First Encounter {Open}

"You've been here a full three days, it's time you saw these Pegasus. Suck it up you big wuss, it's just a normal horse but with wings and stuff. No big deal, no reason what so ever to flip out," I reminded myself once again as I stood just outside the stable.

This whole thing was still rather frightening. In my first three days I had seen half goats, people that came out of trees, and had been given a magic key that turned into a sword as well. Of course the person who had introduced me to all this frightful magic had ended up being pretty much my only friend right now.

"Ok, I'm ready, let's go!" I told him walking into the stables.

I stopped at the third stall on my left. It was just a normal horse. That was good, I guess I needed to know there was something normal here. I held my hand out and let it come to me and make sure I was ok before stroking it's neck. I took out a sugar cube and let the horse eat it before turning away. "Alright Kyle, show me some Pegasus."

I watched as he pulled a horse out and let it over. It looked rather normal to me.

"I thought they were..." I trailed off when he threw the sugar cube up in the air. I was going to say, 'I thought they were supposed to have wings'.

"There they are!" I muttered standing paralyzed for a moment. It had wings. This horse had wings! He wasn't bluffing. There really were winged horses. There was another thing to add to the list of 'Strange Things I Never Thought I Would See'.

"It's beautiful, Kyle! He's magnificent!" I said regaining my voice. I grabbed three sugar cubes out of the sack and held them on my flat palm. A smile crossed my face when the winged horse took them. Carefully, I put a hand on his neck and pet him. He felt like any other horse even though he didn't look like one what so ever.

I nodded, as she came to pet it. I knew it felt like any other horse.

"It is." I said. "Would you like to try to ride it? Most Aphrodite campers are a natural," I told her, handing her the reigns. I trotted over to the stable, and began to search for a fitting saddle.


OOC: It fails cause I'm distracted DX

"I suppose..." I said a little bit reluctantly. "Is it very different from riding horses? I have horses back home. I have ridden since I was little." I told him holding the reigns and continuing to pet the horse. It seemed to rather like me and I was quickly becoming fond of it myself. It was the most beautiful beast I had ever seen. Maybe the myths weren't so bad

I grinned. She had said okay. This ought to be fun. I grabbed the saddle. It was heavy, but at least it would keep us strapped on. I heaved it onto the Pegasus, and offered my hand to help her onto it.

"Err," I chuckled. I had never actually ridden on a Pegasus before, so this ought to be super fun. "Right. Probably," I said, looking at the magnificent beast. "I mean yes!" I said, nervously, coming back to my senses.

OOC: Are they gonna hook up? XP

I bit my lip and took his hand, getting up on the large horse. I leaned forward and ran my fingers through his mane before sitting back up and waiting for him.

Listening to him stumble over his words something registered in my head. "Kyle, you've never ridden one before, have you?" I asked shaking my head, laughing it off. Honestly, I didn't quite care all that much. I just liked spending time with him, mostly.

He was going to be surprised later though when we went to practice with my sword. I had already gotten some help from a boy from the Ares cabin. Charm speaking came in handy upon occasion

"Nope, not so bad," I agreed with him. My voice shook a bit though. I leaned against him a bit, nervous with anticipation. After a moment of thought I reached behind he and grabbed his arm, wrapping it around me.

"If you let me fall I will never, ever forgive you, Kyle!" I told him with mock seriousness. I probably would forgive him after all bones in my body healed but he didn't have to know that

I leaned forward as the Pegasus took off. I wasn't quite sure, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I had a big grin on my face and my eyes were lightening to a emerald green.

I relaxed and sat up straight, leaning only ever so slightly against him. "Ok, but don't be surprised if I crash the horse!" I yelled back taking the reigns a bit excited. I pulled a bit to the left, just testing to make sure I had good control. He turned just a bit to the left. Good.

I kept a good grip on the reigns but mostly let him do his own thing for a few minutes as I adjusted. "It's so pretty!" I told him with a big smile on my face.

I shook my head and laughed. "I meant the scenery, genius!" The trees just seemed to soar past them.

(Skipping ahead a bit)

I decided it was time we went back, though it took me a minute to finally make this decision. I pulled on the reigns, turning the horse. After a few minutes though, I realized I didn't know how to land the horse and the stable was just right ahead. "Kyle, how do I land?" I asked a bit desperately leaning closer to him

"Remind me to never trust you again!" I teased him.

I would have to make due with the ways you stop a normal horse and just hope it worked. Leaning back in the saddle, I squeezed his sides with my feet and pulled on the reigns. Surprisingly, the horse started to descend. It landed and I exhaled in relief.

Sliding off the Pegasus, I pulled out some sugar cubes, feeding them to him. I had a giant smile on my face. "Well, that was fun!" I told Kyle, laughing

"I guess I am a natural then," I said shrugging casually. "Honestly, I'm just happy I survived. You kind of had me scared for a moment..." I admitted to him blushing a bit.

I felt rather short and scrawny next to him. I wasn't the strongest but I had a fair amount of muscle, next to him though...I felt like a child and it was starting to irritate me just a bit

"How long have you been here? Do you visit your family often?" I asked curiously. I had been wanting to ask him since I first talked to him but I wasn't confidant enough with him until now. I hoped his family hadn't died or kicked him out, she would just feel awful then. But she was curious about him.

"Iris message...?" I said trying to remember what that was. After a moment it clicked and I said, "Oh right. That's really cool. Will you tell me about her? What makes her special? Does she have any other kids? Where does she work?" I asked him sitting down against the wall.

My father always told me you can learn the most about a guy from the way he talks about his mother. I was really just curious about him in general. I wanted to know what kind of a person he was because I was developing a bit of a crush on the boy and I didn't want to fall for a callous jerk.

Looking at him I realized a question I asked had upset him. I tended to get ahead of myself and speak without thinking.

"I'm sorry I tend to speak without thinking if you haven't already noticed..." I said embarrassed. I needed something to change the subject to but I really couldn't think of anything. I had screwed up so bad. I was so mad at myself.

"You have no reason to apologize!" I said laughing a bit. I could tell he was trying to sooth me and it made me feel a bit worse. I have always been really hard on myself.

"Will you tell me about camp? Do you like it?" I asked coming up with a seemingly harmless topic.