Chapter Text
It was reaching hour four of rehearsals. Feet were aching, shoulders were sore and patience was thin. It seemed no matter how many times they did the moves, as perfect as possible, it wasn’t good enough and they needed to go again. The sharp voice of the trainer echoed through out the studio counting the moves, 1, 2, 3, 4. Again, and again, and again.
Kathryn danced in tune with the music, her music as a matter of fact, having spent hours of her time a few months ago putting it together. She moved her body with as much emotion as she could, throwing her arms in rhythm with the beat, trying to be perfect. How was it possible to hate something you put so much effort into? Next to her, the long slender legs of her bandmate, Cassandra, moved gracefully despite her fatigue. But Kat could easily see how tired she really was. They were best friends after all.
Still, they trained, working every muscle in their body in near perfect rhythm while lip syncing with the music. Just as the music ended they were supposed to kick their legs in a pirouette and end in a pose with their arms spread and their heads thrown back. So just as the music swelled the pair of women leapt into action, attempting to finish the dance perfectly.
Though fate did not think so, Cassandra miscalculated her steps and their ankles slammed together. The collision threw them both off their balance and the dancers came tumbling to the floor with a yelp.
The music ended and there was silence.
Kat gritted her teeth in frustration. This was bound to happen. If not Cassandra then it would be her. She knew this. The two of them were so tired. Her entire body ached, and she was relieved to be lying down at last. Even if it was the floor. Her nerves prepared for the inevitable lecture the two of them were about to get.
By the wall. Leaning up against the mirrors, their trainer sighed. He was a tall, bulky man. Sporting a beer belly and a bad leg. He had been a national legend back in his prime, teaching and training A-list music celebrities and even Broadway dancers at one point, was now reduced to training greenies like the two of them.
“How long have we been at this ladies?” He called to them, his sharp voice echoing in the large dance studio.
“Too long.” Kat growled. Beside her Cassandra pulled her knees close to her chest, hiding the bottom of her face in her legs. As she usually did when she felt insecure with her performance. She was trying to look smaller.
“Indeed. You should know this by now.” He chided them while walking towards them. And Kat noticed the water bottle in his hands was distinctly not for them, since he sipped on it greedily as he approached. “Ladies this is the biggest performance of your career, you need to work harder.”
“Were only opening for the headliner…” Cassandra mumbled behind her knees.
“And we didn’t mean to fall!” Kat hissed. Raising up to sit on the floor and glare at their trainer. “we’ve been at this for hours; we need a break or were just going to keep messing up.”
“Lazy bums don’t get paid you know.” James chimed his smile very wide and very fake. “Take five.” He eventually said, cocking his head to the side he insinuated he was heading outside for a smoke. Kat stood up with a tired sigh and extended her hand to her bandmate. Cassandra’s smile was small, but it was there, and she gladly accepted her assistance in standing.
Cassandra was just a few inches taller than Kat, but it never bothered her. Her blond hair was sleek and long, and her frame was skinny, slender, and elegant. In their youth, Kat always thought Cassandra was a secret fairy, with her long legs and narrow waist. Compared to her own stocky frame, Cassandra might as well be a fairy. Kat was thicker than Cassandra, though she never felt inferior ever since she grew into her adult body. Their teen years had been rough.
Together they leaned up against the mirrored wall and slid down to sit.
“What is up with him?” Cassandra her eyes tarting from the doors to Kat.
“I don’t know.” Kat spoke while she glared in the same direction her friend looked. “Seems like everyone’s been really nervous ever since we came here.”
They had been located to a whole ass ranch, fitted with a large colonial house, a garden with a gazebo next to a pond, a stable with horses and wide-open fields to run in. In the garden they had built a studio especially for them. The land was entirely surrounded by thick woodlands, in the center of which was a large lake. The record label was really putting a lot into them. The two of them didn’t understand it, they had expected something else when the label had suggested that they go on a training retreat. So far, it had been a lot of training and no retreat. The first few days they had been allowed to roam the grounds and ride the horses, but ever since they started the two women had been kept busy.
