Fate; l e a d me [ home ]

[Blaze Solorre]

Ashleigh ' Blaze '

[/size][/font] Solorre[/size][/color]

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Pinewood Virginia. His hands were stiff and rather cold as he turned the silver vehicle towards the sign welcoming him to the little town. Already he noticed many major differences between his home- or rather, his former home - in Pheonix Arizona- and he couldn't decide whether he liked them or not. Since dawn of yesterday he had been on the road, wondering just what Virginia was like. Matt had warned him of temperatures unbelievably cold, and snow. Tons and tons of snow. He hadn't really believed him. Surely Virginia couldn't be that much different from Arizona. Yes, the two states were on opposite ends of the United States but...Ashleigh Blaze Solorre took a single hand off of the steering wheel and flexed it gingerly. Obviously he had been wrong.
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In the two thousand miles that he had traveled, scenery had changed drasticaly. The sandy ground and fairly warm temperatures of his home had begun to fade away into dying brown grass, then as he traveled on, to trees the size of mountains. Never before had he seen such large trees. The ones he had grown up with were scraggly with hardly and leaves. Not these. Evergreens grew everywhere, some even so close to eachother that they tangled into one big mass of bark and needles. And now that he was almost as far away from home as he could possibly be, there was even snow decorating both the ground and everything else in a cold white powder. Snow. Never before had Blaze seen this stuff in person, for it was far too warm in Pheonix for something to happen such as that. It intrueged him. Or atleast, it did untill he had to drive on the snow's aftermath- ice. The roads were rediculously slick and it took all of his attention to not slide across it. This is what caused his hands to hurt so badly. Gripping the steering wheel so hard for hours on end was excruciating... and that methodic thumping coming from the trailer behind his was not helping.

The cause of this sound was a liver chestnut gelding, and he was not happy about being stuck in this horrid moving stall for the past two days. He missed his open pasture with the prickly brown grass and many things to chase. His freedom to do what he pleased, and most of all- his friends. Because of this, the gelding had taken it upon himself to make this trip as horrible for his companion Blaze as it was for him- banging the metal loudly with his back hooves and scraping at the floor to make a screeching sound. It had all been fantastic entertainment up untill a few hours ago, when he had finally gotten weary- but he would not give in. So every few moments he would give a half-hearted thud against the wall of his confinement, and let out a loud complaint that rung the ears of the driver in front.

Blaze sighed and replaced his hand on the wheel, letting his truck glide over the icey road towards the town without much though. He was in a small town now, with a tackshop, a few resteraunts, a skating rink, a rather deserted playground, and a few other shops and such. Branching to the right was what looked like a neighborhood, and farther back a few towering mansion-like homes. He knew that his new house would be nothing like either of those houses for now, so he didn't bother to drive that way. Instead he headed towards the place that gave Pinewood its names. The stable.

Already he could see the outline of the barns, acres and acres of pasture with horses dotting them, and a large outdoor arena with a few people in it. Smiling to himself, Blaze pressed the gas foreward just a bit more. Any place with horses is home. As if the gelding knew that their trip was almost over, he gave an extra-loud kick against the wall. Soon boy. Soon you can run again.

Ten minutes later the silver truck crunched onto gravel, pulling into the spacious stableyard. Blaze shifted the gear into park and taking a deep breath, turned off the ignition. Finally, they were here. Feeling the ground steady under his feet, the chestnut gelding in the back squealed indignantly. He wanted out. Now. Hurriedly Blaze jumped out of the truck and shuffled stiffly towards the trailer door as sharp bangs started up again persistently. "I'm coming Kee! Calm down." [/color]Swiftly unlocking the door he stepped inside, dodging the horse's feet and swinging hindquarters as well as he could.

Moments later the fine-boned animal charged out of his prision, leaping out of the trailer and onto the pewtery ground and dragging the dark haired young man behind him carelessly. His red-gold forelocks hung over his eyes in a tangled mess, but even from beneath the lush amount of hair it was easy to see excited coal-black eyes dancing underneath. His toned body rippled as the cold air swept over him and his thick legs pranced in place as Blaze struggled to get control of the horse once more.

"Steady Kee." [/b]The gelding paid no attention to his companion however, and swivelled around to take in his surroundings. Taking a huge breath of fridgid air his whole body quivvered, and with a loud blast he threw he dark head to the sky and let out his introduction to the new world he had literally jumped into. Here I am.[/size][/color]

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Well this is a 'recycled' post from Blaze's app, but it was fitting for him just arriving in Pinewood don't you think ? I hope that I followed the guidelines! Also, to see more info on Blaze, click the middle white ' - ' in the beginning of the post. It brings you to his app and a pic !

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[Phoenix Zima]

It never seemed to take Phoenix Zima long to meet people. She had this uncanny way of always running into people she didn't know for the first month or so, then the rumors would start to fly, and she wouldn't meet people so much anymore. Of course, the rumors were true. Phoenix was, to put it nicely, a bitch. She wasn't nice to anyone. If she liked you, you would never know because she was even mean to the people she did like. Even as a little girl she didn't have any friends because she was just so mean to everyone. It wasn't without reason... but no one would ever know that. She never let on to the fact that she had been hurt. Really she was only mean to people as her own way of getting back at the world for what she'd been through. She was bitter and angry... specifically at her parents... but also to the rest of the world just because she could be.

She had been a joke to her parents... as evidenced by their naming her Phoenix Ansley Zima, making her name with initials Phoenix A.Z. They thought it was pretty funny... Phoenix hated them for it. What kind of parents would make naming their child into a joke? They never really cared about her much either. They didn't hate her, but they just didn't care as much as they should have. Her mom died from pneumonia when she was 4, and since her mom had basically been the only thing keeping her dad from giving her up for adoption, she was put in the system. Her mom had always said "I went through the pain of carrying her for nine months and labor, I'm not going to give her up." and he dad couldn't argue... but Phoenix knew it wasn't love... it was image. It was always image with wealthy people. They didn't want to look bad for giving their baby up for adoption.

For a year, Phoenix bounced around from foster home to foster home, no one wanting her because she was so mean. She'd get into fights with the other kids, take every opportunity to bring the other kids down, she was never supportive, and she was just a huge brat to the foster parents. Finally at 5 years old she was adopted... and it was just like the last family she'd been with. They only adopted her for image. How good would it look on their record if they adopted the little girl no one wanted? Well... they were in for it. Even at 5 years old, Phoenix was a little hell raiser... and with her around there was never a moment of peace and happiness. The older she got, the worse it became. She was quick to figure out what made people mad, and then using that to her advantage. She obviously enjoyed bringing herself up by bringing other people down.

It didn't help that she was a pretty girl. She definitely wasn't the most drop dead gorgeous person on the planet, but she definitely was an eye catcher. On top of that, she knew how to work things so that she would get her way. If that meant making everyone's lives miserable to get what she wanted, then so be it. By the time she was 15, her adopted family had figured out that it was best to just give her whatever she wanted to keep her happy and from making everyone else unhappy. It was just better that way. Phoenix always seemed capable of finding peoples weaknesses and exploiting them. Whether it was just spreading rumors, sleeping with the son of the man they were doing business with, or just making fools of them in public... it was always better to just let Phoenix have what she wanted so she would leave them alone and let them be happy. Sure they could have put her back in the system... but like I said, image. As long as Phoenix was happy she was more than content to come off as the perfect daughter at public events and when there were important people around... but otherwise, not so much.

Phoenix really hated her foster family, but she was all too aware of the fact that she needed them... at least until she was old enough to be on her own. That was why, literally two days after high school graduation, she moved out and away, taking her two horses with her. The only time she was ever really happy was when she was with Ice and Casper, otherwise, it was just a facade she put on to make people think she was all well and fine. She'd made her residence in Pinewood... why, she wasn't really sure, she just did because she could. The stable she found for her to babies was just about perfect. It was quiet, but at the same time it was home to a lot of high level eventing horses. She had just gotten settled in, but was still getting used to the place. As long as he adopted family stayed far away from here, she would be happy to stay here the rest of her life.

