The Prince Arrives

[Liana Mars]

Liana had arrived back on campus the day before, pleased to find her room undisturbed - Ever since that disaster they had called her roommate had left, she had been left to her own company. Now, a message from the stable hand who was driving her horses down made her rise from the desk she had been sitting at, arranging the new ribbons and winner's photos just so, and step into her boots.

She had timed her arrival well, for the truck and trailer arrived just as she came into view of the parking lot. The logo on both left no question as to who was inside, and Liana approached the driver's window after the man had parked, "You may unwrap Leil, and then find his stall in the White Oak Barn." She gestured at the building she'd named. She then gazed at the man in the passenger seat, "You may take his tack to the tack locker assigned to him in that barn, and Nasir's tack to the locker in the Red Willow Barn." She indicated the other building. "I will walk Nasir."

She left no room for discussion and walked to the back of the trailer, waiting for one of the men to open the door before she stepped primly into the trailer and undid the bay's lead rope. She backed the Arabian out of the trailer and then stood for a moment as the gelding raised his head, taking in the scent of the school. Once he had smelt his fill, she stepped forward again, bringing him to one of the paths to stretch out his legs.

[Maeve McKenna]

While she had been worried about being homesick, Maeve loved Blue Ridge, and to always be so close to horses, a couple of who she could actually pet whenever she chose, she was totally in her element, and it helped take her mind away from the fact that she was so far away from home.

After releasing Remi into one of the beautiful pastures, she headed back toward the barn so she could put the mare's halter and lead rope away. Her pace slowed as she rounded the front of the barn and watched as two truly magnificent horses were unloaded. She stepped back to keep out of the way of a girl who was leading one of the horses. "Wow he's a beautiful horse!" She pressed her lips together when she realised she had spoken out loud and she offered the girl a hesitant smile, still trying to stay out of the way.

[Liana Mars]

Liana barely noticed the other girl, who at least had the sense to get out of their way, until the brunette spoke. She turned her full gaze to the other student, then inclined her head, "Yes, he is." Nasir, as if he knew he was the subject of discussion, raised his head and pricked his ears, looking as regal as he could, and Liana couldn't help but smile, "And he knows it." She turned her attention to the girl, "Walk with me." It wasn't exactly a question, but also not fully a command. An offer? Either way, Liana wasn't going to stand around to talk to some nobody, but she wasn't opposed to the company of someone who had basic manners.

Without waiting to see if it would be accepted, Liana started walking again, jingling Nasir's lead to make sure the gelding paid attention and fell into step beside her. His head stayed up as he started walking, taking in the scents and sights of what would be his new home - Whether the horse understood that yet or not.

[Maeve McKenna]

Maeve drew in an excited breath when she was invited to walk with the other girl and her horse, and she quickly fell in step beside the girl, so as not to crowd the horse; he was currently reminding her of a Mustang on high alert, and she didn't want to give the horse a reason to spook. "I'm Maeve." She offered, and then wondered if she should have. "Is that other horse yours too?" She pressed her lips together when that little voice in her head told her to shut up.

[Liana Mars]

Liana had planned on walking out to the cross country courses and back, and then evaluating if Nasir needed more. When Maeve fell into step with her, she didn't change those plans, although she did shift to give the girl space to walk alongside. As the girl introduced herself, Liana smiled slightly, "I'm Liana. And yes, he is. His name is Leil." She smiled as she talked about the black gelding, even his name bringing back memories of Khalid, "He is more familiar with campus, though. Nasir only joined me this summer."

[Maeve McKenna]

Maeve smiled as she was given the other girl's name in reply, though she wouldn't have asked if Liana hadn't divulged that information. She nodded at the name of the other horse, knowing that she'd have forgotten it by the morning. "They're Arabians, right?" She was sure that at least this was a breed that she'd easily be able to guess, at least she didn't know of any other breed that was as sculpted as the Arabian horses. "Sorry." She quickly said, knowing that Liana's attention was probably on the horse, as he was getting a scent of the campus around him, and she was happy to just walk with the pair.

