Wild

Chapter Ten

Each of the horses found themselves in a large box stall at the back of the barn. The stable was large and held over 30 stalls in addition to feed, tack, carriage and storage rooms. There was no horses other than than the five inside, but that didn't stop the horses from calling out to the world in hopes of being set free in order to continue their journey home.

Phoenix kicked her stall in a fit of rage leaving a hoof shaped dent in the otherwise manicured stall. Moon, who was in the stall beside her tried to calm her "Maybe these people know our people. Maybe they're calling them as we speak! Maybe they're on their way with a big trailer to take us all home!" This only caused Phoenix to groan, she didn't appreciate his confidence in these total strangers, who knows, they might just sell them for a profit, rather than search for their actual owners.

The stable boy who had caught Royal came back leading a sleek black stallion. Moon hung his head over the door and sent a low nicker to the horse. Phoenix looked around confused, why was Moon nickering to a stranger? She banged the door with her hoof hoping for someone to explain. Moxie and Samurai both acknowledged the horse, though Moxie was slightly less welcoming. Royal looked across the aisle at Phoenix in confusion.

The stallion pranced and held his head high. He sent a ringing neigh through the barn as he was lead to a stall at the far end of the barn. Phoenix turned to Moon, who explained that the horse was Eagles, Moxie's son. He had been following them apparently and must have stumbled into the farm and been caught.

A vet came to check out the horses later and put some ointment on Moon's wounds. She said that they shouldn't be put outside with other horses in case they had contracted something when they were running wild. Moon didn't take to kindly to the running wild part, in his opinion they had been on their way somewhere, not running mindlessly, wild through the forest.

He pricked his ears when he saw a little girl in the barn entrance and his hopes shot up. He hung his head when he realized it wasn't Rose. Trying to remain hopeful he told himself that Rose would find him. She'd save them. What he wouldn't give for a nice ride around the pasture bareback with her.

He fell into a fitful sleep until a farrier came to trim their hooves, that were beyond in need of a trim. He obliged when he was picked to be first, because he was so calm. Phoenix rattled the door when he was put in cross ties beside her stall. While his feet were being trimmed he heard the stable hand and the farrier talking "We called a couple of stables around here, but none of them had any missing horses let alone six. There was a show down in Vermont where some horses disappeared when the storage shed caught on fire and lit up the entire thing. That was a while ago, though. Everybody thought the horses were dead, but maybe it was these guys" he said giving Moon a pat on the withers.

"Did you check for a microchip? These guys have been loose for a while, assuming they had good feet when they ran away. The pony is finished, you can put him away. If I were you I'd email the stable that lost the horses and send photos. Then you'll know for sure" the farrier replied as he straightened up and patted Moon's shoulder with callused hands. Pricking his ears the muddy little pony bobbed his head to say that they were the missing horses. He sent a whinny towards the stable hand and pawed the ground.

They took it for mischievousness and just put him in his stall. They threw him some hay and put Phoenix in cross ties. Knowing he wasn't getting anywhere he just ate his hay. Sighing in frustration he listened to the chatter of the people. They had left the subject of the horses behind and were on to the show season, feeding schedules and such. When all the horses' feet were trimmed the farrier accepted payment and turned back to Moon "If you don't find his owner and want to sell this guy let me know, okay?" Moon made a point of snorting, but pretended it was from the hay.

That night once they'd been given their hay the horses stayed up and discussed what was happening. Phoenix had come to the conclusion that these people were going to sell them. Moxie decided that they would be turned into lesson horses, which was a horror to the proud mare. The others stayed silent while the mares started to bicker about who was right and what was worse. Eventually they gave up and went back to eating, with each believing themselves to be right.