by Violet Inkpen, age 13

CHAPTER 6

Tess gasped. She stopped and sniffed at the blood on the ground. The sun was setting but she could still see mountain lion tracks.

“They’ve left here two hours ago,” Ebony said, sniffing. “One of them was attacked.”

Tess choked down a sob. Ebony touched her shoulder with his nose to comfort her, but she pulled away and shot him an evil look.

“I’ll take care of that cat. I’ll follow it. You get the foals.” He took off to the left, following the cat’s steps. He knew a mountain lion could navigate the mountain well enough to sneak up in front of the foals and kill. Tess broke to the right and galloped as fast as she could towards her foals. She reached down and grabbed a mouthful of grass on her way, to keep her going.

* * * * * * * * * *

The sun began to set over the mountain. Star and Patience were soaked in their sweat and drowning in their fear. Star finally leaned against a tree and closed her eyes. “We’re almost at the mountain and there isn’t a sign of mommy,” she whispered.

Patience began crying. “We’ll die out here!” she whimpered. “We’ll be food for the lions and the birds!”

Star wanted to agree, but something inside of her rebelled. Her eyes blazed with a fierce will to survive. “NO WE WON’T!” she shouted, angry at nothing in particular. “I am going to survive and so are you,” she told her half sister.

Patience sat down and closed her eyes, tears still streaming out. Star had to stay awake! She had to look out for danger. She stood still, taking in everything. If she moved it could mean death. Not even her tail twitched against the flies. She would live to see tomorrow!

* * * * * * * * * *

Tess cried out for joy! She saw them! She galloped towards the shape of a foal lying in the grass under a tree. When she got there, she bit back tears of sadness. It was Patience, alone. “PATIENCE! GET UP!” she prodded the foal.

“Huh?” Patience asked, rolling to her feet.

“Tess!” she squealed in joy. “Where is mommy?” She yawned.

“Where is STAR?” Tess snapped.

Patience looked around, then began to cry. “She left me? Oh no! She left me all alone!”

Tess sighed. She didn’t have time for this. “Come on, we have to find her,” she said, pushing her aching muscles forward.

“I need my mommy,” Patience protested.

“So does Star,” Tess shouted. “I’m finding her. Your mom is on her way. If you want to wait here for her be my guest, but I won’t!” She walked away, flicking her tail in fury. Patience hurried to catch up.

* * * * * * * * * *

Wilderness stopped the herd. He could see Tess’ tracks and the tracks of… He sniffed the air. A stallion! “Towards the mountain!” he shouted. He could tell the stallion was on the ridge, waiting like a predator for Tess. When she passed his way he leaped down at her. She tried to run, but he cut her off. This much Wilderness knew from the tracks.

Emity sniffed the air sadly, calling out for her daughter in a daze. Rocket touched her shoulder. “It’s alright Emity, you’ll be fine. Patience will be fine,” he said, pushing her forward. She moved as if in a dream, her head cocked to the side, never stopping her frantic shouting for her foal.

Wilderness pushed his herd on, unsure what happened to Tess. Anger made him stronger. He flexed his muscles, ready to fight the stallion.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Ebony watched the mountain lion limp two steps then collapse. He fell dead. “That takes care of that,” he nodded in pride. “Now to rescue the mare and foals.” He galloped forward, sure his path would cross that of the foals. It was the direction the lion was taking and he figured the lion was stalking the foals, so away he galloped, hoping Tess was all right. His hooves pounded the ground and took him flying over cliffs and ledges. He bobbed his head up and down, snorting and flicking his tail. He would find Tess and her foal! For once in his life he’d be a hero!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Star blinked. She didn’t know where she was! She stumbled against a cliff. Looking up at the sky, she wondered where she was. The world was spinning now. She blinked again and called out for her mom. “Ma!” she screamed, sucking in a breath. Her stomach roared at her for food. Her body screamed at her for a rest. But she couldn’t! She knew she saw that mountain lion lurking around her. There it was again! At least, it could have been. It was a flash of yellow. Star was sure it was the lion. It was only a few leaves, but she didn’t know that so she bolted, straight into the rock wall. She fell to the ground and moaned, the whole world spinning double time. Nothing made sense and everything began to fade. Star closed her eyes and breathed heavily. The world went dark…