This Isn't Me

Chapter 9

Chapter 9:

Snow-Dust whinnied, picking his front feet up as I slowed him.

“Whoa, steady.” I cautioned as he snorted, throwing his head down the slightest bit, but straightening out again. “Good boy.” I hushed, dismounting him, walking him slowly along with his reins loosely in my grip. I stopped directing him at the base of the small hill, letting him graze as I crawled through the tall grass, hiding myself fairly well. I could make out the house in the distance, barely visible, but still, it was there.

“I don’t understand why horses don’t come this way!” I suddenly heard, not too far away. I took in a sharp breath, looking to the figures slowly approaching this way. Damn it! I scurried down the hill, grabbing Snow-Dust’s reins, getting his attention quickly as his ears flipped around, hearing the voices.

“Come on.” I whispered to him, mounting and nudging his flank with my heel. He picked his feet up the slightest bit, but didn’t make a noise, not recognizing the voices drawling closer as he took off quickly. I put my hood up, disappearing into the forest with him. I slowed him down again, calming both of us down. He stopped, looking back to me, nudging my leg partially, nickering. “It’s alright.” I assured him, guiding his head back in front of him. “It’s alright.” I reminded myself, continuing to walk him along the path. Can I do this?

Sighing, Snow-Dust walking along at a slow, relaxed pace, until a few minutes had passed and I lead him back, looking around before letting him into the open field. His ears picked up sound I couldn’t hear, flipped about, pinpointing it as he threw his head up the slightest bit, his hooves patting the ground in a quick manner. “Whoa… Steady boy.” I stated, placing a hand on the side of his neck and over his muzzle, calming him once more.

I looked around, slowly crawling up a hill, looking for them again. I saw them walking towards the house, meaning they hadn’t seen or heard Snow-Dust and I. Thank god… As Snow-Dust calmed down, beginning to graze as the noise he was hearing dissolved into nothing, I simply lied there, hidden by the grass and I stared at them. I went back to Snow-Dust.

“Stay here, you’ll be fine.” I insisted, grabbing an empty bottle and starting for the river.

~Adam~

I felt a dying presence in my mind, but it eventually disappeared and I gave it no worry. It was probably nothing. As we started back for the house, Jerome sat with Mitch on the porch, the breeze feeling great as I sat in the chair next to them. Then the presence returned, weak, but there. I didn’t question it. It didn’t really move, just went to the other side of the hill, but after a while of Mitch and Jerome staying silent and no one saying anything, the presence slowly made its way up the hill. A horse soon appeared, grazing, it’s head down.

“OH MY GOD!” Jerome yelled, jumping up.

“It’s saddled.” I pointed out, surprised, following the two of them to the railing.

“Hell, I don’t care!” Jerome snapped, jumping over the railing and starting towards the horse. Its head snapped up, looking directly at us, its ears pointed towards us. Jerome paused, and Mitch grabbed his arm, pulling him back.