Born Free

Chapter 23

Aurora's POV

My hooves sink into the soft grass beneath me as I trot across the pasture, it's dewy grass blades soaking my fetlocks. Sky stumbles alongside me and jumps into a small lope. I nicker to him, slowing to nuzzle his white nose.

" Now, Sky, you have to keep up with me or else you will fall behind." He snorts and jumps around in a circle with a buck. He doesn't know what we're planning. All the other mares in my barn and all the stallions in Thunder's barn are planning to get out. Somehow. The mares are helping their foals learn how to keep up at a gallop and make sure they won't get trampled on our breakaway. Sky has been very clingy and impatient, typical colt. He's just like his sire, when he was a colt, just a bit more carefree.

" But, momma! Why do I have to learn this now? Why not when we find our own home? I am almost two months, you know." And I swear if horses had eyebrows, he would raise them above his ears. I stamp and nudge his shoulder roughly, and he nearly falls to his side.

" If that makes you fall down, then you won't be able to live wild. You need to grow strong like your sire, be able to fight off a cougar. I want you to be able to take care of your own herd someday." And with a cute snort, he nuzzles up to my chest.

" I'll grow momma. And I promise that I'll take care of my own herd one day, with Rose at my side." Oh, here we go with Rose again, Goldie's filly. Ever since they met, they've been nearly impossible to separate. He nuzzles me again before trotting away and right up to a sleeping Rose. He nudges her softly and when her sleepy eyes focus on him, they widen with excitement.

" Sky!" And she jumps up, taking off with a buck. He rears around and chases after her. Goldie walks up to me silently, her white mane swaying as she approaches.

" Hey, Aurora." She licks her lips, and shakes her head to get rid of several flies.

" How are you, Goldie? Haven't seen you lately." She huffs, and I over my head to take a couple bites of the grass.

" Getting old, couldn't stand two days ago. It's my back legs acting up again. Your lucky, and young. When you get to my age, you'll be happy you aren't living in the wild anymore. My dam wasn't to lucky, died at twenty one during the spring. I was almost three at the time. And now that I'm one year away from her, I'm starting to worry about Rose." I glance in her direction. Rose is her 8th foal that I know of, she told me this back when I first met her. She and her herd were rounded up when she was 7 years old and is now 20. I cant imagine living with humans for over 13 years, especially how they bred her till last year. She says she 'cant' foal anymore. Something about her getting too old and having too many.

" I'm so sorry, Goldie. How are you feeling now?" She snorts.

" Eh, fine. Aurora... Can I ask a favour from you?" I look at her, her big, caramel coloured eyes looking into mine.

" Yeah, anything, Goldie."

" If... If I pass anytime soon... Will you take c-care of Rosey for me?" Her legs start to tremble, and bet breathing becomes short.

" Of corse, yeah," She exhales, buckling down to her belly with a grunt.

" Goldie!" I rush forwards to her head, sniffing her nose with my forelock brushing by her beautiful eye. I step back uneasily, watching her roll in pain. Colic. I've seen this before. Her neck suddenly is drenched in sweat, tail flicking rapidly. I turn and look at Sky and Rose, seeing their horrified looks. Rose plunges down the hill, barreling down with a squeal. She rounds me and stands a horse length away from her mother.

" Mother!" Her normally bright coat is now grass stained from withers to her tail, and soon, she stops rolling. Rose goes to approach her, but I cut her off, smelling her mother's frozen body. Inhaling her scent, a very bad one fills my nostrils. I nudge her neck softly, waiting for her to blink. She stays still, no twitch to get the fly off her flank, no blink of her eye. She's dead, Goldie's dead. A sense of sadness flows over me and I step aside, letting Rose say her goodbye. She slowly approaches Goldie's light gold coloured body and buries her head into her mane. She mumbles a couple words before Sky startles me.

" Momma? Is Goldie okay?" I sigh, looking down at my little one. He looks up at me, his dark brown eyes searching for an answer through mine.

" Sweetie... Goldie... She isn't with us anymore." He looks back at Rose with eyes wide and ears pricked. He trots forwards and stops at Rose's side, pressing his nose to her's.

" Rose, I'm so sorry about your mother. If you ever need me, I'll always be there for you." She rubs her nose against his and let's out a sigh. I trot over to the fence and let out a loud neigh, drawing the human's attention to us.

Eventually, after many failed tries, Nick walks in with the wheel barrow full of hay. He drops the cart to the ground and his mouth drops. He grabs his phone and dials a number, yelling into the phone as he crouched down to Goldie's lifeless body. And soon, a group of men and a tractor arrive, overlooking Goldie.

" Nick, what did you feed her this morning?" His father's voice hard and sharp, like a thorn.

" Her oats... But I forgot to clean up her last two buckets." His eyes drop to the ground in shame.

" You didn't clean out Monday's oats?! That was two days ago, and you know she was going to eat again soon!" He storms over to Nick and stands face to face with him.

" This mare's death is your fault." He grumbles. Nick walks from his father and up to my side, grabbing a price of my mane with one hand.

" Cassie can feed the foal, just ask Dr. Richards." He motions over to the vet, who stands next to the tractor.

" Your right, your mare could feed the foal. But only if you feed her the right stuff, to help her milk production." I stand still, approving these humans choice. I will take care of Rose, for Goldie.

Authors Note-
Anddd I finally updated! So sorry it took 13 days to do, I've just need busy in my life outside of Wattpad. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed:)
-Acacia