The Fire Horse (On Hold)

Chapter•4/2•

"But mom!" I whine, slamming my hands down on the granite countertop. The rock shivering under my palms. She shakes her head from the other side of the island. Her curly wiry umber hair spilling over her shoulders.
"It's to dangerous. Especially at night, and by those cliffs. Cass you can't go. I already told you your grounded!" She says in that motherly stern tone that all parents are programmed with.
"I can't be grounded! Three days till training starts!" I protest in a pestering way.
"I can't get fired mum! We need money to put food on the table and gets who's working for it" I state obviously.
"I told you not to go out drinking last night!" She bellows.
"I went to keep an eye on Clay! I had like two beers!" I hide the lie with an angry scowl, well its not entirely a lie. I'd rather be an introvert in the safety of my own home but unfortunaly Clay doesn't feel the same way. Who else will stop him from being a drunken idiot?  But mother will not be reckoned with. I throw my hands up in the air and stomp to my room. I wait to make sure she won't come in before finding my black bag in my closet. Its dusty and the gold buckles are rusted with age. I shove matches, a flashlight, and a phone. Its only 4:03 so I have a few hours to wait. I sit on my queen sized bed. The striped duvet in a ball on top of it. There's a stain of where the coffee collided with the rug.
11:46
My ears are on high alert as I steathily creep through the house. I slip a knife into my sleeve and make my way outside. The brisk night air makes my cheeks rosy. I walk further down the road where I suggested for Jason to hide the car. Its an old wreckage of a thing, chipped paint and torn seats. Anything else is coppery from rust. I have not the slightest idea of what editition or brand it is, why would I care?
I swing myself into the seat and pull out onto the road. I wouldn't say I was a bad driver but Clay would, and anyone else whos been in the vehicle while i was behind the wheel. Luckily there's not much to hit late at night unless you really try. Within minutes I'm at the stable. The barn I'm so familiar with is a different place at night. Many people are silhouetted against the hedgegrove. I swing my bag over my a shoulder and walk over. I changed into tight black jeans and zipped up my short leather jacket. An echoey whistling erupts into my ears. I know its Grant's ignorant self, i flash him a look but of course its to dark for him to see.
"You ready?" A voice asks. It's soft and unfamiliar coated with a heavby accent.
"Yeah" I manage to mumble. We walk down the path that leads to the scorched forest. I count around six of them. Probably all experienced Fire horse handlers. I'm the only girl, the others don't dare get their hands dirty. They stick with painting kitchenware or sowing froo froo type dresses for the booths at the festival like little wimps. The path steepens. I'm flashed glances to make sure I'm not having trouble down. I don't need babysitters. I can take care of myself, I've been down here more times then I can count. I feel something touch my arm. I whip my head to my left. Even in the dark I know who it is. Bright smile. Piercing amber eyes and a pale complexion.
"What do you want Grant?" I grumble.
"Nothing" He fakes an overly happy voice.
I can't help to notice how handsome he is. I'm just not attracted to him. He catches me staring.
"Like what you see Caloo?" He says in a teasing tone. My hands twitch.
"You can hold my hand if your scared" He says after I don't answer.
He brings his gloved hand toward mine but I slap it away.
"Don't even try Grant" I hiss.
He holds his hands up in defence and walks backward down the hill. The rocky terrain makes me feel vulnerable, especially with the boys here. They're sharp jagged stones that plea for a barefoot to step on them. The trees are terrifying. The shadows they cast on each other looks like they're engulfed in a sea of darkness. We make are way across it at a leisurly pace. The forest meters away. I feel disoriented from the blackness and the way I have to step to get across the rocks. One boy fell, I don't know what happened exactly, I was to far away to help but what I do know is that theres a lot of blood stained out on the stones now. Aaron took him back, now its only the five of us. Grant keeps finding himself near me. Even more so when we step into the forest. He walks in front, with his metal halter and knife. They gave me one too but I hate it. Its customary, when they get riled up the flame will increase and burn through regular fabric.
"Here" An extremely masculine voice says, stopping abruptly. I can see the outline of his bulky figure.
"Be careful. Good luck" Grant whispers. Giving a wink. I catch something in his eye, seeing the amber clearly from how close he is to my face. Concern. Exitement. I push him away with a shove to his chest. He gives a chuckle and walks off into the forest. Douche.
Him and two others sprint off through the trees, looking for a herd to chase towards us. It must've taken them fifteen minutes. But it feels like hours. I don't dare check my phone. But I am a seventeen year old girl. I instead admire the shimmering blade in my palm. Its small, shorter then half of my arm. Its pointed to a deadly prick. Designs carved into the handle. We always keep daggers around. We have to, in case we come face to face with a Fire or Water horse. I personally don't see the threat.

"Justin!" A long terrified wale peirces the air. The muscly tall guy beside me stands and props up his halter and ropes of iron. I see glints of what must be blades hidden in his boots and long brown sleeves. At least thirty horses barrel towards us. Most engulfed fully in flame. It burns my eyes to look. They light up the trees in a dim sparky light. I throw myself onto the ground before I'm trampled on. The small black rocks and ashes jab into my skin. I push myself back up. Justin and another boy are closing in around a mare, she's not at all enjoying the metal being thrown over her. Her eyes screaming for help. The horses are blurrs darting through the trees. Grant is chasing them still. Out off all of the chaos a certain stallion recognizes me. His legs are long and sturdy. His chest broad. His face slender and his neck skinny. His eyes turn red from the flames around us. Fire dances on his fur. He glances at the halter drooping from my grasp. I can't. I lunge towards him and smack his chest. He flinches and steps back. The flames burn my hands as I push his side.
"You need to go!" I holler my voice weak with worry. He brings up his front legs. They slam down on the earth inches from me.
"Fine" I say. My voice hard.
"Test me" I challenge. He slams down his hind hoof. Sparks flying from the impact. I circle around him like a predator closing in around prey. He spins to keep are eyes locked. He seems to think its some kind of dance, and he tremendously exels at our tango. I lunge forward. My brain is foggy and my lungs become stiff and compressed from all the smoke. My body is taken over by my own stupidity and forced into doubtless the worst thing that I could've done...