10097 | Adopt Claim

This was it. This was the end for her. She never expected it to happen like this. She was young, healthy. She’d just left her herd and was starting out on her own adventure, her own journey. And now, it’s ending here. With a foreleg caught in a bear trap, ripping through fur and skin and sinew to the bone beneath. Even if she managed to somehow escape the trap, she would be lucky to walk again. She felt foolish enough for missing the signs until it was too late.

The young mare gives one final attempt to pull her leg free but the searing pain and the teeth are too much. She neighs loudly, a panicked and pained edge to her voice. Predators from all around have probably heard her by now. She wouldn’t have to worry about wasting away and dying a slow death, something would definitely come from the shadows to consume her long before then.

Panting, nostrils flared, eyes blurred, the golden-coated flaxen mare loses consciousness.

—

The next time she awakens, it’s to the feeling of someone, or something, touching her forelock. She jerks back with a panic and neighs when she flails her bad leg. However, instead of the pain of her leg being yanked or pulled on while stuck in the trap, it’s…free? Wide hazel eyes zero in on her now freed leg, currently wrapped in a white cloth, redness dotting the fabric. She turns her head to look at her savior and finds someone in black fur standing above her, a hand (or was it paw?) frozen in the space where her head was resting. Ice blue eyes stare back at her with sympathy and when they speak, the voice is soft and calming.

Realizing she’s no longer in the same danger she was in before, she lowers her head back down and lets her eyes slide closed once again, letting the darkness take her.

—

When the fog clears and she next opens her eyes, she appears to be inside a large structure with four walls, resting on a bed of straw. The same creature she saw before is sitting a few feet away, propped against the edge of a wall with an object in her paws.

She bends her injured leg and is happy to find it’s not as sore as it was before. The movement catches the attention of the other being in the vicinity. The creature with black fur, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, sets the object in her paws aside and pushes up to stand.

The mare, seeing the two-legged creature standing, works to do the same. Unfortunately, after having laid on her side for so long, the door horse’s bottom legs were a little numb and not nearly as cooperative. The black-furred creature approaches, fingers spread and arms extended in a calming gesture. Unfortunately, the mare can see no other option but to let them help her up. Whether she likes it or not.

The creature grabs a rope off the edge of the wall and moves slowly toward her, using that same calming tone as before. She brings the rope near her chin and a moment later she hears a metallic “clink” sound. Only then, does she realize there is something attached to her head, wrapping around behind her ears, under her jaw, and around her snout. She’d seen other horses, owned horses, wear something similar. Something their masters used to tug and pull them around to do their bidding.

Some of that panic starts to set in again and the creature rubs her fingers soothingly down the top of her head and over her nose. It’ll be okay. She can’t understand the words, but the intent is here. She understands this creature isn’t here to hurt her. She was already weak, already vulnerable. If they had wanted to hurt her, they would have.

Once the creature notices the mare is no longer quite as panicked, she steps around behind the mare, holding the lead rope. A few clicks of her tongue and a tug and the flaxen mare understands the intent. She starts trying to roll and the creature pulls on the rope, giving her some support until she can manage to get herself on her sternum, now sitting upright.

Her black-furred savior loosens her grip on the lead rope once she’s sitting up and steps around her. A moment later a basket of hay and a bucket of water is placed near her head. She leans forward, sniffing at the hay and water, salivating as she realizes how hungry and thirsty she is now that the worst of the danger seems to have passed. Deciding it’s safe, once again this creature could have already hurt her if they had a mind to, she has a hefty gulp of the water then munches away at the hay.

The creature opens one of the walls and slips out while she eats, closing it behind her.

Once she’s finished off the hay and had her fill of water, the mare once more takes in her surroundings. The space is quite large and very clean. In fact, it’s bigger than she expected once she looks behind herself. On either side of her are well-made wooden walls. However, behind her, those wooden walls turn to horizontal metal poles, spaced to keep a horse from slipping out but large enough that she could probably stick her head through. She can see pasture behind her when she turns her head, green grasses just beyond the metal fencing.

Looking down at herself, she notices her injured leg has been re-wrapped, a fresh bandage has been placed on her wounded leg and it’s been wrapped in a colorful substance that feels rubber-like when she lips at it. There’s a dull ache but it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as it did before.

With renewed energy after her meal, the mare shifts her weight, being mindful of her still injured leg, and leverages herself back up to all fours. Turning around, she moves to the back of the large enclosure to explore what she could only see from afar while laying down.

Indeed, she can fit her head through the opening and she does, for a moment. Eventually, she turns her head, looking left and right. She can see other enclosures, like her’s, on either side. However, they all appear to be empty. At least, the section that’s more outside is empty. If there are any other horses in those locations, she can’t see them.

A moment later, she hears the wall open behind her and the creature reappears again, her tone much happier and jovial. They don’t attempt to approach her. Instead, they take the empty basket and the half-filled bucket of water out. They return a moment later with more hay that they hang on the wall in some weird type of netting. They peek into an object along one wall, something she now notices as a long bucket filled with water.

They give her one last look with a happy sound before disappearing out of the wall once again.

She was born free and she would die free. However, she supposed it wouldn’t be a bad idea to stay here while she recovers, safe from predators and the elements.