Bird's Wing

By Hazel Martin

Wing is the lead mare of her herd, and Night is her partner, the herds only stallion. Together, they watch over and protect the young and the old from the dreaded sky beast. Many of their herd had been taken by the wild mustang roundup held yearly. The mustangs fear the time when the helicopters come and chase them down for miles, separating them from one another and mixing them with other herds. Wing tries her best to protect her herd and lead them to safety, but she finds herself separated and farther from her home than ever. To her dismay, she finds herself with a girl named Bird.
Bird has grown up around wild mustangs her whole life. Both her parents own and train wild mustangs rescued from auction. Along with training wild mustangs, her parents opened up their farm and their home to troubled teens from all over. So despite being an only child, at times Bird feels overlooked by her parents. Bird hates feeling babied by her parents, and all she really wants is a mustang of her own. Can Wing and Bird connect, or will she be wild forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524506094

Hazel Martin

Ever since I was young, I wanted my own horse and growing up, had many imaginary ones. I started riding when I turned nineteen, after I graduated from high school. I called a farm close to my home, inquiring for a job. Instead of a job offer, they signed me up for a riding lesson, and I was bit by the horse bug. After five years of riding and volunteering, I bought my own horse. I have now been riding for eight years, and I am finally the barn manager, as well as an instructor, at the very same farm I started out in. When I am not taking care of the horses or teaching, I might be riding, and if I am not doing that, I am an artist on my horsey time off. I have dreams of being a freelance illustrator, so most of my time at home is spent working on personal art projects. Last but not least if I am not working on art, I enjoy reading, drinking hot tea, and cuddling with my dogs while watching Netflix.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

W ing stood among the herd, her head held high above everybody else. The herd was settled; they had just stopped to eat after an hour of running. Her chest was heaving, and her nostrils were flared. Wing shuffled her feet as the wind blew strong scents to her.

What is wrong, Wing? A large gray stallion stepped up to her flank, eying her in concern.

Wing did not want to admit to her leader that although it had been just one moon past since Blue had been taken, it was still bothering her. Wing struck the ground with her heavy stonelike hoof, breaking the ground beneath her, trying to think of anything to say to the gray stallion.

Defeated, she nickered softly, It's Blue.

The gray stallion blinked and nodded; he understood it was a hard thing to forget, and his herd never would. Blue had still been so young when the people had come and taken her. Night put his head down then lifted it back, nuzzling Wing with his nose for comfort.

Wing sighed heavily, letting the gray stallion give her some comfort before it was her time to rest.

Straightening herself up to full height, she entered the circle of mustangs that was resting and huddled together.

As Wing appeared by her side, Shock, a young filly, nickered a greeting and stepped away, letting Wing into the middle of the circle. It was her time to rest, and with the safety of Night and the rest of her herd watching, she knew that it was okay to sleep.

Wing let out a soft groan as she dropped onto her forelegs, then slowly let her flank and hind quarters hit the ground with a soft thud. The rocks and dirt surrounding disappeared as she drifted off into sleep.

A shrill cry broke the air, along with a loud thundering sound that caused the herd's ears to hurt and made their blood run cold.

Run! Blue broke the loud chopping sound again with another shrill cry.

Wing threw her head to the sky and let out a sharp whinny before throwing herself into a gallop. The blood rushed to her ears as she thundered across the rocky terrain. As she raced on, dirt and stone being thrown behind, the herd followed close. Their leader Night came last, making sure and protecting everyone from the beast in the sky. Again, Wing let out a sharp whinny, throwing her head up and flaring out her nostrils in a desperate attempt to escape.

A desperate scream broke through the thundering noise, its shrill sound causing pain in Wing's ears. Then the desperate screaming stopped. As her heart pounded and her hooves trampled the ground, she knew she had to continue even though she felt in her heart something was very wrong.

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Night's eyes were wild with fear and rage as the beast drew closer in on his herd. He bucked and screamed, trying to scare it off as best as he could, but it was no use.

Blue, the little blue filly, ran alongside Night, her speed matching his and her eyes just as wide with fear. Night admired the little one's bravery; she was a bit smaller than the rest but just as big in heart, if not even more. Her eyes were wild, and her ears were flat against her head; she threw herself into the gallop alongside Night with her head down. She bucked and kicked out at the flying beast, but there was nothing they could do. Then with a loud scream, Blue was not there.

Night whipped around to see Blue in a mess on the ground, her hooves thrashing as something large covered her body, entangling her like weeds. Her screaming sickened him; her eyes pleaded for help. She bit the trap and kicked as hard as she could before Night had to keep going. There was nothing he could do to help her; if he were to stop, it would put the entire herd in danger.

