Third Person POV
Two months went by quickly. Champion had become used to the workouts in the morning, which had gotten longer. He had gotten used to the surcingle on his back and it no longer bothered him when he moved. Bloodmoon had been moved to another pasture and a different colt yearling was put in with Champion. He was a lean grey horse with white socks and a stripe. His eyes were icy blue that were hard to look into. He was different in a way. Champion thought he knew too much for his age, but that was only an opinion. His racing name was Perfect Wind, while his stable name was Wind. Champion always felt uneasy around the strange colt.
Champion woke up one morning and yawned. Wind was grazing a few feet away with a familiar look of knowing in his eyes. Uneasily, Champion slowly edged away from the colt and towards the gate where the hand would be coming for him. He had found out that the hand's name was Janee. He looked forward to seeing her every morning, but no one could replace Margie; who always came at night and right after training sessions to visit with Champion.
This morning Janee walked towards the gate, cheerful as always. The smile that stretched across her finely sculpted cheeks was warm and inviting. Champion nickered at once in greeting as Elsa, Wind's hand, trailed close behind. The two hands were different is appearance by much. Elsa had wavy light blonde hair that went past her shoulders but not as long as the middle of her back. She had startling blue eyes that caught anyone's attention. She was taller than Janee by just a half-inch. Janee on the other hand had faint red hair which was shoulder high. She had emerald green eyes that gleamed in the right light.
Wind trailed behind Champion and they both patiently waited for their hands to arrive. Wind nipped at a stray strand of Champion's mane absentmindedly. Champion jerked his head away in annoyance as Janee lifted the latch to the field's gate. She clipped the halter around his head while Elsa did the same with Wind. Janee led Champion towards the usual stable while Wind was taken to the same stable, but by different route. Champion felt a lot of pressure relief as the colt was led out of view.
Janee groomed Champion and picked his hooves, but then when Champion waited for her to bring out the surcingle, she brought out something else. It was longer, wider, and slightly heavier as she layed it over Champion's lean back. He was used to the weight but this was different, it covered more of his back than the surcingle, and Champion didn't like it one bit. As he waited to be led away Janee brought out yet another strange looking piece of equipment. It had various straps and buckles and it looked like it could slip around his head. As he got a better view, Champion didn't think it could be much different than a halter. Janee slipped it around his head, as he had assumed she would, but then there was a cold, hard metal object at the end. Janee pushed it against Champion's teeth and he was forced to open his mouth. The metal thing went in over his mouth. The coldness shocked him and he chomped at it in distaste. He tried to spit it back out but it was no use. Janee continued on to buckle the straps around his cheek and muzzle. Champion stamped his front hoof irritated. First a new thing on his back, now this hard thing in his mouth?
"It's alright Champion…just a saddle and bridle. The thing in your mouth is nothing but a bit." Champion soaked in her words as they briefly comforted him, but the shifting of the saddle as he stamped a back hoof at a fly reminded him of the discomfort. Janee patted him and then led him out towards the ring where he always was worked.
Champion was sent through his paces, just as any other day, and the saddle and bridle continued to make him angry. Because of his anger he couldn't focus on his commands and messed up a few times. Janee didn't seem to mind, as she would another day. Champion was thankful for that, but he desperately wished his tack be removed. Cantering was when it felt most comfortable. The way his body balanced itself is what helped, he assumed. When he trotted the saddle slightly bounced up and down, giving him a soar. When the session was over and the tack taken away Champion heaved a sigh of relief as he breathed free of the strap, girth, of the saddle. Janee re-groomed and picked him, then took him out to a different pasture where two other horses were grazing.
Champion instantly recognized Bloodmoon, and the other horse was a yearling mare. Champion gazed at her, she was beautiful. A light chestnut mare with white stockings and a star on her forehead. Janee patted Champion as she unclipped his lead rope. He nickered and then galloped out towards Bloodmoon happily.
