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Willow Island: A Horse Story Part 4

Category: Animated Animals

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Edited by Martin Wilsher

Emma comforted Poppy in her grief. Bobby was not the only horse who
perished during that bad winter. “I’ve never known anything like it!” Snowdrop
commented to Whitehoof and Pip as they rested under a tree. The days were
lengthening now and the snow had long disappeared. The hedgehogs and badgers
were waking from their winter sleep and the birds sang in the trees.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Maynand woke from another cider induced
sleep. He’d made the cider, intending it to be a treat now and again, but it was
now a refuge, his only refuge from the terrors he’d seen. Every time he closed
his eyes when he was sober, he saw the evil white mare from across the valley.
He dreamt she was attacking him, like she had so many times before. The
nightmares he had were only dulled by the cider. Maynand knew that if he had a
drink of the cider before he slept, he didn’t have nightmares about what the
white mare from across the valley did to him. Every morning he would wake with a
terrible headache, but that was preferable to the terror. He was waking now, and
his headache was worse than ever! Struggling to his feet he blundered through
the forest, tripping over roots and walking into trees. Seeing Snowdrop in front
of him, Maynand collapsed at her feet, squealing about the nightmares. Snowdrop
looked down at the shivering sobbing colt. “We need to get help for you,” she
said gently. Maynand replied, his tongue thick with the affects of the cider:
“Make this horror go away.” Snowdrop hugged Maynand tightly. “We’ll help, but
first we have to find your store of cider and get rid of it.” Maynand became
frantic! “But that’s what, what keeps me from the terror!” he screamed. “You end
up with a headache every time you use it Maynand,” the Falabella mare replied,
“you don’t like it, you’ve said it to me often enough.” “But, Snowdrop, please!
I can’t sleep without it!” Maynand squealed shrilly. “I have to get rid of it
Maynand dear,” she replied. Miserably Maynand showed Snowdrop where he kept the
cider. Snowdrop pushed the empty tree trunk over, the liquid spilling onto the
leaves and dirt. Maynand watched his pain relief soaking into the forest floor.
“Every time I close my eyes Snowdrop, every time I try to sleep I see her, I see
the white mare from across the valley! She comes for me, to attack me, and hurt
me!” he screeched. Maynand began to cry. “You need support through this,”
Snowdrop said gently, “we will help you, but no more cider! We have to do it
another way Maynand! It won’t be easy, and it won’t be pain free, but you have
to do it, for your own sake! You have to come to terms with what happened, and
drinking your way into oblivion isn’t the way!” “I can’t cope Snowdrop, I can’t
cope!” Maynand sobbed. “Let’s go back to the rest of the herd,” Snowdrop
suggested, “there you can talk to Poppy, you know her don’t you?” Maynand
nodded. “She’ll be glad to help you I’m sure.” With that they went back to the
herd. Snowdrop told Poppy what had happened deep in the forest. Maynand’s
general appearance distressed the Suffolk Punch mare, but when she heard the
colt’s tale, she was determined to do the best she could for him.
Poppy and Maynand walked away together. Once they were in a secluded part
of the forest, Poppy lay down and patted the ground with a forefoot for Maynand
to do the Same. The colt lay beside her and Poppy began to talk gently to him.
“What happened to you?” She asked. Maynand stared at her. “Well Poppy, it all
started when I was a foal. My mother rejected me at birth and it was the white
mare who grudgingly took me on. She didn’t want a foal, but a dead horse wasn’t
what she wanted either. She used me to carry out her dirty work. She would ask
me to befriend horses who she thought were briefing against her, I would do so,
not realising what was happening. I would report back to her what I heard, and
then she’d go and punish the horses concerned. I got a bad name in the herd, and
was disliked by nearly all the horses. As I got older I realised I was being
used and started to refuse to do what the white mare wanted. I was in for
punishment now. She would bite and kick me. Sometimes when I was asleep she’d
attack me. One day she injured me so badly I nearly died. This was when I
decided to escape from the herd. One day I ran for my life! I found Petra, and
she took me in. The rest is history.” Poppy looked sympathetically at Maynand.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “So that is what drove me to cider, I couldn’t cope with
that on my own, and didn’t know who I could turn to. Petra’s death brought it
all back, and I decided to make the cider and drink myself into oblivion. There
were plenty of apples in the orchard, I knew how to make cider,” the colt said.
“Why didn’t you talk to Snowdrop, or pip?” Poppy asked. “They’re not interested
in me,” Maynand replied, “Pip hates me, ever since I made her life hell she’s
never liked me.” “I heard tell she helped you when the white mare beat you after
Whitehoof led a group of horses to the white mare’s herd for some errand or
other.” “Yes, she helped me then,” Maynand agreed. “But why do you distrust
Snowdrop?” Poppy asked. “I don’t know,” Maynand replied, “I, well, I don’t know
really. She looks strange with her white fur and hooves, and all this about
Eohippus n’all, I don’t know if I can trust her.” “Why not talk to her, then
you’ll be able to make a better judgement,” the Suffolk punch mare suggested.
“She won’t bite you, Maynand!” Poppy continued. “Ok, I will go and find
her!” Maynand agreed. He went off to find Snowdrop. “Did you want something?”
Snowdrop asked him. “Er, yes, would it be possible to have a word with you,
please Snowdrop?” “Of course!” she said kindly. They went to find a quiet spot
and Maynand relayed his story yet again. Snowdrop did not speak until Maynand
had finished talking.
Snowdrop thought for a while before saying anything. Maynand felt nervous,
he was fidgeting. Snowdrop felt sorry for Maynand but she didn’t want to go all
soppy and sentimental about this, she had to be firm and straight to the point
here, she didn’t like having drunken horses in her herd. She had listened
carefully to Maynand’s story and wanted to help him in the best way she could.
“What do you intend to do about your drinking problem?” ,” Snowdrop asked once
she had got things sorted out in her mind. Er, um I’ve been talking to Poppy! , I
think, I think she is going to try and help me.” “That is good,” Snowdrop went
on. “ Poppy has had some experience in this field so I know she will do her best
as long as you are prepared to co-operate.” “Oh yes yes, I do, I do!” Maynand
stammered. “Good!” Snowdrop replied. “Now, go and find Poppy, there’s no time
like the present to start your therapy!” Snowdrop smiled sternly at Maynand and
gave him a gentle push. He knew now that he had to go straight to Poppy, which
is what he did.
Maynand found Poppy sunning herself in a clearing. The colt stopped dead
in his tracks. The sunlight was slanting through the trees making Poppy’s golden
brown coat seem to shine with an intensity that hurt his eyes. Maynand felt
uncontrollable longing for this mare, but he tempered this with the thought she
was eighteen years old, where as he was barely six. Poppy seemed to be asleep.
Creeping closer, Maynand saw this was indeed the case. Lying down beside her
Maynand drifted off into a dream.
Poppy woke up. “Maynand, you startled me for a minute!” She said. Maynand
jumped up. “Oh, er, sorry poppy didn’t um mean to scare you!” He said in his
nervous tone. “I, I, er, um,” Maynand babbled. “Spit it out you silly thing!”
Poppy tried not to laugh. “Er Um, Snowdrop suggested I come to you now and start
my therapy.” “Ah right, so where shall we begin?” Poppy could see Maynand
was shaking.
Maynand shook uncontrollably. The dream he’d had was all about Poppy, but
he couldn’t tell her that! “If I’m truthful about what my dream contained, I’m
liable for a kicking!” he thought frantically. Poppy looked at him. “You were
asleep,” she commented. “Yes, I was, and it was the best sleep I’d had in ages
Poppy,” Maynand replied. “And you haven’t been drinking?” Poppy asked. “No!
Snowdrop emptied the tree trunk all over the forest floor, that was my only
supply! That was a day and a half ago, maybe even longer than that, I don’t
know, but no, no drink this time,” he replied. “You said you couldn’t sleep
without cider, you said the terror would get you Maynand. Have you been making
all this up? Are you a born liar?” Maynand squealed: “No Poppy no! I’m not a
liar! What I said was true, every word!” “How then could you have just lain down
here and drifted off without the fear and terror coming back?” the Suffolk Punch
mare asked suspiciously. “I can’t tell you!” Maynand yelled. “If, If I did,
then, I don’t know what would happen to me!” Poppy knew she was attractive, and
she tried something to see if her hunch was correct. Poppy flicked her mane
about a bit. Maynand’s eyes shone with admiration for her. He couldn’t help
letting on. Seeing she was correct in her assumption, Poppy went across to
Maynand. Fearing he’d see the business end of a kick from Poppy’s massive hind
feet, Maynand ran screaming! “Woh, hang on a minute!” Poppy yelled. Maynand
turned to face her when he was on the other side of the clearing. “I don’t want
to harm you,” Poppy said. Maynand looked nervously down at her huge hooves. “No,
I won’t use them on you,” Poppy said gently. Slightly reassured by this, Maynand
walked back to her. Poppy lifted a huge hind foot, Maynand couldn’t take his
eyes off her. “My hooves are large, but I know when to, and when not to use
them,” she said. Maynand looked down at Poppy’s huge hoof. He thought he’d feel
a lot safer with her around. She looked capable of doing serious damage with
those hooves of her’s. The white mare surely couldn’t come after him if she was
around. Lowering her hoof to the floor, Poppy looked at Maynand. “What now?” she
asked. Maynand stared dumbly back at her. He knew what he wanted, he wanted her
to have his foals, but he couldn’t say that! “I’ll go,” was all he said. Poppy
didn’t say anything, preferring Maynand to decide what he wanted to do in his
treatment. Watching him disappearing through the trees, Poppy thought about
Maynand. She knew what his dream had been about. Poppy had no intention of
having any more foals. She was still grieving for her first foal, who’d been
killed over five years previously. She couldn’t have another, not so soon, and
she was getting older now. Poppy knew that the chances of her having a foal were
unlikely now, she had too much to deal with from the death of her last foal at
the hooves of the stallion. Every day she thought of her foal. Lying down and
closing her eyes, Poppy thought of the tiny chestnut filly with the white hoof.
“I’ll never forget you,” she thought.
Poppy remembered everything about that day when the stallion took
exception to her foal. She remembered how the herd leader had doomed her foal to
exile from the herd, much as Whitehoof had been. Then she remembered the horror
and grief when she came back to the place where she and her foal had rested,
finding her foal dead. Poppy knew the stallion who’d taken her foal’s life. The
filly was his as well as her’s, but he had still killed his own foal. Poppy
found the stallion and attacked him, using her hooves to deadly affect. “But I
couldn’t save my foal,” she thought miserably. Poppy took a deep shuddering
breath, trying to compose herself. Suddenly she felt a muzzle rubbing her ear.
Opening her eyes she found Snowdrop lying beside her. “How long have you been
here?” Poppy asked. “I watched you and Maynand, I saw what happened. After that
too. I know who you were thinking about.” Poppy, still emotional, snapped: “You
can’t stop me thinking about my own foal! She died Snowdrop!” “I didn’t say
that,” the white mare replied gently, “I didn’t say, or imply anything of the
sort.” Poppy sighed heavily: “I’m sorry Snowdrop. Of course you didn’t.
Sometimes I get like this, I can’t cope with it all sometimes. The stallion who
killed my foal is dead, but what did that achieve? It didn’t bring my foal back,
it was revenge, and only that! I sank to his level Snowdrop, I committed the
Same dreadful act he did!” “He killed your foal Poppy, he had to be punished for
that,” Snowdrop replied. Poppy said: “There was no need to kill my foal, she
would have survived. She was healthy, but that white hoof spelled trouble.”
Snowdrop replied: “Whitehoof’s sire was a grey Falabella stallion. He was all
right temperament wise, but he was only interested in one thing. I was young and
desperate for any kind of friendship. My white fur and hooves didn’t do much for
me relationship wise. Most Falabella horses feared me, thinking I was some kind
of spirit horse or something. I suppose I was, seventh foal n’all that.” Poppy
looked at her leader. “Is all that about the seventh foal true Snowdrop?” she
asked. “yes it is,” The white mare replied, “I am my mother’s seventh foal, and
she was her mother’s seventh. Please Poppy, don’t ask me about my powers, about
marking horses, or anything like that.” “It has been concerning some horses,”
Poppy replied, “they can’t work out how you manage to do what you do. The
marking thing is strange, but the ability to burn a hoof and leave no mark is
stranger! If I didn’t know you as well as I do Snowdrop, I’d think you were from
another planet.” Snowdrop looked into the eyes of her life long friend.
“Sometimes |I don’t know who I am, or why I’ve been given the power I have
Poppy,” Snowdrop said.
“Oh Snowdrop!” “Its ok, its ok poppy dear!” Snowdrop hugged Poppy close to
her. “We just have to get on with our lives!” Snowdrop continued, “I know you
grieve over the loss of your foal, you wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t!”
“Thanks Snowy Dear!” Poppy wiped her eyes and the two horses got up and made
their way back to the herd.
Snowdrop met Whitehoof on the track. “You look awful mum,” he commented.
“It hasn’t been the easiest of days,” Snowdrop replied. Whitehoof said: “I heard
something about Maynand going for treatment, is it true?” “Whitehoof,” his
mother replied, “would you like it if you had a problem and went for help, for
that to be common knowledge?” Whitehoof looked away. “Point taken,” he said
gruffly. Snowdrop looked at her foal. Whitehoof’s ears were laid flat back on
his head. He’d been ticked off, so this was understandable. Snowdrop’s eyes
travelled from his ears, to his head and body, and finally his legs and hooves.
She loved him so very much! The talk with Poppy had unnerved her. Snowdrop
suddenly hugged Whitehoof tightly. The gelding cried out with surprise. “Hey
mum! What’s the matter?” Snowdrop nuzzled his ear. Whitehoof guessed the origins
of his mother’s sudden action. “Poppy’s been talking about her foal again hasn’t
she,” he said crossly. “Yes she has, but,,,,” Whitehoof cut his mother off mid
sentence. “I wish she’d drop it mum! Sure, it was sad her foal died, but that
was five years ago! She should get over it!” Snowdrop suddenly released
Whitehoof, actually pushing him away roughly. “How can you say that!” She
squealed. “Quite easily, and I’ll say it again if you like,” Whitehoof replied.
“No, don’t,” his mother said, “Whitehoof, do you remember why her foal died?”
Whitehoof shook his head. “For the very Same reason why you were thrown out of
our old herd!” Snowdrop yelled. Whitehoof looked down at his white foot. “Yes
Whitehoof, for that reason! Take a good long look at your hoof, and thank
Eohippus you didn’t suffer that fait yourself!” Snowdrop turned tail and walked
away, upset and furious with her foal.
“That was stupid Whitehoof!” Pip said. She’d been sleeping under a bush
nearby and had been woken by their talk. Whitehoof looked crestfallen. “Oh Pip
dear, what have I done!” Whitehoof sobbed, finally realising what he’d said.
“Snowdrop was right, you were very lucky you were not killed. Thank Eohippus for
your life Whitehoof, for you might not have had the chance to live,” Pip said.
Whitehoof knew this was true. He ran down the track in search of his mother.
Pip ran after Whitehoof. She knew that Snowdrop was angry and would need
time alone to think. "Whitehoof!” she called, "Wait a minute, I want to talk to
you!” Whitehoof stopped and they made their way back to the bush and lay down
together. "What's up!” he asked. "Just give her a little while to calm down
before you talk to her!” Pip said, "She's upset!” Whitehoof held Pip close, "I
just love you so much!” he cried. “yes,” she soothed, “I love you too!”
At length Snowdrop came back to the bush where Pip and her foal were lying
up. She looked dishevelled and very tired. “What’s up?” Pip asked. Snowdrop was
so exhausted that she failed to hear Pip’s question. “Sorry?” She asked
distractedly. “What’s the matter?” Pip asked again, wondering if Snowdrop was
all there. “Foaling mare,” was all Snowdrop said. “What about a foaling mare?”
Whitehoof asked. Snowdrop’s eyes looked at him through a tired haze. “First I
have a traumatic time with Poppy. Then you Whitehoof say things to me that are
totally uncalled for and unreasonable in the extreme! All I can say is I’m glad
Poppy wasn’t there to hear you say what you did! Then, walking through the
forest, trying to get my head straight, I hear a pained shriek in the wood, go
to investigate, and find a mare foaling. Apparently it was her first, she didn’t
know what was happening, she got so upset that the foaling wasn’t progressing as
it should have done. I talked to her, soothed and helped her through the birth
of her foal. Calming her down to a point where the foal could be born took quite
a long time, the birth was over mercifully quick. After I’d checked them both
over, the mare, and her new-born filly walked off into the trees. I come back
here, and here I am. That is why I’m shattered,” Snowdrop replied listlessly.
“I’m sorry mum,” Whitehoof said. “Sorry for what?” Snowdrop replied. Pip
realised the white Falabella mare was making Whitehoof think about his actions,
rather than blindly apologising for everything without careful thought.
Whitehoof said faintly: “I shouldn’t have said what I did. Pip told me it was
stupid what I said, and now, thinking about it, it was. I was thoughtless, I
shouldn’t have said what I did. Poppy’s foal shouldn’t have died, the stallion
who took the filly’s life had no justification for doing so, and even if he had
it would have been a heinous act. No wonder Poppy’s still upset about her loss,
it was hardly natural, and it’s hard enough when it is.” Pip knew a lot about
loss, she’d lost her birth mother, then Kora, then Petra. She knew how it was to
lose someone she loved to natural causes, and to unnatural ones like the kick
from a horse who was angry and bitter. Pip looked at Snowdrop, then at
Whitehoof. “I’ll leave you two to talk privately,” she said. Turning, Pip walked
away to see if she could find the new-born foal Snowdrop had talked about. She
thought it strange Snowdrop hadn’t mentioned the breed of the mare. Usually she
would, but this time, maybe, just maybe Pip would find a foal, who was smaller
than herself when new-born, and a mare, who when she saw Snowdrop, thought
nothing of her size,, as horses like Snowdrop were the only horses she’d ever
seen.
Pip couldn’t believe what she found. The tiniest foal she had ever seen,
the falabella mare and foal were asleep under a bush. Pip crept closer, she
didn’t want to frighten the sleeping pair. The mother woke up and spotted Pip
out of the corner of her eye. “Who are you?” She asked wearily. “My name is
Pip!” Pip replied quietly. “and who are you?” “My name is Beth and this is my
daughter Bella!” the weary mother answered. “Is there anything I can do for
you?” Pip asked kindly. “Um, Do you know the white falabella mare who helped
with the delivery of my foal?” Beth asked nervously. “Yes that is Snowdrop, she
is the leader of our herd.” Pip answered. “Do you think she would take my foal
on?” “Why just your foal?” Pip was inquisitive now.