“I miss Apples.” Cassandra sighed and looked to the side with a dreamy smile. Kat returned it, brushing a few stray red curls out of her face. They were strung tight with sweat, and she tried to smooth out the lock. Kat knew her friend was referring to the horse she got to ride when they arrived. Apples had taken to her instantly, and Cassandra fell in love with him the moment she saw him. His hide a pale creamy color to match her own light complexion.
Kat had gotten the absolute pleasure of riding with Halifax. The stallion of the stables, he was a brown one with a white main and tail. And a temper. He tried to buck her more than once, but Kat never was one to refuse a challenge. They got along well in the end. Halifax relenting to her stubbornness. They had a good time together, but they were never able to explore the forest. There was a clear path the horses took regularly to the lake. The two of them had practically begged to go in there but their instructors had said no.
Kat bit her lower lip to choke down a curse, she hated seeing her best friend tired and hurting. She wished they didn’t have to work so hard, why couldn’t the two of them just do what they liked and be done with it? There always seemed to be something else their managers were trying to thrust upon them.
Ever since their song was featured on a popular radio show, their ratings had skyrocketed for a good bit. Their fanbase had grown and the two of them were suddenly lining up shows. So much so that the company apparently wanted them to achieve perfection.
Kat leaned her head on the mirror and smiled, she knew how to cheer up her best friend. A quick breath and she sang a note. A simple A. Then she nudged Cassandra’s shoulder. After a moment’s hesitation Cassandra smirked and copied her note.
Then Kat sang another note, followed by Cassandra singing the exact same one. Then they switched, they went back and forth like that for a short while before bursting into giggles. They used to do this to warm up back in the day. Back in the days of mall singing and renascence festivals. And Kat’s heart warmed when she thought back to those days.
“Hey Cassandra, wanna do something wild?”
After only a moment of hesitation, the golden-haired fairy smiled her wide smile and her blue eyes peered back at Kat. “Always.”
Shortly after dinner, the two of them were clipping up their hair and putting on their riding gear. Their trainer approached them from the patio, stinking of cigarettes and beer. Cassandra shrunk behind her.
“What do you think you’re doing? You have practice.”
“Not tonight. Were going to ride to the lake.” Kat said with a clear voice, trying to make no room for arguments.
“Absolutely not. Not after that performance.”
“Listen man, we’ve been going for hours, for days. We deserve a break. And frankly those horses deserve to get ridden. Working us to the bone is not going as well as you think it is.”
“If you’re going to be a quitte-”
“Were not quitting! Were just taking this evening off. We’ll be back and at it tomorrow. And well do it perfectly then.” Kat snapped, snatching Cassandra’s hand in hers and turned on her heel. Leading her friend out into the garden to find the path to the stables. If their instructor objected, she didn’t care. They were going. Making sure to bring the special case with her.
The two of them quickly made their way to the stables, Cassandra’s mood was quickly lifted as they worked to get the horses ready. Brushing their backs before saddling them was a must, according to Cassandra. Kat just nodded. Cass had always been the horse girl. When they were in the saddle Kat took the lead and strapped her special case to her left and took off in a quick pace. Her best friend laughing hot on her heels.
Halifax and Apples had a great time racing to the lake. Their mighty bodies heaving and straining underneath them. Both women hooted and cheered as they raced, finally they would get to see the lake.
Cass gently nudged the horses flank to urge him onwards. Racing like this had her blood on fire, it was wonderful! The horses were so large and powerful, able to move with such grace underneath all that might. Apples neighed, their goal coming into view between the trees. She urged Apples on harder and at just the right moment, she clenched her thighs around its mighty flanks and directed it to leap over the foliage. The hooves landed on the banks of the riverside, and Cassandra practically roared with victory. Kat and Halifax leapt through the foliage after her.