Throwing up his head, he let out a cry and heaved his body upward, striking out at the sky as if to curse whatever let that flying beast so close to his family. He landed with a thud, galloping and tearing up the ground with his hooves. He threw bucks and lashed out viciously with his teeth to the air until he got closer to his herd.

Wing snorted and lifted her head off the ground; Shock was nuzzling her and nipping her gently. Flattening her ears, she nipped Shock back. Heaving herself off the ground, she shook the dirt from her mane. With her ears still pinned, she gave Shock another warning look. Shock stepped backward, shuffling her hooves awkwardly.

I'm sorry, she cried. You were making noises in your sleep.

Wing softened a bit, letting her ears relax. She nudged Shock with her nose.

Thank you, little one, she nickered into the soft fur of Shock's baby ears.

Shock was still only a yearling and had much to learn about respect, but Wing was softened by the thought of the young filly's kindness. Wing knew that Shock would make a good leading mare one day, but today was another day for her. Going around, she nickered greetings and checked on the young ones, making sure that no one had been injured since their last move. Thankfully, aside from a few cuts and scrapes on the little ones, which Wing had a feeling was from playing anyway, no one was truly injured.

Snorting softly, she approached Night at the flank.

Everyone looks well, she nickered and lowered her head to join him at grazing on the hard blades of grass.

Night snorted and shook his mane in response. Should we be moving soon then?

Wing thought for a moment before answering. She pawed the ground, digging up small stems of grass, nibbling them softly.

No, we should continue resting then go in search of water and shade, but for now, here is fine.

As nighttime drew closer, Wing chose a shaded spot underneath the large undergrowth of trees to sleep. It would be cooler under the trees, and when morning came, they would be safe from the prying eyes of the sky beast. Although now closer into the trees, they had new threats she needed to worry about.

Snorting and stomping her hooves defiantly, she walked and checked that everyone was all right. Sniffing here and there, the elder mustangs greeting her with soft nickers, she settled down near a creek that ran down a small slope.

How are you keeping up? Wing spoke kindly to an elderly bay and gray mares.

Never been easier. The bay mare stomped her left foreleg and snorted.

The gray laughed, giving a snort and a shake of the head. If that were true, Winnipeg, then you must have grown wings without us noticing because it seemed to me that you were behind me the whole time.

Winnipeg turned with her ears flattened against her head. That is not true, River!

River squared herself in front of Winnipeg and stomped her hooves on the hard earth.

Wing needed to step in; with a shrill cry, she nipped both elders on the flank and swung her hind quarters back and forth.

You continue to act like yearlings and you can sleep with the yearlings, she threatened with her ears back and teeth barred.

Winnipeg snorted and turned away, leaving the two mares to stand in silence.

Wing waited for a response from River as well. Wing cocked her head questioningly to River, but River only shook herself off and continued nibbling the sharp blades of grass.

CHAPTER TWO

S nap! Wing's head popped up; she had been dreaming, but the sound of breaking branches awoke her. From a distance, she could see Night; he had heard something as well. His nostrils were flared, and he was snorting. Wing picked her way through the sleeping mustangs and nudged them all awake with her nose and gentle nips.

A quick murmur of alarm began to ripple through the herd. Something large was coming toward them; Night threw his head and let out an alarm cry. Wing startled and jumped ahead of the herd at once, nipping at the flanks and hind quarters of the herd in a rush to get them moving. Looking back, she saw Night standing tall on his hind legs, lashing out at a large grizzly.

Grizzly, Wing whinnied in alarm. Protect the young ones!

Instinctively, the herd formed a circle around the foals. As the herd ran to safety, Night struck out at the large brown bear; its fur was unkempt, and its breath could knock a horse to the ground. It yowled in rage and clawed at Night with its huge claws, but Night continued to batter at the grizzly with his hooves, striking down hard at its thick skull.

The grizzly was beginning to back away; Night dropped back to the ground and struck out with his hind legs, sending blows to the grizzly's flank. Yowling and snarling, it dropped to his level and swiped out with a large front paw. It felt like he was struck by a boulder; the bear had gotten his hind quarters, sending him rolling to the ground. His side hit with a hard thud, but Night shook himself and stood quickly.

Staggering to the left from the pain in his hind leg, he used what he had and charged the bear. With his teeth bared, he grabbed at its flanks, tearing at the grizzly. The bear snarled and howled as Night held on to its side. Lashing at the air, the grizzly finally stumbled backward and lost its balance. Releasing its side, Night turned on his hooves and kicked it square in the jaw before taking off after his herd.

The pain seared in his leg as his hooves hit the hard ground; the rocks that usually gave