by Violet Inkpen, age 13

CHAPTER 7

Wilderness stopped his herd on top of a ridge. He looked out and saw a black stallion running from the mountain and towards a tree to the left. He snorted. This was his challenger was it? The one trying to steal Tess!

He galloped forward, calling over his shoulder for his herd to stay put and graze. Sometimes a stallion had to fight. He surged forward, enjoying the powerful feeling that ran through his body as he used his legs to pull himself towards the other stallion at breakneck speed. The stallion disappeared behind a turn and the mountain hid him, but it was all right—Wilderness knew where he was. As he drew closer he smelled Tess, Star and Patience, and that drove him on, his blood boiling. He must save his family!

* * * * * * * * * *

Ebony took his time, slowly picking his way around the mountain. He’d meet up with the foals he was sure. Worry made him nervous. Anything could happen to defenseless foals! He decided to try trotting, despite the dangerous footing—he had to find them before something else did; there was more than one lion on a mountain like this! He looked over his shoulder at the moving shadows and shivered in fear for the foals and the mare. “Don’t worry little foal, I’ll save you!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Tess and Patience galloped towards the mountain, sniffing air for any trace of Star. Tess could smell a faint scent and she was desperate to follow it. She pushed herself to go faster but poor Patience was falling behind. The foal was so tired… so very tired. Tess snorted, encouraging her on. “Little further Patience, a little further,” she said gently.

Patience nodded, hardly daring to speak for fear of her lungs exploding. Tess took a mighty leap over a big rock and landed far away from the foal. Patience stopped to catch her breath, unable to go any more…

* * * * * * * * * *

Wilderness galloped after the stallion, the one who wanted his family. Anger stirred inside of him, anger and hate and the urge to kill. His hooves beat the ground with a furious pace and his eyes narrowed to slits of warning; warning to the stranger to keep away! Far away! He leaped over dangerous spots, ducked under ledges, climbed up on the mountain so he could pounce on his enemy. He would save his family.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ebony raced towards where he hoped to find the foals, to save them. Bushes growing on ledges above him snagged his mane, the slippery rock floor threatened to trip him, each shadow threatened to hide a predator. Did he care? His mind was far away, on a small foal lost and alone. Himself.

He was only six months old and the leader of the herd dumped him. He wasn’t ready yet! He had two more years with the herd! But the stallion was very threatened by any other male and so he left his own son to die. Ebony wouldn’t let the same fate befall this precious little foal. Being alone is a terrible thing, especially in her case when she still needed her mother’s milk. He urged his feet faster, determined to not fail.

* * * * * * * * * *

Tess was galloping towards her baby, her little foal. She had to save her! She had to! She loved Star so much! It was her fault her foal was lost! She should have moved the herd BEFORE the flood, but she didn’t believe the valley would ever become as bad as it had. She blamed herself, hated herself, and cursed herself that if her foal died out here that she too would die. She would throw herself off a cliff or starve herself or give into a predator. Anything! That was how much she hated herself for letting her daughter down. She was a lead mare! She was better than that! She couldn’t afford to let anyone down.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ebony slid to a halt. There in front of him lay Star, her eyes closed and her head bleeding. He felt a stab in his heart. “Poor little mite, hardly living long and this happens. Poor little mite,” he whispered, a tear sliding down his cheek. This foal reminded him so much of himself at that age, helpless, defenseless, and yet willing to do anything to survive. When he was her age he was safe within his herd, never alone like this. But still, he had a hard struggle getting the leader to allow him to live with the herd as long as he did. To survive. He touched his nose to the foal’s neck, desperate for her to awake.

* * * * * * * * * *

Tess slid to a stop, dust flying from her hooves. She saw Ebony stroking Star’s neck and licking her face, trying to wake her. “Ebony!” she called out, joy running through her body. She hurried over to her foal and touched the sleeping baby’s flanks. “You poor thing,” she whimpered.

Ebony looked up at Tess. “We must wake her,” he said.

“Star! Star! Poor star!” Patience cried, slowly making her way towards the other three horses. She was limping on one tiny hoof, a stone painfully lodged in her foot.

Tess sighed, her body shaking in emotion. “My daughter…” She choked on her tears.

Ebony looked at Patience. “Let me help,” he said, pointing his nose at her hoof. She held it out to him and he used his lips to feel around for the stone. Slowly he grabbed it in his teeth and began to pull.

“OUCH!” Patience yelped.

“GET AWAY FROM THAT FOAL!” A voice boomed in anger from behind Ebony.