by Violet Inkpen, age 13

CHAPTER 4

Wilderness lifted his head and sniffed the air. “Tess went this way.” He said, moving his herd out before they could finish their meal. Emity shivered in excitement as she raced beside her leader. This was his first time being in the front of the band. Usually he’d be at the back, protecting his mares, allowing Tess to lead. It didn’t make him happy that Rocket was acting in his place as protector, and he made a note to ditch the colt as soon as he could. Turning his thoughts back to Tess and his foals, he increased his speed and surged forward, leading his small band back to the mud covered valley.

* * * * * * * * * *

Tess sniffed the ground. Star had been lying here! She lifted her head, eyes scanning the whole place, and called out, “STAR!” She shouted, her voice pleading. She took a step forward, sniffing. Her nose met water and she sneezed it away. She could see two sets of hooves walking towards the mountain. “Foolish girl! The mountain!” Tess shook her mane, kicked up her heels, and galloped towards her misguided foal.

Meanwhile, the black stallion was watching, waiting for his chance. The mare was coming closer, moving towards him with every hoof beat. He felt a rush of joy. Soon he’d have his own herd! How wonderful it would be!

* * * * * * * * * *

Star and Patience collapsed on the ground, both too tired to continue. “We have to catch them,” Star panted.

“I can’t go another step!” Patience protested.

Star nodded in agreement and rested her head on a soggy patch of grass. “That flood was bad, wasn’t it?” she asked.

“Good thing the Valley drained most of it,” Patience said, shivering in the memory of the icy water.

“Not in the spot with the river, where the three hills stand over it. That place is F.L.O.O.D.E.D!” Star exclaimed.

“I saw,” Patience snapped, flattening her ears with zero tolerance. Star flicked her tail.

Suddenly a twig snapped and both foals bolted to their feet. Standing side by side they looked around, nostrils flaring to smell the air.

Patience shrunk away. “I smell something dead,” she said squinting.

“Gross, someone needs a good licking! It stinks really bad,” Star added, backing away from the thick bushes.

Both the foals saw a yellowish color flick out of the bushes and go back again in the blink of the eye, then heard a low growl. Pinning back their ears, they wheeled and were about to gallop away, but the mountain lion sprang.