Cross TB Racing Facility Joining Page

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Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility
Character Page

Rather than use the traditional fill-in the blank template for forms, I'm leaving it up to you on how you do your forms. I ask that it is in paragraph form though. Below are things that I'd like to see:

First and Last Name, age (must be 16+ to have a job), and detailed descriptions of appearance. Describe hair (color, length, style), eye color, body build (height/weight/shape), skin color, any scars or tattoos, and anything extra that will help us picture your character. Do not post pictures on here. There will be a separate page for that!

Please include a description of their personalities. This will not only help us to get to know your characters but enables you to keep better track of your own character. Include their fears, likes/dislikes, dreams, insecurities, and anything else to set them apart. Do not leave this out. Give them some depth so they aren't boring. If they have a short temper, have feelings that are easily hurt, or are shy, keep that in mind. If your character begins to develop and the personality doesn't match what you've written down, you can always change it. This is just guidelines to keep some consistency.

Lastly, I'm asking for you to give your characters a history. They didn't just fall from the sky. Give them a hometown, a birthday, anything. I'd prefer not to have a bunch of sob-story pasts where your character's parents were murdered and their sister killed themselves right in front of them. It gets boring. Remember that what happened in their past will often account for how they behave, so give some consistency. Someone whose parents divorced and hated each other might be a bit reserved when it comes to romance and find parents to be a sensitive topic, one they may wish not to talk about. Again, keeping these forms will give you some consistency and something to roleplay with.

This is important!
Please use only one post, unless you know for a fact that you are going to be writing plenty, as I have done. Make your own layout, decorate your forms how you want. Add some color! Do not put pictures on here to show what your characters look like. There will be a picture page. Do not chat on here, either, please.

Finish your forms before you begin to roleplay!

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Breeding Program

_{These horses are available for everyone to roleplay, but are only here for the breeding program. The studs can cover any of the mares in the list below, as well as of your mares if you wish for a foal. The mares are available as well in case you wish to bring in a foal but need a mother to raise them. Additionally, any orphaned foals will be raised by the broodmares.}

S T U D S

Dusk's Revenge is a dark bay, almost black Thoroughbred stallion that stands at 16.2 hands at the withers. He has a large star and stripe on his face, as well as a coronet marking on his right, hind leg. At sixteen years old, he is a good listener despite his high energy levels. He is easily distracted by mares and tends to be possessive of them. Seattle Slew is his great-great grandsire.

Alluded One is a chestnut Thoroughbred stallion whose coat has grayed out to a very pale gray coloring. He has no white markings, though they wouldn't be visible now anyway. He is 15.3 hands at the withers and is eleven years old. He is somewhat grumpy and acts out on the occasion but tends to respond well to both treats and the presence of mares. His sire is Tapit.

Sandifer is a pale chestnut Thoroughbred stallion with a flaxen mane and tail. He has four socks and a blaze, as well as a single birdcatcher spot on his belly. He stands at 16 hands even and is nine years old. He tends to be very highstrung and is a tad on the spooky side. He doesn't like wide-open spaces and he's reserved around strange humans, but listens well to those he is familiar with. His damsire was El Prado.

Gallant Marines is a palomino stallion with a wide blaze and two hind stockings. He is well-built, muscular, and stands at 16.1 hands. He is six years old. He is well-known for his aggressive behavior, so it is highly recommended that only mares with a nice disposition are paired with him. His sire was well-known graded stakes winner, Gallant Wind.

Celestial Zephyr is a cherry bay stallion with a star, interrupted stripe, and snip, as well as two socks. He is rather muscular and stands at 16.2 hands. He is five years old. He is surprisingly calm for the most part and may take a bit of time to relax in new areas. He is occasionally uninterested in breeding with mares, and may not cover them. He is the most recent Triple Crown winner, and is descended from stakes winner Gallant Wind and Seattle Slew.

Countryboycharm is a honey-golden chestnut stallion with a blaze that whitens his forelock and covers his left eye, making it blue. He has darker tiger stripe-like markings on his legs and is rather muscular, but stands at only 15.2 hands. He is ten years old. Personality and bloodlines unknown so far. See Ethan Hamilton for breeding inquiries.

B R O O D M A R E S

Graceland Ryder is a glossy bay Thoroughbred mare with a small white star on her forehead. She has a slender build and stands at 16.2 hands. She is nine years old. She is known to be extremely easy to handle, a great mother, and a great temperament. She tends to produce a lot of milk and can serve as a wet nurse for orphaned foals. She is extremely valuable to the facility. She is descended from Affirmed.

Frayed Heart is a chestnut Thoroughbred mare, aged seventeen. She has a left foreleg sock, and an irregular stripe covering her right eye. She stands at 16.1 hands and is curious and affectionate, but is known to be a major attention hog. She enjoys taunting stallions and isn't easy to breed. Her sire is Storm Cat.

Private Maiden is a dapple gray Thoroughbred mare, aged eleven. She has a snip and a sock on her left front and right hind leg. She stands at 15.2 hands and has two sides to her. She is usually quiet and shy, easily bossed around by the other mares. However, when she is carrying a foal, she is definitely hormonal and tends to become grumpy easier. She has no known famous bloodlines.

Justkitten is a light bay Thoroughbred mare, aged five. She has no white facial markings, but has a coronet marking on her right hind leg. She is relatively highstrung, still fresh off the track and growing used to the broodmare schedule. She is extremely picky and doesn't get along with other mares well, so she has been given a separate paddock. It is believed that it will be difficult to breed her due to her stubbornness. Her sire is Kitten's Joy.

No Logistics is a graying chestnut Thoroughbred mare, aged ten. She has a stripe, right front pastern, and lip spot. She is known to have a bit of a temperament and is extremely protective of her foals, though she tends to be a bit rough with her foals, too. She is rather bossy and doesn't always get along well with the other mares. Her grandsire is Tapit.

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•._.••´¯``•.¸¸.•` ιмagιne all тнe people `•.¸¸.•´´¯`••._.•

Here, you'll learn the names and faces of a few of the staff and jockeys that help Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility run smoothly. Through triumphs and failure, and with time testing their strength, these people persevere and grow closer. Those at Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility are almost like a family, dysfunctional at times, but always managing to make it through eventually.

_{Aiden Cross;; Owner of Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility}

"Make your own choices, day after day."

Aiden Cross is the young owner of Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility. With his diminutive appearance, it can be inferred that he was once a jockey and has since moved on to managing stables. He never grew very tall in his 23 years of living, reaching a maximum height of 5'4" and usually keeping a weight of about 130 pounds, now that he no longer races or needs to keep a certain weight. He has always been considered a bit short and stocky, but it has served him well in the past. Aiden's eyes seem to be blue and at other times, brown, from a distance but when viewed at a closer range, are seen to be a striking hazel-blue mixture. The blue is most evident when he is angry, taking on an icy contrast. He has somewhat pale skin and almost always wears a hat of some sort. Beneath his hat, he has semi-short, mousy-brown hair and small sideburns. He walks with a bit of a limp that hints at the unkindness in which racing has treated him. He has a few scars, mainly surgical, situated on his left hip, left wrist and shoulder, and on his chest.

Aiden is rather two-faced when it comes to his personality. It all depends on how life is treating him and if stress is piling up around him. When Aiden has everything under control, he can be quite welcoming and easy to get along with. He is generally open to new ideas, looking for any way to ensure that his home and breeding facility keep functioning. He is rather shy in front of groups of people, and prefers to deal with people one-on-one instead. At times, he can be seen singing to himself, doing silly impressions, or perhaps playing his violin. On the other hand, if stress plagues Aiden or he is in a foul mood, it is really obvious. He can display surprising temper, giving snippy replies and being curt with others. He is fiercely independent for the most part, finding it hard to admit when he does need help. He is afraid of the lake and the idea of swimming, having almost drowned once as a kid. He cannot stand the sight of blood and vomit, and may pass out or grow ill when presented with either option. He is prone to drinking under times of stress, and this only increases his irritability.

Aiden was born June 6th and raised in Cedar Creek, West Virginia. The facility has been in his family for generations, where he has followed in his father's footsteps and his grandfather's before him. He has been riding since he was about three and competed in jumping for a time with his father's off-track, barren Thoroughbred mare, Honeybear. Eventually, he began to race some of the horses his father had trained, catching quite a few local races and even making it to small stakes races. He never truly made it big as a jockey and this career ended following a serious accident. During a race on his own racehorse, Shadow Hunter, he appeared to pass out, but this was later attributed to something he'd been showing symptoms to for months. His constant fatigue was diagnosed as Narcolepsy and he retired from racing. In that final race, he had badly broken his left hip, shoulder, and wrist when a horse running behind trampled him. He has since had hip replacement surgery, but there continues to be faults with his hip, which is why he limps. He became the facility manager prematurely, following his father's death. He owns Shadow Hunter and several horses that make up the breeding program.

_{Adam Apparel;; Racehorse Jockey}

"Another starry-eyed Messiah meets a violent farewell...Learn to be still."

