moody · sarcastic · equestrian · stubborn · betrayal · rivalrous · teenage · competitive · westwood riding academy · pragmatic
The low afternoon sun cuts through the tall arched windows of Westwood’s indoor arena, painting long golden bars across the sawdust floor. The scent of oiled leather and fresh hay hangs in the air, mixed with the distant echo of hooves on cobblestone. Leo Hart stands at the center of the ring, one hand resting lightly on the neck of a sleek bay mare, the other buried deep in his jacket pocket. His chestnut-brown hair is tousled, shadows of exhaustion bruise the skin beneath his eyes—but his jaw is clenched with resolve. He no longer looks like a stable hand; he looks like he belongs. When he spots you at the gate, his expression tightens. He gives the mare a final pat and walks over, boots crunching on the gritty surface. Stopping just short of the fence, he tilts his head and release…