Chapter 11
After that me and the Alastair's relationship expanded to a father-daughter sort of friendship. I admired him, he was like my rock. Every mare in that herd depended on him, I learned that. Not only physically, but mentally too. We would all go insane and fight if the stallion wasn't around.
So, two more days of easy walking brought us out of the mountain ranges to the northern wild. There was some forest, some dry meadows here and there, and magnificent rocks (they were in Wyoming). "It's the place I was born," Alastair was explaining to me "When I was young, my herd would come here in the winter and the mountain ranges in the summer."
"What a beautiful place." I gazed looking at the dark sky, sparkling with hosts of stars. "Is it summer now?"
"The end of summer. Fall is coming, I can feel it. We should've moved earlier - a couple weeks ago I should say."
"Why didn't you move then?"
His dark eyes were roving over the flat land, as if he were looking for something. Only half of his mind was on our conversation.
"Well," He cleared his throat. "The grazing was good and I didn't want to run into, uh...stuff." He seemed uncomfortable, "But the run in with that cougar clinched it."
His eyes darted to the landscape again.
"What 'stuff'?"
"Just...other horse herds." He avoided my eyes.
"There are other horse herds?" I was surprised.
"Hm-hm.." He had a distant, sad look in his eyes.
"Whatever are you looking for?" I stamped, annoyed.
He continued to watch the land, every sway the grass took in the midnight wind, and every hoot of an owl.
"Who's looking for wha?" He absently looked through me, staring through my very soul. He was creeping me out.
"Alastair!" I snapped.
"What." He shot me a look of annoyance. "I'm busy thinking." He turned and walked away.
I shivered, the land seemed huge and empty. I ran after him.
Why was he being so rude? Sigh. Probably thinking why my name is Mitty, I bet he hates my name. He might ban me from the herd! Oh! No, he wouldn't....would he? I don't think so...he wouldn't...not without a reason....the way he's acting it seems like he wants to ban me from the herd, he just blew up at me, something must be disturbing him. I wonder what it is?
I laid down beside Agnes.
"Hey Mitty. Let's hit the sack."
"K."
She snuggled against me. I tried sleeping, but couldn't. So I heaved myself up and walked away from the herd, lowered my head and sniffed the ground...something wasn't right. I walked about a hundred feet away from that spot. Mostly thinking about Alastair and his rudeness, wandering more away than I meant to. I found myself next to a grove of trees, the wind rustled the leaves and the night air was chilly. Suddenly a twig snapped! Every last nerve in my body was strung tight. My nostrils flaring, I tried sniffing out an unusual sent. Nothing. Whatever it was...was down wind from me. Which meant that it could smell me and I couldn't smell it! This newfound danger of the situation dawned on me.
"Mitty?"
WAIT! I recognized that voice! Could it be? Naw! But...could it....?
"L-lune?"
His copper body glinted in the silver moonlight, his swift movements were nervous. He glanced around, warily.
"Mitty, I-I have something to say."
"I don't want to hear it." I snorted.
"B-b-but I wa-"
I interrupted "You left me to die, is there any other reason I shoudn't be angry?"
"Mitty, listen! Please." His voice was earnest with worry.
"Oh awright. What?"
"I've been following the herd your - um....Alastairs herd, correct? I nodded. "Well, when I first escaped I galloped down the road, I'm truly sorry I left you. Honest, I am! You don't know how many days I -"
"Cut the chit-chat, tell me what you want to say." I was annoyed and a little concerned. When Lune was nervous, there was a reason to be nervous. And, if Alastair caught me out here talking to a strange colt....Well, with Alastair being so mean an' all, it would serve him right to give him a little scare. I thought, smugly.
"Ok," Lune went on "Do you know the stallions from the EvilLands? Well I never heard of 'em till the other night, I heard them talking...and oh man, they are tough. Big ol' stallions, they were strong as steel and tough as leather. A name they mentioned was Alastair. I was smart enough to leave without them noticing me. I picked up scent of your herd and have been following them since. Mitty, I cannot tell you how glad I am that your alive."
"I have to go. And all that gunk about the 'EvilLandss' is trash, I bet you made that up!" I turned to leave, but Lune jumped in front of me.
"Mitty, be very careful." He eyed me then went back into the grove.
"Whatever." I mutterd contemptuously.
I walked quietly back to the herd. Fifty feet away and Alastair jumped into my path. I grimaced...
"What do you want?" I was still moody.
"Mitty," He gave me 'the look'. "Don't talk to me like that. And who do I smell on you?" He sniffed. Then his eyes lit up like a flame. "Another horse? Where?"
"Nowhere!"
"Tell me. Now...or else - "
I cut him off, "I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk, I wasn't watching where I was going and I found myself at the grove over there. I just ran into a horse I used to know."
"What horse? I smell a colt." He snorted angrily.
"It was...Lune." My voice was barely above a whisper.
"Walk back with me. Don't go wandering off alone, your worse than Ebony."
I was quiet the rest of the way back. I laid next to Agnes, and didn't give a second glance to Alastair. That bothered him, because he didn't get me in trouble he wanted a least a little bit of gratitude. But I decided to spite him.
I went to sleep wandering about the Gangsters. Were they true?
