A/N: Hey, guess what! I thought of a plot for this story! Hee hee hee… I've been wondering what I was going to write about for a long time! Yay! *cackles evilly* You people are in for a surprise!
Thanks To:
Sourhead- Argh. *kicks self* Proofread! Thanks for pointing that out.
Aria the Frozen Phoenix- Hee hee. Thinking of your request I did put a little more of Tori in this chapter. (Tori is actually based off a character in a non fanfiction story I'm writing. If you want to look at it its at www.fictionpress.com , under the author name of Hawk Fireland, called Paper Dragons.
Stormy Phoenix- Yes I've noticed that too. But those are the names that fit…
Imagine That- I shall half to go look at this story once you put it online. *nudge nudge*
Silver Magiccraft- At least one person is! And twists are fun. I hope this is updating soon. Is it?
ali10- Hee hee... TWO dyed companions. That's an idea... and Thanks for such nice reveiws!
Colleen- I am going to proofread now. Ho hum... proofreading. That's what I'm about to do right now actually. Proofread the story you're about to read...
"Good morning Riverside," Tori muttered and rolled out of her bed in the Inn they stayed overnight in. She landed with a thump on the floor.
"Ow," she said and lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling before climbing to her feet and hurrying into her Whites.
Up yet? a familiar voice asked in her head, It's already late into the morning.
Shut up Teral, Tori replied grouchily as she rubbed her eyes and stumbled out the door to see if Toby was awake.
His room was right next to hers so she didn't have to stumble far before she reached his door and leaned up against it, closing her eyes momentarily. Toby, at that moment, chose to come outside and when he pulled the door open Tori fell backwards into his room.
"That hurt," Tori said, looking straight up at Toby's concerned face, "I probably deserved it."
"Why would you deserve it?" Toby asked, stepping back and giving her room to stand up, "And are you alright?"
"Yes, I am, thank you," she said and sat up, rubbing her head, "And I deserved it because of being such an unfriendly bitch yesterday."
Toby was surprised at her words but he didn't show it, only offered her his hand and said, "You weren't that bad. Need a hand getting up?"
"No," she said and grabbed onto the doorway and pulled herself to her feet, "I don't."
Tori turned around and thought to herself that it turned out he was up before her anyway. She sighed and decided she really needed to work on this early rising thing, she could never get used to it. Tori was the kind of person who can stay up late and sleep in till almost noon, and if you do get her up earlier, she's a real grouch.
"Okay," Toby replied and withdrew his hand, noticing uncomfortably that she was, if not the same height as him, a little shorter. Somehow her personality made her seem taller.. Not to mention she was kind of pretty… He shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts.
"Right," Tori said recollecting herself, "We have a long ride ahead of us today, and since we're getting out late, we might have to ride into the night, or stay at a different Inn then originally planned."
"I don't mind long hours in the saddle," Toby said quickly, because he was pretty sure Tori was the kind of person who would ride night and day to get to her destination on time.
You don't. I do…Ryu mentioned with a mental groan to Toby.
Do we really have a choice? Toby replied.
I doubt it, Ryu agreed.
"Good," Tori said with a smile, "Because we probably going to be in saddles all day today. Come on, let's hurry and get breakfast, I'll have some stable hands get our Companions ready to save time."
You just hate me, don't you? Teral asked of Tori sarcastically.
Toby nodded and looked at the ground, thinking of how he used to be a stable hand and wondering if now was the appropriate time to tell Tori. He doubted it was; she seemed to be in a mood where she didn't want to be distracted.
Tori yawned then started walking down the hallway to the main room of the Inn, where breakfast, hopefully, would be served. Toby followed, feeling even lower then usual.
***
Toby noticed curiously that today; Teral was the usual shining Companion color of white. Apparently no dye would last too long on a Companion. He wondered briefly if she would dye him again. He looked back to Ryu, whom he was currently walking with out of the stable all tacked up and ready to go.
"Enjoy your stay?" he asked the majestic Companion.