“I, I noticed,” Beth said, “that you have no stallions, no falabella
stallions anyway, and I won’t be able to be of any use to you unless you have
stallions, anyway, I’m old now, had my first foal late in life, and I probably
won’t have another.” Pip thought Beth’s attitude rather defeatist. She also was
struck afresh by the realisation they had no falabella stallions. “It is true we
have no Falabella stallions, but that doesn’t mean you are not welcome here,”
Pip replied. “I’m not welcome here,” Beth said sadly, “I know, because when
Snowdrop saw me, she was angry! She was kind to me, but she was still angry!”
“Snowdrop wasn’t angry at you Beth,” Pip said softly, “it was her own foal she
was furious with. I know, I’m his mate.” Snowdrop came through the trees. When
she saw them, she quickened her pace to a canter, skidding to a stop beside Pip.
“Hi!” She whinnied. “Um, hello Snowdrop,” Beth said nervously. “How are you?”
Snowdrop asked. “Fine, just fine, thank you,” Beth replied, trying for all she
was worth to keep her voice steady. Bella watched the three Falabella mares. She
wondered why her mother was so frightened of the white mare with white hooves,
hadn’t it been her who’d helped her mother? Surely she couldn’t be bad. Snowdrop
went up to Beth. “You can stay here if you like,” she said. “No, I couldn’t
Snowdrop, I can’t,” Beth protested. Snowdrop saw Beth was exhausted, it was
barely three hours after the birth of her foal and she hadn’t slept very well, and
Snowdrop sensed Beth was close to losing her cool with her. “You don’t want me
here,” Beth stated. Snowdrop’s shock registered with her. “What makes you say
that?” Snowdrop enquired, trying not to sound hurt. “You were furious when you
saw me, you helped me foaling, but you were furious!” “Not at you Beth, Not at
you!” Snowdrop squealed. “Then who with!” Beth yelled. “My foal, Whitehoof,”
Snowdrop replied, “he’d said some things that were unreasonable, and I was
furious with him, and I needed to get away. I just happened to hear you cry out
while I was walking along the track. You can stay for as long as you like.” Beth
looked relieved. “Thank you,” she said. The sound of an approaching horse made
Snowdrop turn. She saw a falabella stallion coming down the track. She could see
he was a stallion, no gelding would carry himself like that. “Can I help?” she
whinnied. “You’ve got to help me!” the stallion squealed shrilly. Beth looked
away, she obviously knew the stallion. “I haven’t got to do anything,” Snowdrop
said, “I will hear your reasons for coming here and then decide whether I’ll
help you.” The stallion looked terrified. “I need, need some shelter, some home!
Even if it is for just a few days! Please!” “What are you doing here!” Beth
demanded. It was obvious to Pip and Snowdrop that this stallion was Bella’s
sire, and that Beth didn’t want to see him here. “A fire, there was a fire!” The
stallion shrieked, “a fire came across the grassland, it was dry for days. Beth
left to find a better place for her foal, good job she did! The fire, it came,
so fast, so fast! The herd ran, some didn’t make it. I’ll never forget the
squeals of those poor horses. I ran, me and some others, mares too, we ran, we
outran the fire, the mares and the other stallions, they scattered, I don’t know
where they are now!” “All Falabella horses?” Snowdrop asked. “yes,” the stallion
replied, “every one.” “We could see more Falabella horses coming into the wood,”
Pip observed. “Yes we could,” Snowdrop replied. “This fire,” she asked, “where
was it?” “Across a river, I swam the river, we all did who were not harmed by
the fire. I know of another stallion, and two mares who came into the wood with
me. I don’t know where they are now,” the stallion replied. “We are not all
Falabella horses in this herd,” Snowdrop said, “the majority are larger horses,
all friendly, but there are larger horses, I think you should know.” The
stallion seemed unmoved by this information. “Where are the others?” Pip asked.
“In the wood, somewhere in the wood!” The stallion replied. “We’ll look for
them,” Snowdrop said. Turning to Pip she continued: “I’ll sort out a search
party, you keep Beth, Bella and our stallion friend here company, I’ll be back
soon with more horses.” With that she cantered into the trees.
Snowdrop raced back to the herd. “Oi, Maynand, I need you and I need you
now, I want every horse available, Sheissain, Ferdinand, Ben … We’ve got work to
do!” “Crumbs! What’s up!” Maynand asked. “We’ll talk on the way, I need to find
the others! Sam will have to take my position for now and Poppy can be his
second in command for the time being!” Snowdrop gabbled as they rounded up the
other horses.
Snowdrop gathered all the horses she could find and told them what the
score was. Ben was eager to get going, and nearly burned the ground when he
galloped away. Snowdrop and Tilly went in search of horses in the opposite
direction to that which Ben, Emma and a few of the others had taken. Snowdrop
found three horses, a grey Falabella mare with a white blaze, a chestnut filly
with white hind hooves barely two years old she was, and a nervous stallion with
chocolate coloured fur and black ears and hooves. They were all terrified.
Seeing the white mare standing before them, the filly turned and ran. The mare
and the stallion stood their ground and the mare enquired who Snowdrop was. Once
she’d told them who she was and what her business was, the mare unbent a little
and introduced herself and the stallion. “My name’s Jinni,” she said, “and this
is Rocky.” Rocky looked fleetingly at Snowdrop, then his attention wandered to
where the filly had got to. “That filly,” Jinni explained, “is mine and Rocky’s
foal. I’m afraid she’s a little nervous.” Snowdrop smiled reassuringly at the
two horses. “Tell her to come back, I’ll show her I’m no threat to her,” she
said. Jinni ran off. Rocky and Snowdrop faced each other. “I suppose you met
Archie?” Rocky asked. “Archie?” Snowdrop queried. Rocky described the stallion
who’d first sparked this madness. “Oh, him,” Snowdrop replied, “yeah, I met him.
What is he, some leader?” “As much as we have a leader after what happened to
us, then yes he is,” Rocky replied. Jinni came back, the filly following behind.
“This is Perdita,” Jinni said, indicating the filly. Perdita snorted: “I hate
that name! My name’s Perdy Snowball,” “It’s Snowdrop,” Snowdrop replied civilly.
“She’s herd leader Perdy dear,” Jinni said soothingly, “she’s not a threat to
us. She’ll help us.” “You look like you’ve been whitewashed,” Perdita said.
Jinni told her not to be so rude to Snowdrop, but Snowdrop took it calmly. She
knew that if things got really difficult, she could pull off stunts that Perdita
wouldn’t consider, even in her wildest dreams. Snowdrop and Tilly led their
group to the clearing where the others were gathered. Ben and Jess had found
another four horses, two mares, one in foal,, plus a stallion and a gelding.
Ferdinand and Emma, who’d gone with Ben, but returned with Ferdinand, brought
back four more mares. “I’ve made a sweep of the edge of the wood,” Sheissain
said, “there are no other horses wanting assistance as far as I can see.”
“Right,” Snowdrop said, “let’s get all the horses together and take stock. Tell
Poppy and Sam what is going on. Ben, find Emily and Woody. I want all, and I
mean all the horses who can be there to be under the old oak in half an hour,
without fail! The only reason for not attending is that a horse cannot
physically get to the place, understood? Good! Now go!” Snowdrop commanded.
Half an hour later the majority of the horses were gathered under the
large oak tree. The evening sunlight shone through the branches. Pip stayed
close to Beth and Bella, Archie was at the front with Snowdrop and Sam. There
was a hush as Snowdrop started to speak.
“As you all know,” Snowdrop said, “there have been some new arrivals in
the herd.” “A load more tiny horses,” Jasper grumbled. “Indeed so,” Snowdrop
replied, choosing to ignore his tone. “They have suffered hardship, so I don’t
want anyone making their lives hell, all right?” Snowdrop was vague, but all the
horses knew who she aimed her comments at. Woody and Joey were known for
tormenting the Falabella horses. They would tease them mercilessly about this
and that. Snowdrop reflected that the horse who she most feared would have a
problem with them didn’t. Jasper was just fascinated by how small they were,
especially how tiny their hooves were, and that didn’t bother any of the horses.
“He’s never seen a foal yet,” snowdrop thought, “that’ll give him something to
think about.” The meeting broke up, and Jasper headed her way. “So we have more
Falabella horses Snowdrop,” he said. “Yes Jasper we do,” Snowdrop replied.
Jasper said: “I saw a tiny foal today, she said her name was Bella. That was
when I’d coaxed her down from a nearby tree. She nearly clambered into it when
she saw me poor thing.” Snowdrop couldn’t help laughing out loud. “I’m sure she
did Jasper! You are somewhat larger than Beth is, and she’s Bella’s mother!” She
said. Jasper looked at Snowdrop, measuring her against himself. “I am larger
than her by a fair margin,” he said. Snowdrop turned and headed into the trees.
She wanted to talk with Perdita. Walking through the forest in search of the
filly, Snowdrop thought about what she’d say to the youngster. Perdita was
rather too cocky for Snowdrop’s liking. The white mare thought the filly’s
attitude rather rude. Snowdrop didn’t think of herself as illiberal, nor as
particularly strict, but Perdita would have to learn that she, Snowdrop, was
leader, and that was that. Snowdrop didn’t want to have to frighten Perdita, but
she would if it became necessary.
Snowdrop found Perdita attempting to hide beneath a bush. Seeing her
coming, Perdita turned her back on Snowdrop. “Perdy, I want to talk to you for a
minute,” Snowdrop said calmly. Perdita turned her head and looked at Snowdrop.
“What do you want!” she demanded. “All I wish to know is what you have against
me,” Snowdrop replied. “you look strange,” Perdita replied, “do you regularly
bleach your fur and hooves? They are impossibly white!” “You have white hooves
Perdy,” Snowdrop stated. Perdita nodded: “I do, but yours are all white, all
four of them Snowdrop! And your fur, you must bleach it, you can’t naturally get
fur that white!” “You can, I have,” Snowdrop replied. Perdita turned and
approached Snowdrop. “I don’t know what I feel about you,” she said.
“ok, so, shall we talk about this?” Snowdrop asked. “No!” Perdita said, “I
don’t want to talk to you Snowy. “how dare you call me Snowy!” Snowdrop lost her
temper and raised her hoof from the ground. Perdita was not quick enough and the
hoof made contact with her and she squealed out in agonising pain. “Maybe that
will teach you a lesson!” Snowdrop said as she left Perdita to lick her wounds.
Perdita lay on the forest floor. She couldn’t quite believe what had
happened to her. The white mare had burned her leg where her hoof had touched
it. Looking down, Perdita couldn’t see anything wrong with her leg, but it hurt!
Getting to her feet, she limped along the track. Jinni saw her coming down the
track and asked what the matter was. “Snowdrop attacked me mum!” Perdita wailed.
Jinni replied: “How did she attack you?” “She burned my leg!” Perdita whimpered.
Jinni looked at all four of her foal’s legs, but couldn’t see any burn at all.
“That mare should be beaten into the earth!” Perdita squealed. “Snowdrop doesn’t
seem the kind of mare to do anything without a good reason,” Jinni said, “I’m a
pretty good judge of character, or I like to think I am, and I think she
wouldn’t do anything like attacking a horse without a very good reason for it.
Perdita, did you attack, or did you say something to Snowdrop to make her
angry?” “I called her Snowy,” Perdita admitted. Jinni had heard of Snowdrop’s
pet name, and she also heard something about her not liking it used by just
anyone. “You never call her Snowy without her permission!” Jinni squealed. “But
I’ve heard Sam and Pip do it!” Perdita protested loudly. “They are Snowdrop’s
friends and family Perdita, you aren’t! Also, you did make some horrid comments
about her, what was it? That she was whitewashed, that her fur and hooves were
unnatural? It was, for I saw it all Perdita! I was hiding beneath a bush,
Snowdrop and I were talking earlier, and she told me you’d been saying things
that had hurt her. Not wanting to tread on my territory, she let me know. I
watched you, and I saw and heard everything. You need to learn what is right and
wrong Perdita, and that is wrong!” Perdita began to cry. She realised she was no
longer a foal, that she’d stepped into a bigger game, where her parents might
not always be on her side in a disagreement. Turning tail, Perdita walked away.
“I think you owe Snowdrop an apology!” Jinni whinnied after her.
“No, no, no, I won’t apologise to her!” Perdita wailed. “She burnt my leg
and nobody cares!” Jinni stopped. “Haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said?”
She asked sharply. “Mum, I don’t like her, she’s weird, there’s no colour in her
whatsoever, she scares me to death mum.” She continued to wail. “Now you just
listen to me, you will apologise to her, and you will go and do it now and you
will change your attitude or you will find yourself in such trouble you won’t
like it and you could end up being excluded from the herd. Now, is that what you
want?” “Of course not!” Perdita whined again. “So, you go now and find
Snowdrop!” Jinni strode away leaving Perdita to decide what she was to do next.
Perdita watched her mother walk away. Suddenly there was a rustle from a
nearby bush and Whitehoof appeared. He regarded Perdita with mild interest. She
stared at him. “You are Snowdrop’s foal aren’t you,” Perdita said. “Yes I am,”
Whitehoof replied. “I don’t like her,” Perdita said. It was obvious to whitehoof
she didn’t care who she aired her views to. Even though she knew he was
Snowdrop’s foal, she didn’t care at all. “As a matter of Fact,” Whitehoof said,
“I don’t particularly like Jinni either.” This was untrue, and Whitehoof hoped
the filly couldn’t tell what his real feelings were. Whitehoof liked Jinni, but
didn’t want the filly to realise that. He said: “She’s a horrid mare.” Whitehoof
saw his words had the desired affect. Perdita’s eyes flashed with anger and
fury! “How dare you say that about my mother!” she screamed. “You had no
problems with saying far worse about mine,” Whitehoof said calmly. Perdita
lashed out at Whitehoof with all her force. Her hoof never connected. The next
thing Whitehoof knew, Perdita was screaming, and falling! She landed on her side
with a crash. Whitehoof found himself staring into the eyes of a huge boar
badger, who looked bored with the situation. “Me see and hear what goes on
here,” Brock said.
“Who does that stupid badger think he is!” Perdita shrieked. “You no hurt
Whitehoof, Pip, Snowdrop or Sam!” Brock showed her his paw again. Perdita was
trying to get up and run away from him. “And you no run anywhere while Brock
finish speak to you, you listen to Brock or next time I do more than knock
Perdita off hooves, Brock and badgers string you to tree and you ask Maynand what
that be like!” Brock was cross. He didn’t like the way Perdita was behaving and
he was not frightened to have his say about it either.
Brock released Perdita and she got slowly to her feet. Favouring the
badger with a look of venomous hatred, she walked away to find Maynand. Finding
him, Perdita asked what Brock had done to him. “I killed a fox cub, and Brock
ordered that I be strung from a tree Perdita. It was uncomfortable. I was
terrified!” “When did they release you?” Perdita asked, her brash manner
vanishing. “I managed to break the branches, but I’m larger than you are, you
wouldn’t stand a chance of breaking the branches Perdita.” Perdita didn’t much
like the sound of being strung up. She turned and walked to where Snowdrop and
her mother were talking together. Seeing her, they stopped their chatter.
Perdita looked at her mother, then at Snowdrop. “how are things Perdita?”
Snowdrop asked pleasantly.
Perdita’s gaze snapped into focus on Snowdrop. After a pause, Perdita
blurted: “That badger said he would string me up! I, I spoke to Maynand, and he
said he had been strung up to a tree and it was horrible!” “I heard you met my
foal,” Snowdrop said. Perdita remembered what she’d said to Whitehoof. “Yes, I
met him, he looks as weird as you do!” Snowdrop lifted her right forefoot in
warning. Perdita saw the hoof come up and hesitated. “Remember this?” Snowdrop
asked. “Yes Snowy, I mean Snowdrop, I, I remember it,” Perdita whinnied.
Snowdrop approached Perdita. “That badger wasn’t bluffing Perdita,” she said
quietly. Perdita looked at her own hooves, then at Snowdrop’s. “I know,” she
said faintly. Snowdrop looked deep into the filly’s eyes. “I think you said you
hate my white hooves,” Snowdrop said, “why Perdita? You have white hooves too.”
Perdita raised a hind foot and looked down at it. “I do,” she said, “I don’t
know why I find it strange Snowdrop.” “I will let you examine and touch my
hooves and fur if you like,” Snowdrop said, “I don’t mind that.” Perdita looked
down at the white mare’s forefeet. “But if I touch them, they’ll burn me, they
did in the past!” she wailed. “No they won’t,” Snowdrop replied. Perdita was
wary. “How can you prove to me that it’s safe?” she asked. Snowdrop considered
this for a minute. “If I burn you,” Snowdrop said, “I give you permission to
exact revenge on me, right?” Perdita thought this suitable. She touched
snowdrop’s raised forefoot with her muzzle, nothing happened. She felt the hard
horn of the white mare’s hoof. “How did you manage to burn me?” Perdita asked.
“That I cannot answer,” Snowdrop replied. Perdita became angry! “How can you not
know how you do what you do!” she squealed. “Some things remain unexplained,”
Snowdrop said. Jinni had a question for Snowdrop: “I’ve heard,” she said, “that
you and Whitehoof can mark horses. Is this true?” Snowdrop replied: “Yes Jinni,
it is true, and Perdita might be the next one to be marked if she carries on in
the way she is!” Jinni had heard what the mark meant, and she didn’t want her
foal marked. “No Snowdrop, that’s not necessary!” she squealed. “If Perdita
doesn’t mend her ways, I’ll make sure she’s marked and strung up Jinni!”
Snowdrop whinnied shrilly. Jinni looked down at Snowdrop’s raised forefoot. “You
wouldn’t, you couldn’t mark another horse Snowdrop, that’s mad, impossible!” She
screamed. “Want me to show you?” Snowdrop enquired. “No, no!” Jinni shrieked.
“Okay,” Snowdrop said, “I recommend you talk to my second in command, ask him to
show you his left forefoot. There you will see a mark that designates him second
in command. Go and talk to Sam Jinni, and you Perdita. Find out how permanent
this mark is.” Jinni and Perdita went in search of Sam. When they’d gone,
Snowdrop lay down on the forest floor. Hearing another horse coming near,
Snowdrop looked up and saw Whitehoof coming towards her. “Hi Whitehoof!” She
whinnied. “Hi mum,” he said, “I wanted to talk to you about Perdita, She’s been
saying horrid things!” “I know, I know,” Snowdrop said gently. “We’ve got enough
to deal with, without this!” Whitehoof whinnied, almost sobbing. Snowdrop went
to him and hugged him tightly. “It’s okay, it’s okay!” she said soothingly.
