Summer & Arizona

Aaron petted a few friendly, curious horses along his travels. He hummed a tune to himself as he walked along the large border of the paddock. The boy yawned under the fiery sun and stopped.

Adrian grinned and slid of Tashi's back at about the same time Arizona slid off Nightwish's back. He crouched down and pick up a handful of soft sand and rose, letting it slide through his fingers. "Yeah, its amazing. No one comes here though, its sort of good because its a peaceful place, but sometimes its too quiet, y'know?" The boy said and grabbed Tashi's reins and started leading her towards the water. The mare followed obediently. Her ears flicked back and she shied slightly out of fright as Nightwish came towards her and lipped her neck. She relaxed, knowing who it was and nudged his wither gently but carried on.

Aaron looked around boredly. He had no idea where Adrian was, since he was going to ask him if he wanted to hang out at the beach or somewhere. The boy walked over to a pretty, palomino Quarter Horse mare and stroked her face gently. She was owned by the riding stables.

Adrian grinned at the horse's playful attitude, "Ahh.. no worries! I'm used to it since Tashi is pretty much like that herself," He told her and stroked the dark brown/black mare. He yawned and slipped off his shoes and walked his mare into the crystal clear lake. Tashi whinnied and threw her head back as Nightwish wet her playfully.

Aaron heard the loud whinny from down in the paddock, his senses telling him that someone was in trouble, possibly hurt. He grabbed a handful of the palomino mare's mane and swung himself up powerfully onto her back. The mare stepped back slightly but pricked her ears forward in curiosity. The boy urged the mare into a gallop and she sprang to life, vaulting herself over the paddock fence. They galloped up a steep hill. Aaron could hear hoofbeats coming in another direction and they weren't far away either. He looked around helplessly, trying to find out the direction when he spied a limp body down by the dam. The boy dismounted off the mare and scrambled down the hill. It was the girl he had been watching in the dressage arena this morning. He rolled her onto her back and saw blood trickling down the side of her head. Aaron looked around helplessly and suddenly pulled off his shirt, tearing it into a few strips to wrap around her head to try and stop the bleeding.

Adrian threw a glance over at the horse who had emerged noisily from the trees. He watched as Arizona sprang onnto Nightwish and jogged over to Tashi, mounting up onto her. The boy left his shoes and felt the mare spring into a gallop after Nightwish without any help at all. Adrian wondered what was going on as they ran along through the trees.

Summer drifted slowly, colours swamped her vision, greens, yellows, reds and blues. She saw a black movement but couldn’t resurface.


Arizona saw the dam ahead, and the steep ditch, where she spotted a Palomino Horse and Moon. Nightwish took the ditch in his stride and landed safety at the bottom. The girl slipped down from his back and rushed over to her sister. “Summer?” She felt the girls forehead before grabbing hold of her wrist. She fought back the tears that threatened to pour over and looked at Aaron. “What happened?” Whilst speaking she grabbed Aaron’s shirt from his hand and wrapped it carefully around Summer’s head. “Call the ambulance” She mumbled, working quickly to slow the bleeding. She took her sister’s pulse and checked for any broken ribs or bones. Arizona watched in agony as Summer’s arms fell limply by her side. She glanced around, an ambulance wouldn’t be able to come this close to the dam and more trees and bushes surrounded the only pathways here. “Moon, Night, come here boys” The two stallions stood side by side next to Arizona and waited. “We need to get her back the stables. Can you guys lift her up onto Moon, he’ll carry her safely.” She took a deep breath, the strong scent of blood filled the air.

Aaron watched the girl as she lay there bleeding, unconsious. He threw a glance quickly over to Arizona as she asked him what had happened, "I-I don't know.." Muttering, he could hear a phone in the background of his stammered words. He looked around to see Adrian called 000/911. The boy turned his attention back to the girl, her face was expressionless and pale from blood loss. As soon as Arizona called the horses to carry her, he looked back. "I could carry her back, I can assure you it would be much safer," Aaron volunteered.

