Post by Cavallo on Nov 13, 2012 17:34:27 GMT -5
There was a blood-curdling scream, one of the likes which Nick hadn’t heard since the days of Augusto and his Admiral’s Revenge. His eyes searched frantically looking for the source. It wasn’t coming from the barns. He raced through the colt’s barn and shielded his eyes as the sun glared brilliantly into his face. Another roar of rage and then the thud of heavy bodies colliding and Nick quickened his pace, racing out towards the paddocks. There was the cry of the mares in their pastures as they fled a scene of violence, mothers herding the weanlings by their sides to safer distances. Nick yelled out for Kyle and Michael, whom he’d caught out of the corner of his eyes as he jumped a fence and raced to the area the mares were fleeing from. Grab a lead line and my bull-whip! He full-out ran and then gasped at the bloody mess he saw.
The two colts were lashing back and forth like two serpents. Each was getting their strikes in and leaping back in cold calculation as they waited to defend themselves or strike again. The once burnished bay yearling was now a russet red and the once midnight black yearling was a rich dark mahogany. So much blood and there was no way to tell how severe the damages were or if they were flesh wounds…but one thing was clear, neither was giving in and neither would quit till the other cowed in submission or was dead. It took Nick a second to gather his wits about himself, but as his mind slowly began to recover from the shock; his body instinctively sprang into action. Just as Anodyne was lunging for Samhain’s throat, Nick threw his body in between the brawling colts. He felt the rush of warm air as Dye’s head whizzed by harmlessly in the air, where the black colt had been. Kyle came running up with the lead line and bull-whip. He threw it to Nick and spooked Samhain from Nick’s back. The black colt had been motioning to potentially charge Anodyne and he would have run right through Nick. Michael was soon on the scene with a few stable hands and extra ropes and lead lines. Nick waved them off as he caught the bull-whip. This was all he needed. Anodyne reared in anger. His eyes locked still on the black colt that Kyle driving away from Dye to the other side of the pasture in hopes of helping the colts cool off.
It was a nice idea, but Samhain wasn’t having it. He faked a right and then bolted to the left, escaping Kyle’s control. The black demon took off, pure poetry in motion and yet had the look of death, covered in blood, eyes wild and determined. Nick saw the oncoming colt and circled the whip around him. The whip sliced through the air like butter, but it’s loud CRACK was anything , but mild. Both colts froze and spun away. Nick motioned Michael to help Kyle with Samhain and took a few stable hands to run down Anodyne. Once you get Samhain constrained, radio the barn to call the vet…there’s no way to tell the damage now. They’re covered in mud and blood. Kyle and Michael nodded and took on the black colt. Samhain attempted to retreat further, but the guys had effectively driven the colt to the furthest side of the pasture. With a fence on one side and the guys on the other Samhain knew he was cornered, but he was not about to cower…no he was too prideful fir that. The colt stood his ground as Michael took the point. Samhain was after all, his horse and charge. If there was ever a person to calm and reach the horse it would be Michael. Easy Michael watch yourself…he’s not himself right now… Kyle eyed the Warlock son as Michael inched closer. The colt rolled his eyes and shied lifted his front hooves simultaneously pounding them into the turf below, his own territorial display of dominance. Michael stopped and gently whispered to the colt. Easy boy…it’s okay…you’re okay…It’s just me…Mike… The colt stood still, his body shook with adrenaline and fatigue. Michael inched closer and stopped when the colt tossed his head. A few feet away, Michael was able to view the colt better.
His stomach churned. There was a large gaping gash on the colt’s left shoulder. The colt pawed the ground with his left shoulder, head bobbing and Michael shuddered as he saw the flexing muscle rotating. It was a deep cut indeed, a flap of skin hung loosely off of the left shoulder. It was a deep cut and Michael was afraid it might in fact be down to the bone. The colt’s face was scratched and bleeding, but those looked pretty surface level. He tried to look closer at the colt’s legs, but Samhain wasn’t willing at the moment to let Michael do a more thorough inspection. Easy boy…easy… Kyle stood still and ready to help as Michael inched closer. He had the lead in his hand…he slowly reached up and miraculously, Samhain allowed Michael to clip the lead. That’s my boy…easy now…come on.. He took a few steps and the black colt balked for a moment, but soon followed. Michael minded the colt’s shoulder and led Samhain slowly back to the barn. The vet van was there in the driveway, but Michael knew better than to put the colt around people right now..but then the gaping hole in his shoulder needed to be cleaned and stitched and dressed asap…Sedation might be the best route… Kyle followed a respectful distance, but stopped when he saw that Michael had the colt under control. The wild look in the black’s eyes was fading and Michael would know best how to handle the colt with the vets. He turned back in the pasture and jogged to find Nick.
He saw Nick running after the bay colt. Anodyne was not surrendering. Nick stopped, but too late as the colt ran straight for the fence and….Kyle’s heart stopped as did Nick’s. If the colt didn’t clear it, there could be fatal consequences. They each breathed a sigh of relief as the colt landed and tore off. Their relief quickly turned into horror. Kyle! RUN! Get the truck!!! We have to catch him before he hurts someone else or himself! Nick watched the bay yearling fade into the distance…headed towards The Wire track… He cursed and ran after Kyle. They didn’t know how badly injured Anodyne was and the last thing they needed was for the colt to irreparably hurt himself. Though…he dreaded now more than ever, the colt coming upon another human in his current state of mind…they had to catch this colt. And fast.
