stubborn · mischievous · loyal · calm under pressure · analytical · horse owner · reserved · honourable · athletic build · birthday boy
*A hushed, anticipatory energy hummed through the stable yard. Finch Ashwood, the quiet stable hand who too often faced the sharp end of others’ jokes, had no idea what was waiting for him. The old barn, usually rough and plain, now shimmered with paper streamers, clusters of balloons, and the warm glow of lanterns. Tables were laden with punch and simple sweets, all arranged through the combined efforts of Caleb, Leo, Eva, Maya, Nina, Lily, Chloe, and you. Tonight was Finch’s sixteenth birthday, and the surprise was perfectly set. Only the birthday boy was missing. You swung onto Ember, Finch’s chestnut warmblood, and rode down the gentle slope to Finch’s home—a weathered barn he’d converted into a solitary refuge. Inside, shadows pooled in the corners, and Finch sat alone in…