First encounters with Phoenix were never pretty. She made horrible first impressions... and if given the opportunity to do it over again, she would probably do it the exact same way. Phoenix wasn't nice... that was all there was to it, though it probably wasn't entirely her fault she turned out that way. After all, growing up knowing her parents didn't care about her and had made naming her into a joke, she sort of had grounds for being less than kind. Of course, she could just put all that behind her since it was years ago and she no longer lived with them... but Phoenix didn't work that way. She held grudges for forever, especially when it was against things as personal as her name and her parents not caring about her. I suppose you could say that she was just mad at them for giving her up, and mad at the system for putting her into a home where she was hated, and mad at the world for never noticing that she was unhappy with the life she had been forced into... and being a bitch was just her way of getting back at all of them.

Now, the beast wasn't heartless... it just looked that way. The only time it ever appeared that she cared about anyone was when she was riding, and even then she only cared about her horses, and didn't really give a crap about people. Ice, Casper, and Amz were the only living beings who had ever made an effort to actually accept Phoenix for the way she was. If you could get past her tendency to be unkind, and actually put up with her, flaws and all, then who knew? You just might find that there actually was more to her than the hard exterior that wouldn't let anyone in. Part of why she was so mean was just because she figured if she didn't care about anyone, the fact that no one cared about her wouldn't hurt quite so much... but she would never tell anyone that because then they would realize that she actually had feelings, and that was the last thing she wanted.

Strangely enough, despite Phoenix's attitude, all of her animals seemed quite the opposite of her. Amazon was rather uncharacteristically accepting for her breed. Sure, if anyone tried to hurt Phoenix it was probable that the dog would get defensive of her, but unlike most cow dogs, Amazon wasn't all that territorial, and hadn't ever gotten into a real brawl with other dogs. Ice was certainly one of the most affectionate horses out there. He loved people and loved getting attention and being spoiled. Casper was a sweetheart with a bit of a wild streak, but he would never intentionally hurt anyone. Most people were a lot like their horses, but Phoenix was the extreme opposite. I suppose in a way that had to be the way it was or it would never work. If there was a horse or a dog as mean to people as Phoenix was, there would be some serious problems.

Anyway, if anyone wanted to get a glimpse of what Phoenix was like underneath all that hard outer shell, all they had to do was watch her when she was riding. She was so passionate about it, her horses and training consumed her life. The only time anyone would ever be able to tell that Phoenix actually had a heart and was capable of love was when it came to her horses. The way she pampered them and obsessed over their well being, the way she spoke to them and looked at them... there was no doubt she loved those two animals and would do whatever she had to do to give them the best that she possibly could. She didn't have much, but the vast majority of what she did have went to their well being. She could go without if it meant Casper and Ice didn't have to. There was the only living proof that Phoenix wasn't really a bitch through and through, she just wanted people to believe that she was to protect herself from harm.

On this particular icy day, Phoenix had ridden Ice, then proceeded to go find Casper out in the pasture. The young friesian was a pain in the ass when it came to being caught out in the pasture. He was easy to find, in his bright red blanket, but catching the horse was a different story entirely. She'd chased him around for probably about an hour before she finally managed to catch him... or he decided to let her catch him that is. By that time, of course, she was half frozen, since her riding breeches and light jacket certainly weren't made for running around in the snow after a very large and stubborn horse.

After she had him haltered, she headed up for the barn, leading the prancing horse behind her. Once he was caught, the 17 hand animal always behaved himself beautifully, catching him was the trick. Just as she arrived back up at the barn, someone pulled up, and the horse was making quite a ruckus from the trailer. The driver of the truck hurried out and went to relieve his horse of the agony of a trailer. Phoenix was relatively uninterested until the horse exploded out of the trailer and bellowed out its announcement of his presence. A little taken off guard, she jumped slightly, and Casper about had a heart attack.

The big horse leaped aside, his hooves clattering over the gravel of the drive as he spun around to look at the new horse. His big eyes were wide and his ears pricked forward as he started at the stranger and his horse. Casper was certainly larger than the other horse, but when push came to shove, odds were Casper would be the one running away. Though his name was Prince Caspian, he certainly lacked the bravery that his name implied. Managing to maintain her composure and control of her horse, Phoenix turned towards the new guy, her signature scowl marring her complexion. Control your horse. she snarled, giving a tug on Casper's lead to get his attention back on her and prevent him from doing something stupid. At only 7, Casper was certainly not the most intelligent horse, and Phoenix was all too accustomed to having to keep him out of trouble, especially when it came to other horses that were less than friendly.

[Blaze Solorre]

Ashleigh ' Blaze '

[/size][/font] Solorre[/size][/color]

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The world that both Blaze and Kismet had belonged to had been much different in every way from the new one that they would enter as soon as they took a step on Virginia soil. In Phoenix, most of the land had consisted of staggering cliffs, sharp cacti growing in clusters so deep that if you were to throw something into them- you may as well consider it lost, and sand. So much sand that to find grass was rare thing, and usually meant that it was in the lawn of some ritzy millionaire know-it-all. Now in this new place, they had so much to look back on, compare, and learn to cope with. Blaze wasn't sure if he was excited or afraid.
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Blaze, to say the most, had lived an uninteresting and rather dull life for most of the years that he could remember. He had grown up knowing only one parent all of his life, as his mother had died unexpectedly at his birth, and two elder brothers. He had always held a certain bitterness to wards other children around him who did have the luxury of having a mother to come home to, and to talk to about school, or how they were feeling. This fact is what caused him to have such a hard time making friends in school and at home. Jealousy. Or- at least - that is what so many people had said and believed with everything in them about him.

Blaze didn't think that way at-all however. Yes, he often did wish for a mother- but to him his father was just as good as any mother could possibly be. He had been assured time upon time that his mother had been an amazing person; kind and tenderhearted, but at the same time able to take the emotional load that any man could. He just had a hard time believing it- hadn't wanted to believe it. He figured that the less he thought about what his mother would of been like- the less of a hole he would have in his heart. That may of not been the most ingenious theories, but it had helped him get over the times that he wondered about her. And those times were often because even his own name held a token of memory about her. He had been named after her. Ashleigh.

From the day that he was born, Blaze had become his father's constant companion for a reason that couldn't be explained unless I told you this; that Hawk Solorre was half Indian- and believed that when Ashleigh had left this world to join the 'spirit world', she had left him a friend to help him cope until it was time for him to meet her again. She had left him Ashleigh Blaze Solorre. The father and son became almost inseparable, and the little boy followed around at his father's heels constantly from the moment that he could crawl. Almost never was one ever find without the other. They were two halves a shared emptiness- and together they were a whole.

Hawk was a mechanic, and his father had been one as had his father's father. It was just assumed that the tradition would be carried on by the next male in the Solorre family. 'Tradition,' Hawk had always said, 'is the foundation of any good family.' This was the reason that the Solorres did many of the things that they did. Mechanics, hunt, learn to make moccasins, wear turquoise necklaces- all with pride. And even though Hawk's sons were only a quarter Indian, they had always done as their father wanted- for none of them had the heart to do otherwise. Every son learned from the day that they could speak about mechanics, in hopes that one day at least one of the three would take over the trade.

Hawk was not disappointed. While Caleb and Jacob never really did show much interest in machinery other than when they were called to, Blaze sucked it in hungrily. He sat for hours even at age four watching his father fix cars silently, and occasionally asking questions. While Caleb and Jacob became more interested in other things, Blaze did not. By age ten he was helping his father as much as any payed employee. He knew twice as much about cars that his older brothers, and was always wanting to know more. Hawk often bragged on the young boy to his customers, and he had reason.