Whitehoof buried his face in his mother’s mane. Brock lumbered from the
undergrowth. “Me think Whitehoof very upset with small mare called Perdita,” he
grunted. “yes Brock,” Snowdrop said absently. She was concentrating on soothing
Whitehoof, who was now weeping into her fur. “Are you all right Whitehoof?” she
asked, “I mean, you and Pip, has something happened?” “No, nothing like that,”
Whitehoof said. “Surely Perdita isn’t the cause of all this, is she?” Snowdrop
asked, gently rubbing her foal’s ear with her muzzle. “I just feel so angry when
she goes on about how strange we look mum! The worst thing is, she’s a falabella
horse herself, and she says these things!” he whinnied. Snowdrop embraced her
foal tightly. “I love you, Pip loves you, and that’s all that matters my little
Whitehoof,” she said gently. Whitehoof relaxed suddenly. He felt his mother’s
warmth, her soft muzzle against his ear, and her reassuring presence. Closing
his eyes, he stood quietly, trying to unscramble his mind. “Shh my little
Whitehoof, shh my pet,” Snowdrop whispered.
Meanwhile, Jinni and Perdita found Sam who was talking to Pip. “Sam, I
wonder, please may I see your left forefoot?” Jinni asked politely. “Of course!”
Sam lifted the hoof for inspection. “She was right!” Went on Perdita. “Who was
right?” Sam asked inquisitively. “Snowdrop, but it seems that she always is!”
Perdita said spitefully.
“She is a wise mare,” Pip said. “Yes she is,” Sam agreed. Excusing
herself, Pip went in search of Whitehoof. She found him lying close to Snowdrop.
She saw instantly that he wasn’t very happy. “What’s the matter Whitehoof?” She
asked. Whitehoof turned a shattered expression her way. “Perdita’s attitude is
getting me down Pip love,” he replied. Pip hugged him. “I know she’s a bit
brash,” A Bit brash you say? Whitehoof squealed, “she’s a rude, disrespectful
filly Pip!” Pip was unnerved by her mate’s sudden outburst. “All right, all
right! Maybe she is!” Pip whinnied, “but we have to deal with this together. Sam
and I were talking when Jinni came up and asked to look at Sam’s hoof. She was
looking for the mark.” “I know,” Snowdrop said, “Jinni didn’t believe me about
the mark. So I told her to ask Sam to show her his hoof.” “I don’t know what to
do about this,” Whitehoof said wearily. “Let it go,” Pip replied. “Let it go?
For Eohippus sake Pip, think for a minute! How on earth can I just let something
like this go! Perdita’s making mine and my mum’s lives hell and you say let it
go? Well I won’t! I can’t let it go!” With that Whitehoof leapt to his feet and
walked away. Pip and Snowdrop looked at each other. “What do we do now!” Pip
wailed. “I know what you were trying to say,” Snowdrop replied gently. Pip,
upset by her mate’s sudden departure, snapped: “What was I trying to Say
Snowdrop, go on, tell me!” Snowdrop looked kindly at the grey mare. “You meant
for him to let it go over his head, to be sure of the love we have for him.
Whitehoof feels protective of me, and me of him. I know what to do, how I could
put an end to this once and for all. Whereas Whitehoof feels powerless, he
doesn’t know what to do, what to think even. There are bad Falabella horses as
well Pip. Just because we are a minority, we don’t all stand together. Perdita
is a prime example of that. We need to acknowledge the problems and deal with
them.” Pip relaxed suddenly. “Sorry Snowy,” she said. Snowdrop nuzzled her ear.
“That’s okay,” she said softly.
Perdita scuffed her hooves along the ground. “What’s the matter?” Sam
asked kindly. “I don’t feel as though I belong to this herd!” Was Perdita’s
reply. “Do you want to talk about it Perdita, as second in command I am always
ready and willing to listen to my horse’s problems!” “I don’t understand how you
can do your job Sam when you can’t see!” Perdita went on. ?” “I enjoy my work,
it has not always been easy, come with me Perdita!” “Where, why?” she felt
nervous, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to go anywhere with him.
Perdita followed Sam to a secluded spot and he lay down on the forest
floor, beckoning her to do the Same. Reluctantly, Perdita complied. “You were
saying something about not being part of this herd Perdita?” Sam asked. “Yes,”
Perdita said, “everyone hates me!” “I don’t think that’s true,” Sam said, “but
what makes you think they do?” “Snowdrop has it in for me, I know she does!” “I
think, if I may say Perdita, that you haven’t been exactly nice to her have
you.” Perdita snapped: “Snowy’s crazy!” Sam knew Perdita was using Snowdrop’s
pet name as an insult. He said: “There you go again. Perdita, you bring it on
yourself. Snowdrop is a kind gentle mare. She wouldn’t make trouble for you
unless you’d pushed her into it. She tried talking to you didn’t she.” “yes,”
Perdita admitted shamefully. She knew what was coming, and wasn’t looking
forward to it. “You refused her and insulted her by using her pet name. You felt
the power of her hoof didn’t you?” Perdita whinnied shrilly: “Yes, she burned me
Sam!” Sam said: “You need to accept horses as they are Perdita. Snowdrop hadn’t
caused you any trouble, in fact she helped you from the very first. It was she
who helped your mother give birth to you wasn’t it?” “Yes,” Perdita replied.
“I’m not saying you should be beholden to her forever,” Sam said, “but surely
Snowdrop deserves respect. I’ve never seen her, but from what I’ve been told,
she’s a beautiful mare. This I do know though, that she is a very kind and
gentle natured mare Perdita. Snowdrop would do anything for her herd, even put
her life on the line for them. I know I owe her a lot, but she doesn’t remind me
of what she’s done for me. Snowy just does what she feels is right. Snowdrop is
a very dear friend of mine. She would like to be your friend too, but you insult
her, you tell Whitehoof that his mother is a horrid mare. Whitehoof was very
upset about what you said to him Perdita. Snowdrop and Pip are even now, trying
to talk Whitehoof round to giving you another chance. He’s not a spiteful horse,
but he’s had enough of your antics. I know this, and I know that you are very
close to being expelled from the herd. Don’t take this to mean that we want you
to leave, we don’t. In fact that’s the last thing we want, but we really can’t
go on like this Perdita. Please, talk to Snowdrop and Whitehoof. Also, when you
finally realise the affect of your words, then please apologise to Whitehoof and
his mother. I will not follow you back to the herd Perdita. I have to talk with
Jess, but you have a lot to do. I wouldn’t delay any longer.” Perdita looked at
Sam. “I’ll think about it,” she said, getting to her feet. Sam listened to her
walk away. Then he got up and walked in the opposite direction in search of
Jess.
Perdita didn’t rush. She needed to think. Sam had been kind to her and she
knew that she was on the brink of exclusion from the herd and she really didn’t
want to be left alone. She suddenly felt a pain in her hoof. “Ouch!” She
squealed. “Can I help?” It was Foxy’s voice she heard behind her. “I think I
have a stone in my hoof!” Perdita whined. “Here let me look!” Foxy took the hoof
gently between her paws and examined it carefully. “Foxy,” Perdita said shyly.
“I’ve made a complete and utter idiot of myself.
Foxy looked down at |Perdita’s tiny hind foot. She couldn’t get over how
small a Falabella horse’s hooves were. She’d had to remove a stone or two from
Whitehoof’s and Snowdrop’s hooves, and every time she did it, she still was
amazed at how small their hooves were. Perdita felt Foxy gently cleaning her
hoof, then the vixen found the stone and had removed it. “You were saying you
felt you’d been a bit of an idiot?” She asked. “Yes,” Perdita replied, “I
haven’t been very nice to Snowdrop or Whitehoof. I’ve upset them, or so Sam
says.” “I know you have upset them,” Foxy replied, “Brock, Whitehoof, Snowdrop
and I are good friends.” “Brock?” Perdita enquired. “he’s a badger,” Foxy said.
Perdita suddenly remembered the huge badger who had overbalanced her. “I think
I’ve met him,” she said. “He does a similar job to me,” Foxy said. “What job is
that then?” the filly asked. “Removing stones from horse’s hooves,” Foxy
answered. She thought for a minute. “I think you had better go and talk with
Whitehoof and Snowdrop Perdita. It’s overdue that you do this.” Foxy let go of
the filly’s tiny hind foot. “if you ever need me again, I’m here to help,” the
vixen said. Perdita was very grateful Foxy had been there to help her. The stone
had caused her a lot of pain, and Foxy had been there to relieve it. Without
question she’d helped me, but Foxy must have known about my behaviour,” Perdita
thought as she walked away. The filly knew she’d have to talk to Whitehoof and
Snowdrop as soon as she saw them next.
Perdita thanked foxy for her help and went on her way to find Snowdrop and
Whitehoof. “Might as well kill two birds with one stone!” She thought to herself
as she ambled her way along the path. Suddenly she saw Brock ahead of her. She
froze to the spot, she was scared of this creature and he knew it!
“Me see you with Foxy,” Brock grunted. “Um, ‘er, yes Brock, I was with
her,” Perdita replied nervously. The huge boar badger went up close to her. “Me
see you be frightened of me,” he said. “What else do you expect me to be when
the last thing you did to me was over balance me!” Perdita whinnied shrilly.
“Brock only angry if me see that horse is upsetting other horses,” Brock said.
“I know that now,” Perdita replied. They walked together to where Whitehoof and
his mother were lying. Snowdrop had caught up with her foal and had
talked to him about this and that. Whitehoof had told his mum how he felt about
Perdita’s behaviour. Now they were lying together, Whitehoof’s nose resting on
his mother’s neck as he slept. “They look so sweet,” Brock said. ~At the sound
of his voice, both Whitehoof and Snowdrop stirred. Getting up, they shook
themselves hard. “What can we do for you?” Snowdrop asked. Perdita said: “I, I
came, came to talk about what I’d done to you both.” “Well?” Whitehoof said,
“what have you got to say for yourself Perdita?” the Falabella filly looked from
Whitehoof to Snowdrop, and then at Brock. “go on,” Brock coaxed.
“Well I was going to say sorry but that doesn’t seem enough,” Perdita
whispered. “I could say it was the after effects of the fire, I could blame
anything but that doesn’t seem right either! I don’t know, I can’t think
straight anymore and I just don’t know what to do. Foxy just removed a stone
from my hoof, she was gentle, she talked to me, her love for her work and for
the animals she helps just shone through. I, I will try and alter my ways, I want
to be part of the herd, I want to play with the new foals, I want to grow up and
have foals of my own and maybe one day have my own herd!”
“You’ve not addressed your behaviour Perdita,” Whitehoof said. “I don’t
know what you mean,” Perdita replied. Whitehoof lost his temper! “You have said
you are sorry, but what for! What have you done to be sorry for, we need to know
that you realise what you have done!” Perdita began to cry. “What do you want me
to do? Take every little thing I’ve done to you and Snowdrop and tell you why it
was wrong of me to do what I did?” “yes,” Whitehoof replied sharply, “start with
when you first met Snowdrop in the wood.” Jinni, Perdita’s mother, had met the
white mare two years previously when she’d helped during Perdita’s birth. As
soon as it was over, Snowdrop disappeared from their lives, until a few days ago
when Jinni and her family had come for help. Perdita thought back to the first
time she’d seen Snowdrop. She realised she’d been shocked at the mare’s
appearance. She said: “I didn’t expect Snowdrop to look the way she does. A
mare, with white fur and hooves is not very usual.” “You Insulted her Perdita,
why was this?” Whitehoof asked. Perdita didn’t like this cross examination. She
looked down at her hooves. “I don’t know why I said it,” she replied. “That’s
not good enough!” Whitehoof yelled, “You know very well why you said what you
did! So what made you say what you did, to a mare, who you’d never met before!
You are not a stupid filly Perdita, and you know very, very well why you said to
Snowdrop what you did! Now tell us!” Whitehoof’s eyes were blazing hatred and he
was sweating. He also looked in imminent danger of using his white hoof to brand
Perdita. The filly replied: “She was, was so strange to me. I was scared by her
appearance. Then she was so kind to me, and that frightened me as I thought she
meant me harm. You hear these things,” “What things?” Whitehoof demanded.
“Horses being kind to get another horse on their side, then they betray them in
some way.” “And you thought Snowdrop was doing that?” Whitehoof asked, his anger
growing. “I was scared of it happening yes,” Perdita admitted. Whitehoof
screamed at the filly! “Snowdrop wouldn’t do, no, couldn’t do anything like
that!” “That’s quite enough of that!” Snowdrop snapped. She’d been listening to
Whitehoof’s demolition job on Perdita and now put an end to it. “Whitehoof, for
one, any horse is capable of doing terrible things, even me! I’m not saying I
have done these things, but I am capable of it, all horses are. It’s just that
they choose not to that sets them apart from those that would do harm. I will
take over from here. I don’t want you to take any more part in this Whitehoof!
It’s not a courtroom!” Whitehoof turned tail and trudged away. Pip, who’d been
hiding beneath a bush and listening, followed her mate at a discrete distance.
She was not relishing their next meeting. Meanwhile, Snowdrop and Perdita faced
each other. “I want you Perdita,” Snowdrop said, “to try and be civil to all
horses. If they are not civil to you, then by all means strike back, but try not
to get into those situations in the first place. What you said to me was
terrible, but I have forgiven you for that. I know you were shocked at my
appearance, but I can’t change the way I look. Perdita, Falabella horses are a
minority breed, we have enough enemies, without creating them among us. Please,
try and accept other horses for who they are.” “That’s what Sam said,” Perdita
replied. “Sam is a very good and kind horse,” Snowdrop said, “I would get to
know him if I were you.” Perdita looked into the white mare’s eyes. She was
surprised to find compassion in them. Snowdrop suddenly went to Perdita and
hugged her tightly. Perdita felt a rush of emotion that ended with her weeping
into the white falabella mare’s thick fur. “Shh Perdita dear, it’s okay,”
Snowdrop said softly. She added: “We’ll go on from here. I’ll make no mention of
your past behaviour, we’ll start afresh, okay?”
Thank you snowdrop!” Perdita sniffed. Pip caught up with Whitehoof.
"Whitehoof, my sweetheart!” she said gently. She tried to soothe him but he
would not have it. "Please Whitehoof, calm down, I love you, please, I can't
bear seeing you like this!”
) Whitehoof looked at Pip. “I don’t think mum realises what Perdita has
done!” he whinnied shrilly. “You did go a bit hard on her though Whitehoof,
she’s only young,” Pip replied. “She may be young, but she knows what trouble
she can cause by what she says. The worst of it is Pip, that mum’s probably
forgiven Perdita for what she said. I would never forgive her, never ever ever!
Mum’s stupid if she’s done that!” “So you are saying,” Pip said, “that Perdita
should be under a cloud, forever?” “I think she should at least make her realise
what she’s done!” Whitehoof squealed. Snowdrop wandered past. Seeing her,
Whitehoof called out: “Hey mum, did you tell that horrid filly where to go?”
Snowdrop turned at the sound of her foal’s voice and replied: “I didn’t, tell
her where to go, in fact no bad language was used. I told her what she should do
to make sure she didn’t get into the kind of trouble she’d got herself into in
the past. I told her all was forgiven, but I’ll never forget.” “You forgave her?
How could you do that mum!” “Quite easily thank you,” Snowdrop replied. She
added: “Remember this Whitehoof, it was me she distrusted, not you. She might
have expressed her views to you, but that was all. It was to me she aimed her
spiteful comments.” With that Snowdrop walked away. Whitehoof squealed: “I can’t
believe what she’s done! Mum only let her get away with it all!” He was about to
say more, when he saw Pip turn and walk away. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“Away,” she said, “away from your stupidity!” Whitehoof stared after his mate.
Then he ran after her.
Pip followed Snowdrop into the trees. Snowdrop could see that she was
upset. “I wish he would just forget about it now you’ve sorted it Snowy!” Pip
said sadly. “He’ll be ok Pip!” Snowdrop said kindly. “Oh Snowdrop, I just don’t
like seeing him so unhappy!” Pip cried. Snowdrop hugged her close. “It will be
all right, Pip Dear!” She said. “Just believe me!” Whitehoof came into view
then, he saw pip was crying.
Whitehoof looked at his mother, then at Pip. “I can’t just let this go!”
he screamed, lashing out at Snowdrop! Pip squealed a warning to the white mare!
Whitehoof suddenly collapsed onto the forest floor. He lay motionless on the
leaves. “What’s happening!” Whitehoof demanded, “I can’t move!” Snowdrop turned
and, selecting a juicy clump of grass, began to graze peacefully. Whitehoof knew
what had happened. He knew what his mother had done, and he was humiliated and
angry! “You promised me,” he shrieked, “You promised me mum, that you’d never do
that to me ever again!” Snowdrop remembered her promise to him when he was very
young and had lashed out at her in anger. She’d done exactly as now, but
Whitehoof had been so terrified afterward, that she’d promised never to do it
again. Now she’d broken her promise to a much older Whitehoof. “How else was I
meant to defend myself?” she asked. “Let me go!” Whitehoof screamed. ”What if I
do? Snowdrop asked, “would you leave me alone? Or would you try the Same tricks
you did a minute ago? I am not a violent mare Whitehoof, and you know that more
than anyone, but I will defend myself, even against my own foal!” Whitehoof
began to cry. “I don’t like this!” he sobbed. Pip looked at her mate. “You
brought it on yourself Whitehoof, just as Perdita brought her troubles on
herself. I have no sympathy for you at all! I thought I knew you Whitehoof, I
thought I knew you well, but I’m having my doubts now. I thought you were a kind
gentle horse, now I realise you are hoof happy, and will not hesitate to use
your hooves at the first opportunity, even against your own mother!” She walked away fighting back tears of
rage and grief. Snowdrop finished grazing and turned to her foal. “You are the
one who needs to think long and hard Whitehoof. You need to think about your
life, about Pip and about me. Think about what you have done and said. Once you
have done this, think about Pip some more, you will need to do a lot to remedy
the harm you have done!” I’ll leave you to it. You may leave when you wish, but
don’t come back to me or Pip until you have thought long and hard about
everything.” With that Snowdrop turned and walked away. Whitehoof lay on the
ground, he knew snowdrop had released him, but he couldn’t move, his legs had no
strength in them. He felt empty inside. “What have I done!” he thought
miserably.
