Rated PG for mild violence
Chapter One: Stolen!
My brown mane rippled in the wind as my hooves pounded on the soft earth.
The weight of my 14-year-old master, Jenny, sat reassuringly on my back as her brown eyes sparkled with delight.
They say the Greeks saw a man astride a horse and perceived them as one creature. Perhaps the reason for this perception was that the man and the horse were so attuned to each other, they seemed to be one. Well that was what Jenny and I were. One creature, spirits lifted, hearts free, minds racing.
Though she was riding me bareback, I understood every movement she made, prodding me faster, slower, to the left, to the right. We were riding to our homemade obstacle course, our favorite riding site. My spirits lifted even higher as we drew closer.
We began riding up the last hill, and right before we crested it, I felt Jenny tense, and felt her urging me to stop. I stoped almost immediately, nearly throwing her off. She was a good rider, though, and stayed put.
"Shhhhhhh," she whispered urgently as she lightly jumped off. My ears swiveled forward and I heard the sound of several horses beyond the ridge. I also smelt several humans. Jenny was kneeling down, examining the ground. I looked at the earth curiously, and noticed many horse footprints leading up the ridge.
This is private property! No one should be on these grounds! I thought. Suddenly, a shrill whistle pierced the air. Jenny jumped and I reared up backwards. Jenny leaped up on my back and turned me around.
"Run, Courage!" she cried. I began galloping as fast as I could, fueled by adrenaline, as eight men garbed in black, astride black horses crested the ridge. I was already tired from my long run, though, and the black horses were fresh.
They were gaining on us quickly. I was very confused at the time, but now I realize they were horse theives. I felt Jenny shaking with fear, and my legs were quivering with exhaustion.
I won't let you down Jenny, I thought desperately. I put on a fresh burst of speed. For a moment it looked as if we might outrun them, but then, I heard the crack of a whip and felt it slash through my foreleg. I cried out in pain and began to slow down. The whip slashed through my back again, and I stopped altogether. The whip knifed through my back several times, and when they stopped, I was lying on the ground, barely conscious.
I looked over and saw Jenny sitting on the ground. She had tried to save me while they were whipping me, but had been thrown off. She helplessly watched as the men began tying me up. Pain filled her eyes as she looked at me, and I nickered softly.
The men looped the rope around the saddle horn and began dragging me toward the far off road. I screamed in pain, and took one, last look at Jenny.
I won't let you down, Jenny, I thought as a fierce determination rose within me. I won't let you down.
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