Red Outlaw

Little Brother

One point, most a the mares was gone. All but Copper and Blue was disappeared, and Red didn't know what to make of it. The yearlings that was missin' their mamas was settin' there aimlessly, not knowin' what to do. Patch was already a pro at bein' without his ma.

Red seen the other mares push their babies away too, and he knowed somethin' was up. Blue got real fierce with Dot once, so bad so that Nightshade had to get her away. Dot almost got her ear tooken off that time. She ain't never known her ma to act up that bad at her before.

The day that Blue left was the day that Poppy returned. Red seen her, but he also seen somethin' behind her.  He seen it cling to her side, shaky an' afraid like he remembred bein' when he was little.

The whole herd stood to face them, and all on impulse they start to head over. Poppy nickered to them and she start to trot too, extendin' her nose to touch with the others. Red was close to his ma, but she was distracted an' didn't seem to mind.

Soon as they got close, they seen her. A little white filly, she was. Her name was Ivory. Her eyes was blue like the sky an' her nose as pink as a flower. They all loved her from the start, and she always got her way.

Copper touched noses with Poppy, an' then with Ivory briefly before Poppy pinned her ears. It was the same for everyone else, till Nightshade bust through. Red was fascinated with the little filly, and Poppy remembered how he and Ash was friends before so she let him meet her baby.

She start chompin' on his tail like the cute thing she was when Nightshade barreled through and chased him off. He hightailed it outta there for his life, barely missing when his pa tried to catch his haunches with them razor teeth a his. He then pinned his ears and gave every one a those yearlings the meanest look they ever got. All backed off when that happened.

From then on, Red had to watch as they was best playmates for the time. Nightshade didn't let no one near his new baby, not while she was still fragile. He started playin' her soft, and then gradually got her use to rougher play from the bigger horses. She liked it when she could jump and lean her legs on the bigger horses' backs.

Goldie come back alone next. Nothin' special with her, 'cept how depressed she was. Patch and Sepia got more affection from her than they knew what to do with a few days after that.

Then came Olive, the day that Copper gone away. Red tried to follow her, but she give him a good kickin' to remember. Olive had a black colt at her side, with white socks on all four feet. His name was Onyx, and he was every bit as mean as his brother. Dusty loved that colt immediately. Like they'd known each other for years and years.

Every time a mare come back with a foal by her side, Nightshade take her for his own. Forcefully. He didn't let anyone near them till he found another foal to play with. Red was happy Ivory was finally accessible. He hadn't had a friend in so long, he forgot what it was like. Then, he accidentally shove her down when they was playing. Long story short, he ain't allowed with her no more.

Then Blue come back. She had a little bay roan filly at her side, named Sienna. She looked just like Indigo, only browner. She an' Ivory hit it off real well immediately. They stuck like glut to each other and wouldn't play with no one else. Red was alone again.

Meanwhile, mama cougar's cubs opened they eyes. The day she seen them start to come open, and the cubs mewlin' and blinkin' in this new world of sight, she head off. They'd be fine for a few hours while she hunted. Her milk was dryin' fast, and she has to get some sustenance.

She smell horse on the breeze. And what's better, she smell birth this time. She track that scent, and climb a tree when she knew she was close.

She seen a palomino horse with her new baby, and knowed when that horse turnt her back she'd need to snatch it. It was the easiest meal she seen to catch all day. But she was patient. Lickin' her lips, she crouched and bunched her muscles.