Hummingbird (on hold...probably not going to finish)

A Wild Ride

I waited one month to break her in. Their was a big pink scar on her forehead, but her forelock (like bangs on a horse) covered it. All her baby fur was gone, and she was beautiful and black. Her fur was sleek and shiny, and her muscles rippled through her pelt. She was one fine horse. My father didn't go near her often, and when he did she would run. But I was there. She trusted me. I got the saddle on her a few times. And the bridle. But I never got to ride her. And today I would. She was quiet when I put  the saddle on her but she started to buck when I got on her back. I soothed her and she let me walk her, but nothing above a walk. Just to see how fast she would go I brought her to a meadow far from my house and my father. I climbed into the saddle and nudged her. She broke into a trot. I tapped her with my whip. She started cantering. I tapped her again and she broke into a full speed gallop! The wind blew in my face. Everything turned into a blur. I held onto Hummingbird's long mane. I clicked my tongue. She went even faster! She could race! I closed my eyes and slowly let go of her mane. I threw my arms in the air. Bad idea. I didn't see it, but a log was in our path. Hummingbird didn't jump. Just as I opened my eyes I saw Hummingbird's legs stop moving! Dust and clumps of dirt flew into the air. I felt myself being lifted out of the saddle. But I didn't let go of the reins. I flipped twice, and landed hard on my back. My hand was all tangled up in the reins. I guess something in the woods spooked Hummingbird, because she took off! Dragging me behind her.

"Whoa, Hummingbird! Whoa! Whoa! STOP!!!" I screamed. Dirt filled my mouth. Rocks scratched my face. Hummingbird went at full speed Black dots filled my vision. Was I going to die? Finally she stopped. Or at least I think she did. but she didn't. She had ran into the woods, and there was a deep river with a strong current. And she had run right into it. I opened my eyes, only to shut them when they filled with water. I finally reached the surface. The reins were still tangled in my hand. Hummingbird struggled to keep her head above the water. I swam to her, and helped her. It felt like hours when I finally felt my feet scrape the bottom. I led Hummingbird out of the water. My hand was raw and bleeding. I had multiple scratches on my face. Hummingbird was fine, except for the few scratches on her legs. And her hooves were so filled with dirt and mud that she limped. It took us thirty minutes to get home. We were both soaked. At least it was summer. I led her into the barn. I cleaned her hooves, sprayed her with a hose, washed her coat, shampooed and conditioned her mane, and dried her off. I put a blanket on her and put her in her stall, right next to Lullaby's. I went inside and looked in the mirror. My brown hair was almost black because it was wet. It also had leaves and dirt in it. And it was matted. I didn't even want to try and brush it. My face was covered in scratches too. I cleaned them off and looked at my hand. It was bloody and an unnatural looking pink. I sighed and turned the shower on. The warm water felt good. I shampooed my hair three times, and conditioned it twice. When I got out I looked like myself. A little. I walked slowly to my room until my father called me. I walked into his room. He was sitting on his chair, wrapped in a blanket.

"Yeah Dad?"

"I have to tell you something." he said, not looking at me.

"What?"

"Its Lullaby. Theirs something wrong with her."

I gasped. "What?"

"She has colic."

"Colic? Whats that?"

"It like a stomach ache. But horses can't throw up. So it doesn't heal. Shes...shes being put down tomorrow."

Tears poured down my face. "W-what? You're lying! You're just going to give up? You're just going to let her die? You won't even let her try to heal?"

"Jennifer. She can't heal. And its too much money to do surgery on her. Putting her dow-"

"No, Dad! You don't care about the horses! All you care about is money!" I cried, running out of the room. He called my name, but I didn't listen. I ran to the barn. Lullaby was on her side, panting heavily, sweat rolling off her ungroomed coat. She looked like she was about to drop a foal. Only she wasn't. She was dying. She was suffering. Maybe my father was right. Maybe putting her down was the right thing. It would end her suffering. But what about Hummingbird? They were so close! I looked into Hummingbird's stall. She stretched her head over the side to look at Lullaby. I sighed and went to my room. I pulled the covers over my head. I closed my eyes, letting the nightmares engulf me.