[Gift] 2.8 Headless Horseman Hunt - Alistair and Satin

Hooves came to a sliding halt as before them a ghastly laughter filled the air. A steed as dark as night rose up on his hind legs, letting out a fierce whinny as his headless rider cackled. A sword flashed through the air, catching what little specks of moonlight made it past the remaining waning autumn canopy. Alistair guided his mare to turn back around, urging her in the direction they came as he cried out.

He could hear multiple sets of other hooves doing the same before a final set began to chase after all of them. This was it, they had found the headless rider and it was their turn to flee. Hunters had become the hunted and if you were marked, you would be lost to the horseman’s blade. Alistair panted alongside Satin, laying low to her neck as they raced back through the forest. As they thundered along the various paths made by its numerous fauna Alistair heard the number of hoofbeats around him drop one by one.

Heart pounding in his ears he urged her faster, they were a clear target with the lantern swinging from her breastcollar but it also let them see every obstacle before them. He felt water splash up over his legs as Satin’s hooves met a puddle but he ignored it. The mare was huffing now but they grew closer to the edge, in the distance he could just barely spot the light of the manor’s grounds. “Come on girl, just a bit further you can do it.”

Satin had not been trained for racing but he had made sure to improve her endurance ever since they had come up with the hunt idea. She wouldn’t stand a chance otherwise against the nightmares, the cursed creatures working every night for their riders to keep the towns and rails functioning. But that didn’t mean the mare had the spite to get them through the hunt anyways and he believed in her.

What he hadn’t expected was for Satin to make a sudden leap over a fallen log. Alistair was jostled, almost losing a stirrup in the process but he stayed atop her. The sound of heavy hoofbeats filled his ears and he dared to look back. There, just a few trees behind them was the headless horseman. He had no idea where the other riders had gone but he was already gaining. Alistair urged Satin on, whispering in her ear as they rushed the last stretch to the forest’s edge. “Come on girl, you’ll have all the apples and treats waiting for you when we get out. I know you can do it!” He made a few encouraging noises until finally they burst from the tree line and flew across the backyard of the manor.

“WE DID IT! WE MADE IT SATIN! WOOOOO!” He cried out, lifting a hand in the air before finally getting her to slow down and bring her back around to meet the others. The mare was heaving from their run and Alistair quickly dismounted, taking her to a nearby water trough. While the mare sucked down her drink he quickly attended to her, getting the tack off her and thrown over the nearby fence. The mare’s warm body released steam as it hit the cool night air and he gave her a quick brushing.

The doctor was still panting himself, pausing against the fence as she finished her drink and gave her a few pets. He grinned as finally Harry joined him, also out of breath and let Daemon drink. “Congrats love, you won.” By now he had removed the top of his costume and smiled at the doctor, giving him a pat on the back. “You beat your friend out by a mere hair you know.”

“Wait really?” Alistair stood wide eyed. “We really won? Where’s Cass?” He pushed away from the fence and looked over towards the woods. Shortly after the words left his lips he saw the woman finally exiting the forest on foot, her own nightmare following behind her as she was led out. All across the forest’s edge the others too stepped forth, most similarly on foot to allow their steeds time to recover after the harrowing hunt.

Alistair watches as everyone finds a place to untack and one by one lead their horses back into the dark pasture. He gives Satin a quick treat with Harry’s permission and plants a kiss to her nose afterwards. “Good girl, you did so well. You have no idea how proud I am of you.”