“Why didn’t you take the road?” Kat asked with a wide grin.
Cassandra couldn’t help but grin, as weird it was to admit, it was always possible with Kat. “Oh, this guy was aching fly, don’t’cha know. I wanted to see if he’d do it.”
Kat laughed and they went along the banks of the lake until they found a nice semi dry area. The two of them stepped off their saddles and let the horse drink freely from the lake waters, Kat took the case from the saddle as well.
“Whatcha got there.” Cassandra asked with a sideways smirk.
“Oh, I brought the guitar, I wanted to come in here so we could sing in peace. We’ve been doing so much dancing, I though it might be fun.” Kat smiled wide as she produced her worn out guitar. The two of them removed their helmets and let their hair down. Cassandra took a moment to admire her best friends long curly hair. Perfectly tight curls cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall on fire, her skin was speckled with freckles and her eyes were a gorgeous bright green. Cassandra always considered herself lucky to have someone like Kat. Much like a cat she was quick and clever. Effortlessly graceful and confident. Cassandra had often wished she had her friend’s confidence.
“Singing sounds lovely.” Cassandra smiled, patting the ground besides her. “Perfect timing too, since the forest is so quiet this time of day.”
“Huh, you’re right, it is quiet.” Kat mused as she looked around the lake. They were surrounded by tall pines and birch, not a sound escaped the air. Kat strummed the guitar once, adjusted some strings, strummed again then nodded her head so her read curls obstructed her features.
They started a song, Kat playing a jolly tune and begun singing on yonder hill sits a hare. An old folk song about a hare being chased by hunters and hounds, eventually being caught at the very end. Cassandra joined supporting her friend’s performance with her own voice. Together they sang cheerily, and in the friends’ opinions they did a great job. When they finished Kat and Cassandra smiled at each other and giggled. Kat stummed the guitar again and started a different folk song. And so, it went on, song after song, between sea shanties to battle anthems long out of use, songs to work to and comedy songs, until Kats fingers were swollen and sore from the chords.
The sun was setting, and the two friends watched the rays transform the night into something wonderous. Orange and pink hues decorated the small tufts of clouds that scattered over the sky. Kat and Cassandra observed the wonder, Cassandra sighed and traced her fingers over the cracked stone under them. The air was so fresh out away from the cities. The lake cooled the breeze around them and all around her sensations of nature surrounded her.
“This is nice.” Cassandra mused as the red-haired girl next to her plucked a lazy tune. “Reminds me of the old days when we used to sing at festivals.”
Kat sighed a long contemplative breath, “yeah, that’s why I wanted to go out here. Brings me back to the renaissance festivals. Surrounded by trees, water splashing, horses playing. It’s not exactly the same thing but it’s almost there.”
Cassandra smiled wide, “all we need is a firepit somewhere and a drum.” The blond giggled softly and glanced at her best friend admiring the colors on the water. “Sometimes I want to go back. I was always tired after every show, but I always wanted to go back.” Cass said in a lower tone of voice.
Kat laughed, “yeah, I always loved to watch the fighting games. All of the knights wearing such fancy armors, it was so exciting.”
“I had to drag you away.” Cassandra and Kat laughed at the memories. Cassandra in a blue gown and Kat in green, one dragging the other away from the jousting match. Cassandra begging her friend to pull herself together and Kat singing sonnets of passionate love to the knights.
As their laughing died down silence fell upon the lake. Surrounded by the trees the only sounds that could be heard were the horses chittering some ways away, and the soft breeze in the treetops.
“Wonder where all the birds are…” Kat mused, placing her hands behind her head and laying down to relax.
Cassandra felt her friend’s words stress her some, Kat was right, there were no birds here. Wasn’t that unusual? The woods were filled with life, there should be noises everywhere. Birds chirping and preening at least. It was springtime goddamn it.
