Thea

"Wait here," Fiora commanded as she dismounted Donnel. "I've got something for you to do."

Donnel waited expectantly on his hands and knees. The dirt was cool on his hands. The metal bit was a little tight in his mouth, how Fiora liked it to be, but it made his teeth a bit sore. He held his position and wondered how long it'd be before Fiora would be back. He was instructed to keep form while waiting, on his hands and knees, ready to be mounted, but he wondered if he could get away with sitting normally for a few minutes. He turned his head to check the perimeter, then broke form and sat down. His arms appreciated the break- they'd been carrying Fiora all morning, and even when she wasn't riding him, he'd had to hold up his own weight due to her instructions.

"Donnel! Back to form!" he heard, and panickedly he resumed form. Back on his hands and knees, he looked up to see another blue haired girl with his jockey.

"Sorry, Thea. I've not seen him break form before. I assure you he's an excellent ride."

Donnel's face went a bit red from the unexpected compliment after the embarrassment of being caught breaking the rules.

"We'll see about that," the other pegasus knight said. Apparently her name was Thea. She was, in appearance, a lot like Fiora- but her blue hair was shorter. She wore a skirt instead of a dress, and she didn't have the same height that Fiora had.

"Donnel, I'm lending you to Thea for a while. You behave yourself, understand?"

Donnel nodded, and Fiora left his sight.

It was strange to see Fiora leave without knowing when she'd be back. He was now alone without her, with this other girl, who he wondered about. She seemed a lot like Fiora, at least, so maybe things wouldn't be that different?

"Alright, mount," she said. "I'm going to take you for a test ride."

Donnel readied himself as he watched Thea pick up the reins hanging on his back. She held them as she walked to his side, then lifted her leg across him to straddle him. He felt her weight hit him as she lowered herself, and once she sat comfortably, she put her feet in the stirrups.

"Alright, you're comfortable enough," she said. "But let's see how you trot."

Donnel felt a sharp crack of the reins and walked forward. He did his best to stay smooth for Thea, unknowing of what this stranger was thinking while mounted atop him.

"Good, good," she said. "Very well. I've got no time to waste. I need to pick up my lance. It's been sharpened by a blacksmith in the next town over."

The next town over? What's wrong with the blacksmith here?!

"The one here I don't trust. I only trust quality workers. That includes you, Donnel, so let's get going."

When Fiora had first ridden him, she spent the entire day teaching him and training him to follow her commands. He had no idea how Thea would command him. The weight on his back was a foreign one- even her butt felt different from Fiora's as she sat atop him. It was smaller, a bit firmer, but with just as controlling hips as his previous jockey's.

Nevertheless, Thea pulled the reins and cracked the reins as much as she needed to get him to follow her guidance. Her thighs were nearly constantly moving for the first fifteen minutes of the ride.

"My, Donnel, this is exhausting. Fiora said you were trained properly. What's the matter?"

Donnel didn't respond, his mouth full with the bit.

"Are you more used to Fiora?"

Donnel nodded.

"I see. Well, I'll just find my own way to ride you, I suppose. I need you to be faster. How about this for 'speed up'?"

With that warning, Donnel felt metal balls jab into his sides rapidly. He promptly increased his speed.

"Well, that seemed to work. Like them? They're spurs. Very useful for riding," she informed him. "Once more."

He felt her glutes clench a bit on his ribs just before she kicked into his sides again, hitting pressure points in his lower abdomen. He dashed forward again, making faster progress through the forest.

"Very good." Thea said. "I think this can work. Just don't disobey me, mount, and we'll be golden."