Wild

Chapter Five

Flames erupted from the nearby storage shed, spreading more and more with each minute. Horses screamed and their owners raced to lead them away. Phoenix, Moon, Moxie and Samurai raced across grass to escape. Their owners called for them, but they were blind with fear. A cow pony named Royal took off after them, pulling his owner to the ground out of sheer terror.

A gate was the only thing between them and safety. Each one took flight and made it safely, except for Moxie who knew she couldn't make the jump. Moon had made it, but he could jump his height easily, Moxie screamed for her friends and turned to get a start for the jump. She breathed deeply and barreled towards it.

She made it! Barely. She followed Phoenix who had heard her screams. "Run! Run!"Phoenix cried into the darkness, with the moon in and the flames the only illumination.

* * * * *

By the time the horses finally stopped they had no idea at all where they were. Phoenix had bloody gash down her leg, that she had not noticed while she was galloping. Moon was limping slightly and Royal, a pinto pony with blue roanings was breathing heavily, but otherwise the horses were in order.

"Are you guys alright?" Phoenix asked taking her responsibility as leader seriously.

"We're all fine..I think" Moxie replied as she looked around. "Does anyone know where we are and how to get home?" She sighed and took in her surroundings before nibbling on some marsh grass.

"It looks like the trails we rode on back home. I think we should follow it" Phoenix said, stifling a yawn. The others began to move along the path slowly and cautiously, even the slightest noise was blown out of proportion in their tired minds.

After what seemed like forever the sun began to rise dying the sky a hot pink. In the field they came to a old red barn stood at the right, it's once strong supports rotting and bending under the weight. All the horses began to either rest or graze. They heard a car somewhere to the right and assumed it a road, but were too weary to investigate any more than occasionally pricking ears to listen.

The fear of flames and darkness had vanished, but it had been replaced by a fear for someone other than there owners finding them or worse getting lost for good. Moxie sighed and dozed in the sun, it's warmth spreading through her body.