HORSEBACK RIDING

[Annah]

The pup rolled over in Noah's arm and opened her sleepy eyes. She seemed confused as to what was going on and looked up at the boy for reassurance. He smiled and kissed the collies nose telling her it was alright. He watched for a couple minutes as the scenery passed by them. He felt at peace here, seperate from the troubles the outside world held. "Miss Vira. May I ask what its like to be, well, a part of something. To have a place you belong, people you belong to." He was unsure if those were the right words but left it at that.

[<anaesty>]

Vira looked back, content to let the gelding's rolling gait and heavy hooves guide the reins. She considered Noah's question a moment, thinking it over. "Well..." she began, a bit slowly. "It's like, one big family. Where everyone is a part of something? Like a lab in science, only bigger, and warmer. Not so calculating, like an inquiry report."

She smiled at a memory of her and Anaesty, her close friend and cousin, at Thunder Hole- watching the waves come in off the cool Maine ocean, feeling the spray on their faces and the bite of the wind. "It's like being high, in a way- you feel as if you will never come down, but when you do, it's still joyous, not a crash."

[Annah]

Noah nodded thoughtfully. He wish he had could of felt for himself what she had spoke. He knew someday he would find his way home. find out the truth. But all he had was the necklace, and it was not helping as much as he had hoped. But perhaps time would help. "I guess you could say that we are the same, but opposites. Fire and water." His words were soft and calm, not carrying a heavy nor deep meaning. He was not in the mood for deep conversation.

[<anaesty>]

Vira nodded, understanding. She could only imagine what it must be like to grow up without a place. "Alone and together. It must have been terrible to grow up not knowing who you are."

[Annah]

"Im Noah. I tend to cause fires without trying to. I once burnt down my adopted parents home. When I was in the fifth grade a boy picked a fight with me and I told him gentlemen did not lower themselves to such activities. I got beat up. Ive been to every state in the continental U.S. And I have a dog named Kayla. Thats who I am. Its not so horrible, just bareable." He said.

[<anaesty>]

"but you don't know your spirit-self. Every Bre'a- and I feel you are Bre'a, or Quile'e- spends time with the chief to meditate and learn their spirit-self. Don't you feel your fire plays a game you don't understand? I still don't fully grasp my water's nature..." Vira's voice trailed off. She was confused by this boy; he was so gentlemanly, and brusque, but she could sense a deeper sorrow beneath his polished and cute exterior.

[Annah]

"My fire, it has a mind of its own that is true. It seems to have become more unruley as Ive aged. I think it has hit puberty." He joked. Adjusting himself in the saddle he yawned softly. "Excuse me."

[<anaesty>]

Vira grinned. "I think you're as wiped as Kayla," she joked. "You should try yoga and meditation. It sounds girly, I know, but it works. You can look within and bind the fire. It'll do until you can see someone in Quile'e or Bre'a who knows how to find one's spirit-self. It's different for everyone."

[Annah]

"Perhaps. And I do doubt I am as tired as Kayla. She seems to be going at a houndred miles an hour at all times. But I love her, hyper as she may be." Noah smiled at Vira trying to be polite as always.

[<anaesty>]

"Not now, she's not." Vira smiled, looking at the pup lying in Noah's arms. "She's totally out."

[Annah]

"I know. My hour of peace." He laughed at the puppy. Noah wondered if they were nerely back to the barn now.

[<anaesty>]

Vira galloped the last few yards, coming out of the woods into a large clearing before the stables. "We're here." Vira dismounted, waiting for Noah to hop off. "Want me to take her while you get down?"

[Annah]

Noah handed Kayla of to the girl and allowed himself to slide off the big horse. His legs felt slightly stiff so he stretched them out. His movements made him like like a clown.

[<anaesty>]

Vira grinned, snuggling the sleeping dog carefully into her arms as she watched Noah stretch. She clucked to Canterbury, and the big bay carefully trotted into a stall bay. "You ready for Kayla? I need to wipe down Canterbury." She smiled again, her golden hair catching the light as she glanced down again at the collie's wet nose.

[Annah]

Noah let Kayla fall back into his arms. He watched as Vira made her way towards the barn, it was the first time he had noticed how the sun bounce off her hair and made her face bright. She was rather beautiful. The thought brough a sodt bluch to his angled face. Staring at his feet he hoped to hide it.