Chapter 3
After about an hour of nervousness us horses were finally settling down in the truck. As we passed golden fields, snow-capped mountains, and always the endless stretch of pavement before us, I felt depressed, the blood on my forehead was clumping my hair together and I felt sticky. My rump was throbbing with pain, and my neck was tingling. Horrid! It hurt so bad I couldn't help but cry, I glanced over at the filly next to me - she was crying too! We locked gazes, it dawned on me I've never seen or noticed her before.
"Hello, I'm M-Mitty." My voice was a little shaky from crying.
"I-I ah, y-your crying too?" Her eyes were untrusting, but welling up with unknown sadness.
"Uh, why yes I was."
"Was that your home back there?"
"...Yes..." My throat felt tight.
"Oh."
Our strained conversation was interrupted by one of the other three horses crammed next to us.
"Leave her alone Hazel, she doesn't want to talk to you." A bay colt snorted with contempt.
Hazel cast her eyes down. "I-I'm sorry for bothering you Mitty."
I was embarassed at his rude interruption. "It's ok Hazel. What's wrong, mind telling me?"
"No...I-I'm tired."
"If you say so," I glanced over at the colt, I don't like him,
The rest of the day us horses jumped at every shimmy and buck the truck made. I was alert the whole time, never dozing or relaxing, I knew the others were as tense as me.
Night was fast approaching. The sky was boasting bright colors, saying goodnight. The waving fields of wheat looked like amber fire, streaking across the rolling hills. As the sun went down the night started it's lively performance, the crickets were soon chorusing, the loon singing, and the stars were just peeping their shy faces.
It was all suddenly disturbed with a "HEEEELP!"!
My blood ran cold. What was happening? It was then I noticed that the truck was turning into an industrial area. Screaming of horses echoed against the walls inside a large metal building. I was visibly shaking, the air smelled of blood and fear.
Then the truck backed up into a another paddock, far too small to hold all the horses in this truck. The rumbling of the motor stopped, as did the wood floors' vibrations.
Just then then, I felt the bolt unlock and the door opened! Fresh air! I jumped off the truck and into the paddock and cantered around. Followed by the others, we all nipped and kicked eachother nervously. But there was still danger, all of us horses stood stock still, listening to the deafening cries inside the metal building. The truck backed away from the gate and one of the men opened it and lassoed - quick as thinking a black filly!
She fought madly, twisting and kicking. Her foreleg hit the man in the stomach and his face went green.
"Go girl!" I whinnied.
Then several men came forward to help, making noises with their mouths. I shuddered, such horrible noises. I'm sure they are saying evil things.
They finally were able to pull her out of the paddock enough to shut the gate, then one of the men lost his grip on the rope, and without him the other men were losing their grip as well! The rope was dragged through their fingers and she galloped to through the actual slaughter house and came out with another horse!
They both saw the open gate that the truck went through upon arriving, and galloped through. The men were angry and their faces looked dark. They shut the gate and proceeded toward the paddock once more. Lassoed a colt and with much difficulty went into the metal building, out of which horriffic noises came out that I can't even describe. I never saw that colt again. Ten other foals were lead out into the building. I noticed Lune sniffing around the gate, wanting for any protective presence I went over to him and stood.
"Wh-what are you doing?" I inquired nervously, my eyes darting at the men.
"I think I've found a way out of here."
) and the fact that they are being shipped away to slaughter. It'll get better though, this is just the beginning.