In fact, Blaze probably would of been a very well known mechanic by the time he was twenty. It was his childhood dream. At age twelve he knew a car inside and out, fourteen and he was doing some of the mechanical jobs all by himself. Fifteen, he could drive a vehicle with ease after practicing endlessly in their parking lot and in fields. He was a car fanatic. That was, until that heart-shattering day that his father suddenly doubled over- murmuring incoherently about his head, face twisted in pain. The day that the man that had meant so much to Blaze all of his life left to go see his beloved Ashleigh, and leave Blaze- a teenager of hardly 17 years, to fend for himself. The day that with Hawk's death, there was also the death of a lifelong dream.

After Hawk's death Blaze absolutely refused to work on cars. He would just sit and sulk- losing weight every day. Then they had called. They told him he could either find a relative to live with or be taken into a foster home until he was 18. And the choice was easy. Within five days the house and shop were put up for sale, some of the family furniture put into storage, and Blaze was on his way to the ranch that his brother Caleb now worked at twenty miles away. When he arrived at the dusty western-style ranch- the boy was hardly 125 pounds and sickly looking, and everyone worried about him. But slowly something about being around other men and boys who had pasts as bad as or much worse than him helped him get over it, and he was introduced to the ultimate healer of man- better than any drug that you could find; the equine. That day had changed his whole life. It was why he was here now. In Pinewood, Virginia.

. . . . . . .

The gelding had been making an awful racket in the back, and Blaze was surprised that no one had come out of the large barns to make sure he wasn't murdering his horse or something. In fact, there was no one around at-all. It was probably better that way though, as Kismet was always rather keyed up after trailer rides. They reminded him of what it was like to be stalled for weeks on end without a glimpse of green grass or blue sky. Of prison. The moment that the door was opened the gelding attempted to swing his haunches around and bolt out- only to be yanked back by the lead-rope tying him in. With an outraged snort he began to dance around- sensing Blaze behind him and absolutely indignant over having to be in this prison for so long. It took Blaze a bit of work to successfully dodge the horse's limbs and teeth and yank the knot loose- and in that time the horse got even more worked up. By the time Blaze got around the horse again, turned him, and gave him the slack needed to jump out of the trailer, Kismet was literally vibrating with excitement. With a single leap- he landed clumsily onto the gravel and snow mixture. Blaze was helplessly pulled after him, tripping down the trailer step.

Kismet haughtily looked around him, took a deep breath, and let out a loud trumpet so loud that it hurt Blaze's ears. Wincing, he hurried towards the gelding and took a firmer hold on the lead rope. When the echoes bouncing off of the stables walls quieted though, Blaze found that he heard another sound coming from very close by. A sound of clattering hooves. Looking up, his eyes met a brown-haired girl attempting to settle a very nervous freisian colt. The large beast's ears were pricked so Blaze knew that he was just startled, but obviously his owner was not just startled- she was mad. He knew this by the instant scowl that darkened her features once her horse was under control. Kismet tossed his flaxed mane and stared at the freisian- his enticing black eyes bright. Finally another equine! Without a thought of the human clinging to him- he pranced for wards a few steps and bowed his neck playfully. His gesture was interrupted however, but a tug on the lead line. With an annoyed huff he spun to look at Blaze- his ears flattened. what do you want you lousy pesk? he seemed to be asking.

Control your horse. came a voice from the girl. Blaze glanced over at her and gave a sheepish grin- hardly fazed by the icy tone in her voice. "Sorry. I didn't know there was anyone else around." Kismet snorted again and pawed the ground- atleast for now interested in the strange white sand that felt cold to the touch. Blaze rolled his eyes at the horse. "Kee likes big entrances as you see." Tugging once again on the frisky horse's rope and making a clicking sound, Blaze attempted to distract the animal. At first the horse just flattened his ears even more and refused to move, but after some coaxing he followed his friend. His movement was slightly stiff and jerky as he tried to see behind him to the girl and her horse, but after a few circles he calmed- letting his gait fall back into that lovely long-strided walk that he was accustomed to. A few circles more and Blaze stopped the horse- rewarding him with a pat. "atta boy Kee.
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[Phoenix Zima]

Truthfully, Phoenix had every right to be as bitter as she was towards anything resembling a human. All the people she had ever known had just tossed her around like a plaything, and no one had ever shown her any form of affection. From her parents to her foster families to her adopted family, even to the only person she had ever called a friend. All of her life everyone either ignored her, demeaned her, or abandoned her. Of course, Parker wasn't necessarily mean to her per-se, but he definitely wasn't openly kind to her when anyone else was around. Then again... she was like his little sister, of course he wasn't going to show that he didn't hate her.

When she had first ridden one of the Townsend ponies, that was when she discovered something that wasn't going to just throw her out like she was completely worthless. Of course, she fell off a lot, and she wasn't very good at riding when she first started... and Parker never told her when she was doing something right... only very openly reprimanded her when she was doing something wrong. That was how she learned though. She hated not being the best at what she did, so every time he told her she was doing something wrong, she would work almost constantly on it until she got it right.

When she was given Ice, she found the first sign of any form of affection in the horse. He was a gentle horse with a big heart and a lot of talent, and he would always look after her. If she fell off, he would just stop instead of running away. If she was uncertain about a jump, he wouldn't just stop dead and send her over his head like many horses would, he would slow, and move around the jump or else slowly come to a stop so as to keep her from falling. If she was in a bad mood when she was riding he would be sure to do everything perfectly, ignoring any cue she gave him that might make them do something wrong. As sad as it was, Ice was the closest thing to a loving dad who taught her everything as Phoenix would ever get, and for that reason, she was especially fond of the older friesian.

Casper... now he was a different story entirely. He was basically Phoenix in horse form. While he wasn't bitter towards the world like she was, he was certainly just as proud, determined, stubborn, and a pain in the ass as much as Phoenix was. Though he was young and the Friesian breed wasn't built for jumping, Casper excelled at it... when he behaved. His whole life he had been trained for English and jumping, and because of that, he was simply wired to do it. He hated knocking rails down, and Phoenix could almost feel him cringe every time he did, then at the next jump he would over jump it by nearly a foot seemingly just to prove to himself that he could, in fact, clear that height. He was extremely competitive, and although he had a lot to learn still, as he got older Phoenix was sure he would be just as fantastic as Ice was.

Of course... lately, Phoenix really hadn't been herself as far as jumping went. She'd been in a nasty accident on a cross country course at the end of the summer when a kid ran across the course right in front of her and Ice, and the horse being as people oriented as he was, tried to avoid the child by attempting the longest long spot in the history of mankind... and of course, it turned out poorly. When all was said and done, Phoenix was very badly bruised and had several nasty cuts, but nothing too serious. Ice, on the other hand, looked a bit like he'd gone through hell. There was no way Phoenix could have afforded the surgeries and all that with her waitress' salary, so the only thing left to do was to have the horse put down. Unfortunately... Phoenix couldn't bring herself to sign the papers, and so asked Parker to do it for her.

Normally no one but the owner's signature would have been accepted for something like that, but Phoenix simply couldn't do it... besides, it was Parker Townsend... no one would ever question him. The guy might as well rule the entire world. For several weeks after that, Phoenix didn't even go to the barn... it was too much for her to handle. Parker wasn't about to let her just wallow in her misery and die from alcohol poisoning, so he dragged her out to the barn where he presented her with a nearly completely healed Ice. Even if he was a jerk to her most of the time, he did have a heart, and he knew how much the horse had meant to her... so instead of signing the papers he'd paid for the surgery and everything else needed to fix the horse.

Now you would think that Phoenix would go back to normal after that... but she hadn't. Anything and everything cross-country terrified her... even just the thought of it. Even oxers in the stadium caused an undeniable fear in her, and whenever she approached one, it would freak her out too much, and the horse wouldn't jump. She normally jumped about 4' or at least 3'6", but since the accident she couldn't conjure up the nerve to jump anything over 3'. This irritated her to no end, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get herself calm enough to jump it, and the horse always picked up on that. She still wasn't going to be able to ride Ice until summer came around again, since he was still in rehab... so it was just her and Casper... which meant a lot of falling off. As amazing as Casper was, he wasn't nearly so careful with Phoenix as Ice was, and had made a habit of stopping suddenly just before the jump instead of gradually, or leaping suddenly to the side instead of merging out... so Phoenix was left in the dirt quite regularly.

