Born Free

Chapter 27

Crashing down on the old and slowly rotting fence, I lunge into the forest at a full gallop. From behind me, I hear the others calling out. Whinnying at the top of their lungs. Celebrating. I inhale the cool, clear morning air and exhale, feeling my lungs refreshed is exhilarating. We're free again. I let out a celebratory neigh and hear the others explode, once again, with delight. I jump a fallen log, hoping that no one else trips over it. Looking around me, I see trees, bushes, sticks and small animals like squirrels and birds. The thundering of our hooves brings the birds to flight around us and as I'm galloping, I spot a clearing coming up. Slowing down to an energized trot, Ashka catches up to my side.

" What are we doing, Aurora?" She stares at me with her eager brown eyes.

" There's a clearing ahead, I'm just gonna check it out first." We've stopped and the others stand quietly. Wildfire starts trotting up to my side, nudging my haunches as he approaches me.

" What are you doing?" I ask him, keeping focused on the clearing.

" Coming with you, just in case you need me." He says with enthusiasm. I snort.

" I don't need your protection, Thunder." I state firmly. He falls behind me and I check out the field. Surveying the edges of the forest line, there isn't any other sign of danger, and the field's empty. I step out to check out a small creek running along a corner of the meadow and dunk my lips in it, my thirst is quenched. I turn around to tell the others when a sound hits my ears and I freeze. Two riders emerge through the bush on horses, talking amongst one another. What do I do? I can't go tell the others, they'll see me. And what would happen if they all came out of the woods? Then it happens. They stop and point at me, and can't seem to take their eyes off me. With many thoughts running through my head, I burst out into a gallop. I lean towards them and my ears flatten back. Their horses spook and bolt. They yelp with fear. I chase them off down a trail and once their hoofbeats leave my ears, I relax. Turning back to my herd, I spot a couple heads poking out of the spot I first emerged. The foals burst out of the forest and come barreling towards me. The others come trotting along with tails held high.

" Woah, Aurora, that was awesome!" Violet squeaks happily. I nuzzle her back and catch Bell glaring at me from behind Ashka, who is too focused on the trail to notice her.

" I just had to make sure they wouldn't find you guys. But we should get out of here before they come back. So go drink up, and fill your bellies." I nudge her shoulder lightly and lead them all to the creek.

" So what made you think it was a great idea to chase them off?" Zara asks me with a sharp tone. Thunder picks up on her uneasy energy and shifts in his spot between us two.

" Zara, I-" She cuts me off quickly.

" No, don't come up with some excuse like you wanted to protect the foals or some heroic stunt. It was stupid and could've gotten us all caught again. They'll be back looking for the rogue mare who chased them off into the bush. We have to get moving now." She tosses her mane and spins around, walking off.

" What's her problem?" Sky asks me from across the creek. Rosie hits the water with her hoof and nips at his shoulder. I let out a long breath and walk up to Zara's shoulder, where she stands in the middle of the field looking up around us.

" Those mountains are pretty tall, huh?" I break the silence. She huffs.

" Yep. And we can't turn around because that's where the humans are, only up and over." She's obviously frustrated.

" So let's get going then, you know, before the humans come back." Her ears swivel back and she spins around to get a drink. Zara was right though. We can't turn back, and there's no other way out other than through human territory. We would get caught for sure.

Looking up, past the mountains, I see ominous clouds forming. Of course in the direction we're supposed to go. It better not rain is all that runs through my head. I always overheard the humans talking about how unpredictable the weather in the valley can be. With all the thunder, rain, mudslides and lightning that come with the seasonal storms, we're definitely vulnerable at this point. I turn back to the heard and let out a sharp call, all looking up at me.

" Let's go!" I toss my mane to the side and break out towards the mountains. And as I'm going, I can't tell if the thunder is coming from us or the sky. I can only hope it's us.

———————

I hate to tell myself I said so. And it's all I can think about as we trudge up the slippery hill with rain pelting down on us. Thunder claps through the sky with a flash of light highlighting the small track in front of me. The storm has darkened the whole valley and there's close to no light. Small whinnies and snorts are all I have to hint me that the rest of the herd is still behind me. As I'm stepping up this muddy, and awfully slippery trail, my hoof slips out under me. I fall to my front knees. I stumble to get back on all fours without slowing us down. A nose bumps into my hind and I let out a frustrated squeal. Another deafening crash lights up the sky. The path in front of me starts to get rocky and jagged. I worry for the others and their foals. Had Rocky and Summit found a safe spot in between horses? Were they even near Ashka? What about Rose or Sky? The crashing in the sky above us distracts me from my racing thoughts. A thundering clap shakes the ground below my hooves and more water than before flows down towards me. A flash of lightning is the only thing that allows me to see the river of mud flowing down from up the mountain above us. My heart stops and my eyes widen. Mudslide. And it's a big one.