Common

"Rise and shine ladies!" I knew that voice. It belonged to the small man who fed us most mornings. Of all the people that came through the barn, he was objectively the best. He never brushed my silky coat or scritched the good spots, but he also never carried one of those sticks that liked to bite me when I was confused. Plus, he always brought the goodies.

From somewhere in the background, I heard the barn door slide open and then the feed pans began to rattle against each other. Soon he would bring me my breakfast grain and hay, and then later I would be able to go outside again and taste the sweet summer grass.

Still prone, I yawned and then stretched luxuriously in my bed of shavings. I loved summer. Not that I loved the heat - but the humans didn't insist that I wear the obnoxious 'coat' that made me sweat and itch. Instead, I was free to roll against the soft bedding and scratch all the good places before getting to my feet.

Only, when I opened my eyes to make sure I was not cast up against the wall, I didn't see a wall. Or shavings. Or a door. Or the weird glowy lights that the humans controlled.

What I saw left me breathless and I froze like a little mouse as panic set in. The sand - sand?! - beneath me stretched endlessly in front of my eyes, bookended by sun-yellowed grass on one side, and an infinite wall of waves to the other side. I had never seen the ocean before yesterday, and the mere sight of it filled me with terror all over again. Flashes of the terrifying swim through the nighttime popped into my brain and the vivid feeling of drowning washed over me again, making me gag and sputter out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

I launched to my feet and skittered forward as if the ocean was set to overflow its banks and snatch me back. My hooves pattered lightly over the hard-packed sand until I was safely on the grassy knoll, certain that I would find safety beyond. Instead, all I found was more open and empty space with not a single two-legged creature in sight. Instead of my familiar herd, horses of all shapes and sizes roamed across the open space, unadorned by any ropes or blankets. As if that wasn't mind-boggling enough, stallions mingled freely with mares and there was not a single gelding in sight. Worriedly, I looked for the gate to this strange pasture with the intent of screaming at it until someone came to rescue me, but to my further surprise, not a single fence ringed the gap.

With the ocean all but forgotten, I couldn't help but stare blankly at it all. Where in the world was I and when would I be rescued?

OOC - If you already have one of my girls, please give other plays a few days headstart before you post. <3

homeless . loveinspired