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Merlin whinnied loudly when he saw Athena walking to his stall. "Hey boy. Are you ready to go on a nice long run?" Athena cooed to him as she rubbed his face with the palm of her hand. "You've always had a way with animals, no matter what they were." Natasha said. "Yea, I know. It's a gift." Athena replied as she began gathering up her saddle and reigns for Merlin. "I'm gonna take out his buddy here Phillip." Natasha said as she began taking up the gelding in the stall next to Merlin. A few minutes later they walked out with the horses and Maverick and Sage trailing behind them. Once Athena and Natasha were mounted up they began riding off down the trail through the woods. "It's so nice out today." Natasha said. "Yea, it is. No Tony yammering about something random." Athena said laughing. "Exactly!" Natasha replied laughing.

They rode the woods until they found a large field to ride through. "Race?" Athena asked smirking. "You're on." Natasha replied. Athena smirked as she squeezed her legs around Merlin's sides and took off like a bullet. "Damnit!" Natasha grumbled as she did the same to Phillip's sides and took off running after Athena and Merlin. Sage and Maverick ran after them barking and having fun together. Athena's laughter echoed around the field as she rode Merlin at a full run through the field. The sound made Natasha's heart happy. Of course what mother wouldn't love to hear their child laughing?

After their race Athena and Natasha settled down by a stream to have some lunch while the dogs played in the water and Merlin and Phillip grazed on the grasses around them. "Today was fun....we should do this more often." Natasha said. "I agree mom. Maybe get the whole team to go horse back riding." Athena suggested laughing at the thought. "I can see it now Tony on a horse. That would be comical." Natasha replied laughing at the image.