#concordesso

Anne was growing anxious. The Dark Riders were giving her and her friends more trouble. They had been showing up more than usual all around Jorvik. No place was safe anymore the Dark Riders were wreaking havoc anywhere they could with no care in the world for the hurt they were causing. They weren’t holding back anymore they were more dangerous than before, and this was worrying Anne. The danger of the Dark Riders worried her, but there was another thing that was making her anxious… Rumors. Anne and her friends were hearing rumors of a new rider on Sands team. No one could provide a description of the rider or their horse, so Linda called it a rumor. She said that the Dark Riders were most likely trying to further scare everyone, so they spread a rumor around to do so. Everyone calmed thanks to Linda’s words, and they ignored the rumor. As Anne tried to think about what to do about the Dark Riders the feeling of worry went away. It was replaced by a deep sadness. You occupied her thoughts now… Ever since your death the team was a bit messy. You always knew what to do always helping with plans, and carrying them out. Anne was a bit lost without you. everyone was lost without your plans and the stability you brought to the team. Your loss deeply impacted everyone specially Anne. The woman felt guilty because she never told you just how much you meant to her. She deeply appreciated your plans and the way you helped bring the team back together again you were a good friend, and she never told you. She wished you were here she really needed you here. Guilt slowly took over Anne’s mind. Before it could finish its takeover on the woman’s brain her phone rang. Anne’s phone buzzed and moved across her vanity as a call flashed across the screen. She picked her phone up answering the call it was from Linda. As soon as Anne answered Linda spoke and she sounded scared. All Anne needed to hear to get moving was Goldenhills, forest, fire and Sabine. She told Linda she would be there soon, and she hung up quickly getting ready to leave home and ride to Goldenhills.

Blondie galloped through Silverglade Manor her ears perking up as she heard “hey!” and “watch out!” as she and Concorde ran through the stables. The mare wasn’t sure why her rider was in such a hurry and neither was the foal. She huffed shaking her head as she ran through the vineyard then down the path to the arena. Was her rider late to a competition at the arena? Is that why she wanted to gallop? Blondie neighed as she passed through the riding hall and the arena confused as to where her rider was going in such a hurry. Concorde had no questions she was happy to run. Soon they were in Goldenhills and the mare stopped terrified when she saw the smoke coming from the forest. Concorde was excited she had no fear she was strong and brave she could put the fire out herself! Anne pat the mare trying to comfort her, so she could ride closer to the forest. The thoroughbred refused to go further, so Anne left her at the care of Jasper. The man was not happy about having to play horse sitter, or to let Anne go into the forest he hoped the girl knew what she was doing. Anne also left a very unhappy Concorde behind with Blondie. The foal was ready to be a hero and save the forest, but her owner didn’t allow it, so she was upset. Anne ran the rest of the way to the forest going as fast as she could. She saw her friends gathered near the entrance of the forest they all looked like they were deep in thought. Their horses were further away all gathered together ready to help. “What happened?!” Anne yelled from where she was making everyone look to her. Lisa spoke “Sabine set fire to the forest!” Anne was still a bit far, so Lisa had to yell. “The rangers are on their way here!” Lisa watched as Anne got closer “and we’re trying to find out if Sabine is still in there!” Anne got to where everyone was when Lisa finished her sentence, and she huffed as she tried to catch her breath. Linda caught Anne up on everything that had happened while Anne tried to catch her breath. She told the leader that before the fire got worse, they managed to get all the animals out, and that the plan was to try and find out if Sabine was still in the forest spreading the fire while they waited for the rangers to come put it out. “I don’t think she’s still in there” Alex looked to the forest “I didn’t see her while getting the animals out.” Anne’s brows furrowed as she thought about what to do “spread out” she said looking at the forest with Alex. “We can find out faster if Sabine is still in there by spreading out” the plan was dangerous, but Anne needed this to be done quickly “stay far from the fire.” She looked to everyone, and it was clear the leader was unsure, but her team pushed away any negative feelings they had about the plan, and they went to look for Sabine. Anne went up the path leading to the broken stone bridge. At the bridge she looked over the edge seeing the forest. She was right above it and from her high point she could see the fire was not as big as she thought. Hopefully, it would stay small, so the rangers could put it out quick. The woman also felt bad for Emma all her jumps were in there she hoped they could be salvaged. As Anne continued looking she realized the fire was following the way the course went. It looked as if it were mapping out the jumps, and she wondered if Sabine was out there doing them.

