Møon

Chapter One: Racing Under The Moon

Horse Vocabulary:

Dam: A mare (female) who gives birth and raises a foal

Sire: The father of the foal

☾❦☽
September 12th, 1985

I was born into captivity or so you would call it. I always thought the humans were amazing. My owner would always groom me and feed me things that were good. She let me into the pasture sometimes with the other horses and I loved being with my dam.
My dam told me that my name was Moon. I liked that name. It didn't exactly fit me, my name, I wasn't white at all. But my dam loved my name and said the humans would never change it.

The name hung above my stall door in white letters for the four years I've been alive, and I've always been proud.

I'm waiting for my owner to come and feed me or let me out to the pasture. I hope it's the second one because I want to talk with the other horses, maybe play around a bit. Specifically with a stallion named Achilles, a handsome looking bay roan that practically reeked strength, though he certainly could work on his speed. Sadly, his eyes weren't on me, instead they were lost in the ones known as Raye, a jet black mare with a white star dead center on her forehead. I couldn't blame him really, she was fair looking mare, though I could not understand how they both could deal with the others personality. Then again, she has his head just as much as she has his heart.

The sound of boots against wood alerted me that one of the humans were nearing, and I was expecting my owner but instead it was my dams, well, my dams owners daughter. I hoped she had a lead rope, but to my dismay she didn't.

Instead, she gave me two slices of hay and I munched on it gratefully. The human climbed over the stable door and shuffled close to my flank, running her hand along my neck to my withers, speaking soothing words that made me relax to the point I rested my right leg, making my body weight all rely on my left.

The human left shortly after, climbing out of the stall and slipping out of the barn with a quiet goodbye. Now that I was alone, and bored, I cocked my right back leg and kicked the wooden surface of my stall . That was the message that I wished to converse with another equine. Over my life I have made a mark in the wood, the humans only painting it once before giving up.

There was sound of movement before Raye's poked out of the stall.

"What do you want Moon?"

"Is...is Achilles courting you?" I finally asked.

"No, and it is none of your concern." She huffed.

"Yes you do. Everyone can tell." I heard her swish her tail, her ears pinned back.

"If you tell anyone, I will make sure you have a broken leg." The black mare head disappeared back into her stall, once again leaving me in the silent loneliness.

I only nodded at her words, after all Raye did come from a herd, a wild one to be precise. In fact, she supposedly was the lead mare, but she left the herd briefly and returned with Achilles by her side. Only for the two to be - sadly - captured not to long after. I always thought that was romantic, they were practically perfect for each other.

But that's not going to stop me from trying to get him.

I continued munching on my hay, enjoying the breeze that was coming through the barn doors. I suddenly lifted my head, ears craned to pick up on anything.

"Raye?" I asked, hoping I hadn't annoyed her already.

"Yes?"

"Is it true you were a lead mare of a herd?" This caught Rayes attention, and her neck stretched out across the stable door, turned to look at me.