Name: Lucian
Gender: Stallion
Task: Ugh who's calling me now... My sleep addled mind groaned as the phone's shrill ring echoed in my room. I'd just laid down to sleep not even thirty minutes before.
"Yup, whatcha need?" I squinted into the dark as I listened to the tinny voice on the other end of the line, the groaned and fell back into my bed. Another batch of orphaned foals, it never seemed to stop. The poor things just couldn't seem to find a home. "I'm on my way, keep the blue taffy for me."
Of course it had to be raining this morning, and the barest hint of red was beginning to bleed into the darkened storm clouds as the sun began to peek over the horizon. It was still dark enough for a flashlight, however, as I sloshed across the grounds to my truck, immediately turning the heater up to full blast and waiting for it to warm up before I pulled out and started on my way.
It didn't take long to get there, the place mostly empty at this hour. This time, there was no fanfare, the door was left open, bottles and formula on a nearby counter, and just a few lonely foals occupying the first couple of stalls.
These had already hatched, though not very long ago, and had, for some reason or another, found themselves back at the shelter barn. I found the blue taffy, and carefully eased into his stall. To my surprise, he wasn't afraid at all. Instead, his eyes held a challenge; touch me if you dare. And oh did I dare. Now I was intrigued.
He snorted, pawing the hay and shaking his head, staring me straight in the eye. I didn't break eye contact, instead grabbing an already-made, but cold, bottle and holding it out to him. I saw a bit of the challenge slowly slip out of his expression, though I could tell he wasn't going to make this easy on me.
"C'mon boy, come get the yummy bottle..." He pretended to go for it, even going so far as to bump his nose into the rubber end, only to squeal in my face, spin on his hind hooves, and race to the other side of the stall, kicking up hay as he went. Ugh.
This went on for an hour at least, and I eventually gave up, plopping down in the corner of the stall and just. Staring at him. I began to talk, to tell him about Kasimir and my other chrys. I saw his head bobbing and ears swiveling as if he was listening, agreeing, and eventually he came and folded his skinny legs right up against me, laying down next to me with his head in my lap and lazily lipping at the bottle. I could not believe... this fiery, wound up colt would just... up and all of a sudden decide to be friends with me.
Gently, terrified I'd ruin the chance I'd been given, I moved my hand to his bony shoulder, scritching up his neck and under his chin. And over and over until I fell asleep.
I must've been there a while, cause when i woke up, colt still sprawled over my lap, there was sunlight streaming through the slats in the windows, and the sound of thunder was moving off into the distance. I loaded the sleeping foal into my truck, extremely surprised he stayed konked out, and headed home. He ended up sharing a stall with my other rescue, Kasimir, and the two balanced each other out incredibly well. His name became Lucian, and he still yet continues to surprise me with his erratic behavior and attitude.