Adam Apparel is well-known in the racing scene, so the name should be familiar. At the young age of 26, Adam has made not only a name for himself, but a future. He has dark brown hair that has just the faintest hint of red in it, though this is seen only in direct sunlight. He has striking navy blue eyes, which are in contrast to the faint tan that he's retained from growing up in California. He is rather tall to be a racehorse jockey, standing at 5'7". However, as a result, he often struggles to keep his weight within range of racing. He averages in weight around 112 pounds, though this fluctuates, much to his frustration. Adam is actually bulimic, both to ensure that he keeps in racing weight range, and just out of his own insecurity. He has scars on his knuckles known as Russell's Sign, showing that he once had to resort to using his fingers to flip. Because of this, his teeth aren't the whitest, but he hasn't let them get all scuzzy either. Adam is often seen with a crooked smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and often walks with a little swagger in his step. Adam has a few surgical scars, mainly located on his chest and stomach, though he has some on his left leg and right arm, most of which can be attributed to racing.

Adam is well-known in the jockey room for being cocky, confident in his horse's ability to run well, adding to his own good judgement. He may appear to be confident and comfortable with who he is, but inside, he struggles with self-image. He is very insecure about his weight, more so than a jockey is. Adam is also well-known for being fan-friendly. He loves the lime-light, being a true diva at times. He actively flirts with his female fans, throwing them a crooked smile and growing chatty. Despite his willingness to mingle and flirt, he is surprisingly insecure about dating. He's had some bad experiences in the past and perhaps means only to protect himself from further heartache. Despite his usual open friendliness, Adam tends to keep quiet about his own past. He doesn't have a good relationship with his father and tends to become a bit irritated on the topic of his father. He's quite talented when it comes to figuring out how to handle a horse, even if he's never ridden the horse before. He is for the most part level-headed, but there are a few rare occasions where he loses his cool and lashes out in anger. These moments are often spread far apart.

Adam was born on October 13th in Southern California and was raised near Del Mar, California. His mother left shortly after he was born, leaving his father, Nicholas Apparel, to raise him. The well-known, busy racehorse trainer spared little time for his young son, often having other people do the job for him. Adam spent many days after school and on the weekends at the racetrack, watching and learning. He began to do various jobs before getting his jockey license at sixteen with his best friend, Mike Fletcher. He has struggled with bulimia since he was fourteen years old and has a handful of allergies, varying from seasonal to severe allergic reactions to cherries and strawberries, which, unlucky for him, are his favorite fruit. He has won the Breeders' Cup Classic twice and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint once. He attempted to go for a fourth Breeders' Cup win but his mount, Gallant Marines, broke down, ending the colt's racing career and landing Adam in the hospital for a long period of time. He's healed up a lot, but since then, he's been more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. One of the happiest times in Adam's life was while he was engaged to a beautiful young woman named Grace Harrow. However, two months prior to their wedding, she broke it off, leaving Adam behind and unsure how to handle relationships. Adam came to the facility following the death of his best friend, Mike, and has since focused on racing. Months after the breakdown at the Breeders' Cup Championship, Adam and Celestial Zephyr became Triple Crown Winners. Adam didn't have much time to celebrate as he fell ill shortly after and was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He had a cancerous tumor that was removed and he has since been recovering. Once officially cancer free, Adam proposed to his girlfriend of three years, Mercedes Wilde, who said yes. He is now happily married and the father of a beautiful little girl, Charlotte. He owns Celestial Zephyr, Gallant Marines, Paranormal Vortex, and Tremolo.

_{Malik Fortier;; Racehorse Jockey}

"And you see all my life, I’ve painted with anger’s brush."

Malik Fortier would say for his looks not to deceive. With sky blue eyes containing tiny gold flecks in the center and sandy blonde hair that darkens toward the roots, he looks relatively harmless. His skin is somewhat pale and quite clear, further accenting the angelic look that fools so many people. Standing at 5'4" and weighing in at 115 pounds even at 21 years of age, Malik has the typical build of a jockey. He isn't particularly muscular in appearance, though he is of course, strong enough to work with the horses. He is often seen with a guarded expression to his face, but when he smiles, it is more than just a smile. He positively beams and seems to become a whole new person. He has scarring along his knuckles from flipping to keep his weight low, though he has other scars from working with horses, getting in fights, and various other things. Most are small and easily hidden, but he has a small, indented scar under his left eye, faintly pink in color.

Malik is a rather complicated fellow. To most, he appears to be a standoffish, sometimes rude young man. He is most definitely a bit reserved, preferring that others keep out of his business. He is known mostly for his potential to be a great jockey, should he ever stop arguing with trainers long enough to prove himself. Perhaps a touch reckless, he knows little fear and even less restraint. He often acts on impulse and will usually say what's on his mind, which has led to many fights in the past. Underneath this temperamental, distant facade, he is quite the opposite. His true self makes him a diamond in the rough. All he's ever wanted was to be paid attention to. He strives to please everyone, a difficult task as he grew up with parents who are perfectionists. He is estranged from them, so he doesn't enjoy talking about family much. He may pretend that he doesn't care, but often, he just doesn't know what to do, or feels scared, which he'd never admit. He prefers to shut people out, but should anyone work at softening him up, his true self is quite rewarding. Underneath that hard shell, he's really a shy, confused young man that just wants to make things right. It is only the fact that aggression has been the only form of attention he's received that's gotten him to act this way. That, and his dread of disappointing anyone.

Malik was born on December 16th and was raised just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada until he was fourteen. His family then moved to Queens, New York. It wasn't long after that Malik, at fifteen, began to get into trouble. He picked fights at school repeatedly until he was suspended. Upon returning back, he promptly got into another, more severe fight in school and was expelled. This did not go over very well with his strict, perfectionist parents. His father lost his temper and got a bit heavy with his hands. Malik slipped out of the house that night, deciding to cut all ties with his family. He left behind his sister, Mikayla, who is two years older than himself, and hasn't looked back. His parents tracked him down, not difficult when he began racing and blowing away a track record with a maiden colt and making local headlines for the blazing record. Another huge fight followed, where he ultimately severed all ties completely, proclaiming that he hated his parents and wanted nothing to do with them again. He continued to race for five years, getting into trouble often with his temper. He eventually was sent to the facility by a trainer who was tired of the arguments and fights, but hating to see the potential for talent thrown away.

_{Sasha Iskander;; Racehorse Jockey}

"Tame the ghosts in my head that run wild and wish me dead."

Sasha Iskander was born as Alexander Iskander but is known most commonly, not in the racing scene, but in the ice-skating circuit. He is 21 years old and has lived in Russia for much of his life. He has sandy-blonde hair that is darker toward his roots, though this is natural. With his pale skin and light hair, his eyes are left to be one of his most striking and eerie features. Sasha has sharp silvery-gray eyes with a frosty gleam to them. With his often severe expression, he appears to look right through virtually everyone. Because he was born and raised in Russia, he speaks Russian fluently and has an accent. However, he also speaks English, even if it is imperfect. He never grew very tall, reaching a maximum height of 5'1" and barely tipping the scales at 106 pounds. Despite his light weight, Sasha is built muscularly and quite evenly, legs well-muscled and body surprisingly flexible. Sasha walks with surprising grace. He has various little scars, as well as some on his foot due to surgical pins placed in his right one from an accident. He is also blind in his left eye from a racing accident early in his career.

Sasha is rather closed off and distant. He can be rather rude at times, preferring that people keep their noses out of his business. He doesn't enjoy being in the limelight and would prefer just to fade into the background. He is known to have a bit of a temper and doesn't forgive people that easily. He is prideful, though he doesn't enjoy being praised. Sasha doesn't hold up conversations very well, though this is a combination on the difficulty he occasionally has in speaking fluent English and his annoyance that he has no one to speak to that knows his native tongue. He feels rather alone despite the fact that he tends to avoid people. This can be explained by the fact that he is a foreigner far from his home and family. He is surrounded by American customs and the English language. He isn't very sensitive about his height but if anyone decides to make fun of the nickname he goes by (Sasha) or makes any snide comments about figure skating, he will speak his mind and it won't be pretty. He doesn't come by friends easily and when he does, it's difficult for him to maintain it for very long. He tends to make a harsh comment without thinking about it and then comes off as being insensitive. Due to him being Schizophrenic, he may go through rather difficult times, from manic episodes to paranoia, to outright aggression. He distances himself because of this. His logic is that if he hurts himself, no one else will be saddened or that they won't be hurt either.

Sasha was born on January 9th just outside of St. Petersburg, Russia. He lived with his young mother and father, encouraged to ice skate by his father from a young age. However, around four years of age, Sasha's father just left the family, leaving Sasha and his mother to live alone. Sasha immersed himself in learning to skate, perhaps in the hope that his father would one day come back if Sasha could make him proud. By the age of eight, his personality seemed to drastically change. He became aggressive and a bit of a loner in school, starting fights until he was pulled out at age ten and home-schooled for the rest of the time. He went through school and two years of college early, learning English. This all went on while he continued to compete, starting out at small competitions and eventually making it to events that would prepare him for the Olympics. However, just before his twentieth birthday and months before the Olympics, Sasha was performing a Salchow Jump during a competition and landed wrong. He shattered two bones in his right foot that required surgery to fix. He missed the Olympics and found that he couldn't perform without feeling pain anymore. He was forced to retire, which only pushed him into further bitterness. Sasha moved to the United States, somehow convinced to give horse-racing a try. Skya Ann mentored him but during his first race, while riding Resurrected Serenity, Sasha was hit on the left side of his face just above the left eye by a horseshoe. He went blind in his left eye but has since adapted. He took care of and raced The Mighty Fitz while at the facility but left him to be sold when he moved back to Russia unexpectedly. He

_{Fay Underwood;; Racehorse Jockey}

"quote"

Fay Underwood is the resident trouble-maker of the facility and her looks give this all away. She has always been petite and can be described as 'pixie-like' in appearance.

