Eve Part Three

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Chapter 6

Now a year old, Eve lowered her head to drink, her ears and eyes alert. Eves eyes scanned her surroundings as she swallowed large gulps of cold water. She blew threw her nose with delight as she felt the cool water rush down her throat and into her stomach. She lifted her head, her muzzle dripping, and looked around once more. Her ear swiveled to catch a sound from behind. She turned her head slightly to the right as she saw bushes slowly rustle on the edge of a forest. Eve swallowed her last bit of water as she saw a muzzle stick out of the woods. This was no horse muzzle.

A single wolf prowled out of the brush, creeping towards me like a ghost. Eve leaped around and faced the wolf as it raced towards her. She whinnied and reared up on her hind legs, her legs kicking at the sky. The wolf growled fiercely and jumped to Eve under belly. Eve squealed and whirled away from the wolf, then kicked at its face. The wolf yelped and fell to the ground, then quickly rose. It rose its muzzle into the air and howled long and loud. Eve whinnied and swerved away from the wolf and away from it.

From the trees two more wolves emerged and began to chase Eve. Eve whirled away from them as the first wolf came in front of her. The other wolves surrounded her. Eves eyes were wide as she looked at the wolves as the closed in. Eve kicked at them, but they wouldn’t leave.

From the trees, Charlie watched as Eve struggled. He knew he should burst in and help her, but something in his body told him not to.

The wolves clawed at Eve rump and chest. She kicked them away and neighed. Her neigh sounded like a scream.

From the trees, Charlies skin rippled.

Eve kicked the first wolf in the neck. It flew and fell to the ground the a thud. The other wolves bit Eves legs. One jumped by Eves shoulder and clawed it. Blood streamed down Eves chest, shoulder, rump, and legs. Eve finally couldn’t bare it anymore. She bucked one on the wolves in the side and it flew, yelping as it hit the ground. Eve snorted and turned to the last standing wolf. The wolf was determined to take her to the ground to feed the pack. Eve stared at the wolf, her head low and even with it. The wolves teeth were bared and it’s lips curled. Eves ears laid back, sometimes flicking to shoo a fly or to listen as the wolf growled.

Suddenly the wolf lunged straight at Eve, mouth open, fur flying. Eve reared as the wolf came head out. As it neared Eve whirled, her hindquarters flying, her hind legs kicking. The wolf jump in attempt to leap onto Eves back, but it ended up getting a kick in the neck, which was fatal.

Eve stopped, her chest heaving, her nostrils flared. She snorted and shook her head, her mane flying. The scent of wolf was everywhere, and Eve was in pain. Eve began to walk away from the pond, the wolves, and the forest. Eves neck arched weakly as blood dripped from her wounds.

Charlies ears were standing high in surprise. It was so awful. A beautiful horse like her getting beaten by stupid wolves, and all that anger built up inside. She unleashes her anger and fear in battle. Charlie thought. It’s amazing, she’s amazing.

Charlie exited the trees slowly, staring at the wolves bodies as he past them. Their scent lingered thick in the air, along with death. Charlie shook and quickened his pace after Eve. Once he passed the wolves he looked at the ground. Eves blood dripped in the grass, leaving a trail which was sure to lead predators to her. Charlie looked up at her as she led him in an unknown direction. He watched as he feet drug along the ground. She was tired, very tired. Charlie blew threw his nostrils and followed her silently.

Eve led him to a small river. It was clear on the bottom and you could see the sand in the bottom of the river. Eve walked into the river. It was shallow. She walked further in until the water reached her shoulders. Eve sighed as the water cooled her wound, but also stung. Her blood drifted down stream like it was a leaf in the breeze.

When Eves bleeding subsided, she walked out of the river to the other side. She walked under a shelter of a few trees and stood, looking at the other side of the river. The skin on her flank and shoulder shivered. She sensed another horses presence. Eve shook her mane, trying to rid herself of the feeling. It slapped her neck hard. Eve looked apon the sky as it turned a darkish blue and dark clouds rolled across the sky towards her. Twilight would soon come. Eve sighed and lowered her head. Her eyes closed and she tried to doze.

