Getting Out of a Bad Situation

Winter startled forward with the other mares. A sharp bite to her hide had her cry out and try to become one with the rest of the herd. A new stallion had driven off their previous leader and taken over the herd for himself. Any stallions over a year old had been driven off, and he’d brought in some nasty friends with him. They enjoyed harassing the mares when they got bored. Like now. Rounding them up and fighting over which ones they liked better was a game to them.

The mares around her stood breathing heavily, their sides quivering. Winter took deep slow breaths in an effort to calm herself. Getting worked up wouldn’t do her any good. She just had to remain as one of the submissive mares until she found the opportunity to make a break for it. She’d tried convincing some of the other mares to come with her, but they were all too afraid of what the lead stallion and his lackeys would do if they caught them. Only one had been willing to come with her, a young mare by the name of Wren.

Before the new stallion had arrived, Winter had only known Wren in passing. She’d been a friendly, if odd young mare, more interested in making friends with the other animals than horses, unless they were foals. But after their old leader was driven off, she’d become timid, shying away from everything. Winter was concerned that she wasn’t eating as much either. The poor mare wasn’t coping with the constant harassment.

The evening before, Winter strolled up to Wren, keeping her voice a quiet whisper, “Hello, Wren.”

The younger mare flinched at the sound of her name. “Oh, hello, Winter.”

“How’re you doing?”

“I’m alright,” she replied softly.

“Are you really, though?” she glanced towards Wren’s flank, “Your ribs are starting to show. You mustn’t neglect eating.”

“Haven’t much felt like eating,” Wren muttered dejectedly.

Winter stepped closer, gently pressing her muzzle against the mare’s neck. She flinched at the contact, but didn’t shy away. Seeing her accept the touch, Winter nibbled her neck comfortingly. After a while, the younger mare relaxed, leaning into the touch. She’d needed the connection. They all did. The stallions enjoyed interrupting any bonding they might do, keeping them startled and on edge. Winter vowed that she would take care of Wren like her own foal.

Later that night, when everyone but the sentry was asleep, Winter gave Wren a soft nudge to wake her. “Wren, how would you like to get out of here?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Escape from these jerks, leave them behind and live our own lives. Don’t you want to be free? To be happy instead of harassed? To enjoy life and talk to your animal friends again?”

Wren whimpered, casting a frightened glance at the sentry. “But they won’t let us. If we try, then…”

Winter frowned. She was well aware of their brutal tactics. A mare had tried to escape early on. She didn’t make it far before being beaten to within an inch of her life. It was amazing that she'd even survived. Nobody had dared make an attempt since.

“We’re going to be clever about it,” Winter replied. “Make a break for it while they’re distracted. We’ll run and keep on running until we’re so far away that they’ll never find us.”

“Could we really do that?” Wren asked, the tiniest spark of hope in her voice.

“We can and we will. We just have to time it right. But I have to know, do you want to come with me and leave?”

Wren took her time answering and Winter waited patiently for her to decide. She understood that it wasn’t an easy decision to make. It came with many risks and there was no guarantee that things would be easy once they left, but Winter believed that the benefits outweighed the cost. Freedom was a prize worth fighting for.

“Okay,” Wren whispered eventually. “I want to leave. I don’t want to stay here. I want to be happy.”

Winter smiled. “And you will be. Now we just have to bide our time and wait for an opportunity. In the meantime, I hope you’ll feel better and start eating again. I know it’s stressful, but I’m here with you now. You’re not alone, little Wren.”

….

The day finally arrived for them to make their escape. The pair, though mostly Winter, had been watching and waiting for the right opportunity to come along, and it was finally there.

Winter and Wren ran with the other mares. One stallion led, while another drove them forwards, not that they needed much encouragement. The snapping jaws, barks and howls from the wolf pack on their heels was enough to keep them galloping through the night. The other stallions were working to fight off the wolves but more wolves than stallions meant that they were easily divided and kept busy, while the rest of the wolves chased after the herd in the hope that a weak or injured horse might lag behind. The stallion running behind did his best to kick and deter the pack, but they kept just enough distance to stay out of harm's way.

Winter raced alongside Wren, speaking into the younger mare’s ear, “On my signal, we’re going to separate from the herd. Stick by my side and you’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” Wren replied, looking slightly less frightened than before and more determined.

The white mare kept an eye on their surroundings. She knew the lay of the land and where they were headed, having lived in the area for much of her life. The lead stallion was trying to lose the wolves in the rough terrain near the cliffs. The fool. It was more likely that someone would twist an ankle in the dark and the very thing he was trying to prevent would become a reality. On the plus side, for Wren and herself anyway, there was a narrow ravine hidden by a thick strand of bushes on the way. The stallions wouldn’t know where to find them and the wolves weren’t that likely to follow. Even then, she was fairly certain the wolves would give up when she and Wren put up a fight.

