The Shifters Heart(not continued)

Chapter 2

Jared in human form above or where ever it is...

-Deamun

I let my eyes open slowly, adjusting to the light of the day. I stand slowly, my limbs still exhausted from the long hours of work with no rest. But I would do anything for my herd. I stand fully and shake my mane, getting all leaves out. I look around and see the herd still asleep.

I sigh in content, knowing their safe. I go to take a bite of grass when I notice one of the foals missing. I clamp my jaws shut and look around frantically. I don't see any part of his little brown behind, so I resort to my smell.

His smell is like oak wood, so I follow it. I find him in a small secret grazing area, happily munching on grass away from the herd. He doesn't seem to notice my entrance, so he keeps munching.

I nicker softly and he jumps and turns to me. I give him a look that says what are you doing here alone? You know better.

He lowers his head in shame, but I quickly reassure him. I nudge him gently, then trot back to the herd, him at my heels. Well, hooves.

I hear snorting and horse laughter, so I know they are awake. I gave the little fellow following me the name of woody, since he smells of oak. Woody's mother must be worried about him, along with his younger brother.

I nudge him past me, following him to make sure that he gets back. When we set hoof in the grazing ground. We are surrounded by the others. They are neighing, looking over the foal with worry in their eyes.

I toss my head and go back to look out, taking some nibbles of the delicious grass. We would be heading back tomorrow, since they haven't been here for a while. I lift my head to the sky, the sight of the light blue making me happy.

I look at the shapes in the clouds, trying to make things out of them. My mane and tail blow in the wind, making it seem like some cheesy movie ending. I snort, wanting night to come faster so I can gaze at the stars, taking in their beauty.

I sigh, knowing that won't be for a few more hours. My muscles yearn for rest, so I happily oblige to follow their wants. I lay down in the soft grass and fall asleep.
****

My ears fold back at the sound of grass blowing in the wind. Something had woken me, and it was something big. I had heard the rocks falling down the valley in a small rock slide.

I lift my head instantly and see a bear shifter, wounded badly by arrows and bullet holes. He looks on the verge of death, but still preying on my herd.

I snort and neigh, telling him to back away. He looks at me with blood lust but he knows that this is a battle that he cannot win.

He shifts back and stumbles to me, grabbing my mane for support.

"Horse shifter, there are hunters looking for you and your herd. They told me to tell you to come to them. I would rather watch them suffer for what they did to my family. Kill them for me please."
He begs me, before collapsing.

I become set with a new determination. One that will avenge this bear shifter and his family. You may think they are lonely creatures, and they are.

But bear shifters tend to stick with their family. It's like the opposite of bear nature. Anyway, the blood from him runs down my sleek dun coat, making it a darkened color in certain areas.

I snort, getting my herds attention. Soft nickers and a few snorts tells them the situation. We will go back down as planned, but if the hunters come, then we hide in the forest of beasts. There is no choice in the matter.

I had to reset the rocks since the bear shifter had moved them. I also needed to bury him, give him an honorable funeral. I put his clay like arm around me neck and gripped it gentle with my teeth to prevent him from falling.

I walk away, out of my herds view, and drop his body. I dig a grave with my hooves, careful not to get any dirt on him. It was rare for another species to pay respect to a different species. It only happened when something dishonorable, like this, happened and the funeral maker feels the need to give them a nice funeral.

It makes the funeral maker feel better, knowing he has buried the shifter with respect. This was the best place too. It was our feeding grounds, and as the years went on, the body would decay and make the soil richer. The grass would then taste better.

I shake this thought off, thinking it sadistic that I was thinking about his body giving us better food. It was a good place because it was peaceful and nothing would disturb him there, not even the slightest speck of dust would disturb him.

And every night, his soul would be able to look up at the cinnamon colored sky, then marvel in the beauty of the stars. If I were buried, I would want it to be here. It would make my spirit whole, knowing I'm buried in the place I have been for most of my life.

Let's just hope that it doesn't come soon. Once again, I shake these negative thoughts out of my head.
It wouldn't happen. I have my herd and I mate to protect, no matter what type of shifter they are, or if they are human.

I sigh, heading back to my herd before they get worried. I see everyone is asleep except for the foals. I walk over and give them a look that tells them to sleep. They had been biting and pulling on each other's ears. One went to do it again, thinking I was gone, but I snort in his ear, making him sleep.

He neighs softly, giving me a sincere apology before sleeping. I stay up for a while before going to sleep, knowing tomorrow would be a long day.

Hey guys...

I finally got chapter 2 out!!!! Yay for me!!! Anyway, I hope you guys had a good weekend and if it's not the weekend when you read this, then I hope you had a good whatever day of the week it was/is.

-Deamun