Disclaimer: I don't own any characters that you recognize, but I do own characters that you don't recognize. Lucky Star Stables is a stable near me that was shut down a few years ago, and I couldn't think of a name for the stable when I wrote this, so I just used that stables name.

AN: It's been a while since I updated, so I made my self type this right now, at the end of spring break. Anyways….. Here's the next chapter!!

Chapter 9: Stories and Jumps

Sam and Tempest had now been at Lucky Star Stables for about a week, and Sam was to stay with Tempest. If she ever tried to run away, the guy that had brought her their said that he would kill her, her family and her horses. Even if she somehow got away, she would have nowhere to go, so she stayed.

Tempest was slowly trained to be a show jumper, and Sam was to be her rifer. Tempest's new name was Shooting Star, and Sam's name was now Samantha McLean (name from the thoroughbred series). So, Tempest was registered as an Arabian, Thoroughbred cross, and her first show was only a few weeks away…..

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tempest's POV

Everything is so different here than it is at River Bend. I am constantly expected to jump, I have a new 'home', and new stable mates. When I first came here, I was isolated from all of the other horses, but I was just moved to the main stable block. I am now stabled next to a 6 year stallion named Midnight. He is pure black with a white sock on his right front leg. We often talk at night after all of the humans leave. In one conversation, he told me that he had been here for only a year, and he is also a jumper.

Tempest was soon taken out of her stall and was jumped over an 8 fence course with sharp turns. As soon as she was put back into her stall, she fell asleep…………

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Tempest? Are you awake?"

I jumped up, startled, "Um, I am now."

"Opps, did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, but that's okay Midnight. So, back to last night's conversation, how did you end up here?"

"Well, I guess I'll start at the beginning. I grew up at a thoroughbred farm where they trained and bred race horses. I was fast, but I just slacked off every time I had the chance, or I would just act up. My owners didn't want to geld me, but they also couldn't train me, so they sold me.

"After that, I was bought by a mean man who also tried to get me to race, but he had the same problems. He whipped me relentlessly until I would cower in a corner ever time he walked past me. One day, I couldn't take it anymore, so I jumped out of the 4 foot pasture. He eventually caught me, and whipped me relentlessly, and after that I refused to even leave my stall. He gave up and sent me to an auction with the description 'has an attitude but can jump 4 feet', but nobody wanted to take a chance, so I was sold to a slaughter house."

"WHAT?!?!?!?!?"

"Yes, I know. Just let me finish Tempest."

"Opps, sorry!"

"Anyways, the slaughter house was unloading me and the other 50 horses into a small, 3 foot corral surrounded with barbed wire. They decided that I was to be their first victim. When they went to get their equipment ready, I jumped at the fence. I wound up bringing it down with my back legs and got plenty of scratches for my efforts. I and the other horses then ran out to the plains nearby, and all of the mares were soon taken up by wild herds of mustangs.

"All of us geldings and stallions formed a bachelor herd, and we were quite happy until the day when humans came. I and a few other horses here were caught and brought here. So, here I am now."

"Wow, that's crazy! How can anybody slaughter horses?"

"I have no idea, but at least we're safe now."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Okay Tempest, my turn to ask you a question. How did you end up here?"

Tempest spent the rest of the night telling him the story from Dark Sunshine being rescued by Sam to that moment, not leaving out any details. The people then soon came, and both were worked then turned out in separate paddocks.

"Hi again Midnight."

"Hi Tempest."

"Midnight, have you ever considered running away from here?"

"Yeah I have, and I've tried but haven't been able to get very far."

"Oh, well if there is ever a chance that I'll get out, I'll take you with me."

"Um, ok, but I doubt we'll ever get out of here."

"Midnight, if there is one major lesson that I have learned in my life, it is to never give up hope."

So, that's Chapter 9!! YAY!!! Anyways, plez review because otherwise I probably won't update for a very long time. I want to have this story finished by the time I go to Florida in 2 months, but that won't happen if you people don't review. And I will leave you on a cliffy if it's not finished by then, and then you will have to wait 2 months for an update, so REVIEW!!!!