[Liana Mars]

Liana nodded at the girl's question, "They are." She paused, then expanded on the thought after she'd made sure Nasir wouldn't get any silly ideas, "Both are of Qatari breeding. Leil was born, raised, and trained at Al Shaqab, while Nasir was born there, and raised and trained in the states." She had fallen in love with Nasir before knowing of the connection to Qatar, but once she'd found out, it had only cemented her wish to have the gelding. "What horse do you ride?"

[Maeve McKenna]

Maeve gave a silent cheer that she'd got the breed correct. There again though, they were such a distinctive breed that she probably should be here if she couldn't pick them out of a crowd. "Wow, that's a bit of a distance to travel." She said. "I... um... I ride Remi. She's a Curly Horse." She decided that the place wasn't big enough to get away with lying about the horse she rode, especially since Liana had a horse in each barn.

"What kind of riding do you do with them?" The question sounded stupid as soon as it was out, but she couldn't think of any other way to reword what she had asked.

[Liana Mars]

Liana laughed, "Yes. They are both quite used to travel by now, although I wouldn't say they enjoy the process." She patted Nasir's neck with her free hand, then listened to Maeve's answer, "Oh, she's cute." Liana hadn't spent much time thinking about the fuzzy horse - She looked like she needed a good clipping - but had at least seen the mare around campus enough to comment. "She definitely has some flashy coloring going for her."

As Maeve asked about riding, Liana smiled, "Hunters and dressage, mainly. We dabble in jumpers if we ever feel the need for speed, and Nasir here is trained for cross country, although I myself am not. So perhaps this year we'll take a turn or two around that course." She had no high hopes for that - eww, mud - but one should never say never. "You?"

[Maeve McKenna]

Maeve nodded, she couldn't imagine travelling being enjoyable for horses, being stuck in, most times, a pitch black steel box and having to remain in one place until the rocking box stopped moving and they were pushed and pulled until they got off, muscles stiff from remaining in one place for so long and legs often filled with fluid... not, not fun at all. "She has a little more hair from the horses I'm used to being around." She replied honestly. "Her colouring is pretty though."

She nodded as she listened, wondering if hunters and dressage went hand in hand for a lot of people, as that instructor she had met in the barn did both as well. She didn't like lying to people, so she thought carefully over the wording of her answer. "I have mostly done pleasure stuff." She said, which was the truth, just it had no riding. "Nothing compared to what this school offers. It seems really intense, but I can't wait to learn everything!" She smiled and shrugged. "Would you mind if I watched you ride your horses some time?" Only having the beginner mounted classes, she didn't imagine that she would see much of the more advanced students in class, and she loved watching other people, and learning things that way.

[Liana Mars]

Liana nodded as the girl spoke about her own riding experience - Not much, as it were, but that wasn't completely unheard of. That boy with the Frisians had barely known how to do dressage either when he arrived, and he'd improved to the point where she had almost (almost!) worried about competition. "The teachers here are some of the best. They'll teach you well, and at least you don't have bad habits to unlearn." Some shoddy teachers did their students more harm than good. "You may, if you'd like." She paused and pulled out her iPhone and opened up the new contact feature, "Here." She handed it to Maeve, then turned to pat Nasir for standing still, "I will contact you when I plan on working, if you would like." That way, she could make sure Maeve saw a good session, too. Maybe not the ones where she was working out a complicated movement that required a fight, or something boring where she was perfecting small details.

[Maeve McKenna]

Maeve nodded, though she was sure that she had learned enough in her head, how she thought things should work, and have them corrected before she could be classed as a good rider, and she guessed it would be even worse if she had taught herself how to ride before coming here.

With a grin, she accepted the device and put her name and number into it before handing it back, at least this way she wouldn't turn up at the arena to watch Liana and seem like she was stalking the older girl - because that would be more than a little creepy. "That would be great, thank you!" While her tone was excited, she did her best to keep her body language calm.

[Liana Mars]

Liana took back her phone and stuck it into her back pocket, nodding, "I'll do that." She'd have to think of something good. Their loop had brought them back to the barn, and Liana looked the Arabian she held up and down, "I believe Nasir has stretched enough and would enjoy some time to himself. I will see you around the campus." With a small smile, she led the gelding into the barn, hoping his stall wouldn't be too far back.