Riders of the Realm ~ Along the Sparkling Sunset

1 ~ OUTSIDE

IN AND OUT, IN AND OUT THE Pegasi mothers and foals came, always taken from their stalls for something unknown to Aquila. She saw the top of their heads glide along with ropes tied among them, the what she learned were called ' humans ' lead them out.

Many spoke kindly to their steeds, others not, instead scholding and pushing them onwards. Aquila's mother, River, always told her it was alright, that it never hurt them. But from the shrieks and squeals coming from the slap on the rear of the older Pegasi, Aquila secretly didn't believe her dam.

River just wanted to hide the bare truth from her foal, as she was only so old. And spilling such information just now would make the world Aquila was born in, seem . . . brutal. But River's reassuring words ceased to make Aquila feel any better about it. No one's words, so far, had broken the foal away from her opinion.

And this faithful morning, it would be Aquila's first time being led outside into the big world known as the Sandwen Realm.

After seeing all those Pegasi trail behind their owners outside the barn, it was finally her turn.

And although Aquila's trust in the humans was rather mixed, excitement pricked at her mind. She was growing impatient now, slightly prancing around the blanket of straw underneath her nearly black hooves, staring at the iron stall lock.

River spoke to Aquila stories of the outsides, the lush green Jungle, bright blue skies and the fair breeze that she would feel washing through her black mane, a breeze that would ruffle her feathers.

River said to her foal our world was beautiful, and she believed her mother this time, for why would so many dams and their foals be pulled out for things if there was bad weather all the time? And the stalls were always brightened by the sun that ceased to fall behind any clouds.

Aquila froze, she saw a human face above the stall door. It was a man, well . . . he seemed a bit younger than an adult, but not so young like the stable groom who had named Aquila three moons ago.

As the filly awaited for the stall to be opended, the youngish boy still was unlocking the stall door. The 'clacking' of the metal against the wood made her muscles tense "Open it!" Aquila neighed, although the humans didn't understand Pegasi language, they never usually did.

A soft nose brushed against one of Aquila's wings "Calm down, little one, you'll get to see the world." River softly nickered to her foal with bright eyes.

Aquila's snort echoed throughout the stables in a reply to her mother, protesting against her words. I've been waiting so long! She wailed in her head. 

The stall door flew open and the new fresh air crashed against Aquila, around the boy's two legs, there were more stalls with Pegasi mothers homed within them. This was all so new, Aquila was eager to see it all!

Aquila scrambled forward, going through the boy's legs. She was very wirey, so Aquila could fit through tighter spaces. Just as the young Pegasus was to escape to see the world, two hands grabbed her brown orangish stomach and slowly dragged her forward.

Aquila looked at the human, exasperated.

He stifled a chuckle "Woah there lassy, I know you're excited, we'll get you out in just a moment." the boy said, seeming to reply to her fiery expression.

The boy slowly closed the stall door, the rusty bolts groaning as he did so. He reached up and grabbed ropes tied together in some sort of odd contraption, and bent down.

He was going to put it on her. A sick feeling gurgled in Aquila's stomach, a lump rising in her throat.

She stood deadly still, and closed her eyes tightly shut as she felt the rough - yet soft fabric slither onto her face. Aquila shuddered, to her, it felt so weird . . . so new.