<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>Ashley</strong></span>The Hunt [Marcus Dupont, Richard Dupont, Frederick Martin, Kolette de Brest, Ivy Montague, Sylria the Elf, Ashley Browley, Alfreic Slate, Imogene Campbell, Lillian Montague, Bella, Imogene Campbell]<br/><br/>Ashley felt along the underside of the Arabian mare she was given to ride.  Foxfire was anything but passive and sedate and at 16 hands, was a good sized beauty.  As she was wont, Ashley slipped a sugar cube into the mare's mouth and stroking her fine head, whispered encouraging and comforting words in a sing song voice.  "You are a fine, lovely thing aren't you."  She cooed. "We will jump well together."  Motioning to the stable boy who had tended her Foxfire to give her his back, she stepped delicately on his back, and sat comfortably into her side saddle, adjusting her skirts so that her ankles were completely covered.  She smiled her thanks to the boy, and threw him a tuppence as reward.  Adjusting her reigns, Ashley shook her head no, denying the crop the boy handed her.  She had never used a crop on a horse to get it to preform, and wouldn't start now.  The mare shifted under Ashley and Ashley knew that Firefox was just as excited to get stared as she.  Finally the Master of the Hunt had the huntsman blow the "draw" to bring the fox out.  The dogs were let loose and the hunters were off. Finding that Foxfire had a delicate mouth, Ashley used a light touch on the reigns and held her back a bit allowing a bit of distance to build between the actual hunters and herself.  Then, finally, she gave a light flick of her wrist and clucking allowed Foxfire her lead.  The beautiful black broke into an even trot at first, moving her legs in unison in diagonal pairs.  Ashley seeing a three foot fence ahead, flicked Foxfire into a canter and signaled her to take her to take her left lead.  Circling to the inside, the Arabian brought her front forlocks up as she arched easily over the fence to land on first her left front leg and off they went again.  Ashley's laugh rang out in the freedom of the trail, and throwing her hat from her head, she let loose the length of her hair to unravel down her shoulders and tumble to the middle of her back.  Bringing Foxfire to a slow walk, Ashley looked about her for her friends, and seeing them  not far behind,  walked the mare who had preformed well for her over to meet up with them.<br/><br/>Ashley's shining face and beaming smile told of her enjoyment of her ride, but that didn't stop her from flinging her arms wide, and exclaiming to her dear compatriots, "Isn't this glorious?"  Breathing deep, she relished the smell of the sun, fresh air and even the horse flesh beneath her.  Maybe all the bad things that had happened at Avonleigh had been well, flukes.  Maybe, just maybe things were going to be fine.  Ashley clutched that hope to her as tightly as she would a bosom friend.