Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
She hadn't started panicking until it ticked toward an hour. Kids were kids, they often got themselves into trouble and lost track of time, and her son was somewhat of a dreamer sometimes but he rarely went out of bounds. The garden was secure, or as far as she knew it was, and Liam always asked before he went out into the front - with so much space in the back he rarely bothered unless he wanted to ride his bike. In those cases, she always made sure she was doing things where she could keep a close eye on him, make sure he was okay and nothing was going on. He hadn't asked to play out front though. Everything had been normal, she had worked a few hours this morning at the hospital - very early - and come home to distribute lunch and relieve the sitter.
Liam had come in from the back garden to sit at the table for his sandwich and crisps - much to his reluctance when he'd wanted to grab it and run back outside. They'd spoken a little but she could tell her son's mind had still been preoccupied with games, and then after wolfing down his food he'd pegged it back outside. After clearing up the kitchen she'd started on some of the housework, and she'd glanced outside periodically to check on her son. That was until her last check almost an hour ago when she couldn't see him. Frowning, Flynn had gone out the back to double check she wasn't being silly or her eyes deceiving her. When she couldn't see him, she'd called his name a couple of times but to no answer. It was unlike Liam not to call back.
She hadn't worried yet, thinking he'd have gone inside and she must have missed him she started checking the house. From top to bottom, and then calling his name. Maybe it was paranoia, but her son was only six, he was just a kid, and the second she didn't know where he was, panic began to rise. She choked it down for as long as possible, checking his favourite hiding spots, checking the back garden again in it's entirety and then checking out the front - but there was no sign on him. That's when she'd called Bruce, trying not to sound like she was freaking out.. when she was absolutely freaking out.
Bruce was walking around the paddock that he was using for his class, watching his group of students as they tried to grasp the idea of leading up to asking their horse to yield from a suggestion. "Remember," he said as he stepped up to one young woman and place his hands on her shoulders to stop her forward movement. "You are a fencepost. A fencepost doesn't follow the horse when she moves away from the pressure." He smiled as the woman laughed and nodded as she made a huge fuss over her mare for giving the correct response.
He continued around the field. He knew that telling them they were fenceposts would sound strange to people outside the class, but it gave the students a good mental image, as a fencepost was firmly in the ground and wasn't going to budge if pushed against, and that's what people needed to be like around horses. However, they needed to be reminded every now and then that fenceposts don't follow their horse when they move away. "Make sure that your horse's attention is on you before you ask them to do something." He said. "If their attention is on the bird across the paddock, they won't be listening to what you are asking. please excuse me a moment." It wasn't often that his phone went off when he was in class, and he smiled when he saw Flynn's name on the screen. "What can I do you for?" His smile turned into a concerned frown as he listened. "I'll be right there." He didn't bother with telling her to not panic, as her tone had said it was beyond that point and he wasn't going to patronize her.
He released a breath as he pocketed his phone as he turned to the group of people who were now watching him, rather than their horses. "I apologise but an emergency has come up, so we will have to end the session there and continue next time." He smiled as they reassured him that it was fine and he headed off to his vehicle, benefits of not using his own horses for some of his classes.
He scanned the streets as he drove home, even knowing that his entire attention should be on the road, though by the time he pulled up the drive, there had been no sign of the missing boy. Jumping out of the vehicle, he hurried into the house, kicking his boots off at the door, and pulled Flynn against him when he found her. "When did you last see him and where is Gizmo?"
She was still searching when she heard the door, and for a second her heart leapt that it was her son, and he'd just been down the road. At this point she wasn't been angry she just wanted him home, safe. She only felt s slight twinge of disappointment that it was Bruce, though it was accompanied by a swift shot of relief to see him. If he was here she knew it would be okay, together they would find Liam and everything would be fine. She wrapped her arms tight around him and buried her head in his chest, allowing herself to take a brief moment of comfort in him.
