Its not all fun and games(Belle)

[arzu]

My head drooped sleepily but sleep was hard to come by now days. Storm ran around and around the stall and he was starting to drive me nuts I need a little me time, I snorted and raised my head, my tail was wrapped in a new color, I knew that it would have to be cut, so it just hit the ground and was not this obnoxious thing any more. I whinnied in desperation, please please please I just wanted five minuets to myself. I snorted and stomped my hoof into the ground. He was like the energizer bunny he never stopped he just kept going and going and now that we had reached the morning it was even worse because what little sleep I managed to get was starting to ware off and now he wanted out because he was tired of being cooped up. I pinned my ears and then flicked them forward. One could clearly see that Storm was taking a toll on me, I walked to the back of the stall and against the wall farthest from him so he could keep making his circles. I lowered my head and closed my eyes but I could not sleep with all this ruckus. I whinnied again and stomped my hoof into the ground twice. Save me please!

[racingbelle]

I was walking toward the stall that Dancer was in. "Hey gal. Hey Storm. Hey stop doing that your making your mama dizzy." I laughed as the foal kept circling the stall. Suddenly he turned the other way, I guess he was dizzy too, and cross stepped then fell. I laughed again. Storm was so funny but tiring on Dancer. "Do you wanna go on a ride? We can leave this little energy ball behind." I said softly. Storm let out a shrill whinny scrambling up from where he had fallen. He cocked his head at me and looked as if he were saying Your going to leave ME behind? I giggled, watching as the foal turned to nurse. "How bout it girl? Well just go on a little trail ride for about 15, 30 minuates." I said to the cranky mare. I rubbed her check and looked into her eyes.

[arzu]

Finally Stevie arrived, I whickered and pinned my ears as my son fell from all the running in circles, finally he had stopped running. I snorted and pricked my ears forward enjoying the attention I was receiving. I bobbed my head as saying yes take me away from this ball of energy. Maybe before we went out she would groom me and snip the length away from my tail, it needed to breath which meant snip snip. I nudged Stevie and walked to the stall door, saying what are we waiting for? I tossed my head and bobbed my head, lets go go go go, I need to get out of here. For the love of my sanity lets go!!

[racingbelle]

I laughed. "Alright alright! Let me tack you up then but first well take some of your tail away. It's just too long for barrels, don't you think?" I snapped a lead rope to her halter, a brand new purple one so her show halter wouldn't have to be used all the time. I led her out of the stall, careful to leave Storm in and led her to the cross ties. Storm immediatly started to cry out, he wanted to be with his mammy. I ignored the foal and concentrated on giving Dancer a good grooming. A few minates later I had groomed and tacked up Dancer. "There girl, you tail just barily brushes the ground now. I hope your happy with it." Storm still hadn't stopped crying. "Oh Storm I'm coming!'' I rushed to the stall and grabbed his halter, then chased him around the stall to get it on. "There!" I cried triumphently as I got it on. I clipped a lead rope on his halter. I half lead, half dragged out of the stall by Storm. He tried to run to Dancer but I corrected him and led him to the paddock next to Lightning. He could stay here and have some fresh air while me and Dancer went on a trail ride. "There your baby will be fine. He'll stay next to Lightning while were gone." I said when I returned to the barn. "Come on let's head out!" I unclipped the cross ties and led her out into the sunshine, where Storm was running and calling for Dancer. I mounted swiftyly and truned her toward the woods. I nudged her into a trot and off we went!

[arzu]

Oh thank you thank you thank you, I nudged Stevie as she slipped my new purple halter on. As I was led out I became nervous as he cried out but I soon relaxed knowing that he would quiet soon enough when he was next to his daddy. I was clipped into the cross ties, my coat groom and my tail now just brushed the ground. I flicked it across my flanks, liking that I now could. She saddled me and then left to attend to my colt, I snorted and nibbled his rump as he went by, then she came back and led me out. He was still crying out as we went by, I pranced and became nervous and then settled as I felt her foot in the stirrup and then she tapped my sides and I took off in a trot, covering the ground as soon as we hit the trails and after a few moments she cued me for a canter I took off fighting for my head I wanted to go faster, after all I would beat any thoroughbred in the first quarter mile.

