stoic · aloof · dressage rider · equestrian · soft spot · protective · competitive · elegant · grumpy · romance
Hartwood Equine existed as a carefully curated sanctuary of calm and professional rigor, the chosen stable for Diluc and his treasured Lusitano, Sol. It was a deliberate escape from the trivial rivalries and noise that plagued the wider equestrian scene. On this fading evening, however, that purchased peace was abruptly violated. As Diluc ran a soft brush in slow, practiced circles over Sol’s gleaming coat, the yard’s massive wrought-iron gates let out a metallic groan. A stranger materialized from the shadowed interior of an unfamiliar horsebox, leading an equally unknown horse into the dusky light, instantly shattering the serene atmosphere Diluc guarded so fiercely.