Hi Spirit fans!
Sorry again, it's been a little while! lol, though not too long thankfully. So here is the next part! I don't own Spirit or any spirit characters, just my Oc's and the story plot! Thank you!
Breeze startled, jumping back and away from the two-legged in fright. Jim had staggered over to the side, clutching his shoulder with the smell of blood dripping down his shirt.
"Jim!" shouted the taller human and he whipped out a long shinny thing from beside his saddle and aimed it up, shooting with another loud CRACK back up into the hilly bushes. All the mules and horses in the tow line were skittish, dancing in place, eyes wide with nervousness. Red was the first one to calm down and nicker to the rest in his herd to relax and stand still. Breeze tried to take comfort in the stallion's certainty but when another startling CRACK resounded this time from the peg legged man, who was holding a much smaller weapon, Breeze jumped back again, wanting nothing more to do with this canyon! She wheeled around on her heels, terrified of the strange sounds and the loudness of things she didn't understand. And to make matters worse, the whole herd was just standing there, shifting nervously! But why were they not running? Something unusual and frightening was happening!
Then, an unexpected cry came from the hill above, and what looked like another two-legged flopped forward out of the bushes to remain perfectly still on the dirt floor. Breeze danced away closer into the safeness of the rest of the herd while the tall two-legged hurried over to Jim.
"Jim! Jim? You alright? Ye still with me?" he asked hurriedly, taking a piece of cloth from around his neck and pressing it to Jim's shoulder. Blood soaked it in no time but Jim was still breathing.
"I'll...I'll be alright," Jim gasped out weakly, "It ain't a vital hit..." he rasped.
"Blast that Tom! No doubt he wuz just waitin fer us ta finish gitten what gold we could b'fore he tried ta stiff us in the backs and take it all fer imself!" the uninjured human spat. He sighed, trying to cool himself and his anger down.
"I reckon we aughta make camp fer ere tonight. I just hope Tom don't have any buddies around," he grumbled in irritation.
Breeze watched as the two-legged took care of his wounded friend, and began to take the fabric off his bloodied chest before putting new fresh fabric over it. The herd settled down, glad the shooting was all over and Breeze tried to relax her quick beating heart. She was still scared, and wasn't certain how comfortable she was to hang around with this band of stragglers any more. This just wasn't normal, and she was having a hard time adjusting. Even when things did finally fall into a pattern she was never happy, not with the humans around. She just wasn't a trusting creature by habit and all this loudness and unnatural happenings had pushed her to the limit. Red could tell Breeze was deliberating something and nickered gently to gain her attention. Breeze ignored him, still lost in thought until she felt a quick nip on her side and squealed in displeasure over at the chestnut. Red had his ears flattened and squealed back in protest. He was urging her to pull it together, and reprimanding her for acting so cowardly. One of their humans was was in trouble, Red reminded her with a quick head bob Jim's direction, and she was only thinking about herself.
The mare flattened her ears, not sure she liked how pushy and rude Red was being, but he was right. It hadn't been just her in danger... in fact, she hadn't even been harmed during the gunfight. Still she stomped her hoof, making it clear to Red that his harshness was unwelcome. She preferred to be coddled and comforted, and this was NOT comforting. This was rough scolding and she didn't like it. Red shook his head and glared at her, silently conveying he was disgusted with how selfish she was and turned around to swish his tail at her as he walked away. He came up and stood nearer the fire where the humans were watching them with an attentive gaze. Breeze watched him in turn with a glare, not understanding why he was so difficult! Why couldn't he see the sense in what she was concerned about?! Her main issue though, was she still could not understand why Red thought these humans so important. For the most part, yes they had taken good care of them, made sure they had water and food, but in turn for what? Ferrying their packs of who knew what around and making them move off from perfectly safe areas of the canyon into deeper, more dangerous ones.
A long sigh escaped Breeze's lips. She remembered how soft and kind the peg-legged man had been to her when letting her drink from his bucket, and how he'd made it clear he didn't want to frighten or harm her. He had done that for her, and he hadn't had to. She wasn't technically part of the two line, for they hadn't saddled her, or roped her or made her to follow the mules. She'd chosen that on her own, and the humans seemed to reward her for that decision by letting her alone but taking care of her when she needed it. Yes... perhaps these humans weren't all bad... Breeze felt guilt well up in her heart. It was decided. She would stay and make sure that this peg-legged man got along okay. When she would leave again she wasn't sure. Her whole entire idea for having left her herd in the first place, was to find a potential stallion for the herd, and now she was far, far from home, with the strangest herd she'd ever seen, and didn't even know if Spirit had returned or not! She'd gotten herself into one big mess, that was for sure. But what could she do now? Go back?
The night was long but cool and refreshing from the hot sun that had nearly cooked them all during the day. Breeze took the time of night to reassemble her thoughts. She had to decide if she was going to attempt going back to her herd, braving the desert and all those woods, and whatever dangers went with them, just to wind up where she began in the first place... Breeze rested, the sound of the human's contained fire crackling soothingly in the back ground, while she stood with her head low beside Red. He'd apparently forgiven her from earlier and even went as far to offer her a grooming. Breeze knew she needed it so she conceded and groomed him back, nibbling at the fur along his withers as he did so to hers. It was in that moment that Breeze realized she really did like Red. He had watched over her and kept her safe among his herd, even though he'd initially not wanted her around, nor needed her around. Also, he had shown her good kindness in trying to correct her thinking, and though it had made her angry, he'd been right. She wondered... did he like her the way she was beginning to like him? But how could such a thing ever work out? Breeze didn't want to live the rest of her life around humans and Red seemed resolute on staying near them... Why were things always hard?
Okay well that's the end of that! I felt like writing a bit of a romantic twist into the tale, for unless love is included (in my opinion) stories can get bland haha! So hope you enjoyed it!