Caught in the Moonlight

Chapter Two

 I gasped once I saw the leg. The filly's left hindleg looked like it was put on backwards and offset, at an angle, hanging off awkwardly. I clicked my tongue, bending down and stepping towards the filly. She whinnied and stepped away, eyeing my cautiously. I murmured quietly to her, reassuringly, attempting gain a little bit of trust. As the filly shied away again, moving awkwardly to her side of the clearing, I reached in my pocket. I wiggled my fingers and soon found a few oats, which I quickly pulled out, holding out my hand. The filly caught a whiff of the oats and began edging forward as I held them at arm's length. She glanced around and then gave in, moving awkwardly forwards and chomping them down. She was starving- I didn't have to see how visible her ribs and hips were to know that. As she fed I moved forward, resting a hand on her neck and stroking it. "Good girl, eat up. It's going to be alright, I'm here."

 Once the oats were gone, the foal began nuzzling my pockets, sniffing in search of more. "There's no more, baby. But if you come back with me you can eat all the oats you want," I promised. Though I knew Mimaw would never approve, I had to try- she had no hope of surviving on her own. I pulled out the lace that held my hair in a ponytail- luckily, it was long enough to fit around the filly's skinny neck and still have some trailing off for me to lead her. I shook out my hair, feeling it fall around my lower back. "Come on, girl," I repeated as I began leading the filly out of the clearing. I'd guess she'd be about three months, malnourished, inbred, starving, and abandoned or seperated because of her weakness. As I led her on the most even path I could, I attempted to find my way. I don't know where I had planned to feed her. However, after a while, I heard shouts. Relief washed over me in waves as I listened more carefully.

 "Ronnie! Ronnie, where are you!" It was Josh. He was about a hundred yards away, farther along in the direction I was heading.

 "Over here!" I shouted back, my voice echoing through the trees and startling the foal. She jumped, and attempted to run, but the lace around her neck tightened and she tumbled to the ground. She neighed loudly and I bent to pick her up- this had happened multiple times. However, I saw that she had fallen across a rock that jutted out of the terrain and a gaping wound was trickling blood onto the mossy, littered forest floor. I knew she wasn't walking anywhere now. I hoisted her up into my arms as Josh continued calling.

 "Josh, I need your help!" I shouted, making sure any trace of panic was out of my voice. Josh raced towards me, and I almost dropped the the filly in relief. Josh's eyes fell upon the foal, and he stopped dead.

 "W-Where did you find that?" He stuttered, wide-eyed.

 "I found her in the woods by accident. She stumbled earlier and got hurt, and she has a twisted leg so I have to carry her," I replied quickly. 

   I tried to step forward and almost dropped the foal, so Josh quickly grabbed her and took her from me. He began walking back as I thanked him, joining in. "You know it's almost seven, right?" Josh asked, looking back at me as we walked.

 "Crap! I didn't mean to stay out for two hours- I just wanted a quick walk!" I exclaimed, smacking my forehead.

 Josh smiled and said, "It's fine- but why WERE you gone so long?"

 I sighed. "I zoned out while I was walking and eventually the path was long gone. It was while I was coming back that I found Moonlight." Moonlight? Where did I even come up with that?

 "Moonlight?" Josh asked as we reached the path.

 "Yeah, I don't even know where that came from."

 Josh shrugged and kept on walking, heading towards the stables. As we approached the pasture I saw Mimaw standing there, looking pissed, wooden spoon in one of the hands that were firmly planted on her hips. She had a grisly expression and looked like she was about to kill me. Shame burned within me and my ears were on fire. My face had gone cold and pale and I buried my fists in my pockets. However, right as I was positive I was going to get a good lecture and a paddle to my behind, Mimaw spotted Moonlight.