The Hidden Valley

Chapter 5: Hot air

As Quail got to the summit of the rise, she realized that the dark clouds of a storm were coming in.

There had been countless storms this autumn, but as they started to go into winter the storms got progressively worse.

But this storm felt weird. There was something wrong, but Quail didn't quite know yet.

In the last few months, she had become the acting leader. Although no one had said it, she was the most knowledgeable and could keep them in order. But now, she wasn't sure what to do.

The foals were now almost entirely independent, staying out in the paddock instead of going to their mothers in the barns, only at midday would they come back for a quick feed and then head out again.

"What do you think we should do?" Quail asked Snow Gum. The open plains stretched all around her and she felt exposed.

Not knowing a storm was coming, she had led the herd to the dry grasses.

But those dry grasses would be wet soon, and so would they if they didn't find shelter.

The air was thick with humidity, every breath felt like she was breathing in water. But for some reason, there was no wind.

"I think it would be wise to look for some trees." Snow gum flicked his muzzle in the direction of the birch forest.

The birch forest was just over Snake Boulders, which normally would be a dangerous place to go over, but the storm would drive the snakes underground.

She nodded before throwing up her head and giving a shrill neigh for the others to follow her.

They did so, then she set off. As the air pressure spiked, mosquitoes began to bite, trying to get a hold of the softer flesh around their eye, in their ears, and their nostrils.

Behind her, she heard Whisper give an irritated snort, but she had no time to offer her support, only run.

She knew it, deep down in her bones, that something bad was happening.

As she galloped madly, all she could think about was the hot air, the others panting, and the storm. Hot, so hot. Her attention slipped and she didn't notice they had come to the rocks; she tripped and fell over with a startled neigh.

"Gracious," muttered Snow Gum, obviously trying to make a joke, but it only made her more annoyed. Her head throbbed and sweat trickled down her coat. Great march flies swarmed around, and she got up, suddenly blinded by panic. She bolted down the rocks, her hooves banging painfully against loose stones, but she didn't stop. The whites of her eyes showed, and she would buck the air as if she could kick away the pressure in her head that was driving her crazy.

The sound of the herd's hooves beating on the earth behind her, but she didn't notice, only kept running.

Reaching the birch forest, she slowed breath sobbing, eyes darting, legs bruised. As she slumped to the ground, she became aware of the wind. The wind...

It was slowly starting to pick up, and in the distance, she could see a mass of clouds spiralling together.

Then the sound of man. The rest of the horses gathered around her as the group of men on horses came down.

Quail noticed how all their foreheads were pinched and their eyes were as wild as hers were. "They're over here!" called one on a large chestnut stallion.

"Come here young ones, a storm is coming, we are getting you to safety," the stallion spoke.

Although he looked calm, she could hear a slight edge of fear and confusion in his voice.

They all clustered together and trotted over stiffly. As they began to head to the red barn, with the humans in lead, a memory flashed in Quail's mind: "If anything is to go wrong, I want you to follow this stream, okay?"

Her mother's voice rang clearly in her head.

Was this what her dam had meant? Were they in danger?

Should she leave for the river?

Her lunges heaved in the thick air. The wind growled and roared as they came into the open plains. She could just make out the red roof through the hot mist. So close.

"Is Wattle in there?" she asked suddenly to the chestnut. The great horse nodded.

"All the mares are in there," his voice was almost lost in the raging wind.

She felt as though it might pick her up.

Is it like this in the Hidden Valley? Turning her head around she stopped suddenly.

A swirl of clouds had entwined, tangled into a mass of sinister darkness.

She watched the ground below the great swirling heap and realized with shock, that it was eating it.

She gave a sharp cry of confusion and desperation. The wind didn't wipe her words away this time. She'd neighed so loud, that even the people stopped to turn around.

"Cyclone," she heard one whisper in shock. The thing the humans called a cyclone was creeping closer and closer by the second, ripping the ground up as it went. Trees, branches, rocks, soil, everything was in the air, hitting the ground with great thuds. The areas behind the swirling mass were completely destroyed, nothing left but exposed earth and broken trees.

Quail knew what they must do if they were to even have a chance of surviving. "I know what we must do. Quickly, follow me!" she yelled desperately, turning her head around to see the reaction of her fellow herd members. Whisper, Pepper, and Snow Gum looked slightly dubious, but as a massive branch landed close to them, they nodded quickly. Only Ash was left now but the black colt glared at her.

"We've followed you enough." Was Ash trying to be the leader when their situation was so dire?

"We have to go now!" Snow Gum, Pepper, and Whisper moved closer to her, and she silently begged Ash to follow.

"My mother is in there, and so is yours, we have to go in!" The colt seemed desperate too. In an argument, he would just be rude, or insult you, but he was not arguing, he was pleading.

She suddenly felt his longing, but as the storm ragged closer, she realized there wasn't even enough time to get to the shelter.

Before the people could start jostling them again, she broke off, the other foals running behind her, all except for Ash...