Chapter Three: Weaning and Winter
When I was around six months old, something strange happened. At that time, I had no idea what weaning was, and didn't even know that Ember was pregnant again. Red Rock and Whinny were still too young too wean, but Queenie was the right age.
I was the first to experience it. On a hot September day, I was feeling hungry after a race with Summer Sky. Ember was grazing nearby. She didn't look any different, for her pregnancy wasn't showing yet.
Blowing through my nostrils, I walked over to her side and dipped my head low...
A sharp nip on my flank brought me to jerk my head up. Ember was glaring at me. I tossed my head angrily at her, wondering why she did that, and lowered my head again.
Once again, a nip, this time sharper, and accompanied by a snort of anger. This time, I was a bit slower, but that was the final straw for Ember. She simply bit me, drawing a tiny bit of blood.
I backed a few steps, giving a high whinny. Why was my mother doing this to me? I looked into Ember's eyes, and I saw anger there, but it was with sadness as well. She blinked her amberish eyes at me, and lowered her head again.
I crept up behind her-I was hungry!-, making sure not to make a sound. But Ember, being the skilled horse she is, knew I was there. This time, she cocked a leg. Surely, I thought, She wouldn't kick me.
But this time, as I got closer, Ember raised the leg and thudded me soundly in the chest. I tossed my head and squealed. Not because of anger. I had been a bit of trouble. Not of pain. The kick had taken the breath out of me, but hadn't been painful at all. It was a squeal of sadness. Something was wrong with the strong bond that a mare and her foal have.
I still attempted again and again that day, and I still got a few kicks, and nips as well. Every now and then, I would glance at my father or the other mares for help, but they only looked on, as if interested.
Finally, a few hours later, I gave up for the day. Slowly, tired, not without a few bruises, I lay down.(a/n: I know, I know, horses sleep standing up. But actually, foals can until they're too big, and adults can occasionally)
My coat was soaked with sweat, and I was terribly hungry. A soft nicker came, and I felt breath on my mane. Summer Sky lay down beside me, and layed her head on my back. I nibbled at the grass, not really liking its taste much.
But at least I had Summer Sky. She would always be there.
So I thought.
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It took nearly a week to get me fully weaned, but I finally gave up. Around that time, Queenie began her weaning. I watched as she did the same thing as I had, only even worse. It was a sad sight, but I couldn't help feeling like she was finally getting some sort of punishment for being so ill-tempered toward Summer Sky and I.
I knew that I wasn't completely unlinked to my mother. I would need her until I was ten months old. But I realized that, in weaning, part of the bond we shared was being loosened. I felt terribly sorry for Summer Sky, who would be weaned in a month.
Time passed. I knew that soon enough, winter would come. And when it did, it depened on the weather if my herd stayed here or left.
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When I was seven months old, something strange happened.
Red Rock disobeyed the hiarchy.
I calmly grazed, used to the grass by now, even liking it. That's when I got a sharp nip at my heels. Whirling around, I found five month old Red Rock, who had a mischeivous look on his face.
Deciding to give him some slack, I resumed grazing without even a snort. Again, I was nipped. Again, and again, and again.
Until I had had it.
With a whinny of anger, I began chasing him at a full gallop, my ears laced back with fury. Red Rock, with a squeal, galloped away, and behind his mother.
I snorted at him. This colt would be trouble.
I knew it.
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As the months past, it grew colder. My coat began thickening, as did the coats of every other horse.
Then, one day, in early December, it came.
My first snow.
I was looking kind of scrappy in my winter coat, but Summer Sky, who was trotting over to me, looked like a silver cloud. I looked up into the clouds, when a snowflake fell, and landed right on my muzzle.
Snorting, I shook my head at the bitter cold. Sky nickered in amusement, and I felt embarrassed.
I turned my head to see Hidalgo watching us, a fond look on his face. But that look was mixed with worry. Sometimes, herds move to better grounds in the fall, in preparation for winter, but I could see that he hadn't anticipated much snow.
That was the biggest mistake he ever made.
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About a week later, that little shower had turned into a full blown blizzard. I closed my eyes for a moment at the sleet that was hitting my face. Ember, though at nine months, I wasn't all that close to her, sidled up to protect me, her stomach now noticebaly larger.
Poor Whinny's delicate skin was being torn by the harsh weather, and Red Rock and Queenie still did nothing.
Summer Sky wasn't doing all that well either, and I had to choose a foal to help.
Whinny, who was in my own herd, was my own half-sister, or Summer Sky, my best friend.
You can guess who I chose.
I trudged through the snow and pressed my side close up against Sky, who was shivering pitifully, her white eyeslashes frozen. I nickered and nuzzled the side of her head, not looking at Whinny, who's own mother's winter coat hadn't developed well enough to help any horse but herself.
I looked around and saw Queenie and Red Rock side by side like Sky and I. They were feebly nibbling at the frozen grass below, which really didn't help much.My mother was my father's favorite mare, so he was close up to her.
Finally, that night, Sky nuzzled me in thanks, and walked over to her mother. Little did I know, that may be the last time I ever saw her.
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Early in the morning, my father herded us all together, and Ember took the lead. We began walking up and out of the valley, and I knew we were leaving for the winter. I looked down to see Sky with her herd, sleeping.
I may never see her again.
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Aw, poor Sun... I would like to make it clear that the next story in this series will be called, 'Painted Freedom' so please don't take that name, any reviewers, since it'll obviously be the name of a horse...