True Rider Love 30 Miri & Evin

Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything you recognize from Tamora Pierce's books. I DO own some of the plot, and none of the characters. So there. Don't sue me.

Parts 1-5

1. Grin

Miri glanced around when Sarge wasn't looking. She peeked at all the faces around her. Some were hard, some were friendly looking. She liked some people, and some seemed as though they had a bee in their head.

One face caught her eyes. A boy with blonde, windblown hair saw her look and smiled a big, cheesy grin.

Miri grinned back, liking his reaction. Maybe this crew of idiots had one person who could be a friend.

2. Talent

At the mess hall, Miri had sat down with Onua's assistant when Evin came over. Promptly, he plucked a roll from the other girl's ear, a trick that he had done to Miri when they had met too. Miri grinned.

Evin, she had learned, could be a good friend. She liked how he could make her laugh with his Player talents, but she felt a little sad that he would do it to Daine too, and had no idea why.

3. Shy

"They're just animals. They can't know you've kept to the fence because you're shy," Daine informed her. Miri was unconvinced.

Overhearing, Evin joked, "It can't be worse than sailing through a storm!"

Miri knew she was shy. She looked at him oddly a moment. "I only did that I once," she replied. She meant it in every way.

4. Behind

"You ride that gelding like he's a separate creature! HE AIN'T! He's part of you, so connect the parts again!" Sarge shouted in her ear.

Miri sighed. Her eyes drifted to Evin who was perfectly in tune with his mare.

Why was she left behind? I want to be up in front, like him.

A voice inside her told her, don't you mean with him?

5. Sleepy

Evin awoke, groaning. He couldn't sleep till late last night. At breakfast, he saw Miri chatting eagerly with some of the girls. He was envious. Her green eyes were wide awake, and glittered in her joy.

When she was happy, she was so pretty, wasn't she?

Evin shook his head, trying to clear it. Where had that thought come from?

He tried to forget the thought.

He failed.