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Chapter 7

Eve was startled awake by an yelling and hooting. Her head jerked up. Eve pranced in place, trying to take everything in. The noises were coming from the direction of a red-orange glow, and heading towards her. As they came into view, Eve saw several horses with riders.

Eve burst for the trees, the Indians coming closer with every quick heartbeat. Eve galloped in the forest, branches scraping her neck, legs, shoulders, and face. Her legs bounded hard, heaing the yelling soon fade. Eve always her twigs and branches crack and rustle behind her, forcing her on.

When Charlie noticed her was the one pushing her on, he picked his path carefully and ran silently. They two ran for at least 15 minutes before Eve burst into an opening. Before her she saw Indians surrounding a huge bone fire, leaping around and yelling. Charlies white legs, chest, and face shone in the firelight at the edge of the forest. Eve was taken aback. No one stopped to look at her. Behind the dancers there was a crowd, men beatings drums, and people just watching them dance. Eve wasn’t sure what to do. Behind the crowd there were more men on horse-back, at least five. As the horse-men slowly approached, Eve knew just what to do. When Eve darted like a fox back into the forest, the Horse-men whipped their horses and they burst around the crowd and after her and Charlie. Eve and Charlie ran silently, nearly side by side. Their shoulders were inches away from touching. When Eve veered away from Charlie, he slid to a stop. He looked after her and then heard the yelling get louder. He turned around and could see faint images of the riders coming. He ran after Eve, making a brief rustle, then was silent, like a ghost.

When Charlie emerged, he saw Eve, hiding in the trees beside a moonlit lake. He back silently up into the trees and watched his lovely mare.

Eve scanned her surroundings, and scanned them good. When she knew danger was gone, she came out of the batch of trees and slowly made her way to the beautiful lake. The moon shined off of the lake, and Eves coat shone in the moonlight, having an eerie silver color where the light hit it. The lake looked sky blue, the reflection of the moon wavering.The color of the lake matched her coat. The grass looked white as the dew caught the moonlight in tiny droplets.

Eve slowly walked to the lake. Before she reached it, she lowered her head and looked at the tiny dew drops. She touched the grass with her lips, then took a mouthful. She lifted her head, chewing the sweet grass, feeling the dew drip down her throat. She swallowed and continued to the lake. She took a single step into the pond, then glanced around. She took a couple more, then lowered her head again to drink. She looked at her reflection for the moment, then splashed the water with her muzzle. She hated herself. She ignored it and stuck her muzzle into the water and drank. She took slow, large gulps. As the water rushed down her throat, she took a few more steps in. She walked until the water reached her shoulder. Those branches had cut her, and she had to clean them. She used her muzzle and splashed water apon her back. She put her muzzle in the water and shook her head, water flying. The water landed on her neck and face. Eve raised her head and neck and shook. Her mane flew left and right, along with small drops of water.

She looked across the lake. How could she have not see it? Across the lake grazed a paint mare, her white patches shinning in the moonlight. Off to the side stood another Indian. Eve splashed her way back to the bank in a frantic to get to the trees. When she hid in the trees and looked back at the two the Indian made a low whistle and the Mares head lifted. She looked across the lake and straight at Eve. The mares neck lifted and she let out a whuffling whinny to Eve. Eve did not answer. The mare trotted to the Indian, who swung apon her back. The mare looked back at Eve and whinnied again, and when Eve did not answer, she galloped away and disappeared.

Eve emerged slowly from the bunch of trees. Her head dropped, tired. Eve did not know where to shelter, so she laid down in the bunch of trees. Her eyes closed and she breathed deep. Soon she was asleep.

Charlie did as her, but he did not sleep. He stood just inside the trees. Her let his head drop and his neck arched. His eyes closed and he dozed, ready to protect Eve no matter what the cost or danger.

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