Cassandras blue eyes traced the surrounding area, the lake was lined with trees, the wind causing gentle ripples in the waters surface. Craning her neck she glanced over her shoulder just as her eyes lined the treetops, a branch broke right before her eyes and let out a loud snap. The trees suddenly fluttered as if it was an illusion and Cass rushed to grip her friends arm. Panic quickly bubbling to the surface.
“Kat! Kathryn! There something in the trees!” She whispered, shaking Kat’s arm vigorously.
“What? Where? Show me.” Kats’ brow lowered and she sat up.
“There!” The blond pointed exactly where she had seen it. But the tree stood still and nothing moved. Barely any evidence of a branch snapping. Cassandra could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest, her breath heaving. She was sure she saw… something.
“Well, looks like it’s gone now,” Kat said a mild voice and took her friends hand between her own.
“No! You don’t understand, it was like I was looking at a blurry picture that was moving in the trees! I’m sure I saw something, I’m not lying.” Cassandra’s eyes begged her best friend to believe her.
Kats’ green eyes studied her friend for a moment. She looked deep in thought, before a soft knowing smirk spread over her lip.
“Ooh, I see.” Kat smiled and peered over to the trees. “I think you might’ve seen a ghost.”
“Oh please, Kat not the time to make fun of me.” Cassandra growled, annoyed her friend would make light of her fear. What if there was something out there?
“I’m not making fun of you,” Kat insisted. Sincerity shining through her eye. “I promise, I’ve been reading about the history of these woods and there are many accounts of strange things happening here.”
“Well, that doesn’t make me feel better.”
“I think a ghost was hiding in the trees, listening to us sing. Maybe it was even a ghost of a hunter who might’ve recognized these songs and wanted to enjoy the sweet sound of music one last time?” Kat spoke in a way that Cassandra was sure she believed everything she said.
“Alright now I know you’re making fun of me.” Cassandra still said. She had never been into the supernatural spooky stuff like her friend was.
“If you say so,” Kat said, cheerful as ever and stood up from the ground, placing one foot on a rock and propping her guitar in position. Then she announced in the voice she used when performing, loud, clear, and projecting. “This last song is only for the ghosts hiding in there!” Then she broke into a hunting song, The Black Fox.
“As we were out a hunting one morning in the spring
Both hounds and horses, running well,
Made the hills and the valleys ring
But to our great misfortune, no fox there could be found
Our huntsmen cursed and swore but still no fox moved over the ground
So up spoke our Master Huntsman, the master of our chase
"If only the Devil himself ran by, we'd run him such a race!"
And up there sprung like lightning, a fox from out of his hole
But his fur was the color of a
Starless night and his eyes like burning coals
So they chased him over the valley and they chased him over the fields
And they chased him down to the riverbank, but never would he yield
And he's jumped into the water, and he's swum to the other side
And he's laughed so loud that the green wood’s shook
He's turned to the huntsmen and he's cried:”
Cassandra joined in when the fox sang, adding her lighter tone to the gusto Kat was bringing into the tale.
"Ride on, my gallant Huntsman... When must I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game."
Well, the men looked up in wonder and the hounds ran back to hide
For the fox it changed to the Devil
Himself, where he stood on the other side
And the men, the hounds, the horses, they went flying back to town
But hard on their heels come a little black fox, laughing as he ran:
"Ride on, my gallant Huntsman... When must I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name
And I will come and you shall have the best of sport and game."
"Ride on, my gallant Huntsman... When must I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen”
Kat finished the song with one last strum and turned to her friend. Smiling from ear to ear.
“I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Come on. Let’s get these boy’s home.”
Once again Kat had managed to calm her with song, it was guaranteed to work at this point. It was silly to think there was a ghost in the trees, but even sillier to fear that something watching them. The forest was full of creatures, she didn’t need to worry, it was probably more scared of them then they were of it.
The horses raced back to their home stables even faster then before, so Kat and Cassandra could sleep.