A.N. I like this story ^^ I'm trying to space things out, get it right, sorry if it's an inconvenience.





There would be 2 deaths in this story. One at the beginning, and one at the end. No one knows why exactly there would be death, death in a story that should be happy. Unfortunately the world isn't happy. It's time to wake up to what the world is really like.. And that is death...





No one knows what awoke the pre-teen that morning. It could have been the fact that it was cold, or that it had snowed for the first time all year. But, that may not have been the reason. It could have been because of the dawn's light. There are many possible reasons, too many to know which one, or if it could have been all of them.

The sun was just coming over the hills when she awoke. The young girl had silver bangs and blond hair. She sat up, opening her brown eyes. A smile worked its way onto her face as she went to the window, looking at the new blanket of snow.

Her mother was all she had. Her father, pfft, if you could even call him that, she didn't. Her mother was still asleep though, nestled in the warm blankets downstairs, sleeping peacefully. But not her, she was wide-awake. And for what reason she didn't know either. Usually she slept in late, till her mother had left.

Today, she guessed, was different. There seemed to be a calm aurora around the room, sinking into every nook and cranny. She smiled.

The snow was all hers this morning. She would go out early and ride her horse, Thunder.

Thunder was an Arabian, and pitch black, except for a cloud like spot on his flank, that looked to have a lightening bolt running through it. She thought he could dance with the stars, and his hooves pounded the ground like thunder when he ran. Hence the name.

Carefully, she crept to her dresser, and opened it as silently as possible. She grabbed a [air of baggy jeans and a blue long sleeved shirt. She put them on, shivering in the chill of the room.

The room itself was vividly decorated. It had 2 mattresses that served as a bed in the corner, a bookshelf, 1 dresser, a small table for her fish tank, and a walk in closet.

The walls where decorated with posters from different shows. It also had her paintings, as she was a self-proclaimed artist.

She put on a pair of socks, and then padded her way down the stairs. She stopped at the door, excitement running through her as she slipped on her ridding boots, and a coat.

She paused in opening the door, and ran into the kitchen, she too a pen and a piece of paper;

Dear Mom,

I went ridding, be back before or after breakfast, I love you!

Cloud

That done, she didn't hesitate with opening the door, and stepped into the freezing coldness.

This coldness did not bother her however; it only got her more excited. She put her first foot in the snow; it was just as she remembered form last year, cold and wet. She smiled and went out at a full fun, with any luck her friend might be out too!!

She paused at the fence, seeing a figure a bit farther away. "HELLO KATIE!!"

"HELLO CLOUD!!" they laughed as their voices echoed in the forest. "ARE YOU GOING RIDEING!!??"

"HAI!! MEET YOU AT THE USUAL SPOT?"

"SURE!! SEE YOU IN A MINUTE!!!"

Cloud smiled and continued on her way to the stable.

*

Inside it had a musky odor, and the light was very dim. There was hay on the floor. Many of the horses nickered at her, begging for a ride, but no. She was only after one horse, her horse. Thunder.

She had memorized were the stall was, on the right side, back corner, the biggest one, and the brightest.

Thunder's head was stuck out, and he nickered at her. She smiled and pet his long nose, his steamy breath blew on her. "You want to go for a ride today?" she asked, a soft smile on her face. The horse nodded its head, excitement in his eyes, and she giggled. :O.k.! O.k.! ^^" She grabbed the latch and lifted it, going into the stall.

A ridding blanket, saddle, and reins, hung on the wall. Piece upon piece she put them on the silky black horse, each in it's proper place.

She smiled once more, and led him out of the stall. The soft clip clops of his hooves were like a wonderful piece of music to her. She walked him around for a minute, warming him up, even as she tried to control her excitement.

Finally, it was time, and she put her foot in the stirrup, then hefted herself on. The soft leather saddle squeaked a bit, but other than that stayed quiet.

Cloud pushed Thunder into a swift walk. His feet crunched in the snow, as it glistened and shinned with the early morning light.

She led him to a cave. Katie was already waiting with her horse, a Morgan mare, Sundance. "It's about time," she laughed good-naturedly.

"Sorry, I just like to take my time." Little did they know this would be the last time they would see each other. The last time they would see the familiar meeting place.

"Lets go,"

"Hai!" they pushed their horses into swift trots. The horses loved the snow as much as they did. They loved every second they spent in the snow, for it was only around for a little more than a week at time. For it came and went like the seasons and the weather. A sad little pattern that we as human find the need to predict what they are, and what they are going to be.

We find new patterns each and every day, yet, it sometimes will mean nothing. For we cannot change destiny, nor fate. We cannot do that.nor predict death. It would have been wonderful if we could, but we can't, for death means life, and life means death. Just as the story shall go.

They had ridden for hours. Laughing and giggling in the wintry wonderland. "Lets go up that hill, then we'll go back," smiled Katie. Cloud looked skeptical, but wanting to please her friend, nodded.

"Sure," they lead their horses towards the hill. It is an easy challenge in summer, but winter is another thing. The path to go home was over it, yet they could have taken an easier way.

Neither horse nor riders saw or heard the truck coming; their hands were too full with getting up the hill. "Maybe this isn't a good idea Katie!"

"We're almost there!!" little did they know, that the reason for the trouble, was because the horses reins had gotten caught together.

They soon found out.. When Sundance slipped.

The girl's screams echoed in the forest, the horses and riders were caught in a tangled mass!! They were slipping down the hill!! They fell at the bottom, their legs tangled, and Sundance lay unmoving, Katie was unconscious, and the other two were worse for wear. The horn honked and cloud turned, her face white, and the brakes squeaked. Cloud screamed. "KATIE!!" the truck hit them dead on, making them slide and hit trees and then the brick wall. There were snaps, but the truck had finally stopped, the driver ran away.

Cloud opened her eyes, and they went wide. Not because of her own blood, but of Katie's, and their horses. "K-Katie!" her friend was in a pool of Blood, she wasn't moving, and was no longer unconscious. She was dead, and Cloud knew this. but she still screamed vainly, in pain, and in sheer terror.

Finally Cloud gave in to her pain and everything went black.just as the beeping sirens of an ambulance reached her ears.





TBC

Don't worry! I'm getting the anime people part in soon ^.~