Pip went to find Poppy. She knew she could rely on Poppy for comfort. She
loved Snowdrop very much but now she just needed the comfort of the larger mare
who reminded her so much of Petra, Oh how she missed Petra even now. She found
Poppy talking to Maynand. “Oh Poppy, did I disturb Maynand’s therapy!” “Its ok,
we had just finished,” chimed in Maynand who was just getting up to leave. Poppy
and Pip made there way towards the river taking their time and talking as they
trotted along. Pip told Poppy how unhappy she was and how she thought she knew
Whitehoof and that she wasn’t sure if she loved him any more. Well, she did love
him but she just needed time alone, time to think and time just to talk to
poppy. Poppy listened patiently. “Come on!” said Poppy, “let’s have a dip in the
river, that will make you feel better!” The two horses splashed about in the
water then made their way back under the trees into the forest.
Poppy and Pip lay down on the forest floor. Summer was coming in now and
the air was very warm. Pip desperately wanted to be happy with Whitehoof, but
knew also that she didn’t like his attitude. Pip seriously considered life on
her own. Would she cope? She wondered if Whitehoof would care if she told him
she was thinking of the single life. She thought he might not mind, after all,
he’d managed for two years before they’d met. Suddenly Pip shook herself out of
that train of thought. She couldn’t leave Whitehoof, could she? Pip looked at
Poppy. “I keep thinking of leaving Whitehoof,” she said. “Is that what you
want?” Poppy asked. “I don’t know!” Pip whimpered, “I know he can be
unreasonable, and that is putting it mildly, but he is so good to me usually. He
doesn’t use his hooves against me or anything like that.” “Not yet he doesn’t,”
Poppy thought, but said nothing. Pip had told her of how easily Whitehoof had
resorted to violence, and this disturbed her. “Pip, all I can say is be careful.
You saw how easily Whitehoof turned on his own mother. I don’t want you getting
hurt. Snowdrop could immobilise her own foal, you haven’t got those abilities.”
Pip sighed heavily. She was very unhappy with the situation. Closing her eyes,
she thought about Whitehoof. She remembered the night when they’d first met.
He’d rescued her from the darkness, and now, here she was, in darkness again.
Pip felt dreadfully lonely, even though Poppy was beside her. Sensing the
Falabella mare’s distress, Poppy nuzzled Pip’s ear. This action broke Pip’s
control on her emotions, and, cuddling up to Poppy, she burst into tears.
“Hey Pip, its ok, it’s ok!” Poppy comforted. “I love him so much though
Poppy!” Pip sobbed. “Yes, Yes, of course you do!” Poppy consoled. “Shush now,”
Poppy held Pip tightly until her tears had subsided. “I will always be here for
you and remember, Ferdinand is there for you too.” Poppy reminded pip. “I know!”
Pip sniffled. The two horses fell asleep in the warmth of the sun.
Snowdrop found Poppy and Pip sleeping. She lay down beside them to wait
for them to wake. Pip woke first. Looking round her, she saw Snowdrop lying
beside her. “Hello Snowy,” she said. Snowdrop looked into Pip’s tired eyes. “I
talked to Whitehoof,” Snowdrop said. “What did he have to say?” Pip asked.
“Nothing, I left him thinking about you and me. He needs to come to his own
decisions as to where he wants to go from here.” “I’ve been thinking of leaving
him,” Pip said. “Maybe if you did, that would bring him to his senses,” Snowdrop
said. Pip whinnied: “I get so far along that line of thought, then I think of
Whitehoof some more and I just couldn’t do it.” “If that’s the only way you can
make him see,” Snowdrop said. “But he’s your foal! You shouldn’t be saying
things like this!” Pip squealed. “Just because Whitehoof is my foal, doesn’t
mean I’m uncritical of him Pip,” was the white Falabella mare’s reply. Pip
decided, that no matter how painful it was for her, she’d tell Whitehoof that
she was leaving him alone. Leaping to her feet, Pip walked away to do what she
felt was right. Snowdrop followed, just in case there was any trouble. Pip found
whitehoof lying under a bush. She looked at the gelding that, if the truth be
known, she still loved, but who had also done so much to hurt her. Taking her
courage in her tiny hoof, she nudged Whitehoof’s shoulder. The gelding woke
suddenly, saw Pip and said: “Pip,” Pip stopped him with a raised forefoot.
“Whitehoof, I’m, I’m, I mean I won’t be able to be with you any more. I’m sorry,
but that’s how it is.” Whitehoof stared at her. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“I’m leaving you, having the single life, you know?” Pip replied. Whitehoof
screamed: “You can’t do That!” he made to lash out at her,,, “Whitehoof, don’t
do that,” Snowdrop said ominously. It seemed to Pip that the bush to her right
had spoken. Whitehoof looked round, but couldn’t see his mother anywhere. “I
told you the trees saw everything,” the bush said. Whitehoof stared at the bush,
remembering a tale Snowdrop had told him about the trees seeing all that went
on. It was a tale to stop him from doing things he’d not want his mother to find
out about. Whitehoof began to shake with fear. “Oh, oh no, tell me this isn’t
happening!” he squealed, “the talking bush tale is true!” Snowdrop hadn’t done
anything to disguise her voice, just hidden behind a bush, but the foliage did
enough to camouflage it from Whitehoof, who was distressed already. Pip
amazingly found it easy to keep a straight face. After all, she’d nearly been on
the receiving end of a kick. “You heard what Pip said, now leave the area
Whitehoof. All my tree friends will be watching you,” the bush said, “and we
will tell your mother what we see.” Whitehoof’s eyes were as big as soup plates
as he walked away from Pip. The bush rustled as he passed. Pip looked deep into
the bush, but couldn’t see Snowdrop anywhere. When Whitehoof was well out of
sight, a white hoof appeared beneath the bush, then a white nose, and finally
Snowdrop crawled out into the open. “Where did you hide!” Pip asked. Snowdrop
smiled: “My secret,” she said.
Pip was overwhelmed by what had happened. She knew now that she had made
the right decision and she clung onto Snowdrop weeping as if her heart would
break. She would throw herself into her work, that would keep her busy and stop
her from thinking, giving her time to the foals and their mothers.
Whitehoof walked aimlessly. The bottom had fallen out of his world, and
nothing seemed to matter any more. He realised lashing out at Pip had been
the worst mistake of his life. He noticed he was on the edge of the wood, the
boundary of Snowdrop’s domain. Whitehoof stepped across the invisible line for
the first time since he’d gone to talk with the white mare. He wondered if he’d
ever come back to the wood. Whitehoof walked for a long time before he was too
tired to walk any further. Finding a tree to shelter beneath he lay down.
Closing his eyes he thought about Pip. He tried to blame her for what had
happened, but he couldn’t. It was he, whitehoof who had done the damage. His
thoughts turned to his mother. She had done all she could to bring him round, he
was sure of that. In short, he’d messed his life up, lost a beautiful mare, and
been shown the yellow card. Whitehoof knew Pip wouldn’t have him back, not after
what he’d done. Whitehoof slept then. Waking, he found the day had come in warm
and bright. For a moment he wondered if all the goings on with Pip were a bad
dream, but then he realised it was no dream. Getting to his feet he made for a
small wooded patch of ground that lay up a small incline. Entering the wood, he
found his way barred by the massive form of an Irish draft mare. She looked down
at him. “Um, hi,” Whitehoof said, his mind racing. “You are tiny aren’t you,”
the huge mare replied. “I’m smaller than you, yes, that is undeniable,”
Whitehoof said. The Irish draft mare examined him from nose to tail, her eyes
flickering down at his white hoof. “I’ve heard of your mother I think,” she
said, “I think her name was Snowdrop. How is she? I used to know her I think.”
“She’s, fine,” Whitehoof replied, trying not to show his true emotions at the
mention of his mother. The mare continued: “Snowdrop was kind enough to help me
when I was foaling. She was so gentle with my foal too! We started calling her
aunt Snowy, it was wonderful!” Whitehoof gulped hard, fighting with an urge to
burst into tears. The huge mare saw he was upset. “What’s the matter?” she
asked. Whitehoof found himself telling her it all. When he’d finished, the mare
looked thoughtful. “You need to go back there, you need to try and sort things
out. If that doesn’t work, then come back to me, and we’ll go on from there
together. I’m needing a herd, and I did look at trying to join snowdrop’s, but
what would she want with a huge mare like me.” “Why don’t you ask me?” Someone
asked.
Whitehoof knew straight away that it was Snowdrop. “What, what is
happening?” he asked in a very surprised tone. “Why have you followed me here
mum, what do you want. I thought you ordered me to leave the herd and now here
you are miles away, why have you followed me ?” “I did not order you to leave
the herd!” Snowdrop said sternly “
) “You left of your own free will,” She continued. Whitehoof stared at his
mother. “I realised you were in no fit state to look after yourself, so I
thought I’d tag along, keep an eye, that sort of thing,” Snowdrop said.
Whitehoof was extremely grateful and very angry all at once. He desperately
wanted to be found, but on the other hoof he hadn’t wanted to be found. Now here
he was, and his mother hadn’t just stumbled upon him in the night, she’d
followed him. Whitehoof looked at the two horses. “Who is this mare mum?” “Why
don’t you ask her?” Snowdrop replied. “What is your name?” Whitehoof asked
nervously. The huge Irish Draft mare smiled: “my name’s felicity,” the mare
replied. Snowdrop looked at her foal. “Let’s go home,” she said. Felicity
followed them back to the wood. Snowdrop made no attempt to stop her.
Pip knew Snowdrop had followed Whitehoof. Snowdrop had left Sam in
charge with Poppy as his second in command. As the three horses came into view
Pip hid under a bush. Snowdrop had spotted Pip and ran ahead of Whitehoof and
Felicity to talk to her.
Snowdrop skidded to a stop by the bush Pip was hiding beneath. She crawled
under the bush. “Where did you find him!” Pip asked. “I tailed Whitehoof, you
know that bit,” Snowdrop replied, “he came to a stop about five miles from here,
when felicity stopped him. “Who’s Felicity Snowdrop?” Pip asked. Snowdrop waved
a white hoof in the general direction of the huge Irish draft mare. Pip stared
at her leader. “I didn’t want him to go,” she said faintly, “I was worried he’d
get injured, or worse! I’ve been thinking Snowdrop, and, well, I don’t know if I
really could leave Whitehoof.” He’s been thinking too Pip,” The white mare said,
“I think you two had better talk it over.” With that she left Pip to think.
Pip lay under the bush, her mind was whirling. Before she had left,
Snowdrop had held her tightly and told her that she loved her. Suddenly she felt
someone gently nuzzling her. “Pip!” Whitehoof said quietly, “Please May we
talk?” Pip looked at him for a long time before speaking. Her smile was stern
but her eyes were soft. Whitehoof wasn’t sure what to do next, he started to
move away. “Don’t go!” Pip indicated to him to lie down beside her. “I’m so
sorry Pip!” White hoof whispered nervously. He daren’t move any closer to her, he
wasn’t sure what her reaction to his apology would be.
Pip beckoned to Whitehoof to come closer. Hesitantly, he moved closer, one
hoof in front of the other, dreading the flying hoof coming his way. When he was
beside her, Pip motioned to him to lie down. He did so. Pip held him close, then
she began to nuzzle and fuss over him. She started at his ears, nuzzling and
stroking, then his neck, then his shoulder, right down to his white hoof, which
she touched with her muzzle like she’d done in the past. That past seemed a long
way distant to Whitehoof. The feeling of his mate’s ministration thrilled the
gelding, who’d never believed he’d ever see her again. When Pip had finished her
exploration of his body, she lay down, satisfied that he wasn’t damaged in any
way. Whitehoof leant across to her and, Closing his eyes, repeated what she’d
done to him, finishing off as she had by touching her tiny hoof with his muzzle.
In his joy at her acceptance of him, he’d forgotten she hated anyone touching
her hooves. He remembered the second he touched Pip’s tiny hoof. Drawing back in
terror, he gabbled an apology to her. “It’s okay,” Pip said dreamily, go ahead,
touch all four of my hooves. I said you could if I changed my mind, I don’t mind
it any more.” Whitehoof gently touched all four of her hooves, while Pip,
ecstatic at having her sweetheart back again, drifted away into a dream.
Whitehoof watched her sleeping, and wondered why he’d put everything he’d ever
had in danger.
Pip slept for a long time, while Whitehoof, unable to sleep, watched over
her. She woke in the early morning. Seeing Whitehoof was exhausted, she asked:
“Have you been awake all night?” Whitehoof nodded. “Why?” Pip enquired.
Whitehoof couldn’t tell her of his inner turmoil. He didn’t want to lose her
ever again. “I was keeping watch over you,” was all he said. Pip went to
Whitehoof and hugged him. “I love you so very much,” she said.
Pip knew something was not right. "Whitehoof" she said quietly
"What is the matter, I know there is something troubling you, please tell me, I
love you whitehoof and nothing will change that.” He didn't know what to do, he
did not want to lose her again, he loved her too much ... he clung onto her
tightly. "Hey, don't squash me!” Pip smiled tenderly at him.
“It’s mum,” Whitehoof said suddenly, “she doesn’t deal out punishment to
the horses when they do wrong! She thinks talking to them will work, and it
sometimes does, but she doesn’t raise a hoof to them, ever!” “Violence solves
nothing Whitehoof,” Pip replied, “anyway,” she added, “we haven’t got a
discipline problem in this herd. And if Snowdrop does raise a hoof to a horse,
it is not in blows and a lot of swearing, she does it in ways that neither you
or I really know about.” “The burning hooves business?” Whitehoof asked. “Yes,”
Pip said, “Emily asked Snowdrop about it once, and she regretted it. Snowdrop
showed her the power she had. It frightened Emily a great deal. Snowdrop
punishes those horses that need it in ways that they will not easily forget. She
doesn’t hit horses with her hooves, after all, and I’m sure she won’t mind me
saying this, they’re too small.” “but she hasn’t marked a single horse in her
entire time in charge!” Whitehoof squealed. “Would you like her to mark more
horses?” Pip asked, “Whitehoof, would you like her to exclude more horses? Or
would you like Snowdrop to reserve the mark for exceptional cases where first
diplomacy, then a sharp shock have failed? Answer me that if you will.”
Whitehoof looked at his mate. “Pip, maybe, maybe I am hoof happy. I don’t know
why, but mum’s style of leadership seems all upside down. I know I shouldn’t say
it really.” “So you would like Snowy to use her hooves a bit more?” Pip asked.
“well, yes I would,” Whitehoof replied. Pip looked at a point somewhere behind
his right shoulder and said: “okay, show him.” Suddenly Whitehoof was lifted off
his feet by a two pronged attack! Snowdrop’s attack was swift and accurate, her
hind feet smashed into his body, lifting him off his feet and sending him
spinning through the air, to crash painfully on the grass a few feet away. “That
is why she doesn’t use her hooves!” Pip snapped.
“Ok mum, ok!” Whitehoof cried, “you win, I’m sorry!”
Snowdrop looked down at her foal. “You know we can jump quite high if we
wish don’t you Whitehoof?” “yes mum,” Whitehoof sobbed. “Well,” Snowdrop said,
“what if that power was used in another way, to lash out for example?” Whitehoof
looked at his mother through his tears. “all right mum,” he said. Whitehoof
looked at Snowdrop’s hooves. How could she have got enough power behind them to
lift him off his feet. Snowdrop lifted a hind foot and showed it to him. “that
was what did the job,” she said. “I know, I know!” Whitehoof whinnied. He looked
at the two mares. “Could you both do that?” he asked. “We have amazing strength
in our hind legs,” Pip replied. “I don’t wish to find out!” Whitehoof whimpered.
He looked down at his white hoof, ashamed of what he’d done. “Now you’ve seen
what my hooves can do,” Snowdrop said, “would you still like me to use them a
bit more?” “No!” Whitehoof squealed.
“Right, that’s it then!” Snowdrop said. “Now I am taking Pip to meet
Felicity.
They left Whitehoof to rest. He hadn’t slept, so was glad for some time
alone. He needed to think about what his mother had said. Snowdrop and Pip found
Felicity talking to Sam and Poppy. A large crowd had gathered to see the
newcomer to the herd.
Hearing her coming, Sam ran to Snowdrop and hugged her. Laughing
delightedly, she returned his embrace, while Felicity looked on, stunned into
silence by the gelding’s forward manner with his leader. Mouth gaping with shock
she watched as Snowdrop, clearly enjoying the moment, rubbed noses with Sam.
Felicity was about to tell him that this was not something one did to their
leader when she remembered he was second in command. Pip couldn’t help smiling
at the scene. “They are both as soppy as each other!” she whinnied. Sam released
Snowdrop and they joined the group. Snowdrop introduced Felicity to the horses
who were present, explaining who she was, and how she’d come to be in the herd.
Archie remarked on her size: “Isn’t she a bit big? He asked. “She probably
thinks you are rather small,” was Snowdrop’s reply. This silenced Archie. He
knew he was a newcomer in the herd, and therefore couldn’t say much. Bella
squealed: “She’s got massive hooves Snowdrop!” “It’s okay Bella, she’s not going
to use them on you my dear., Snowdrop said softly. Many of the Falabella horses
had never seen such a massive mare as Felicity before. They came up to her and
asked her all sorts of questions, which to her must have seemed unusual, if not
plain crazy! “Why are you so large?” And, “how did you manage to get such big
hooves!” To name but two. Felicity answered them as best she could. The question
about her hooves stumped her though. “Why have you got such small hooves?” she
asked. They couldn’t reply. Felicity was soon playing with the bigger horses,
and trying for all she was worth to play with the foals and Falabella horses,
but for some reason unknown to her, they avoided playing with her. After a week
of this rejection, Felicity went to Snowdrop and asked her about it. “It’s
nothing you can help,” the white mare said, “you’re just too large!” Felicity
loved the Falabella horses very much.
Whitehoof lay under a tree. He thought about his mum, and why she never
used her hooves against any horse. He felt the bruises starting where the hard
hooves hit him. He admitted to himself that he’d pushed her to it. Or rather
She’d heard him and Pip discussing it, listened some more, Pip had seen her, and
weaved her into the discussion, ending up with the most ferocious attack he’d
known from a Falabella horse. He realised that Snowdrop’s way of talking rather
than physically attacking was the best way to go. Getting to his feet, he made
his way back to the herd.
Seeing him coming, Snowdrop and Pip went to him. Pip hugged Whitehoof
tightly, whereas Snowdrop was still distant. She asked: “Have you thought about
what happened earlier?” Whitehoof looked at his mum.
“Yes I have!” Whitehoof replied. “That’s good, now, Pip and I have work to
do with the new foals being born and then there’s Emily, she hasn’t got long
until her next foal comes.” “I love you mum!” Whitehoof said. “I know,” she
nudged him gently, “I love both you and Pip more than words can explain, now, I
have to go, see you later!” Snowdrop left Pip and Whitehoof. Whitehoof hugged
Pip tightly before letting her leave to do her duties.