Ryu snorted and replied, I did actually. They put a lot of good soft straw down and gave helpings almost too big of the best kind of grain…
"Seriously?" Toby asked and reached a hand to rest on Ryu's neck.
The sad truth is no… care for us magical horse like beings is much better at the Stable, although its gotten a bit worse ever since a particular stable hand left…Ryu said and winked at Toby.
Toby rolled his eyes and patted Ryu's neck in sympathy, "You were spoiled rotten when I was a stable hand… and you still are. You really shouldn't be complaining."
You know, one of the main reasons I Chose you was because of your skill with a brush and hoof pick, Ryu continued on teasingly.
"I have known no Companion that had a worse sense of humor then you, Ryu," Toby said shaking his head.
I was only joking! Ryu insisted.
"I know," Toby answered, "which is why I said what I did."
"Stop the chatting and mount up already, Internee!" Tori's voice rang out over the yard.
Toby sighed and clambered up on top of Ryu, so he was no longer looking at Ryu's face, but his mane and ears. He put his hand down on the soft hair and ran his fingers through it.
Does she have to be so bossy? He wondered.
Commanding is maybe the right word, Ryu said thoughtfully.
"I'm ready!" Toby said and Ryu walked over to where Tori and Teral stood.
"Then we're off," Tori said with a grin and she and Teral broke into a fast trot.
***
I hate riding circuits, Tori commented to Teral as they road along, the sun beating down on them.
Why? Teral inquired, his hooves beating out a steady pace on the dirt road, I rather enjoy them.
Yeah, well you're a Companion. You don't have unwanted thoughts in your head that keep coming up, she almost snapped at him.
Would those unwanted thoughts have to do with your twin? Teral asked.
Tori didn't say anything for a while. When she did it was, I got over Trish years ago.
Teral was silent.
Tori sighed and added, But I still wish she were here. With me.
Of course you do, Teral answered.
You think she would have been Chosen too? Tori wondered.
Almost definitely. Twins like you and her… Teral trailed off, then changed the subject, I notice you apologized to your Internee.
I did. I was in a bad mood yesterday. Plus he doesn't seem so 'Yay! I got Chosen by a white horsie!' anymore, she said with a sarcastic grin.
You are too quick to judge. Toby had a troubled past too, Teral said.
What do you mean? Tori asked and stole a glance at the topic of their conversation.
He was riding easily, staring up at the sky, a wistful smile on his face. By the distant look in his eyes, Tori guessed he was either daydreaming or talking to Ryu.
He's an orphan. His parents died when he was three or four. Before he was Chosen he was a stable hand at the Companion's Stable, Teral explained.
Really? Tori asked, genuinely interested.
If you want to know more, ask him, Teral prompted.
If you're trying to get us to be friends, it won't work, Tori answered.
Why not? He seems like a nice boy, Teral said.
We're complete opposites. I could never find anything to talk to him about, Tori replied, speaking as if it were obvious.
Not quite as much as you think. You both had childhood tragedies, around the same age too, Teral pointed out.
So? Tori answered.
They didn't speak for a while. Tori gazed at the countryside in boredom, counting cattle. After a while she decided maybe she would try and start a conversation with this Herald Internee.
"I heard you were a stable hand," Tori said, looking at the boy.
"I was," Toby nodded. Ryu must have told Teral, who must have to Tori.
"What was it like?" she continued, grabbing for something to say.
Toby sighed then fiddled with Ryu's reins, wondering what he could say that wasn't deep and too revealing of his inner emotions, "It was interesting. Heralds never notice the stable hands, you know. But the Companions do. The ones who haven't Chosen yet are constantly after you for food or grooming. Ask yours."
Tori did, and found the boy was right, "He say's you're right. He says he remembers when you first came in, a little four year old. He says that soon after you came, he Chose me."
Toby smiled and said, "Chosen at nine."
"Yeah. Pretty early," she said, and then added, "Any later and I might not have been fit to be a Herald."