He tossed his head up in greeting as Champion skidded beside him. The two friends reared up and jumped around. After a bit of rough housing the settled into grazing, with the mare on the other side of the pasture.
Bloodmoon raised his head and gazed at her. Champion followed his gaze and smiled. "Do you like her?" he nickered. Bloodmoon swallowed a mouthful of grass and horse-smiled. "Well…she is very nice and pretty." Champion looked at the mare again with a knew feeling. His eyes brightened but he recognized the feeling falsely as a stomach ache. "What's her name?" he asked. Bloodmoon answered without taking his eyes off of her. "Meadow Star." Champion loved the name. Bloodmoon continued, "I guess I do like her…I just can't talk to her…" Champion chuckled. "I'll talk to her for you." Bloodmoon looked at him with so much happiness that Champion wished he hadn't offered. He would mess up most likely. Champion head butted Bloodmoon and then trotted towards Meadow Star with butterflies in his stomach.
As he approached she lifted her head and her eyes sparkled in the sun. Champion hadn't seen her eye color from the distance, but now they shone as blue lights of warmth. They weren't ice blue, as Wind's, but sky blue.
"Hi." She said first. Champion swallowed and stopped walking as he was beside her. "Hi…I'm Dream Champion…Champion for short." Star smiled, a horse-smile, and nickered. "I'm Meadow Star…Star for short." Champion struggled to find words. He was supposed to talk about Bloodmoon, but as he gazed at Star he forgot all about him.
"Wanna graze together or something?" Star asked after a moment of silence. Champion felt a surge of happiness seer through him. "Sure!" Star nickered and lowered her head again towards the sweet grass. Champion lowered his head, and stole a peek at Bloodmoon, hardly wanting to see. Bloodmoon had a hurt look in his eyes, but turned and trotted off towards the other fence and grazed. Champion sighed, but couldn't help enjoy the time with Star.
The next morning was Saturday, rest day for all training horses. Champion stretched as he woke from a drowsy sleep beside Star. She was still asleep as he gazed at her. Suddenly he jumped aside. He had spent the whole night with Star, without even apologizing to Bloodmoon! He looked at her again; she was waking from his leap of surprise.
"Wha…what's wrong?" she asked after a sleepy yawn. Champion looked around for Bloodmoon. "Uh…sorry…I jut…just saw a snake slither by and it…startled me." He felt so stupid as he slowly choked the words out. He hated lying. Cautiously Star looked around, expecting to see a snake close by. "Don't worry…he's already slithered away." Star smiled in relief and she nudged Champion's cheek with her forehead. Her touch was warm and enticing, but Champion knew he needed to talk to Bloodmoon. "Star…I need to go for a minute or two…" Star nodded, yawned again, and lowered her head to graze.
Champion sighed and cantered towards where Bloodmoon had stood the day before. As he got there the rest of the pasture came into view. He saw Bloodmoon standing at the fencing, talking to a colt from the neighboring field. Champion squinted and realized the colt was actually Speed Demon, a bay horse with only a stripe and snip for markings. Champion took a breath and strode towards the two colts nervously. Bloodmoon heard him coming and turned away from Demon, who turned and cantered back into the depths of his pasture.
Champion stopped and let Bloodmoon reach him. Bloodmoon stared icily at Champion. "Have a 'fun' night?" he asked with a burning edge to his voice. Champion felt like he was being cut by daggers all over. "Bloodmoon I'm sorry…really…I didn't…she…it was just…" so many different words came to mind as he rambled on. Bloodmoon's expression never changed. "Sounds…completely delightful." He said in hatred. Champion had never heard him speak so dryly. Bloodmoon had his ears layed back, and he kicked up before galloping off. Champion let his neck hang as he realized the extent of his mistake. But still he couldn't help but feel happy to have made friends with Star.
A/N: How's that? It was awesome to write! I'm gonna post the next chappie as well, so pls review this chappie and the next as well. I shall do review-replies next chappie. XD