Snowdrop found Emily foaling. Realising the mare hadn’t seen her, Snowdrop
hid under a bush and watched over her. The foal was half born when Snowdrop had
first set eyes on Emily, and with a massive effort, Emily gave birth to a
beautiful filly. Exhausted, Emily lay, eyes closed, recovering from it all.
Snowdrop waited, safe in the knowledge that she hadn’t disturbed Emily or her
foal. The filly got to her feet and staggered towards Emily’s head. Thumping her
nose with her tiny muzzle, the filly whinnied shrilly: “is there any food here?”
Emily’s eyes snapped open and she stared into her foal’s eyes. The filly,
obviously not one for being messed around, said sharply: “I’m hungry! Is there
any food here!” Emily got up and the filly moved to take her first drink of
milk. Snowdrop then thought it right to move into the open. Seeing her, Emily
squealed: “Where did you come from Snowy!” Snowdrop smiled broadly. “I was here
all the time, I saw your foal being born, but I kept out of the way. You were,
and are doing fine.” Emily looked down at the tiny filly, who had finished her
drink and was now staring open mouthed at Snowdrop. “are, are you another foal?”
she asked hesitantly. “No,” Snowdrop replied, stretching her nose towards the
tiny creature. The filly and Snowdrop rubbed noses. “Snowdrop is the herd
leader,” Emily said. The filly rubbed her muzzle against Snowdrop’s thick warm
fur, unable to take her eyes off this strange white mare. “Stop staring at her!”
Emily whinnied, “You’ll stare Snowdrop out of existence!” The filly dragged her
eyes reluctantly from Snowdrop. “Come here,” Emily said. The filly went to her.
“Let Snowy do her work,” Emily said firmly. Emily’s foal watched Snowdrop turn
and leave. “She’s lovely mum,” the filly said, her eyes full of wonder, “do you
like her?” Emily smiled with genuine pleasure. “Yes, I like her very much,” Emily replied, “Snowdrop and I have been friends for many years.”
Snowdrop found Pip playing with the other foals, there were quite a few
now as the falabella horses who had joined the herd after the fire had also
given birth. “Emily’s had her foal!” Snowdrop said excitedly to Pip. “Oh that’s
wonderful!” Pip smiled. “A filly, don’t know what she has called her yet, but
she’s beautiful” Snowdrop went on. Emily arrived with the newest
member of the herd. Pip went and nuzzled her friend. “Well done Emily, has Ben
seen her yet?” “Not yet!” Emily replied returning Pip’s affection.
Ben appeared then. Seeing the tiny Filly, he stared in horror! “What, what
on earth is that!” he shrieked. “My foal, your foal, our foal Ben!” Emily
whinnied, her voice rising to a squeal. “I don’t know if you haven’t taken a
good look at her, or if you suddenly can’t see her Emily, but she, she’s,
Silver! Her fur is so bright it hurts!” Emily looked at the filly, who was now
close to tears. She had a grey coat, that when the light hit it, shone like
Stirling Silver. Emily also noticed the filly had a dark grey mane and tail, and
white hooves, strange as both her and Ben had black hooves. There was no doubt
about who’s foal she was though, and this frightened Ben more than anything. He
knew this filly was his, and her strange markings unnerved him, whereas Emily
didn’t seem to mind. “She wouldn’t mind,” Ben thought, “a mare never minds what
their foals look like, they’ll love them all the same, but a filly with a silver
coat! Oh no!” Ben looked round him desperately. He saw Snowdrop, Pip, Sam and a
lot of newborn foals, but his foal, the Silver one, stood out as clearly as
Snowdrop did. Ben didn’t like this! He said to Snowdrop, in the hearing of both
Emily and her foal: “Is this silver coat permanent? She won’t, just, just grow
out of it, it fall out or something will it?” Snowdrop shook her head, keeping
her anger and rage at Ben to herself. The filly cuddled closer to Emily, who lay
down to comfort her. “It’ll be all right,” she said softly to the filly, who was
now sobbing into her mane. Ben looked down at the filly with distaste. “How
could you have given birth to something that looks like that!” he screamed. The
filly suddenly walked up to Ben, and touched his foreleg with her muzzle. Ben
recoiled as if he’d been electrocuted! The fur stood up on his back and he
looked confused. Then he collapsed onto the forest floor! After a few minutes,
Ben got to his feet and stumbled away. All through this, the filly looked
mystified. “I only touched him mum, to calm him down! Now it’s all gone wrong!”
She whinnied pitifully. “It’s okay Silver, We’ll work this out together,” Emily
replied softly. Looking at her foal, Emily admitted to herself that her coat was
a bit unusual, but it looked fabulous when the light caught it, shining so
brightly it hurt her eyes. Emily looked at her foal, taking her in from her
brown eyes, to her tiny grey ears, to her dark grey mane, almost silver grey
coat, and finally her white hooves. Emily felt a rush of emotion that she
couldn’t control, that ended up with her taking a few deep breaths to steady
herself from what would have turned out to have been a flood of tears of joy at
the arrival of this filly in her life. Emily decided, that no matter what Ben
thought, she’d look after this filly, even if it was the end for their
relationship.
Once all the foals had gone back to their mothers after the days work,
Snowdrop and Pip stayed with Emily and Silver. Pip couldn’t believe how
beautiful Silver was, she watched the tiny filly rolling around in the evening
sunshine. Not thinking, she made a comment to Emily about Silver’s coat which
she didn’t think silver had heard. “I’m not beautiful!” she screamed at Pip, “I
stand out like a sore hoof! Ben doesn’t like me, I’m going to run away when I get
the chance!”
“Ben doesn’t like you, that’s certain, I’m sorry about that Silver, but
that doesn’t mean you are not beautiful!” Emily whinnied. Snowdrop, overhearing
the growing crisis, went to Silver and hugged her tightly. “Do you remember me
Silver?” Snowdrop whispered. Silver suddenly relaxed into the white mare’s warm
embrace. “I remember you Snowdrop,” she said dreamily. Snowdrop nuzzled her ear.
“Silver, Remember this,” Snowdrop replied gently, “No matter what other horses
may say about you, your mother, Pip, Sam and I all love you dearly. Keep that in
your thoughts all the time and you’ll be okay.” Silver looked into the white
mare’s eyes. “Mum said to me that she liked you very much. If it’s all right,
could I say that too?” Silver asked. Snowdrop felt the filly’s emotional
turmoil. She said: “Yes Silver, you can say that, thank you very much. Silver,
remember this, I will look after you when your mother isn’t here, so will Pip.
You are safe here, your Silver fur is beautiful, I like it, Pip does too, and as
for Emily, she wouldn’t change anything about you for the world. Silver, If you
need to talk, or just want a hug, for we all need help or reassurance sometimes,
even I do, and I’m leader, you can come to any of us. We’re here to help you and
your mother Silver. I don’t want to hear any more about running away, okay?”
Silver felt the white mare’s presence, and it calmed her. “All right Snowdrop,”
Silver said. Snowdrop stroked Silver’s ear with her muzzle. Silver relaxed
enough to close her eyes and rest her head on Snowdrop’s shoulder. “I like you
very much Snowy,” she murmured. Snowdrop saw Sam stiffen with the mention of her
pet name, by one, who had not been given permission to use it. “It’s okay,”
Snowdrop said, “I decide who will use my pet name, and Silver hasn’t used it as
an insult, nor has she done anything to prohibit her from using it. Anyway,
Emily probably used it when talking to her about me, and what could Silver
possibly know about protocols?” Sam relaxed. He mentally kicked himself for
being so protective of this mare. He’d forgotten she’d battled adversity and
won. That was why he’d chosen her as leader. Snowdrop released Silver, who
watched her go with obvious reluctance. Emily looked at her foal. “Come on
Silver, let’s go,” she said, turning away from the group. Silver followed her
into the trees. They met Ben on the track. Seeing them, he stopped and let Emily
come up to him. “Have you rethought your views?” Emily asked calmly. Ben looked
at Silver. “I can’t help thinking of all that Snowdrop said about the seventh
foal n’all that,” he said, “it can’t happen within your breed, it was only
Falabella horses, and it had to be the seventh foal of the seventh foal, and
you’ve only had two, and we aren’t Falabella horses Emily! No I have not
rethought my views! That filly frightens the fur off me, and I disown her here
and now! I’d ask you to do the same. Go on, leave her, leave her to whatever
wants to take her! A filly with a coat like that is not possible from a union
between me and you, and have you seen her hooves? They’re white! Look at your
hooves Emily, go on, look at them! What do you see?” Emily looked down at her
own hooves. They were black. “They’re black Ben,” she said. Ben continued: “now
look at mine, se anything similar?” Ben showed her all four of his hooves.
“Well?” he asked. “They’re black,” Emily said faintly. “now look at that filly’s
hooves!” Ben yelled. “That filly has a name,” Silver snapped, “my name’s
Silver!” Ben commanded: “Show me your hooves, all four of them! Go on, lift them
one by one!” Miserably Silver did so, realising she had been ignored by the
large angry stallion. Ben looked down at Silver’s feet. “Emily,” he said, “do
you notice anything about this foal’s hooves?” “They’re small,” Emily replied.
“I know that!” Ben snapped irritably, “I didn’t mean that! You know very well
what I meant! Now tell me!” “They’re white,” Emily said. “And what colour are
yours and mine Emily,” he asked acidly. “they’re black Ben,” Emily replied. “I
know this foal is mine Emily, so how could it happen!” Ben screamed. “I don’t
know!” Emily squealed, “it’s not my fault Ben!” Silver couldn’t take any more of
this. Galloping into the trees she disappeared from sight. Tripping over roots
and blundering into trees in her haste to get out of an awful situation, she
ended up falling over a root and winding herself. While she was recovering, a
voice in a bush off to her right said: “Me see you in bad way, Brock here to
help.” Silver looked to her right and saw a massive animal with a black and
white striped face emerging from the undergrowth. Curious, she leant closer,
until their noses touched. “Excuse me, what are you?” Silver asked slowly, in case
the badger couldn’t understand her. “Me badger,” Brock said, “and me be named
Brock. Me think you be named Silver, me correct?” Silver smiled at the badger’s
way of talking. “Yes, Brock, my name is Silver, and my mum is in an argument
with another horse about me.” “Me know all this thing,” Brock replied gently,
“me also know that Silver be blamed for something that no her fault! Emily too!
Brock no happy with this! Me hear big horse called Ben call Emily horrible
things, foal too! Me protect Emily and Silver like crazy! Me bring down bigger
horses than Ben before!” Silver looked down at Brock’s massive paws. “Yes, I
could believe that,” she said. Brock nuzzled Silver’s ear. “Come,” he said, “me
go with you to find Silver mother, then me make sure Ben no make life into hell
place for Silver and mother, okay?” Silver suddenly felt a great warmth towards
this strange badger. Getting to her feet, she and Brock returned to the place
where Silver last knew Ben and Emily to be. When they got there, Ben and Emily were standing a few feet apart. When they saw the badger, Emily looked pleased to see
him, while Ben looked fearful. “Me know and me also see what you make Silver
do!” Brock yelled, “me also know what you say about her, and me will tell
Snowdrop!” Ben’s eyes told the badger that he was terrified!
Ben suddenly whirled round and lashed out at Brock! Silver couldn’t squeal
a warning fast enough, but then it was Ben’s turn to scream. The badger caught
the stallion’s right hind foot in two huge forepaws and twisted it sharply.
Screaming with fear and pain, Ben collapsed onto the forest floor. Silver
couldn’t believe what happened next. A gang of badgers came out from the
undergrowth, tied Ben’s legs together and then left him to think. “Me think
Silver and Silver mother get out of here plenty quickly,” Brock said, “go see
Snowdrop.” Silver needed no telling and turning, she bolted into the trees,
Emily following behind.
Emily and her foal raced back to the herd’s base. Finding Whitehoof, Emily
squealed at him: “Whitehoof, where’s Snowdrop! Ben’s gone crazy, lashed out at
Silver, and, and, well, the badgers tied him up, but that can’t last forever!
Ben doesn’t like Silver in the slightest, and I don’t want to lose her
Whitehoof! Where’s your mum?” Whitehoof turned and led Emily, now more terrified
than ever, into the forest where his mother and Sam were having a meeting.
Hearing his footfalls, Sam snapped: “Whitehoof, you know this is a private
meeting! I said I’d talk to you later, now go away!” Whitehoof interrupted the
gelding. “Can’t you wait to see what I want?” he asked irritably. “Let him say
his piece Sam,” Snowdrop said gently. Whitehoof looked with rising anger at Sam.
“It so happens,” Whitehoof said carefully, trying not to lose his temper, “that
Ben doesn’t really like Silver, and worse, is threatening to harm her. Brock
managed to keep Ben’s ambitions under wraps for the moment, but my fear, and
Emily’s too, is that he’ll try something very soon indeed. Now Sam, is anything
more important than the life of a foal? You know, and mum knows also, that even
though I have done and said some awful things in the past, I was leader once,
and I know about private meetings, but I also know that some things override
others in importance, the life of a foal for example. Now I have said my piece,
I’ll go, but remember Sam, Silver is in danger.” With that Whitehoof turned and
strode away. Snowdrop looked at her second in command and said: “I think he’s
right,” she said, “your and Jess’s problems might be of great importance to you,
but the greater good must be served Sam, and at this moment, Silver’s life is in
danger, and that’s vastly more deserving of our time than, with all due respect
to you and Jess, your slight problems. I think if you were living in fear of
your life, or in fear that someone would take your foal’s life, you’d agree.”
Sam swallowed a rush of anger. Snowdrop seemed to sense it and said: “You might
not consider whether Silver lives or dies more important, but I do. I’m going to
talk with Emma and Poppy, maybe they can make Ben see sense.” With that she
turned and left Sam to think about his priorities.
Snowdrop followed her foal to where Ben was lying still securely tied In
knots. She was surprised but relieved to see Emma watching over the whole sorry
situation. The massive Shire mare looked with contempt at Ben. “How could any
horse even think of harming Silver!” She asked angrily. “Some do not subscribe
to the same values we do Emma,” Snowdrop replied. Snowdrop looked at Ben. The
stallion’s eyes met hers, and they were furious! “I hate that foal!” Ben yelled,
“she’s one like you isn’t she Snowdrop!” Snowdrop knew what he meant, and knew
also that Silver had no powers like her’s. “No Ben,” Snowdrop replied, “she’s
not like me. Her fur is of unusual mark, but she is no different to Emily when
she was a filly. You saw Emily as a foal, While she didn’t have Silver fur, she was in all
respects like Silver is now.” Ben looked into the white mare’s eyes. “Do you
love Emily Ben?” Silver asked. “After what she’s given birth to, I don’t know
any more. As I’ve said to her Snowdrop, a union between Emily and myself could
not possibly produce a foal like that!” Snowdrop turned to see Silver watching
all that was going on. “What must all this be doing to her?” Snowdrop thought.
Silver went to look for her mother. She found Emily clinging to Pip,
sobbing as if her heart would break. “I’ve never, ever been with another horse!”
Emily was crying, “He doesn’t believe me Pip, he thinks that Silver does not
belong to him, but she does! Honest she does!”
Pip Said: “if he felt Silver wasn’t his foal, he’d have left the wood ages
ago. What frightens Ben more than anything is the knowledge that Silver is his
foal Emily! He can’t believe what’s happened, and he’s trying to blame someone
for something they could never have influenced in a million years!” Silver saw
her mum crying, and heard all the talk. She didn’t understand why the big
stallion was angry with her mum, nor did she understand why she’d been made to
show them her hooves. Silver wondered why her mum was always upset, was it
because of her? Silver turned and walked back to where Snowdrop stood talking to
Sam. When she saw Silver, Snowdrop went across to her and hugged her. How good
that felt! Silver found herself cuddling up to Snowdrop, even though she tried
not to. “We need to do all we can to protect her Sam,” Snowdrop said. Sam had
thought long and hard about things, and come to the conclusion that his problems
were small compared to Silver’s. “Yes we do need to protect her,” Sam said.
Emily found Silver being hugged by Snowdrop. She watched the two horses,
realising while she watched, that Silver was relaxed with Snowdrop in a way that
she never was with her. Why was this? Emily felt a moment of rage against the
filly, but then she remembered the arguments between herself and Ben, and
thought of how they must have made Silver feel. “The poor Filly’s probably
blaming herself for what’s going on,” Emily thought miserably, “she’s probably
hearing what I say to Ben and what he says to me about her, and she feels it’s
all her fault. Silver goes to Snowdrop for refuge and comfort from what she
knows, deep down isn’t her fault, but she feels Ben and I are blaming her for
everything.” Silver whispered to Snowdrop: “I want to stay with you Snowdrop,
you don’t blame me for everything like mum and Ben do. It’s horrible! They
always talk about me as if I was a bad filly! What have I done? You are leader,
if you want to, tell me what I’ve done, then punish me, because I want to know!”
Snowdrop nuzzled Silver’s ear, which she knew calmed the filly. “Listen,” she
said, “you haven’t done anything wrong! I don’t want to punish you Silver. What
your mum and Ben are arguing about is not your fault! You need not worry about
anything. Tell you what I’ll do. If you do anything wrong, I’ll tell you. This
is until your mum and Ben have sorted their problems out. What they say to each
other is not doing you any good Silver. I was worried you’d blame yourself for
everything, but it’s not your fault my dear.” Silver looked into the white
Falabella mare’s eyes. They held a look in them that Silver had only seen once
in her own mother’s eyes, long ago, before all this trouble started. Silver now
felt that her mother at best mistrusted her, at worst, despised her, and like
Ben, wanted her dead. These thoughts crowded in on the filly. Burying her face
in Snowdrop’s warm coat, Silver burst into tears. Snowdrop nuzzled and licked
Silver’s ear. “I’ll protect you,” she whispered, “you’re safe with me Silver
dear.”
Silver wept uncontrollably. Once her tears had subsided Snowdrop hugged
Silver close, “Go and find Pip and play with the foals whilst I talk to your
mother!” “Thank you Snowdrop!” Silver replied. Silver left Snowdrop to talk to Emily.
Snowdrop watched the filly leave, marvelling at how her Silver coat shone in the sunshine. Emily also
watched. Turning to her, Snowdrop said: “Silver’s very upset Emily. She feels
everything is her fault.” “Why?” Emily asked, and regretted it two seconds
after. Snowdrop’s fur stood up on her back, and Emily saw the white Falabella
mare show anger for the first time in her company. “You are a grown mare Emily!”
