PHASE 1

Marcy POV

The sun is hot, burning against my fur. The flies around me were intense, swarming me like i was the only horse on the property. I’m not sure how i ended up here, I haven’t seen my owner in a long time.. and i recognize nothing. The people here can be brutal, they get tired of me.. constantly saying I’m being ‘dramatic’ or ‘way over the top’ and they look at me with a snarl on their lips. I Wish i could speak their language, i wish i could tell them the pain in my ears is getting worse and the consistent ringing is bothersome. The things around me are terrifying and lacking sound, I’m unsure why the world got so quiet. Before I know it, the handlers sneak up on me, i cant help but jump and lash out, kicking out and darting to the other side of my dusty corral. I look back to them with a loud snort through the thick cloud of dust.. one, the woman, looks at me with a glint of sympathy in her eye.. while the man slightly behind her looks at me like I’m a rabid mut who should never see daylight again. I begin to tremble as she starts to move toward me.. a dirty once-white halter in hand, her mouth moving but my ever making a sound. Before i know it, my rump hits the metal fence behind me and the impact makes me lurk forward. I flick my ears around as i manage to pick up distant sounds of the panels vibrating. When the woman approaches me, i am on the tip of my hooves and ready to flee.. but i wait; she feels calm, like she means no wrong so i let her get close and put the palm of her hand to my neck. I snort, glancing to her from the corner of my eye

Valerie’s POV

‘Oh, no, i was doing better alone

But when you said hello.. I knew that was the end of it all

I should’ve stayed at home.. ‘cause now there ain’t…-‘

Dua Lipa played in the background as Alicia, the raven-haired exchange student yapped along in the passenger seat, going through the online catalog of all the available project horses at this certain location back and forth with a boy on the phone: Aiden Madden, her little crush-in-denial from back home, also yapping about the horses available near CMA they could possibly be selected for. Soon, we pulled into the driveway, following the signs to the office and loading area and the trailer clacked along behind us. We had complete intentions on taking a Loshenka home today to bring a new challenge to the farm since last year’s makeover went so well for Malachite Farms, and the fact that Alicia insisted on joining in on the event is what led us here. I heard her bid farewell to Aiden with a smile before we both got out the truck and stepped towards the office. When it was out turn, we were handed two randomly drawn papers that were placed in front of us.

“Here are your options! Please come back to us whenever you have a selection!” The cheery office attendant exclaimed. I grabbed the papers and Alicia jumped about, very clear she was excited. Each horse had thick pamphlets that somehow it boggled my mind. However.. one stood out to me, a young mare named ‘Marcy’ who quite recently was diagnosed with partial deafness. She was a seal bay roan appaloosa with a scraggly little tail and wild look in her eye.

“Surrendered by previous owner due to sudden personality change and lack of time to handle it….” Alicia mumbled over my shoulder. “We need her… Ms Val…” She continued. I gave Alicia a small laugh and smiled, i was thinking the same thing, regardless of not even reading the other paper. I flipped through what appeared to be Marcy’s handbook.. a lineage recorded.. no vet records recorded besides the recent discovery of deafness in one year, the only known information was ‘Purebred Loshenka’ and ‘Marcy the mare’ her age and all else was unknown. I bit my lip but she stood out.. i had to take her home and show her there was more to life than hurting and being stuck in somebody’s backyard.

“let’s take her home.” I stated, getting up with a small squeal of Alicia who tagged along. I set the papers on the desk, ‘I’d like to go with Marcy.. please” I smiled, blonde bangs falling over my eyes.

“Certainly!” The lady replied, “What is your name and stable’s information?”

“I am Valerie Falke, a barn manager of Malachite Farms out of Lexington, Kentucky” I stated, the kind lady using her pen to look through a list before beaming with a smile. “Yes! Malachite.. I remember assigning your mare last year!” She wrote MF’s information down before handing me back Marcy’s pamphlet.

“Please pull your trailer around to the loading bay, i will notify a working to get her there immediately. Thank you! I am excited to see what you do with her.” The woman smiled before whisking off to the back.

“EEE!! Marcy’s coming home! I’m so excited to see her!” Alicia chirped while basically skipping out the door.

Marcy POV

The woman who haltered me was soon approached by another, eager lady who mouthed something. I could tell they were happy, and this struck me with joy.. but nervousness. Was I going to see Madeline again? Was I finally going home? My anxiety only got worse, causing me to prance and gig slightly as the woman led me down a darkened hallway of stalls, she kept his hand on my neck in attempts to calm me.. but it didnt work great. Every sudden movement or noise that made my ears hurt bothered me.. I felt out of place, like i didnt belong here. The hallway lightened up and the heat began to pour into the space again. I saw a trailer.. and another two women who looked at me excitedly, like they were also anticipating something. A smaller girl with black hair seemed to beam in joy and her face lit up upon seeing my appearance. I didn’t understand, this wasn’t Madeline. However.. there was one thing i did understand. “Marcy..” The taller woman beside her spoke.. that was my name! Marcy was my name. My ears perked, and they laughed.. i could tell; they must of found it amusing i knew my name. The trailer was opened, and the woman leading me led me on. I didnt resist, I didnt fight back. Maybe they’d take me home, thats all i truly wanted. They tied me up and my journey began. The trailer came to a stop, jolting me awake. I hadn’t noticed I’d fallen asleep, but it made the ride a lot smoother as the first hour or so.. was not. The trailer was creaky and rattling, i felt like uneasy and the outside was uncomfortable. Every place was forgein.. especially now as i looked around.

The back of the trailer opened, scaring me into the panel beside me but the blonde woman came to my rescue, untying me and leading me off the massive trailer. When i stepped off, i realized i had quite literally no idea where i was but the wind was blowing despite the blistering heat and the grass.. the grass was so green. There was smells of mother horses and animals all around, this place was so new.. but not quite home. Why was i not home? I let out a whinny that was quickly followed by shaking my head due to the pain that followed in my head. Both the women hovered around me, petting my fur and speaking, their voices muffled. I liked them.. They were comforting. Soon, they led me off where i still trembled and shook with every step, every sudden movement or loud noise shocking me.. I just wish i could hear them coming. They led me into a barn where the isle was bright and the floor made of cool concrete. I had never been in something like this before.. my home had no barn and that other place.. was poorly lit with a pathway of small pebbles that got stuck in my food and dirt.. lots of dirt. This place was so new, I was eager to know it all but it still made me nervous. I stayed close behind my woman, letting her guide me through this place. There was many other horses looking at me, sticking their head out of their stalls and almost trying to touch me. Finally, I was led to a stall where all of my senses were immediately overwhelmed.. fresh shavings, fresh hay and nice cool water.. I almost didnt know her trying to remove my halter until she touched my ears, I jumped.. causing her to fall back and hit the wall out of surprise. I felt bad.. i really did but those are just so painful.. so sensitive, i dont want her to touch them. I snorted, she looked at me with bewilderment in her eyes, she was shocked; i dont blame her. She approached me slowly.. I backed away until i had no where left to go but she patted my neck peacefully until I daughter my breath before undoing the knot on the halter and just letting it slip off my head. I sighed in relief as they left my stall and bid me farewell for now with a small wave.. and i immediately went to my hay and water to begin my overdue hay and water soup-feast.. I was finally alone and safe for now.