Ranch 'n' Craft Story - The Beginning

Some people know that I've started this story. I'm going to post it bit-by-bit. Keep an eye out for familiar names - these characters are REAL PLAYERS who wanted to be in the story!

I flicked a stray piece of straw off of her shoulder as I picked myself up.

“Naughty boy, Midnight,” I grumbled affectionately to my stallion, who had just pushed me headfirst into the hay on the floor of his stall. Midnight Whisper whickered and pressed his head into my shoulder.

“Crysta, don’t tell me you were taken down by a horse again,” grinned Natalie, carefully leading Nemo out of his stall. I leaned against Midnight’s dark flank.

“So what if I was?” I asked, defiantly.

“Then it would be the sixth time this week, and it’s only Tuesday,” teased Sami, from where she was grooming Nevaro. The brown stallion snickered.

“Don’t you laugh at me, mister,” I told him, carefully sliding Midnight’s saddle onto his back. The dark stallion pawed the hay, impatient to be off. Natalie swung herself into Nemo’s saddle and stroked his neck. Sami dropped her brush and led Nevaro out into the morning sunlight.

“Come on!” she called. “Cass and Prim are coming!” Natalie flicked her reins and Nemo started forwards. I launched myself up onto Midnight’s back and he trotted out of the stable. Sure enough, Cass and Prim were there. Cass was yawning, sitting astride One More Rose, Prim laughing at a joke Natalie had just told, clinging to Amirite’s reins to stay aboard. We all jumped – Prim landed on the floor – as Ali skidded into our midst, riding Hybrid Eclipse, who snorted and stomped a hoof, his reins jingling. Ali stroked his mane.

“Shhhh, Hybrid, it’s ok,” she cooed soothingly to the horse. Cass blew a strand of red hair out of her face.

“What are we doing today?” she asked. “Can we hurry it up?” Ali looked up from petting Hybrid and grinned, her usual half-mad grin.

“I heard a legend about this diamond,” she sang happily.

“It’s called the Diamond of Invisibility,” I crossed my arms and sighed. This sounded a lot like one of Ali’s fairy tales. Cass looked doubtful.

“Are you sure this won’t be a wild chicken chase?” wondered Natalie. Prim giggled. Ali folded her own arms and fixed Natalie with a typical icy stare.

“This time it’s real,” she smirked. “Where do you think those invisible spiders keep coming from?”

TO BE CONTINUED....