Phoenix and angry were sort of synonyms. She was always mad about something... or at least pretended to be. She sort of overreacted to everything all the time... it was just what made her Phoenix. The sooner people figured out that she was just like that all the time and didn't necessarily hate everyone the better off they would be. The guy's apology did nothing to change Phoenix's look of death. So if no one was here you'd just let your horse run wild? she asked, not really looking for an answer... just being a bitch. God, some people. she muttered, giving a tug on the lead, with every intention of just walking away and likely ignoring both human and horse any time she saw them... but Casper had other plans.

As if he had actually felt the tug pulling the other way, he ducked his head and jerked it in the opposite direction, towards the newcomers. He was curious and wanted to go over there. Phoenix was slightly thrown off balance, but before Casper could go anywhere she had reprimanded him with a smack on the shoulder. Not hard... but just enough to remind him that she was in control. Seeming to have taken a page from the new horse's book already, Casper snorted and refused to give in to her demand to go into the barn. Being 17 hands, and all muscle, when Casper didn't want to... there was no way you could make him.

Seriously annoyed and quite aggravated, she crossed her arms and sighed, knowing there was no way she could accomplish anything until Casper was satisfied. Now, even though she was possibly the least kind person in the stable, even she didn't like long awkward silences when no one said anything... so as much as she hated conversation, to avoid the pregnant pause, she was going to attempt it. Does he jump? she asked after a moment of silence had passed between them. She couldn't help but admire the animal's movements. He was certainly a well built horse, even she couldn't deny that. Not nearly as well built as Casper and Ice in her opinion... but she was extremely biased.

[Blaze Solorre]

Ashleigh ' Blaze '

[/size][/font] Solorre[/size][/color]

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Coming to the ranch that day in late fall had been just the beginning of something that would change Blaze's life forever though he didn't know it at the time. At first when he had come to the dusty place just outside of Phoenix- he had ignored most of what happened around him. The cattle, horses, other people, and even his brother Caleb might as well of not existed. He would sit in the bunkhouse day in and day out- staring thoughtlessly- numbly - out the window. Everything going on outside of that room had nothing to do with him and he ignored it for the most part. Refusing to eat, he was losing weight quickly; deteriorating to nothing. When he had come to the ranch at 145 pounds, he was now hardly 120- a terrible weight for a boy of 5.9" He looked horrible.

It went on like that for some time though he couldn't ever tell you how long it had been. One day was like the next. Time didn't matter. He continued to lose weight and was almost skin and bones. And thats when Russ stepped in. A cowboy of thirty-five years old- he was one of the most experienced horsemen on JP ranch as well as the foreman. He was well respected by everyone around him for being wise. Blaze could still remember- and probably would for the rest of his life- the words of that man when he walked into that bunkhouse sometime about a month and a half after his father's death.

"Well boy, you just gonna waste the rest of yer life away in this bunkhouse or are you goin' ta cowboy up and learn how to be a man?" he said, shoving a rust colored hat on Blaze's head and tossing him a pair of used boots. Taken aback by the man's harshness- Blaze didn't know what he answer back. Instead he slowly put the boots on and stood up, following Russ out of the bunkhouse and onto the sandy ground. " I figer its high-time that you started pullin' your weight 'round here and that means learnin' to ride a hoss. So follow me son, and we'll get this done." the thin box followed quietly behind- too weak to argue.

That was the beginning then- when Blaze followed the cowboy into a large barn. He remembers just like the man's words- the sweet smell of horses, hay, and manure. A smell that he was to become familiar with and come to adore in the years to come. The first horse that Blaze met was Comanche; his brother Caleb's former cow pony. Not long before Caleb had purchased a young mare named Salsa and Comanche no longer had a rider. The horse was a yellow dun with as Russ said ' a can-do attitude and a heck of a lot of class.' Comanche was fifteen years old and was to be the first horse that Blaze would learn to ride- but this would also be his last rider. The gelding would retire once his job here was done.

It was on that day that Blaze's soul sparked just the slightest bit of fire for the first time in ages- and he could only credit to Comanche's breath blowing the frost off of it and getting it started again. With the help of Russ and the experienced pony- he learned to ride, and at the same time- live again. The dun horse gave him a reason to get up in the morning and do more than sit around and sulk. Riding was a hard thing to master and the challenge excited Blaze. And strangely- he felt the same excitement stir in his mind as when he was first learning to work on a car with his father. He spent hours in the saddle every day developing his skills- first learning the basics, then how to become one with his animal. Russ taught him that the horse was of just as much importance as any cowboy on ranch- and you had to treat them with respect. He taught not to force the pony to do something, but rather to ask. He taught them to be partners.

Gradually everyone began to notice a change in Blaze's attitude. He was becoming the boy that he had been not so long ago. Studious and interested in the world. He was finally able to finish high school- working hard to catch up. And in time- he even got the guts to get behind the wheel again and drive. He was quickly accepted into his new life as a talented and careful rider- and soon was working along side the more experienced riders to round up cattle, work horses, and brand calves. He was just another cowboy with a sad tale behind him- but a horses tail in front of him.

Kismet's muscles rippled smoothly as the tension that he had first few eased away. He could trust Blaze; he always had been able to. As the gelding followed his companion is circles and figure eights- he relaxed and allowed his body to relax along with his mind. Flicking his ears forewords he listened for anything that his friend might say. After a few circles Blaze felt that he had accomplished calming the horse and stopped him. The gelding- for the first time since they'd begun this journey- was now listening and although he was still alert and most likely would take any chance to get riled again- for the most part calm. Patting Kee's chestnut neck he smiled slightly at the horse. Good. The horse bobbed his head- tossing his forelocks as if to say I know.
So if no one was here you'd just let your horse run wild? the girl with the large Freisian was still giving him a terrible look- but Blaze just ignored it. He was about to answer her, but then thought better of it when she muttered under her breath God, some people. There wasn't a need to answer; she would think whatever she wanted to of him no matter how much he tried to argue- that much he knew. She tugged her horse's lead rope to leave- but the animal didn't want to. He leaned his weight fore wards- obviously wanting to go over and meet Kee. The chestnut gelding seemed to know this too because he pricked his ears and whickered invitingly to the older animal. The girl crossed her arms grumpily- knowing very well that she couldn't win against her horse who was most likely over half a ton and as tall as heck.

After a moment's silence she seemed to tire of just standing there, and Blaze figured that she'd try to coax the freisian into leaving again. Surprisingly however- she spoke to him instead. . Does he jump? So she could be civil. Blaze's lips gave away to a smile- white teeth showing. Yeah. Out of his paddock.[/b] He was used to mostly silence between people, as most people on the ranch had never really spoke much. However, he figured he should try to keep up a conversation if she would. Whats his name? he asked, nodding towards the large brute of a horse. The animal still looked as if he wanted to meet Kee, so after a second more he added Is it alright if they touch noses? Kee isn't such a monster as he seems, he wont try to bite or anything.[/b]
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finished . incomplete
open . closed
notes; So sorry, didn't have time to do spell check. Ignore errors xD

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[Phoenix Zima]

Civil? Oh, Phoenix could be civil... on a rare occasion... but pleasant? Never. Phoenix didn't understand the whole concept of being pleasant... she didn't know how to be. Right now was probably the closest she had ever come to civility. She was quite well known for being quite the opposite, in fact. The only time she was civil was when she would somehow gain from being so... like when she wanted something, and the way to get that something was to threaten her parents with acting out when important people were around if she didn't get what she wanted. No, it wasn't good manners, and no "good kid" would act that way... but it was the only way Phoenix could ever get anything... and her foster families had been the same way, as was her adopted family. No one ever really wanted Phoenix... and she knew it... that was why she had to find ways to get the things she needed or wanted. She'd never even really had a Christmas before, since her parents were much too busy to bother with holidays, her foster families were generally too poor for Christmas, and her adopted family was more interested in the stock market and their own children's futures to be bothered with Phoenix.

