The Unwanted Champion

Stolen from the Meadows

  I was left to my own devices...until those stupid creatures with two legs destroyed my life. Living off my mother's milk in lush pastures, I was quite content, a happy young foal with not a care in the world. Everything was bliss, apart from those pesky flies, that buzzed, so loudly, in my ear,  in the,  long summer days. My short tail wasn't long enough to whisk those flies away. I'd get impatient, and rub my muzzle against my mother's side. She immediately stood to the side of me, her tail, swishing against me. 

One peaceful day, we were resting beside the tall Apple tree beside the river at the far side of the lush meadow. The river was surronded by Apple trees, rose bushes, Pear trees,  We loved it in the spring, when red, rose, apples would fall from the tall trees, surrounding the river that gave us access to fresh, spring, water, whenever we were thirsty. Apples would fall into the river. Us braver colts would gallop in and gather them up greedily.  Sometimes we'd get a little rough in the herd, fighting over those delicious apples. They were the juiciest, and no one wanted to give up a delicious feast of a breakfast. Creatures on two legs would join us, picking up the apples and harvesting them into wooden baskets. Those that were left bruised, were ours to gobble up. Bees buzzed happily as they gathered pollen from left over blossom flowers, only buzzing angrily when the two legged creatures, or one of us who'd shake the tree leaves with our mouths, teeth clenched tightly on a twig branch, swaying our heads in circular motion., picking out the juiciest apples, disturbing their hard work. The elders of the herd eagerly joined in with the harvest, waiting paitenlty for an apple to drop down to the ground. None of us were picky eaters. We never bossed each other about, for if we gave as much as a squeal with joy, the adult, creatures would come out and yell at us, often spoiling our fun filled days in the Spring. Rabbits and their kidlets hopped around in the tall grass, dew drops falling to the ground, painting the dirt with soft sprinkles of water. Butterflies of all kinds hovered around the flower bushes, often squeezing through some wire net fence, to get to some juicy cabbages. The rabbits sniffed through the wire netting, trying to navigate their way through to nibble on some carrots. I often tried to sneak over, but my tiny neck was no match for the fence that surrounded the plots of vegetables I so dearly loved.  

The youngest creature ran out at us, clearly enjoying a game of "TAG! You're it!" Mother and the other members of the herd stayed well away from the tiny humans, especially the elders. The herd had never had much contact with humans, and fled, tails flying out behind them, nostrils flaring, eyes wide and alert. Some of the young colts squealed and bucked out at each other. 

The little girl sat down in the long grass, holding something behind her back. She picked up an apple from the ground, and held it tightly in her sweaty palm. 

"Come on Zukie," she encouraged. I titled my head in confusion. I turned my head to the other colts. "Zukie?" I questioned. As if she heard me, the tiny human laughed. "That's it Zukie, come on now. Don't be afraid." How dare she think I be afraid. The colts laughed and laughed at the little girl's accusation. 

One of the colts dared me to join the tiny human. "Go on Zukie," they all jeered, pawing the ground, encouraging me. Willing me. Making fun of me. What was so bad about the human who offered me a delicious treat? Ears pricked, eyes alert with interest, I slowly crept forward. I stopped when a branch cracked behind me. "Oh Domino, you scared Zukie", she giggled. I laughed and snorted, showering snot and dense spray over the little girl's face. I shook my head in embarrassment. I closed my eyes, a sense of longingess drifted through my mind.hooves barley made a sound over the lush grass. The little girl held out her hand, so suddenly, I leapt back in fright, bumping my rump into the old Oak tree that surrounded the red monster. 

I had no fear, and would often nuzzle up to the girl who always wore a pretty crown of rose petals, woven with, a neatly plaited red string, sapphire and gold encrusted between each, tiny, petal, upon her chestnut forelock.  Mother often disproved of my, unconditional antics. One day, she'd had enough. The little girl with the rose crown lay down beside me. I pushed my muzzle into her hands, resting my tiny head on her folded knees. I licked the juicy liquid off her hands with shear pleasure. Flecks of sunlight speckled the girls palm when I lapped up the excess juice from the tasty apple. Little splashes of juice stuck to my whiskers. The little girl squealed in delight. Mother panicked.  She pawed the ground uneasily, willing me to come to her side. The little girls eyes saddened, but she knew the rules. She, reluctantly, obeyed Mother's wishes. She whispered in my ear, "Do as your mother says, Zukes." she sighed, stroking my pink muzzle, flowing her finger over the tiny snip that hung like a tiny icicle, hanging off a tree branch. "Otherwise you won't come back, ever." I stood up on all four hooves, delicately stepping over the girls legs, making sure I wouldn't step on her fragile, little, legs. Mother adored how gentle I'd been with the little creature. She nuzzled me with praise. She allowed me too suckle from her teats, although I was a little old now to be suckling from my Mother. The other fillies laughed at me. That's when it all happened. A harsh voice sounded in my ears. "Get back ya brute." the creature cried. 

I playfully spun round towards my Mother, bucking in delight at how lovely the morning had been.  I stopped in my tracks, my left ear back towards the little girl, listening intently. Before I knew it, she'd gone. A sadness came over me. I drooped my head in shame. I whickered a silent goodbye. She praised me for my kindness. "But with kindness comes an empty love some human's don't know how to control," she whispered solemnly.  I never realised what Mother had meant by that phrase, which she so often reminded me of. Even the little girl had warned me to stay away, but I ignored their advice. The advice which I was to pay very deeply to. 

the big red monster when it's mouth opened, it's teeth grinding against the dirty road. My sister and I were well aware why she did so. Creatures with ropes and whips often came out to "inspect" us. They'd, harshly lift our legs and pin us to the ground, holding a hot metal prong that would burn into our baby fur, against our thin skin. Mother told us they were branding us, keeping a tag on us. "What ever for?" I asked, nuzzling her in fear. My eyes glared with fear at those hateful creatures. I darted from Mother's side, unwilling to co-operate with those deadly snakes. What was their purpose in destroying our perfectly, natural, baby coat? One of the two legged creatures snarled, and a cold sting shivered through my spine. My whole body collapsed underneath me. Mother whinnied with outrage. Wearily, I looked up, my eye's blinking furiously. A second crescendo of a gust of wind struck against my fur. The sound was defining. Mother screamed and nipped one of those, angry, creatures, which I learned, later, to be man. What man on this pasture would hurt me like this? Mother sank her teeth into the creature standing close by me, right arm, until a red trickle of blood drew from her lips. He'd knocked her, swiftly, with his elbow. The force bellowed against her delicate mouth.  The mettle bit clenched against her teeth. She squealed in pain. I struggled to get free. They strapped one of those mettle bits in my soft mouth. I squealed, lashing out in terror. A cold sting slashed one of my eyes. The tall man whipped me so hard. I now, understood why my Mother was so terrified of the two legged creatures. I silently drooped my head down to the ground. I was broken from fear. Terror. My Cremello coat shone with sweat, foam speckled all over my coat, even more snowflakes, draped coarsely over my baby fur. I whinnied for the little girl who'd been so kind...so loving...so gentle. Then, as if she'd answered my wishes, she stood out before my eyes. Holding a soft, blue, head collar out from behind her back, she, hurriedly, fastened the collar over my ears, so that it fit snug between the crease of my ears. I leapt back in fright, almost kicking mother in protest. Mother squealed and kicked me hard. "No! Don't do this, don't...you're frightening her." the little girl yelled, flailing her arms at the creatures who'd attacked us. 

Unfinished chapter......

To be continued.......