“Ready?” Winter checked with Wren.

“Ready,” she responded.

Winter swivelled her ears and twisted her head just so, taking in the lead stallion, the rear stallion, the wolves and the terrain. All she had to do was wait for the right moment. Right about…

“Go!” Winter broke for the trees, Wren right beside her.

“Hey! Get back here!” the rear stallion shouted. He attempted to go after them only to be stopped by the wolves getting in his way.

Winter raced through the trees and yelled, “Get ready to jump!”

She leapt over the bushes and kept going. Wren jumped but clipped the top of the bushes, stumbling on the landing.

“Winter!” she cried.

The ghostly white mare skidded to a stop, whirling around, nostrils flaring. Wren limped after her. Racing back to the younger mare, she lowered her nose to the injured leg. No bleeding and no broken bones. Winter let out a worried breath, fortunately it should heal quickly.

“Are you okay? Will you be alright to keep going? How fast can you go?”

“I think I'm okay, but I don’t know if I can gallop.”

“We’ll just go as fast as you can, okay. I’m right here.”

They continued on as fast as Wren was able, walking mostly but never getting faster than a trot. They travelled down the small ravine, Wren walking in the stream to cool her leg and help the swelling. They’d been moving for hours when they heard a noise on the ledge above their heads. The pair stilled, hoping against a predator or, worse, one of the stallions.

A red and cream coated wolf came into view, glancing around before spotting them and lying down with her front paws hanging over the edge.

Winter snorted, pawing at the ground. “Stay away from us!”

Meanwhile, Wren’s ears perked up and she stepped closer. “Hazel!”

The wolf smirked. “I figured you’d end up taking this path. How’re you doing, Little Songbird?”

“I’ve been better, but mostly grateful that we made it. I wasn’t sure we’d get away.”

Winter snorted in disbelief. “You know this wolf?”

“Yeah!” Wren grinned back at her. “I asked Hazel if she knew a way to keep all the stallions busy at once so we could escape. She said she might know a way and I wasn’t sure I’d hear from her again. But then her pack attacked and now she’s here.” She looked up at the wolf. “Thanks so much for that!”

“You’re welcome,” she grinned. “Happy I got to help you out, Little Songbird. Where are you ladies headed?”

“Um…” Wren looked at Winter.

The white mare stepped forward. “We aren’t sure yet. Anywhere but here. Wolves travel far and wide, yes? I don’t suppose you have any suggestions.”

Hazel hummed. “I might. She sat up and pointed her muzzle in the direction the sun sets. “Head west. There’s good grazing lands for horses out that way. There’s some south too, but the land’s a bit rougher.”

A long forgotten memory of her foalhood days crossed her mind of her days in the lands to the south. She shook the memory free from her mind for the moment. Something to consider later. “West sounds good for now. Thank you.”

The wolf nodded. “Take care now.”

“Goodbye, Rusty Shimmer,” called Wren. “Thank you for everything.”

Hazel gave a final smile and nod, before vanishing back into the darkness.

Winter looked at Wren in surprise. “You shared heart names?”

Heart names were the special names they were given at birth that were only shared with trusted individuals and close family members, unlike their common names, also given at birth and often related to their heart names, which they used with most animals.

“Yeah,” Wren said as they continued. “I’ve known Hazel for a long while now and we exchanged them when we were younger. I’m glad her pack agreed to help.”

“So all that was…”

“Fake, yep. Although,” she frowned, looking a bit disgusted, “I wouldn’t count on them not taking advantage of a food source if something happened.”

Winter nodded in understanding. They were still predators, after all, and even they needed to eat.

The pair walked until the early hours of the morning. The first rays of light were trying to peak over the horizon behind them. The air was still and cool and they walked in silence. Until Winter spoke.

“Blanket of Snow.”

“Huh?” Wren looked at her.

“Blanket of Snow. That’s my heart name. I know yours so it’s only fair that you know mine.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I did. Besides, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together. We’re the only herd we have now. Our time together should start with trust.”

Wren smiled and paused to look at the older mare. “I’m glad to know you, Blanket of Snow.”

“And I you, Little Songbird.” Winter rested her head over Wren’s neck in a horse hug. “Very clever thinking, asking the wolves for help.”

“Thanks! You were right about me not being happy being separated from my animal friends. I missed getting to talk to the forest animals. I was able to get word to Hazel and she met with me and was able to help. I hope I can help other animals in the future in return.”

Winter grinned, so grateful to be friends with such a kind hearted young mare. “I’m sure you will, Wren. You’ll help all the animals you come across. And I’ll be right here with you, helping you however I can.”