[racingbelle]

"Easy girl! We don't want to over do it!'' I said. I pulled the mare back into a trot. "Good girl. How about we stop at the creek and you can graze and maybe doze in the sun for a while." I was relaxed completely and utterly relaxed. Today was a gougous day even though it was cold. I sighed. Everything was just about perfect.

[arzu]

Darn, I wanted to run and yet here we were slowing down back to a boring trot. I snorted and tossed my head, I was more then ready to go. I danced sighed ways and stopped at the creek and lowered my head and began to drink, she had decided to relax under a tree. I slept under the sun for maybe two hours and then I really wanted to go, I was like my son now I needed to run, I was a barrel horse I was use to going hard, it was my game. I snorted and tossed my head, I wanted to run! I pawed the ground in front of her, please let me run! I wanted to go!!!

[racingbelle]

"Hey gal, you wanna run huh? Well OK but just to the edge of the woods." I climbed up in the saddle and realized we were gone longer than I expected. "Ready, set, go!" I yelled, heeling the mare forward, almost like it was the beginning of a barrel race. She leaped forward and I rode her carefully throw the woods. This was fun!

[arzu]

She tossed her head, YES!! She felt her foot in the stirrup and then she was in the saddle and spurring her forwards, she shot off and moved herself easily into her top speed, which was more then needed in a barrel race but she was having her fun. She found another gear and pushed herself to reach the end of woods and then she slid to a stop, hind end tucking under her with easy. She danced sideways and turned and cantered back to the farm. Reaching the farm she slowed and then stopped all together in front of the barn, her coat was not even sweat, that was nothing for her. She snorted and called out to Lightning she had not seen him in awhile and wanted him to come and see her when she was in her paddock.

[racingbelle]

I leaned back in the saddle as Dancer went into a sliding stop. "Hey girl what are you a reining horse or a barrel horse?" I teased. she started to dance sideways and then she leapt into a canter, stopping in front of the barn. "Hey. You were suppose to WALK back but oh well." I said patting the mares neck. I was amazed, she hadn't even broke a sweat. I guess this was nothing for her. I looked over to where Storm was suppose to be, I didn't see him but I knew he was more than likely taking a nap. I dismounted Dancer and led her into the barn to untack her then put her in with Storm.

"Mom! Mommy! Mommy where are you?! Help me!" I cried out. I was in the middle of the forest...or was I? I had tried to go after mom when daddy wasn't looking and ended up getting myself lost. I looked up at the many trees around me not knowing what they were, only that they were trees. I sniffled and collasped on the forest floor. Boy I was tired. I started to whimper and cry out for mommy again...

I whinnied loudly at Dancer's call and then went to go check on Storm. "Storm! Storm? Where are you? Storm Dancer come out right this minuate!" I called in a panic. I was a bad father. I was the worst father. How could I loose a foal that was right next to me?! Oh Dancer was going to KILL me!

"Come on girl. There you go." I said and turned her out in the paddock. Then I started to scan it looking for Storm...

[arzu]

As I was let into my paddock to be with my son who I was now dying to see I herd Lightnings call, it was like music to my ears. However I did not see my son, I whinnied loudly and galloped the fence line, distressed calls leaving me. Where was my son! I jumped the fence and went to Lightning, I buried my face in his mane, where is he! I squealed, followed by some tears. No lightning was not going to help me now, so I hopped his fence and went down the trail we had gone down, maybe he had tried to follow me. I whinnied and picked up a canter, I wanted my son!! I flicked my ears and herd tiny whimpers and crys I followed them and there was my son, I hurried to him and touched him all over. Dont ever ever leave the farm again! Do you hear me Storm? I was happy to see him but I was upset he kept disobeying the rules that were enforced and laid down. If I leave you stay with your father until I return, do you got that. Yes I am happy to see you but I dont want you killed because of your own stupidity. She nickered and waited for him to stand and then they walked back, when they reached the farm. She snorted and tossed her head, whinnying loudly and rearing. I was absolutely pissed at a certain someone right now, how on earth had he lost his own son? I landed and pawed at the ground. I was going to have some words with him just like I had done with my son.

