Now.
Onua
Chamtong sits up in bed, sweat pouring down her face. After 10 years, she still
can't shake the nightmare. She stands up and leaves the Rider barracks; she needs
fresh air. She walks over to the paddock and watches the ponies frolic in the
early morning air. No one else is up yet.
Suddenly a chestnut pony
turns into a human; Daine to be exact.
"Hullo, Onua," she says,
cheerfully, as a crowd of ponies circle her. Daine's pony, Cloud, brings Daine
her pack and the girl changes into the clothes that she had put into the pack.
"Hi, Daine. Have a nice
run with the herd?" Onua asks.
"Yes," Daine says, "It's
like therapy: I am not so grumpy in the morning after I do this."
Onua grins. She knows
that was the truth. Daine could be a rhymes-with-rich in the morning if she didn't
do something to un-grump herself.
Onua's nightmare is almost
gone now. "It's funny," she thought to herself, "After I awake, I can't remember
the nightmare exactly anymore, but I know how it goes. Maybe I should tell Daine.
I think she would understand, after all, she's been hurt by humans, like me, but..."
Onua opens her mouth to
tell, but she stops, after she says, "Daine..."
"Yeah?" asks Daine.
"Nothing," Onua sighs.
"Okay," Daine says, doubtfully.
"Something is happening to Onua, that is for certain," she thinks.
"HELLO!" bellows a familiar
voice behind them, and Onua levitates. It is Sarge.
"WE'RE NOT RIDERS, SARGE,"
they both bellow back. "You can be a little quieter with us," Daine grins.
Sarge says, "The trainees
are picking their mounts, today. You two, be ready..."
"When are we ever not
ready?" Daine interrups. Onua laughs.
"Well, these new trainees
are..."
"They're that bad,"
Daine whines.
"Worse," replies Sarge,
"They are lazy bums!"
"You always say that,"
Onua counters.
"Yeah, but this time it's
true."
Daine and Onua groan.
"Great," Onua says, sarcastically.
"Why me?" Daine asks,
"I'm always the one stuck in the meadow."
Sarge grins, and laughs
evilly, "I know!"
"Mommy and Daddy!" Daine
cries, looking up, "Save me now!"
Sarge and Onua just laugh.
"Here they come," Onua points as several trainees make their way from the barracks
to the paddock.