Chapter 28

The Unexpected Attack

Grass in the cold winter season is not as delicious or as versatile like in spring, summer, and yes, even in autumn. I stood next to my favorite apple tree, that no longer had those juicy red apples and its leaves were half gone. Calmly, I munched on the rather plain, dry grass, keeping my mind at ease and my body relaxed. I had passed couple of hours like this in solitude, and soon evening began to set in. The sun was still over the horizon, but give it few more hours and it would be completely gone and replaced by the lovely moon.

My tranquil state was cut short when I heard someone calling for me. "Rain!" A familiar whiny reached my ears. Quickly jerking my head up, I saw Spirit making his way to where I was stationed. He looked so excited! Not to mention, he was free with no ropes hanging on his neck. Last time I had seen him like that was when he had saved me from Great Conquest few months ago. Spirit freely danced around, hopping, jumping like a little colt as he trotted up to me.

"Oh this is unbelievable! He released me! You were right! Little Creek is a good man! He let me go, Rain! I can go home!" All these exclamations were made with such joy and happiness, he really resembled a lost foal who has finally found his mother. His eyes lit up as stars, and he pranced around cheerfully. I had never seen Spirit so triumphant and so incredibly joyful.

I couldn't help but smile at how happy he was, but another part of me was quite shocked. How could this be? Did Little Creek really let him go? Did he give up on riding him someday? I was dazed. So much information to comprehend in few seconds.

"Spirit-" I began slowly, trying to stay focused and yet my heart began to sink to my stomach. So much for my naive, romantic thoughts about the three of us staying in the village together.

"Rain, I'm free! I can finally gallop back to my herd." Spirit continued in excitement loping ahead, his brown eyes darting towards where he believed was his homeland. Rearing slightly, he danced in place and nickered at me ever so sweetly. "Come away with me. Please, let me show you what it's like to be free."

All of my former fears, conflicted thoughts- the torn devotion for my human and love for Spirit surfaced back up to me. The inevitable moment of choosing between them was here. I let out a soft whiny of despair, my eyes avoiding the stallion's blazing gaze. I wanted to go with him and experience his wild, untamed, invincible way of life. But at the same time, all I knew and loved - my best friend, my homeland, the comfort and peaceful life was right here.

"I...can't." I whispered quietly, taking few steps back.

Noticing my hesitation, uneasiness and confliction, Spirit neared me, coming closer to where I stood. He gently reached forward and lovingly caressed my cheek, his eyes searching mine. "I know this is hard for you and you're scared but more than anything I want to share my homeland with you."

We nuzzled affectionately, and for a second I found myself more relaxed as my racing thoughts faded. "I don't know what to do." I spoke up, my voice shaking with unsureness.

"It's alright," Spirit whispered sweetly with his comforting tone. "This doesn't have to be a permanent decision, you can always come back if you want to. You showed me your world, now please, let me show you mine." He stroked my muzzle with his, and I buried my nose in his warm neck.

Ugh, what a difficult, difficult decision. What was I to do?

We stood there completely still, our muzzles gently touching, our long manes swayed as the calm wind began to blow.

I stared up into Spirit's deep, expressive eyes. "I want to join you but what abou-"

"Shhh." The stallion hushed me softly and quietly. "It's alright, my love. I know how you feel. You're torn between your world and mine...between your human and me. I too have been like this for so long. Torn between my love for you and my desire for freedom and my herd." He explained all this with a soothing, comforting voice. "Take your time, we'll figure this out." Pressing his forehead against mine, I felt his warm breath on my cheek.

His strong, protective, confident and yet so gentle, kind and tender presence made me calm down and get rid of my former tense feeling and anxiety.

This tranquil and pleasant silence didn't last too long. All of a sudden, my nostrils flared as I detected unfamiliar scent of horses and men in the air.

"What is that?" I questioned, looking up at Spirit in confusion.

The brave stallion stretched out his neck, his nostrils dilating as he scented the strange smells circling the territory. My ears perked backwards as I heard hoof beats of galloping horses in the distance. As if on cue, Spirit quickly turned his attention to where the sounds were coming from.

"The cavalry!" He exclaimed in recognition.

Instantly I spun around, galloping up to the edge of the hill where I could see the entire village. My eyes widened in shock and dread when I spotted the cavalry men mounted on their horses, and charging at my homeland. We were under attack! Oh no! Little Creek!

Without further thought, I began to run towards the camp but Spirit stopped me midway, frantically neighing at me.

"Rain, no! It's too dangerous!"

"I must defend my home!" I cried desperately and not waiting for his response, I started galloping as swiftly as I could, towards the village where my Little Creek and everyone there required my support and assistance.

"Rain!" I could hear Spirit from behind calling and running after me.

I blocked everything and everyone out, including my beloved stallion, I was focused on one thing only. And that was to save my human and stand up to these cavalry soldiers who had so ruthlessly attacked our camp.

I ran tirelessly, my legs springing with a burst of such speed, that I wasn't even sure I was capable of racing so fast. It was as if something miraculous was activated in my whole body and soul. As I neared the village, the chaos became clearer and louder. I was met by the charging cavalry - the bays, the browns, the chestnut horses stampeding in between me and Spirit and we both quickly lost one another in the mayhem. I no longer knew if my stallion was following or not. But I didn't care. Unfortunately, Spirit was far from my mind at this point.

