Why did I have to run off!? I should've stayed and said goodbye. I furiously think to myself. My mother stands alone near the creek, mourning silently.
" Mom?" I quietly say, slowly walking up to her. She cranes her neck towards me with strange, glossy, hurt eyes. I've never seen her like this. She then lowers her head again, just above the ground, just standing there. I walk up to her, and she looks at me. I nuzzle her neck, softly, and she lifts her head to nuzzle me back. We hear approaching hoofbeats and she doesn't bother to look back. Sierra slowly drags herself over, and when she reaches Willow, she shoos me off.
I trot far enough that I still can hear them, but not as good as I would closer. I graze, stopping every time they talk.
" Willow, I don't want to be sudden or anything, but I just wanted to say thank you," I sigh in relief, I was hoping she would just chat, but that's okay.
" for being such a great mother, herd leader, and daughter. And... I guess... this is goodbye." Willow's head pops up and her stance in very much alert.
" Mother, what are you talking about?" She says. Sierra lowers her head a little, as if tired.
" I am worried that since my dear Red has passed on, I will too. And I don't want to see you suffer anymore. Willow-" Mother cuts her off, rather speedy.
" Don't. Say. It." A strange emotion radiates off of my mother. And I don't like it.
" Willow, I love you. I always will. I will always be in your-the herds- heart." I fight off the urge to sprint over there and try to convince her to stay.
" Mom, I love you too. And I know that you are not going to listen to me, because I would do the same, but I love you too. More than anyone and everything," I let myself understand that she is her mother and I shouldn't be so selfish, thinking that she loved me most. She has three foals! Argo, Jass, and me.
" But please don't leave without saying goodbye to Aurora, or the rest of the herd. Especially me." She nuzzles Sierra and, she comes walking up to me.
" Hey, Aurora." She speaks with such kind words.
" Hey! Sierra!" I come up to her and nuzzle her lots. She nuzzles back and then looks at me. And I know what's coming.
" Aurora, you know I love you, right?" I nod my head.
" And, I want you to have the best life you can?" I nod my head somewhat slower, understanding most.
" Well, you know that horses don't live forever. And that means I don't either. You are going to be a great horse someday... Just like your mother." She nuzzles me and when she takes one step to walk away, I stop her.
" Wait," I nuzzle the mare longer than I've ever nuzzled anyone before. This may be hard, but it happens. It's life.
" I won't ever forget you. Or Red." I whisper to her. She licks my cheek and nickers as she walks to say a goodbye to the rest of the herd.
Out of nowhere, a frustrated sigh escapes my nose. I toss my head and trot over to some pine trees. This is my spot. Nobody else is allowed here, not my mother, father or even Thunder. I lay down and roll beneath the trees, scraping the dry sweat from my body and covering it with the fresh scent of pine needles. When I look up, I can just see Sierra disappear into the thick brush, away from the herd. I have a brief moment that I was gonna go after her, and I was. Tie me to this tree and stop me from going, but there's another reason. The herd. I need them, and I feel that they need me. I mean; who doesn't want a rebellious, rule breaking, naughty filly around?
I paw at the dry ground and lean against the trunk of the tree. I wouldn't catch her by now. She is a fast walker and I shouldn't leave anyways.
I hit my head on the side of the tree, for having the most terrible thought. What if nature didn't take its coarse? What if Sierra dies a painful, slow death, being mauled by some wolfs? Again, I hit my head to the tree. Stop it! I notice the sun going down, hiding behind the Great Mountain. It is said that no horse has ever gone to the top of it, or should it. Supposedly, there are scary creatures called 'man'. They can hunt you, kill you. Or you could be caught, just like my mother and father.
I block out all my crazy thoughts and make my way back to the herd, tiredly tripping over my hooves as I go. When I reach my mom, my eyelids feel like they have 10 stones weighed on them, so I drop underneath her and fall into a deep sleep.
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A sharp whinny sounds from out of nowhere.
I snap my eyes open and spring up, colliding into my mother's belly. She seems to brush it off and she herds me to the nearest group of horses. Nico, Jass, Thunderstorm and Lace all stand together. Thunder welcomes me happily, but his face soon turns scared and he pulls me close to him by my mane. I spin around and see my mom and dad together, at the forest line, with... Kayne?
A/N
Ok, so so so sorry that I haven't updated in a week or more. It's June and most of you know how stressful and full your weeks can get at the end of the year. I apologize by this update, lol. I hope you guys like it... I am very tired... Sorry😜
-Acacia
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Born Free
AdventureBook 1: Born Wild Book 2: Born Free ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As a little foal, Aurora has always loved to run. She sometimes sneaks in with the race horses and gallops along with them, just to get that feeling of the race. After getting told not to do that a...
