Follow Your Dreams

Chapter 5: Wounds of the Past

 I sat next to Vixen on the bus as it pulled away from school. Beanie sat in the seat across from us, a book in her hand. Vixen was busy listening to music while I just tried to stay calm. It was finally Friday, which meant that I would be going back to Little Creek tomorrow. The week seemed to go on slower than usual, probably because I couldn’t wait to see Hershey. The bus pulled to a stop and looked outside. It was my stop so I picked up my backpack and began walking home.

“Mom, I’m home!” I yelled as I stepped into the dark house. All the lights were off so I walked over to the kitchen using my memory. I flipped the light switch on the wall and watched as light filled the room. A note was on the fridge so I grabbed it and read over it. It was just my mom saying that she would be home late from work. I shrugged and grabbed an apple before walking down the hall to my room. I didn’t have any homework because it was a weekend so I just sat on my desk, spinning the chair. When I got too dizzy, I grabbed the TV remote and stumbled over to my bed. I layed down and began watching a random show, falling asleep after a few minutes.

“Kate, are you ready to go to Little Creek?” My mom called through the door. I pulled my dark hair into a messy ponytail before walking over to my door. I’ve been up for a few hours, surprising since I normally sleep in. I opened the door and looked up at my mom who was a few inches taller than me.

“Yes I am!” I chirped before running down the hall to the kitchen. I grabbed an apple then looked at the nearly empty bowl that holds the apples. “Mom, we are going to need more apples soon, very soon.” I said sternly. My mom chuckled at how serious I was about the apples before going to the garage where the car was parked. I followed her and climbed into the passenger’s seat up front. Once I buckled, my mom began driving me to Little Creek Stables.

I was out of the car the moment I stopped. My mom just gave me a look as if I was crazy because, well I normally am not this excited. Once I had my chores done, I was going to see if I could find a way to get near Hershey. I wanted to make sure he was alright after Storm tried to hurt him and also see the wounds he had gotten from when he was abused. I walked to the barn and grabbed the wheel barrow and shovel that sat out front. Somehow, Jake always beat me to mucking the stalls.

Once I was finished with all my chores, I went up to the Davis house. I walked through the wide open door and into the kitchen. I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, even though I just had an apple for breakfast. It was almost two in the afternoon though, and I was hungry. An apple can surprisingly fill me up. Mrs. Davis was in the kitchen, baking cookies. It seems like she is always baking whenever I come into the kitchen. “Don’t you ever eat anything besides apples?” Mrs. Davis laughed.

“I only eat something else for dinner and school lunches.” I replied and took a bite of my apple. “Apples are my life.” I added, a little too dramatically. Mrs. Davis laughed again and I grinned. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bag full of small carrots, treats for the horses. I grabbed a few and returned the bag to the fridge before running off to the pasture to see Hershey.

I know Hershey had trust issues, and I probably wasn’t going to get close to him today. He was special though, and I really wanted to help him trust again. Hershey used to be wild after all, and his first owners abused him. That is how he will see us humans. He will see us as smaller creatures that want to hurt him. He lost his only family too, that must have been rough. I looked down at a small, silver locket shaped like a heart that hung around my neck. Inside was a picture of my mom, dad, and I from a few years back. I smiled as I remembered the good times from back then.

My parents were divorced and I haven’t spoken to my dad for quite a few years. I didn’t hate him or anything; he just never bothered to contact me. I shrugged it off and turned back towards the pasture. The horses were fairly close to the fence, and Hershey was still there. Hershey was with three other horses, and none of them were Storm. Emilie probably had him out practicing, or he was in the stable. Either way, I was glad that he wasn’t out there right now.

I climbed up onto the fence and watched the horses. Hershey lifted his head and stared at me for a long time. At least he wasn’t running away like last weekend. I let out a soft whistle and held out my hand, carrots sat on the palm of my hand. Hershey cautiously walked over and sniffed at the orange vegetables. I’m guessing he was tired of just eating grass all week. He greedily ate up the carrots and sniffed my hand for more. I pulled a couple carrots from the sweatshirt pocket and held them out to him. I then noticed a long scar on his neck, and it looked like it was a couple weeks old. I reached out very slowly towards his neck, but he bolted before my hand was even an inch away. I let out a sigh, “He doesn’t trust humans at all…”

~Picture to the side is Beanie~

*Author's Note* Apparently, I really like you guys. I normally don't update this often, I haven't for a very long time. Oh well, I felt like writing this chapter. It explains why Kate's dad hasn't been mentioned once in the story. I should have another chapter up on Wednesday as usual. It may be posted at night like always. Comment what you thought or if you see grammar problems. Well, that's all! ~AyakaTheNightfury