<div style="text-align: justify;">She reached out hesitantly with her spit covered hand and patted Riley on his shaggy neck. When she withdrew her hand, it was not only smeared with saliva, but also dust and horse hair. She wrinkled her nose and had to resist the urge to wipe it on her skirt. She had only brought one other, after all. Settling instead for wiping it on Riley's neck again, she automatically began to hum tunelessly, like she often did when she was with animals. <br/><br/>She had just begun to feel comfortable around the horse, when Dimitri suggested they go for a ride. She gaped at him. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Oh, nononononono. I am <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> getting on that thing on my own! Ya nuts!"</span> Really, what was he thinking? That they just saddle up and gallop into the sunset? Aside from the fact that she did very much not want to gallop, it would be a few more hours until sunset. Still, the evening light made every edge seem softer and everything more golden. Summer was nice, she decided. Even if it sometimes involved horses that could bite her elbows off if they wanted. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Can't we go for a walk on our own two feet?"</span> She pleaded halfheartedly with him.</div>