Small beginnings

I could feel the ground beneath my hooves and the panic screams of others. I ran into the darkness of the forest. Beside me was a red roan mare. As I looked at her eyes I could see the flames from the forest that was burning. I heard the panicked voice from a beautiful dun stallion. “Stay in front of me, and don’t stop moving.”

“Keep running dear!”  The mare cried, fear striking into her heart. She ran beside me, staying close to me as the stallion lingered in the back pushing us on.

Suddenly a black stallion shot from the bushes lunging towards the dun stallion.

The mare yelled out for him.

The black stallion nocked the dun to the ground letting out a high pitch nicker as he did. They tasseled on the ground letting out loud screams.

“Run!” the dun yelled.

The red roan hesitated wanting to help but he cried out again telling her to run. The mare pushed me forward telling me to do the same. I could feel my heart racing as I ran faster and faster. I looked behind me to see if she was still following, but she was gone. Despite wanting to turn back and search for her I only could run forward as her voice kept playing in my head saying run, Run, RUN….

“Wake up Quiver, wake up!”

My eyes fluttered open to find my best friend Timothy prancing like a dumb stuck pony all around me.

“Come on Quiver get up. They will be here soon!”

“Who?”

“Poseidon and his son Gustine. I know Esperanza wants you to be there to greet them when they arrive.”

“OH NO!” I said rolling my eyes as I swiftly stood up. “Please, not Gustine! I could care less about him.”

Timothy laughed. “You know he has a thing for you Quiver. Besides, he is the prince of Raisodor. It might be a good idea if you gave him some attention.”

“Gustine is nothing more than a spoiled and selfish brat. I want nothing to do with him.”

“Well he may be that. But at least he’s rich!”

“Timothy! There are more important things in this life than gold.”

As I glare at timothy I see a figure coming up from behind him.

“Oh no its Esperanza……! I was never here, you never saw me, ok!” I say in a hushed ton and try to rush away in the other direction.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“AWAY FROM HERE!”

I quickly run into the thicket of the forest to hide from Esperanza. I knew that if I was found, she would indeed have me go to meet Gustine. I watched from a far as Esperanza approached Timothy.

“Tim. Have you seen Quiver?”

“Uuuuhhhh…. She’s in the meeaadd…..” Timothy swallowed his words as Esperanza interrupted him.

“I’ve already checked the meadow.”

I watched as he tensed up “I umm haven’t seen her!”

“Hmm, she’s always with you though.” Esperanza went silent as she ponder her thoughts.

“Uuuh maybe she hiding from the resent gue…” I quickly kick a pebble at him and it nails him in the head. “OWE!” he turns his head towards me and I give him a death glare.

Esperanza gives Timothy a strange look then looks in my direction. I quickly duck down before she sees me. “Is everything ok?”

Timothy turns his gaze back to Esperanza. “WHAT? Oh yes everything’s fine. I just thought I saw a butterfly.”

Esperanza tilts her head confused. “…Well… if you see her, will you tell her I’m looking for her?”

“Of course.”

She turns and heads back in the direction she came.

As I watch Esperanza disappears I eventually leave the bushes and yell at Timothy. “You are a terrible liar.”

Timothy trembles! “Don’t every make me do that again. You know I freak out under pressure.”

I tease him and say “oh look a butterfly!”

“He gently bumps me. “Shut up!”

I laughed at him.

“So what are you going to do now?” He asked.

“Avoid Gustine as much as possible!”

“You won’t be able to avoid him forever..!”

Why do I get the feeling he is right!

I quickly spat back. “Watch me!”

He sighs and shakes his head. “So just where do you plan to hide from this terrible Gustine?”

I stop and think to myself before responding. “I haven’t quite figured that out yet!”

“Esperanza knows you to well, she will most likely know where to look for you!”

“Then I just have to think not like me and go somewhere she would not be expecting.”

Timothy made a sly remark. “That would only be one place; and that’s the place Esperanza would like you to be at.”

I slugged while making a disgusted look. Ugh… He’s right!

I turned my head towards him still frowning squinting my eyes at him. He quickly turns his head slightly and gives me a confused/frightened look, like he’s trying to figure out my face.

He laughs at my face and tries to imitate it.

We both burst out laughing.

“Your such a dork.” I say as I try to catch my breath from laughing.

He gave a quick smile that was semi dorky. “Only when I’m around you.”

“I start laughing again. “No, NO. THAT IS NOT TRUE! You are always a dork there Timmy. Just more so when you’re with me.”

He gave another dorky grin this time doing it on purpose and showing as much teeth as he could.

“Point proven!” I say giggling. But Timothy is silent and his eyes only grow wide in amazement. I pause and look at him muddled.

“WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?” I turn around to see what he’s staring at, and find an army of war horses approaching the kingdom. One Stallion catches my eye. He’s slightly taller than the rest and his black/burgundy coat lusters in the sun. I notice a thin white blaze that runs down his face. I recognized the stallion as Avius. Every now and then Avius would stop by our small kingdom to help Esperanza. As a kid I remember him being like an uncle to me and Timothy when we were young, but I never cared for him much. He always seemed to prideful and busy to really pay attention to us foals; and now he is leading a bunch of young stallions and forming  an army against what everyone seems to call the Dark Knight.

Timothy studies my gaze and catches were I’m looking. “Avius!” Timothy yells out with excitement and starts to run to him.

I Roll my eyes and follow. Timothy has always thought of Avius as a hero.

A little livid I spat out with anger. “Why is he here. All he is doing is causing problems. The kingdoms are already falling apart. The last thing we need is a war.”

Timothy stops dead in his tracks and lets out a gasp as he gradually turns to look at me. He stares at me with his mouth open before saying. “Did you really just say that?”

I look at him annoyed.

“Quiver, the Kingdoms fell apart because no one would take a stand against the Dark Knight.” He barks back. “Ever sense the Great kingdom Tesromania fell into the hands of The Dark Knight, the kingdoms have been in jeopardy. The Dark Knight has taken control of practically everything. Avius is finally taking a stand in fighting back. He has tried to team up with the other four Kingdoms to try and take a stand against the Dark Knight. Some have offered to help, while others have refused; afraid that the Dark Knight will harm their kingdom.

“Who’s the Dark Knight? I mean I know who he is, but doesn’t he have a name” I ask.

“No one really knows who he is. Only a few who were there the day Tesromania was attacked and escaped with their lives know his name, but they never use it.”

Tesromiana..? I thought to myself. There was something about it that sounded familiar.

Timothy continued on.  “But some say that they have seen him. His coat a dark gray like mist and he’s as swift as the wind. I’ve even heard that he can appear into the dark of night and attack… Then leave without a trace.”

“Sounds like a ghost.” I say looking at him as if he’s crazy.

“I suppose you could say that. But I promise you he’s real.”

“Sure he is!” I say shaking my head while rolling my eyes…

“TIMOTHY!”

I jump, startled by the sudden outburst made by Avius.

“Avius!” Yells timothy with excitement as he runs up to greet him.

Avius then turns to look at me and quickly ask with a firm voice. “Where is Esperanza? I must speak with her immediately.”

“Nice to see you too.” I mumble under my breath. “Probably back at the castle where she always is. I’m sure you could find her; it isn’t like you haven’t been here before.”

Avius’s dark eyes glare at me, but before he can say anything Timothy cuts him off. “I’ll take you to her Avius.”

Before following Timothy back to the castle he turns to his troop and says “Set up camp here while I speak with the Queen. I’ll be back later.” And without another word he turns and follows Timothy off the field.

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