Ride the Wind by Kateri Eichler (books to read in your 20s .TXT) 📖

Mariah woke with a start at the end of class as the bell rang. She hated school. The stupid bell always woke her at the best part of her dream. She had just seen the horse, the gorgeous black horse. He was tall and dark, with a long, feathery mane. A proud Fresian stallion. Then the stupid bell rang, of course. Something always woke her before she could touch the stallion. Once it had been the alarm clock. Another was a storm alarm.
She stood up and gathered her things. “Hurry up!” said Harley, one of her friends.
“Coming!” she said, walking out the door toward her friend. They joined the throng of people running toward the busses and cars. “Mom texted me earlier. I have a surprise later.” Mariah said.
"Hope its a good one. See you sometime over the summer, Mariah." called Harley as she dashed off to her bus. Mariah turned the other way and ran forthe cars. Her mom was waiting in her blue-gray Nisan Sentra, window rolled down.
"Hurry up." her mom called as Mariah ran to the car. She wondered where her mom was takeing her. She hopped in the car's front passanger seat.
They drove for about 15 minutes before pulling into a long driveway. "Where are we?" Mariah asked.
"You'll see." her mom replied.
Then she did. As they drove up the drive-way, Mariah saw a streak of black. "Mom!!! Is it really a horse barn?" she cried.
Her mother knodded. "Kind of. Mariah, this was your aunt's farm. She recently died, and in her will, she left the stable and everything on it to you." she said.
Mariah gasped. "Really? Even the horses?"
"Well, there is only one horse on the property. Not the best kind for riding, either. He's a compleatly wild Fresian stallion. His name is Dervisa." Mariah's mom said.
Mariah's eyes widened. "Really? Like, big, black, feathery mane type Freisan?" She asked. Her mom shrugged and stopped the car at the top of the hill.

"I don't know. I have no idea what a 'Fresian' is. That's just what the man at the court house said. Go find him. I'm sure you're dieing to. But be careful! He's not trained at all. Don't try to ride him." her mother said warningly.
Mariah didn't need to be told twice to go find the stallion. HER stallion.

It didnt take her long to find the horse. Dervisa was gorgeous. As soon as Mariah saw him, she knew that he was the same stallion from her dream. "Dervisa." she said, letting the name roll of her tounge. The name was perfect. This barn was perfect. Her wild, crazy, untrained horse was perfect.
Before she could comprehend what she was doing, she hopped over the fence and walked slowly over to Dervisa. This was exactly how it had been in her dream, exept nothing could wake her now. She stroked the stallions clean black fur and felt his soft, feathery mane.
She had riden before, but not in a long time, and never an untrained Freisan stallion; but Dervisa stood perfectly still as she swung up onto his back.
"Easy, boy. It's been a while. Steady." she whispered quietly to him. He tossed his head and tryed to look at her. "Come on. Lets go." Mariah said. Dervisa began to walk slowly. Mariah squeezed him softly and clucked to make him pick up some speed. His hooves sped over the ground, then left it all together. Mariah screamed, but they were too high for anyone to hear. He thundered threw the sky, passing over the tree-tops and into the clouds. Mariah screamed again, but she was already so far up that no one would hear her.
Calm down. I won't let you fall. said a voice. It took Mariah a minute to relize who had spoken. Dervisa.

     The strong, male voice that had spoken to Mariah couldn't have come from the big stallion. But there was no one else that it could be. "Dervisa?" she asked nervousely.
I'm here. Don't worry. I've got you. the Fresian replied. That was when Mariah realized that the horse spoke into her head, like earphones.
     "No one else can hear you, can they?" she asked him, less scared knowing that the horse wouldn't let her fall. She wasn't sure why she trusted him already. He was a talking horse that she had met five minutes ago. But I've dreamed of him for as long as I can remember. She thought.
The horse almost seemed to shake his head. Maybe it was just his pretty, long, soft mane twisting in the wind. Only those I choose can hear my thoughts. Try thinking to me. Its hard to hear over this wind, though it feels good to rule it again. 
"You say that as if it's been a long time since you last...flew." Mariah said.
Dervisa seemed to mentally sigh. You have a lot to learn. The first is this. I am not a normal horse. I am one of four magical horses, granted the powers of Earth. Fire, Water, Earth, Air. We can only use our true powers if we are accompanied by a human. Only the smartest, most creative of people make the cut. You seem to have potential. the stallion thought. The riders of the four great horses are granted powers as well. You will soon meet the other three. I was the last to find a rider who seemed worthy. he added.
Mariah was scared all over again, but she tried to block the thought. Will the others be mad that you took so long? she asked.
     No. Dervisa said. Actully, they will most likely be pleased that I was patiant and took my time. I might represent wind, but I have a firey temper and very little patiance. Though they won't like that you're a female. Now, next time you have something to say, THINK it to me.