Adrian pulled out his phone and called the ambulance. He waited a couple of seconds and it was picked up almost immediately. "000/911 whats your emergency?" Asked a female voice, heavily accented.
"Um, a girl in her teens has fallen off a horse and hit her head," He explained quickly.
"Okay, address?" She asked, quickly also.
Adrian told her the address and shortly after the call ended, "They will be here soon," He told the others.

Aaron cradled the girl carefully in his arms and watched as the palomino mare sat down and waited for Aaron to sit on her so it made it easier to get up on the horse. He walked over and sat carefully down on the palomino mare, careful not to bump Summer as she rose from the ground and broke into a steady canter. Cautiously scanning her wound, he wondered how seriously this was and if it was life threathening.

Adrian shoved his phone back into his pocket abruptly and mounted up onto Tashi. She sprang into a canter after the others, her feet kept light and steady.

The water suddenly resided and Summer’s eyes fluttered open, “Ow, my head” She slurred, her word just making sense. She looked up just as everything was once again engulfed in water, and the girl was dragged under once more.

Nightwish pricked his ears as he galloped, hearing the sirens up ahead he sped up, “Easy mate, wait for Moon” The dapple grey warmblood cantered beside Arizona as they approached the stables. She halted Nightwish and slid off his back, waiting for Aaron to dismount.

Aaron glanced down at the girl from up ahead as she started slurring words.. saying something about her head hurting, "Shh.." He murmured soothingly and brushed her hair off her forehead where the blood painted his blue t-shirt, "We're almost there," Aaron told her and looked up, they were almost at the stables. He could see the ambulance parked out the front, the people scrambling out from the vehicle and rushing to get their equipment.

Adrian followed behind, looking over at the ambulance as it pulled into the parking lot of the stables.

Aaron dismounted off his horse and handed the pale girl over to one of the paramedic's to examin her. He looked over at Arizona who was filling them with information while crying. Sighing, he started walking back into the stables, he had done his job, now it was time to let the paramedic's do theirs.

Adrian walked over to Arizona and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder as she weeped sadly for her sister.

Summer stirred, her fingers twitching as they worked quickly. Shadows moved around her and slowly her eyes opened, though the image she saw was blurry. She groaned and clutched her head, feeling a bandage she pulled back and looked around, her vision clearer. She blinked sleepily as she was laid onto her bed.

Arizona took a deep breath and stopped sobbing. Wiping the tears from her eyes she glanced at the hand on her shoulder before turning around to see Adrian. She smiled weakly as an paramedic walked up to her. The lady informed her Summer would me fine and it was just a shallow cut and a bit of concussion. She sighed in relief and thanked them as they carried Summer into her cabin and lay her on the bed. Sighing she closed the door and headed into the stables were she spotted Moon and Nightwish standing outside their stalls. “Oh shit” She swore under her breath as she remembered her tack was currently sitting on a branch near the creek. After she untacked Moon and gave him hay the girl mounted her stallion and headed out at a walk.

Aaron walked over to the stall which currently held Apollo. He smiled as the stallion's dapple grey head arched over the stall door as he noticed his owner approaching with his ears pricked happily. A loud nicker was sent out to greet him before Aaron's strong hands landed gently on the Thoroughbred's face, stroking it while murmuring soothing words. Apollo seemed interested with what he was saying and thoroughly relaxed.

Adrian knew what she was thinking and he was thinking the same. He has left some of his tack back in the meadow. Quickly, Adrian vaulted himself up onto Tashi's back and they cantered after Arizona.

Aaron glanced around Apollo's stall and notcied an empty haynet. He filled it back up and gave the gelding fresh water and a little grain.

Adrian slowed to match Nightwish's gait while looking over at Arizona comfortingly, "Your sister will be okay, don't stress," He told her gently.

Summer rose from the bed and a sudden dizzy wave hit her. The girl stumbled forward, her arms stretched out as she reached for something to steady herself. Unable to grasp anything she fell onto her beside table, smashing several items and pushing others to the floor.

Arizona nodded slowly and smiled weaky. She sighed as the sun began to lower a little yet there was still hours of day light left. She looked ahead at the clear path, perfect for a gallop. The girls eyes flashed as she tightened her calves around the stallion, pushing him into a speedy canter.