Chapter 1
The Golden Valley herd grazed peacefully in the valley eating the lush spring valley. It was a hot day in mid may and the newly born foals were playing, under the close watch of their mothers. Dream Weaver, a small black filly, and December Storm, a dun colt, ran around chasing bugs through the tall, thick grass. Wind Dancer, a chestnut filly followed her mother, Danceing Wonder, trying to get her to play. Shadow, a bay colt, followed Dance Away dreams, a small black and white paint filly, around nipping her and trying to get her to run around. Dance Away simply pranced away from her half brother Shadow as if he were nothing. Shadow didn't like being ignored and chased after her. Dance Away snorted and bucked kicking him lightly. Shadow reared and snorted in surprise. He squealed and chased after her once more. Apatche, an appaloosa filly, galloped in and snapped at Shadow. Shadow shied away and snorted. He stomped the ground and cantered away to find someone who would play with him.
As this was going on the mares grazed and Last Nights storm stood on a hill, watching, a black speck against the clear blue sky. The ebony colored stallion stood watching for danger as the foals played together in the open field. Freedom the lead mare whinneyed for Dance Away and her daughter came running. Apatche followed as well as well as Wind Dancer, who had abandaned her mother unable to get her to run with her. To yearlings troted over Raven and Nights Dawning, both black like their father. Freedom troted away and they followed Raven and Nights Dawning keeping the fillys in line as they trotted along. Freedom led them to a small pond just outside the herds sight and the fillys took off into the water splashing the adults looking after them. Several minutes passed and soon Star Gazer showed up with Dream Weaver and Dream Catcher with Shadow. The foals played in the water splashing and running until the sun began to set. The adults rounded up the children and headed back to the herd. The foals lay down in the grass to rest as night began to fall and Dance Away Sighed contentedly. Life was wonderful.
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The next day was cooler and a thick mist hung around the valley. Last Nights Storm took his place on the hill after a quick rest setting Essence, a young cream mare, on watch duety the night before. Now Essence slept peacefully in the center of the herd as they grazed. The foals played in the center of the large herd because of the fog. By almost mid day Aspen, a bay mare, was looking around for her yearling daughter June Dew who had suddenly disapeared. She cried out in long sobing whinnys, calling for her daughter to come back. Suddenly they heard a distressed whinney. It was June Dew and she was galloping through the fog toward them. As she got closer they could see the blood trailing from her flank. Last Nights Storm came running down into the herd whinnying frantically. The foals had stopped and fled to there parents. Freedom squealed and began to run, the herd following her, disapearing into the fog. June Dew ran, limping, after them, dazed and confused looking. Last Nights Storm stood snorting and pawing the ground. Out of the fog came a cougar. It hissed at Storm and Storm reared flailing his legs at the cougar. The cougar shied back and hissed again. The cougar was thin. It must be young and an inexperianced hunter looking for a meal. It seemed desperate to be attacking a full grown stallion. The cougar suddening lunged and Last Nights Storm turned quickly and bucked hitting the cougar square in the chest. The cougar flew and Last Nights storm took off to find his herd.
After several minutes he found several of his mares, Aspen, Morning Glory, Nights Dawning, and Essence all gathered in a circle. Storm pushed through Aspen was whinnying frantically and Storm saw why. June Dew lie on the ground, blood stained, gasping. Storm nickeed and nudged her. She whinnied pityfully and lifted her head. Storm nudged her and Apen came over and licked her wounds. Once the blood was clean it didn't look to bad but the scratches were deep and June didn't seem to want to get up. Storm and the few mares pushed June to her feet and helped her make her way back to the herd. The foals were all huddled together shivering in fright and Storm nickered telling them it was all ok. They began walking again resting every now and then and making slow progress for June Dew's sake.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The Golden Valley herd grazed peacefully in the valley eating the lush spring valley. It was a hot day in mid may and the newly born foals were playing, under the close watch of their mothers. Dream Weaver, a small black filly, and December Storm, a dun colt, ran around chasing bugs through the tall, thick grass. Wind Dancer, a chestnut filly followed her mother, Danceing Wonder, trying to get her to play. Shadow, a bay colt, followed Dance Away dreams, a small black and white paint filly, around nipping her and trying to get her to run around. Dance Away simply pranced away from her half brother Shadow as if he were nothing. Shadow didn't like being ignored and chased after her. Dance Away snorted and bucked kicking him lightly. Shadow reared and snorted in surprise. He squealed and chased after her once more. Apatche, an appaloosa filly, galloped in and snapped at Shadow. Shadow shied away and snorted. He stomped the ground and cantered away to find someone who would play with him.
As this was going on the mares grazed and Last Nights storm stood on a hill, watching, a black speck against the clear blue sky. The ebony colored stallion stood watching for danger as the foals played together in the open field. Freedom the lead mare whinneyed for Dance Away and her daughter came running. Apatche followed as well as well as Wind Dancer, who had abandaned her mother unable to get her to run with her. To yearlings troted over Raven and Nights Dawning, both black like their father. Freedom troted away and they followed Raven and Nights Dawning keeping the fillys in line as they trotted along. Freedom led them to a small pond just outside the herds sight and the fillys took off into the water splashing the adults looking after them. Several minutes passed and soon Star Gazer showed up with Dream Weaver and Dream Catcher with Shadow. The foals played in the water splashing and running until the sun began to set. The adults rounded up the children and headed back to the herd. The foals lay down in the grass to rest as night began to fall and Dance Away Sighed contentedly. Life was wonderful.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The next day was cooler and a thick mist hung around the valley. Last Nights Storm took his place on the hill after a quick rest setting Essence, a young cream mare, on watch duety the night before. Now Essence slept peacefully in the center of the herd as they grazed. The foals played in the center of the large herd because of the fog. By almost mid day Aspen, a bay mare, was looking around for her yearling daughter June Dew who had suddenly disapeared. She cried out in long sobing whinnys, calling for her daughter to come back. Suddenly they heard a distressed whinney. It was June Dew and she was galloping through the fog toward them. As she got closer they could see the blood trailing from her flank. Last Nights Storm came running down into the herd whinnying frantically. The foals had stopped and fled to there parents. Freedom squealed and began to run, the herd following her, disapearing into the fog. June Dew ran, limping, after them, dazed and confused looking. Last Nights Storm stood snorting and pawing the ground. Out of the fog came a cougar. It hissed at Storm and Storm reared flailing his legs at the cougar. The cougar shied back and hissed again. The cougar was thin. It must be young and an inexperianced hunter looking for a meal. It seemed desperate to be attacking a full grown stallion. The cougar suddening lunged and Last Nights Storm turned quickly and bucked hitting the cougar square in the chest. The cougar flew and Last Nights storm took off to find his herd.
After several minutes he found several of his mares, Aspen, Morning Glory, Nights Dawning, and Essence all gathered in a circle. Storm pushed through Aspen was whinnying frantically and Storm saw why. June Dew lie on the ground, blood stained, gasping. Storm nickeed and nudged her. She whinnied pityfully and lifted her head. Storm nudged her and Apen came over and licked her wounds. Once the blood was clean it didn't look to bad but the scratches were deep and June didn't seem to want to get up. Storm and the few mares pushed June to her feet and helped her make her way back to the herd. The foals were all huddled together shivering in fright and Storm nickered telling them it was all ok. They began walking again resting every now and then and making slow progress for June Dew's sake.
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