Arrival at the Academy

    Katrina groaned as a gentle hand shook her shoulder and peeked one eye open at the smiling elf above her.

                “Katrina, we’re here.” Talen said gently.

    It had been a long drive. Over 10 hours in the 4x4 Nissan, with three stops made. One was in Moncton to gas and give the two horses in the small trailer a leg and water break. One at the border where Talen had had to wait half an hour to get all his papers checked out on him, Katrina, the horses and the vehicle. They stopped once more to give the horses another break at the border of Maine and New England and Katrina had finally been able to doze off.

                The trip had given her a lot of time to think as well. Talen was the one who’d found RDR-Academy and had suggested it to her. While the girl hadn’t said yay or nay to the idea, the stable manager had gone ahead and smoothed the way for her to attend. Which meant, mainly, convincing her rather strict father that it was a good idea for her to leave Eagle Crest for a time and get some training and experience from another point of teaching.

                Of course, Talen had managed to get his way and with Demitri’s grudging approval, he’d sent in Katrina’s application and informed her when she’d been accepted. His second task had been to convince her to attend, which had been not very effective until he sat her down and told her why he thought she should go.

                “You need space from your father Kat.” He’d stated gently. “He’s a good man, a good trainer. But he has too much focus on what you should be doing and not what you are doing and how to help you improve. I shouldn’t be the barrier between yourself and your father.”

                He’d patted her knee. “This will give you the confidence you’ve been lacking, without being led to feel guilty about where you are with your riding. You might even be able to make some friends. You don’t need to be a grand prix rider. I’d much rather you be happy with your riding at whatever level you want to achieve, not feeling pressured to be the best of the best.”

                So she’d agreed to go, his caring and encouragement, as well as his belief that she could do something with her riding skills leading her to the decision. One she’d questioned over and over again during the trip. If she had to admit it, she was terrified. She’d been scared enough coming from her homeland to Canada with her father. Going away from her only family, to a place she knew little about with people she’d never met for a year… it was something she wasn’t sure she could deal with.

                “Kat… Let’s get the poor girls unloaded.” Talen prompted, jerking the teen from her musings once more. The young girl looked up at the elf, ready to tell him she wanted to turn around and go home, but was stopped by the understanding and caring look on his face.

                “It’s going to be okay. Come on. We’ll get them settled in, then find your dorm and get you settled in before breakfast hm? We can spend some time looking around the grounds and see what they have to offer after we eat before I go.” He said gently, his tone telling her that she was here to stay.

                With a slight nod and a quiet sigh, Katrina slipped out of the truck, wearing only her long sleeved sweater and vest as she made her way into the trailer. Although the two mares weren’t hers, Talen had reassured her that they were they best choice for her to take. They’d originally been assigned to her to exercise anyway. Both Cosette and Petra were loving and calm mares and they stood quietly as she untied Cosette and backed her off the trailer where Talen was waiting to hold her, repeating the actions with Petra. The Scouting Legion horse snorted and surveyed the new area curiously.

                Giving her another reassuring smile, Talen lead the way to the student’s stable, surveying the stall doors for the slips of paper that would indicate her stalls. Some of the other students had already arrived with their horses, if the little whickers that greeted them was any indication.

                “Here we are.” Talen said cheerfully, unlocking the stall door and leading the Baroquer mare into her new home. “Why don’t you go untie the hay nets and get the water buckets set up while I go lug those tack boxes upstairs to your new tack room.” He suggested, tugging off the Eagle Crest travel blanket and draping it over the stall door.

                With a quiet sigh, Katrina did as he suggested, also tugging off Petra’s blanket and making sure there was enough shavings in the stall to be comfortable while Talen did man things and lugged both of the tack boxes upstairs, his elvish strength making it much easier than normal.

                Then they headed to the dorms and Katrina shrunk back as they came across the other girls who were already there. There was a few hellos and she shyly greeted them as Talen carried her boxes to her assigned dorm room, scurrying in and busying herself with settling in. Her stable manager watched her for a moment.

                “It’s going to be okay.” He said softly. “You can do it. Don’t hide in here because you’re scared Katrina. Just be yourself.” He laid a hand on her shoulder. “You’re going to have fun here. Don’t shut the other girls out okay?” The elf waited until she gave him a small nod before smiling. “Come on. Time for breakfast.”

                Before too long, it was time for Talen to leave and Katrina swallowed back the lump in her throat as he hugged her. She wanted to go home, but the words stuck in her throat as he let go and he  ruffled her fringe one last time. “Don’t forget to call.”

                And with that, he left, the trailer rattling as the truck pulled out of the driveway. Now she was all alone. Alone and terrified. What was she going to do now?