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•._.••´¯``•.¸¸.•` all тнe ĸιng'ѕ нorѕeѕ `•.¸¸.•´´¯`••._.•

This is where you'll be lucky enough to meet a few of the horses that inhabit the stalls of this facility. From the fuzzy, wobbly foals to the athletic, talented racehorses, to the retired and pampered broodmares and studs, these horses are taken care of and loved by many. Take a moment to get to know them, for they may one day go down in history.

Shadow Hunter;; Retired Racehorse//Stud
12-5-3-3-0

"We will be who we are and they’ll heal our scars. Sadness will be far away."

Shadow Hunter is the facility's own version of the black stallion. With a coat that is darker than night, Shadow is an easily recognizable figure, even from a distance. He is a pure-blooded Thoroughbred that measures 17 hands at the withers, making him quite the large stallion. At the age of eight years old, Shadow is the stable's main stud stallion and is already proving to produce quality foals. Shadow's black coat is non-fading with nary a single hair that is bleached by the sun. The only interruption of such darkness in his coat is a small partial coronet marking on his left hind leg and a small white star between his eyes. He has dark, dark brown eyes that are full of warmth and intelligence. Shadow's legs are long and muscular, despite how thin they may look. His conformation is quite correct, though his chest is just a tad too deep. He has a well-chiseled head with an almost delicate look to his face. His mane has been grown out so that it is fairly long, as is his tail. Shadow has a few scars laced through his coat but they are almost unnoticeable and are from long ago.

Shadow Hunter could pass off as a gelding due to his calm nature. He gets along with mares and stallions alike. He isn't hot-headed enough that he's got to challenge every stallion around and has thus rarely gotten into a fight. He will accept attention from humans alike but he has a special fondness of Aiden, seeing as Aiden was the first human he truly bonded with. Shadow doesn't care for any sort of treat that you'd normally come by in the stables. However, Shadow has developed a fondness for applesauce with cinnamon, so long as it was Aiden that gave it to him. He has stubbornly been observed ignoring it until it was in Aiden's hand rather than anyone else's. Shadow is a bit difficult to put out with mares for breeding purposes only because he doesn't have the strong drive of a regular stallion to cover every mare that looks his way. He can be put out with a herd of mares and he won't make a single move until he's alone in a paddock and has pretty much been given every sign to actually make a move.

Shadow Hunter was foaled in late January out of Wingshade by Dusk Hunter and grew up in a rundown, filthy facility. He and his dam were turned out in a muddy little paddock with three other mares and foals. At three and a half months of age, he was weaned and immediately thrust into training, forced to learn how to accept a halter and be led by six months. He wasn't taken care of well and a riding crop was used as a form of punishment, leaving the young foal with scars on his delicate skin. He eventually was rescued and sold to Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility. Aiden was put in charge of socializing him and showing him that humans weren't all bad. Upon forming a bond with Aiden, Shadow blossomed into a friendly colt and a decent racer. Shadow had more stamina than speed, staying toward the front of the pack. Upon being retired from racing, Shadow transitioned into a stud and is the facility's main breeding stallion. Aiden was forced to sell him to keep the facility running. The breeding stable in Georgia that he was sold to eventually closed down due to financial issues and Shadow was sold off without Aiden's notification. He's returned back to the facility since then.

_{Celestial Zephyr;; Retired Racehorse//Stud
17-17-0-0-0}

“The blood runs hot in the Thoroughbred and the courage runs deep.
In the best of them, pride is limitless. This is their heritage and
they carry it like a banner. What they have, they use.” - C.W. ANDERSON

Celestial Zephyr is the epitome of a good Thoroughbred at age four. With excellent conformation and good, sound bones, this alone makes Zeph alone interesting. Standing at 16.2 hands, Celestial Zephyr is a pretty big boy. This is further emphasized due to his muscular, tank-like build. Muscles move beneath his gleaming coat. He is described as a cherry bay due to the vibrant red that gleams within his bay coat. Zeph has three socks, but his right foreleg is bare. He also has a small star that connects to an interrupted stripe and, on his nose, a small snip tinged with pink. Because he is a bay horse, he has black points that leave his legs, muzzle, faintly around his eyes, and his ear tips dusted with black. Celestial Zephyr's eyes are a dark brown, almost black, but they are filled with warmth and affection. His head is well-chiseled and his inky black mane is cropped short so that it stands up in a fluffy, foal-like manner. His tail is longer, but it's still neat.

Celestial Zephyr is well-known around the racetrack among fans as being a friendly, likable horse. With his sweet face and expression, he is easily approachable. He is nothing more than a lovebug, though he doesn't often actively seek out attention. He doesn't get treats very often, so when he does, he tends to adore whoever gives it to him. He enjoys getting his ears rubbed, and will quietly sit for hours if necessary. He occasionally grows uneasy in new situations or places, but soon settles down. He doesn't have strong desires to fight or take mares, which allows him to relax with mares. Now that he's being used for breeding purposes, it takes a bit of encouragement to get him to do the the job. He enjoys running like any good racehorse and is especially fond of Adam, due in part to the fact that he owns and rides him, but also because he's been around since Zeph was a newborn foal. Either way, Celestial Zephyr is a kind horse, both to horses and people alike.

Celestial Zephyr was born in sunny California out of Sunday Galaxy, and by Gallant Wind, who is distantly related to Gallant Fox and Omaha, two Triple Crown winners. While normally a kind mare, Sunday Galaxy, a mare sired by Sunday Silence, abandoned Zeph. The colt was placed with another mare to be raised, though Adam helped care for him, which is why Zeph trusts him so absolutely. Adam's father, Nicholas Apparel, schooled and trained him to become a fine racer. Celestial Zephyr was always the horse most likely to be bullied by the more high-strung of Thoroughbreds and indeed he has been picked on for years by Gallant Marines, his half-brother through Gallant Wind. Despite this, he retains a dignified manner around others and continues to draw fans due to his talent and adorable face. He was started midway through the racing season as a two-year old but quickly picked up the pace. He won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint as a two year old and, as a three year old, won the Santa Anita Stakes. He went on to win all three Triple Crown races, though he came very close to losing the Preakness, winning by a nose. He hasn't raced since and Adam eventually retired him. In the meantime, Zephyr has already sired a few young horses. Flourishing Dancer, Tremolo, and Sunkissed Lullaby.

_{Gallant Marines;; Retired Racehorse//Stud
14-7-4-2-0 (1 DNF)}

"And you could have it all: my empire of dirt. I will let you down. I will make you hurt."

Gallant Marines isn't called the Golden Devil for nothing, for, indeed, his coat is a golden-honey shade of palomino, aged six. With ears constantly pinned back and teeth bared if anyone so much as looks his way, he looks to be trouble. Set wide on his face is a blaze that just barely touches his eyes. Despite the wide, white facial marking, Gallant Marines has eyes that are a dark, dark brown, enough so that they appear to be black. There's a running joke that they're as dead and dark as shark eyes, predatory in nature. This is further accented by the fact that he likes to bite more than anything else. Standing at 16.1hh and having a thick, muscular body much like Celestial Zephyr, Gallant Marines is a big boy as well. He has two socks that pass his fetlocks on his hind legs, and that ends his markings. He has a creamy mane and tail and his hooves are all gray, though his hind ones are a lighter color than his front, due to the white markings. His mane and tail are a tad on the long side because he doesn't take well to physical contact and will bite and kick at anyone that tries.

Gallant Marines certainly lives up to the Devil part of his nickname. Anyone that expects this gorgeous stallion to be a sweetheart is sadly going to be disappointed. Majorly. Gallant Marines is anything but kind to horses and humans alike. He commands respect without giving it back. His first reaction to anything is to pin his ears back and threaten to bite. If he is approached and is within reach, he does bite. If anyone persists, he kicks and bites. When tacked up, he plays every trick in the book. He sucks in air in hopes of making the girth too loose when he relaxes, he refuses the bit, and likes to step on heels when being led around. He is a nightmare to ride unless he's in a full-out gallop. He enjoys bucking at any other gait and has been known to edge close to the railing, much to the displeasure of his riders. He was a strong racer before his retirement and, because of his stubborn refusal to learn or obey, he was never retrained for any other sort of activity. It's a nightmare to get him to cover a mare as he'll mainly choose to bully her before ultimately doing the job. He proceeds to ignore her very existence. The suggestion of gelding him has come up many times but has been ignored every time for his good bloodlines.

