Shifters

Chapter 8 | Being Human Again

----------------Rookie---------------------

Heather just came into the pasture and took Dana away. I know that soon my rider will come to get me. I hate my rider she is a tyrant, Jackie. She always droops her hands and kicks me really hard and pulls on my mouth. Oh and speak of the devil.

"Rookie are you ready to be worked I can not lose this next show like you made me lose the last one. Although I can't put ALL the blame on you... the judges didn't know what they were talking about." ugggggggg kill me now. She always does this.

Jackie got me inside and put my tack on and took me out to the arena. She was drooping the reins except when she jumped me then she was pulling as hard as she could so mid jump I would stop and she would jerk around in the saddle. Not all of this was her fault though, I was really distracted all I could think about was how Dana and I left off on the wrong hoof. If only I were a human or a shifter then we could be together. Jackie kicked me into a gallop toward the next jump and I tried to refuse and tell her to slow down but she kept heading to the three foot jump. The trainer screamed at her to slow down but she didn't I jumped and I fell the other side onto my chest and skinning my knees hitting my hoof to my head and everything went black.

---------------------Dana------------------

Heather drove me forward to the stream my hair blowing as we cantered along. She is so excited she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

We got to the stream and Clinton was already there with the picnic set up and everything.

"Hey there." he said in his southern accent.

"Hi." Heather replied as I walked toward Duke.

"Hey Duke." I greeted him.

"Hi." he said halfway between eating grass.

"So, do you ride out here a lot?" I asked trying to get a conversation going.

"Ya sometimes. Can you leave me alone now I'm eating grass."

"Why?" I said stepping closer.

"I said go!" he said screamed kicking me in my hind quarters and making me gallop away frustrated.

-------------------Heather-----------------

Of course she has to do this. She has to cause a commotion while I'm getting into a conversation about veterinary solutions. "Sorry she's new." I apologized as I ran into the woods after her.

A couple minutes after looking, Clinton galloped up to me on Duke and pulled me behind him.

We looked for hours and by the time it was dark Clinton had had enough.

"I'm sorry Heather, it's dark and we have to go home we'll look for her tomorrow ok? Let's go."

"But, Clinton." I exclaimed. "What if it were Duke out there? would you leave him out there all night?"

"Yes, Heather because he can handle himself." he said galloping me to Freebell. we rode the rest of the way in silence.

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The next few nights were sleepless and full of nightmares of what could be happening to Lucy out there and if I will ever see Clinton again.

"Heather you missed two days of school already your going today."

"But moooooooooommmmmm!" I said sadly.

"No buts. Get up." she yelled at me leaving the room. I got up and ran a brush lightly through my hair and applied my make up sloppily. I threw on a dirty white t-shirt and the pants I wore yesterday. I put on my converse and grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.

A few minutes of walking later, I was standing at the bus stop and looking at the gravel on the ground and carefully kicking the little grey stones around.

"Are you okay?" a new voice asked from behind me.

"Not really." I said not bothering to look up.

"Why? What happened?" she asked, me bothering to look up. She had blond hair and brown eyes. She looked just like Dana but she had blue streaks running down her hair like mini waterfalls and she had no freckles.

"Ummm..... who are you?" I said trying not to sound rude.

"I'm Dan-ie" she said skipping one part of her name. "Ya Danie I moved here from...New York." she stuttered.

"Oh, so Danie do you ride?" I asked questionably.

"Oh, sure I do I had a horse once named Ace."

"Ok, how about coming out to the ranch after school then you and I can go riding."

"Ok." she said shyly as the bus drove up and we hopped in. I was instantly being questioned by Hannah.

-------------------Dana--------------------

After I ran away I got to my old charred house and memories started flooding back like a hurricane. I thought about the potatoes cheesy and hot and mmmmmmmmmmm............ and I thought about everything with my mom. She's gone. She's really gone. It hit me like a wrecking ball, pun intended, my mom was smart and buried a bin in the woods filled with the bare essentials, snacks, money, water, clothes, brushes, blankets, there was even a tent. I could live with this for a while.

After gathering everything I headed to town. I looked like a homeless camper in my oversized clothes and huge backpack on. I walked through town and lots of people were whispering and pointing at me. About half a mile into town I saw a street light that had a picture of me on it. It said I was missing and that's when I realized I had to change my look.

With the money I had I went to the hair salon. Since I didn't want to be recognized I went all out. I got blue streaks in my hair and died it dark brown. After getting my hair done i headed to the closest place to get make up and found my skin tone, I applied it to my face to block out my freckles.

I left and went back to Freebell.

At Freebell I decided to try out school. At least then I can watch over Heather.

"Are you okay?" I asked Heather as she walked up to the bus stop looking horrible.

"Not really." she said still looking down.

"Why? What happened?" I asked and the rest of the conversation went ok I don't think she believed one bit of my being from New York and having a horse named Ace. But we are going riding later.

I followed her onto the bus and sat with my head down as the bus rolled down the road to school.