see him you will totally agree" she giggled, and as if on que we heard the sound of hooves walking through the barn door.
That's when I saw them, like out of the movies, swift and cool, the new guy/superhero walked in with his trusty mare. I suddenly understood Faheema's excitement, he was tall and broad, his t-shirt revealing just how much he worked out, soft hazel brown hair that formed waves around his face and dark blue eyes as deep as the sea. Cheesy I know but at the same time incredibly true. He caught me staring and I spotted a hint of amusement in his expression as he stared back. Just then, I realised he was asking me a question. WHAT? How am I supposed to respond? Why can't I be normal and social? Godammit.
"Which stable should I put Athena in?" He asked for a third time. It seems my friend Faheema had gone mute at the sight of this new comer, and with a small nudge in the elbow from spirit it seemed I was going to have to be brave.
"I'm sorry who?" I said with great force edging my voice.
"My horse Athena. Which stable should she go in?" I pondered for a minute and realised with dismay that the only stable free was the one opposite mine. With a shaking hand I pointed at it and said quietly,
"That one should be fine"
He seemed to grasp the fact that I was nervous and didn't ask anymore questions so I wordlessly left to the tack closet to get spirits feed. Faheema followed silently as though if we were to talk it would awaken some sort of beast.
When we reached the tack closet she hit me in the elbow right in the funny bone.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" she rolled her eyes and gave me a look that said 'you know exactly what that was for'. When it seemed I still wasn't getting the memo she explained,
"You spoke to a total stranger and it didn't take you a month to pluck up the courage. Do you not see that as the achievement that I do?"
"No I don't as I sounded like a dork. Also, since when did you become my therapist, I'm pretty sure I can take care of my own social incapability's."
"Nu uh missy. I have known you for 8 years and it took you just over 6 months to say a word to me. Come on this is a major step for you and besides did you not see the way he was looking at you; he didn't take his eyes off you, not even once. I know you didn't look back when we left the barn but I did and he was watching you leave."
"Ha ha very funny. He was staring because he was waiting for an answer besides I doubt he would have any interest in me."
"Okay whatever, believe what you want but I think there is something there, and at the very least please give yourself some credit for talking to him on the first day."
"Okay fine, I am kind of proud that I plucked up the courage. In celebration do you want to come over for dinner?"
"Sure I'd love to but would it be okay to stay the night my mum still isn't a fan of driving at night."
"Yeah that's cool, my parents pretty much accept you as part of the family anyway."
"Aww I know I'm just too cool. Haha. Well I'll let my mum know then I'll meet you back at the house."
"Alright, see you there." As she left and I made Spirits feed I suddenly realised that I was going to have to go back to the barn and face the new guy but this time, alone. With a sigh I accepted my fate and made my way back to barn.
When Spirit saw the bowl in my hand he whinnied in excitement and I couldn't help but laugh. That horse was too darn cute. I forgot about the new guy and went in to groom Spirit while he ate.
"That's a cool horse you got there." Startled by the deep enchanting voice I span around losing my balance and falling into the water trough.
"Oh my goodness! I am so sorry I didn't mean to startle you like that" He ran into the stable and helped me out of the trough apologising all the while. Spirit looked round at me and whinnied in amusement at my display and call it insanity or just plain shock, I started laughing and I couldn't seem to stop.
Once I got my breath back I stood up and nervously addressed the cause of all these strange events. "I'm sorry I don't really know why I'm laughing but I imagined it all looked quite funny for somebody watching"
He smiled kindly down at me from his great height.
"It's alright you don't need to apologise I was the one who caused it."
Then just like that, an awkward silence emerged, my one true nemesis. I was frantically searching for something to say when surprisingly he filled the gap for me.
"My name's Seth. Seth Benedict I'm really sorry that my introduction happened in this way."
"It's aright." Then my brain clicked. "Wait a minute, did you say Benedict as in the Benedict's, from the savant net?"
He suddenly looked self-conscious and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, that's us." A little embarrassed by his families well-known name amongst savants.
I knew about the Benedict family. They were an incredibly large family who did a lot of work for the savant net when it came to bringing down criminals. My mum had worked with them before as they live in Wrickenridge, which isn't too far away. "That's pretty cool my parents have worked with your family before. You guys do a lot of good work." I said matter-of-factly. What was going on with me? Since when have I ever been able to hold up a conversation with someone new for more than ten seconds without freaking out? Just as I was revelling in my success something in Seth's eyes changed. They turned guarded and zoned out. Obviously he wasn't a fan of my topic of interest. He avoided my eyes and said,
"Yeah whatever. I have to go. I'll see you around." He swiftly turned and marched out, shoulders hunched as though he had to carry the weight of the world on them.
"Yeah, see you around" I whispered more to myself than to him, as he was already gone.
Well… that went well.