Gallant Marines was born on a stormy day in California out of a mare named Staybackstacy and by Gallant Wind, the same sire as Celestial Zephyr. Through his sire, he is related distantly to Gallant Fox and Omaha. He was weaned a month sooner than the other yearlings due to his aggression toward his mother. He bullied his pasture mates and people alike. Despite rigorous schooling, the most that could be attained was a small shred of respect toward humans. He was worked hard by Nicholas Apparel to ensure that he wouldn't buck and attempt to throw his riders off at every opportunity, though he still enjoyed a good buck now and then. He directly resulted in the death of Adam's best friend, Mike Fletcher, when the jockey was bucked off and kicked in the head. Gallant Marines was sent to West Virginia with Adam by Mr. Apparel, though Adam didn't want anything to do with him. He was also the horse that caused the little accident that ultimately made Adam's fiance break up with him. As a three year old, Gallant Marines was run in the Breeders' Cup Classic. A simple misstep sent him into the ground with a fractured left foreleg, where he rolled over Adam. Rather than be put down, he was put into a cast and stall rest at Mr. Apparel's decision. He intended for him to retire and sire a few foals, which he has done so already.

_{Paranormal Vortex;; Active Racehorse
6-1-1-2-1}

"Eager for action and hot for the game; the coming attraction, the drop of a name."

Paranormal Vortex is easy to pick out in a field of dull brown horses. With a rich, dark bay coat and gorgeous splash markings, PV is a sight to behold at three years of age. He stands at 16.2 hands at the withers and has a long, muscular body with the faintest of dapples visible. He has snowy white stockings on each leg, reaching his knees on his forelegs, his hock on his right hind, and his stifle on his left hind. A small, kidney bean-shaped bird catcher marking is located on his left flank as well. He has a bald face that extends up on the right side to the base of his ear, allowing part of his forelock to be white. The rest of his mane and tail are a rich black and are often kept short. PV is well known for his beautiful, light blue eyes and often uses them to his advantage, blinking sweetly at everyone as he begs for treats. His nose is a delicate pink and he has a single little scar on his nose from growing a bit too curious.

Paranormal Vortex is a kind Thoroughbred colt with a few odd ticks that he picked up from his surrogate dam, Nevada Virtue. He is uncannily clever, and has let himself out of his stall a number of times. As a foal, his inquisitive nature, sense of adventure, and his intelligence led him into trouble often. He managed to make his way into the bunkhouse as a foal and discovered his absolute favorite treat: cheese puffs. He definitely lives up to one part of the 'highstrung' definition: he spooks easily. From something as innocuous as a little spider dangling from the rafters to a simple chair, to something that would be understandable. Despite his easy to spook personality, he is a relatively calm horse for the most part. He tends to get in trouble on the occasion still, but for the most part, so long as he's given ample attention, he remains calm. He seems to enjoy small children, which is shocking, considering that he's spooked by so many things, but apparently loud children do not upset him. He and Tremolo get along extremely well and are pasture buddies. Adam jokingly calls the two of them the "Brotherhood."

Paranormal Vortex was born at Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility out of Tempered Grace, a mare that Fay Underwood owned, and by Summertime Jubilation, a stakes winning sire. His dam died shortly after giving birth after internal bleeding brought on by labor. PV was bottle fed by several people at the facility and stalled with Nevada Virtue as his surrogate mother. He eventually picked up several of the dominant white mare's odd antics but developed his own personality. He was a tad difficult to train but, with Adam's hard work and a trainer in the area, the colt soon learned manners and went through training as a racehorse. He has developed a close bond with Tremolo and the two can often be seen playing with one another. He hasn't shown too much talent as a racer, but he may prove himself as a stud for his coloring.

_{Tremolo;; Active Racehorse
2-1-0-0-1}

"When I get older, I will be stronger. They'll call me freedom. Just like a wavin' flag."

Tremolo is as much a sight to see as his best friend, Paranormal Vortex. With a coat the shade of the darkest ebony, Tremolo is a handsome two year old Thoroughbred colt. However, it is the patches of white that cover almost half of his body that makes him so eye-catching and gave him his name. Named for the sound that a common loon makes and because of the black and white bird's pattern, he was given the name of Tremolo. He is expected to reach a height of approximately 15.3 hands at the withers, though he might come up to as tall as 16.1 hands. With his four legs containing stockings, as well as a bald face, the colt has markings like his best friend. However, where it differs is that his body features splashes of white as well, mainly on his belly and spanning to his neck. That is because Tremolo is a black frame overo colt. He has a build more similar to his dam's build than his sire's. He is surprisingly lean and appears only lightly muscled, though his body is still quite strong. His mane and tail are an inky black and his muzzle is tinged pink, as is the white skin around his pretty blue eyes.

Tremolo retains the same goofy, lively personality that his best friend, Paranormal Vortex, has. However, the difference in the two colts is that, where Paranormal Vortex is an absolute sweetheart, Tremolo has a devilish streak in him. He tends to be more impatient and protective of food. Feeding time is a bit of a hassle, especially when he is hungry. He gets nippy and pushy, trying to eat before the hay net has been filled or the feed bucket hung up. He doesn't spook nearly as much as Paranormal Vortex, and, in fact, has grown rather bold. He doesn't enjoy baths much, but loves to be groomed. He is happiest and easiest to handle when he is near Paranormal Vortex. This is thought to be due to their camaraderie that they have formed. He has more energy and acts a bit more immaturely, but he may still make a great mount. He does not enjoy standing still or being cooped in his stall for long, most likely due to being on stall rest after a hairline fracture to his pelvis.

Tremolo was born at Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility out of Immanaturalblue and by Celestial Zephyr. He has lines from both Affirmed and Sunday Silence as a result. He is the direct result of an unplanned breeding. His sire and dam were active racers left out to graze together by mistake. He was the end result and it was discovered that Celestial Zephyr carried a rare Overo gene that minimally expressed itself in him but was expressed more so for Tremolo. He was difficult to teach ground manners but, with the help of a trainer from Lucky Dusk Farms down the road, he was given proper manners and went into training. Shortly after accepting a saddle, Tremolo was injured. Paranormal Vortex collided with him while playing in the pastures and both colts went down. While PV was just bruised, Tremolo received a hairline fracture to his pelvis, which required stall rest. However, his injury prevented him from being a target to horse thieves and he was left alone. He recovered well enough to resume training and has begun to race under Adam.

_{My Guy Red;; Active Racehorse
13-6-3-1-2}

"I'm a mascot for what you've become."

My Guy Red is best known as Celestial Zephyr's rival in the Triple Crown races, though beyond that, he has lost any other fame. My Guy Red surely lives up to his name with a gorgeous chestnut coat, a deep and vibrant red coloring. A purebred Thoroughbred stallion that stands at 16 hands evenly, aged five, he is heading toward the prime of his life. Muscles ripple across his chest and hindquarters beneath his deep chestnut coat. Anyone that takes a moment to look at him will fall for his gorgeous face. With sad, dark brown eyes that border on being black in color, and a blaze that runs down and covers his left nostril, he will capture hearts right away. Add in the large, fuzzy ears and he's ready to steal hearts. The blaze is the only white marking on his body, leaving the rest of his coat chestnut. His muzzle is a faded gray-brown coloring that melds into copper on his head. His mane and tail are a slightly darker shade of red than his base coat, but it is hardly noticeable.

My Guy Red has changed a lot since the Triple Crown races. Formerly a confident, highstrung Thoroughbred, Red has become almost the opposite of his former self. He was known to be jumpy in the paddocks, showing a tendency to rear and shy away for no reason and absolutely, always needed to be ponied around, rather than walk by himself. It was noted that despite sound schooling, he absolutely loathed the gates and that he often had to be loaded last or reloaded to avoid problems. He now lacks confidence in himself and his rider, and as a result, often doesn't try hard at anything, just going about in a manner as if he just wants to get through the task.  When he first was purchased by Adam, he was timid and showed little interest in anything around him, including other horses and humans. With Adam working to improve his confidence by letting him win practice runs, he is starting to perk up. He is highly protective of his food and it is wise not to come between him and food, for he has a tendency to nip.

My Guy Red was born at a large breeding facility affiliated with Stonestreet Stables in Ocala, Florida and is out of Krisada, by Cape Blanco. He was trained by a semi-retired trainer named Argus Conway and took part in races along the East Coast. His first year of racing, it took him two tries to break his maiden, and to find his pace in the race before he really started to win races. As a three year old, he won the Gotham Stakes, which would enable him to participate in the Kentucky Derby. It was here that he ran against Celestial Zephyr and ultimately came in second place. This pattern followed for the next two jewels of the Triple Crown, where he placed second in each, though he did come very close to winning the Preakness Stakes. By the end of the three big races, he was a changing horse. He came out of the Belmont tired and put less effort into each workout and race he was put into. He stopped winning and quit trying, soon fading to nothing. He eventually was sold and somehow wound up at an auction in Kentucky, where Adam found him. He won the bid and brought the stallion home with the intent to bring him back up to form, believing he could still race for a bit longer, if only he could regain the stallion's confidence in himself and his rider. The plan would then be to retire him and send him to the breeding shed.

_{Transcendence;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"I love the mayhem more than the lull."

Transcendence is a large black colt...

