Chosen Courage

Chapter 2

Crack, crack.

He turned and looked in the direction of the sound. Only a deer and an old buck eating grass. The buck lifted his head and looked at him. Then went back to eating the grass. Jr. watched the old buck every now and then. After a while, he would go back to working on the igloo or soon to be his new home. 

When the roof got to where he wanted it to be he asked Sammy if she could apply the mud to the open spaces. He went over to where his saddlebag, and sleepover bag were and took them into the igloo. He opened up one of the many pockets to his big bag. Grabbed his raincoat and put it over his saddle bag, saddle, and big bag so the mud wouldn't fall onto them. He went back out and grabbed Sam's saddle, saddle bag, and her two biggest sleepover bags and slowly dragged them in and did the same with them. He still wasn't done though he still had more. Some bags of wood, that were strangely light, and his bow case.

"Were you trying to kill your horse with this load?" I asked her when I finally got done with bringing everything in.   

She laughed before saying, "No that's nothing for him, he was hauling heavier loads than that three years ago. That's why he's so big now. He used to be the only horse we had that would do all the field work and hauling home loads of big logs for the house during the winter. He loved that work. You could tell that when you looked at him. Always so eager when the harness was put on him. His ears were forward and would standstill for the person to harness him. There was one time when we were in the mountains before we moved here. Dots was standing still and I was an easy two hundred yards watching him from in a tree that wasn't far off the ground. An easy fall onto a horse's back. Then he looked up at the tree I was sitting on. Kicked my father and dashed for me like the speed of a race car. When he got close he jumped and bit my leg and then stopped to help me up. He looked at my leg..." At this point, I saw a tear fall from her eye. "He looked at my leg then looked up and neighed. It sounded like a death cry it was so loud, but I understood why he did what he did to me. When the echoing stopped a mountain lion jumped down from the tree nearby and fled as fast as it could go. My dad saw all of this and let Dots be mine from that day forward and he's loved his time riding. Also, he has saved me more than once. A while later on he saved me from two poisonous snakes that I didn't see. I guess that I didn't need to tell you that but I guess I did. Sorry, you can leave if you wish." With that, she went back to grab some more mud and filled another hole. 

"I'll start helping you with some of it before it gets dark. I don't think we should get too cold with a fire going. How about you go get that fire started and I'll work on this." I suggested.

"Okay." Walks up to me wipes off all the mud on me and before she leaves says, "Thanks for being my towel." Then runs off. To where I have no idea. Maybe to collect more firewood, even though she brought some along, to bring more into the "house". 

That is exactly why my dear Salvent Flamme but also to take a nice walk in the trees to get some rest for the evening. Said a deep loving voice that I recognized from when I was a newborn.

"Who are you??" I asked and started looking all over. "Why speak now after all these years?" I said still turning at every noise I heard.

I'm afraid I cannot answer the 'who are you' but I will say that you calm down so the girl doesn't hear you asking random things and turning everywhere. Apply the mud you have in your hand then walk into the house so we can talk more quietly and personally so animals don't hear us.

" Why not out here with the animals? Are you scared of them?" 

No, I'm not scared of them but they can hear and report to people who can communicate with their languages. So, I suggest you do what I say, boy.