To Quiet the Voices

[Ivan Theodore Mallon]

It had been a quiet Wednesday, and somehow, in the middle of the semester as they were, there hadn't been too much homework this week. Feeling somewhat freer than normal, Teddy decided to make use of that time with a nice trail ride, on Spice. He felt guilty for how often he rode Avise in his classes, leaving the Warlander stud in the pasture or his stall, but he'd been making time to get the gelding out every day too. It was just a matter of talent - Avise was sportier and the next step to showing for Teddy. Spice held a special place in the boy's heart, though, and Teddy hadn't been able to face letting him go just yet.

All of that was going through the boy's head as he prepared the buckskin for riding, but the thoughts quieted as they made it out to the trail. He'd picked the one that was checked over frequently, and specifically made for galloping, should one wish to do so. But for now, he kept Spice at a walk, enjoying the time with his horse, and the sounds of the birds in the trees.

[Deleted]

Looking for something else to keep them entertained, Tal and Bobby headed back out onto the Bridge Trail. There was still a lot of exploration to be done and new people to meet. As they slowly wandered along, Tal wondered if there was anyone else out riding on the trail today or if she was out there alone.

[Ivan Theodore Mallon]

Teddy's attention was pulled off of the trail by the sounds of rustling in the underbrush, and he glanced over. A squirrel darted out, causing the boy to raise an eyebrow, "A bit cold for you, isn't it?" Didn't squirrels hibernate? He wasn't really sure. Spice halted as the little critter raced across their path, and Teddy let the gelding stand for a moment, then gave the leg cue to continue walking along. No horde of squirrels following their one lonesome friend, then.

[Deleted]

Continuing down the trail, Tal spied another rider up ahead. It wasn't someone she recognised, but that didn't matter. After all, a stranger was just a friend she hadn't met yet. "Hello!" she called. "I'm Talira Greycrest, but you can call me Tal if you like. It's nice to meet you. What's your name?"

[Ivan Theodore Mallon]

Teddy heard a rider behind him call out, and instinctively moved Spice over to the right side of the trail for her to pass by, twisting in his saddle to get a quick look. She might not recognize him, but he could at least recall her name by sight, since they shared two classes and lived in the same house. He waited for her to draw even with him and Spice before he responded to her question, "I'm Teddy."

[Deleted]

Trotting further up the trail, Tal and Bobby stopped beside the boy and his horse. At least he had a name that was simple and easy to remember and he seemed to be relatively friendly. "It's nice to meet you, Teddy. I'm new here, so I'm still finding my way around." Tal patted Bobby's mane. "This is Bobby. What's your horse's name?"

[Ivan Theodore Mallon]

Teddy kept his face blank, although inside, he wondered what the girl was playing at. She really wasn't that new, he had been seeing her in classes since the year started back in September. But if that's how she wanted to play it, "This is Spice, or The Thyme Traveler." He grinned, "Yes, thyme like the plant. Yes, I still find it funny even after the hundredth time."

[Deleted]

Tal could see that Teddy wasn't buying the "I'm new here" thing. "OK, so I'm not really that new around here, but I'm still not entirely familiar with this place since I only just started this year. Anyway, I'm always on the lookout for a friend, so if you wanna take a ride with me, you're more than welcome."