_{Mumford;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"quote"

Mumford is the colt overlooked due to his rather diminutive size. Standing at only 15.1 hands fully grown, this two year old Thoroughbred colt doesn't exactly stand out much. With a darkened coat colored seal brown, Mumford doesn't exactly catch the eye much either. His coat is nearly black in color along his body, and including his mane and tail. However, his body is really just a very dark coloring. He has the typical black points that a bay does, where his legs, mane, tail, and muzzle are darkened, though it melds perfectly into his extremely dark coat. He has faint reddish-tan markings on his muzzle, around his eyes, behind his elbows, and near his belly. Mumford has a tiny white star between his eyes, and both hind legs have coronet markings. He has deep brown eyes that shine brightly and fuzzy little ears. He has a multitude of scars running across his rump, neck, legs, and even along his face, both from horses and human handling alike. His dark eyes are watchful and often, the whites of his eyes are shown as he rolls them, for he is unusually timid. His fuzzy ears flick back and forth frequently and occasionally pin back in fear. His conformation is nearly perfect, though his knees are somewhat incorrect.

Mumford is pretty much an open book when it comes to his personality. As seen by his watchful eyes and ever-moving ears, he is known to be a timid horse. This is likely attributed to happenings prior to his arrival at the facility. He tends not to trust new people easily, which means that he has to have an exact routine when it comes to who works with him. He is afraid of most men, again likely from his life previous to being purchased by the facility. He gets along far better with females, though he remains somewhat timid, even in their presence. He has to be sedated for the farrier and for his teeth to be floated. During vet checks, he cannot be sedated, as he is most often checked out before races and a sedation would pretty much leave him unable to race. Mumford tends to be headshy, making it difficult for a bridle to be put on, as well as the blinkers that he needs to wear. He also does not like his legs being touched, fears the riding crop, and anything else that can be flicked at him. He is most relaxed in the relative safety of his stall, or the pasture. He isn't really classified as aggressive, though he may become so if he feels threatened and cannot get away from the scary things. He has a tendency to kick when his legs are being handled.

Mumford was born at a breeding facility outside of Saratoga, to a mare named Ampletime and was sired by Smarty Jones. He was sold at a yearling auction to an up and coming stable. Under the training and guidance of a rather harsh trainer, Mumford was treated harshly. The handling of the little colt would more accurately be described as abuse. He, along with seven other horses, were seized by animal control and nursed back to health before being adopted out. Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility took him in and has essentially been retraining him. He likely won't race until he's a three year old.

_{Industria;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"quote"

Industria is a small chestnut colt...

_{Bokeh;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"quote"

Bokeh is a small black filly...

_{Iridescent;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"quote"

Iridescent is a large, dark bay filly...

_{Lorenzini;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"quote"

Lorenzini is an undersized chestnut filly...

_{Hamlet's Choice;; Racehorse
0-0-0-0-0}

"quote"

Hamlet's Choice is a large blood bay colt...

[Horse]

Under his spurning feet, the road
Like an arrowly alpine river flowed
And the landscape sped away behind
Like an ocean flying before the wind...

[/size][/font][/color]

---

[/color][/size]

[Goldie]

~Team*One~
Ethan Mason Hamilton
Jessica McKenzie Clark Whitewood
Zoey McKenna Whitewood
Edgar Ruairi Whitewood
Ranslyr Razdess Ritz

______________________________________~*~_______________________________________
Ethan M. Hamilton
In three words I can sum up what I've learned about life; It goes on.

[/color]

Ethan is tall for a jockey, standing at almost 5'7 and weighing about 110 pounds. Ethan has somewhat broad shoulders and a small waist, strong arms with defined muscles though he isn't ripped. He has a flat stomach and well muscles back, though he doesn't have washboard abs he has the light showing of them on his stomach. He has tanned skin, having a light farmer's tan, and light blond hair that barely touches his forehead. His eyes, his dark blue eyes, are what he thinks are his best feature. His irises are a dark, yet bright somehow, navy blue that are an inky color like the night sky. Around the pupil however is a ring of bright blue, the edges of the ring flared out. He has a square face with a strong jaw, but it fits his body shape and looks attractive. A few white scars lace his knuckles and his tan arms from working on the farm he grew up on. On his chest, right over his heart, is a tattoo of a pair of small, light pink wings. He got the tattoo when his younger sister, Brandy, died of a rare form of heart cancer when she was 17. Another tattoo rests on his bicep, a plain black horseshoe with The Last Dance written in neat cursive under it in memory of his first horse, the start of the bloodline of racers he now owns.
Ethan is a true romantic, though he's shy about it. He works to please and works hard to do the best he can. Ethan knows when to keep his mouth shut, and usually does. He would rather listen than talk and has learned a lot from this, acting older than his 23 years on this world sometimes. He would rather try to fix things by talking instead of physically fighting, but that doesn't mean he wont fight. That being said, he sometimes looses his temper but it depends on who he is dealing with. He loves easily, doing whatever it takes to try and have a happy relationship.
Ethan was born on May 21, 1990 in a small town near Tampa, Florida called Tix. He was raised on a small farm, the typical farm most people think of. It had a chicken coop, a big red barn with a little pasture connected to it, a few bigger pastures full of cows and work horses along with a donkey and a pony or two, an old dog laying on the porch with a little puppy bothering it while a fat barn cat stalks the puppy's wagging tail. Standard farm. The Hamilton family raised calves, fattened them up, and sold them for meat once they were big and old enough. They also sold eggs and chicks, sold a few colts or fillies every few years, and sold the vegitebles they grew and didn't eat themselves at the local farmers market. This was the family's income for the entire year, though the money had to last from the late spring or early summer to the winter when mares were still pregnant and the ground not holding any life until the next spring comes around. Ethan's family wasn't poor, but they had to be careful with spending. He was a happy kid, always playing outside with the kids from down the road, going to the nearby creek, climbing trees and skinning knees. He was on the middle school and highschool baseball teams, dated a few cheerleaders, failed a math quiz or two, and was caught kissing at the movies. Normal childhood, and he loved it. When he turned 17 he started working at a yearling barn in Tampa to pay for gas money, his job being to put the yearlings out in the morning then bring them back inside at night. One day though, as a hurricane approached, he had left one filly outside by mistake. He hadn't seen her from her pitch black coat. The next morning he found her, the filly's leg broken from a branch hitting it. He was promptly fired since the vet said the young horse wouldn't be able to race without a surgery, and even then she most likely wouldn't do good. The filly's owners decided not to waste the money and put her down, but Ethan bought her instead for a low price of 100 dollars. The filly, named the Last Dance, had the surgery then started training after fully healing. Over the next two years he paid the vet off for the surgery while also racing his Dancer. The year that Dancer turned 3, the duo won the Triple Crown. Ethan had only been 20 years old. A few years later, he and Dancer had a terrible accident only feet away from winning. Ethan's thigh bone had been snapped and his ankle crushed. Dancer had started hemoraging from the impact when her head hit the ground. The on scene vet had put her down immeaditaly, EMT's having to cut a peice of her mane so that Ethan's entangled hand would be free and they could load him into the ambulance. He now wears that same lock of pitch black mane as a braided bracelet around his right wrist. He owns Dancer's only filly and uses her as a broodmare at the facility.
So far, that is it on Ethan Hamilton.

Jessica M. Whitewood
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Jessica, or Jessie as everyone else calls her, is the redheaded medic for the facility and is 24. She is probably the shortest person at the facility, which is strange since most everyone is a jockey. She is about 5'1 and weighs around 75 pounds. She has light skin, creamy soft like a baby's yet a little tan. She has no freckles at all, her skin free of blemish or stray mark. She has a pair of big, icy blue eyes ringed by dark lashes. It's strange that her hair is red, yet her lashes are a dark brown. She has a completely wild head of curly, wavy red hair. She is often compaired to the main character of the movie Brave, their likeness somewhat scary. Jessie is half Scottish and has no accent except for when she gets mad, because then she starts speaking fluent Gaelic. Jessie also has ADD, so she gets distracted very easily and it's hard for her to concentrate.

Jessie is a tomboy, spitfire, and a mom rolled all into one. She is very caring, motherly, sweet, and protective when it comes to her patients at the facility and her baby girl, Zoey. She tries to take care of anyone she thinks needs help, whether they actually do or not. She's also got a temper on her, though it doesn't come out very often. She can get meaner than a mother bear if you push her buttons. She use to be a big skater girl and tomboy, having grown up with three big brothers. She has a few trophies in the infirmary on a shelf from a few competitions she participated in when she was a few years younger. She doesn't have much free time to skate board anymore, but keep her board under her desk and rolls it around with her feet while doing paper work.

Jessie's mother is a native from Scotland and had come to America when she was a teenager. She married a young man in the army, got pregnant and had three boys, then had little Jessie. Jessie grew up in Miami, followed around her older brothers, learned to skateboard and surf, then was shipped off to her dad's parents farm in central Florida to help her grandmother. She was 7. When she was 11 she found out her father had died after a bombing. She had been a daddy's girl, but was strong at the funeral. She wore a black dress, her father's army green hat, and saluted the captain of his troop when he said how sorry he was to the family. She then returned to the farm to help her grandfather handle a few new calves. Jessie was homeschooled, her grandmother being a retired school teacher. When she was 17, her grandmother's fluffy housecat had a little of four kittens. The were all black, except the one oddball white kitten. Jessie, being the little oddball herself, of course picked that cat and spent a week trying to decide what to name her. She finally decided on Jolene, which her grandmother told her ment 'pretty' in French. After 'graduating' Jessie went to nursing school, got her Registered Nurse degree and her Emergency Nurse degree, then got her Registered Medical Practitioner four years ago.
A newer chapter in Jessie's life is with her little girl, Zoey. One night in New York City she was jumped and raped by a group of young men while trying to walk to her hotel room after a medical conference. 8 monthes later, little Zoe was born. Soon after Z was born, Jessie married her boyfriend Jesse Whitewood. Jessie is a great mother and wife, loving her new family and her adopted family. Most recently, Jessie had given birth to Edgar Whitewood. Jess is the father, but treats little Eddie just the same as Zoey.