"When did you last see him and where is Gizmo?" she pulled back and chewed on her lower lip, running a tense hand through her hair - though it was clear she'd already been doing that plenty. "He was playing in the back garden, I only took my eyes off him for a few minutes and suddenly he wasn't there anymore. But I didn't start panicking until I came out and couldn't see him at all. Gizmo is in the kitchen in his bed." she'd also hoped Liam might have taken the pup but the animal was snoozing in his bed, though he'd begun to get restless as Flynn's rushing. Liam knew not to take the puppy out on his own, but it left her with one less reason as to where he was. "I'm sorry to pull you away from work, I'm just really worried now. Did you see any sign on your way back?" she asked hopefully, though realistically she knew Bruce would tell her if he had so to ease her anxiety.
Bruce kissed the top of Flynn's head as he gave her a moment to centre herself. "He was playing in the back garden, I only took my eyes off him for a few minutes and suddenly he wasn't there anymore. But I didn't start panicking until I came out and couldn't see him at all. Gizmo is in the kitchen in his bed." He nodded, both pleased and disappointed that the pup was still here, as if the boy had the pup at least he'd know that Gizmo would bring him home.
"I'm sorry to pull you away from work, I'm just really worried now. Did you see any sign on your way back?" He shook his head at the apology. "You can call me anytime." He assured her. "And we were doing things they can do without needing me there." He shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't see him."
His brows dipped in thought as he glanced out the window. "If Gizmo was a few years older, I'd just let him loose and get him to bring Liam home." It's what they often did when he was a boy and had been adventuring away from home too long. "However, I can't do that, because knowing my luck, the pup would run the opposite direction and then we'd be looking for two little ones." He gave a half smile at his attempt of a joke.
"How about Gizmo and I go for a walk and see if we can find him?" He suggested.
She felt a little more tension ease away as Bruce kissed her head. They would find him, no matter what, she knew Bruce would help make everything right. There was something about it that was so centering, so calming - it helped to ground her. She felt guilty that she had to worry him with this, but he was the first person she had thought of, the only person she needed comfort and support from.
"You can call me anytime." She nodded, feeling a little better for it - she would never call him for something trivial anyway but she still didn't like to interrupt. "thank you," She said softly. "And we were doing things they can do without needing me there." Flynn was glad for it, she would have felt worse if he'd had to cut it short because of this - but right now her worry for Liam trumped everything else most of all. "Sorry, I didn't see him." She deflated a little, though she had known it was likely the case it was still worse to hear him confirm her thoughts. She didn't understand where he would go, at least not without telling her.
She followed his gaze to the window. "If Gizmo was a few years older, I'd just let him loose and get him to bring Liam home." Flynn, looked to the kitchen door where Gizmo was, "Can we not?" She asked, before he answered her anyway. "However, I can't do that, because knowing my luck, the pup would run the opposite direction and then we'd be looking for two little ones." The corners of her lips turned down, he was right, Gizmo's attention was all over the place right now, too excited by all the smells and sights and sounds of life. "How about Gizmo and I go for a walk and see if we can find him?" Flynn nodded, chewing on her top lip with worry. "I want to come," She felt the need to move, to do something. "I know he might come back but I need to do something proactive." She could leave a note for him to call her if he came home, but if she was moving she might not feel so anxious.
"thank you," Bruce gave a soft smile. He would literally stop the world for this woman, if the need called for it, but he felt this wasn't the time to tell her that, she was too anxious about their son.
"Can we not?" He kissed the top of her head as he pulled her against him again, his thoughts whirring as he tried to work out where the boy had gone.
"I want to come, I know he might come back but I need to do something proactive." He stepped back slightly and thought about how to word what he wanted to say. "I understand your need to do something, but I need you to stay here. Liam's been gone for a while, and the last thing he is going to want, if he returns while we are out, is to find a note." As this was very unusual for the boy, he'd guess that the child would need a very big hug when he came home.
He whistled and grinned at the sound of scrambling paws before the pup appeared in the doorway. "Walk?" He asked the pup and grinned as the Border Collie vanished again and returned with his lead in his mouth. "Let's see how well your training has been going." He clipped the lead onto the pup's collar and gave Flynn a kiss as he straightened up. "I will phone as soon as we know anything." He promised her.
She settled against him for a moment, trying to breathe in his calm and make it happen for herself. It wasn't quite possible, though she knew she would feel worse if he wasn't here - unsettled and panicky. Bruce made her feel like it would be fine, they would find Liam in no time and it wasn't a scary situation, even though her brain knew that it was - her son was missing and she had no idea where he was. She took a step back when Bruce did, looking up at him with slightly baleful eyes as she could see him figuring out what he was about to say. She felt that she might not like it.
