A War Torn Horse

Chapter 1 : The Thunder Stick

"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground" 

~Theodore Roosevelt ~

0o0

Morning light filtered into my vision, as I opened my eyes. A shrill neigh reached my ears, but it wasn't a tone I was familiar with, it was deeper, and strong as it washed over the valley. I stood wobbling a bit, before finding my balance. Mother stood near me, ears perked at the sound. 

A pinto mare raised her head, and gave a shrill neigh. Then the familiar sound of a gallop reached my ears, as it pounded it's way to the edge of the valley. A tall stallion stood, his black coat shimmered, stretched taught by the rippling muscles underneath. On his fetlock were feathers only found on his feet and mine, and a broad face looked down at us. I learned, that this was the father of all the foals. 

Including me.

Cantering his way down, black mane flying behind him, he stopped in front of the herd, mainly the pinto mare. Mother looked submissive, as did all the other mares. My thoughts ran wild, Mother was always so free, and so strong were did that go now? Mother had always protected me, and now it was my turn. I stepped in front of mother, and puffed up my chest, bringing my head back and standing square and tall. 

Mother shot me a warning look. But I payed no heed, and nickered back. My nicker brought the stallion's ears swiveling, and soon came his head. Followed my his muscled frame. I forced myself not to shake like a leaf in the wind, as the stallion came face to face with me. Hot breaths fanned across my face. Now that the stallion was up close, I had a eye-full of the scars that ran along his body, telling a million stories.

He bared his teeth, ears pinned flat. Giving a shrill neigh, the stallion reared up on powerful legs, front hooves pawing at the air. I stepped back, a few paces, as his hooves came down, spraying dirt upon my shining black coat, not unlike his. My head lowered slightly, eyes trained upon the ground, I had learned my place. 

But then I heard it, the faint whisper of hoof beats, that had the herds ears perked, and bodies tense. Soon, on the crest of the hill brightly colored...things? Where perched upon the backs of horses. Mother neighed and pushed me forward, as we galloped away. Looking back, I saw one of the things hold up a stick, BANG. It sounded alike thunder, as it poured out of the stick, grey smoke, curled out along, but it was left behind.

 The sound acted like a trigger, as the herd galloped full steam ahead, their breaths puffed, and eyes rolled showing the whites. The smell of fear was suffocating, if the thunder stick didn't kill me, suffocation would. Mother started to lag, the after-birth tiredness showed in her slowing gates. I quickly fell from the front of the pack, galloping near my mother, I nickered softly, nudging her rump with my muzzle. With the last bit of spirit she had, Mother caught up, I was soon to follow. But something looped around my neck, choking off my air as I was quickly lassoed by the others. 

I neighed and bucked, but my small form was tired quickly. I gave a shrill neigh that caught the attention of my herd, they looked back, Mother quickly turned intent on coming back, but then the black Stallion cut off my view and herded them away, up the lip on the valley and into the embrace of the sun. I neighed, brokenly, but only silence responded, followed by the fur-less things, humans, clicking their tongue. I looked back mournfully as I was pulled into a canter, going the opposite way from Mother.