Emily's POV
(August)
"Ok, no fighting with Thunder, Dusty. I mean it, no matter how many times he tries to impress India, no fighting." I said to Dusty. I was bringing him to the pasture with India. I saw him rolled his eyes. He and India trotted to their tree.
"Make sure he doesn't hurt Thunder. Or else." Ben threatened. I covered my arms.
"Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you," Tony said. I gave a weak smile. I look down at my arms. I had 6 pale scars on each arm. Every time Ben got mad me, Dusty hurt Thunder, or Ben lost a competition, it was another cut on my arms.
"I know. I'm just tired of taking this abuse. I mean, we aren't even dating." I said.
"Come on. He's just jealous that you have boys at your heels, and you're a better rider." Brad said. Was that supposed to help? I walked over to the pasture fence and sat on it. The boys: Tony, Brad, Max, and John, leaned against the fence. Ben and Mark were riding in the ring. Mark pretty much abandoned me. He agreed with Ben, I shouldn't make him mad, I shouldn't let Dusty hurt Thunder, and I should let Ben win at everything. So I told him to fuck off.
"Sure," I said. I heard a screech of an eagle. I looked up, and both Dusty and India looked up. I thought I saw Dusty grin. Then I saw the eagle fly above the ranch. It flew over where Dusty and India were. Dusty spat at it and hit the bird. The bird flew down towards Dusty, but Dusty used his hoof to hit the bird. A feather fell, and the bird flew away. India was staring at the feather, and Dusty was neighing at his victory.
"Dad, did you see that?" I asked. He nodded, and I got off the fence and ran over to where Dusty and India were. I picked up the feather. India was still eyeing the feather. I tied it in her mane. She neighed and shook her mane.
"It's so girly," Ben said. I rolled my eyes.
"She is a girl," I said.
"Burn," Brad said. I chuckled. Dusty nudged India, and she leaned against him. I walked up to India and climbed onto her. She reared up a little bit and galloped towards the ring. I look behind us. India jumped into the ring and jumped out of it. She headed towards the outskirts, where the boys and I have competitions. I slowed India down, and she stopped. Dusty brushed past us, then slid to a stop. I rubbed India's white mane. The black eagle feather added a little colour to her. After all, she was a white Arabian.
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(Skipping ahead to a week before Emily's birthday)
Dusty's POV
"Dusty take it," India said. She was pushing the feather towards me.
"Why? It's yours." I said. She had a scared look.
"I have a gut feeling that something bad will happen." She said. Usually, I'm the one that gets those things. But then again, I did teach her how to survive in the wild.
"Nothing bad is going to happen. I would have the same feeling that you're getting." I said, trying to comfort her.
"Just take the feather." She said. I rolled my eyes, giving in. I neighed for Emily. She was cleaning Sheba's stall and she came walking out with the shovel.
"What is it, boy?" She asked. I motioned her to come over here. She walked over to where India and I were. I motioned to the feather, and my mane. "It's India's though." She said.
"I know that," I complained. India glared at me.
"India you want Dusty to have it?" She asked India. She nodded, and Emily picked the feather up and tied it into my mane. Emily gave India a weird look and walked away.
"Don't forget about me. Promise?" She said. I gave her a weird look. Why would I forget about her? I love her. What's going on?
"I promise I won't forget about you," I said. I wasn't so confident, but she didn't notice. She nuzzled me and went into the barn. What just happened?
