Born Free

Chapter 10

The fresh breeze blows through my mane as we walk across the plains very carefully. Thunder, jumping and striking at the slightest sound. It's no use in trying to calm him. He says that I was too close to getting caught. It is currently mid-morning and Thunder is already pushing me off, this time switching from in front of me, to slightly behind me. If a rabbit hops through the bushes ahead of me, he dashes forwards, charging the poor creature. Then, he returns to his spot behind me.

" So, when do you think we could start seeing other herds?" I ask him.

" When I'm at least two years old. Not any sooner." He snorts. I flick my tail, swiping it across his face. He jerks his head away and puts his ears back, sending me into a lope across the field. I'm worried that he has learned his father's ways of taking charge of the herd, even though mine was the herd leader. Tallon always pushed mares around, always had an attitude. And as a young foal, I was scared of him.

I slow down near a creek and take a break, downing the nice water. It refreshes me, cooling from the hot sun. I shake my head and snort, trying to get away from all the flies, but they come right back.

------------- Two weeks later
I look up, my long forelock tossing against my face. Thunder glances at me from grazing, nickering me over. I walk up to him, and start grazing beside him. So this is it? The life of a two year old, full of grazing and running away from older herds? Because that's all we have done for the past few days. And now that we are venturing further and further into the grazing fields means that there is going to be a lot more stallions trying to get at me. Thunder has been a two year old longer than I have, by a couple of days, and he has been very careful of avoiding bachelors.

My thoughts get interrupted as a loud neigh comes from some near by trees. Thunder pops his head up and nickers deeply to me, and I trot over to him. His head high and nostrils wild. He snorts as he paws the dirt raw, there is another horse here.

It stays quiet for a couple seconds, so Thunder quietly takes several steps over when the same three stallions come bursting out of the brush; Buffy, Sil, and Chester. But Chester seems to have earned a nice, long cut along his neck, blood still dripping down his neck. Thunder turns around and drives me away, staying behind me. I look over to my right and see large herds of mustangs, grouped close together. I turn their way, galloping through two different herds. I keep running until I get to a hill, seeing Thunder trotting up to me.

" Where did the other three go?" I whinny. He prances up and huffs, standing by my side.

" They got driven away by an the old palomino stallion. I just passed him when he turned and kicked them away." He huffs heavily when we walk down, cautiously weaving around the herds.

After dodging kicks and bites, we decide to graze near the old palomino's herd. He eyes us as we graze, pacing the edge of his herd, the lead mare watching him nervously. He eventually warms up to us and continues to watch his herd. After a couple of hours, I look around and spot a young stallion and mare, just like us.

The black paint stretches his neck out and sniffs the air, trying to catch my scent. The black mare nips at him, then going back to her patch of grass. I shake my head clear of flies and walk around to a patch of dry grass, laying down and rolling. I haven't rolled in forever! I lay my head down and sigh, closing my eyes in laziness.

After what seems like 10 minutes of resting, a pair of hoofbeats approaches me. I pick my head up and look up into the sun. This horses mane is too long and dark to be Thunder's. I stretch my head up and blow out air into the other horse's nostrils. He blows back and his warm breath tickles my whiskers. His unfamiliar scent makes me uneasy, so I shift my weight to get up, folding my legs beneath me and standing. I shake hard,  getting rid of excess dirt. Looking at the black stallion, I realize he is the one who was eyeing me earlier, and he starts to circle me. I feel his hot breath over my flanks and side step, and he pops his head up, expecting a kick. I turn to him and he walks over, putting his head over my shoulder and starting to groom me. I scratch his neck back and look at Thunder, seeing him trot up to the lone, black mare and start driving her away. She neighs back to him and he turns his head her way, hitting the top of my head. I spook and back up, calming down. He takes off, tail high and ears flattened against his neck. Thunder drives her away at a gallop, getting away from the black paint. She pulls a sly trick, stopping then galloping back. He slides to a lope and swirls around, making a mad dash back to her. She doesn't reach the stallion in time, being herded away from him. The stallion trips and stumbles, slowing down to a walk. As he limps, Thunder calls to me from the hillside.

Surprised, I dash towards them, paying no attention to the stallion. Thunder takes off after the mare and as I approach the paint's side, he looks at me with his glossy, brown eyes. I find my legs slowing and my long stride turning into a halt. I nudge his nose with mine and he perks his ears up and nuzzles me back.

" You okay?" I ask. He takes the weight off of his leg and sighs.

" Sure. But it seems your stallion just took off with my mare. You should go.  Before those stallions chase you off, again."

" You saw that?" I ask, and he tosses his head to the side. I look his way and see the three grazing across the field. I look at him and then trot away, going into a lope up the hill. When I get to the top, I can see him running after the black mare. I look back and see the paint limping away, into the forest. I whinny, catching his attention. He looks at me, just for a split second, then continues hobble away. With a toss of my mane, I'm galloping down the hillside, dirt clumps flying behind me.

After finding Thunder and the mare resting under some trees, I try to accompany the mare.

" Hi, my name is Aurora." I push my nose against her's. She jerks upwards and strikes out with a squeal.

" Woah! Sorry, did I startle you?" She just snorts and turn her shoulder from me.

" Raven." She mutters.

" Sorry?" I politely ask. He ears lean back and she turns to me.

" My name is Raven!" She snaps. She spooked me, and I don't know why she snapped like that. She walks away and starts to graze on a lush, green spot. I trot over to Thunder, who is grazing on the other side of the meadow.

" I think you got us a sassy bunch of mare." I whisper to him. He just flicks his ears towards me and continues to graze. I swat my tail against his flank and his ears go back, and his teeth graze my neck. I lightly squeal and trot away, finding a place to rest under some trees.

Thunder has changed. He isn't his old, playful colt anymore. Now, he is a mean, selfish stallion. Now I know what mother meant. They really do just want mares. And forget about friendship.

As the sun casts its final rays over the mountains, I wonder what lies beyond them. Does a new world lay before it? Is it a land where horses can roam without fighting each other just over mares? Or is it a world full of humans, the two legged Devils of our land. That can only be known if I venture beyond them, but that can risk my life. Dealing with harsh weather, wild predators, other horses, and humans.

I look down and see Raven fall asleep beside Thunder, distanced, but close for protection. I, on the other hand, sleep under the tall and thick trees uphill from the small herd of mine.

A/N
I know. I am a terrible updater. I have just been so busy lately and school just started. I promise to not update like this ever again!😁
-Acacia