May 2009 Story Contest

Race of the Wild by Adante

         The ebony stallion trumpeted a challenge to anyone within hearing range. Ears prick, awaiting an answering whinny. He strained to hear anything, but there was no sound. As he walked, his flints found the shortest route down the hill. Chocolate-brown eyes spotted a horse skull, bleached from weeks in the sun. One misstep and that could be him next. His coal-black pelt rippled as muscles bunched and relaxed as he carefully picked his way down the stony hill. Once on the ground, he started into a high-stepping trot. A cloud of dust arose from ahead and he broke stride to go check it out. Galloping hooves thundered as he ran across the plain. Before he got to where he wanted, he skidded to a stop. A noise spooked him from above and he was immediately wary. He reared and pivoted, yet Man was right behind him. Eyes rolled and he ran into the pen. The whites of his eyes could be seen because he was afraid. He didn’t like being cornered. The walls of his enclosure were too high to jump and the boards were so close together he couldn’t see through them. The mustang threw himself against the walls, but they only shuddered for a second. His vocals threw out a shrill whinny. He heard something above his head and he looked up. There was man, standing above him with a shiny object. A quick, loud noise sounded and something pinched him in the flank. The mustang twisted ‘round to see. Before he could, a mournful whicker was let out and his body fell to the ground.

         When the stallion’s eyes opened, all he could see was the ground. He slowly raised his head. As he scanned his surroundings, he spotted a group of mares. A friendly nicker was given and he looked for some food. Some dried grass was thrown into a corner of his enclosure, so he heaved himself up and walked over. He extended his neck earthwards and his teeth ground the grass up into oblivion. Some stagnant water was in a trough and he drank his fill. The stallion looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps and saw Man. Not having any good experiences with humans, he backed into a corner of the pen. A scream was emitted, but it did nothing to slow the pace of his pursuers. One rudely shoved a hard, cold metal object in his mouth; the other threw a leather item on his back. The mustang sidestepped nervously as one made a move towards him. As the stallion pranced in place, the one at his head yanked down. The stallion made a herding motion with his head, snaking it towards the man’s arm, ready to bite. A slap on his face surprised him and made him angry. His ears went flat against his head and a swift kick was delivered to the man trying to get on his back. The charcoal pelted stallion reared up. The men were on the ground. Frightened, he galloped towards the fence and gathered his hindquarters. With a massive leap, he cleared the fence. He was free.

         The onyx stallion raced away from the bad men. He threw up his head and gave a joyous whinny.  The sun blazed down on his hide and he knew he would have to stop soon. He slid to a stop next to a river that cut a path through the grassland. He let his head fall and his mouth opened up. He drank slowly, not wanting to get sick. An ill horse was a dead horse in the wild. A familiar nicker caught his attention. He looked up and saw a lone band of mares. One of them he recognized as a mare who had grown up with him. Seeing no males near them, he sniffed the wind. He scented no enemy stallions around. He decided to walk closer. He tossed his obsidian skull and he cantered over to the small herd. The mustang quickly claimed the herd as his. He sniffed each female, making sure to store their scent in his mind if they were ever separated. He neighed to his newfound herd and led them across the plain. As the sun set, his lead mare led them to a sheltered piece with a few clustered trees. That would give them a good place to rest for the night. The stallion took a quick census of his small band. Then, wandering a little way away from the group, he curled his forefeet underneath his muscular barrel and lay in the grass. He laid his head on the ground and his coffee eyes closed as he allowed sleep to claim him. Tomorrow was a new day for all of them.