by jesdar16 » Fri Sep 30, 2016 6:54 am
Owner: jesdar16
Name: Top Commander || Major
Gender: Stallion
Age: 10 years
Story: The wind blew harshly over the ragged countryside. The cold air rushed past and nearly blew my cowboy hat clean off. A hand stuck to my head like glue to keep the worn woven hat from flying away. My long brown hair was tossed in the wind, and the wind quickly made work of the gathering clouds, scattering them. A storm kept trying to form overhead. Surely that wasn't a good sign.
I turned back towards Dusty Halters Ranch, the small wooden sign flinging back and forth on its old, creaking hinges. The wind screamed through the ranch, rattling the barn doors and gathering up clouds of dust. The tough moor heather was thrown about in the harsh breeze. My hair immediately flew around and smacked me in the face as the wind whipped it. A dark cloud formation grew on the horizon, over the sea, one the wind could not reach. A storm was coming. A big one.
"Quick, Jes, get Arana! She's still in the paddocks!" A voice, raised over the wind, shouted to me. One hand still stuck to my hat, I ran towards the back paddocks. Arana was still there as my brother had said, the poor mare's long mane and tail whipped back and forth in the wind and her head was down. Her halter was still on. I grabbed the lead rope and clipped it to her halter ring. Opening the gate, she followed me out, and we made our way slowly back to the stables, the wind pushing at us. Dust blew in our eyes. I admired Arana's calmness. It wasn't like her. The dark brown mare's white cobweb markings grew dirty as the wind buffeted her, throwing up dirt. Soon we were both in the stables and I closed the door shut and triple-locked it.
"Phew! That's a doozey of a storm out there!" I wiped sweat off my forehead, my hand still gripping Arana's lead rope. I clipped her to the crossties and did a quick grooming, getting most of the dirt out of her coat. Her stall was nearby and she nickered gratefully as I led her into it.
"Thanks, Jes. That storm's gonna hit hard and fast, if it hasn't already." I looked over at my younger brother. He liked to think he was in charge, though really it was me. His hands were dirty from grooming one of our stallions, Dusk.
"We'd better get into some shelter." I said darkly.
I slept fitfully that night. The storm howled around me, battering the windows and the walls of the house. I groaned, covering my head with my pillow. Finally, unable to take any more, I sat up. The window was mostly blurry with rain but something caught my eye. It was a splash of red and white. Something moving. Something was alive out there! The shape jumped over the pasture fences and galloped into a shed in the paddocks. I grabbed my thick rainboots and the longest, warmest jacket I could find. I had to go see what was out there. I made my way carefully down the stairs, careful not to disturb my sleeping brother in his room. Quicky I opened the door and closed it, forcing it shut against the wind. Rain pounded the wooden floors. I'd have to dry it later before it rotted. I covered the slick hood over my head and ran towards the paddock. I closed the gate behind me, and slowly approached the shed. A long red-brown tail, blurry, but visible, showed in the half-open doorway. Approaching it, I made a soft sound. "Hello?"
A snort seemed to come from the shed, and beating was heard as the creature turned around. It poked its head out, its eyes white. I realized immediately what it was. It was a horse! A battle-scarred stallion, pink scars showing against his white and red coat. He looked to be some sort of dun, maybe red dun or peach dun. And he had overo, frame overo. The stallion's panicked eyes blinked and he reared, lashing out at me. I ducked and hid behind the shed. Approaching the stallion again, I carefully held my hand out, making no move to reach him or pull back. He pulled back his head but eventually sniffed my hand. Rain pattered my hood, running down my jacket in streams. The stallion was wet too, I could see it on his coat. Carefully I moved in to the shed, staying in the corner, letting him get used to me. Then I spoke.
"Ssh, big guy. It's okay." He prepared to rear again when I held something out. Luckily for me, I always keep sugarcubes in my pocket. I held out the small white cube, so he could reach it and take the sweet treat. Carefully he grabbed it with his lips, and I let my hand drop. He sucked on it and gazed at me, calmer now.
"Good boy." I said softly, slowly moving down so I was sitting in the corner, my legs crossed. The stallion turned away from me and began to eat the hay on the floor. I hoped the water trough was filled.
My eyes opened and I jumped, gasping. The stallion was asleep beside me, his long tail flicking in my face. His ear flicked in his sleep, as if he had heard me, but not quite. I looked outside. The rain had stopped and the grey clouds were moving away.
Water dripped off my coat and I shook it outside the shed. I took this opportunity to get a good look at the stallion. He was definitely a peach dun, and he had frame overo markings. Short, claw-like scars ran along his body, as if he had been attacked. They looked like cat markings. Mountain lions live around here and they are notorious for attacking cattle and livestock. The stallion awoke suddenly, his head jerking up. I waited by the door, hoping he wouldn't freak out.
He turned around slowly, meeting my gaze. I pulled out another sugar cube, offering it to him. He took it and chewed thoughtfully while staring at me.
"Do you want to come inside, Major?" I said softly, slowly walking out the shed door. Major followed me slowly, his big hooves clicking in the dirt.
"Let's go, big guy."
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