RPFLightMyFire wrote: Chapter One
Bruno, the bright chestnut Wild Mountain Equid leaped up a steep, rocky, mountain side. He knew very well that one wrong jump would send him plummeting to his death- which was what made it fun. His best friend, Africa followed him. Bruno jumped and slipped on a patch of moist ice. His front right foot came off of the rock but he soon recovered himself. Africa looked up at him, “you okay?” The four year old stallion asked. Bruno bobbed his head and looked down at Africa with his bright yellow eyes, “I’m good.” He replied. Bruno leaped to another rock, then another, and then he stood on the top of the icy, snowy, rock mountain. Soon Africa was at his side. Africa slipped on the ice and fell on his side. Bruno looked at him, “are you okay?” He asked. Africa rolled his yellow-green eyes and stood, shaking his reddish-brown pelt to get the snow and ice off.
Africa looked over the edge at the clouds below him. Despite the bright sun, it was 20° F at the peak of the mountain where Bruno and Africa stood. Below where the rest of the herd was it was about 44° F. Bruno shook his thick fur and flicked his long, cat-like tail. “We should go back now before it gets dark.” Bruno said. Africa gave a quick nod and suddenly grinned. Bruno looked at him, “oh no, I know that face. You have an idea, don’t you?” He said. Africa nodded and looked at him, “race you down.” He said simply. Bruno’s eyes widened, “that’s suicidal! I’m game.” He said and they both laughed. They lined up side by side at the edge of the mountain side and Africa counted down, “3, 2, 1, go!” Bruno jumped down a couple rocks before accidently jumping to the on the one he had slipped on coming up. This time, with all his speed and momentum he fell. He fell about 20 feet before luckily falling on a large rock covered with powdery, soft snow. He looked around for a way to get off before he realized he was stuck with no way off, except down. Down, down, down. The only way to get off would be to jump.
Africa saw Bruno and called to him, “don’t worry, I’m coming to help!” He said before attempting to slide down to Bruno. Just as Bruno tried to tell him not to come down, Africa slipped and fell the rest of the way and landed right beside Bruno. “Congrats buddy, you just spoiled any chance of either of us getting home alive.” Bruno said and rolled his eyes at Africa. Africa replied with, “oops,” and gave a sheepish smile. Bruno sighed and Africa stood up. Africa looked around. He looked down at the side of the mountain where there didn’t appear to be any rocks, just snow. And lots of it. “What if we slide down there?” He asked Bruno. Bruno gave him an “are you kidding me?” look and said, “That really is suicidal.” Africa looked at him then back down, “I don’t see any other way down.” He said. Bruno agreed that there really wasn’t any other way down and they decided they would have to jump about 12 or so feet down, land in the snow, and slide their way down the steep mountainside till they reached a place where they could walk the rest of the way till they got back to the herd.
Africa looked at Bruno, “you want to go first?” He asked. Bruno looked at him, “it you your idea, I think you should have the honors.” Africa glared at him and jumped off the ledge. He landed in the snow and started rolling down, but soon moved to a “sitting” positions and slide down on his hind quarters. Bruno hopped off and started rolling also; however he was not able to change his position. Africa laughed, “This is actually really fun!” He said. Bruno heard him and grumbled. After sliding/rolling for about thirty seconds or so the snow had stopped mostly and there were trees and plants.
Africa slowed himself gradually and stood up. He wobbled and had to lean against a tree. “That was fun!” He said. Bruno came tumbling down after him slowed on the dirt, and stopped when he lightly hit a tree. He groaned. Africa walked over to him slowly, “You alright?” He asked. Bruno looked at him and stood up. Bruno’s legs and sides ached. He stood up and his legged shook. “Let’s just go.” He grumbled. He wanted to see his beloved Honolulu, who was carrying his soon to be born foal. He and Africa walked down in silence. He looked at him surroundings. Birds fluttered from tree to tree, fluffy rodents skittered in the underbrush. They walked about two hours. Bruno sighed.
