On Our Own

Chapter 34

I feel a few small drops on my forehead as we ride, and dread what is inevitably coming. A flash flood.

Burying my head into Carter's shoulder, I silently pray that we find Ezhno quickly.

"Ezhno," Carter calls. I do the same and soon the only sound in the forest is our voices calling out, and the soft patter of raindrops. Maybe it won't be a flood- maybe it will just be a light rain shower.

"Ezhno," I yell, and then fall silent for a moment, listening for a whinny or hoofbeats. But I hear nothing.

We ride deeper into the forest for about half an hour, while the rain starts to fall harder, and harder. It's not quite a downpour yet, but it's getting there.

"Carter, stop moving" I order. He halts Chester, and we sit in silence for a few moments.

It's almost inaudible- but far off in the distance, I hear a frantic whinnying, almost a screaming.

"Do you hear that," I ask.

Carter nods, and takes off full speed in the direction. At the rate the rain is falling, we can't waste any time.

The noise is getting louder, and more frantic. I start to panic- what if Ezhno is in danger? What if he's hurt?

I push those thoughts aside, and tighten my grip on Carter. I'm surprised he can breathe considering the tight hold I have on him, but he doesn't say anything. I think he can sense how terrified I am.

The whinnying is so close, Ezhno must be just around the corner. We are so close...

And then a sickening silence resonates over the forest. Ezhno has stopped making any noise, and the only sound is that of the rain, which is falling even harder than it was just minutes ago.

"Over there," I yell, pointing to a shape that is lying on the floor. Carter turns Chester toward it, and slows to a trot.

The closer we get, the better I can see. The second I determine that it is Ezhno, relief runs over my body. I quickly dismount and rush to his side.

The relief is short lived, however. I stand in shock, unable to take in the scene that has played out before me.

Ezhno's front legs are tangled in barbed wire. He has deep cuts penetrating his skin, and the gashes are bleeding profusely. How can there be so much blood?

The wire has also worked it's way into his girth, leaving multiple cuts there, but they are less severe. His eyes are glazed over, but he's still breathing, as is evident by the rising and falling of his chest.

I fall to my knees and scoop his head up into my arms, cradling it and stroking his forelock.

I don't notice that I'm crying until sobs start to erupt from my throat.

The only word I can bring myself to say is "Ezhno," so I repeat it over and over again.

Carter is by my side, and running his eyes over Ezhno's predicament. He starts digging through his pocket, and pulls out a pocket knife. He attempts to cut the wire, but to no avail.

I hear him mutter a few choice words under his breath, and that's when I realize that we can't free Ezhno without help.

Carter tears off his sweater, and uses his knife to cut it into shreds. He puts the cloth over the worst cuts, and applies pressure to them, trying to stop the bleeding.

"Carter," I say, finally finding the ability to speak. "You need to go back and get help."

"Are you crazy? The rain is horrible, it could flood any second now," he yells over the sound of rain.

"I don't care. There is no way I'm leaving Ezhno like this. So you can either go get help, or not, but I'm not moving," I shout.

He curses under his breath, but nods. Before he mounts Chester, he walks right up to me, and tilts my face up towards him.

"You stay safe- you better be here when I get back," he orders, his voice laced with fear.

I can't stand to see him like this, I need to fix it. I wrap my arms around his neck, and stand on my toes, closing the distance between us. Our lips crash together, and for just a moment the world fades. But only for a moment.

"I promise I'll be okay," I whisper once I pull away.

The second he starts to rides away, I rush back to Ezhno.

I set his head in my lap, and watch as his nostrils flare, proving that he's still breathing.

Tears start flowing down my face again, and they intermingle with the raindrops that are soaking me to the bone.

"I'm so sorry," I sob. "This is all my fault."

And it is. If I wouldn't have let him free, he wouldn't be here.

He wouldn't be hurt.

He wouldn't be dying.

"Ezhno, don't die. I love you boy. Don't die. You can do this boy, just push through."

His gaze lands on me, causing me to cry even more.

"Please don't die."


A/N

='[ getting a little teary eyed over here! Please don't hate me!!

I still can't think of a random question, and frankly, this chapter is too sad to put one!

Thanks for reading