Snowdrop snapped, “why do you think poor Silver feels the way she does? Think,
and think hard!” Emily was shocked by the white mare’s sudden change of mood.
“Because, because of what Ben and I have said lately?” She asked lamely. “yes,”
Snowdrop replied angrily, “she feels that Ben hates her,” “Well he does!” Emily
squealed, “that’s no secret!” “and,” Snowdrop said, raising a forefoot for
emphasis, “she feels you mistrust her, or even despise her Emily!” Seeing the
mare’s raised hoof, Emily was careful about what she said next. “I don’t hate
her Snowdrop.” “You haven’t done very well in showing her that you don’t, have
you Emily! All you’ve done is talk about her, using what can only be described
as awful words, and then you start asking her to pick up her hooves so you could
take a look at them, as if she was some kind of criminal!” “That wasn’t me!”
Emily shrieked, “that was Ben, and yes he was rather short with her. He demanded
that she pick up her feet, one by one, so that he could take a look at them! I
didn’t! Ben was trying to make a point about her parentage. Trying to make a
point about the fact that if Silver was his, then she couldn’t possibly have
white hooves! She is his foal Snowdrop! I haven’t been with another horse! I
love Silver and everything about her! Her coat, her hooves, her ears,
everything!” “Be careful you don’t damage the other bit you haven’t mentioned,”
Snowdrop said, “because you will if you carry on like you are doing.” “what have
I left out?” Emily asked. “Her mind Emily. You aren’t damaging her coat, ears or
hooves by your actions, but her mind and personality , the most important part
of her, is easily damaged at her age. She will end up hating herself Emily. Do
you remember when Pip commented about her coat? Silver told her that she felt
she was not beautiful, because Ben hated her. Now you are asking her to make an
exhibition of herself for your own sordid ends! “Show me your hooves, and do it
now!” you say. Silver complied, but she had no choice whether to or not. If
I was to ask her to show me her hooves, it would be because I thought they were
a beautiful part of her, and she would know it too! But she knows, that if you
or Ben ask her to show you her hooves, it is because you hate them, and by
extension her! I don’t wish to be the one to pick up the peaces when you’ve
messed up her life Emily! I will, however, exercise my right as leader to act as
guardian to a foal, who’s parents seem unable to look after it. I will take
responsibility for Silver’s upbringing and well being if you and Ben cannot. I
know this is my duty as leader, but it is not just a duty, it will not be
carried out with the detachment of duty, if needs arise it will be carried out
with the love I have for that filly. I know she’ll be larger than me by a good
margin when she’s older, but that should not matter. If I feel that it is
necessary, I will take over from you and Ben. Remember this Emily, and
communicate it to Ben. Tell him what I’ve said, but do not, ever tell Silver!
Leave it to me to do that, for you have done enough damage. If you cannot start
repairing that damage, I will do as I have told you, and Silver’s well being
will not be your concern any more.” Emily knew of the stigma that went with
having a foal taken forcefully from a mare. She knew her name would be mud, and
that she would be looked down upon, even by the Falabella horses. Turning, Emily
went away to think. Silver saw her leave and went back to Snowdrop. “I, I
couldn’t help listening,” the filly said, her voice trembling, “please Snowdrop,
tell me what’s going on!” She pleaded. Snowdrop looked kindly into Silver’s
eyes. “Lie down here,” she said, patting the ground with a forefoot before lying
down herself. Silver did so, and Snowdrop drew her close. “As you have asked me
what I was talking about, and I believe you to be a sensible filly, and despite
your age, able to understand such things as I will say,” Snowdrop said gently,
“I will tell you all.” Silver worked closer to the white Falabella mare. “It’s
not very nice,” Snowdrop said, “would you still like me to tell you it all?”
Silver nodded. “Tell me,” she said, “for I know you are a kind, gentle mare
Snowy.” Snowdrop hugged Silver tightly. “Tell me if you want me to stop my
tale,” Snowdrop said. Silver buried her face in the snowy white mane of the mare
she now loved very much. Inhaling deeply, Silver smelt Snowdrop’s warm, safe
cent, rather like coconut oil it was. This strange cent coupled with the
Falabella mare’s warmth seemed to envelope Silver, and she found it comforting.
Silver whispered: “Go on Snowy, tell me the story.”
Snowdrop looked at Silver, wishing she didn’t have to tell her about hate
and pain. “Silver knows enough about it already poor thing,” Snowdrop thought.
Taking a deep breath, Snowdrop began to tell her tale. “When you were born
Silver, Ben didn’t like the look of you. Now he wonders if you are his foal.
Emily says you are his foal, but he doesn’t believe her because of how you
look.” “They made me show them my hooves Snowy,” Silver whispered, “why did they
do that? I don’t mind showing them my hooves, you can look if you would like.
I’d like you to look at them. But they, the horses, they made me feel as if I
was not worth anything! The mare they call Emily and the stallion they call Ben,
they were angry Snowy, and it, it scared me, I didn’t like it!” Snowdrop hugged
Silver to her. “it’s okay Silver dear,” she said softly. Silver clung tightly to
Snowdrop. “I heard you say you would take care of me Snowy,” Silver said, “will
you? Please, would you look after me?” Snowdrop looked at the filly. She took
her in from nose to tail. Snowdrop gazed for a long time at Silver’s grey coat,
and her white hooves. Seeing she was being appraised, Silver flicked her mane
about a bit. Then she extended a forefoot towards Snowdrop. “Take a look at my
hoof, please Snowdrop. Take a look at all four if you like. I know you will not
say horrid things about me. I know you love me Snowdrop, I can feel it.”
Snowdrop looked down at Silver’s hoof. She then touched it with her muzzle. “You
don’t use my looks against me Snowdrop, and I’m glad about that,” Silver said,
“Emily and Ben use my looks to tell me I’m worthless to them. I know, if I can
say it, that I’m not worthless to you Snowy.” Snowdrop swallowed hard, trying to
control her desire to embrace this filly, to throw down her life for her if need
be. Silver reached over and touched Snowdrop’s tiny forefoot with her muzzle.
She then cuddled up to Snowdrop once more. Looking into the white mare’s eyes
Silver said: “I love you very much Snowdrop. I feel safe with you. You won’t use
my looks against me, it’s clear to me that you love me for who I am now, and I
hope, will forever do so. Please Snowdrop, I know it’s not within your plans,
but could you please look after me? I can’t go back! I don’t want to go back to
where they argue over things that I cannot change! Ben and Emily want me to be
something I’m not Snowdrop! I can’t be what they want! You though, you like me
for who I am, white hooves and everything else! You know I began to hate myself
for how I looked. I hated my hooves and my coat, and everything! Now though,
since you and Pip and Whitehoof, and all the others, including Brock, who also
has been a dear friend to me, have told me what you all think of me, I know, or
am starting to realise that I’m not worthless to those around me. I am beginning
to realise that if I ran away, or worse, there would be horses who’d miss me.
Snowdrop, if you can find the strength, for I know your foal raising days are
over, if you can find the patience and love to give to a filly that looks as
strange as me, please, let me stay!” This impassioned plea from a tiny filly,
only two weeks old, would have melted the heart of any right thinking horse.
Snowdrop had made up her mind before Silver had virtually prostrated herself at
her feet and begged for her help. “I will care for you Silver my dear,” Snowdrop
said gently, “come here Silver my pet,” she continued, “come here and let me
take a long look at you.” Silver sat up, taking her weight off of Snowdrop’s
shoulder. She got to her feet and faced the white mare. Snowdrop paced round
Silver, taking her in from all angles. Silver even raised a hind foot for
Snowdrop to examine. “I’m just fixing you in my mind,” Snowdrop said, “for you
Silver, along with Whitehoof, are my foals.” Silver looked across to where
Whitehoof and Pip stood watching. It was clear Whitehoof had seen all, and Pip
certainly had, for she was close to tears. Whitehoof went to his mother and
said: “My mum will look after you Silver, like she looked after me.” With that
he turned and returned to Pip’s side. Snowdrop hugged Silver to her. “Welcome
home,” she said.
Emily found Ben untied, and standing looking bewildered in a clearing.
When he saw her he demanded: “Have you lost that horrid filly?” Emily, still
upset by Snowdrop’s threat to take Silver from her, snapped: “I haven’t lost
her, for the moment. Ben, Snowdrop has threatened to take Silver from us if we
can’t stop arguing about her! She basically accused us of damaging Silver, and
Ben, I’m afraid we have! We have harmed her greatly by what we’ve said and done
Ben, and now, I fear it’s too late!” Ben was furious! “I will, I will smash her
up if she lays a hoof on Silver!” Ben yelled. Emily knew Ben was serious about
his intentions, and also knew he wouldn’t get very far. They returned to where
Snowdrop and Silver stood together. “We’ve come for our foal,” Ben said.
Snowdrop looked at Silver. “If she will go with you, then that’s fine by me,”
she said, “but if she doesn’t want to go, then you will have to respect that.”
Ben looked at Silver, who’s wide terrified eyes told him everything. “What have
you said to her!” Ben yelled. “I think she overheard what Snowdrop and I were
talking about,” Emily said. “Are you sure that white scrap didn’t tell her
everything?” Ben spat. Emily replied: “No Ben, Snowdrop’s integrity is well
known. If however, Silver overheard what we were talking about, and asked
Snowdrop to explain it to her. Then Silver might know all, for she knew it to be
bad, what we were discussing, and Snowdrop told her how bad I don’t doubt.”
Silver’s face told them all. “you hate me because of what I look like,” Silver
said, “Snowdrop doesn’t hate me. She didn’t make me show her my hooves like you
did. I don’t want to stay with you, in a place where I am argued about, where I
feel I’m worthless. Snowdrop cares about all of me, my coat, my hooves, and most
of all, my mind.” Ben raised a hind foot and flexed it. Snowdrop saw this and
said: “Stiff fetlock Ben? Or were you planning something else.” Ben whipped
round and lashed out furiously! His aim wasn’t so good, and his kick headed
straight for Silver. Snowdrop threw herself in front of the hoof, and Ben’s foot
smashed into her shoulder. Ben screamed in agony and limped away. Snowdrop
watched him go. “To think he could do something like attack his own foal!”
Snowdrop whinnied angrily. “You mean, that, well, he wasn’t aiming at you?”
Emily asked. “No, I thought he was, so did we all. No Emily, he wanted to kill
Silver. Ben’s aim isn’t that poor.” Emily stared at the white mare in horror!
“Just get her out of here!” Emily screamed, “I don’t care where you take
her Snowdrop, just get Silver out of danger!” Snowdrop looked at the terrified
mare. “I can’t hide her away Emily, tell you what I’ll do, I’ll make sure Ben
never does this again. I can, and I will!” Emily’s mouth was dry and she
couldn’t answer. Ben came cantering back. “You burned me!” he screamed, “You
burned me Snowdrop, and now, now I’m gonna kill you!” Ben loaded up to strike
the white mare. Snowdrop then did a very curious thing. She lay down in the line
of fire and closed her eyes. “Go on,” she said, “All I ask is you make it
quick.” Ben, realising Snowdrop was serious, turned to stare at her, all
thoughts of harming her vanishing. “You, you were serious?” Ben asked, his eyes
wide. “I count my life as nothing compared to Silver’s,” the white mare replied
calmly. Ben swallowed hard, remembering how Snowdrop had been there for him when
he was young, and now, he had seriously considered taking her life. Snowdrop
looked at Silver, who clearly hadn’t understood what had just taken place.
“Maybe I will be able to watch Silver grow up after all.” She said. Ben, feeling
dreadful now, turned and slunk away, never to be seen again. Silver, Emily and
Snowdrop stared at each other. Whitehoof, who’d seen everything from his place
beside Pip, walked up to his mother and hugged her. “You always said you’d give
your life for your foals mum,” he said, “but I never believed it, I can see I
was wrong. You are very courageous, and Silver and I love you very much.”
Snowdrop returned her foal’s embrace. “I knew he wouldn’t do it,” she said, “Ben
wouldn’t take the life of a mare who’d helped him when he was young. Do you know
Whitehoof, he was the first horse, apart from you, who I ever told about the
seventh foal connection.” “But that’s common knowledge now mum,” Whitehoof said.
“That is, but there’s something else, isn’t there my little Whitehoof,” his
mother replied softly. “What is that other thing mum?” Whitehoof asked. “What
did Sandy keep saying to me when I looked into her eyes?” Snowdrop said. “No,
not, not Eohippus?” Whitehoof asked incredulously, “you aren’t Eohippus, are you
mum?” “No, I’m not, but I’m as close to the first horse as anyone’s likely to
get these days,” Snowdrop said. She continued: “The dawn horse lived in wintry
parts, where thick fur and a small body mass were essential for conserving heat.
White fur made camouflage possible, and that gene is in all Falabella horses,
but only comes out strongly in the seventh foal of the seventh foal. It would
come out strongly in my seventh foal if I ever had one. Whitehoof, you could say
my genetic make up hasn’t changed for millions of years.” Whitehoof stared open
mouthed at his mother. “What about the power you have to burn hooves and mark
horses,” he said, “is that ancient too?” “I don’t know where that came from,”
Snowdrop replied truthfully. She closed her eyes, reflecting for a moment. “I
think it is just a defensive measure,” she said, “how it came about I’ll never
know.” Snowdrop got to her feet and shook herself hard. Looking round her, she
spotted Perdita coming towards them. “hey, Perdy!” Snowdrop whinnied. The
Falabella filly increased her pace to a canter, stopping beside her leader. “Let
me introduce Silver,” Snowdrop said, “Silver, This is Perdy, “Perdy, this is
Silver, the newest arrival in the herd.” With that Snowdrop walked away to find
Sam and tell him what had happened to Ben.
Ben had drowned trying to cross the river. No one knew quite what
happened. Brock had seen Ben rushing away. “Brock know what happen,” He said to
Foxy. “River creatures tell Brock all!” he continued. “Brock know everything
that go on in forest.”
Foxy asked: “Shall we tell Emily? She has a right to know after all.”
Brock snorted: “me think Emily no care what happens to Ben. He try kill Silver!
Emily no forgive him for that Foxy!” Even so, Emily was informed of Ben’s death,
and as Brock had predicted, she was not unduly upset by the news. “I’ll never
forget that he tried to kill Silver,” she said. “But you loved him Emily,” Foxy
reminded the mare. “I did, but when he rejected Silver out of hoof, he rejected
me also. I might have not been very strong, I might not have stood up to Ben,
but I never harmed Silver!” Emily squealed. Meanwhile, Silver and Perdita were
talking. Silver was fascinated by the Falabella filly who stood in front of her.
She knew Perdita was the same breed as Snowdrop, but was still captivated by how
small she was. “She’s a lot older than me,” Silver thought, “and she’ll never
grow any larger than she is now! Wow! I’m gonna be larger than her!” Perdita,
usually prickly and aloof with strangers, warmed quickly to Silver, who she
decided she liked early on. Perdita was almost as fascinated by the filly with
the silver coat as Silver was with her. “Silver, your coat is very beautiful,”
Perdita said. Silver smiled shyly. “Thanks,” she replied. Emma came into view
round a bend in the track. Both Perdita, who’d only seen her briefly, and
Silver, who’d never seen her, stared at the advancing Shire mare in amazement.
Emma was massively proportioned. She stood all of sixteen hands, and was built
for power. Both fillies stared at Emma’s hooves, Silver because she’d never seen
such big hooves on a horse, let alone a mare, and Perdita because she wanted to
see they didn’t leave the ground any more than was necessary for Emma to walk.
Perdita was terrified of the large mare. “Um, hi Emma,” Perdita welcomed, her
voice trembling. “Hi you two,” Emma replied, her eyes lingering on Silver. “So
you’re the filly all the forest is talking about?” Emma asked, waving a massive
hoof at Silver. “My name’s Silver, and yes, if they’ve been talking about
Silver, or the filly with the silver coat, then that’s me. What is your name?”
Emma was so enchanted by Silver’s appearance that she didn’t realise the filly
was talking to her until a few seconds after Silver had asked her question. “Oh,
um, oh dear,” Emma gabbled, “my name’s Emma. I’m sorry Silver, I was worlds
away.” Absent minded too,” Silver thought. Emma looked about her frantically,
looking for another horse, so Silver thought. Emma said: “I wonder where my foal
is, Jasper should be along in a bit.” Indeed, another horse did appear, and this
one was as massive as Emma, if not more so! Jasper came slowly through the
trees. Perdita had seen him before, but it had been months previously, and now,
well, he was enormous! The huge Shire stallion towered over his mother by two
hands, his head seeming to be miles from the ground! Silver thought Jasper to be
huge, and she was worried about Perdita and what she thought. Jasper came to a
stop beside Emma, and the two massive horses looked down upon Silver and
Perdita. “So you are Silver are you?” Jasper enquired, flicking a massive hoof
towards her. “Yes Jasper I am,” Silver replied, trying to convey a no nonsense
air. She wanted this stallion, huge though he was, to understand she’d gone
through a lot , and was not going to take any tricks. Jasper turned to Emma and
asked: “Mum, am I right in thinking that Ben drowned in the river?” Emma nodded,
she’d heard about it from Brock. “Yes,” she said, “but be careful, Silver’s his
foal, and she might be rather upset about it.” “I doubt it mum,” Jasper snorted,
“the brute tried to kill Silver, didn’t you hear?” Emma was shocked! “How could
anyone do anything like that!” She squealed. “I don’t know,” the Shire stallion
replied, “but he did. It’s also said that it was Snowdrop who saved her too!
That mare never ceases to amaze me mum! How can a mare, only three feet tall,
withstand a kick at point blank range from a horse the size of Ben? It’s
impossible!” Emma had met Sandy on the track, she knew the one eyed mare was
named Sandy, because she’d told her between bouts of raving delirium about
Eohippus and a white mare. Sandy had obviously been driven mad by the unusual
mare named Snowdrop. Emma couldn’t believe that Snowdrop would deliberately
drive a mare to staring eyes and horrendous squealing at the mention of her
name. Emma had known Snowdrop to be a kind, gentle mare, surely this wasn’t the
same mare? “Listen Jasper,” Emma said, “if Snowdrop can mark a horse for life,
as she did Sandy, and also terrify a horse so much they are reduced to a
squealing wreck at the mention of her name, Snowdrop must have abilities that
are beyond our comprehension. I quite believe, because of her caring and loving
nature, she saved Silver. I also believe she has another side to her when
enraged, that I for one, would not like to see.” Jasper remembered when Snowdrop
had burned his hind foot when he’d tried to kick her. “Yes mum,” he said.