That wasn't to say she didn't wish she could have that.. she did... she really did. She wanted someone to care, and hearing about how wonderful Christmas was from other kids only made her want it more... but she would never tell anyone that. Wanting Christmas, to her, was like wanting to own the moon... she couldn't have it, so she might as well just give up on everything of that sort. Besides... wishes were for children, and Phoenix had never really been a child... she hadn't ever really had parents either. So when it came to the things she wanted and needed, she had to force people to give it to her or she would just never get it. As the years went on, she became more and more bitter and unkind. Why should she show kindness to a world that had never shown her any? Eventually, she got so good at her act that it wasn't an act anymore... it was who she was.

Needless to say, Phoenix didn't really have the greatest upbringing, and that was definitely the cause of he bitter and uncivil nature. She was certainly a strong willed girl, and that contributed to her ability to be absolutely awful towards everyone and not give a damn. She had ruined several people in her life... her own reputation was nothing to her. The reputation she had was that of a horrible unkind person that no one would want to be around... and she had made it that way herself a long long time ago. It held no worth to her now. Hell, she had been deflowered when she was 14 by a guy who was 21, drunk as hell, and as wealthy as a 21 year old could possibly be... what could her reputation possibly mean to her now? The only thing she wanted to be really known for was her riding, her horses, and her ability to be completely devoid of any and all human emotion. So far she had done a good job.

No smile was returned to him from his response... the scowl didn't even lighten. Had he known Phoenix before, he might have known that the scowl really was the closest she got to unpleasant. If she really hated him, then he would have been graced with nothing less than the "look of death" as some called it... and believe me, it certainly was a look of death. True, she was slightly displeased at the moment, but she wasn't to the point that she was unconditionally angry and would like nothing more than to break his neck and rip his limbs from his body. No, it would take more than a fiery horse to get her to that point. If there was one thing Phoenix did care about in this world, it was horses. She knew how they could be... she just needed an excuse to be a bitch towards someone today... she needed her fix, and he was simply the unlucky recipient who gave her the slightest reason to be upset.

If one were to look closely though, when he asked what the horse's name was, they might notice the slightest lightening of the scowl and a little shimmer in those cold eyes of hers. Ice and Casper were her pride and joy... they were the apple of her eye... the object of all her desires. Those two horses were first and foremost in her life, and she would talk about them all day if given the chance. Sure, Casper could be a pain in the ass, but he was such a fantastic and talented horse that all of his issues were outweighed by all of the things he was good at. Ice, of course, was Phoenix's prince... he was practically perfect in every way. From his gentle nature and calm demeanor, to his impeccable ability to jump to his stunning gracefulness... Ice was indeed her dream horse, and even when he was old and lame, she would never even consider selling him.

Casper. she said in response, a little tiny bit of the angry edge taken away from her tone... the words no longer being nearly as biting and curt as before. The quickest way to tell when Phoenix was settling down and not being as bitter and angry towards someone was in her tone of voice and whether or not she said everything as curtly as before. Her expression rarely changed, and her body language never suggested anything resembling kindness. It was all about the way she spoke. Parker was possibly the only professional at having Phoenix figured out because he was simply the only person that she ever stuck around with long enough to let him get to know her... of course, he also sort of made Phoenix who she was and basically taught her everything she knew so he didn't really count as far as things like that went. But he knew what made her tick and what would make her purr.

She thought about his next question for a moment or two before responding. She knew that was what Casper wanted, and it looked like it was what the other horse wanted too... but she could never be too sure. The last thing she wanted was for Casper to get hurt too and be unable to ride at all. Oh sure, there were other horses around... but none of them were phenomenal jumping Frisians. If there was one rule Phoenix went by as far as the horses she would ride, it was that they had to be Friesian... no exceptions. If they were a friesian cross and looked mostly friesian she would ride them... but if they had no friesian in them, then there was no way you would get Phoenix on them. She was picky... both in the men she slept with and in the horses she rode. Call her crazy, but that was just the way she rolled.

I suppose... she said after a moment or two, the slightest hesitation in her answer, cluing in to her uncertainty. if he gets hurt I'm blaming you. she added, just for the sake of the fact that she couldn't possibly agree to anything without some threat included... it would be too sociable for her to do that, and sociable was not something Phoenix wanted to be. She wanted to be the bitch that people stayed away from and avoided. As she said this, she stepped forward, letting some of the lead slide through her fingers so Casper could move further from her towards the other horse, without her having to get too close herself. She didn't expect Casper to do anything crazy, but she knew horses were unpredictable... and she didn't know Kee at all... so it was better to play it safe and keep her distance from the two horses, but maintain her control of her horse... just in case something did happen.

[Blaze Solorre]

Ashleigh ' Blaze '

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Riding Comanche had given Blaze another reason in life- but like with all good things, it didn't last for long. After twelve years of hard work on the ranch, galloping around- throwing calves, battling unhappy steers, crossing mile upon mile of sandy desert, and carrying more than his share of riders safely everywhere that they needed to go- Comanche began to show signs of wear. It wasn't that he wasn't willing- the gelding still gave the 110% that was required of a cowpony; he was just getting old. His 110% was slowing, and arthritis was beginning to work through his bones. After a year of partnering with Blaze, it was time to retire.

At this point and time, the JP ranch had fifteen working cow-ponies and thirteen cowboys, which meant that when Comanche retired and Blaze needed another horse- there was only one horse to choose from. Mags; a bay mare that to say the least- was not a favorite around the ranch. Now don't get me wrong- she wasn't a bad horse. She would do whatever was asked of her and was strong enough to pull a bull to the ground. What the cowboys didn't like about her was that Mags had absolutely zero personality. She worked mechanically and only hard enough to keep her rider from using their lariat to shape her up. Her trot was rather bumpy and she was sluggish- just not the best for cattle. She was made to be more of a school horse, or a trail companion. Still, the ranch needed a spare horse for if another horse was injured- or in this case, retired.

So this was how Comanche was sold as a companion to a young woman that wanted a steady, quiet horse for the trails, and Mags became Blaze's full time horse. He didn't complain- but he missed having a horse that nickered to him when he came to get them, or a friend. Mags didn't want a friend, she just wanted fed twice a day and as little work as possible. He went on riding her for a good three month every day, being sure to care for her properly every night, but that spark that had livened up his life had begun to dull just a bit.

It was just a little before he turned Eighteen and a half that one day he was riding Mag's out in the back pasture on his way to go check on the heifers that out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of a deep chocolate colored blurr streaked across his path- heading out toward the pasture. The blurr- within a few seconds, was followed by two cowboys- panting and gasping for air. "he- got out." one of the two panted, "can you catch- him?" that was all it took. Loosening his rope from around his saddle horn he'd quickly moved Mag into a reculent lope after the brown run-away. They wouldn't of caught up to the animal if it hadn't been for him reaching a fence too high to jump and beginning to pace back and forth- trying to decide what to do next. When Mag and Blaze had reached the horse; he saw them- startled, wheeled around and bolted down the fence line. He was tired though, and slowed to a trot soon. It had only been a matter of getting within a few meters of him and tossing the loop over his head after that.

He still remembered the very first look that he'd gotten on the fiery chocolate chestnut, and he always would. The animal still had half of his winter-coat from lack of brushing even though it was late spring, and that coat was slightly matted with sweat and mud that he had kicked up. His reddish-blond hair had extremely tangled, but even with all of this there was a beauty to him that wasn't found in the rest of the cow ponies. His neck was curved and his body lean- and when he noticed that he had been caught there was an indigent and haughty look to him, as if he had meant to be caught after a bit anyways. He had been awe striking. With terrible manners, the animal had taken quite a while to bring back to the ranch. He continuously jerked at the lariat around his neck and tried to back up or rear. Mag plodded on quietly though, and for once Blaze was grateful for her slow but steady progress.

