The sun broke through the morning clouds and covered up the darkness of the night. Its rays peered through the early fog and reflected off of everything it touched.
Spirit raised his head high, his black tail slightly ruffled by the sharp winter wind. He stomped his hoof and air exploded out of his nostrils as he snorted. The mustang's dark eyes darted across the clearing, making sure his entire herd was safe and together. The long, ugly scar that ran across his right eye stuck out like a sore thumb against his golden coat. Spirit raised his forelegs and let out a piercing cry, waking his herd and letting them know it was time. Time to leave forever.
Mares pricked their ears and sprung to their hooves, nipping at their foals, convincing the sleepy-eyed babies to wake up and huddle next to their mothers. Foals shook their bodies and began to nurse, while their nervous mothers paid no attention to them; their eyes were locked on the lead stallion as they waited for his command to move out.
Spirit dipped his head in approval and launched himself forward, galloping around his herd, causing them to circle tighter. He appeared as a ghost, moving swiftly through the thick fog. The stallion skidded to a stop and nipped at the horses closer to him. The mares quickly leaped forward and began to prance eagerly forward as Rain led the mass of horses towards their new home. Spirit followed up the rear, appearing confident. Deep inside, his heart swelled with worry for this herd, who had become a family.
Rain's ears darted from left to right, her eyes wide and alert. She pranced forward eagerly, stopping every few moments to sniff at the ground and determine their location. The pretty paint mare's white patches sparkled as the sun reflected off of the dew that had gathered on her coat. Rain stopped for a moment, a few lengths ahead of the herd. She nickered softly, turning her head. She focused on the wide, open grassland, and then turned back to her home. Goodbye. The words skittered through her mind as she spun around and took off at a gallop.
Spirit pricked his ears, hearing the increase of speed in the lead mare's gait. He screamed and nipped at the flank of the few slower mares, sending them off. They fell into a rhythmic gallop after rain, and the herd moved along like water let out of a busted dam.
Tonto took a deep breath and caught Sassy's gaze. The filly shook her head, nuzzling the colt's neck. "It will be okay. Your mother knows what she's doing." Tonto nodded and took a step forward, stretching his nose out to investigate the broken boards that resulted from the older mare's kicks.
The mare nickered softly, her eyes filled with sadness. "Go! Get out of this place, the both of you! I love you both very much…and I will miss you. But I will rest in peace knowing your future is brighter than the one that has been laid out for you."
Tonto nodded and whispered, "I love you too, mommy…"
Sassy hung her head low, before standing up straight.
Tonto cast one last look at his mother and his first home, and squeezed through the opening in the fence. As his hoof touched the grass on the other side, chills shot up through his back. He was frightened, that was for sure. But the man and the slaughterhouse were enough to make him want to run away as far as possible. Sassy nudged Tonto's flank and the colt nickered softly, prancing forward and out into the wilderness. He stopped and turned back to look one last time at the ranch. Goodbye. The words slipped softly through his mind as he spun away and galloped east, away from the future of torture, Sassy at his side.