The paint mare approached the building, her young brain not yet having smelt anything like it. The scents were so strange, and strong, she approached, tense, waiting, ears moving, searching for that threatening sound. She ventured on, still tense, ready to run, she wondered into a strange kind of store, for firewood. It had three solid walls the right one the house outside wall, the rest stood alone, it had a low roof, and the first half was filled with logs. There was a small gap next to the house wall, she squeezed through, now stuck in a dark space behind the logs, it was dark, a blanket was laid out, she assumed something canine lived here, it smelt funny to, suddenly as she went to leave she couldn't find the gap, she suddenly began kicking the walls, panic overtaking. She squealed, anger rising within her, She reared, kicking forwards at the house wall, she kicked all three walls. Her neck snaked, kicking more and more, screaming in fear, This thing seemed to have eaten her!

The teen came outside, hearing a strange comotion. He was very startled to find a horse caught up between the woodpile and wall! With his father busy at the moment, John ran off, but was soon back with a rope coiled around one arm. He climbed up on the pile of wood, hoping that it wouldn't be knocked down by her struggles. Then he talked calmly and reached his heand out to try and stroke her muzzle to quiet her down.

She scented him. She stopped for a moment, then quickly as he tried to touch her reared up, crashing down again, she was covered in sweat from her efforts, to tired to carry on fighting the beast that trapped her. She moved away from the teen ad his snake of rope. She looked over at him, thinking about was it was. She snorted, waiting for his next move.

He continued to talk softly, but pulled his hand back in fear that she might try to bite. He uncoiled part of the rope and held it out for a moment incase she wanted to sniff at it or just look at it. Then he made a loop at the end and tried to slip it around her neck. He called loudly for his father, knowing he'd probably need help to contain the horse.

Bonnie awoke frrom a snooze in the sunnshine only to see John. She barked joyfully, tail thumping against the warm grass. Windows sportted the dove, and only then she stopped wagging her tail. Pistons rose her bod, carrying it over to John and sitting next to him, looking up eagerly to see if she could prove herself of helping.

The big pit-mix came padding over, seeing that John was having trouble. Obviously, the horse thought that he meant to harm her. She spoke quietly, her soft alto soothing and persuading. "That's the young master. He won't hurt you. He's just trying to get you out of there. If you hold still, he'll be gentle and get you out. No need to be afraid." She didn't know how much a stranger's opinion would help, but she tried anyway.

The filly snorted at the dogs feeble words, she felt the rope slip onto her neck, she reared up high, squealing in displeasure, she crashed bak down. SHe rose up again, her lethal flints rising higher now, it touched the wood pile. it shook. She squealed even more. She stood back, panting hard, her fight wailing she hadn't eaten well in a while, and her bones showed through her paint skin.

He glanced down to his trusted pets and offered them a smile and a kind word, very glad that they had showed up to help. But he waved his hand back in a gesture for them to keep their distance from the horse, for he didn't want them to be hit by her deadly hooves. "Woah, calm down girl! Woah!" he called out, trying to touch her muzzle when she came down, but standing to the side so that the wood blocked him from her hooves. Suddenly he got an idea. He had taught Timber how to open the horses' stalls, which he regreted now and then when he found the horses roaming freely in the yard, thanks to the collie.

Now the teen tried to remember if he had ever taught that trick to Bonnie? Or maybe either of them had learned it from Timber? Maybe his parents taught it to them? Desperate to get the horse calmed, he pointed towards the barn and gave them a command, not knowing if they'd understand it or not, "Retrieve, horses! Retrieve!"

She tried to rear again, but with hardly any food in a few weeks, and all that kicking she couldn't, she felt him touch her again, she snorted, snapping, to tired to walk anywhere she stood still, her legs shaking a little. Suddenly she laid down, resting her head on the floor, she couldn't fight anymore, she panted heavily, she felt sick. Even if he left her she wouldn't move, she had no energy to move with.

The pit-mix had never retrieved horses before, but she had been slightly trained while she was fighting at the Pit, so she knew "retrieve" and as his head jerked toward the barn, she pretty much figured it out. She dashed toward the barn and looked up at the latches. The were much simpler than the one they used to close the Pit with, and she freed them easily, saying to the horses, "No time to explain. I'm Rihanne, the wind. John needs your help with another horse outside." And without another word she dashed away, back to help John.

The mare dropped completely shaking in fear, ears back, sweat chilling her to her spine, she was hot, but oh so cold.

John slowly began to move some of the logs back, creating a slight opening for the mare. The teen was worried that Raindance would cause herself harm from thrashing against the rough wood; he also worried over her depleated condition. He knew now that she was exhausted, and hopefully couldn't put up too much more of a fight. He gave a sharp whistle and a call, seeing that Rihanne was coming back from the Barn. And sure enough, Stable was trotting diligently behind her. The mare, after being let out of her stalls, followed the dogs or humans about for a while. Now she trotted along after the dog and stood behind her, turning curious eyes to Raindance.

John praised Rihanne for her work and turned to Stable, grabbing a hold of the halter that was around her muzzle. He gently tugged at the rope he had about Raindance's neck, trying to get her on her feet. At the same time he began to lead Stable a few feet away, hoping that it would incite the other mare to follow; a herding instinct.

Stable wasn't clear what was going on, but she let herself be lead about by her young master. Happy to see a new mare, but curiously alarmed by her condition, she spoke out, "What happened to you? John here will take you to the Barn I'm sure. For some good food and to get you fixed up."

The mare followed, as if drained of her spirit, but no, she concentrated of biting and nipping. "I don't want to be fixed up, I want to be free, you traitor, how dare you serve them, like a small mouse friends with a cat," she carried on nipping, dragging her feet, and snapping angrily, she her breathing was heavy, her temperature high.

Rihanne trotted beside John, glad that he was pleased with her. She was careful to keep away from the strange horse's hooves, but was puzzled at why she was so angry. "Is it being a traitor to stay with those who take care of you? Humans forced me to fight in their pens, and yet I bear my masters no grudge. They have been kind to me. I defend their horses and their sheep, and they are kind to me because I am kind to them. And in any case, I don't think that the young master would hold you against your will, anyway. Most animals are free to come and go here. I think the master just wants to give you some food and make sure you are not hurt." Of course, she had no idea what John was really going to do, but they had neer restrained her in any way, so she couldn't imagine that they would restrain the horse if she truly wanted to leave.

She snorted, ears back. HSe nipped the mare again, then followed, quiteishly