Wind Runner

Chapter Three; Leaving

I stood atop a hill in my other form, my head tucked to my chest with my neck arched. The air drifted about me, stirring my mane and tail, bringing me scents and giving me plenty of scent pictures. I had slipped out of my home early this morning, shifted in the woods, and made my way away from home. I was probably about ten or so miles away from the town.

I had my eyes closed as I sat thinking. Where I would go, how I'd get by, stuff like that. Then the wind whispered calming things to me and I was filled with a silly giddiness to run and buck. To be wild.

I took off, throwing my head up and rearing. Bucking and kicking out at the sky. I leaped into the air and landed with a thump. I pawed, and bugled my freedom to the wind. Now no one could tell me to go inside, I owned myself.

I would find someone like me who could teach me to be better. I would be better. I shifted back then went to my backpack and brought out a map made especially for me. I did learn Braille, and that's was this map was written in. Or however Braille is made.

The closest large city was almost a week's travel by foot. Too long, maybe I could find someone to help me. I put the map away, then pulled out my notebook. It contained my bank account information, and other things like that. The notebook was, like the map, made especially for me. I didn't write though. K never got the hang of that.

I put it in the front of my backpack, then shrugged it on.

I shifted back to my other form and set off. My easy stride able to last a long while. I had incredible stamina as well as speed. I was happy, I was free. However, I always kept my awareness up, ready for an attack. I was a good fighter, but I wanted to learn to be better. I would be.

I had been loping for a while, with brief rest periods every once in a while, when I sensed something large being chased by something, or two somethings. Scenting the air, a mental picture showed a large stallion being chased by poachers. The stallion smelt like a shifter, though I was sure the poachers didn't know. I shook my head then turned and cantered towards them.

I let out a loud challenging bugle, rearing and pawing the air. I landed and bared my teeth, then scented the air. I saw the poachers had stopped and were watching me warily. The stallion had loped into the trees, but I was sure he would still be around. I heard the poachers talking to one another.

"Jeb, d'you see its eyes? They're a bright blue, maybe its blind?"

"Maybe Rick, but I'm still not taking any chances, it looks angry."

"Well, if we can catch it, we could probably sell it for quite a bit, people pay good money for fine animals like this."

"Hmm."

I snorted and reared again, then stepped forwards, my ears pinned flat against my head and my teeth bared. I heard the poachers mutter uneasily and back up. I scented and saw that they had ropes. I snorted and shifted my weight to my hind legs. When I heard the whistle of the rope as it flew towards me, I lunged forwards and sideways as I dodged the rope. I heard the men shout as they saw one thousand pounds of angry horseflesh flying towards them.

I ducked my shoulder and slammed into one and he flew backwards, hitting a tree and falling unconscious. I bared my teeth in satisfaction and turned towards the other one. I heard him stumble and I snorted. He stumbled again and I charged. He yelled out and I head-butted him in the chest, then clipped him with my shoulder as I turned and he was unconscious before he hit the ground. I snorted in satisfaction and lifted my head to scent the air.

The mental picture showed the stallion stepping through the trees towards me. I tensed, keeping my ears perked and nostrils flared as I tracked his movement. I sensed him stopping a few feet away, and I turned towards him, fixing my eyes on his. I heard him shift, and my guess was confirmed as he stepped towards me in human form.

"Hello, I don't know if you are a shifter too, but thank you for saving me, if you are a shifter then can you shift back? I promise I won't hurt you."

I was silent a few moments, considering, then I bobbed my head. As I shifted, I listened for any threatening sound from him, and heard none. I sensed him step close and I turned to him. He cleared his throat and extended his hand.

"Hello, my name is Eddie, I am a horse shifter, like you, I am 18, no herd."

I shook his, after scenting to make sure his hand was there.

"Ryder, 16, I had a herd, but I left."

"Well nice to meet you Ryder, you can call me Ed, all my friends do. Thank you for saving my life, but uh, I have a question."

"Well Ed, ask away."

"Are you blind? Not to be rude, but, your eyes are such a bright blue, I can't help but wonder."

"Yes, I am."

"I see, well, would you mind my travelling with you? To wherever you are going?"

"Of course, I don't mind, I am heading to Billings."

"I have a car a couple miles away, we can get there in about three days."

I nodded and we shifted to our forms, then set off. I let him lead, and I think he purposely made his hoof steps louder for me. I appreciated it, for I had heard how silently he could run. I was still suspicious of Eddie, but for now I had no choice but to trust him. I needed a ride to Billings.

We made it to Ed's car after a few hours of loping. It was an old pick up, my scenting revealed, but it seemed dependable. Ed helped me into the passenger seat then got in the driver's, he buckled himself in, then helped me, afterwards he started the car and we were on our way to Billings.

As we drove, I wondered about my new companion. I had learned that every time I met a new person, I got a mental image of how that person looked, and I had to say, Ed was nice to look at. He had sandy blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and a friendly look. He was tall maybe around six feet. He looked like a person I could trust. Though I knew that soon I must continue on my journey without him.

Though I did not know what I was journeying for, I knew that what I was looking for was a long way off. But I would find it someday.