Chapter 3 - Follow your instincts

They all got off the bus after a 3 hour bus ride. They students were all relieved to finally be out of the bus.

"That was so long. I feel so stiff" said Squib.

"Definitely. They should have brought us out to stretch or something." suggested Megan.

"Yeah. I'm just glad that we're here. I can't wait to see the horses." commented Adena.

"Listen up kids! Your teacher will be here shortly. He also tells me that he knows a few of you." He says while looking in Megan and Adena's direction.

"Do you think..."started Adena

"It couldn't be." replied Megan

"Is it what I think it is?" asked Cody as Squib and Sebastian looked at them confused.

"Welcome to Starlight Stables, I'm Max Linetsky."

Megan and Adena were shocked and turned to see their old riding instructor.

"Oh my gosh!" Yelled Megan. She looked at Adena who was equally excited.

"MAX!" They both yelled as they ran to give him a hug.

"What are you doing here?" asked Adena

"I moved here to be closer to the big city. It was beginning to be too quiet in Oakville."

They all turned to see the look on the confused students faces. Megan decided to explain.

"Max was our riding instructor for years, ever since we were 6 years old up to when we came to Cascadia. We've known him for longer though. He's a really close friend of both our families."

"We'll catch up later girls. Would you like to help me introduce the horses and other instructors" asked Max.

"You mean everyone else is here too?" asked Adena

"Yeah we all just packed up and moved, even the horses."

"Yes!" they yelled said.

"If you'll all follow us. Megan, Adena and I will bring you to the stables and introduce you to the horses and the other instructors."

Sebastian, Squib and Cody ran up to where Megan and Adena were. As they got to the stables Megan and Adena introduced everyone to the stable hands, Taylor and Tammy (they were sisters) and the other instructors Molly Bennett and Alex Evans. All of them were very happy to see Megan and Adena again. Afterwards they went to see the horses.

"There are 20 horses at this Stable" Started Adena as everyone listened carefully. They went to a stall which held a beautiful bay quarter horse gelding.

"This is Dusty. He's a Bay Quarter horse gelding. Max bought him when he first opened the stable back in Oakville about 10 years ago."

As they went to the stalls and told the story of the horses all the students listened, amazed by this side of Megan and Adena. A side that they never knew about, except for Cody.

"And finally we have Bandit. He's a black Friesian. Adena and I found him one day about 6 years ago. He looked like he had been neglected and Max agreed to take him in." finished Megan.

Adena and Megan looked at Max as if asking him what was next.

"Before we begin riding I'd like to see a show of hands. Who knows how to ride?" asked Max.

Out of the 10 students (12 students if you include Megan and Adena) only 4 knew how to ride, Sebastian, Squib, Cody and Sunny.

"The students that can ride you can follow me to the jumping ring while the others go with Molly and Alex for a quick lesson before joining us for a trail ride." said Max.

Alex and Molly got one of the horses and went outside to show the students the basics of horse care and horse riding.

Megan, Adena, Squib, Cody, Sebastian and Sunny followed Max to the stalls so they could get the horses. Max took his horse Benny, Cody got Dusty, Sebastian got Bandit, Sunny got Diablo, and Squib got Teddy. Finally it was Adena and Megan turn.

"I have a surprise for you girls. When I heard that you were coming here I called your parents and we came up with a surprise. It's outside in the ring."

Megan and Adena ran outside to the ring as the others followed.

"Oh my god!" they both yelled.

"Shadow!" yelled Adena.

"Midnight!" yelled Megan.

They ran to their horses and gave them a hug.

"Your parents have agreed to let me board them. Anytime you visit you can see them."

"Yes!" they both yelled happily.

Everyone went back to the Stable to saddle up the horses and get ready to jump.

20 minutes later

The jumping ring

The jumps were fairly small since they hadn't been on a horse for a while. Everyone was having fun. It was Adena's turn to jump. Everyone watched. She made it flawlessly. Just like she used to thought Megan.

Megan suddenly felt a little funny, like something was going to happen. She looked at Midnight, her beautiful black Arabian horse. He was acting kind of funny. She shrugged it off thinking it was just all of the excitement.

"Your next Megan." said Max. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, I think Midnight is just a little excited."

Megan started the course, forgetting completely about her worries. Tennis, Cascadia, a career, everything. For a moment everything was fine. As the wind blew in her hair she remembered being back in Oakville and all the good times she had with Adena at the stables. Suddenly out of no where she heard a ring. A loud one. Sunny had forgotten to turn off her cell phone. Midnight was scared of loud noises! Midnight started rearing.

"Megan!" yelled Adena.

Everyone was scared. Sunny tried to hurry and shut off her phone. Everyone looked on as Megan tried to calm Midnight down. It wasn't working, in fact it was getting worst. Midnight started to run. Everyone was scared by the speed he was going at. As he ran he headed towards a jump. Midnight bailed and turned, throwing Megan off of him in the process.

Everyone was scared

"MEGAN!" yelled Adena and Max.