Disclaimer: NO ONE owns the Phantom Stallion.
Counting Heartbeats With Hooves
Sam was falling.
One minute Blackie's smooth, strong back was beneath her and the next it was gone. The world spun as the ground rushed up to meet her with open arms.
A sudden, sharp impact in the side of her head made pain bloom behind her eyes. So immense was the pain that Sam hardly noticed when she hit solid Nevadan dirt.
"Sam! Oh God, Sam!" Jake? That was Jake definitely, but his voice sounded far away, paling in comparison to a steady rhythm that vibrated through her entire being.
Thud-thud.
A shadow blocked out the fading sun and Jake's hands lit on her arm light as dust, as though afraid that she might shatter. Maybe she would.
Thud-thud.
"Sam can you hear me!? Please wake up!" Sam could just barely see his face dancing in and out of shadows and shapes. She tried to see his mustang eyes, wanted them to let her know everything was okay. For some reason, she couldn't.
Thud-thud.
Sam closed her eyes against the throbbing ache that seemed to rattle her head. How did that happen? A soft muzzle nosed her hand, blowing and snorting into her palm. Blackie?
Thud-thud.
"Aw, Sam, I don't know what to do!" Jake hesitated for several long moments, his hands still on her arm. But she couldn't really feel them anymore…
Thud-thud.
Was it hours or seconds later that he spoke again? "Sam, I promise, I swear, I'll be right back. I gotta get Wyatt. H-he'd know what to do."
Thud-thud.
And like that, Jake was gone. The whiskery muzzle was jerked out of her hand and suddenly Sam felt very alone. Where was Blackie going?
Thud-thud.
As the darkness gathered around Sam, she began to wonder about the noise she kept hearing.
Thud-thud.
It was strange, quiet, kind of fading away…
Thud-thud.
Sam tried to talk, to laugh, to call Blackie back to her.
Thud-thud.
But even as she slipped from consciousness, Sam knew.
Blackie was gone.
A/N: I hope this on was as moving as the first chapter. This installment was too short to make into a separate story. I think I'm just going to keep adding in missing moments into this story when the inspiration hits me. Hope you liked this!
PS review and ask if you're still confused on the alleged thud-thud!