"I understand your need to do something, but I need you to stay here. Liam's been gone for a while, and the last thing he is going to want, if he returns while we are out, is to find a note." Flynn wanted to argue, there were words on her tongue ready to go, but she also knew he had a point and she deflated a little. "I feel so useless," She admitted, her feet itching to move, desperate to do something productive. She knew that this was outside the norm for Liam and he would be upset, or anxious, he wasn't the kind to lose track of time - she needed o be here to comfort him.
Flynn watched the exchange between Giz and Bruce, managing a small smile at the puppy's enthusiasm but still feeling bad that she wasn't able to come with him. As soon as he was gone, she knew the worry would hit her full throttle once again and she'd be panicking. She returned Bruce's kiss and then looked at him with wide eyes. "I will phone as soon as we know anything." Flynn nodded and grabbed her phone from where she'd left it, making sure it was turned up loud. "Please do... if you see anything just.. call me." She knew he would but she just need to know.
Bruce watched as Flynn took in his words and seemed to understand what he was saying, even if she wanted to fight it. "I feel so useless," He gave her a sympathetic smile and a kiss on the forehead. "I know you do, but if he gets home before I do, he's going to want you." His lips quirked with a smile. "Why don't you write out a list of jobs he's going to need to do, because he left the property without telling anyone? Or make him his favourite meal because you know he'll be hungry when he walks in?" He had no intention of punishing the boy for his error, the fact that he was gone for so long was punishment enough, but it would give her something to do.
"Please do... if you see anything just.. call me." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze before kissing her fingers. "You will know anything as soon as I do, my love." He promised her.
After putting his boots on, he headed out the gate with Gizmo at his side. He looked down at the dog, and wondered if this would be a good time to see how his training was going, as they made their way down to the copse of trees that was down the road, he was hoping that maybe the boy had followed something down that way. The group of trees wasn't too large, but there were enough trees that if someone small got turned around in there, it would be easy to get lost.
Arriving at the trees, he asked Gizmo to sit and removed the leash. "Liam, seek." He said as he pointed into the trees. The pup tipped his head to the side as he studied the human and then took off into the trees, Bruce following closely behind. Now, in the movies, this would be the time that the searchers would start yelling out the name of the person they were looking for, but he knew that sound moved around things, and if Liam was lost in here, the last thing he needed was for the boy to run the opposite direction because that's where he thought the call was coming from.
She shut her eyes briefly as he kissed her forehead, trying to suck up some more comfort from him. If anything had happened...God, it didn't bear thinking about. She had to trust that he was just round the corner and Bruce would find him. She was used to doing, not used to sitting back and letting someone else do it. "I know you do, but if he gets home before I do, he's going to want you." She knew he was right, and she would want to be here for him, but it was so hard. "Why don't you write out a list of jobs he's going to need to do, because he left the property without telling anyone? Or make him his favourite meal because you know he'll be hungry when he walks in?" Flynn nodded, but knew she would not have the focus to cook or be able to sit down. She would pace until he came back, she wouldn't be able to stop herself.
Flynn returned his squeeze and gave a flicker of a smile to the kiss of her fingers. "You will know anything as soon as I do, my love." She nodded, "Okay... be safe." She would trust nobody else to find her son but Bruce. She watched as he headed out the door, her eyes following him until she couldn't see him anymore, and then she went back to pacing, alternating looking out of the front and back windows to keep an eye out for if her son was on his way back.
---
Liam knew he was going to be in trouble, but it wasn't his fault, not really. He didn't meant to get himself stuck in this position. He'd been playing in the back garden when he'd heard it - a high keening cry that sounded like something was hurt. At first he even thought it might be a person, but as he'd followed it, it had become more like an animal. He should have told his mum he was going out the front for a moment - it was only a moment - but he figured that as it wouldn't take long he didn't need to tell her.
