Common

We darted away from each other in equal measure, both of us bristling from the nearness. He seemed less terrifying to me than he had a moment before, but no less strange or alien. Even as I leveled an expectant gaze at him, hoping for some sort of recognition in his good eye, I couldn't help but feel as though it were a lost cause. How was I ever going to explain to him what it was that I needed?

And then, his voice breaks the quiet and I stare at him wide-eyed in shock. Human. He said human. Yes! Finally! My hope bubbled up for one glorious moment into a soft squeal as I tossed my head, only for that same joy to fizzle in a series of lame pops that left me more disheartened than when we'd started. I didn't need to understand the gibberish that came from his mouth to infer the meaning of his denial, and the weight of defeat was heavy.

If there were no humans here, and no way to get back, what was I going to do? This land was wild and uncared for, with brambles that would tear at my skin and nights that would not be lit by barn lamps. There would be no one to take me to where the grass was sweetest or to give me my grain at night. I'd have to suffer the cold wet of rain without the cloth-thingy to keep me warm. Even the confines of my stall seemed welcome now, even though they had been claustrophobic at times in the past. Any shred of familiarity would have been nice in this land of giants, but I could find none.

I drew in a shaky breath that did nothing to hide my sudden desolation and I could feel tears beginning to prick at the backs of my eyes. To hide them, I ducked my head away from him, pretending to snuffle at the dirt beneath their hooves as if it would hold the answers to my problems. As if it would magically sprout a road of yellow bricks that would lead me back to where I belonged instead of stranding me here.

Of course, no such thing appeared, and quite before I could stop them, my ribs were heaving with suppressed sobs and sniffles that I did my best to quiet, desperate to prevent my massive companion from hearing them. A new voice I didn't recognize spoke up and I realized with a startled jerk that I had missed the arrival of an entirely new horse. A small squeak of surprise escaped me as I skittered away from him and behind the only relatively safe person I knew - the giant spotted stallion. Although calling the first one giant seemed ludicrous in the face of this new arrival.

If the spotted stallion was giant, then this new arrival was colossal. His shoulder stretched at least a foot above my own and a quick glance told me that his hooves were the same size as my face. Instinct rose to the surface again as I darted away from him, my mouth opening briefly to clack harmlessly at him, even as I began to recognize the signs of his youth. On his gigantic frame they seemed laughable. No one ever stopped to think of what baby giants looked like, and yet I could see parts of myself reflected in him. It was bizarre to think about and I closed my mouth with a final snap and looked pleadingly toward the spotted stallion that had kept me company so far.

I had little reason to trust him - but at least he hadn't attacked me. Plus, he'd understood what I was trying to ask for, even with my awkward explanation. Surely he would keep me safe from this giant until he showed himself to be kind or cruel.

homeless . loveinspired