TWD | Muddy Buddies

Horse:  NRS Hangman (Zlesdin)
Rider:  Alexander Seresin
Stable:  Northridge Stable
Country: United States
The White December 
- Phase One: You're here!
- Phase Two: TWD | Can't Go This Way
- Transportation Phase: TWD | Go Fish
- Phase Three: Coming Soon!

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Back in Indiana, there's a running joke that the winter isn't so bad, it's the wind that makes it really cold. That statement couldn't have been any more true than during the first phase of the trek. Alex felt like his cheeks were frozen against his skull. The wind made the cold seep right past the numerous layers he had on and all the way down to his bone. Had had to give Hangman some credit, the horse was trotting along as if it was a spring day. And it wasn't well into the single digits. While this wasn't the first time Alex had been out of the states, hell most of his deployments put him in the middle of an ocean in different countries, this was the first time he had to navigate his way through a country that wasn't his own. Luckily there was plenty of help along the way, he always felt a bit of relief when he would cross paths with another contender. He was at least going the right way. The wildlife was another thing he hadn't counted on. Of course, back home, everywhere had cattle and often deer roaming around. But out here he actually got to cross paths with fuzzy cows, which was new. Lots of hares, where were way bigger than the bunny rabbits back home. 

About halfway through the first phase, Alex led Hangman between two fields to help get out of the forest and out into the open. Even though that would mean more wind, it would give them a break from tree limbs smacking them in the face. The path had been well-trodden by the time Alex and Hangman found it. And it must have been pretty entertaining for the cattle munching on what little grass they could find and counting the ponies that passed by them. The mud was started to splatter it's way up Hangman's legs, something Alex would need to stop and clean off before it froze on the poor stallion. It had been a few years since Alex had to tote around a gun across his shoulder, so that was starting to finally feel natural again. With Hangman's blanket whipping in the wind, and Alex's sock hat threatening to fly off any second, the first phase of the trip was turning out to be an eye opening experience to say the least. 

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