The Gaiters

The Gaiters; The mistress of horses

The weather was so cold in Polina. The wind was blowing and the trees of the Forest were bending from its force. Melina was feeling like something was softly pressing her heart but she ignored the feeling and went to the stables of her family to feed and put water at the horses. Despite the bad weather outside, in the stables it was warm and cozy and Melina was always feeling great when she was next to the horses. That was because of her powers. Every ten generations a gift was given to ten children in Polina, each one had a deferent one. Melina could hear horses’ thoughts, communicate with them and they would come if she called them. It was like an army of horses. But that wasn’t the only gift Melina had. If she concentrates too much, then, wings would come out of her back, like a Pegasus’s.

When she first found out about her gift, all the people in Polina came to her house and there was a celebration.  Melina was only nine when that celebration happened and she came to meet the other Gaiters, as everyone called the children with the gifts. That meeting thrilled Melina a lot. She could still remember the faces of the other children, filled with awe, respect and a little fear, and especially the face of a tall 11-year-old boy, which was supposed to be the leader of the Gaiters. He was called Nilio and he could turn into a wolf whenever he wanted. He looked Melina with hatred and poor Melina didn’t know why. She was just a child whose powers were realized by her father just a week ago.  Oh, she can remember that day like it happened yesterday.

It was a hot morning and young Melina went to the stables with her father to feed up the horses. Every horse was saying hello to her and she was happy to be with her friends even if they were horses. As far as Melina could remember, she could always listen to what the horses were saying and they could understand her too. Melina thought that communicating with horses was something normal because her father was speaking to the horses’ ears when it was to go for a walk with one of them and they seemed like they could understand him too. Anyway, that day, her father wanted some help to feed the horses and he took Melina with him to help him. Everything was going fine, Melina and her dad were feeding the horses, but suddenly some men came into the stables, looking angry, and demanded Melina’ s father for money. But her father refused to give them what they wanted so a man took Melina by her throat and demanded money again. Melina was feeling desperate for help and she was crying in agony and pain when suddenly, she realized that she wasn’t hurting anymore and that the men who had caught her by her throat was lying down five meters away from her, unconscious.  Her eyes were full with tears but when they dry off her cheeks, she saw her dad kneeling in front of her, looking her in awe. The men all shouted in terror and left the stables. She asked him what happened and he pointed her back. Melina turned her head slightly to see two white, soft, beautiful wings attached at her back. She touched them and amazed she turned at her father who said:

“You are a Gaiter; I should inform the Council soon! A Gaiter in my family and especially my only daughter!!! I’m so proud of you!!”

 He said, hugging Melina and heading to the Auditorium where the Council members were staying. Melina didn’t know what to do. She sat on the ground, her head on her knees and looked stunned at the horses that started comforting her. Then, the oldest of the horse, a black mare named Alice, told Melina:

“You are now a Gaiter, do you know what that means? “

“N…No…No…” Melina said, her teeth greeting from a sadden breeze.

“Okay, hear honey. A long, long time ago, there were ten kids, we could say, that had amazing powers, each a different one. They were called Gaiters because they protected the Gate which is in the middle of the Dungeon.  They were the only ones that could cross the Dungeon and reach the Gate. There is a day each year, the summer solstice when the Gate opens and whoever crosses it can go to an unknown planet, where myths and fantasy exists. The Gaiters must protect the Gate and that’s why they have these gifts.” Said Alice

“O...Okay… And I am a Gaiter too? “Said Melina

“Yes you are a Gaiter. You are gifted.” Said Alice

“But…how am I gifted?” asked Melina

“You child have the power to communicate with horses, call them when you need them and you can also make wings come from your back when you want to fly!” said Alice enthusiastically

“Oh…But…I  thought that communicating with horses was normal…Probably not…This is crazy..! Who…who am I Alice?” Melina asked horrified

“You are Melina, mistress of horses, Flying Pegasus of Truth, Gaiter of the Gate!” said Alice and started to run round at Melina. The other horses started running too and then Melina felt like her heart was flying and her wings started flapping like crazy, till she was flying round the stable. The horses stopped and stared at Melina amazed.

“What is ‘Flying Pegasus of Truth’ Alice?” asked Melina when she finally landed.

“That is a power that you also have, one I forgot to mention. You can have wings and fly like a Pegasus. That is what ‘Flying Pegasus’ means and when you ask a direct question to another he will speak the truth, even if he wants to lie” said Alice

“Wow cool!!” said Melina and she felt really happy that she was with her friends and they could answer her questions.

Now, she felt the same feeling, the same happiness, as she went in the stables to feed the horses. Melina went to look for Alice who was a little ill lately. But she didn’t find her in the stables. She started searching for her until Lilia, the daughter of Alice, a nice white mare spoke into her mind:

“She is gone. She died ten minutes ago.” She said and a tear rolled over her cheek.

“But…how?” Melina asked almost crying

“She couldn’t bear it…She was too weak…When the time came she went into dust and flew to the sky!” said Lilia quietly

“Oh Lilia!!!” said Melina crying as she went to the white mare and hugged her by her neck

“She wanted to tell you this honey; be alert. Great dangers will come. You must be prepared. You can’t fail. You mustn’t fail. Trust your instincts and your horses. You are our mistress. Be alert…”