[Gift] A Sarcastic Ride

The snow lay thick on the fields and woods of Thorn Rose, the air crisp and cold with the smell of snowfall heavy in the air. The grey clouds on the horizon were coming in quickly promising to further blanket the world in white. 

Cass straightened her red woolen tunic and brushed some salt from her black pants before patting the smoky black neck of the chimera mare next to her. The main holiday was over and life had largely returned to normal around the stables, but some staff celebrated for days afterwards or had different holidays that lasted different times and so she was still largely in the stable and helping tend the horses. She could have hired extra, temporary staff, but she saw no reason to bring in people she didn’t know or trust when she could manage just fine with a little effort on her part. 

Plus, a part of her missed the snow of her home. She hadn’t been back in nearly two years. She enjoyed the freedom that came with her new life, but she missed the snowy expanse and silence of her old world. This was the closest she was likely to get short of traveling further north, and a small touch of homesickness wasn’t worth leaving the territory she’d established. 

Quiet footsteps interrupted her thoughts and her hand fell to her dagger out of habit, though she wasn’t worried. Porsche hadn’t so much as twitched her ears regarding the sound, the mare seeming more interested in a faint stubble of grass they’d managed to kick the snow away from, which meant the individual likely wasn’t a threat. 

“You know it’s cold out here, right?” Ellah’s familiar voice as the tiefling came up alongside Cass, Lover’s Greed on a lead at her side. The demonkin was certainly more bundled up, a heavy black coat, teal scarf, thick gloves, and a woolen hat covered them almost completely. The smoky black, brindled mare next to her seemed to share the opinion, though the horse seemed more excited than annoyed at the moment. 

Porsche finally looked up from her pathetic patch of grass at the approach of the other mare. She reached out with her white streaked face and sniffed, familiar with Greed but still making a show of deciding if she was going to be friendly or not. At Greed’s seeming indifference, Porsche decided the mare was fine and walked closer, kicking at the grass with her one white stockinged front leg to reveal another pathetic patch of forage. Greed glanced at the revealed patch disdainfully. 

“Is it?” Cassandra glanced over at Ellah, her golden eyes flashing in amusement. 

“To anyone sane, yes.” Ellah didn’t quite snap, rubbing her hands together to keep them warm. 

“Sanity has nothing to do with it.” Cassandra smirked. “I’ve been assured I have a cold heart and so this weather can’t touch me.” 

Ellah rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. That’s the problem. I’ve got such a warm one.” 

Cass’s smirk turned into a smile as she slipped down from the fence and went to pet Porsche. “You said it, not me.” 

Ellah was about to offer some kind of sharp retort when Clementine came walking up leading a pale, raspberry colored horse with a faded coat and jagged white sabino markings. The snow around the possumkin was melting at an alarming rate. “You two at it again?” 

Both demonkin and their horses turned to regard the possumkin, though Cass was more amused and Ellah more annoyed. Porsche and Greed both sniffed at Faded Coat of Blue curiously. They were all boarded in the same stable complex, so it’s not as if they’d never seen him before, but the cold always seemed to bring something out of all the horses. If they were going to act like idiots, it would be in the cold without fail. Fortunately, all three horses seemed to be content to stop at aggressive sniffing for the moment. 

“We were just discussing the weather.” Ellah shrugged, making sure she had a firm grip on Lover’s reins just in case the mare changed her mind. 

“Going for a ride?” Cassandra asked. 

“Blue is restless so I figured it couldn’t hurt.” Clementine shrugged, the stallion demonstrating the situation perfectly by nipping at Greed’s rabicano markings. The mare, in return, kicked at him with enough force as to almost pull her reins from Ellah’s hand. 

Porsche backed away, but didn’t bolt, her white back legs nearly disappearing in a deeper drift of snow. Cassandra hadn’t put any tack on the mare as there hadn’t been a serious intent to ride for once, but the demonkin had no issues riding without. It was how she’d learned in the first place. 

“Damn it!” Ellah managed to bring Greed under control as Clementine moved Blue away from the darker coated mare. 

Cass smirked, keeping just outside the matter as she watched the horses and riders with equal amusement. “So, something fast and with a lot of jumps. Yes?” She moved to Porsche the smoky black, part appaloosa mare’s ears flicked in delight at the statement, her black tail swishing. 

The statement seemed to get both Greed and Blue’s attention as well as they both headbutted their riders with a fair amount of force. 

