the way it goes ( o p e n )

[Phantom]

What am I missing?

The sun was justly over the horizon causing the sky to turn to a tinge of burning orange. Despite the time of day, birdsong could still be heard in the trees as horse hooves thudded softly on the forest floor. The brown gelding was the same color as the soft earth beneath his black hooves as he walked slowly through the lush ferns and manuvered around a small group of pine trees. Jason held the reins in one hand as he squeezed the gelding's sides only slightly, asking for trot. The dark brown gelding followed his cues almost instantly as he kept his head and neck low and pushed his slender legs into a longer stride. Jason looked around his surroundings as he sat in the saddle. He was at home in the saddle, the smell of leather and horse was familar to him as he gave Cal his head allowing him to lope off further into the woods. It was late, yes, but Jason felt as if he should get another ride in. There wasn't alot of free space for his horse to gallop so he just stuck with a lope, it suited him just fine. He pulled the reins slightly to halt the gelding. The gelding looked around as if wondering why he was asked to stop. Jason reached over and patted the gelding's neck as he decided which direction he should travel in next. After a few long moments he reined the gelding to the left and asked him for a trot again, of course the gelding happily changed gaits to follow the commands asked of him. Jason pulled his gelding to another abrupt halt as he came to a vast meadow. He had not expected to come across a meadow out here in the middle of the woods, but he wasn't complaining. He asked for another lope from the gelding across the large field.

Whatever I am missing, it must be something grand

[arzu]

Her blond hair was tied back and tucked under a white cowboy hat, light blue eyes set on the view before her. She was finally here, no more need to care for her little sister no more need on the ranch, even though she did feel bad but it was time she made her own life right? The mare nickered softly, her golden coat shone bright when the sun hit it and then dull when they were in the shade, her hoof beats could be herd on the ground as she kept her gait going. A soft sigh was released from her rosy lips as she continued down the path, the mare sidestepped to avoid a shadow, she tossed her head pulling at the reins wanting to go, so Alyssa gave them to her, she took off wind tossing her white mane into Alyssa face, she loved the feeling of her mare under her. Slowing her down as they hit a clearing, she stopped and looked across seeing a horse and rider, she asked Jazzy to lope and soon they were moving across the meadow. She snorted at the slow pace, Alyssa felt like she knew this human, the mare picked up her pace and brought herself just to the side of the horse and rider, she whickered eagerly, now she knew who it was. Jason she spoke softly pulling the mare to a halt and allowing them to get ahead again.

[Phantom]

Jason let his horse lope for a few more strides, until the brown gelding snorted as if in protest. He reined the gelding in a large circle, pulling the reins back slightly to slow the gelding down to a trot then to a walk as he let his gelding take a rest from the short run they had. He reached down and patted the gelding's muscular dark as he praised the horse for his good job. He looked up as he gathered the reins in his hand and then he noticed another rider not to far from were he was riding his own horse. He looked at the rider for a few more moments and then he patted his gelding again, he wondered what had brought another horse and rider out to the deepest part of the woods. Perhap they had wanted to get ride in too, he pulled his gelding to a stop and looked around for a few moments as if trying to remember something.

[arzu]

The mare walked slowly over to the pair, she stopped the mare eyes and hair hid behind her cowboy hat. She took it off and looked over at Jason those light blue almost gray eyes could not believe that she had found him. She flashed him a smile, Jason? She questioned, sticking her hat back on her head and tilting it. Jazzy pawed at the ground lowering her head and nibbling at what ever edible thing she found near her, Alyssa leaned back and looked up at the sky, what to do what to do or even what to say would be good. She sighed softly sitting right in the saddle again, Jazzy snorting and tossing her head, ears pinned, Alyssa stroked her neck calming her it was only the sound of a bee Jazzy no actual bee yet. She scratched the mares neck waiting.

[Phantom]

Jason looked a bit surprised that the girl knew his name but deep down he felt as if he should know her. Had he really let someone like this slip his mind. He felt as if he should really know her but he couldn't put a name to her face, not at the current moment he couldn't. He watched as Cal threw up his head to look at the rider and Jason patted him again "Yes...." he said in response his gray-blue eyes looking the girl over, he was trying really hard to remember.

[arzu]

Wow had it really been that long? Alyssa shook her head, Jason its me Alyssa your girlfriend or was at least I thought so. She shook her head, I must have you mixed up im sorry for the confusion I will be on my way.She gathered Jazzy’s reins and kicked her sides, the mare shot off her golden coat shinny with health. Rump bunched and released as she covered the ground, Alyssa slowed her before they reached a rough part. Carefully the mare picked her way threw the trail, hitting smooth ground again, she asked the mare to lope which the mare gladly switched to, she patted her neck and went with the horses motions.