Zoey M. Whitewood
I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.

Zoey is the three year old daughter of Jessica Clark Whitewood and is currently 3 years old. She has her mother's red hair, but in a lighter shade with a tinge of blond in the sunlight. She also inherited her mother's pale skin and extra petite size, though she is still slightly chubby. Zoey's hair falls in loose ringlets around her waist with fluffy bangs hanging on her forehead above a pair of big, cow like green-blue eyes, the same color as the Atlantic Ocean water when the sunlight shines through it. On Zoey's little pixie like nose is a sprinkle of very light freckles. Zoey has a full set of baby teeth and is always seen smiling or laughing. She can talk and loves following people around.
Zoey is a happy little girl. She's energetic and quite a hand full of a child. She is always asking questions and is still trying to figure out her own personality, though she is very sure that she wants to be a skateboarder like her mom. She loves riding horses and helps in the stables whenever her mother lets her. She also loves her daddy, Jesse Whitewood, very much. Another person she holds dear to her heart is her Uncle Adam, or Uncle Addy as she calls him. This little redheaded child is a sneaky trickster and already a prankster, though the jokes are little like hiding her mother's pen or switching around brushes in different cleaning kits. She loves listening to stories as well, big greenish eyes wide as she listens. Zoey has a big heart, always sitting with patients in the infirmary and patting their hand. She doesn't believe any person is bad and usually tries to make everyone she meets like her. So in short, Zoey is a lovable, sneaky, little ball of ginger energy.
Zoey was born at the hospital near Cross and after a few days was taken home. She grew to be a very loved child at Cross. She is currently four years old, and calls Adam 'Uncle Addy' and Sadie 'Auntie Sadie'.




[/center][/sub]

[Goldie]

~Team*Two~


Jolene
Flourishing Dancer {Flourish}
Countryboycharm {Charmer}
French Girl
Unknown Champion {Champ}
Foreverlyn {Lynnie}


______________________________________~*~_______________________________________

Jolene
If payback is a b*tch and revenge is sweet, then I'm the sweetest b*tch you'll ever meet.



Flourishing Dancer
I would always rather be happy that dignified.

Flourish is a six year old liver chestnut mare with a white muzzle, four white stockings that end around her knees, and a gustral plume which turns her tail gray. Her dam was the Last Dance, a black Triple Crown winning mare, and her sire is Celestial Zephyr, who is also a Triple Crown winner and cherry bay. Her coloring is odd, but Ethan doesn't question it. She is somewhat tall, standing at about 15 hands with a long neck and legs. She still looks very feminine and balanced though. Ethan chooses to keep her mane and tail long since she doesn't race.
It's odd that she doesn't seem to have the spirit for racing like both of her parents did. She would have great speed because of her long legs if she just tried. Flourish is a gentle enough mare, but loves attention and sometimes bullies other horses to get her way. She doesn't like strange people riding her, only allowing one or two choice people to ride her. She will let almost anyone groom or lunge her, though she has a stubborn streak sometimes. She is doesn't bite or rear but is known to have bucked off a rider or two. Basically, if you are nice to her, give her treats, and earn her trust you'll have a new friend.Since she doesn't have the interest or spirit for racing, Ethan decided to use her as a broodmare since her unusual coat and champion bloodlines help sell her foals. She is a good mother, protective and kind though she has rejected a foal once due to human interaction leaving the mother and foal without a bond.
Flourish was born at Cross, her dam The Last Dance and sire Celestial Zephyr. After going through extensive training to get her ready for racing, it turned out she hated it. Hated being pushed on the track and the crowds and the gates. Never did she show the enthusiasm she had running in the pastures on the track. Ethan decided that she had good enough bloodlines and temperment to use as a broodmare, so when he thought she was old enough he bred her and she has been a broodmare ever since, being mother to two foals already.


Countryboycharm
You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question

Countryboycharm, or Charmer, is a regal looking honey colored chestnut stallion of ten years old. He has darker tiger stripes going down his legs in a black coloring almost like bay marks. He also has a blaze going down his face and over his left eye, turning it blue. The blaze starts at his poll, so his forelock is also stark white while the rest of his body is a dark, golden honey color. He is owned by Ethan Hamilton and had won a good number of races in Tampa, Florida before retiring to stud. He has sired a good number of foals so far, his chestnut color being dominant and turning the foals some shade of chestnut usually. He is muscular, standing at about 15.2 hands. He is lean but still full of muscle, as most TB's should look. His mane is kept long since it isn't very thick and his tail is cut at the bottom. He has a brand on his neck, a swooping RR that hides under his mane.


French Girl (Frenchie)
Paint me like one of your French girls
French girl is a black and white overo TB mare. She is 8 years old and raced in the Kentucky Derby, winning third place when she was 3 year old. She has a basic black frame with white patches on her sides. Her front legs, chest, throat, and head are pitch black but a band of white goes from below her eyes down her face to her muzzle. A patch of white looks like it was slapped across her back like a saddle blanket with wavy, uneven edges. A wave of black goes from her shoulder to her haunches, creating a wavy black band between her white back and white belly on both sides of her. Her rear legs are pitch black as well, going from the right back leg, across her rear, and to her left leg so that her entire rump is black except for around her dock where her tail starts. A small patch of white is across her mane, turning a small bit of it white as well while her tail is completely white. Her eyes are a warm brown color, not affected by any white mark on her face. She has a tall body, 16.1 hands, with long stringy legs as if she was a large foal. She is good at comanding speed but can't run too far of a distance. Her mane and tail are thin but kept long and wispy.
Frenchie is a high spirited mare who loves to play in the pasture and run up and down the fence line. She is full of energy and somewhat hard to control because of it. She is very trustworthy though, liking any human who is nice to her or gives her a treat. She is a kind mare, not biting or rearing, but is known to buck when she gets over excited. She doesn't spook easily and is very curious, willing to eat, sniff, or play with anything once. She works to please though it is hard to keep her focused. She was retired at the age of 4 to become a broodmare and has produced several lovely foals, her coat being a heterozygous gene. She loves to run and is fun to ride if ridden by an experianced rider, but can sometimes be too much to handle for a newer rider. She is a snoopy horse, always poking people for treats and getting into mischief.
Frenchie was sold to Cross at the age of 5 after her owner passed away. She is used in the breeding program and has a future of a very promising dam. Her dam was Paint a Picture and her sire was British Standards, her great-great-great grandsire being Hyperion.


Unknown Champion
A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment
Lalalala


Foreverlyn
Don't waste a minute not being happy. If one window closes, run to the next window- or break down a door.
Lalala

[Cloudy]

_{нoмe ιѕ вeнιɴd, тнe world αнeαd, αɴd тнere αre мαɴy pαтнѕ тo тreαd. тнroυɢн ѕнαdow, тo тнe edɢe oғ ɴιɢнт, υɴтιl тнe ѕтαrѕ αre αll αlιɢɴed. мιѕт αɴd ѕнαdow, cloυd αɴd ѕнαde - αll ѕнαll ғαde. αll ѕнαll ғαde.}


jocĸeyѕ

♀ Cynthia Leighton | Owner of Tromluí
♂ Ruaidrí Darach | Owner of Loch Lomond
♀ Sekhmet Cairo | Owner of Ghostly King and Shady Grove
♀ Jaxxon Carter | Owner of [Pending]

ｃｙｎｔｈｉａ ｌｅｉｇｈｔｏｎ

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." - Abraham Lincoln

<sub>Is it not the most poor that are often the most kind? As much can be said for Cynthia Leighton, whose whole life has been a struggle.

Born October 25, at 10:30 PM, in Malibu California, Cynthia's mother and father knew their first born would be a little spitfire of love and hope. By the time she was but eight months old, Cynthia was uttering words like 'mum' and 'da.' As she grew older, she never stopped. She was always outside, playing with the family's dog, Blu, or chasing after the miniature ponies her father bred. When her brother was born, Cynthia became the responsible big sister, even though she was four. At the age of six, Cynthia's life was turned on its head.

Cynthia contracted meningococcal meningitis from the elementary school she was attending. The virus ravaged her small form, leaving her weak and tired. She ran a high fever and her parents desperately rushed her to the hospital, fearing their precious bundle of energy would die.

Cynthia indeed came close to death, but lost something almost as valuable: her sight. Left blind and ill, Cynthia's hope faded to near nothingness as she was forced to learn braille and withdraw from school to be homeschooled. Her parents had never seen their six-year-old more saddened, more depressed. When Cyn was fifteen, her parents found out about a seeing-eye-dog program and instantly enrolled Cynthia in it. Three years and many trial-dogs later, Meriadoc came into the picture. The golden retriever reflected who Cynthia had been in her younger years, and dog and girl took to each-other instantly. They've been nearly inseparable since.

