I galloped up the sandy hill to the top and paused. I was terribly thirsty from the long night of swimming and the salty water in my nose and throat. I snorted hard to clear my nose again, and sniffed for fresh water. I turned my head carefully, and to my great relief smelled fresh clean water on the breeze. I trotted toward the scent. I found a small pool under the shade of a few palm trees. The scene was familiar to me, as I had often traveled to oases in the desert. After quenching my raging thirst, I dropped on the sand to have a roll. I was still wet from the swim, and that would help me dry off. I also realized I still had that hated halter on. Well, now that I was down in the sand, I could fix that. I rolled and kicked my legs in the air, rubbing every inch of my face in the sand. One ear slipped from the halter. Encouraged, I flipped over to my other side, and rubbed that side too. I felt the other ear emerge and I leaped up to all four legs and shook my whole body. It got all the sand off, and the halter too! I gave a snort and a buck and cantered off, putting distance between me and the halter.
I grazed on the sparse grass, for I was now very hungry. I heard a sound and pricked my ears. The boy had found the spring. He did look as thirsty as I did. He staggered toward the spring, and I suddenly heard another sound. I had heard this before...it meant danger! I whistled shrilly in warning. The boy stopped, confused. Doesn't he understand? Run! He stared at me. I reared as high as I could go, and slammed the sand beneath my hooves as I came down again. Surely he will understand that. Danger! Danger! Still the stupid boy stood there, unmoving.
It seemed I must do things myself. I reared again to psych myself up, then charged towards him. I saw the flash of fear in his face, but he was paralysed the spot. I dashed between the boy and the spring and jumped on the enemy. A longscale! HISS! It said and rushed off. It tried to strike me but I tore at the ground, worrying it. It decided it did not want to be trampled and soon I lost sight of it. The stream was safe again. I looked at the boy, who still stood there in confusion. I whistled nicely at him, telling him that he was safe. I half-rose on my hind legs to add flair to my words, then galloped off.
Later that night, I came back to the spring. It was the only fresh water place on this island, for island it was. I had been around the entire thing, and it wasn't much. The grass was sparse and course and I didn't see how long it would last me. Perhaps more would grow later. The stars were bright, and the moon was a sliver in the sky as I approached the spring. My eyes, being a horse, were good in the darkness and I easily saw the boy sleeping near the spring. I paused, wondering if he was lying in wait for me. Hearing his easy breaths, I relaxed and walked forward and drank. He woke while I drank, but did nothing. I merely looked at him for one moment, and trotted away to my sleeping place.
The next day, I was restless. I had had my meal of grass, and frolicked on the beach. I cantered along on the sand, loving the feel of the surf beneath my hooves and the wind whipping my mane and tail. If only I had my mares alongside me, my life would have been complete. As it was I didn't, but I still felt joy as I felt my speed and strength coming back to me. I had been cooped up in that dreadful stall that my freedom was sweet to me. I scented the boy as I ran past, but my legs demanded to run more, so I carried on without stopping.
Later, I still felt very hungry. I grazed as much as I could. The boy kept busy making some sort of shelter for him, and also search for food. He did not bother me, nor I him. That night, I heard a whistling sound from him...a low note, then loud, and fading away again. I paused in my desperate grazing and considered this. I answered him, then continued to eat.
Days passed, and I spent each one in much the same manner. I ate what I could, drank from the spring, galloped along the beach, or stood in the shade from the hot sun. The boy spent his days hunting for food or watching me. We were both slowly starving from lack of food. I could feel my ribs showing as they had never done since I was a foal. My great strength was starting to deplete, but I tried not to show it. I was too wild.
One day after a long run, I felt quite thirsty, so I turned my nose to the stream. I smelled the boy there, but that did not bother me. I buried my nose in the stream, and drank deeply. After my thirst was quenched, I was about to wheel away when another scent came to me. I sniffed curiously. There was dried green...something.. on the ground. I walked closer to have a look. I smelled the boy's scent on the strange plant, but the dried green stuff actually smelled good. I reached forward and took a small nibble in my mouth. I chewed carefully. It didn't taste that great, but instinctively I knew it was very nourishing. I reached down for more and soon finished the pile. I felt much better than I had in a long time, and somehow I knew that the boy had done this for me, for which I was deeply grateful.