“Yeah, seems about right.” Clementine replied, pushing Blue back and patting the white marking on the raspberry roan’s neck. 

Ellah sighed as Greed danced, pulling towards the trails. “Yeah, sure. Just don’t get us killed.” 

“When have I ever done that?” Cass asked, her voice dripping with innocence. 

“When don’t you do that?” Ellah fired back as she mounted Greed, finding the mare smoky black mare was usually more cooperative when someone was in the saddle. 

“Yep, at it again.” Clementine quipped, climbing on Faded Coat of Blue before turning to the trails, her fiery magic sending puffs of steam into the air as a light snowfall began. 

Cass chuckled as she placed a hand on Porsche’s neck and guided the blue eyed chimera mare to the fence to mount and then turned the mare towards the trails. “I’ve the perfect route in mind, and it shouldn’t be too dangerous for the risk adverse.” She nudged Porsche towards one of the trails that ran along a stream. “Depending on which jump they pick.” She called back, urging Porsche faster before either of the others could reply. 

Clementine gave a bark of laughter and took off after her on Blue, sparks flying from her hair as the snow melted before it could even touch her or her horse. 

“I swear to gods I’m the only sane one here…” Ellah muttered, curbing Greed just before the mare took off after the others, though she let them follow soon after. 

Cassandra followed the snowy trail up into the woods, turning Porsche down a fork on the left and down a small ravine, the trail opening again as they came alongside a mostly frozen stream. 

Clementine wasn’t far behind, Blue keeping pace easily as they let out a snort of hot air, smoke seeming to curl from the nose. 

An excited Greed had closed the small bit of distance with ease and came out on the trail just far enough back from Blue to avoid any antics the stallion may get up to. Or more, Ellah was keeping the spirited mare back enough to avoid either horse causing issues. 

“Most jumps have two. Rider’s choice.” Cassandra called, slowing just enough to be easily heard. The trail was still relatively clear thanks to the tree cover, though if it became icy or dangerous she’d change course. “Or horses if you don’t have them well in hand.” 

“Two crazy ones, or one crazy and one reasonable?” Ellah called up, slower Greed just a little more. 

“Depends on the definition of those things.” Cass laughed heading towards the first of the jumps. 

“Y’all gonna ride or talk?” Clementine asked as she let Blue pick up speed and then finally pass Cassandra and Porsche on the wider trail. 

This just made Cassandra laugh harder, though Ellah nudged Greed faster and was soon racing up by Clementine and Blue, Cass content to keep Porsche to the rear and see what the other two did. If they got lost on the trail, then there were other issues, particularly as it was wide and well marked. 

The first set of jumps were easy, a downed tree positioned deliberately across the trail so that one end was significantly higher than the other. Clementine and Ellah both took the higher end, as did Cass. All three of the horses made it look easy, though in reality it was. The trail had been deliberately designed to scale as it went along, easier at the start and then harder and then back to easier as a cooldown. 

The next few jumps all three of them again chose the harder, the Porsche nearly balked at the last of them forcing Cassandra to double back and try again. The mare rarely caused problems, but apparently she didn’t like the coating of snow on the hedge. 

“Getting slow, are we?” Ellah shouted back as Cassandra gave Porsche leave to catch up to the other pairs. 

Cass didn’t say anything, but instead urged Porsche faster in an effort to overtake Greed and Ellah, though Greed was by far the more experienced horse, so Cassandra had no doubt whatever lead they took wouldn’t be for long. 

“Don’t you two dare come up here.” Clementine shot back as Greed and Porsche nipped at each other before Ellah and Cass broke them up, Porsche temporarily slipping into the middle position. “Don’t need either of them teaching Blue any more bad habits.” 

“How about if I go passed you with it?” Cass replied, shooting Clementine a grin as she managed to get just enough momentum from Porsche to slip by Blue, knowing full well Ellah and Greed would follow suit. Greed had just been looking for a reason to take the lead. 

Sparks flew from Clementine as she leaned into Blue and then the race was truly on. 

Cass managed to hold on to the lead the next two jumps, barely staving off Ellah and Greed on the second and then being forced to fall back as Porsche began to show signs of tiring. Though the chimera mare slowing seemed to be just the opening Clementine needed to bring Blue up passed Porsche and alongside Greed. 

