"Whoa, Misty! Whoa!" Duck tried to get his mount to hold still long enough for him to get on. Unfortunately for him, Misty didn't feel like cooperating today.
"Here, Duck! Let me help you!" Rev offered as he grabbed hold of Misty's bridle. As if by magic, Misty stopped prancing and held still for Duck.
"Show-off." Duck mumbled under his breath.
"All-righty gang! Do you have all you're gonna need for the trip?" Ace questioned as he swung up on Thunder. Today was the first day of the three-day trail ride. So many people wanted to participate that they had to split up into groups. The Loonatics and Rachelle were being led by Ben and Falcon, the black warmblood Cassidy learned to jump on. Ace had been hoping that they would be away from Ben, but he didn't say anything.
"Yep!" They all replied.
After a few minutes, they were headed down the trail that leads to the meadow. Upon reaching the meadow, they decided to have a race. The moment the word 'race' had been uttered, Rusty and Flaxen were off. Everyone else, not wanting to be left behind, urged their horses forward. Rusty and Flaxen held the lead, with Falcon and Thunder battling for second. Annie was a close third behind them, with Misty on her tail. Phantom and Lucky challenged each other near the back of the line. Last, but not least, was Red. But, Red suddenly had a change of mood as he began to get faster and faster, soon overtaking all the other horses. They all slowed down at the edge of the meadow.
Slam and Red turned around to face the others, who had shocked expressions on their faces. "What? What did I do"
"Just suprised the livin' daylights out of us, that's all." Duck retorted.
Lexi was suddenly picking something up with her super-hearing. It sounded like a snake. A rattlesnake. Before she could say something, Annie reared. All the other horses jumped and pranced, except Phantom, who reared like Annie. Then, the two mares took off.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Both girls pleaded, pulling on the reins. Suddenly, they did whoa, but it was more of a sudden stop that flung both girls into the brush.
"Lexi!" Ben and Ace called out. Ace glared at Ben, but Ben didn't notice.
"Cassidy!" Tech yelled as he slid off Lucky.
All three boys rushed to the girls' sides. Ace gently lifted Lexi up. There was a large gash on her upper left arm. They soon found out why. Under the brush was tons of large stones. Tech gently lifted Cassidy. She had several small cuts on her arms, but the largest one was on her right wrist. Both girls were unconscious.
"We'll make camp here." Ben said as he began to unpack the camp supplies from his large backpack. Rev grabbed Cassidy's sleeping bag and unrolled it so Tech could lay her down on it. Duck did the same for Ace.
"Good thing I brought a first-aid kit." Tech mumbled as he cleaned out the girl's wounds and bandaged them up. After a few moments, the girls came to.
Tech sat beside Cassidy. "Are you okay? You took a nasty fall back there."
"Yeah, I'm fine." She reassured him. Tech didn't fully believe it, as she was known to be stubborn when it came to her health, always assuring everyone she was fine even when she wasn't.
Ace sat beside Lexi, secretly keeping Ben away. Lexi, too, said she was fine. None of them felt like getting into an arguement, so they all just got out their sleeping bags, and soon everyone was asleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Early the next morning, Ace was the first to wake up. He glanced around. Seeing no one else was up, he leaned over Lexi and gently kissed her cheek. No movement came from her or anyone else.
A little while longer, everyone woke up, until there was only Cassidy still asleep.
Ace glanced at Cassidy, who was still asleep. "Is she still out?"
Tech nudged her slightly. There was no movement. "Like a light." He smiled at her.
Lexi's eyebrow raised when she saw this. "She looks cute when she's asleep, doesn't she?" She asked Tech.
Tech just shrugged innocently.
Slam tilted his head curiously. "Is she still breathing?"
"Yes, I am, Slam." Cassidy's brown eyes opened. She sat up and stretched.
Tech could barely keep himself from laughing. "Nice hair." He commented.
Cassidy's fire-red hair was frizzy, and chunks of it had fallen out of the braid. "Thanks." she said scarcastically as she reached into her backpack and pulled out her hairbrush.
"Bad Tech, bad. You should never comment negatively on a girl's hair." Lexi shook her finger.
"Yeah, it can be hazzardous to your health." Duck added.
Ace ruffled Lexi's hair, making it worse than Cassidy's. "By the way, nice hair."
Lexi threw up her hand and sighed. "Have you guys learned nothing from me?"
All of them replied, "Nope."
"And they never will." Cassidy added. All of them laughed.
(end chapter 11)