[Phantom]

Jason watched as the girl rode off. He gathered his gelding's reins and then a realization hit him Alyssa? He had just remembered the name, almost immediatly after realizing who the girl was he felt stupid. He wanted to slap himself. He nudged the gelding into a trot, hoping that he could find Alyssa again. He decided to go to same way she had left and pushed the gelding into a slow lope through the field.

[arzu]

She slowed the mare down when she came to a stream, she hopped off the mare and took the saddle, reins and saddle bag off along with the pad. She allowed the mare to wander and play in the water wail she grabbed her sketch book. Alyssa went and sat down leaning against a tree, she took her hat off and set it next to her, she watched the mare, roughly sketching an outline of the water and the mare, were her leg was and what she was doing. She was pawing at the water making splashes and getting herself wet. Alyssa began to draw the lines in dark the picture was being to take shape that was until Jazzy came over and rested her wet head on the book, Jazzy look what you did, she sighed and ripped the page out watching the mare trot away.

[Phantom]

Jason slowed the gelding to a trot then to a walk as he followed a small barren trail that laid to a creek. He patted the gelding as the brown horse looked around at the tall pine trees and he reined the horse through another path in the woods and then he came upon a stream and he let his horse walk through it. Jason glanced at the small fish darting back and forth in the crystal clear waters and then he urged his gelding to follow the stream for a little ways and then Jason pulled the gelding to another halt as he noticed a mare a little ways off. It looked the mare Alyssa was riding earlier so he nudged the gelding into a walk again, hoping he would find Alyssa again, he hoped that she wasn't mad for his mistake earlier.

[arzu]

The mare reared and trotted down the stream hearing another horse, Jazzy get back here. Alyssa spoke the mare only flicked her tail and then continued on to greet the other horse and rider, when she saw it was the same horse and rider she turned right around and went back to Alyssa, laying down next her owner and closing her eyes. Alyssa played with the mares white forelock and scratch under it, the mares pelt twitched and then her back leg got going, Alyssa chuckled you are a silly horse but none the less my silly horse. She ran her hand along Jazzy’s neck before looking down stream but not seeing anything she shook her head and went back to giving lovings to her mare.

[Phantom]

He was surprised to see the horse loose and running about, and he was even more surprised that the horse had came his way. He watched as the horse lost intrest him and went back to wherever she had come from. Jason decided to follow the stream even further in the same direction the horse had come from, and he wiped his face with his free hand as water that was kicked up from the gelding's hooves splashed onto his face. He let the gelding trot a little ways down stream and then he ended up pulling the gelding to an almost abrupt stop when he noticed the rider before near the stream. He patted the gelding as if apologizing for stopping him so abruptly. He looked at the rider, realizing that it was Alyssa. He felt as his heart has just leaped, he didn't know what to say, the only word he managed to get out was "Hey..." he hesitated for a few moments "Alyssa"

[arzu]

She stood and brushed off walking over to him, hey she spoke giving him a smile. She figured he would realize who she was, seeing it had been about a year. The mare was out, asleep under the tree all the affection had put her to sleep. When she neared him, she looked up at him and rest her hand on his knee a soft sigh leaving her again, I moved out here my father did not need my help any more, that and I wanted to find you I could not stand being apart from you. She looked down and felt a soft nudge from behind, she reached back and touched the mares pink nose. Jazzy then ended up resting her head over her owners shoulder, Alia pulled the reins out of her back pocket and clipped them back onto the bridle. She turned and lead the mare back over to the tree were she sat down again and the mare did not even miss a beat, she lowered her frame and put her head on her owners lap, she waited for Jason to speak she did not even know if he still felt the same let alone had a girlfriend here.

[Phantom]

Jason looked down at Alyssa she neared him and he finally got a good look at her, suddenly he remembered everything that had slipped his mind. He listened carefully to what she had just told him She came looking for me? he thought for a few moments as he dismounted Cal and took the gelding's reins in his hands and approached Alyssa and her horse. He looked at her for a few moments then said suddenly "I have to admit, alot of things have slipped my lately." He smiled as he looked at her "But I could not forget you, I'm sorry that I did not recognize you at first"

[arzu]

She smiled and then chuckled, everything happens for a reason, everybody lets something slip there mind a time or two. She smiled, no reason to be sorry its fine. Jazzy raised her head lips working back an forth as she bit the metal thing in her mouth, she stared at the guy before her she had never met this human. Alyssa looked at Jazzy’s puzzled expression, I don’t think I ever introduced you two, every time you came over well we never went into the barn lets just stick with that. Alyssa smirked, this is Jazzy been training her sense she was a baby now she is four where did the time go. She chuckled and scratched the mares forehead, Jazzy just adored her human, she would never let anything happen to her.

[Phantom]

Jason smiled as he looked at the mare then back at Alyssa again. "She's gorgeous" He looked over his shoulder as his own horse took a few steps foward to take a look at Alyssa. He smiled again and looked at Alyssa again "This old man behind me is Cal. I bought him on my way down here" He remembered the long trip he had to drive to get here but he didn't mention it.