Chasing the Stars

Alone

The sun beats down on me, making me pant and sweat.

"WHY CAN'T THIS STUPID ISLAND PROVIDE ANY SHADE?!" I yell furiously at the sky.

I don't hear an answer.

I didn't expect to.

Sigh.

I squint, breathing a sigh. A palm tree. They barely provide any shade, sometimes just making me hotter. And I always have to beware of the coconuts. About half an hour ago, I got hit on the head, making my head ache something awful.

My head still hurts.

Despite the heat and my common sense, I tear across the beach, towards the narrow bit of shade.

Why do I have to be stuck on this cursed island?

Once I reach the silver of dark sand, I relish in the small drop of heat. My white, gold, and black mane and fur are slicked with sweat, and my chest is heaving from the sudden sprint.

While I'm lying down, I imagine what Jacob is doing right now, and what I would be doing if this FREAKING ISLAND didn't exist.

I'd probably run around my paddock, and Jacob would watch me with his 2-yr old niece, Emily. And she'd clap her hands and say "Iwis!!" and laugh as I'd pull to a stop, race over to her, and nudge her with my nose. And Jacob would guide her hands to my nose, and help her stroke me. Then he would grab a handful of hay from the ha right outside the pasture and he would hold it out to me, and Emily and Jacob would laugh as I snatched the hay away from them and pranced away, shaking my head and chewing.

Soon he would call his 27-year old sister and her husband, Jake and Sarah, and tell them to take Emily back home. They would pull up twelve minutes later, and Emily would say "Bye Uncul Jacob! Bye Iwis!" and they would drive off.

By now Jacob would take his saddle, and grab my bridle, girth, and saddle pad. And once I was all tacked up, he would say, "Do well, my good Isis girl." and we would trot around the ring.

After warming up, he would dismount, open the gate, and take me to the jumping ring. There, he would mount up again, and he would tell me the course. And I would ace it, like always. Then he would smile and say. "You were amazing, Isis." and he would throw his arms around my neck, and I would hug him back.

After our training, he would take me back to my stall, which would be nice and dry, cool during the day and warm during the night. There would be a full bucket of fresh water and plenty of grain.

It would be evening, by then, and Jacob would be doing his nightly rounds of checking in on all of the horses. His dog, Shadow, who is a midnight-black corgi and very loud, would trail after him, barking.

None of the horses liked him.

Jacob would rub our horse noses and say "Goodnight." and we would nicker softly "Goodnight." back to him, even though we knew he wouldn't understand.

My sister, Rose, had a stall right next to me, and we would gossip about today, and she would go on about her crush on a dappled grey stallion named Storm, and I would tease her and we would laugh softly, drifting off to sleep.

A soft thunk brings me back to the present, and I look up at the stars softly glimmering above me. I stare at the coconut that had just missed my leg, and I kick it.

The hairy but firm shell cracks, and I peer at the white liquid that oozes out of it.

I sniff at it and take a lick, surprised when it tastes quite delightful.

The stars twinkle above in the darkening sky, and I smile and stand up.

The brisk night air Is cooler than this afternoon. It is perfect for a gallop along the beach. I am finally in a good mood.

The sand sprays out from my hooves as I gallop along the beach, laughing with delight when the seawater sprays my fetlocks.

Soon I am back at the coconut tree and make a little burrow in the sand. It isn't as good as the stall back at Jacobs farm, but it'll do.

I grimace as the sand sticks to my silky black and gold and white, but I just want to sleep.

I think of the lullaby that Apier sung last night, and I softly repeat the tune, and I add my own words in.

"Sleep, my little one," I whisper. "The sky is dark with night. Do not be afraid. You are as safe as the moon is high. Hush, little foal. The stars make not a peep. The night will protect you, as you drift off to sleep."

I smile sleepily. Apier would be thrilled for me to sing his song, I know it.

And I hope he is in Europe right now, thinking about me.

And I feel warm and happy, thinking about Apier when the night wraps me up in its dark folds, and my eyelids close, and the night takes me to sleep.

I know this one was shorter, but I hope you liked it ;)