[racingbelle]

I was shocked when mom fussed at me and yet not shocked. I held my ears flat in terror and followed mom meekly back to the ranch. I stood by mom in the paddock after I squirmed under the fence. I looked at daddy who was giving me some anger yet relieved looks.

"Dancer! You found him! I just looked away for one second then turned back and he was napping so I started to graze. Then ya'll came home..." I trailed off knowing that Dancer would still be mad at me for loosing our son. I shot a "Your gonna be seriously punished for what I'm about to go through." look to Storm before turning back to Dancer.

"Dancer!" I called as she jumped the fence to look for Storm. How did that little devil get out?! I watched as Dancer returned with a scared looking Storm. I watched as Dancer jumped the fence again and then Storm was magically in! I sighed. That may have been my only chance to see how he got out but oh well. I was sure he wasn't going to do it again. I watched as an anger Dancer turned toward Lightning. Uh oh. Lightning was in trouble...

[arzu]

Dancer shook her head and turned to Lightning, I dont care if you are hungry or not, you always keep an eye on him, especially now that he can get out from under the fence! Sometimes Lightning you are as dumb as a box of rocks, hes a foal of course he is going to fool you, you should know that, now I dont know if I can trust you again. She snorted and raised her head higher, Lightning im going to give you one more chance but you lose him again or dont keep an eye on him your beloved head is mine! She squealed and turned to her son, now you go lay down and thats an order. She turned back to Lightning, now hop the fence as Stevie has left and give some attention, I could use it. She smiled sweetly and shot her son a look that said I mean it.

[racingbelle]

I chukled as Dancer seemingly fussed at Lightning. Everything would be alright. Yep. Everything would be ok here. Then I left to go see Chris.

I flattened my ears and bared my teeth. "How in the world was I suppose to know that he could get under the fence! I mean look at him, he looks too big to get under the fence!" I squealed. Throwing up my head and swishing my tail aggravated. How come it was always my fault. Dumb as a box of rocks! Humph! Did she suddenly forget that I was younger than her, that I was hardly an adult myself. I hadn't been near foals since I was a foal! I was still learning you know! I let out a shrill scream and reared bursting out in a run, not wanting to hear what Dancer had to say next.

"Don't blame Daddy. It's my fault." I said softly. I squealed when mom said I should go lay down. I only scampered away from her and into a corner, whimpering again. I hated it when they fought or mom was angry. I tried throwing my head over the fence but I was still too short. Instead I rested my head on the second to top board, thinking about running away.

[arzu]

I sighed, they would not have to worry about me any more. When I was sure he was not paying attention and was in fact fast a sleep and Lightning was still throwing his fit, I took my chance and leaped the fence I headed back out into the forest, my hoofs not making a peep until I was good and gone from the farm, I was going to go some where. Where? I did not know. I wandered around and crossed the border and end up back at the spot were my old stable stood, it was now just a pile of burned stuff, and dead and dying flowers as a memory. The barn I was surprised to see was still almost standing beams and things had fallen but it was still standing I walked near it, snorting at the scent of fire. I walked down the aisle, to my old stall, my other halter still was laying on the ground, it was burned and pretty much gone, I continued to nose around the place, looking at each gold name plat on the stalls or what remained, lady, prancer, jazz, darling, music, moonlite, the list went on as I head down the aisle and out into the light again. I went over into the stallion barn, which had barely been touched, ten stalls stood bare and empty now, I wondered what had happened to all of the other horses. Glass and pictures were scattered around the land caught in the grass or blown away, this once use to be a great quarter horse stable. Winners were made and champions born, every one who rode here was proud to say they had rode here. I snorted and turned around and walked back into the forest like a ghost, I carefully made my way to a cave that she deemed safe, I walked in and circled so I could look out into the night, then I settled, it was going to be a cold night and a long one at that.