Ghost

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As the Herd went to sleep, I stayed wide awake. I just couldn't get the girl out of my head. I slowly trotted away from the sleeping Herd. I sniffed the air, checking for any scents on the wind. Nothing. That's a good thing. An owl hooted in the distance, scaring me a little.

"Hello there." A voice said. I stiffened up, my tail swishing. A ghost horse stepped out from the shadows, a multicolored, black, brown, and white aura around her skeleton.

"Who-who are you?" I said, a nervous squeak to my voice. The ghost horse flicked her tail, and said,

"I am Iliko. And I can help you." I stumbled backwards, and tried to run, but it's like my legs wouldn't let me.

"I can help you, Atlas." Iliko repeated, but this time in a softer tone. "I know what you want. Let me help you."

"What do you mean?" I said. Iliko tossed her mane, and leaned in closer to me.

"The girl. I can help you become her horse." I felt the wind knocked out of me.

"H-how do you know that?" I whispered. Iliko simply chuckled.

"You'd be surprised what all I know, Atlas." Iliko murmured.

"How will you help me?" I whispered again.

"I can make you real again. Alive." I wanted that more than anything. I have been a ghost for... I can't even remember how long. Too long.

"I want that." I found myself saying. Iliko nodded.

"Now, what I'm about to do isn't permanent. You will become a ghost again, eventually. Are you willing to do this?" I was willing. I had to be. I know things would go back to normal, but for just a little time with the girl, I was willing.

"Yes." I said. Iliko nodded.

"Alright then." Iliko began to murmur words I didn't understand, and soon she was glowing even more than what was normal for a ghost horse. Soon I was glowing, too. I felt strange, like I was swirling around in a tornado. Iliko's murmerings grew louder and louder, and then she stopped.

Everything was silent.

I stamped my hoof, and was surprised at how loud it was. Like I was wearing an actual horseshoe or something. I looked down, and instead of seeing a skeletal horse leg inside of a pale grey flesh-aura, there was a real leg. It was long and so pale grey it was almost white. It was beautiful.

Then I realized, that was my leg. Iliko had done it! I was alive again! I turned to say thank you to Iliko, but she was gone.

"Iliko!" I whinnied softly. "Iliko!" No one answered. "Thank you, Iliko." I whispered into the wind. I trotted off to the river, to see how I looked as a real, alive horse. I peered at my reflection in the clear water. I had a long face, as all horses do, and big brown eyes. My mane was shaggy and long, like my tail. I galloped around, to test my legs out. They were swift and quick. I liked being alive.

I got a drink from the river, and went to my hill. It was time to do what I became alive for.