The idea was silly Anne couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped her. She then felt bad for laughing at the situation so she cleared her throat feeling awkward. Anne realized another thing, the path was perfectly mapped out as if Sabine had gone through it before, but there was no way she had? As Anne tried to think of an explanation, she saw the rangers come into the forest quickly getting to work on putting out the fire. The woman sighed relieved as she watched the fire be put out, she knew she could relax the forest would be okay and the animals were safe. The leader continued to watch as the fire was put out, and as she watched the forest, she could see blurs of color show through the gaps of the golden leaves in the trees. She narrowed her eyes leaning over the edge a bit to see who was riding through… Was it a ranger? More colors followed the others… Black, red and gold. It did not take long for Anne to worry as she realized Sabine had still been in the forest. She looked like she was leaving, so there was nothing to worry about now the Dark Rider wouldn’t cause any more trouble. As the blurs raced through the forest Anne moved to the other side of the bridge ready to see who Sabine was riding with. The leader waited a few seconds, and she saw the first blur come out from under the bridge. A familiar horse slid to a stop shaking their head. The horse turned and Anne could not remember from where she had seen it before. She couldn’t see the face on the rider due to it being covered by their hair. Sabine came riding out of the forest, and Anne could see her speaking, but could not hear what she was saying. The Dark Rider suddenly tensed, and she started looking around. Her eyes eventually landed on Anne on the bridge. The Soul Rider narrowed her eyes at Sabine ready for a fight should Sabine try to start one. The rider with her looked up to where Sabine was looking, and Anne’s expression went from angry to horrified as she finally saw who the other rider was. The woman huffed she wanted to throw up she covered her mouth stepping away from the edge. She sat down leaning against the other side of the bridge as fear hit her. Her heart beating so fast that it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest as the memories of the day you died came flooding into her mind. She could see the explosion clearly, she felt like she was in the valley again. She could see your body on the ice but… You were here. You were on your horse riding with Sabine this had to be a sick joke the Dark Rider was playing. You were dead she saw your body she saw the explosion. She could not deny what she saw that day she couldn’t tell herself that somehow you had lived. She saw you, she saw that you weren’t breathing, she was at your funeral you were dead, and no one could deny it.

Anne needed to move she needed to tell the others about you and Sabine, but she couldn’t move fear was keeping her seated. She felt as if her bones had been locked in place. Her brain was saying ‘go!’, ‘run!’, and ‘get away!’ but even with all of these thoughts she couldn’t move. She could hear a horse coming her way she managed to glance to where the noise was coming from seeing you riding to her. Anne felt her body release… Her brain screamed ‘GO!’ at her making her quickly get up, and run to the other end of the bridge. Time felt as it had slowed down while Anne was panicking, but now that she was up and running it all rushed back to normal. Her heart continued to try and burst out of her chest  adrenaline pushing her to go further. Anne ran faster than she did to get to the forest. She wasn’t sure why she was running from you maybe you were still her friend?  As much as she would like to stop, and ask you she also knew you could be an illusion. Stopping could be a death sentence, and her whole body had a bad feeling about you, so she ran only looking forwards. The Soul Rider could see her friends standing on the other side of the forest. She tried to run faster trying to get to her team the leader wished she had Blondie to get to her friends quicker. She could hear neighs behind her, and she came to a quick stop as a horse rushed in front of her. Your horse blocked her from running further, and you glared down at her. Anne didn’t know what to do she was frozen in place again. Her memories took over her again, but only for a few seconds. She gasped coming out of her memories and back to the current moment thanks to something hitting her chest. The woman fell letting out a huff as she landed on her back, she bit her lip holding back a scream of pain. You kicked her and you kicked her hard wanting to make her fall down, or at least get air knocked out of her lungs. The woman managed to prop herself up on her elbows watching as you dismounted, and walked over to her. She tried to breathe, but her chest hurt it did not allow her to take a breath. “It’s nice to see you again Anne” you smiled at her again, balling your hand up into a fist. Your voice was the same there was no way you were an illusion you were really here alive, and standing in front of her. The Soul Rider had so many questions she would have tried to speak to you she would have asked you ‘why are you doing this!? How are you here?!’ but she was stopped by your fist coming right at her.