Engel, enjoying himself greatly pulled back as Micah pulled on his mane, though he didn't slow too much. He noticed that as he slowed, his marking dimmed. He snorted, and kept his current speed constant.

Micah watched as the markings dimmed slightly and his head jerked up to look at Engel when he snorted. He realized he had pulled back on his mane and relaxed his grip a little. He looked around and noticed that the trees were starting to thin out. "We need to slow down. We'll be at the treeline soon." he told Engel.

Engel had begun to speed up a bit once Micah had relaxed, but slowed at the boy's command. Barely feeling winded, he wanted to go into a full gallop, to see it he hooves would lift from the ground and take them flying. But, he knew it wasn't possible. He slowed to an even canter, the trees growing farther and farther apart. He nickered to his boy, as if to say That was fun.

Micah couldn't help but laugh as the horse nickered. "I think I may have to take you to the race tracks instead of the horse farms I go to." he told the stallion shaking his head. He patted the horse on the side of the neck, smiling.

Engel's ears swiveled back towards so he could listen to Micah. Race tracks? What were those? He'd probably find out soon enough. He snorted, and slowed even more, to an smooth, even paced walk. He swished him tail, and his limbs finally began to feel tired, and sore, and her slowed a bit more.

Micah grinned as Engel slowed down. He watched as the trees thinned even more and right before they reached the treeline he gave a firm tug on the stallion's mane. "We'll stop here for now so I can set up camp. My next job is only a few hours away from here." he told him.

Engel slowed to a stop, and lowered his head a bit, the effects of the gallop finally having cought up to him. Nothing too bad; he was just a bit tired. He nickered, and lowered himself to the ground, because he didn't realize Micah could just jump off his back. He waited patiently for his boy to dismount.

Micah was about to dismount when he felt Engel lower himself to the ground. He barely leaned back in time to avoid falling off. He quickly got of the stallion, worried that he might be hurt.

Once the boy was no longer on his back, Engel stood again, and snuffed at his hair. He wondered why Micah had such a worried look on his face, and that made him nervous and worried too. He nickered, as if he were asking what was wrong. He then nudged Micah, trying to tell him everything was okay.

Micah's look of worry turned to one of relief when Engel stood up and nudged him. "You silly horse. I thought you were hurt. I can just jump off of you. You don't have to lay down." he chuckled, reaching up to rub Engel's forehead.

Engel nickered, as if her were laughing along. He'd remember that for next time. He leaned into Micah's hand, making tiny little grunting noises.

Micah laughed and rubbed a little harder before moving away. He made a gesture for Engel to follow as he searched for a suitable campsite. He found a slightly sheltered clearing just inside the trees and stopped. "This should be good enough." he told the horse. He set his bag down and started collecting firewood.

Engel followed him to the sheltered area, and watched him collect sticks. Why would anyone want to do that? Hm. He walked over to Micah, and picked up a stick in his mouth, and whinnied through the stick, as if to say Hey! Look at me! I'm helping! He trotted around elegently, flagging his tail, the stiff positioned evenly in his mouth.

Micah looked over when he heard Engel whinny and barely stopped himself from bursting out laughing. The sight of the stallion trotting around with a stick in his mouth looked so much like an over excited puppy that it was hilarious. He laughed as he set the sticks down in a pile and then placed stones around them in a circle. He put a few handfuls of dried-up grass and leaves under the pile and brought out a pack of matches. He quickly got a fire started and once he was sure it wouldn't go out he turned to face Engel. "I'm glad you like to help. Let's get another pile going so the fire doesn't go out. Just make sure you stay far enough away so you don't get burned." he chuckled as he set several sticks down a few feet from the fire.

Engel watched as Micah started the fire, and an hatred rose up within him, and he didn't know why. He shook the feeling, and trotted past his boy in search of sticks. He snorted, and lowered his head to the ground, and it looked as if he were sniffing. He snatched up a stick, and added it to the pile Micah had started, then went off to find more.

Micah watched as the horse went off to find more sticks and turned to his large bag. He pulled out a large tarp and tied it between two trees that stood a few feet away from each other to create a form of roof. He laid down his sleeping bag under the shelter. He could feel the heat from the fire and he knew wouldn't have to worry about staying warm through the night.

Engel placed more sticks in the pile, and returned to Micah, glaring at the flames in hatred. He snorted, and tried stuffing himself into the shelter next to Micah's sleeping bag. He found that he could fit if he laid behind the sleeping bag. He snorted, and made himself comfortable. He wasn't going to move again till morning.

Micah looked up in time to see Engel glare at the fire before the horse laid down next to his sleeping bag. "What's wrong?" he asked the stallion. "The fire isn't going to hurt you. It's only there to keep me warm tonight." he explained. He kicked off his boots and placed them next to his sleeping bag before getting down into it. He rolled over so that he was pressed against Engel and yawned. "Goodnight boy." he mumbled to the horse before falling into a heavy sleep.

Engel snorted, and watched his boy fall asleep. He laid his head down on Micah, and he too, fell asleep. (Sorry it's so short....I'm really busy)

~MORNING~

Micah blinked a few times as the sun shone on his face. He sat up and stretched, yawning as he rubbed his eyes. "Morning." he told Engel as he reached out and rubbed the stallion's head.

Engel squealed as he woke to being touched. He suddenly remembered the events of the day before, and instantly calmed. He had dreamed about his family, and the metal bird. Then, everything had gone up in flames. Flames... He stared at the fire, and snorted. Ah. He knew why he hated it now. Flames were the symbol of Hell, although he only knew that Hell was evil. He turned his gaze from the flames to his boy, and nuzzled him.

Micah jumped when Engel squealed, his eyes wide. "Are you alright?" he asked him when he nuzzled him.

Engel nickered, and stood. He nuzzled Micah to let him know he was fine. He snorted, and looked around. The clearing looked much prettier than it had the evening before, and he liked it. He swished his tail as he walked past Micah, and began to graze. He was STARVING.

Micah watched the horse start to graze. He would have to see about buying some feed for Engel in town. He started to tear down the shelter and put it back into his bag. He looked over at the horse and frowned. "What would you say to a saddle and bridle?" he asked the stallion. He knew it would appear odd if he showed up to the horse stable where he'd be working with a wild stallion that didn't even have a halter on. He didn't even want to think about the people who would try to catch Engel if they thought he was wild.

Engel lifted his head, and gave Micah a curious look. What were those? He walked closer, and snorted questionigly. He looked around, and finally noticed that his boy was dismantling their shelter. Why was he doing that? Then he remembered that they were going to do something called racing.