Tenth chapter, peoples!! XD

Rin looked out her window at the pinkish light slowly rising above the trees, the coming dawn touching the faintest of rays to her stained cheeks. She was standing at her bedroom window, looking out at the dawn rising above the gardens of the Moon Dorms. She was still as a statue, her hair falling loosely about her shoulders, the soft light stroking an even softer tint into her pale skin, turning her complexion to a light golden cream. She was clad in a simple white linen nightdress that hung to her ankles with a ghostly air. She hardly looked real, her tear-stained cheeks a subtle mar to her otherwise completely blank expression.

She was tired, so very tired, as if all the years she had spent running away from her past had caught up with her, just as the dawn had caught up with the night. She needed a way to find peace again, to be Rin, just Rin, the way she was before, a small girl with only small cares to deal with. Tears welled up again in her eyes, and her lashes slowly fell together, the only movement she allowed herself, letting her see the red world beneath her lids. The silence in her room floated softly, no longer oppressive but so delicately filled with beautiful sorrow, that it'd be a shame to break it. She allowed the silence to carry her back in a flash to some time long ago, when she had-

reached up with tiny fingers to place her palm against her mother's Shire gelding's knee, because that was the highest she could reach, the scent of horse and sweet hay filling her nostrils-

and than later-

when she had sat astride a warm back and clasped happy arms around a soft white neck, and had giggled when she received a soft nicker in return.

Rin's eyes fluttered open, allowing her tears to spill unhindered. She released a small sob, her red lips opening like a tulip. "Oh, yes." she whispered.

Zero stood up as he heard the stable doors creek open, reaching out a hand to steady White Lily as she shied away from his sudden movement. Pale early morning light streamed in through the crack of the opened door, silhouetting the figure who stood in the doorway. A breeze wafted inside, carrying the person's scent in with it. At once, horse heads were raised, nostrils quivering with alarm, the less calm ones shying and rearing in their stalls, the whites of their eyes rolling with fear.

Zero's eyes rested inhospitably on the figure in the door. "Vampire." he said, the word soft and deadly as a snake lying in wait. He didn't move, poised and ready to draw his gun, as Rin walked in.

She was clad in white, in a soft, flowing nightdress, with a soft matching robe pulled over it, and cream breeches beneath her gown. She trod quietly on the hay strewn floor, barefooted. She ignored Zero and went to the first stall, offering her hand to the rearing occupant.

Beneath the noise of frightened horses, Zero could hear her whispering gently. To his surprise, the horse calmed, and later on so did the others as she passed from stall to stall, calming all the horses and their frightened nerves. At last she came to White Lily's stall, who was the last horse who was still quite upset about her frightening presence. The mare was rearing and neighing quite loudly, striking the air with her hooves. Zero watched, waiting to see what Rin would do.

She didn't offer White Lily anything, not a hand or any words. She simply turned her back and left White Lily still agitated and walked towards another stall, where a black, high-spirited stallion with fine-boned proportion and a white stripe down his face waited. Opening his stall door, she calmly led him out by patting his rump and giving his shoulder a slight push forward. She didn't tack him up, or anything, keeping him bare of saddle, pad, martingale, and bridle. She mounted him gracefully, lifting herself to sit astride his bare back without the slightest problems. She guided him to face the door with her knees, her hands holding onto his long mane.

Zero watched them go, but before she could reach the door he spoke.

"You calmed the others. You could at least do that for her as well."

Rin didn't turn to face him as she replied.

"No. Unlike the others, it was not instinct that made her fear me. Her agitated and often bad-tempered spirit has been caused by her past, and through recognition, she linked me to what happened before." she turned to face him then, and Zero could see tears falling down her cheeks, twinkling in the light. Her next words were barely a whisper. "Even if it wasn't my fault." Then with a nudge of her heels, the stallion bore her away, galloping out of the stable, and into the morning light.

Yay!! tenth chapter! woohoo!! the first double-digit chapter!! yay!!

I hope you enjoyed that. I'm considering changing the title of the story, as it has nothing to do with what happens, aside from it being the English meaning of Rin's name.. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,

P. Viper