He had followed the path down to the trees, and then following the noise even further, until he'd realised he'd gotten himself lost. He didn't panic, he had started to worry but he tried to keep calm, as his mum always did. Instead he focused on his reason for being here - the noise. He was finally close enough to see what it was. A fox, stuck in a fence. He was only a kid, just six years, but he wanted to help it. It didn't occur to him it might panic, that it might bite, that he should get an adult. Instead, he had toddled over and tried to help it through. It had bitten him - not badly, just a nip, but it had been enough for him to take a step back, and then he'd tripped over his own feet in hurry and grazed his knees. Tears ran cold down his cheeks as he looked around, unsure which was was the way to go home. "Muuuuuuummmmy!!"
"Okay... be safe." Bruce kissed the top of her head again, knowing that his suggestions were pointless as she would continue pace the place until they got back.
He followed Gizmo through the trees, watching to make sure the merle pup didn't decide to go tearing off after some critter as he excitedly followed different trails with his nose to the ground. "What is it?" Bruce asked as Gizmo came to a sudden halt, his head lifted, ears pricked before he released a happy bark and then took off at full speed. Not knowing whether to yell the dog back, or curse the fact that he had let him off the lead, Bruce broke into a run to keep track of the rapidly vanishing dog who was zig-zagging through the trees, though his excited barks were easy enough to follow.
He almost tripped over the pup as they came to a stop. "Good dog!" He told Gizmo with a pat when he saw Liam and shook his head as the pup all but ignored his praise and rushed over to the boy, making Bruce wonder if the pup had heard the boy right before he took off. "Do you think it might be time to head home?" He asked with a warm smile. "Your mummy is a little worried about you." Okay, a complete understatement there, but why let the truth get in the way of a good story? "Gizmo was missing you too. If you can't tell."
Liam was normally quite a brave kid, and surprisingly logical. He tended to think things through and tried to stay calm if he didn't know what to do - but sometimes there were times that didn't warrant that kind of thought. He was only six, he was lost and he wanted to help the animal but he didn't know how - and now it had bitten him, and the bite hurt. He didn't want to be here anymore, he wanted his mum and he wanted to go home.
He was crying quite loudly and at first he didn't hear the crashing through the undergrowth. But when the loud noise came closer and increased in volume and he perked his head up, tear tracks drying on his cheeks. A bark, and Liam didn't dare to hope - it could be any dog, though it sounded like Gizmo. He loved the pup and spent almost all his waking time with the pup; he knew his bark. And then he was there - Gizmo, his arms automatically opening to scoop the puppy up for comfort, trying to bury his crying face in the pup's fur. "Gizzzyyy," He hiccuped.
"Do you think it might be time to head home?" He peered up into Bruce's face, blinking as another few tears fell from his lashes. He gave a quick nod, he really really wanted to go home. "Your mummy is a little worried about you. Gizmo was missing you too. If you can't tell." Liam's lip wobbled but he took a deep breath, trying to be brave. "I don't know the way back," He sniffed, going to wipe his eyes roughly with his arm and then making a pained noise. "I tried to helps the fox and it bit me."
"Gizzzyyy," Bruce couldn't help but roll his eyes and laugh at the pup's nickname, though he guessed now wasn't the best time to tell the child that a dog likes only having one name.
He removed a packet of tissues from his back pocket and removed one to offer it to the boy. "I don't know the way back," He gave a soft smile. "That's why we're here." He said with a nod toward the pup. He frowned at the pained sound. "I tried to helps the fox and it bit me." His brows. "You saw a fox? What did it say?" A smile curved his lips as he held his hand out for the boy to take. "Let's get home and we'll have a look at where it bit you. How did you get close enough to a fox for it to bite you?" He hadn't thought to have brought a first aid kit with him, and with the wound currently covered, it was safer that way, as much as he wanted to have a look at how serious it was.
He clipped the lead back onto the pup's collar, as the last thing they needed now was for Gizmo to find a trail he wanted to follow and them losing the pup. "What are we going to have for dinner tonight?" He asked as he pulled his phone out and sent a quick message through to the boy's mother; on our way home. He didn't say anymore than that because he knew she was already freaking out and didn't want to add to her stress.