Once the horse was safely- are reculently - back in his corral, Blaze was talking to the two cowboys that had been chasing after him. Their names were Ted and Chase, and they were in charge of the gelding whose name was- fittingly - Misery. Blaze casted a look at the gelding who was standing in the middle of the pasture with his ears pinned. The gelding was one of Mr. Ferrel(the ranch owner)'s Missouri Fox Trotters but was so ornery and high-tempered that everyone had basically given up on him being a cowpony. He'd begun biting and kicking just a weeks days ago after a training session, and he'd been out here ever since.

It took a lot of effort- but Blaze convinced Mr. Ferrel to allow him to work with the two and a half year old gelding. It wasn't that the man didn't trust Blaze- the boy had proved more than once his ability with horses, he just didn't trust Misery. It did get accomplished though, and beginning the very next day, Blaze had begun working with the colt whose real name- he had learned- was 'The Misery of Kismet.' He would now be called in secret- Kee.

So here they were now- Blaze being a twenty year old and Kee a three- almost four year old. Neither were sure what magnetic force had brought them together, but neither tried to deny it. They were two opposites come together to make a whole- and they would remain that way to get through this change in their lives. Virginia.

The girl stood there holding onto her eager horse with a totally different look on her face than the animal, a scowl so deep that all of her features were harsh and on the defense. In a way it reminded Blaze of the way a wary horse would stand, ready to either lash out or run at the slightest need. He tilted his head slightly and allowed his hair- which had grown slightly scruffy over the months, to hang freely town toward his eyes, not bothering to move them away. In an attempt of keeping a steady conversation, he had asked what her horse's name was. He was surprised to notice then, that a very, very slight change came over her features and her voice softened a bit to lose its harsh, steely tone and be replaced with a still annoyed and rude tone- but not so much as before. Casper. Blaze smiled slightly and glanced the large horse over. His eyes weren't half as experienced as Russ's, but he knew a good horse when he saw one. "He's magnificent." And really, that was the only way to describe the large ebony animal. "He's a fresian, right?" [/b]at this his voice wavered slightly, showing uncertainty. Where he had lived Stock horses, a few mustangs, quarter horses, barbs, fox trotters and an occasional Arabian where basically all there were. The hardy, small and wiry breeds.

Kee nodded his head entergeticly at Casper, his intelligent eyes wide as he welcomed the horse into his space. It had been so, so long since he'd been with another horse. Blaze was all that he had, and a good thing for him at that, but he yearned for equine companionship deeply. Blaze sensed this and asked the girl if the two could greet each other. A bit reculently, she agreed- but not before threatening Blaze. if he gets hurt I'm blaming you. He just grinned at her. "I can live with that considering that you hate my guts already." Of course, he didn't really mean it. Her scowl and harsh words did nothing to effect him. He was rather easy going and let comments and gestures slide past almost as easily as anything. Especially after this long of living with nothing but cowboys, who loved to get under each other's skin.

The girl's fingers lost their tension, allowing the lead rope to slide through them enough for Casper to move for wards a bit. At the same time Blaze let Kee move fowards a bit, but unlike the girl he decided that it might be better for him to stay by Kee's head. He didn't think that the young equine would do anything; but with horses you didn't know. He also didn't know whether or not Casper was gelded, and a stallion could always be dangerous no matter what their temperament. So after letting the horse step forward, he took a firm hold on the lead again and waited for a reaction.

Bowing his head until his chin was almost tucked under his neck, Kismet blew out through his nose noisily- offering a formal greeting to the much larger animal before him. He did this a few times before pricking his ears, grunting and dropping his head a bit to show that he meant no harm. With people, he could be the demon of animals- but he at least had the decency to understand when he was smaller and more helpless than another. He wouldn't try anything stupid- Blaze was almost sure of it. After a moment of watching the two horses he turned back to the girl. Clearing his throat slightly without offering his hand as he usually would - he didn't think she was the type to shake hands - he introduced himself. By the way, I'm Blaze and this is 'The Misery of Kismet' or, Kee.[/color]

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((( sorry that took so long, the other one will take just as long though. I wont be on for two days. )))

[Phoenix Zima]

Smiling wasn't something Phoenix did unless she was riding. Her horses were the only ones she would let in, the only ones who she would let see her when she was at her best. People could catch glimpses of this side of Phoenix after a show was completed as she exited the arena when, for a brief moment, a smile would light up her face. Even when she didn't do horribly well in the show, riding always made her more happy than anything else. Even as much as she didn't like to show emotion, she just couldn't help it after a ride. Ever since the first time she rode it had been the one and only thing that made her feel like she could just be Phoenix and not worry about anything else except doing everything as best she could. She didn't have much in this world, but Casper and Ice were the two things that she would never ever give up, even if her life depended on it. They were the only things that could make her feel like she actually was worth something more than just eye candy or a play thing for the men.

She was a strong-willed girl, but unfortunately, she had found nothing better to do with her that strong will than to drive people crazy with it. She had efficiently made her biological parents miserable whenever possible, and she'd made her adopted parents miserable on a regular basis as well, though more often than with her biological parents since it was easier to make people miserable as she got older. She would study her victims, and figured out what was important to them, whether it be some business deal or some family affair, she would find some way to mess it up and make people miserable. Of course, she didn't usually try to make complete strangers miserable... just the people who were "close" to her.... or the guys who tried to make her into their girlfriend after a night with her. Phoenix didn't do relationships... she did one night stands, nothing more.

She was almost always up to something. While she was riding she was perfecting something as best she could, when she was out on the town she was looking for a good time and a guy to hook up with, when she was in the park, she was just looking for a peaceful afternoon. She did love to party... but even she needed a day to just be a normal 19 year old girl with no agenda except to go for a walk in the park. She always dressed attractively because in her own way it gave her power. She attracted men to her, and her ability to draw in their attention made her feel like she had control over them, and in a way, she did. It wasn't a huge amount of control... but just that little bit of control made her feel empowered, and that was all she needed to be satisfied. She might have seemed a complicated character... but in reality she was a quite simple individual.

Phoenix was definitely not your blend into the crowd kind of girl. Everything about her just stood out and drew attention to her. She was built like a model, tall and slender, with plenty of curves which she knew all too well how to use to her advantage. From the way she walked to the way she talked, every slight movement had some intention to it, and usually it was either to piss someone off or to seduce a hott guy and it was always obvious that there was motive behind everything she did.

She was quite tall at 5'11" but still quite thin. Her hair was a deep black, and her eyes a brilliant blue. Her skin was relatively pale, but it only added to her complexion. She could pull off just about any expression and had a still unequaled look of death reserved only for those who she truly despised. Despite being so thin, she was one of those girls who was perfectly toned and fairly well muscled, but in a sexy way... she was no body builder. It was all thanks to the many hours she spent riding. There was a hint of abs, and very nicely muscled arms. It was hard work riding as much as she did, and it paid off.

Her dress tended to be the sort that would attract attention to her body. Tight fitting pants... though definitely not skinny jeans... low cut necklines and skin tight shirts. Even her practice riding gear was slightly more snug on her than most riders would prefer to wear it, just so she could catch more male eyes. When she was riding her hair was pulled back either into a ponytail or a tight bun. When she wasn't riding, she usually let her hair down with the lightly tousled and slightly wind blown. In general her basic look was the "dressed to kill" look, and it definitely was the proper ends to getting to her means. Her icy expression almost never changed. Ice, Casper, and Parker were the only ones she knew who had ever seen anything but her signature scowl. Of course, that was only when she was riding or when she had gotten in her accident and had been practically in a panic... but other than that, the same scowl that Blaze was graced with was the typical expression she always had. There was practically nothing on this earth that could get her to smile on a regular basis.

When he asked if Casper was friesian, she just nodded without a word. She was much too busy focusing on Casper and Kee. In a way she was a bit overly protective of her horse... but she had every right to be after what happened to Ice. At the slightest hint of aggression from either horse, she would be pulling Casper out of there. Her horse was her baby, and she would protect him no matter what it took. They were all she had and all she needed. If anyone or anyone's horse hurt either of her horses, she would never let them hear the end of it... ever. When he brought up the fact that she already hated him, she just rolled her eyes. She didn't hate him, she hardly knew him... but then again she wanted people to think she hated them. If everyone thought she hated them, the guys she slept with wouldn't get attached and she wouldn't have to be bothered with disposing of them later on.