 Mariah shuddered, and tried very hard not to think at all.
     The journey only took a few minutes, but for Mariah, it seemed hours passed. She was terribly afraid of highths, And this was beyond terrifieing to her. Finally, Dervisa stopped on what seemed to be a flameing cloud. It took a minute for Mariah to take in the rest of the sceanery after that. the cloud seemed to be floting right above the spot where land and sea met.
     Standing on the cloud were three teenagers, all of differant ages and ethnisities. Also, there were three magnificant horses. A slim middle-eastern girl stood next to a dappled grey Arabian mare on the side of the cloud nearest to the land, a Lipizaner stallion with a tall hispanic boy stood in the brightest part of the fire, and a shapely blonde with a Tennessee Walker mare stood over the water. And then there was Mariah and Dervisa.
    I'm sorry for the delay, but I needed to wait for the proper human to come along. Dervisa anounced mentally to all of the assembled people and horses.
The Arabian stepped forward and answered with, Welcome, Dervisa. There is no need to appoligize for caution, especilly in such an important matter.
Thank you, Nivia. he knodded.
Okay. Welcome all. Now for the formalities. said the Lipizaner. I am Kravan, Lord of Fire. My currant partner is Jaun Espanoso.
     The Tennessee Walker spoke next. I am Respina, Queen of Water. My currant partner is Jade Reece.
Then Dervisa spoke. I am Dervisa, King of the Skies. he started, glacneing at Mariah. And my currant partner is Mariah Wilcox. At her introduction, Kravan tossed his head and snorted angrilly. Then, to Mariah's horror, he charged. She shut her eyes and braced herself.
      Dervisa reared, then ran to block Kravan. The white stallion was forced to skidd to a halt. As soon as he stoped, Respina and Nivia dashed forward to repremand him. He backed away, still snorting and glaring at Mariah. She stood up tall, trying to look brave while hiding behind Dervisa at the same time.
     Don't worry. Im bigger and stronger than Kravan, though he hates to admit it. He knows. I will fight him if I need to in order to keep you here. I think your perfect. Dervisa thought to her.
Mariah would begg to differ. She personally thought that she was a fat ugly emo girl with only two friends. Three if she counted Dervisa. He was the perfect one. Then she cursed herself for not blocking her thoughts from the stallion. I mean it, Mariah. You are perfect. he said.
     Then the grey Arabian stepped forward. I am Nivia, and my currant partner is Solay Kantar. she said.
     As soon as the last words left her mind, Kravan spoke up. She is not a good choice. She is too week. he snorted.
    It is my choice, Kravan. I think she is a prefect, beautiful, mature girl. She can handle it. Dervisa snorted. Mariah couldn't help but smile. He really thinks I'm perfect? She wondered, remembering to block her thoughts. She simply had to know if Dervisa was telling the truth. Diving into the stallions mind, she found that he did. There was another thought, an emotion, that she didn't recognize. What could it be?

   Go. Meet the other children. The four of us have things to talk about. Dervisa told Mariah, Bringing her back to the real world, or what resembled it. She knodded and slowly walked over to the other kids. Solay was the first to aproch her.
    "American?" she asked. Mariah knodded. "Ehh, little English. Learning... Ehh, school." she added.
    "Hola, chicas. Como estas." said a boys voice.
Mariah replied promptly. "Moy bein, grasias. English, por favor?" she said. The boy, Jaun, smiled.
    "Okay. Nice Spanish." he said.
    Mariah shrugged. "Not really. Learned a little at school. Just enough to explain that I can't speak Spanish." she replied. Jaun laughed.
    And you, mam'?" he asked, looking at Solay.
    Her eyes looked nervously and blankly at him. "I tell Mariah, little English. Israeli." she mumbled. Jaun glanced back at me.
    "I got a similar responce. I'm not sure if she can even understand what we're saying now. You know, talking fast." Mariah explained. Jaun knodded.