Perdita and Silver wandered off into the forest leaving Emma and Jasper to
continue their conversation. As they wandered along they saw Sam coming towards
them. Silver was fascinated by Sam and the way he got around so ably without
using his eyes. “Hey Sam!” Perdita called, “Have you met Silver, she’s got the
most beautiful soft coat, here Silver, show Sam!” “Hey slow down a bit!” Sam
said. Silver moved closer to Sam and nudged him gently, inviting him to touch
her coat with his muzzle.
Sam knew he’d never met Silver, and therefore she possibly had never heard
that he even existed, let alone that he was blind. Therefore, he was worried
that Silver, no matter how soft her coat was, would not like him touching her.
Feeling her moving alongside him, Sam asked: “Silver, you don’t mind me touching
your coat do you?” Silver laughed slightly. “I don’t mind,” she said. Sam
cautiously touched her coat. Silver marvelled at how gentle he was. He nuzzled
her ear, which Silver loved, and responded to by stepping back and resting her
head on his shoulder. “You are so Gentle,” Silver murmured. Sam was desperately
lonely, although he wouldn’t admit it to the others. Jess had left him and gone
away from the forest, and now, Sam was desperate for any company. Feeling
Silver’s head resting on his shoulder comforted Sam. If he had another horse to
worry about, then that stopped him thinking of his own troubles. He was not to
know then how close he and Silver were to become in the next few days.
Silver looked at Sam. She felt his emotional turmoil and wondered what had
caused it. The gelding was a confident horse, she could see that, but there was
something about him, something that had recently happened to him that was
upsetting him greatly, she could feel it strongly. “I hear you’ve caused a bit
of a stir around here,” Sam said. Silver smiled at him, although she knew he
couldn’t see it. “yes, Emma said the whole forest was talking about me, I can’t
see why though. I’m just a filly with a silver grey coat and white hooves,
nothing special.” Sam brushed her muzzle with his. Perdita said: “They say that,
despite your years, you are good at entertaining the foals Sam.” Sam smiled: “I
don’t mind them, and they seem to treat me as one of them, so yes Perdita,
you’re correct,” he replied. “Could I leave you to look after Silver?” Perdita
asked. Silver, angry at being talked down to by Perdita, who she regarded as a
friend, whirled round on her and nipped her sharply! “Hey!” Perdita wined. “I’ve
seen more in my short life than you will ever have done! So don’t patronise me!”
Silver screamed. Perdita turned and fled. Turning back to Sam, Silver hugged him
to her. “Do you know Snowdrop?” She asked. “I know her, I’m second in command to
her,” Sam said, “but don’t let that worry you Silver. I’m quite at liberty to
talk with whomever I wish,” Sam replied. Silver decided she liked Sam a lot. He
was so very gentle with her, whereas all other horses, apart from Snowdrop of
course, who Silver dearly loved, had treated her with rough words and even
rougher requests. Sam lay down beneath a bush. Silver caught sight of the mark
on the sole of his left forefoot and asked him about it. “Snowdrop put that
there,” Sam said, “it tells every horse for miles that I am second in command.”
Silver was interested and wanted to find out more. “Tell me more Sam,” she said,
“I’d like to know a bit more about this marking thing. Emily told me about it
once, but she didn’t say much. A harsh wind blew down the track, channelled by
the trees into an icy blast. Silver crawled beneath the bush and cuddled up to
Sam in a reflex action against the cold. Dusk was coming in now and the air was
rapidly cooling. Silver didn’t notice what she was doing until she was cuddled
up beside Sam and she was stroking his ear with her muzzle. Silver, shocked at her own actions, apologised profusely. “I’m so sorry Sam, invading
your space like that, I didn’t know what I was doing,,,,” her voice trailed away
when she saw the look on the gelding’s face. “You can stay here if you wish,”
Sam said, “Silver, I know what you’ve been through, I heard it all and, I want
to help, if I can, if you’ll let me. If not, I quite understand.” Silver looked
into the gelding’s eyes. Was he genuine? She thought so. To test him, she got up
and walked away. Sam stayed beneath the bush, making no attempt to stop her from
leaving. Silver walked deep into the forest, soon she was lost. She wished she’d
stayed with Sam, but now, she was alone, the night was ever so cold, and Silver
was terrified!
Silver didn’t know what to do. She found a scrawny bush to hide under. It
was well into autumn now and the leaves had fallen from the trees. She tried to
sleep but she was so cold. She thought she would freeze to death. Suddenly
she heard someone shuffling in the leaves nearby. Then she felt a soft muzzle
brush gently against her face. Silver Whinnied: “Sam! Oh Sam, I am just so pleased to see you. My
limbs are frozen solid, or they feel as if they are, and I’m hungry.” Sam said gently, “its ok silver, I’ve got you now, I’ll take care of you!”
Sam helped Silver up and they made their way slowly back to the herd.
) Sam helped Silver along the track. She could eat grass now, only two
months old she was, but her development had been faster than was usual for a
horse. Sam thought this lucky as Silver would have surely died if Emily had left
her any earlier. Silver watched the chestnut gelding walking along the track.
She admitted to herself that she had as much love for Sam as she had for
Snowdrop. Silver reached out and touched his muzzle. Sam stopped and Silver
cuddled up to him for warmth. “It’s so cold out here,” Silver said. Sam hugged
her to him. “We’ll get you into somewhere warm Silver dear,” he said. She
followed Sam to a large bush. Fascinated, she watched as he crawled beneath it,
beckoning her to do the same. She crawled in after him, following Sam’s black
tail and scrabbling hind feet deeper and deeper into the bush. It was indeed
warmer in there, but Sam kept crawling until the leaves above their heads were
high enough to let them stand. Sam then got to his feet. “What do you think of
it?” he asked. Silver stared round her, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.
“This place is huge!” she whinnied, “you have enough room for several horses of
your stature in here, although I feel I may be too large in a few months to
stand in here.” Silver stared at Sam because he was shaking his head. “You won’t
get any larger Silver,” he said. Silver asked dumbly: “Why not? I’m not the same
breed as you, so I must be larger than you! It’s impossible not to be larger
than you when I’m fully grown, and you’re saying I’ll never be any bigger than I
am now?” Sam replied: “Yes Silver. You will remain the same height forever.”
Silver wasn’t really worried about this, quite honestly she didn’t care at that
moment, it was just very strange to hear it from Sam. Silver heard a rustling
sound behind her, and turning, saw Snowdrop, Whitehoof and Pip emerge from the
tunnel. “Isn’t this place wonderful!” Silver whinnied.
Snowdrop hurried up to Silver, “you are so cold my darling!” she said
Silver collapsed into a heap, exhaustion and cold took over her. Snowdrop and
Pip rallied round making Silver comfortable.
“Its hypothermia!” Snowdrop told whitehoof and Sam once Silver was
sleeping. “Oh,” Sam was shaking. “Its ok Sam dear!” Snowdrop said, “I think you
caught her in time, she will be ok with us to nurse her and its nice and warm in
here!” Snowdrop reassured.
With time Silver’s condition slowly improved. All through the long days,
Sam kept watch over his new-found friend. One day, when she was almost fully
recovered, Sam asked Snowdrop a question. “is Silver all she looks?” he asked.
“Meaning what?” Whitehoof asked. “What I mean is, well, she was able to eat
grass at two months old, and I saw a very strange thing, as if she wouldn’t grow
any more. It was so weird!” Snowdrop looked down at the sleeping filly. “She
will not grow any more, for Silver is not all she seems, she’s more than she
seems. Her Silver coat frightened Ben and Emily nearly to death, for they saw
something they couldn’t understand. Something happened during Emily’s pregnancy
that meant Silver would not grow any larger than she is now. She will be like
this forever, but unable to have foals of her own because of her stature. We
will have to help her come to terms with this, but she is strong, and will cope
I’m sure.” Silver opened her eyes and said: “So I will never have a foal of my
own. Ah well, so be it. We weren’t all born to have foals.” She’d been listening
all the time, faking sleep. Silver got to her feet and shook herself. “I like
being this size, it’s fun! This place also, it’s so wonderful! If I was larger,
I couldn’t have seen this place. Sam took hold of a chunk of Silver’s mane in
his teeth and led her forward into darkness that rendered her eyes useless.
Silver was not frightened however, for she trusted Sam, and knew he lived in
this world every day of his life. The chestnut gelding led her deeper and deeper
into the world he’d inhabited for his entire life. Snowdrop, Pip and whitehoof
followed Silver by using her white hind feet as a guide. Silver’s hooves seemed
to give off a light, enough for the Falabella horses to see that the ground
ahead of them was safe. The five friends walked into Sam’s world. Snowdrop began
to worry about the rest of the herd. She voiced her concerns to Whitehoof, who
told her they’d be fine, and seemed definite about it too. By this time, Silver
had stopped in a deeper cavern. This one was made of rock, the horse’s hooves
clattering on the floor as they walked. “Snowdrop, Come over here,” Sam said.
She went to him. “What do you see ahead of you?” he asked. Snowdrop blinked hard
to adjust her vision. “I see, a pool, a bright pool!” Snowdrop said, her anxiety
for the herd showing at last. In fact they could all see the pool now. “What do
you see in the pool?” Sam asked. Snowdrop looked, and saw Emma and Jasper
talking together on the track. Then she saw Perdita and Jinni, and all the herd
in turn. “I see the herd, all of them!” Snowdrop said incredulously. “What is
this?” Whitehoof asked, “some kind of spyglass?” “That’s what it is,” Silver
replied: “You need no longer worry about your herd Snowdrop, anyway, they’ll not
even know you’ve gone. When you come out from the tunnel again, you will be in
the same day that you entered.” “Where are we?” Pip asked, wondering if Sam and
Silver had lost their minds. “In my home,” Sam said, “in the place where I lived
for two years until I felt able to face the world after my mum had abandoned me.
I found this place and made it my own. No large horse can get in here, and any
who pass in here as foals never grow to be large horses, for they are the
trusted ones. I show it to those who I feel I can trust. You may leave if you
wish,” Sam replied. Snowdrop stared into the darkness and couldn’t see anything,
not even the pool, but she was not too concerned. “I think we’ll leave if we
may,” Whitehoof said, turning back in the direction in which, he hoped they’d
come. “You are going the wrong way,” Sam said. Whitehoof turned on him in anger!
“Show me the way out of here!” he screamed, leaping in the general direction of
where he thought Sam to be. Whitehoof landed on the hard rock with a crash,
winding himself. “You are in my world now,” Sam said, “you entered my world of
your own free will. I know the path to the outside world, and I will guide you.
Follow Silver, as you did before, and you will find your way to the world of
light. You need not fear the darkness however. For are we not in darkness before
we are born into the light? Darkness is not evil, only dark thoughts are evil,
and whitehoof thought dark thoughts towards me, and is now paying the price.
Whitehoof, did I not tell you I could defend myself in ways you could not
imagine? Whitehoof struggled to his feet. “Yes Sam,” he said. It was clear they
weren’t going to leave until the chestnut gelding chose to. “Follow us,” Sam
said. Silver took hold of a chunk of Sam’s mane in her teeth and Sam led her
away from the dark chamber. Following the filly’s progress wasn’t difficult, her
white hooves were visible from a fair distance. Soon they were back in the
chamber where they’d rested during Silver’s illness. Pushing out into the open,
Whitehoof had never been so glad to get out of a place in his life! He for one,
never wished to return, but Snowdrop and Pip had mixed feelings. They now knew
part of Sam’s world. Silver obviously trusted the gelding with her life, and he
respected that trust. Whitehoof rounded on Sam, lashing out at him with a hind
foot! “I hate you!” he squealed. Sam flipped the gelding onto his back. “Is it
me you hate, or is it the glimpse of my world you hate?” he asked, “for that
world could be yours very easily. Silver feels no fear, for she has seen a
greater darkness, the darkness and worst of the equine spirit. Whitehoof, where
there is darkness, there is also light. Not all light is bright, not all
darkness is black. Remember this.” Whitehoof got to his feet and looked at Sam.
“You speak strange words,” he said. Snowdrop walked away with Pip, both mares
thinking hard about what Sam had said. “Not all darkness is black,” Pip mused,
“and not all light is bright. Hmm, what can Sam mean?” Snowdrop crawled beneath
a bush to think alone. The chestnut gelding’s words had given her pause for
thought.
Silver woke up, had she been dreaming? Was all this stuff about darkness
and light and caves and pools a dream? Or was it real? Sam sensed her anxiety,
“What’s the matter, silver dear?” He asked. “Sam, I’m scared, I cant make
things out, I don’t know what is happening to me … is this all true, the cave,
the pool, the darkness, the light? Tell me Sam, help me through this, please, I’m
so frightened!” Where’s Pip, whitehoof and Snowdrop?” Silver shook
uncontrollably, Sam held her close, “Hey, Hey, Hey!” Sam soothed its ok, I’ll
explain everything, calm down Silver darling, just trust me, please, I love
you!” he whispered gently.
Sam led Silver to a secluded spot in the wood. Sprawling comfortably on
his side, he invited her to do the same. Silver, still shivering with fear,
cuddled up to Sam. “You want to know more about what I said?” he asked. Silver
replied: “I do. Sam, what you said back there in the wood was strange, and I
couldn’t get my head round it. Please, if you can, explain it to me.” Sam
nuzzled her ear. “I’ll try,” he said. Silver knew Sam wouldn’t hurt her. “You
remember the two statements I made, not all darkness is black, and not all light
is bright?” the gelding asked. Silver nodded: “Well,” Sam continued, “not all
darkness is black, let me deal with that first. Take Ben for example. He was a
gentle horse to those who were ordinary plain horses. When you came along, he
became a tyrant. He had dark thoughts, but noone could call him a black hearted
horse. He became dark when you came along, it was not your fault, but it
happened. Now I come to the second of my statements. Not all light is bright.
Some good kind horses do not look as if they should be. They look as if they
should be angry, bitter creatures. Horses with disfigurements or disabilities,
they are seen as black or dark hearted creatures by most. Ben saw you like this.
He saw you Silver, and thought you would be an angry filly because of your
markings. He knew you would be teased, and thought therefore you would become
angry and hateful. You did not become hateful or angry.” Silver’s mind was
clearing now. “You too,” she said, “Your mother thought you would be hateful
because you were unable to see other horses. She thought you’d become bitter and
angry, so she abandoned you to whatever wanted to take your life. Because you
are a kind gentle creature, no other creature did take your life, even if their
instinct was to do so. You survived so long because you are a gentle horse Sam.”
“Right,” Sam said, “sometimes, those who are in darkness in body or
circumstances, can be lighter in spirit and outlook.” Silver remembered the cave
and how it was pitch black in there. “I couldn’t see a thing in that cave place,
not even my own hooves stood out Sam! Is that how it is all the time for you?”
Sam nodded. “I can find my way around a darkened place without getting into
problems. Whitehoof tried and failed.” “I would have failed if I had not had you
to guide me Sam,” Silver said. “But you trusted me to guide you Silver, and for
that, I’m eternally grateful.” Silver looked at her friend. “You are such a
handsome horse Sam,” she said. She had another thought: “Sam, were you ever able
to see colours?” she asked. Sam nodded slightly: “A little, very early on,” he
said, “but that was years ago now.” “But you still remember them?” Silver asked
excitedly, warming to her idea. “Yes,” Sam replied, “If you told me something
was white I’d know what you meant. Not all blind horses have that chance to see
a little colour, but I did. Why do you ask?” Silver thought for a minute and
said: “If I was to let you touch me, and tell you what colour my fur was, would
that help you at all?” Sam had never thought of this. Realising what his slight
knowledge of colours could do for his understanding of the world, he said: “All
right Silver, I’d like that,” So Silver got to her feet and said: “Sam, come to
me and touch me, get the feel of how tall I am. The gelding, as if in a dream,
went towards the sound of her voice, and they touched muzzles. “Right,” Silver
said, “your muzzle is on mine Sam. Explore back from that, find out about me.”
So he did. Sam found that Silver had tiny ears, a rather short neck, short legs
and rather broad back. Then he felt down her leg to her right hind foot, which
she lifted and let him feel. “there you go,” Silver said, “Now you have an idea
of my size.” Sam didn’t know what to say to that, he was so overwhelmed by it
all. The only other time he’d come close to finding out what another horse
actually looked like was when Snowdrop let him touch her. Even Jess, the only
horse he’d ever had a real relationship with, had never consented to this.
“Thank you Silver,” Sam said, trying to keep his voice from cracking. “I will
ask all horses if you can touch them in the way you have me,” she said, “How
else can you find out what they look like otherwise. You can’t see them, and
maybe they need to realise that a bit more. Then maybe they’d be slightly more
understanding of your situation,” Silver said. She nuzzled the gelding’s ear.
Sam, now close to tears, returned her affection. Silver said: “Now I want you,
if you will, to touch me again, but this time I will describe the colour of my
fur to you Sam.” So he did touch her muzzle first. “My muzzle is a dark grey,”
Silver said. Sam moved back to her ear. “That’s a lighter grey.” She said. Sam
moved to her neck and body. “My fur there, and on my legs is Silver grey, hence
my name. It sparkles when the light strikes it. Sam moved to her right hind
hoof. “that is white, the sole of my hoof is white too,” Silver said. Sam let
her drop her foot to the floor, wondering how on earth he would repay her. He
now knew what she looked like, and, apart from her love and friendship, that was
worth more to him than almost anything else in the world. Sam hugged Silver
tightly. “Thank you Silver,” he said, tears rolling down his nose. “No other
horse has done that for me before,” he sobbed. Silver brushed away his tears.
“You can do it more often if you like,” she said, “I don’t mind. After all, how
else are you to experience what I look like. I could lie to you, but that’s not
right. I know I’m younger than you by a fair margin, but I hope this friendship
will last a long time,” Silver said. Sam buried his face in her mane. Snowdrop,
lying under a bush a few yards away, had seen and heard all. She knew Silver
talked sense, and wondered how she, Snowdrop, was going to put some of that
sense into practise. Snowdrop got up and left Sam and Silver in peace together.
She wanted to tell Whitehoof and Pip about what she’d seen and heard.
