Born Free

Chapter 4

I quiver while I walk near the river, remembering the first time I met Kayne. I bow my head down and take a long sniff on the fresh, cool grass. As I graze, Thunder trots up to me and grazes beside me. Nico walks up to us and happily nuzzles me, nudging me to play. He may be something like 4 years old, but he still acts like a 8 month old foal. He nudges me again and I lope up the hill, not relizing that both colts are on my tail.

Thinking they were quite a ways behind me, I slide to a stop. I watch as Nico just about hits me as he gallops past. A quick but slightly painful clip from Thunderstorm's hoof hits my pastern, and I jump to the side and let out a small squeal. He immediately spins around and rushes back to me.

" Oh gosh, Aurora! I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean it." I press my nose to his.

" It's okay. I know you didn't mean to, I'm the one who stopped in front of you," I look at Nico who stands a couple horselengths away, very confused.

" Now, let's forget about it and go to the river." As the two colts trot to the far right river, I check out my hind leg, sniffing the fresh blood. I snort, and shake my head as I lope after them.

I stand in the rushing water, which washes away the blood and dirt. Just as I sip the cool water, it turns a dark brown, making me jump up in surprise. Thunder pricks his ears in surprise, tilting his head, confused.

" What? Is everything okay?" I relax and sigh.

" You just startled me, that's all." He sighs and continues drinking. I look up into the forest ahead of me and step forwards, suddenly hearing a crack! I sniff the air for any thing like a mountain lion or coyote. Nothing. I look back at the colts and they are just casually grazing, not even noticing the sound. I trot back and take a little jump across the creek. I toss my head and squeal, teasing the boys to follow me home. Being as lazy as they are, they just keep grazing. I spin around and stomp my hoof impatiently. I see a flash of a dark body through the brush and nervously whinny to the colts. Nico lifts his head and snorts, then goes back to his patch of clovers. Thunder looks around and walks over to me.

" What's up? What's wrong?" And just as he finishes his sentence, a dark bay colt comes crashing through the bushes, nickering and whinnying about. Nico throws his head up and speeds ahead, not stopping until he got back to the herd.

" Ha ha! I totally got you guys!" Ashes teases. I stomp my hoof in frustration, and Thunder's ears flatten against his neck.

" That wasn't funny, Ashes." Thunder growls. Ash struts over and as he walks around us he bends down and nips Thunder's hock. He squeals and wheels around, bolting after Ash.

" Hey! Come back, Thunder!" I whinny as they gallop away. I quickly loose sight of them both and start to get worried. Knowing Thunder, he'll come back sooner or later.
After a couple of minutes, while I stand at the creek, I hear the sound of hooves thumping up behind me.

" Thanks for waiting." A voice says. But it's not Thunder's. I swivel on my hind legs and come face to face with Ash.

" Well, what if I wasn't waiting for you." I snap, being forced to back up into the creek.

" My sire tells me not to allow a mare, or filly in this matter, to treat me without any respect," his ears straighten and angle down.

" meaning, don't talk to me that way, Aurora." I feel myself lower down, to release the pressure he is putting on me. But he just intimidates me even more. He eases back and turns around and waits for me to join his side. I carefully step beside him and we start walking back. 

" W-where did Thunderstorm go?" I cautiously ask him.

" Well, he's either back at your herd, or lost in the forest." I lower my head as we continue to walk back. And that's how I realize how much faster it is galloping and even loping. When we finally reach the top of our hill, he gives my shoulder a nudge and lopes away. And as soon as I can't see him, I race down the hill, searching for Thunder. I give out a shrill whinny at the edge of the forest, only to be answered from behind me. I turn around and search for my best friends roan coat. When I see him standing in between Kona and Argo, I race to him and we trot in a circle, nickering, rearing and bucking happily.

" Why are you two so happy?" Kona asks, with Argo at her side. We stop, look at each other, look back at them,  nicker and bolt off. When we reach my tree grove, I lean against a big cedar, facing Thunder.

" Okay, now, why did you go and chase Ashes off? You know that you could've gotten lost." I scold him. He playfully tosses his head and nuzzles me.

" You know that I was born here with you, we know this valley better than him. He and his herd just happened to 'move in' at this time. You can trust me."

" I know, I was just worried." I nuzzle him back and watch my mom slowly walking towards us. She still has a little limp, but her wounds are closing okay. She slowly picks up a trot, her head bobbing with her limp. As she gets closer, she slows until she is in front of us.

" Aurora, Thunder, do you want to come back and get ready to bed down? Your mother is already asleep, Thunder." He nods and starts trotting back. She walks up to me and nuzzles me, and looks up at the trees.

" So... Thunderstorm, hey?" She teases. I nip her shoulder and she nickers in amusement, switching her gaze to me.

" No! He is my best friend." She snuffles and rubs against a pine tree.

" And that's what I said about your father. I told everyone that we were friends, but he had already developed a crush. Then, one day while we were in captivity, with humans, I just clicked. I told myself, I need him. I've been with him since I was born, and it was just meant to be," I look down at the herd and watch Thunderstorm tiptoe beside Jass, settling in and falling asleep.

" then I had you. But before that, he accepted me with Jass, and Argo. And that's also what I wanted to talk to you about. Your brother is getting to an age where stallions eventually leave the herd. It's just not natural to have four stallions in a herd-" I cut her off, uncontrollably.

" But Ashes' herd has like seven stallions and one mare!" I look down at the dirt and start pawing it.

" How do you know that, 'Rora?" I snort at that name.

" You know I don't like that nickname!"

" Answer me!" She snorts. It echoes and we look at the herd, everyone is looking up at us, Jass and Thunder woke up, too.

" I went-Ash told me." She looks at me and tosses her mane.

" That better be it. Now, let's go bed down, it's getting to sun down." We slowly walk down as the herd waits.

" He won't be just friends forever. Colts mature into stallions, friendships are wished to be more." She whispers slyly into my ear. I trot off into the riverbed and drink, ignoring the stares and whispers. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Jass nudge Thunder away and guards him as he lies down. My father tries to talk to my mother, but she pushes past him and walks into the cave. I lift my head and walk into the cave after her. Without saying a word, I lock my knees and fall asleep.

A/N
*I have been very sick since the end of school!* And my very best friend from Alberta and cousins are visiting this week and it's been very busy. I am so sorry for the empty account activity for a month, oh! I almost forgot! I also just came back from Horsemanship Camp! 5 days without my writing tools (iPod, iPad, computer) don't really help out. But is was really fun! Anyways, here is the chapter you have been waiting 4 weeks for, hope you like it!:)
-Acacia