Everything around me was in complete and utter uproar. The tepee tents of my two-legged friends were crashed down and destroyed, the women and children screamed and ran in panic, the men fought the enemy but the attack had been so sudden and so unexpected that the villagers had been very unprepared. The horses galloped here and there in fright, some of them without their riders. I scanned the area, my blue eyes frantically searching for Little Creek.

Where was my human?!

The thundering shots of the enemy's weapons were fired, sending everyone in deeper alarm. I hated that piercing sound. It was petrifiying and so very dreadful. Dashing this way and that, I stopped at nothing. I needed to find my boy. I neighed loudly, hoping he'd hear me. He was here somewhere. I could feel it in my bones.

The commotion around me kept raging on, as the two-leggeds I knew and admired fell to the ground lifeless. Little ones kept crying for their murdered parents, hysterical horses were bumping into me as everyone absolutely everyone tried to run away to safety. For more than the half of the village, this was a lost battle.

Was I the only insane one galloping in the middle of a turmoil, not even considering to hide ?

Where was my human?!

I had remained pretty level-headed all this time despite the horrible rampage, but now alarm and terror began to set in me as I started to fear for Little Creek's life.

Everything about this attack reminded me of that dreadful nightmare.

Before I could freak out and let my racing emotions guide me, I spotted my friend at last struggling to defeat one of those cavalry men. He had protected a young village girl from the ruthless human. As the mother of the girl carried her child quickly to safety, I rushed towards my owner.

"Rain!" He exclaimed in relief when he noticed me. Knocking the enemy off from him, Little Creek rapidly got up and grabbing hold of my long mane, swiftly jumping on my back, holding up his tomahawk in his right hand.

"Let's protect our home, my brave girl." He said in determination and I reared up with a loud neigh. Everyone else was giving up, but we had decided to fight till the end. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a flash of golden dun horse lost in the huge commotion. Could it be Spirit? No time for that Rain!

My human let out a blood chilling battle cry, and we charged bravely right at the man whom I believed was a leader of the enemy soldiers. He was mounted on his brown steed and kept frightening the tribe members away as they frantically crossed the river in order to get away from him.

The ruthless man noticed us bolting and storming towards him and aimed his small, yet powerful weapon at my human. I knew what this meant. Gun - a tiny metal object that produced blood-curdling noise and annihilated any living creature with an ease. No! NO! Not my Little Creek.

Immediately, I forced myself to come to an abrupt halt as I reared up, standing on the hind legs, shielding my dear human protectively. Everything seemed to stop for a second, as the piercing noise of the weapon echoed through the territory. And just then, I felt a sharp and unbearable pain enter my right shoulder. The force of the shot was so powerful that I lost my balance and was plunged back into the river together with Little Creek. I shrieked in pain and fright as the cold water stung me harshly, making my whole body go numb.

Little Creek quickly swam towards a big rock, trying to hold on as the strong river began to forcefully drag me away. I tried to move my legs and swim to where my human was but all in vain, agony and pain in my shoulder was too much to fight against. I was growing weaker by the second.

That horrible man aimed his gun at my human one more time, and I cried out in terror. Just as I began to think that all was lost, and as the water carried me further and further away, I spotted someone very familiar and oh so dear to me. In split second, my fierce stallion appeared as quick as lightening. He lunged at the enemy, knocking him down from his steed. The gun was fired in the air, hitting no one. Little Creek was safe!

Soon I couldn't see any of them anymore. The water was all around me, the swiftness of the river was so difficult to fight against. I cried and neighed in panic, hating how helpless I was. Where was the river taking me? Was this the end?

I became sure that I would drown. For the life of me, I couldn't swim nor move. I accidentally swallowed some water almost choking as the powerful waves crashed onto my head. That nightmare was an omen after all.

"Rain! Hold on!" I heard Spirit's courageous voice as he galloped on land, following the speedy flow of the river.

A sparkle of hope appeared when I saw my stallion racing after me as swift as the wind. He was so brave! "Help!" I called meekly, dizziness began to overtake me, my eyelids grew weary and horrible pain in my shoulder increased as I struggled again and again with no success. I was so tired, so scared.

Almost instantly, the fearless stallion leaped into the river, diving in the cold water and made his way in the fast-flowing stream.

"S-spirit!" I neighed, my voice shaking.

"I'm coming!" Spirit nickered, fighting hard against the crashing waves as he swam towards me.

I was growing faint, my vision was blurry, suddenly I felt submerged under the water and the waves swamped all over me. I could no longer breathe, but just as suddenly as before I felt myself being lifted right back up on the surface. Fluttering my eyes open, I found myself with Spirit. He gently pulled me close, carrying me up on his back and placed my head on his. "I've got you. You're okay." He comforted softly.

Everything around me was spinning, the agonizing pain, merciless, raging river... it was as if I was in a nightmare all over again. The only light shone through Spirit, who daringly attempted to swim us back to the shore somehow.

I don't remember much of it.

I was partially unconscious the whole time. I was cold, numb and senseless.

The fast-flowing stream kept dragging us to the opposite direction. Everything the valiant Mustang attempted to do seemed useless. And before I could realize what was going on, both Spirit and I were sent plummeting down from the waterfall and right into the depths of water. I was ripped away from my protector and love. I screamed as I flew down from the big height of the waterfall and in seconds, it was all over.

Everything went blank.