They came to a flat clearing. Bruno saw the herd of Equids and broke into a trot despite the aching pain in his sides and legs. Honolulu, Hana for short, whinnied to him. She trotted over to him, “I thought you were coming back earlier this time?” She asked. Bruno looked and saw Africa walking towards the herd. He turned his attention back to her and nuzzled her. “I was, but Africa and I got stuck and we ended up having to take the long way down the mountain.” He explained. Hana nodded and nuzzled him again. “I’m just glad you’re back now.” She said. The sun was setting and the temperature dropped with every second. “We should go find shelter.” Bruno said. Hana nodded and they walked together towards the forest. They didn’t stray far from the clearing which was where the herd usually stayed in the daytime. They found a Narrowleaf Cottonwood tree and walked under its low hanging branches. Hana lied down and yawned. She wrapped her tail around her for warmth. Bruno lied beside her and rested his head on the ground. The sun set completely and the darkness filled the earth. Bruno wrapped his tail around himself to keep warm as it was an especially cold night. Hana fell asleep so he allowed himself to doze off. Being as tired as he was, it wasn’t hard to fall asleep even though his body ached.
Bruno woke up in the dead of night because a small branch from the tree above him had fallen on him. He nudged it off and looked at Hana who was fast asleep. Even though she was asleep he saw her body shivering from the cold. He frowned and got closer to her. He wrapped his think fluffy tail around her where her tail hadn’t reached. He stayed awake until she stopped shivering then fell back asleep, satisfied.
Hana woke up in the early morning and looked at Bruno’s tail which was still curled around her neck. She smiled and stood up and shook her tan fur. Bruno was still asleep and from the sound of his adventure earlier she let him be. She walked towards the river where the herd members got their water and sipped from it. She saw her friend, Duchess, a little bit down river from her. She walked over to the sorrel and white mare. “Good morning, Duchess.” She said and smiled warmly at the three year old Equid. Duchess looked at her and smiled, “Morning. You look round as usual.” She teased. Hana laughed and looked at her belly, which was very round from the foal. “Going to be born soon, then maybe Bruno will let me go on some of his adventures with him again like we used to go on.
Duchess flicked her tail and looked at her, “I don’t see why doing something that could kill you with a single wrong move is so much fun.” She said to Hana. Hana grinned, “Because of the thrill of it!” She said. She sipped again from the icy cold river and shook her head. “I’m going to see if Bruno is awake, catch you later.” She said and jogged towards the tree where Bruno was sleeping when she had left him. Suddenly she heard him yell her name. Seeing that Hana wasn’t there Bruno thought something had gotten her. “Hana!” He yelled and looked around the area franticly for her. “Han- oh there you are. You scared me!” Bruno said as she jogged into sight. Bruno smiled at her and walked over to her, “Don’t scare me like that.” He said. Hana smiled and nodded. They walked together to the clearing where most of the Equids were grazing in the morning light. Alaska the filly and Kite the colt came running to Hana. They slid to a stop beside her. “I want to feel the foal kick!” Alaska said. Kite shoved her over and said, “I want to feel first!” Alaska shoved him over so hard he got knocked off his feet and he rolled over once. “Fillies first! Where are your manners?” She said and put her head against Hana’s side. Kite jumped up and ran to Hana’s other side and shoved his head against Hana’s side. Hana rolled her eyes and smiled. “I doubt they will leave me alone till they feel the foal kick so I’ll catch up with you later.” She said to Bruno.
As Bruno walked away from Hana, Kite, and Alaska, he heard Kite yell, “I keep feeling it move!” Then he heard Alaska yell, “That’s Hana breathing you idiot!” He chuckled and rolled his eyes. Bailey trotted up to him. He knew very well Bailey had always had a crush on him. “Morning, handsome.” Bailey said and Bruno rolled his eyes again. “Good morning, Bailey.” He said. She walked awkwardly close to him and he had to scoot to the side a little for personal space. Seeing that he was rejecting her she walked away with a “Humph.” Bruno shook her head and walked towards the rest of the herd. What he didn’t know at that point was that this was to be a day he would never, ever forget.
