Blackbird, Horse of Destiny

Chapter 4

Every pasture was special in one way or another. I decided to take the time to explore each and every one.

However, I had to keep time in mind. Mr. Beibcoc had said he would be gone for a week or two. I knew how long a week was. Seven days. So, I had 7-14 days without Mr. Beibcoc. Say it landed right in the middle, I had 10-11 days. I picked 11 to assume the best. I'd already used up two days. That left me with nine days. I could use up four of them easily, one for each pasture. That left me with five days to come up with a plan and escape. Easy.

But that still left the worst scenario. If I didn't find anything until the last pasture and Mr. Beibcoc came back after seven days, then I only had one say left to plan and escape. And if I needed an extra day... well, then, who knew what would happen.

I decided to take the risk. I vowed to remember this moment, either regretting it or celebrating it. After all, it was the choice that would decide my future.

I tried to fall asleep immediately. It was a difficult task, but I could do it. It felt like all my attempts to get tired were flying away in the wind. These were the moments that would decide the life ahead of me.

I woke up really early. Not just early but REALLY early. The sun wasn't up yet. I hadn't gotten enough sleep. My eyelids were heavy and the rest of me drowsy. I didn't let my eyes close. I stayed awake like my life depended on it. Maybe it did. I crouched and yawned, gazing at the never fading stars.

A flash of movement caught the corner of my eye. A small figure. It cast a subtle shadow. The thing was Mr. Beibcoc sized. It was lingering outside the pastures. I saw a much bigger thing by it. I studied the shape for a second. It looked familiar.

The connection clicked. It was Mr. Beibcoc's tractor with much more hay. And the figure was the Sub.

I watched the figure climb into the tractor and deliver the food. I realized that the Sub offered me no help.

It was midday now. I was wandering the first pasture. It was the one I loved most. The one Eve and I would play in. The one that showed every horse who they were.

But today this pasture held no such luck. Every corner was a dead end. Everything was the same repetitive green. All this looking felt absolutely worthless.

Seconds grew longer. They started out as short wispy strings of time. Then they became the longer, thicker, more choking moments of desperation. And soon, they began to feel like endless eternities.

I tried to tell myself that this was good. It sort of was. Time was my biggest problem. If time could stretch like it was doing now, that was more time for me to think, plan and escape.

But soon I felt the breeze getting colder. My mane was flying in the wintry wind. The sun was dipping closer to the ground. The hunger I'd been fighting off all day started to overwhelm my stomach.

I decided that when the first star came, I would get a meal and go rest. I found myself glancing up at the sky every few seconds.

The first silvery orb appeared. It felt too small next to the big sky around it. Just like me. I was one horse in this big world. But I would make my one soul count. I ate a short but brief meal and laid down to sleep. The last thing I remember was my eyes closing to darkness.