She looked back up at him, though kept an Eye on the two horses, as he introduced himself. Phoenix. she replied simply with her name. He already knew Casper's name. The big friesian stopped a distance from the smaller horse and stretched his neck out, bobbing his head and snorting a few times, just in that uncertain young horse way before lifting his head back up to it's natural position. He was a big horse, and had the perfect friesian conformation. He was definitely not aggressive at all, and all things considered, he could be a very dominant horse. He could easily push other horses around, but he never did. He was kind of a timid animal all in all, which was why he used his long neck to reach the other horse instead of actually standing close. Ice, though normally sweet, always picked on Casper in that "I'm the boss" sort of way, not in a mean way. Their personalities almost switched around between when they were with humans and with each other, so in a way, they both sort of did mimic Phoenix.

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[Blaze Solorre]

If there was one thing on earth that Ashleigh Blaze Solorre had no clue about; it was girls. Growing up in a family of three boys and their dad, girls just weren't a common subject. At all. In the normal lifestyle, you always have some sort of contact with females whether that female were your sister or your mom. But in a family was all boys; it was just a thing that was left alone. Blaze's older brothers Caleb and Jacob had atleast had a few years to spend with their mother, to learn as muc has they could from her, but Blaze had gotten no contact with her at all. He grew up with boys and only boys for the first five and a half years of his life, and when he finaly was introduced to the other gender- it was merely in school.

Blaze didn't ever really have any friends in school, as he was only the son of a car mechanic. Around him were many kids with important parents. Businessmen, lawyers, company owners, casino owners, you name it. And ofcourse, it was considered uncool to hang around with someone whose Dad did nothing but work in a dirty old garage every day. Blaze never really did care though. Maybe because he'd always sort of had to be 'grown up ' even as a kid, he basicaly had no use for other kids his age. And that fact didn't dissapear as he grew to be a teenager. While they played basketball, hung out, and goofed off, he would stay home and help his father. Caleb and Jacob never really had a problem with being 'normal', staying out late, partying, and every now and then getting into some trouble- but somehow Blaze was different from them. And that was okay with Hawk. He liked having his son around, and he wasnt going to change anything. What he didn't know what that he was in a way, doing his son a dis-service.

It wasn't until that terrible day when Blaze was 17 that he was really pushed into the reality of life. Up untill this point he had basicaly ignored anything and everything that he didn't understand. But now he had to face up and learn to deal with the real world. He was suddenly shoved into a group of many cowboys- almost all with rough lives behind them without the one man that had been a consistent thing in his life. The harshness of other people came to him like a slap in the face as he had to make this transition from sheltered to not, and it took it's toll. He seemed to of turned out alright though now- for although in all truths he still didn't known exactly how to act all of the time.

He would learn how to fit in over time though, even it if took a while. Sure he did have some things against him- but he also had two major things for him. The first thing was that he most definately was not stupid- and should be able to figure things out easily enough- but the second one was something that, although it shouldn't be, in this society is very important. Looks.

With jet black hair and bronze colored skin; he may of not been the idol that often flashes across screens and ends up on everything imaginable; from calanders to pencils, shirts, to movies- but there was no denying the fact that he could look a lot worse. After three years of living 'cowboy' style, he had his share of muscle. You didn't wrestle bulls and haul haybales without getting something from it. In all respects he had a sort of rough and tough look to him, strong and solid, but then at the same time if you looked closely at his face, into his dark brown eyes, you would see the still young boy behind all of this. The person you really wanted to meet.

He wasn't tall; and that was thanks to being partly native american, but what he didn't have in height he made up for in confidence. Or atleast thats how it had been. Right now he was rather new, and with that he was nervous, but that was of no matter. Sooner or later he would be his old self, and with that old self would come a heap of confidence. He was only five- nine, but that made it all the better for when he was riding. Too tall of a man could be a bad thing on a horse now couldn't it?

When Blaze asked if the large horse was a freisian; he was merely given a nod to confirm his suspicions. The girl was already warily watching the two horses and wasn't about to say anything so Blaze also let his eyes wander to the two animals, who seemed to be alright for the time-beight. Kee had his neck bowed excitedly and when the other equine stretched his coal black neck out, bobbing his head and snorting a few times- he reacted by also leaning in closer- shifting his weight forwards but not taking a step. The action was rather comical, for he looked as if he might be trying to reach across an invisible line to a patch of green grass. And to make matters even more funny- after a second he wiggled his lips and made a bit of a humming sound. Blaze cracked a wry smile at the gelding before glancing over to the girl who was still watching carefully. It was obviouse that she cared greatly for the huge animal infront of her.

[Phoenix Zima]

The first week after the accident, Phoenix didn't ride a whole heck of a lot, but when she did it was only dressage, no jumping. Parker caught on to her lack of enthusiasm and took her out for a night on the town... and the town happened to have been New York City. Of course Parker hadn't told her that. He'd just taken her out shopping for a new outfit, since the riding breeches and polo she was wearing "wasn't appropriate" for the party he was taking her to. Then, in typical Parker Townsend style, they went to the airport and took his private jet to the city. From there it was a short ride on Parker's street bike to the party, which was all well and good. Unfortunately, the after party had a bit of drama which lead to Parker telling her about something he'd seen that was very dangerous information. The night ended with both of them getting laid, then flying home... and home was new for Phoenix, considering Parker refused to let her go back to her apartment and insisted she come live with him.

Phoenix wasn't going to tell him how grateful she was for everything he did for her... but she really was. He'd paid her rent for her many times when she couldn't afford it herself, he'd paid her boarding fees many times when she couldn't cover it all... he was always taking care of her. He was like the older brother who was still in contact with the parents... even though he didn't like it... and was looking out for the little sister who jumped off the deep end, disowned the parents, and alienated herself from their funding as best she could... which ended up being difficult considering her job as a waitress hardly covered expenses, even though she was exceptionally good at getting large tips, it still didn't quite cover the cost of housing, boarding, and everything else that she needed for daily life... and Parker was always covering for her when she needed it... even though half the time she didn't even know he was doing it until later.

The second week she was alright... or at least appeared to be. She was pretty good at pretending, even though she wasn't. She was riding more on her regular schedule, and she'd taken Casper over a few small jumps in the jumping arena, but she stayed away from anything higher than two feet and anything resembling cross-country. She was too nervous, and she knew it was dangerous to try to put a horse over a jump you weren't comfortable, and she wasn't willing to risk that. She'd already lost Ice, and she didn't want to lose Casper too. Those horses were her life, and Casper was all she had left of them... or so she thought.

Week three, she jumped off the deep end again and had stopped riding, just getting drunk and sleeping around. That was when Parker dragged the very very hungover Phoenix out to the stable and produced the mostly healed up horse to her. She had been completely shocked, and didn't know what to say. When she had told Parker to "take care of it" for her, she had meant for him to authorize the euthanasia of the horse, not to pay to get him completely fixed up. That didn't mean she was ungrateful, certainly not... he had saved her horse, how could she possibly not be grateful. Her response when she finally gathered herself again, was a very choked up "why didn't you tell me?" To say she simply cared greatly for her horses was definitely an understatement.

Another awkward silence followed after she had introduced herself. This whole conversation thing was not going well for her. She finally broke her attention away from her horse, satisfied that he would be alright for now, and looked over at Blaze. It certainly wasn't a name she was expecting for a human... she'd heard animals called Blaze before, but never a person. Then again... how many Phoenix's were out there in the world? Probably not all that many. She was completely at a loss as to what to say now though. She hated the silence, and she could tell that Casper was still not going to come away to the barn yet. His curiosity had only been more spiked now that he was closer to the other horse. Several minutes passed, and she couldn't take it anymore, and so, in a desperate attempt at breaking the silence, she went with a question to which she already knew the answer.