Cynthia lived in darkness for the next ten years, beneath her parent's protective shadow. Her da had bought her an abused horse, a thoroughbred, and named him Tromlui. Elated, Cyn was hardly ever found away from the stallion or Merry. Tromlui and Cyn helped each other heal; Cyn taught Nightmare that not all humans were evil, and taught him to love again. Nightmare taught Cynthia to accept her blindness and move on. While skimming through the Internet, Cynthia's father came across Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility's website. After a long, hard discussion, her mum and da decided. They offered her the opportunity to stay at Cross for a while, and Cyn didn't hesitate.

Cynthia Leighton is a kind-hearted soul, as the most unfortunate usually are. She is often soft-spoken, a quiet soul who chooses to listen instead of speaking. But should you have the chance of hearing Cynthia speak, her voice is a soft, lilting melody, and the words that leave her lips are sarcastic and humorous. She has this certain way of furrowing her brow, as though the world itself confuses her, when she is thinking. She has an odd habit of sticking out her tongue when concentrating, as though the entire world faded from existence around Cyn. She is a quirky, fun person to be around – once you get her out of her shell, of course. Due to her blindness, Cyn is often reluctant to socialize and has become the wallflower of Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility. This fact irritates her; her mum and da have told her stories of when she was a child, when she was a fun-loving, outgoing little whirlwind of energy. She does remember a bit before she went blind, but the memories make her sad – the colors are fading in her mind’s eye, and the fact that they are is breaking her heart.</sub>






ｍｅｒｉａｄｏｃ | ｓｅｅｉｎｇ－ｅｙｅ ｄｏｇ ｏｆ ｃｙｎｔｈｉａ

"I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult." - Rita Rudner

<sub>The sweet, wriggly golden retriever that Cynthia has come to know as Meriadoc, or 'Merry,' is one massive bundle of energy. He is the standard size of a golden retriever, his coat in the middle between 'fluffy' and 'feathery' and 'furry.' He has this comical cow-lick down his back, with wiry hairs sticking up in a bunch of different directions. He has a sort of dopey look on his adorable face, making him even cuter. But don't let that fool you; Merry's one of the most intelligent dogs you'll ever meet.

He was selected as a pup to become a seeing-eye dog, and graduated at the top of his 'class' of fellow pooches. He and Cyn took to each other almost instantly, and he's been her loyal companion for two years now. He has a certain habit of watching people, as if figuring out their mannerisms, and then acting upon them. He doesn't bark often; golden retrievers are the lowest on the bark meter, and loves a good cuddle every now and then. He's a great pup to cuddle with if you're feeling down, of course.</sub>




ｒｕａｉｄｈｒｉ ｄａｒａｃｈ

_{My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare. - Mike Myers}

<sub>Purely Scottish and purely comical, Ruaidhrí is a funny and light-hearted person to be around. Of course, he's often hard to understand, thanks to his thick Scottish accent. He's a jokester at heart, and most likely always will be. He likes to crack horrific and amazing puns and jokes - horrific as in so terribly not-funny that they're hilarious. An example of this would be, "What sort of cheese does a cow like? Moozzerella!" So terrible that it's entertaining, right? Ruaidhrí is quite attractive, with his tall, muscular form, silky black hair, and stark, amber, almost pure gold eyes. He moves with a sweeping ease, an unerring grace, a feral touch. He stands about 5'6", which is fairly tall for jockeys, but he's still within the height range. Ruaidhrí is the epitome of the ‘free spirit.’ He loves the sound of hooves against the soft, rain-dampened earth and the smell of rain in the woods. It's a beautiful thing, hmm?

Ruaidhrí was naturally born in Scotland, on the Scottish moors that are so famous in stories of old. His homeland was and is beautiful, with the sweeping hills and the glittering star-filled sky. There is nothing more peaceful than sitting on the moors at night, with the stars above you and the soft, springing grass beneath you. It is a beautiful and lovely thing, and Ruaidhrí would not change his birthplace for the world. He had a pleasant life with his father and mother. His father bred draft horses for a living, and so Ruaidhrí grew up around the massive beings. He has no fear of horses, and will not hesitate to dive into a situation that requires the calming of a massive horse. Surprisingly, he's never been tossed, trampled or kicked. He's only been bitten a few times. His mother was a kind being, who dotted on her son without fail. His father was a kind man who was the epitome of the strong working man in Ruaidhrí's life. He loves his parents, and wants to make it big as a jockey to help support their retirement life. And so he has found himself at Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility.</sub>




ｓｅｋｈｍｅｔ ｃａｉｒｏ

_{"I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you." - Elizabeth Proctor, "The Crucible", Act II, Scene I}

<sub>Little ol' Sekhmet is quite a sight to see. From the moment she was born in the heart of Egypt's capital, Cairo, Sekhmet was a surprise to her parents. When the little baby opened her eyes, her parent's reeled in surprise. Sekhmet's gaze was utterly strange. Her parents were fascinated by the sheer animalistic quality of the gaze, studying the odd coloring with silent expression. Sekhmet's irises seemed to be made of pure liquid gold, flecked with darker browns and yellows. It was almost as if a barn owl had lent it feathers to serve as Sekhmet's eyes. Wrapped around her pupil was a band of a chocolate brown, sort of a milk chocolate coloring. It was distinguishable from her pupil, adding another unique quality to this little bundle of joy. Sekhmet's parents gave her a unique name to fit her unique appearance: Sekhmet, warrior goddess of old, worshipped for thousands of years in the ancient kingdom of Egypt. Sekhmet's parents gave her a surname named after the city she was born in: Cairo. As Sekhmet grew older, the animalistic quality of her irises never seemed to fade. The young girl always had a close connection to the animal world, seeming to calm feral strays and panicked creatures with a gentle touch and a soft praise. As Sekhmet grew older, her beauty grew as well. She filled out nicely, with gentle curves that seemed to fit her. Her hair grew long enough to brush the middle of her back, silky smooth and dark as night. Her face grew more mature, subtle in its beauty, heart-shaped while still retaining a few angles. Sekhmet's beauty is more on the natural side, though she does not flaunt it. No, Sekhmet couldn't care less what others think of her; she learned, after many struggles with friends, that it doesn't matter what people think about you as long as you're happy with who you are.

Now, Sekhmet's personality is a bit complex. As she is rather small, standing only about 5'2", Sekhmet can talk a mighty word. What she lacks for in height she makes up for in wit. Sekhmet is a quirky little being, though you'd never know it by exchanging simple 'hello's with her. No, if you want to see Sekhmet's true personality, you have to get to know her better. Sekhmet is able to remain cordial with nearly anybody, even if she hates your guts. She's quite the actress, which isn't necessarily a good thing. If Sekhmet wanted to, she could lie straight to your face without ever batting an eyelash. It's a good thing that Sekhmet isn't that kind of person. She genuinely wants to see everyone happy and does her best to ensure that, though she knows it's more or less impossible. Someone's always going to be upset with the hand life deals them. Sekhmet graduated from Western University with a major in Chemistry and a minor in biology. Now, you may be wondering, how did Sekhmet graduate from an American college when she lived in Egypt? Here's your answer: Sekhmet and her family moved to the United States of America, to the heart of California. Sekhmet loved it, though she was utterly confused by the Americans' way of life. Sekhmet blossomed into a fine young woman, brilliant and humble.

After Sekhmet graduated from college she decided to go to graduate school to get her PhD in Chemistry and another in Biology. But, Sekhmet wanted more in life and, after selecting a graduate school in Virginia, Sekhmet decided to do a little research into horse-related careers. Despite her life taking a scientific turn, Sekhmet had always retained her love of horses. After digging into the racing career, Sekhmet decided that she wanted to give it a whirl and sent an email to Aiden Cross, inquiring about becoming a jockey at his facility. While Sekhmet is pursuing her PhD in Chemistry and Biology online, she's learning to become a jockey.

