Red Outlaw

The Dot Feud

Red was up bright and early the next day, full of spunk an' energy. His orneriness knowed no bounds as he nipped at all the mares he could.

But the more he played with them mares the more he found that they wasn't much for sport. They liked to set and graze there, socializin' and what not. None a that was interesting to Red.

Neither was his ma, she wouldn't let him nip her anymore. He knowed not to test her.

Instead he went to occupy himself finding rocks and such. It was still his favorite game. They was all so different! So many things to investigate.

Red pranced over to a patch of tall grass with his buddy Ash not far behind. But Red smelled somethin' weird. He didn't want to go in that tall grass. So he snorted a warning.

Ash didn't smell anything wrong and the little grey colt ran in there without a second glance. He come out waiting for his pardner to go too but then's when it happen.

Mama cougar been settin' there all day waitin' for one a them fat little colts to come her way. She needed food somethin' awful; you could tell by the ribs that showed on her sides. Her cubs was hungry too, they hadn't had a decent milk in days. Squirrels and the occasional bird wasn't enough to fill that mama cougar.

When that little grey colt come runnin' in there the second time she pounced, and he never came back out.

The moment Red heard Ash's terrified squealing he was gone with the wind. For a big colt he sure was quick, and didn't look back in case that cat wasn't happy with just one.

He'd seen her one time, and didn't want to see her twice.

Ash's ma come runnin' when she heard him scream, but wasn't fast enough. She was a ball of fury, teeth, and hooves - but mama cougar had already killed her colt and there was no way to save him.

Red stood there shaking, watching Poppy nicker at a colt that wouldn't make a peep back at her. He trembled, but managed to whinny for his pardner. Even though some part a him knowed he wasn't ever comin' out of there.

Mama cougar ran away soon as that mare come barrelin' towards her, making it up a tree just in time to escape. She licked the blood off her mouth. That was the start of the Horse Killer's comeback, that foal there. She kilt him dead, and was gonna eat good when that pesky mare left him.

She waited on that tree, licking herself clean and waiting for that mare to get. It took several hours before Ash's ma moved away, and still then she whinnied for him when she was back with the harem. They all nickered their condolences.

Red knowed somethin' was off about that grass. That cougar smell he could pick up anywhere, in the smallest of traces. No matter what he knowed to stay clear of the cat.

Ash wasn't so wise. He got dragged away by mama cougar, and when his carcass was hidden she ripped into the colt's stomach and feasted. No more hungry days for the Horse Killer.

Red eventually made it back to his mama but was too scared and shocked by what happened to stray from her side. The shakin' didn't leave him for an hour, and when it did he wasn't in a hurry to go investigatin' again.

He seen somethin' no colt should see. His pal gettin' drug back into that tall grass, fear in his eyes and hopelessness at the scene.

Shaking his head, Red regained his composure. His bright eyes was still dull from sadness but he wasn't quite as scared no more.

He come over to Sepia, hopin' to find another playmate. Dusty sure wasn't in the runnin' for that. Instead of saying 'howdy' with Red by puttin' his nose to Red's, Sepia trotted to the other side a his ma like he'd be invisible there.