Born Free

Chapter 9

I can hear the shuffling hoofbeats behind me as we hurry our way down the awfully steep pathway. Sneaking a quick glance in front of Thunder, finally seeing the end of the path that leads to... an... open field. I was really hoping that there would be trees to shade and hide us from the stallions that follow. The pathway becomes wider, allowing to move quicker. Thunder breaks into a trot, and I follow in a lope. The stallions are about 15, maybe 20 horse lengths away, so we have some time to make a break for freedom across the open field. It really sucks that there is no hiding place, just one simple hill could be to our advantage.

When our hooves leave the dry, rocky cliff and hit the green grass, we bolt forwards in a gallop. And I swear, this is the fastest I have ever gone in my life. As we race across the big field, I hear hoofbeats gaining on us. I manage to look back, seeing three large stallions. One bulky bay, one shining silver coloured one, and one chunky chestnut. The bay seems to lead the band of three, in front by a horse length. Thunder whinnies a warning to me, and I turn my head to see a dried up river bed. It isn't that big, so we jump it. Felling my hooves leave the very earth feels amazing. The wind blowing through my white and chestnut coloured mane and tail, and the feeling of soaring through the air, just for a couple of seconds. I land slightly funky on my front left and trip over myself, tumbling to the ground at a tremendous speed. Thunder obviously didn't notice, because he just kept on running. I try to stand but I can't! I look behind me and see that my hoof is caught in some old tree stump roots. I start breathing really heavily. What do I do?! I scream at myself. I pull hard against it, but that just hurts more. Then I remember what my mother once told me.

" Slow and steady always works. If you rush it, you will just end up tumbling down and hurting yourself." I whisper to myself. Thats what she told me when I was just learning how to properly walk. I slowly maneuver my foot side to side, feeling the pressure that if I were to get caught and driven away, I would probably never see Thunder again. Suddenly, it pops out! I take a quick look at my pastern before looking up, tearing away from those stallions who were way to close for comfort.

" Hey! Pretty, we could help you! Just stop and let us take you back to our herd." What a bunch of horse manure! They are bachelors, they are their own herd util they find a mare to call theirs. I try ignore the throbbing pain in my pastern and keep on galloping, but feeling my pace slow down.

" Come on, we don't bite!" The silver one yells. I can see that Thunder has stopped, watching my dilemma go down. What a sad sight, one mare getting chased down by three older stallions. My thoughts get interrupted when I feel a sharp pinch on my buttock, looking back to see one cheeky bay stallion hot on my tail.

" Hey! I thought you said you don't and won't bite!" I scream back at them. I can feel how close they are, the ground behind my pounds with every hoofbeat.

" Well, I know that Chester and I won't, but big Buffy here? Lets just say he isn't exactly the gentlest of stallions, Honey."

" Good call, Sil." The chestnut I assume named Chester says to 'Sil'. I throw a buck at them, knocking the bay off guard and slowing him down, but me as well. And soon I find myself in between Sil and Chester. Chester huffs, white foam lathering his neck and legs. The silver one, Sil, starting to tire out. I push myself faster, pretty much leaving them in the dust.

Thunderstorm dashes in out of nowhere and knocks down the bay one, Buffy. I turn a sharp corner and notice my mistake. Its a canyon. And if I make one wrong turn, they could get me so easily. I switch into another direction, hearing another set of hoofbeats follow. Dodging a tall wall, I take a turn into a fork in the path, taking the one to my right. I slide into a small enough crack in the wall and hold my breath, just to watch Sil and Chester race by. When I hear the third set of them, I casually walk out, thinking that it was Thunder. Oh, but was I wrong. Buffy stands there with such a mad and cheeky look on his face. I let him sniff noses with me, and when he goes to smell my neck, I let out a squeal and paw at him as a warning.

" Do you seriously think that I'm scared of you? A yearling mare? You probably aren't even three years old yet." I snort a reply, telling him to back off. He shakes his head paws the ground. Thats when I realize, what am I doing?! I am just wasting time trying to convince this stupid stallion to let me go. I explode past him and try to remember which way I came from. After maneuvering my way around old rocks i find a way out, just squeezing through. As I race out, I call to Thunderstorm, who stands where I entered, waiting. But when he comes galloping with me, his shoulder is darkened with a dark red. Blood. I can smell it on him. He limps with his gallop as I pull him into the forest line. I keep going until I can't see the canyon anymore, which probably isn't good for Thunder's shoulder. We find a small creek that runs through the forest, stopping to rest there. Our fast and laboured breathing is the only thing I can hear at the moment. My legs buckle from underneath me and I collapse.

" Hey, Thunder?" I call him. He looks up at me, where he too buckled.

" I-Thank you." I slur.

" For what?"

" Saving me."

" I didn't save you. I failed at being your herd leader. That bay took me down hard, then took off after you. I'm so sorry." He extends his nose in apology. But I am too far away to touch his muzzle.

" Everything will... be... all-" And I pass out.

A/N
Holy Horses!!! I wrote this thing in an hour and a half. Thats the fastest a chapter has ever been written (for me)! I thought it needed some excitement, something to get your heart pumping. And I'm really sorry if there is any spelling errors, or i's instead of I's. Sometimes, when i get writing, i write really, really fast and sometimes hit the wrong keys:( Anyways, I hope you enjoy this one! And trust me, there is more to come! (lol, i wrote two, 1000 worded chapters in one day) Thank you so so so much for reading! -Acacia:)