Her life is hectic, isn't it? But Sekhmet loves the excitement.</sub>




ｖａｌｅｎｔｉｎｅ ａｕｒｏｒｅａ

_{I dreamed I was missing – you were so scared. But no one would listen, 'cause no one else cared. After my dreaming I woke with this fear: what am I leaving when I'm done here? So if you're asking me, I want you to know: when my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done, help me leave behind some reasons to be missed. And don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty, keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest. Leave out all the rest. Don't be afraid; I've taken my beating, I've shared what I've made. I'm strong on the surface, not all the way through. I've never been perfect, but neither have you. So if you're asking me, I want you to know: when my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done, help me leave behind some reasons to be missed. Don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty, keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest. Leave out all the rest. Forgetting all the hurt inside, you've learned to hide so well, pretending someone else can come and save me from myself. I can't be who you are. So if you're asking me, I want you to know: when my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done, help me leave behind some reasons to be missed. And don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty, keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest. Leave out all the rest. Forgetting all the hurt inside, you've learned to hide so well, pretending someone else can come and save me from myself. I can't be who you are. I can’t be who you are.}

<sub>The sleek, athletic form of Valentine Aurorea commands a certain aura of respect, of authority, radiating with every movement. Valentine is most often cooly professional, though he's able to appreciate a good joke. He's laid back, easy-going and strictly respectful. Valentine stands around the average height of a jockey, reaching about two inches above five-feet. His hair is a deep black, sometimes reflecting a weird midnight blue in the sunlight. His face is smooth while still retaining a few angles, his nose straight. His eyes are a glittering, icy blue, most often filled with amusement or interest despite his expression. Valentine is often describe as graceful, distinctly feline in his movements; friends in high school often referred to him as "the Panther" simply because of the regal, fluid way he held himself. Valentine is slender, (which I suppose is the best word), though not in an overly feminine way. He is clearly fit, muscular in a subtle way. Because of his work as a jockey, Valentine's hands are rough and calloused. Valentine moves with an easy grace, smooth and regal. Of course, this grace is because of Valentine's upbringing; his father is the CEO of a banking line in California, amassing a small fortune. Valentine is an only child, much to his mother's dismay; his mother had always dreamed of having more children, but after the birth of Valentine, was unable to conceive for an unknown reason. Valentine's father blamed him for this, though his mother did not; as a result, Valentine's relationship with his father is strained at best, though he is best friends with his mother. She doted on her only child, doing her best to make Valentine's life filled with happiness. Valentine's mother died a few years back, succumbing to breast cancer. Valentine never recovered from the loss of his mother, moving out of California in an attempt to ease the loss. He finally decided to pursue a career in racing, though his father pushed him to take over the bank when he came of age.

Valentine has come to Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility to escape the pain of his mother's death, and to pursue what he has always dreamed of doing. He has always loved horses, has always loved the rush of adrenaline that came with the speed of racing, though the happiness of his career comes with a price. His mother knew of his dreams and encouraged him. His mother's wish for him to pursue his dream is one reason that Valentine is learning to become a jockey; he is attempting to honor his mother's memory, ignoring his father's demands that he take over the family business.</sub>




ｊａｘｘｏｎ ｃａｒｔｅｒ

_{quote to come}

[Cloudy]

_{нoмe ιѕ вeнιɴd, тнe world αнeαd, αɴd тнere αre мαɴy pαтнѕ тo тreαd. тнroυɢн ѕнαdow, тo тнe edɢe oғ ɴιɢнт, υɴтιl тнe ѕтαrѕ αre αll αlιɢɴed. мιѕт αɴd ѕнαdow, cloυd αɴd ѕнαde - αll ѕнαll ғαde. αll ѕнαll ғαde.}


ｒａｃｅｒｓ

Tromluí | Cynthia Leighton
Loch Lomond | Ruaidhrí Darach
Ghostly King | Sekhmet Cairo
Shady Grove | Sekhmet Cairo

ｔｒｏｍｌｕí

“I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.” - Sam
“What are we holding onto, Sam?” - Frodo
“That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.” – Sam

<sub>Tromluí is a sturdy young colt, aged at three and a half years. He is built for speed, with long legs and a smooth, but muscular, body. His coloring is a deep, lightless black; so dark that it seems to glow a startling midnight blue when caught in the sun’s rays. He has no other coloring on him, aside from the glowing blue hue of his rectangular eyes. He is a lighthearted colt, loving to movement of the run – how his muscles tighten and release as he flies across the track. He is a racehorse at heart, and will always be.

Tromluí’s past is not a pretty one. He was born into an abusive owner’s home, and since birth was malnourished and beaten. He was weaned before he was old enough, and when he was one and a half, animal control rescued the animals at his farm. Miraculously, despite Tromluí’s horrific past, he had no lingering health problems aside from hunger and weight. He was instantly mistrusting of every single human that came near him. When it was time for him to be fed at the police holding farm, he’d skitter away from the gentle hands of his caretakers, hiding behind a nearby tree until the refilled his bucket and water trough and vanished. He gradually gained weight and was once more healthy; it was at this time that Cyn’s father found and adopted him, giving him as a present to his daughter, Cyn. Tromluí did not trust Cyn at first and often nipped or bit at her if she came too close, earning his name ‘Tromluí’, which is Irish for Nightmare. However, about a year later, Nightmare finally warmed up to Cynthia and they helped each other heal.</sub>





ｌｏｃｈ ｌｏｍｏｎｄ | ｌｏｃｈ

_{Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. - William Wordsworth}

<sub>The sleek form of the colt who has come to be known as Loch Lomond is a sight to see. He is a chestnut bay, the sleek red-brown of his coat often glittering with pride in the sunlight. He has two white stockings on his front legs and a single, small band of white around his back left hoof. A small, barely visible speck of white resides on his right hip, and he has a white blaze down his proud face. Loch Lomond was named after the loch in Scotland, where Ruaidhrí had grown up. He is a proud steed, with a certain pep to his step and a certain swish to his tail and mane. His eyes are a deep, glittering, soulful brown with the standard rectangular pupils. His mane and tail are a shade darker than his coat, and Ruaidhrí makes sure that his precious steed is always well-groomed. Loch Lomond, who is often called 'Loch', is a well-mannered horse and is loving and often begs for Ruaidhrí's attention if he feels the Scot is not paying enough attention to him.

Loch Lomond was the first Thoroughbred to be born on Ruaidhrí's father's farm, as Ruaidhrí's father had purchased a pregnant mare a few months before. Beholden by the sight of the weak foal, Ruaidhrí had taken to him instantly and helped care for Loch Lomond as he was raised. Ruaidhrí's father had originally intended to sell off the foal, but after seeing the soft light that entered Ruaidhrí's eyes when he gazed at the horse, his father knew that Ruaidhrí had found his life-long equine companion, and so gifted the foal to his son as a birthday present. Now three, Loch Lomond shares a deep bond with his owner and friend, and is now in training for racing. He ought to be a good racer, too; he's fast, and he's got stamina.</sub>





ｇｈｏｓｔｌｙ ｋｉｎｇ

_{Quote to come}

ｓｈａｄｙ ｇｒｏｖｅ

_{"Went to see my Shady Grove, she was standing the door, shoes and stockings in her hand, little bare feet on floor. Shady Grove, my little; Shady Grove, my darling. Shady Grove, my little love; bound for the Shady Grove."}

[Spotify]

Jockeys

Serenity Everlyn Faith ♀

Horses

The Devil's Lyrics ♀

---

Serenity Everlyn Faith

I knew you were trouble when you walked in...

Serenity Everlyn Faith or more commonly known as Ever is a beautiful young jockey, who is of the age of 21. She stands at a height around 5'1 and she weighs about 114. While her sister, Dez, takes after their father, Ever is the spitting image of her mother. She inherited her mother's exquisite icy blue eyes that almost seem like they can look into your very soul. Also inherited from her mother is her hair and coloring. She has long silky blond hair that cascades like a waterfall down her back in spiral curls. Her skin tone is just a tad lighter than olive and she has rosy pink cheeks. One of the few things she inherited from her father is her high cheek bones and her cute button nose. Thankfully, God blessed her with big huge doe eyes and an adorable heart shaped face. Even though Ever is short, she is all legs and they seem to go on forever, but even so she does have a rather nice torso. She has just the right amount of curves in just the right amount of places. Though she is beautiful, she does come with many imperfections, she after all is a mundane. Scars cover her body. She's rather shy about them and doesn't flaunt them. She's ashamed of them really. She can almost always be found wearing a locket in the shape of heart, but it is never open. She is rather protective of it and only a few select people know the locket's contents.

Trouble, trouble, trouble....

Ever's personality is summed up with one word and that's goofy. She always has to be laughing or smiling. She has seen too much bad in her life not to be. Ever's one of the strongest girl's you will ever meet. She been through hell and back and still she doesn't let it rule her life. She's sweet, but many people don't give her a second look or if they do they give her a bad name. Ever's a free spirit to say the least, she doesn't listen to anybody she doesn't respect, and earning her respect is not an easy thing to come by either. Even though, her trust and her respect are hard to come by once someone has it, they have it for the rest of their life. Ever's a girl who trusts few and loves fewer. Ever is also known for her spitfire attitude and hotheaded temper. She doesn't let anyone tell her what to do and if you're the target of her anger you better run. Ever's a sweetie pie as long as you know how to handle her. She just needs someone to keep her in check that's all.

All my life all I have known is hate. For once I would like to feel love...

Ever was born on October 15 in famous city of lights, also known as Paris. She's middle child of her three siblings. Ever's had a rather rough life, being the middle child, she was starved of attention and so when Ever's uncle came into the picture and had his eyes soully on her, Ever was grateful. Of course, it didn't take long for Ever to realize it was wrong kind of attention. Her uncle still taints her with his presence. She has nightmares reliving all the horrible things he did to her almost every night. This isn't Ever's first time at Cross. She was there before but left to go to rehab. Ever's a struggling alcoholic. Ever's nightmares don't end with her uncle and her alcoholic though. She got pregnant by her good friend, Ethan. She didn't want the baby at first but once she got used to the idea, the baby died of unknown causes. After that Ever just broke. She was sent to rehab and than she went home for a while. Now, Ever's back at Cross and she's back on the straight and narrow as happy as ever.

The Devil's Lyric