~~* this chapter is dedicated to my bestie, C. Thanx for your patience!*~~
Ch. 3
~Nightmares
I had always been terrible at cantering bareback. I would always slide around on Tsuki's back and cling to her mane. So of course, I felt like I was going to die while I rode away from the blood-stained home I just lost. I figured my left arm was completely boken, possibly my right ankle as well. My hands were torn up and my arms were burnt from guarding against the lightning. So many emotions swirled around in my head, so much so that I began to become numb from their relentless bombardment as I watched the beautiful cherry trees blur past me. I had absolutely no idea where I was going, but I had to move. I needed to leave, anywhere would be fine, but I needed to find somewhere safe.
I looked to my side and checked on Josaiah, Axel's little Morgan paint. He had light peach splattered all over his little off white body. My Tsuki was a Morgan as well, but she was a beautiful dapple grey with blue roan, giving her a blue tint. The name Tsuki means Moon, and when I saw her, that is the first thing I though of. As for Josiah, I'm not quite sure why, but it seemed a fitting name. The little horse was usualy very sweet but he was a goof and often gallopped about in his pasture with his tail sticking straight up in the air, his beautiful peach tail and mane fluttered in the wind and the feathers on his hooves made him completely irrestable. Then once he saw you, he would come prancing up and nip at you.
I loved our silly horses.
It was still raining and Tsuki almost slipped a few times. Everything seemed like it was out to get me. Even now, as I rode, the origionaly peaceful rain that had watched my brother die with me slapped my face, as if it was ashamed at me. "I'm sorry. It's okay to be mad at me. I was the cause of his death, anyway." I apologized to the rain. The sky didn't appear to clear up anytime soon though it was only a light grey, the rain was letting up. My strength was fleeting at an alarming rate and I just slipped off Tsuki. As I crashed to the ground the horses gathered around me and Tsuki nudged me with her soft muzzel, telling me to get up. But I could not. I held her large head and gazed into her blue eyes. Her eyes were white-blue, though she was not blind. Blue was not the most common eye color and I often wondered if she wa blind. She proved daily that she was not though, so I quit questioning those sweet caring eyes. I kissed her nose and lay down. I was so tired...I could just...fall asleep..
Tsuki, being the wonderful horse she was, lay down next to me and nudged me again, telling me to come over. I curled up against her and Josaiah followed suit, laying down next to me, forming a horse-sandwitch with me in the middle. Warm and surprisingly comfortable, I drifted into the black realm of nightmares. Repays of my brother's death, my father, burnt to a crisp, my mother, beaten down, crushed into the ground. I woke up many times, relieved by the daylight and comforted by Tsuki's loving snickers and nudges.
I heard voices. While I was dreaming, I heard voices, real ones. Horror sruck me and I leaped up, full awakened by none other than Tobichiru, who, startled, jumped back as I jumped up. He regained composure and took a step towards me. He looked serious, which frightened me, but what was worse was I was unable to move (probably from all the shock of this single day). I trembled beneath his unreadable gaze which I was too afraid to meet. Though when he spoke, he sounded somewhat nervous.
"It would be easy... if you came with me without a fight..." he paused, "Come with me, Ash." This command sounded more like a question to which I silently answered 'no' because I was unable to speak. I just stared down at the ground, shaking. The horses had gotten up and were at my side, ready to defend me. Tobichiru gently lifted up my chin to look at my blody face and sighed. "I can't keep this up..." He mumbled to himself.
