Kholo Mzi | 32 | Owner | M: Open

Kholo shakily loosened Glory's girth and ran up the stirrups. Breathing in deeply in an attempt to calm herself, she leaned against Glory, tears slowly dripping down her face. "It was too close," she whispered softly, her voice muffled by his mane. "Too close." This last phrase came out little more than a breath, her lithe body shuddering with quiet sobs. The black Arab stallion turned his head towards her, as if to say, 'What's wrong?' She allowed herself a small smile and kissed his nose, wiping her damp face. Dusting the straw off her jersey, she said, "Pull it together Kholo. It happened years ago." As she exited Glory's stall, she plastered a smile on her face, in the manner of one who is trying to hide their true feelings.

Conrad | WI | Kholo

On the other end of the barn, Conrad sleepily headed in the direction of the mare they had found earlier, not truly expecting to see so many lights on nor so much movement at such an odd hour. Noticing Kholo, he uncertainly approached, not picking up on the emotion in the air. "Hey, Kholo. How's it going? What are you doing down here at such an early hour?"

Tristan | HJI | Heather

"It seems like you remember most of what they said happened. That's good, I guess. And, you're not making me worry, but Kholo might say different. As long as you're all okay, you know? Sensibility is important. You should've brought somebody with you or something, ya know?"

Settling back into silence,He absentmindedly had closed the gap between their shoulders as his eyes instinctively shut.His breathing had slowed a little,chin tilting down toward the floor.Tim wanted to sleep - He was as calm and as relaxed as he had been over the past few days..

That was until Emily began speaking again.What - What had she just said?

"I-...Wow.No I don't mean.."

He clears his throat gently,Blushing a little at his dumb remarks.Tim didn't know what to say,His eyes flicking from her to Prince.

"You just - Em?"

He spoke gently,gaze now settling fully on The thin gelding.

"Emily - I'm here Yeah?..Please.Please dont - let yourself waste away.Speak to me - When you need.I promised I'd be here - I'm kinda binded to looking after you it seems."

Giving a light Chuckle,He reaches out a shaky hand and loosely clasped hers,

"I mean it,Yeah? - Now will you please come have something to eat.You really look like you could use a good sandwich."

He stands groggily,Glancing to his watch In disbelief at the time.Offering a hand to help her up,Tim offers a reasurring gaze,

"Your father - I'm sure he meant well..They all do.Well of sorts.He did what he did for a reason - to spite you or not I dont know.."

He had spoken gently,à slight hesitancy in his words.But somewhere in there he meant well.

Emily | Eventing | Tim

Emily felt a different kind of nervous energy as she felt their hands connect, all too tired to fight the instinct to take care of herself and define their friendship as such. She watched him with an odd peace, choosing to let a slight smile creep onto her lips. She didn't care to talk about the rest, she'd been reliving it over and over again in her mind for three weeks. Wasn't she allowed to give herself rest?

She felt like a child, never truly determining when to let go of his hand. What was his intention, anyway? She wasn't sure, she'd see how long it'd go on for without her putting an abrupt period on the title friendship instead of a comma but. Gently, she replied, "who was he looking out for when he murdered my mother? The only reason he ended his own life was to avoid wasting away in prison..."

Her expression seemed to show exactly what she was thinking,Tim reading it within seconds as his face flustered a little.

"Look - I didnt."

With a sigh and the urge to let his eyes roll he releases his grasp on her hand,Letting his own fall to his side.

"Did the investigation end then?That was the outcome?Because you shouldn't jump to conclusions.At all."

He spoke firmly in a sudden angry out burst,frowning a little before quickly moving his gaze away.

"C'mon..Sandwich or not hmm?- No strings attached.- So relax a little.Line was drawn a long time ago."

Tim gives a weak cough followed by a yawn.The relief he had to have her back was short lived it seemed - Just back to square one..

Emily | Eventing | Tim

Following his outburst, Emily gave a small sigh, her eyes scanning his face. Was he hurt, or just tired of dealing with her? She couldn't tell. And, was it just her emotional instability that was making her feel a tinge of hurt about the fact that he seemed to be treating her like he'd treat any student?

"He confessed, Tim. They didn't have to conclude the investigation. All of the evidence matched what he had said." She didn't mention anything about Riley, or the fact that it seemed as though they may never speak again. It seemed in poor taste with how Tim had reacted the last time.

Glancing at him again, she said softly, "I didn't say anything about a line being crossed...and, you look really tired. You should get some rest. I'm just gonna hang out in the lounge until daylight, then when I get to the point that I can't keep my eyes open anymore I'll go back to my room." With a small, lingering smile, her eyes took in his tired expression with a sudden warmth, a sudden compassion that seemed just a little more like her. "I'm okay, I promise."

He gives a silent nod,Before looking back at her with a more warming look.She began to sound a little like herself - A tiny bit at that.But it was a shift from how she was earlier.

"Yeah..I haven't really slept..Worrying I suppose."

His gaze softened a little as Tim accidentily revealed how he had been frantically worried for Emily in her absence.His eyes then took a firm turn,his tired tone mirroring this.

"No Emily - Please.Please just go to sleep.You look that exhausted already.."

He let a slight smile cross his features at her last remark,Giving a playful eyeroll and raising his hands as if to surrender,

"Alright,Alright.If you say so - You know where I am,Physically and Phone number Yeah?"

Giving a boyish wink,He checked his two mounts before starting to head for his room.Emily was right - He was exhausted.

Emily | Eventing | Tim, Open

The young blonde watched Tim walk away, a small smile lingering until he was out of sight. She felt lucky to have him, even if they had the oddest dynamic to their relationship. She wondered what he'd been worrying about. Probably something to do with his personal life, she assumed, which was something she knew little about. Consciously making an effort to mention it sometime, she retreated to Mya's stall. The mare, although quite feisty as far as being ridden was involved, was quite the cuddler in the stall.

Still feeling a little confused, more than a little drained, and very alone with the absence of the one person she trusted at the barn, Emily carefully got down onto the floor of the stall, her head lying on the mare's neck as she stretched out in the shavings, half asleep herself. Was it wrong that she had kind of wished Tim had insisted on spending more time with her? And how much of this odd feeling was based on the fact that he was the only one down here to witness her breakdown? Would she be feeling just as resentful in the absence of Tristan? Noah? Conrad? Kholo?

(feel free to jump to the next day if ya wanna :)