The brindle mare tossed her head in annoyance and nipped at Blue, the stallion returning the favor as Clementine and Ellah once again steered the pair away from each other, nearly missing a jump in the process, though both managed to clear it with only a small moment of worry. 

“I thought you said you weren’t going to try and kill us,” Ellah managed to get out as Greed made another play for Blue, forcing the tiefling to veer almost into the treeline. 

“I’m not.” Cass replied, the disruption allowing her to come up closer. “But those two might be.” She gestured to Blue and Greed before once again managing to slip into the lead while the other two horses and riders were distracted. 

Blue, for his part, didn’t care for the situation and made his displeasure known by hopping as if considering bucking, but finding Clementine’s grip on the reins too firm for him to manage the stunt. 

“I told you two not to come up here with that.” Clementine said as she pushed Blue faster and quickly took back the lead, just before another jump. 

This one was taller, though Clementine and Blue as well as Ellah and Greed took the harder jump and cleared it with skill. Cassandra, however, took the easier jump, Porsche being skilled but less inclined towards jumping than others. Plus, the snow was falling faster and it was beginning to show more on the trail. It was still a safe ride, but she had nothing to prove at the moment.  

“And who is risk averse now?” Ellah called back, a grin on her face. 

Cassandra laughed, nudging Porsche just a little closer. “Say that to me on the next trail, why don’t you.” 

“I’m not going on that one.” Clementine quipped, having slowed Blue just enough to stay within earshot of the others. 

“Oh, but it’ll be so much fun.” Ellah replied, her tone mimicking Cassandra’s as she hopscotched Greed into the lead. The smoky black mare and the raspberry stallion were clearly having as much fun as their riders, the two horses side eyeing each other to see who could get the lead or one up each other. 

“You’re right, it will be.” Cassandra said as she brought Porsche alongside for just a moment before allowing the mare to fall back. 

All conversation halted for a moment as the three horses and riders all had to focus on the series of jumps in front of them. Again Ellah and Clementine took their horses over the harder option and Cassandra took Porsche over the easier ones. 

Blue began to fall back, getting a little too close to Porsche, the mare finally deciding to get in on the nipping fest as she made a play for the sabino marking on the stallions side. Cass managed to get her to veer off just before she connected, but Blue certainly took note. 

Any further action was once again cut off as they all had to navigate a jump, though the jumps were noticeably scaling down. Which was perfect timing as the snow was beginning to collect thickly on the ground, forcing all three to slow down as the risk of unseen terrain began to be a possibility. Even on well maintained trails, branches and other hazards were always a possibility. 

Off the three, Greed seemed to resent the change of pace as the dark colored mare put up a fight as Ellah signaled them, attempting to both buck and bolt before finally resigning herself to a reasonable pace. 

Blue seemed equally annoyed, for all he only gave a loud snort of protest, the sound echoing in the quiet woods around them. 

Porsche didn’t put up any resistance at all, the mare being good with long walks or moderate paced endurance rides, but less comfortable with a ride that was mostly breakneck pacing and jumps. 

They’d just cleared the last jump and were on the home stretch when the snow began to fall thick enough to limit visibility. 

“Well, isn’t this just peachy?” Ellah huffed as she brought Greed in closer to the others, the group now riding closely to avoid losing each other in the snow. 

“Frozen peaches, perhaps.” Cass smiled, keeping Porsche between Greed and Blue and slowing the pace. 

“More like peach snow cones.” Clementine chuckled, a thick coat of steam rising from her as the snow melted almost instantly on contact with her. 

“Fine, but seeing as I’m the only one likely to freeze out here, can we please just get back to the stables.” Ellah snapped, rubbing her hands together to keep them warm. 

“Trails wide and open from here. Maybe a two minute ride at this point, not that you can see it just now. There’s hot chocolate and whatever either of you may want to mix in it waiting back in my office.” Cassandra managed not to laugh, the cold not bothering her in the least. If anything, this weather reminded her of home. 

“Don’t tell me you planned this entire thing…” Ellah gave her a side eye, Clementine doing much the same on the other side. 

“As much as I may want to, I can’t control the weather now, can I?” Cassandra chuckled, the outline of Thorn Rose finally visible through the thick snow. 

Porsche, Blue, and Greed must have seen it as well because without any signal they all three picked up the pace. Clearly the idea of a warm stall and feed was appealing after the race they’d run. None of the riders seemed inclined to argue with them about it either.