Book Of Book Ideas

Running Free - Chapter One

The lead mare's nostrils flared as she smelled the aroma on the wind. A few seconds later the mare realised that it was the old black mare returning from giving birth. The black mare was soon no longer hidden by the forest nearby and entered the lead mare's sight.

The stallion nearby let out a high pitched whinny and did a few high steps towards the mare and foal. The lead mare snorted at the sight of the black mare whose sides were no longer round and the skin no longer taunt. After the stallion welcomed the pair the lead mare walked over to them. After exchanging greetings with the foal's dam, she bent her neck and welcomed the foal to the herd.

The foal looked up at the lead mare with soft brown eyes, she was a pretty thing and wouldn't drag the herd down. The lead mare nickered and stepped back, accepting the foal into the herd. The mares nearby tossed their heads in approval and welcomed the foal before returning to grazing.

The foal stayed by her mother's flank, she was nervous of the other mares despite the fact that her dam wasn't chasing them off. The brown foal soon had enough courage to have a drink as the black mare grazed, her mouth tearing up clumps of grass without hurry.

The lead mare shook her face as a fly started irritating her. The lead mare pondered the meaning of the early foal, it was still two moons before spring would come. Yet the plants were flowering and the days were warm with enough gentle rain and wind to be comfortable. Up in the nearby mountains thick snow only laid at the very peaks whereas it was thin and mushy halfway down and slowly melting and running into rivers.

Spring would be coming early and with it men on horseback. For now the herd would wait until the new addition grew strong enough to trot for a few hours before moving down to the lower country. Where the meadows were wide and grass tasteful, fresh and juicy. Soon after stuffing themselves full the lead mare, a buckskin coloured horse with tangled mane and tail and mud streaking up her legs to her belly and dust settling on her coat, would take the herd upstream to where the canyons awaited.

The canyons had less food and more water however there were plenty of spots where horse couldn't carry man. Along with this they were riddled with hidey holes, hidden tracks and secret grassy plains. But for now, the foal would become strong and the mares would go off to give birth alone.

The lead mare snorted and flicked her ears, the herd had time but the buckskin didn't know how much time. The mare turned to the stallion and bobbed her head. The stallion flicked his ears and shifted his weight, he too knew that it would be an early spring. However the chestnut stallion suspected that the spring would get warm towards the end and lead into a very hot summer which would run over its time.

The stallion wiped any thoughts about the coming up seasons which could be tough and focused on the brown foal. Already she was dozing with the sun on her back, the stallion tossed his head up before returning to grazing. Like the rest of the herd he was filled with nervous energy and the tension from the lead mare didn't help. It would be a rough few days before the herd moved.

***

In the middle of the night the buckskin mare woke up, tense and alert the mare moved from her position near the front of the herd and quietly trotted up the small hill that overlooked the herd's current feeding grounds. All members of the herd were there except one, the chestnut stallion was still deep in sleep. His orange-red coat standing out amongst many of the others lighter and duller coats.

The buckskin mare curled her lip back as she tried to figure out what the unknown scent was. The mare blinked her two brown eyes upon realising. Her mind told her that the missing bay mare was returning without a foal.