Are you new here? she asked, though she already knew the answer. Of course he was new here... if he wasn't new here then he would already know of her and her horses. Unless Phoenix got to them first, the other stable residents would be sure to warn the newcomers about her. She wasn't a pleasant person to be around unless you wanted the same thing she did... and what she generally always wanted was sex. In general people steered clear of her to avoid the unpleasant encounters that always resulted with being around her for long. She could be civil, yes, but it only lasted so long. She couldn't defer from her normal personality for very long, so it wouldn't be long now before she just went right back to being her usual rude and superior self.

[Blaze Solorre]

Ashleigh ' Blaze '

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He was lucky; and that was something that he would quickly agree with if someone were to tell him so. In the two; almost three years of riding, roping, and overall just being your average cowboy. Most of the cowboys that were heard of all had a story about fracturing something or another. Some horrific tale of pain and agony. But not Blaze; or, atleast not yet. The worst thing so far that he had come across was an unhappy bull in need of a horn trimming. He and another cowboy had successfuly roped the animal at the time; but when he had launched himself at the bull to pull him down- his partner's rope had come loose and given the bull slack. The animal swerved just as Blaze landed- and instead of landing on the animal's shoulder like planned Blaze's arm had connected with the bull's oversized horns. He'd gotten a pretty good gash that day running from his shoulder to almost halfway down to his elbow, and because of not having the money for stitches he still had a very vivid scar to prove it.

There was a guarentee that this wouldn't last forever. Especialy now that he had taken Kee in. Not that the colt was vicious, or in anyways purposefuly harmful- but he was young and had known nothing more than men who wanted to break his strong will and along with that his spirit; to use him at their leisure as a cow pony. Not kindness, not gentling. So in his training, there were going to be times that he messed up. His excitable nature would get the best of him and he'd be hard to handle. And with those times- injury was almost a sure thing for Blaze. But even so. Even knowing that this was a fact, Blaze wanted more than anything to work with the young gelding and to gain his trust. And if he was patient it would happen.

Kee- satisfied that the other equine was not a threat- but a friend, took a step forward and headbutted Casper playfully in the neck; His red and honey colored forlocks sliding over his face in a fringe. Blaze tugged the young gelding's halter slightly to remind him of where he was. Kee danced sideways a bit then turned to look blantly at Blaze, letting out what sounded like a huff but listening when the boy asked him to come. "Atta boy" Blaze praised, loosening the lead a bit so that Kee could relax. He was doing remarkably well considering that he'd been cooped up in a trailer for the past two days.

An uncomfortably silence had ensued; neither Pheonix nor Blaze knowing what to say to make conversation. Blaze was not the type that was good at comunication skills, and from the sounds of things- neither was she. Quite a pair, eh? Blaze ran his free hand through his jet black hair wearily, the exaustion of the past days slowly beginning to edge it's way to him. He wanted more than anything to just fall asleep right now, but that was impossibly. He still had so much to do. Kee still had to be situated, he had to find his new house, unpack what few belongings he had... Are you new here? Blaze snapped back to the present, having almost forgotten that he was standing in the middle of a stable parking lot. He gave her a tired smile then nodded, pointing behind him to the small trailer hitched to his truck. "Yeah- Actually. I've been here for about..."[/b] he paused to squint up at the winter sun as if trying to judge the time. "Twenty minutes. Give or take a bit.[/b] Kee snorted and bobbed his head as if to agree, and Blaze patted the animal's chocolate colored coat. "I'm from Pheonix Arizona.[/b] he added, then laughed brightly. "And of all the people I could meet- the first person I see is named Pheonix. Maybe thats a sign.[/b] he added this last sentance almost as an afterthought, running his hand through Kee's silky hair.

Silence enveloped the air once again, but this time Blaze was determind to try and keep a conversation going. If she could try, he could too right? "What about you? How long have you lived here?[/b] Standing still was beginning to take it's toll on Kee; and he was beginning to act up a bit. His haunches spun around so that he was half- curved around Blaze, and his tail whisked from side to side boredly. His eyes were bright with energy that needed burnt, and Blaze knew that soon he'd need to get the animal moving soon. He began to murmer slowly to the animal in a language that only a select few knew- stroking the horse's neck. Kee let out a sigh and dropped his head a moment later- resigned to hold still for a bit longer. That wouldn't last long though. He was young and he'd been pent up for too long. He needed a good run.
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finished . incomplete
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[Phoenix Zima]

To Phoenix there was nothing better than riding her horses. She could remember every moment of the first time she rode when she finally convinced Parker to let her ride one of the old founder ponies that was kept around just for the sake of it. He was alright for walk and trot, but not much else... but to Phoenix, that pony was the most amazing horse in the whole world. If he was still alive, she would certainly have begged Parker to let her have him until he gave in and let her. She wouldn't be able to ride him, obviously, but she loved that pony just as much as she loved Ice and Casper. The two horses were her life, but before them, there was that little founder pony, and if it wasn't for him, she never would have become so obsessed with horses and she never would have come to where she was today.

It was strange to think that someone of such a high level as Phoenix would give an arm and a leg for a little pony that couldn't even be ridden anymore. She would treat him just as well as she treated her top of the line eventing horses, spoiled rotten and put at the top of her list, even above her own well being. It was probably good that she didn't have him though, since she was far away when he died. She would have been just as crushed by his passing as she was when she thought Ice had been put down. Yes, Phoenix really did have a heart. Unfortunately for her, she got quite attached to horses quite easily. Though she refused to compete on anything but friesians and generally wouldn't ride any horse unless it really jumped out at her, she had a soft spot for the animals. If she wasn't so damn stubborn and determined to be the most high class female rider out there, she might have a barn full of old, broken down, injured, good for nothing but dog food horses to care for. Horses were her one weakness, though most people would never know it.

When Blaze made the comment about being from Phoenix Arizona and the irony of the first person he met being named Phoenix, her semi-pleasant expression changed almost instantly into a scowl. If there was one thing she really truly hated, it was people finding it amusing that her parents had been cruel enough to make naming her a joke. Phoenix Ansley Zima... of, it you preferred Phoenix A.Z. Even when she was little, she honestly hated her name and the way people reacted to knowing what it was. It wasn't like she could really blame them for it though, considering it was her parents who deliberately named her that... but even so, Phoenix was a very bitter person most of the time and if she could find a reason to be mad at someone, you bet she would take it. There really was no wonder why she didn't have any friends besides Parker.

Unlike most instances though, she refrained from saying anything about the subject. She wasn't entirely sure why, but perhaps it was because this guy was... tolerable... and although she would never admit it, he wasn't bad on the eyes either. No doubt it Parker got wind of her civility to someone, and no doubt he would since he got wind of everything, he was never going to let her hear the end of it. Phoenix wasn't supposed to be nice to people... she was supposed to be that girl who was a complete bitch to everyone she met, simply because she could be. Maybe nearly losing Ice had changed her for the better... or maybe, just maybe, she wasn't really as heartless and cruel as she made herself out to be on a regular basis, and for whatever reason it was showing through now.

A few months. she said, managing to keep most of the bitterness from her tone. It still irked her though, that he would bring up the Phoenix thing... she really wasn't sure why it bothered her so much every time someone said something about it, but it did, and she couldn't change that. Blaze was lucky though, normally she'd give the person a piece of her very opinionated mind... but not today. As his horse started to get restless, she gave a light tug on Casper's lead, and the friesian obediently moved closer to her, satisfied with having gotten to know the other horse well enough. When he stopped beside Phoenix he lowered his head from its normally high and imposing position down so it was about level with her shoulder... submitting to her will as if he knew he was in trouble for insisting on getting his way which conflicted with hers. He definitely wasn't a dominate horse, and Phoenix was definitely a very dominant woman, so they worked well together.

[Blaze Solorre]

Ashleigh ' Blaze '

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Post coming soon
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finished . incomplete
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