Author Foreword:
I really like this interactive story, but after the recent work done by gilo2.2 I thought it's beginning chapters – To The Stables, Time For A Ride, You Take Harry, New Sensations, A Downhill Battle, and Return "Home" could do with a revamp, in order though for the later chapters/options to make any sense, I've merged the work done by Brightest Midnight and TheJk1993 into my writing, I hope these authors do not mind.
I have also used their chapter headers and option choices to aid in understanding, though I have marked both the new headers and option choices with (revamped) to differentiate the two.
Just to be clear I'm not looking to get any credit for the work Brightest Midnight and TheJk1993 have already done, and as such I will be posting these chapters anonymously, but like I said before, I just thought the start of the story could do with a revamp. Enjoy.
– Anonymous
Seeing a sign pointing towards the Zoo's Stables, you made your decision, your girlfriend, Jessica had said that she'd meet you there, though due to the heavy traffic you’d been delayed, and were now running a little late. To be honest you were a little surprised that a zoo would even have a stables, it seemed an oddity, still that might make it something worth seeing.
Following the directions toward the Stables you soon happened upon a vast equestrian complex located on a massive plot of land. Clusters of barns, horse stalls, farriers, vets, tack shops, and farm houses dotted the landscape, and far beyond the multitude of buildings, you could see fields filled with peacefully grazing horses.
This place sure is popular, you thought as you walked under the arched entryway and took in the scene around you, everywhere you looked there was the hustle and bustle of people with horses, people leading them, riding them, in carriages being pulled by them. Neigh’s, whinny’s and snorts of dozens of horses blended with the shouts, laughs and catcalls of their human masters. The air smelled just like you’d expect too; sweaty leather mixed with ammonia, fresh straw, pine shavings, liniment, hay, tack, and the richer earthier aromas of horse.
A helpful set of signposts guided you through the milling crowd to a customer activities desk where you were immediately greeted by a short black-haired attendant in a riding outfit who smiled at you as you approached.
"Why hello there, welcome to the Stables sir,” she greeted.
“Hi there,” you smiled back.
“Can I interest you in a tour of our facility today?” she offered. “Or perhaps a ride with one of our famed horses? There’s also carriage riding for family or party groups, as well as nature walks on our riding grounds for those who’d prefer them.”
“Uh, maybe later,” you demurred, “right now I’m looking for my girlfriend, Jessica, she said she’d meet me here,” you gave the woman a brief physical description of Jessica, “you haven’t seen anyone like that have you?”
The woman frowned in thought, then shook her head with an apologetic smile, “I’m sorry I don’t recall seeing anyone like that today, but in all honestly, so many people come through here everyday names and faces tend to blur together. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”
You nodded, “It’s no problem,” you half-turned your head to scan the crowd, “I’m sure I’ll run into her eventually.”
The attendant nodded in reply, “well in the meantime, if you’re finding yourself without something to do, might I interest you in taking one of our horses out for a ride?"
“Uhmm, I don’t know,” you replied doubtfully, “how much does it cost?”
“Is this your first visit to the Zoo?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Well in that case all first rides are on the house.”
“That’s very good of you, thank you,” you said, agreeing.
“Well, we here at the Stables believe in putting our customers at the heart of everything we do,” she said with a strange smile. Walking out from behind the desk she gestured for you to follow.
“So tell me do you have much riding experience?”
Naturally falling in step beside her you shrugged your shoulders, “some,” you thought for a moment of embellishing your few and far between experiences but in the end thought honesty would be the best policy, “I took up riding as a hobby back when I was a kid, but never stuck with it. I’m sure I remember enough to get by, but that’s about it.”
“Well that’s not a problem,” the woman said leading you into one of the larger barns. As soon as the two of you were inside you could see the barn was filled with row upon row of horse stalls. The sour scent of ammonia mixed with that of horse was far stronger in here, causing you to screw up your nose for a moment until you got used to it. The attendant must have gone nose-blind as she didn’t seem affected by the pungent odour in the least.
“We have plenty of horses here that have been professionally trained to handle both experienced and inexperienced riders,” she enthused, “I’m sure I can find a horse suited to…” she trailed off as a loud whinny sound came from one of the stalls at the end of a darkened row.
You frowned, squinting in that direction, "is everything okay back there?"
"Hmm?” the attendant seemed distracted for a moment before focusing her full attention back on you. “Oh, yes, we just got a new mare in today and we've been helping her get settled in, she’s a little on edge given her recent transition," the attendant said again with that odd smile, "but I’m sure she’ll soon get used to her new surroundings.”
“But moving on, would you like to see the horses I have for you? If they’re to your liking, I'd be happy to get one of them saddled so you can take a ride around the grounds. Who knows? You may run into your girlfriend out there."