Running Wild

Chp 6

I must've fallen asleep at some point, because when I opened my eyes the moon was shining down on the sleeping herd, the sound of hoofsteps in the distance getting closer by the second. I slowly stood to my feet and looked around for the source, my eyes landing on a horse making their way over.

I approached cautiously, curiosity spurring me towards the unknown someone. I weaved around the sleeping horses as the one in question began to slow down as they neared.
"Hello?" I called out, stopping in my tracks.
"Lo?" An achingly familiar voice whinnied back, pulling me closer.
"Holly!" I nickered, racing forward and prancing around the mare.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so happy you're safe. When that wolf came out and got to Josie's dam I thought you guys would've been next." She sighed in relief as I lead her back towards where I woke up, knowing she could use the rest.

"I got bit, but it healed really quickly." I explained, my gaze landing on Josie's sleeping form.
"How quickly?" She asked, lowering herself to the ground.
"By the time we got here, so pretty quick."
"Strange...."
"Yeah."

We were quiet for a while, but I couldn't fall asleep again. My mind drifted once again to what had happened before I'd arrived at the auction house, and how I was able to heal so quickly.

~~~~

The sun had just started to rise when the lead stallion -Ryder- woke up. His eyes immediately landed on Holly, who was laying near me, but luckily he let us be while he woke the others.
When he finally made his way back around and gently blew on Holly's face, rousing her from sleep, and stepped back so she could remember where she was.

"What's your name?" He questioned the younger mare, eyes full of curiosity.
"Holly. I was with Lo and Josie-" she began.
"Lo?" Ryder interrupted, confused.
"I call him Little One, because he didn't know his name." Holly explained, gesturing to me. Ryder nodded.
"We got separated during a wolf attack in those woods yesterday. I wasn't even sure they were alive until last night, when Lo approached."

"I'm going by Caliban now." I explained, excited to have an actual name.
"It suits you Lo."
"We're moving further into the valley today, you're welcome to join us." Ryder offered politely.
"I'd love to, thank you."
"I suggest getting something to eat before we leave."
With that, he walked off, making sure everyone else was filling their stomachs for the journey.

I trotted over to Josie and nudged her head lightly to wake her up again.
"C'mon Josie, we'll be leaving soon." I tried, huffing when all she did was move her head away.
"Holly's here~"
The little filly shot up immediately, turning her head every which way until she found the mare in question.
"Holly!" She whinnied, cantering over and frolicking around.
"I see how it is." I grumbled, nibbling on the grass and watching the ecstatic foal run around.

That's how we spent the next few hours. Eating and playing. We met some of the other foals in the herd, but they were all closer to Josie's age so I couldn't do much playing with them. Holly conversed with the colts and fillies her age, which left me with nothing to do but sit and watch.
"Are you ok Caliban?" Nikita's voice broke through my thoughts as she neared me, her pregnant belly swaying slightly with each step.
"Why don't the mares have foals around the time my momma had me? I'm either too old or too young to play with everyone here." I complained, my ears pinned flat against my head.
"Because it gets too cold for the foals born in fall. The winter sets in and there's no shelter to help keep them warm. You were probably born on a farm with a heated stall." She explained, grooming my back gently.
I sighed softly and bobbed my head lightly, my annoyance creeping away.

*Juliet's POV*

"I DONT CARE WHAT IT WILL COST I JUST WANT MY FOAL BACK!" I screamed at the police officer standing in my living room, anger burning in my veins. I vaguely felt Everett rubbing my arms to try and calm me down, but I was not having it.
"Listen ma'am, we're doing our best at the station to find the men who stole the colt, but it takes time and resources. Things we just don't have a lot of. It's a horse, and in the kindest way possible, I suggest trying to move on." He tried to sound soothing, his eyes downcast, but it only angered me further. He didn't understand that 'horse' was my baby. Flesh and blood. My only son.

"I will not, and you should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting such a thing! I don't care who you are, but if you don't get your rears in gear I will sue, and I will win." I hissed, venom dripping from my tone. The officer nodded shakily and rushed out of the house, practically sprinting to his car.
"Jules, calm down. I understand you're angry, I am too, but you can't go around threatening the only people able to help right now." Rett mumbled softly, pressing a kiss to my head.

"I can't calm down Rett, my baby boy's out there, who knows where, probably alone and scared. I knew we should've brought the horses in that night, but it was warm and-" I sobbed, burying my face in his shirt.
"I know baby, I know. And we'll find him. But we just gotta be patient." He rubbed my back soothingly, resting his chin on the top of my head.

The sound of my two year old crying from her baby monitor broke us apart not long later.
"I'll get her Jules, you go sit and relax for a little while ok?"
"Thank you Rett." He gave me a grin -the same boyish grin I fell in love with not too long ago- before he made his way upstairs while I made my way outside.

The sound of Solaris' familiar nicker has me walking over to my favorite stallion, who was scolding his filly for trying to run off where he couldn't see her.
"Solaris!" I called, climbing up the fence.
"Juliet, tell Amaris she needs to stay close." He huffed childishly, trotting over to greet me.
"Yeah Amaris, those horse thieves might come back. You better stay close to your dam and sire." I chided, giving her a stern look.
The filly sighed and walked off to her mother, her father giving me a scrutinizing look. Well, as well as a horse could.

"What?" I inquired, rubbing his face gently.
"How are you doing? How'd it go with the officer?" I sighed heavily.
"Nothings changed. I'm so worried about Caliban..." I replied, running a hand down my face.
"I'm sure he'll be fine, he's a horse shifter."
"Yeah, who hasn't shifted in two years."

"Why don't we go for a run? It'll calm you down." He suggested, nudging my shoulder.
"That sounds... really nice actually. Maybe we can ask the wild herd nearby if they've seen anything."
"Their wild horses Jules, I don't think they'll have seen horse thieves stealing your foal."
I sighed heavily and unlatched the gate.
"You're right, but I do really need to calm down. I'm sure Everett can handle things for a little while."
"Exactly!"

He stepped out of the paddock and allowed me to close it before I shifted, my sleek black coat warming under the suns rays. Solaris playfully nipped at my shoulder before he took off down our favorite trail, kicking up dirt in his wake.
"You cheater!" I whinnied, taking off after him.
"Catch me if you can little shifter!" He nickered playfully, tossing his head.
"We both know I can!" I pushed my legs harder, my hooves attacking the dirt path beneath them as I gained on my stallion.

"Why can't you let me win for once!?" He huffed as we became neck and neck.
"Because that's no funny you big baby!" I galloped harder, pulling ahead and flashing past the tree line, signifying my win.
"Ha-ha! I win, again!" I pranced around a puffing Solaris like a filly, my tail raised while I bobbed my dish face up and down.
"You're so rude..."