Liam took the offer of a tissue, wiping his face on it and managing to subside his crying to the odd sniffle. He felt better now that Bruce was here - he liked Bruce, and he felt safe with him, he knew the man would know how to get them home. "That's why we're here." He managed a watery smile and a slight nod, his hands going to the pup again for comfort, gently running over is furry head. "You saw a fox? What did it say?" Liam didn't quite get the joke and he frowned, confused - but it did take his mind off what had happened. "Foxes don't talk?" He giggled slightly, thinking Bruce must be silly.
"Let's get home and we'll have a look at where it bit you. How did you get close enough to a fox for it to bite you?" Liam glanced back a short way to where the fox had been stuck, the noise was no longer happening so maybe it had gotten free of it's own accord. "It was stuck in the fence over there," He pointed awkwardly to the place he'd come from and then drew his arms back in as the memory of the shock of the bite came back to him. "What are we going to have for dinner tonight?" His mind was distracted once again by the question and he blinked, "I wants chicken nuggets," But he knew that his mum was unlikely to be cooking that for him tonight, it would probably be stir fry or something gross.
Back at the house, Flynn jumped for her phone as she heard it ting, and breathed a huge sigh of relief to read Bruce's message. Texting back a 'thank you so much' she still didn't know what to do with herself. She paced even though she knew he was safe, the knot in her stomach had eased but not gone - she would need him in her arms before she relaxed.
Bruce smiled as he watched the child take comfort from the pup, which made him pleased that they had decided to keep the Collie, rather than finding him a new home - and getting the vet and pet shop to take down the papers was easy enough, even if he had had to tell a couple of families that the pup already had a home. "Foxes don't talk?" His brows shot up in mock surprise. "No? Really?" He asked. "But there's a whole song dedicated to what the fox says." Okay, the song was asking what a fox says, but that was beside the point.
He followed the boy's eyes with his own. "It was stuck in the fence over there," He nodded, even though there was no animal there now, and at least it had been an actual animal, not a ploy to lure a child. "Well, he's gone now, so you must have done something to help. And well done for remaining in one spot when you knew you were lost, as that's half the problem solved." People who were lost had a habit of wandering, which made the job of finding them even harder. "I wants chicken nuggets," He grinned and nodded, chicken nuggets seemed to be the answer to all the world's problems. "Don't know about nuggets, but I'm sure I could throw together some popcorn chicken and chips when we get home." He'd throw some extra veg in there too.
The walk home didn't take too long, and Bruce made sure to let Liam set the pace, so that the child wasn't rushed. "Honey, we're home." He sang as he toed his shoes off at the door.
Liam continued to cuddle the pup, drawing more comfort from his happy excitement, feeling safe now that Bruce was here. He knew Bruce wasn't his dad, but he always knew he was more involved in his life than his dad was - and sometimes it was confusing. He felt safe with Bruce, he liked Bruce, and he liked that Bruce made his mum happy. She laughed more now, and smiled more, and she got to be home more. He was young, but he knew these things. But right now, he was glad Bruce was here, he knew the man would look after him ad take him home - plus he had brought Gizmo, he new best friend.
"No? Really? But there's a whole song dedicated to what the fox says." He frowned slightly, not sure that he knew it, "How does it go?" He asked, looking up at Bruce expectantly as if he would burst into song. Distracted, his arm didn't hurt so much anymore - though he couldn't help but touch it as Bruce mentioned that the fox had gone. "Well, he's gone now, so you must have done something to help. And well done for remaining in one spot when you knew you were lost, as that's half the problem solved." Liam blinked, not realising that was a good thing, and not understanding what he meant by half the problem being solved. "Don't know about nuggets, but I'm sure I could throw together some popcorn chicken and chips when we get home." He gave a keen nod at that and as they went to head home, he reached up to take Bruce's hand, hugging his sore arm close to his chest.
"Honey, we're home." Flynn burst into the hallway the second she heard the door, the words already out by the time she'd already seen them. "Oh thank God!" She exclaimed to see her son with Bruce, dirty and tear-stained but whole and walking. He was raising his arms already but he reached down and scooped him up into her arms, squeezing him a little too tightly as Liam hugged her back for a moment and then began to protest. "Oh you scared me, sweetie. Never, ever do that again," but there was nothing but relief in her tone, her eyes opened, tension stil thrumming through her as she looked to Bruce, "Thank you. Thank you so much," Her eyes welled with tears - relief, stress, gratitude - she didn't know which one they were for.
