A torrent of rain poured from the sky into the fog enshrouded night. Wind howled, causing the normally quiet barn to creak and shudder, as though in fear. Some of the other horses were restless, pacing in their stalls and pawing at the ground, but Gwyn was unfazed. Her foal was safe there with her, and her mate was in the next stall. As long as they were all safe, she was happy.
Gwyn had dozed off when a loud thunderclap roared, shaking the entire barn with its intensity. Suddenly she was wide awake, and her frightened foal was huddled close to her. She gave him a gentle, reassuring nuzzle, though she felt tense herself. There was a subtle, unpleasant scent in the air, and it only grew worse as minutes ticked by.
Smoke. The barn had been struck by lightning and caught fire.
Panic rose quickly as the scent became a visible smog. Horses reared and beat at their stall doors with their hooves, desperate to get away from the smoke and bright, licking flames that were making their way through the barn like a living predator. Gwyn tried to stay calm for the sake of her foal, but she knew they had to find a way out.
"Come on!" she heard someone outside shout. "Hurry up! We've gotta get the animals out!"
It should have been a relief to know that help was coming, but Gwyn wouldn't be relieved until her family was safe. She whinnied and tossed her head, hoping to get someone's attention.
Several people came running in, each trying to calm the horses enough to get them out. Some were so frightened they were rooted to the spot, while others lashed out irrationally as much as they could. One of the men ran over to her stall and opened the door, taking her by the halter to lead her away. Someone else ran in to grab her foal, and she only moved forward when she was certain he'd be with her.
The rain outside was cold and relentless, but not enough to kill the raging flames. Dry hay fueled the fire, with more and more of the barn being engulfed in orange light by the second. Gwyn's mate joined her and their foal outside, but the little foal was in a state of absolute panic. As soon as his hooves touched the ground, he bolted into the foggy night.
His father ran after him, but Gwyn's halter was still being held by the man who had saved her from the fire. She whinnied, tossed her head and struggled until he finally had to let go to avoid being injured. With her heart threatening to pound out of her chest, Gwyn raced in the direction her mate and foal had gone.
It was difficult to see through the thick fog, and very disorienting. After a while she didn't know exactly where she was headed, but she could hear her family out there in the dark.
Then, suddenly, silence. Their voices were gone; drowned out by the wind and rain. Gwyn cried out into the darkness, but received no reply.
The next morning, her foal and mate were found on the bank of the river, which still raged in the aftermath of the storm. Her foal had fallen in, and her mate had perished trying to save him. Her family was gone.
Every night she cries out into the darkness, hoping to hear them answer.
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