Snowdrop walked through the forest, thinking hard. She was brought out of
her reverie by Pip touching her muzzle with her’s. “You look preoccupied,” the
grey mare said. Snowdrop looked at Pip and decided it would be better to talk
with her first. Pip would listen without question, then consider the merits of
what Snowdrop had to say. Whitehoof on the other hoof wouldn’t, rubbishing
everything before he’d tested it. “Pip,” Snowdrop said, “I need to talk, now if
possible. I’ve just seen something,” she took a deep breath, her emotions
threatening to overcome her, “something so wonderful and moving that I can’t put
it into words.” Pip hugged her leader. “Let’s go,” she said. With that they
found a bush to hide beneath. Snowdrop told Pip what she’d seen, right down to
the last. Pip looked at her leader. “I know you have let Sam explore you, but I
don’t think other horses would let him do it, no matter what! I know where
Silver is coming from, hats off to her for that Snowy, but I don’t think they
would do it. I don’t think I could let Sam feel my body with his muzzle. I know
he can’t see us, but it’s hard Snowdrop, it’s hard to do what you ask.” Snowdrop
replied: “Pip, how would you feel if you were in Sam’s situation. I could make
you so very easily, it would be reversible of course, but you have to realise
what it’s like from his point of view.” The thought of total darkness terrified
Pip. She’d had enough trouble keeping herself from squealing to be taken home
when Sam had led them into his world. Pip disliked the thought of Sam touching
her, but disliked even more the thought that Snowdrop might put her into his
world. “This won’t be compulsory will it?” Pip asked. “No,” Snowdrop replied,
“but it might make you think a bit what Sam has to deal with. Silver let him
touch her body, and described herself to him. From what I saw and heard, Sam had
missed descriptions like that. Noone had even attempted it for him. Pip, now he
knows that the filly he loves for her mind is also beautiful. Would you not want
to know that Whitehoof was handsome as well as knowing he had a good mind? Of
course, mind comes first in a relationship, but looks are important too.” Pip
thought for a minute. “Yes, something would be missing if I couldn’t see
Whitehoof. I’ll think about letting Sam touch me,” Pip said. Snowdrop replied:
“Remember this Pip, you can see a horse, Sam cannot see in the way you can, so
he has to feel his way. Would you like it if horses never nuzzled you, never
touched you for fear of being seen to do so? For horses can’t bare to nuzzle
Sam, only Silver and I do it really. Sam’s not bad just because he can’t see
you, he’s gentle and very wise too.” Pip walked away from the bush, thinking
hard about what Snowdrop had said. She decided she’d talk it over with
Whitehoof.
Whitehoof was furious when he heard what Snowdrop had said to Pip. “I’m
not having that horse laying a hoof on you Pip, even if he is unable to see you!
He has no right to do that!” “No, noone has a right, it is with my permission he
would be able to touch me, also, it is with Silver’s permission that he is able
to stroke her. Sam is an honourable chap, and wouldn’t dream of even nuzzling a
mare unless he’d had permission. Whitehoof, if you couldn’t see me, wouldn’t you
want to find out more about me if you could? The sound of a voice is all right,
from that a lot can be found out. The temperament and personality of a horse you
can find too, but soon, every horse wants to admire another. I can look at you
Whitehoof, and see that you have a black coat, one white ear and one white hoof.
Sam cannot do this. We can describe you to him, in fact you could describe
yourself to him, but he can’t get an idea from that how tall you are, how large
your ears and hooves are, or anything! I for one am willing to let him touch me,
so he might know me a little better. Whitehoof stared at Pip in enraged
astonishment! “You can’t let him do that!” he screamed. “Why not?” Pip asked.
“he means no harm, all he wants to do, as I’ve already told you Whitehoof, is to
see other horses, but he cannot do so in the conventional way! Can’t you see
that? You used to be so understanding towards Sam, but now you have become
prickly and snappy. I will let him touch me, I will even let him touch my
hooves.” Whitehoof knew she was spiting him, he knew what Pip was doing when she
mentioned her hooves. He, Whitehoof, had only just been allowed to touch her
hooves. Pip walked away, leaving him to think. She made her way to the place
where she last remembered Sam to be. Silver and Sam were lying beneath a bush,
and they were not hard to find. Sam was still overcome with joy and gratitude
for what Silver had done for him. As Pip, Silver and he chatted, Sam would,
every now and then, brush Silver’s muzzle with his. Pip told Sam about what
she’d discussed with Whitehoof, and of the gelding’s fury at her. “If you want
to touch my coat, ears and hooves, then that’s fine by me,” Pip said, “Whitehoof
might be my mate, but he doesn’t own me. I know what you are doing Sam, and I’m
sorry other horses will not let you touch them. If you cannot see a horse, then
how are you going to experience anything about them, how they look, what stature
they are? You can’t do that without touching them. I will let you touch me Sam.”
Pip stood in front of Sam. “Go on,” she said, “touch me,” Sam touched her muzzle
and worked back. Pip was slightly taller than Silver, but only just. She told
him she had grey fur all over, and that her eyes were brown. Pip said she had a
black mane and tail. Then she lifted her right forefoot and let Sam touch it.
“My hooves are black,” Pip said, “If you want, you can touch all four of them.”
Sam did so. Pip lifted each hoof for him to examine. Once he had finished, Pip
asked him if she could do the same to him. Sam agreed, Silver reminded her to
close her eyes first. Pip closed her eyes and explored Sam’s body. She realised
that now she couldn’t see him, Sam seemed a lot larger than her eyes had told
her. He seemed enormous to her. She explored his head and ears, moving to his
neck. Shifting her feet slightly as she felt her way, Pip stepped on Sam’s left
forefoot. Of course, she couldn’t see it. Sam informed her that she was standing
on his hoof, and Pip, embarrassed, lifted her foot, apologising profusely. She
then continued her exploration, taking in the gelding’s body and legs. When she
reached his hooves, Sam lifted a hoof for her to examine. Pip touched it with
her muzzle, and realised how small it was. Completing her exploration, which had
taken about ten minutes, Pip opened her eyes. It hit her afresh that she could
do this, and all would be right again, Sam couldn’t see, even if his eyes were
open. Pip resolved to make Whitehoof do what she had done. Now she thought she
knew a little about how it was for Sam, but she knew it would be foolish to say
she knew it all, she didn’t. Whitehoof’s voice cut in on her thoughts. “I can’t
believe what I’ve just seen!” He whinnied angrily, “it was as if you had lost
all sense of direction Pip! You couldn’t do anything without Sam directing you,
you even stood on his foot! What on earth were you playing at!” Pip thought his
words fitting, she had been playing at being in Sam’s world, but the other bit
hurt her. “I had no direction because I couldn’t see where I was heading, I
stood on Sam’s foot because I didn’t see it Whitehoof!” She whinnied. Whitehoof
strode up to Sam and yelled into his face. “Did you enjoy exploring my mate?”
Sam knew what he meant. “I don’t have any desire for Pip if that’s what you
mean,” Sam replied, “but it was kind of her to describe herself to me and let me
feel how tall she was and how large her ears and hooves were. Whitehoof, I’m no
threat to you. All I want is to be able to get an idea of what a horse looks
like! I would like to explore you, have you describe yourself to me as Pip did,
but I know you won’t. Whitehoof, maybe one day you’ll find yourself in a
situation where those who you consider to be of lower standing to yourself hold
the key to your rescue. I hope you may rethink your views then,” Sam said.
Whitehoof snorted with derision. “Oh yeah, right I will. Sam, what could you
ever do for me?” He asked. “At the moment, not much,” the chestnut gelding
admitted, “but one day, in another place maybe. Then, I might be your only
hope.” Spitting at Sam’s feet, Whitehoof turned on his heel and walked away. Pip
watched him go, her distress mounting. When he was out of sight, she burst into
tears of rage. “How could he say something like that!” She sobbed. “One day
Pip,” Sam said, “one day Whitehoof will have to depend on those who he thinks
are lower than him. One day, he will have no choice but to take whatever help he
can get, and if that help comes from a horse he hates for his own reasons, then
he must make the choice, take the offer of friendship, or stay where he is and
suffer.” Pip wondered what the chestnut gelding had seen. Was something about to
happen to Whitehoof? She had to know! “Sam,” she said, pleading with him,
“please, please tell me what’s going to happen to Whitehoof!” Sam nuzzled her
ear: “It may never happen Pip,” he said, “but one day, Whitehoof’s curiosity for
strange places will get the better of him and he will end up in trouble I think.
He will stray into places where he does not know, and he will then see what it
is to be at the mercy of those lowly horses. If Whitehoof gets into trouble Pip,
it will be of his own doing. I cannot stop him from doing what he feels. Neither
can you. I feel that this time might not be too far from now.” Pip stared down
at her hooves. “Whitehoof will be angry now,” Silver said, “and he’ll be looking
for a place to nurse his grievances. Somewhere out of the way, and very
inaccessible.” Pip looked at her. “How do you know all this?” she asked. Silver
smiled slightly: “I can’t say, but be assured that I know, and Sam knows what
Whitehoof does when he’s furious. I think we can safely leave him to make his
own mistakes. For he will make those mistakes. He’s not as careful as you Pip.
He doesn’t look at the merits of a situation. He either likes a place, or hates
it, he doesn’t look at anything else.
Whitehoof cantered through the forest, bulling his way along the track,
impatient to get to where he could think alone. He knew the place he wanted,
Sam’s old bolthole would do, he thought he remembered where it was. Grimacing at
the thought of entering that place again, he was determined to show the chestnut
gelding that the darkness held no fear for him and that, he, Whitehoof was more
able than Sam to deal with the darkness. Crawling beneath the bush, Whitehoof
found himself in the tunnel. Crawling along that, he reflected on how low the
roof was, even he had to keep his head down, and crawling along was an effort.
One forefoot forward, then dig the toes of a hind foot into the track and heave,
the other forefoot forward, dig the toes of the opposite hind foot into the
leaves and heave, again and again he did this. Soon he was in the chamber where
Silver had recovered from her hypothermia. Gratefully, Whitehoof got to his
feet. He made his way into the ill lit tunnel where Silver had taken Sam’s mane
in her teeth and he’d led her along. Whitehoof reflected that he hadn’t been
forced to go into that place the first time. Now though, he was forcing himself,
one hoof in front of the other. Soon he heard the clatter of his feet on rock
and knew he was in the inner chamber, for he could no longer see ahead. Looking
down, Whitehoof couldn’t even see his white hoof. He leant down and touched it
with his muzzle, just to make sure it was there. Whitehoof backtracked, found a
wall and felt along it. Walking slowly, he felt the ground slope downwards, Then
he heard a rushing sound, like water. Then he stepped into an ice cold
underground river. Standing, with the water rippling around his legs, Whitehoof
considered his next move. How wide was this river? He didn’t know. Whitehoof
waded out into the water. He found it wasn’t deep enough to drown him, just
enough to cover his hooves and fetlocks. Finding the opposite bank with a
forefoot, Whitehoof gratefully stepped out of the water. He stumbled along in
the pitch darkness, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, smelling only a damp rock
type smell. This wasn’t the peaceful place Sam had hinted at. Whitehoof was now
lost. Suddenly his right forefoot struck out into space! He knew he was about to
fall! Screaming, Whitehoof tumbled down a set of stairs, rolling and sliding
sickeningly into a black void. He yelled as his body somersaulted and he crashed
into the wall at the bottom. He struck out frantically with his hind feet, his
tumble coming to an end when his right hind hoof jammed solid in a cleft in the
rock. Whitehoof lay on his back, his right hind foot jammed in the wall, unable
to move for shock. When he’d recovered, Whitehoof tried to free himself, but no
matter how he tugged and worried at the trapped hoof, he couldn’t free it. With
one last desperate effort, Whitehoof tried to wrench his hoof free, but couldn’t
move it an inch. Closing his eyes, Whitehoof reflected that he need not have
bothered, as it was as dark with them open as with them closed. He couldn’t see
anything. He held his white hoof up, and couldn’t see that either! Was he blind?
Whitehoof settled to thinking. He’d wandered into Sam’s territory, the chestnut
gelding would know this part of his home, but what a terrible place! All rock,
no softness under hoof, nothing at all but bare rock. The bruises from his fall
were now making themselves felt. Whitehoof was certain he hadn’t broken
anything, but maybe he’d been lucky. Whitehoof came to the realisation that he
was lost and trapped, and worst of all, the only horse who could save him was
Sam. Sam, the same horse who he’d rubbished and belittled for stroking Pip.
Whitehoof started talking out loud to Sam. “Sam, if you can hear me, I’m sorry!
I know now I was wrong! I can’t cope in your world, and I need your help! You
can have anything, you can stroke Pip all you like, just get me out of here!”
Whitehoof laid his head on the hard rock and burst into tears of rage and fear.
Meanwhile, Brock was stamping about in a temper. He’d heard what Whitehoof had
said to Pip and Sam and was apoplectic with fury! “he have no right to say what
he say about Pip or Sam!” The badger screamed. “but where could he have got to?”
Pip asked. It was about five hours since the altercation, and noone, not even
Snowdrop, had seen Whitehoof. “I hope he’s all right!” Snowdrop said. “Me think
me know where Whitehoof go.” Brock said. Then he looked nervously at Sam. “Brock
very sorry Sam, but me know where Sam home is. Me find it while exploring. If
that be secret, Brock sorry for finding it.” Sam smiled and hugged the badger.
“No Brock, that’s fine. What did you think of my place?” Brock thought for a
bit. “it be rather hard to begin with, but get down those stairs, and then, hey!
What place that be Sam! Me very envious of horse who have that place!” Sam
smiled delightedly. “Let’s search there first then,” Pip suggested, “for it’s a
place to start at least.” Brock led Sam, although he didn’t need it, to the bush
where the tunnel started. Snowdrop, Silver and Pip followed.
When they reached the bush entrance to Sam’s home, Snowdrop and the other
horses looked at the chestnut gelding. “It’s up to you Sam, whether we try to
find Whitehoof.” Snowdrop said, “after all, it’s you he’s wronged.” Sam realised
he held Whitehoof’s life in the hollow of his hoof. He thought for a bit. Would
anyone find Whitehoof? Probably not. Also, if he had come to harm, he possibly
couldn’t move, or if no harm had come to him he may never find his way out of
the labyrinth of passages. Sam thought of the gelding. He realised Whitehoof was
foolish, nothing more. He thought he knew all there was to know about
everything. Now he had been proved wrong. Sam didn’t really have to think this
hard, he would go and find whitehoof, even if whitehoof had just stolen his
mare, even if he hated him, Sam would go. For he knew how dangerous those
passages could be to one who’d not been shown the way. That was the idea, anyone
who lived there would be safe from harm due to the darkness and the passages.
The passages and stairs were only a front. The real dwelling, deep in the rock,
was a palace. Sam knew this, and so did Brock. Sam hugged Snowdrop tightly.
“We’ll find your foal,” he said.
The five friends crawled through the bush tunnel. First Brock, then
Snowdrop, then Pip, then Sam and finally Silver. Emerging into the chamber, they
took stock of their situation. “It’s your party now Sam,” Snowdrop panted, she
was slightly out of breath, crawling along the tunnel did that to some horses.
Sam led the way, Silver following him. They made their way carefully into the
darkness of the inner chamber. “Follow Silver,” Sam said. Sam led them to the
left of the entrance, along a walled passage, to the river. “I think Whitehoof
went this way,” Sam said. The underground river flowed past. “There’s a ford
here, follow me!” Sam whinnied. Fear rising in all of them, they followed Sam
across the river. Suddenly they heard a shout. “Who’s there!” They heard a horse
struggling to rise and that horse’s sob of frustration and fear as he didn’t
manage it. “Stairs here,” Sam warned. They all scrambled down the stairs and
found Whitehoof lying on his back at the bottom. Pip stared at him in horror!
“How on earth did you get down here!” She demanded. Whitehoof looked up
into where he thought her eyes to be. “I fell, oh Pip, I fell down here,” he
said hoarsely, “I’m trapped, right hind foot, it’s jammed in the rock, I can’t
free it Pip!” Sam moved to Whitehoof’s hind quarters and felt along his leg to
the trapped hoof. Enlisting Brock as a strong set of paws, Sam instructed the
badger to pull Whitehoof’s leg towards him and back towards the gelding’s head
at the same time. Brock did just that, whitehoof crying out in pain as his
muscles, which had gone in to spasm hours before, complained. “You now free,”
Brock said. Whitehoof got to his feet. “Sam, where are you, I can’t see you!”
Whitehoof squealed. Sam moved alongside him and nuzzled his ear. “I’m here
Whitehoof,” Sam whispered. Whitehoof clung to the chestnut Gelding, sobbing into
his mane. Sam cradled Whitehoof as he went to peaces. Let’s go from here,” Sam
said when Whitehoof was calmer, “I’ll take you to my place, my home isn’t here.
Here is only a show, to keep people out. It certainly kept Whitehoof out.” They
pressed on, with Whitehoof keeping close to Snowdrop. They headed down more
stairs, and along many passages, all going down deeper into the earth. Then Sam
approached a wall of rock. Placing his tiny hoof on a spot only he knew, the
door opened. They all walked through, into a lighted chamber. All the horses
looked round them in wonder. Around the walls, fireflies shone and blinked their
messages. While on the floor was a covering so soft under hoof that it nearly
surpassed grass. Sam, glad to be home, rolled onto his back and waved all four
hooves in the air with delight. “Here is my home!” he whooped. Snowdrop,
Whitehoof, Pip and Silver stared at the scene. Brock, mouth open in
astonishment, stared at Sam.
Whitehoof was exhausted. “Pip, I am so sorry, I love you I promise!” He
wept uncontrollably. “Whitehoof, just rest dear and we’ll talk later.” Pip said
gently. Whitehoof fell into a deep sleep. Snowdrop, Pip, Sam and Silver had a
lot of talking to do.
The four horses flopped comfortably on the soft flooring. Snowdrop had
never felt anything so soft before, it was like fur almost, and so warm! “What I
want to know,” Silver said, “is how you got this place Sam, it’s lovely! I don’t
go much on the passages and stairs and things, but this place, oh wow!” Sam
smiled broadly. “I love it here, here I am safe and warm. I don’t mind the wood,
it’s okay, but sometimes I need to come back here.” Pip stretched out
luxuriously on the floor. “I could sleep for a week,” she yawned. “It looks like
Whitehoof is,” Silver said. Sam went across to Whitehoof and stroked his ears
with his muzzle. Pip looked at Sam. “I for one, think he’ll have a lot to say to
you when he wakes,” Pip said. Sam returned to his place and stretched out full
length. “I love your home Sam,” Silver said.

READ PART 5

This story is a product of collaborative writing on Fabulous Fiction. The contributing writers are Whitney, Hannah, Miranda, Anna, Benjamin, Jazzy, Saffron, Jo W, Katherine, Katie, Martin, Nicky, Mule, Lisa, Vaughn, Cindy, Wendy, Italics, Vanessa, and Justin. Special thanks to Martin Wilsher for leading the story and later editing it for this web site.