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You must not ride an unknown horse. Everyone along the banks of the Kesspian River knew that. Tench had heard the tales often enough, but now that he was actually faced with a lost mare, the stories seemed foolish and irrelevant.
For the lowly farmhand, enjoying a rare reprieve from the back breaking work of the ranch, the prospect of returning home with such a prize far outweighed any half remembered fairy tales. True, at some level, he doubted he would be allowed to keep it, but even so, the reward for the return of the animal would surely be impressive. Pulling a handful of grass from the ground, Tench approached slowly, holding his offering towards her.
The horse backed away a little, snorting uncertainly. Afraid that she might bolt if he got any closer, Tench stepped back and gave her time to calm down. “Easy girl. I'm not going to hurt you. If you come home with me, I'll make sure you're well looked after.” He soothed.
Apparently reassured by his voice, the horse trotted a little closer, then stopped. Just out of reach, glancing nervously at him, then back the way she had come. Tench stepped towards her, arm outstretched, but she snorted in alarm and backed away.
Worried that he might lose his prize, when it had seemed so close, Tench followed after her. “Wait.” he dug into his pocket and pulled out the apple he had been saving for his lunch. “Don't go. You can have this if you come with me.”
The horse turned and briefly sniffed the apple, before turning away again. Tench followed, still waving the piece of fruit in front of him and pleading with the horse, as she led him further and further from the path. “Please don't be afraid. You can trust me.” he called.
To his surprise that seemed to work, she turned around and let him coax her back towards the path, only to turn again, just before they reached it. Tench gave a frustrated sigh, he didn't know much about horses, but he hadn't expected them to be so contrary. She was standing just a few feet away, watching him coyly. “Come on, you stupid creature. It's that way.” he pointed back the way he wanted her to go, but she just blinked in apparent confusion.
“Let me show you.” This time the horse stayed put, allowing him to walk up to her. Briefly the warning about strange horses crossed Tench's mind again, but by now he was too determined to consider giving up. Putting one hand on her shoulder, he pulled himself onto her bare back.
The horse gave an odd kind of chuckle as he mounted, then set of at a brisk walk. “No! You dumb thing. The other way.” Tench tugged at her mane to try to get her to turn, and found it was wet and sticky, nothing like the texture of coarse hair that it appeared to be. He tried to let go, but the slimy substance wound itself round his hand and held on tight.
Suddenly the fairy tales seemed far more important. Swinging his leg round, Tench tried to dismount, but couldn't. It wasn't just the mane that had bound itself to him, both his legs were stuck fast to the mare's sides. A deep, rolling laugh broke out from the kelpie, as the glamour faded away, revealing silver scales and an angular, reptilian body. Her pace increased to a trot, and already Tench could her the sound of running water.
“No! Get off! Let me off!” he thrashed from side to side, but remained on her back. The wild laughter rose, until her voice drowned out his screaming. Breaking out from the tree line, she reared up on the river bank, giving her terrified passenger time for one last cry, then dived into the waters with a deafening splash.
After the initial splash there was a series of after-splatters, as the displaced droplets fell back to the river. Then there was silence. A minute or so later a lone sparrow called out from the bushes and within seconds birdsong returned to the forest as if it had never been interrupted.
Some way down the river, a willow tree leaned out from the bank, casting a shadow the water. Shaded by the overhanging branches, a large rock jutted out from the river, dividing the flow of the water in two. It was a secluded spot, difficult to reach by land, and hidden on most sides by the curtain of willow leaves. Presently, a silver-blue muzzle broke the water beside the rock. Moving sluggishly, the kelpie heaved her forequarters out of the water and onto the rock. Her belly hung heavily beneath her and, no longer supported by the water, it seemed to take most of her strength to drag it up onto the rock.
Her meal was still fighting hard, and muffled protests came from her midsection as the food wriggled. She paid it no mind as she settled into a comfy position on her favorite rock. She gave a long yawn, then closed her eyes and dozed off to the quiet trick of her river.
Stretched out on her rock, with her hind legs trailing in the water, the kelpie slept through the day and into late evening. Her belly churning it's latest occupant into slush, and her ears flicking occasionally at the buzzing of midsummer flies.
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Posted by Redpod 8 years ago Report
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