Wild Hearts

Chapter 2: Come in Ellie

Huh, where am I, what am I doing? Why are there trees everywhere, am I in a forest? Let me try to sit up..... Ah that hurts! As I came to I saw the emerald greens of the forest surrounding me, and a strange brown blob that seemed to be horse-shaped standing above me. As everything came into focus I saw that the horse-shaped blob was a horse! My horse! I started to wonder what happened and why I was on the ground, when it all started coming back. I had been riding on the moor when King got spooked by a squirrel and reared, but I got stuck and couldn't get off, so he crashed on top of me. Luckily I had managed to keep my head out of the way otherwise I would be dead right now.

I started to try and stand up but then it hit me. I can't feel my legs. Even when I tried to sit a sharp pain shot up my back. I could still use my arms so I reached into my shirt pocket hoping my phone didn't get totally wrecked. I pulled it out and was relived to see that there was only a minor crack to the screen and it was on almost full percent. I dialled 122 for the emergency services.

Hello what's your emergency?

"I've been crushed under my horse and I can't feel my legs, please send an ambulance." I started hyperventilating, wondering if they would believe me.

Miss please stay calm, can you tell us where you are?

My eyes widened when I realised I had no idea other than that I was on the moor in Dartmoor. And there are tons of those around here. "I am somewhere on a moor in Dartmoor, but I don't exactly know which one, There are quite a few around here. I go riding around the moor behind my house so I suppose that's where I am."

Can you tell us where you live so we can be sure of where you are?

"I live just out west of Tavistock, we have a bright green roof so it should be easy to spot."

We are sending someone out immediately, please try not to move. They are coming by air ambulance.

I felt relieved, but also afraid, what if something happens before they get here, what if they get lost, what if I gave them the wrong address! I told myself not to worry and to stay strong. After about 10 minutes I heard the sound of helicopter blades beating in the sky, I looked up, despite the call receiver telling me not to move. There was a green and yellow blob above me, with a person hanging out the side waving down. They had found me! I tried to yell at them but the noise was drowned out by the chopper blades. They flew away and I tried to yell once more,

"DON'T LEAVE ME HERE PLEASE I CAN'T MOVE!!!!"

But the chopper was too far away to hear me. Soon the sound of the helicopter stopped and I heard the crunch of leaves as I realised that they had landed and were coming to get me. I was overjoyed and yelled out. I heard the sound of running feet and soon saw 3 paramedics running towards me with one of those bed things that they put you on in hospital. When they reached me they asked:

"Miss do you know your name?" The first one said, his gentle voice calming me.

I scoffed, well obviously, "Ellie mister, Ellie Smith"

"Good, can you remember what happened when you fell off?"

"I didn't fall off persé, my horse reared and he fell on top of me, I got my had out of the way, but I still blacked out."

The paramedic laughed, "I can see you haven't got a concussion Miss Smith so that is good, can you wiggle your toes?"

My face scrunched up as I tried to feel my toes but it was like they didn't exist. "No mister, I think I paralysed my legs and feet."

His face looked worried as he looked at the other two paramedics, he whispered something to them but I couldn't quite make it out. The came back with the stretcher and the burlier of the three men lifted me onto the stretcher. They wheeled me back to the chopper and we took off. I called my mum and told her what happened and she was in hysterics, I told her to go and get King then drive to the Tavistock hospital, I heard her open the door and she told me she would be there then hung up. This was going to be a long flight.