Prey – Page 3 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

#32- The Watering Hole

A horse with the unmistakable girth of a broodmare stepped haltingly to the water’s edge. When the mare lowered her head, blowing softly across the water, the whole band flowed in, heads high and ears taut. The stallion stayed back from the edge and paced the dark shore. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

I will not panic, Meagan told herself bravely. It is only the legend. This was supposed to happen.

The edges of the water were becoming distinct in the gray light of morning. Animals were materializing around her. A horse with the unmistakable girth of a broodmare stepped haltingly to the water’s edge. When the mare lowered her head, blowing softly across the water, the whole band flowed in, heads high and ears taut. The stallion stayed back from the edge and paced the dark shore.

The horse herd spread along one bank, interspersed with small creatures that drank cautiously at the edge. One small gray horse began moving further into the riverbed in search of clean water, its steps comically high. “I think you have the right idea,” Meagan told the animal quietly. She stepped further into the warm water, feeling mud flow around her bare toes. If there were danger, the horses would know.

The gray horse’s soft eyes fixed on Meagan’s progress. Her grandfather often called horses the “nosiest animal in Creation.” He called curiosity a fatal weakness of the species … well, that and a fondness for oats.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 96)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

#31- Lost in Place

At least it smells nice, Meagan thought, breathing deeply. Maybe I could live off the land. Of course, she had not the slightest idea of how such a thing was done: she was the primitive here. Uneasiness hummed beneath her consciousness like a low bass note. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

It was some time before Meagan would admit she was lost…

Besides being hungry and thirsty, and barefoot in her nightgown, Meagan was growing rather frightened. There was nothing to be seen of civilization—no buildings or roads, no power lines or airplanes. In all directions were endless grassland and ridges of rocky hills, all under a brilliant clear sky. A low breeze floated over her, heavy with the sweet scent of vegetation.

At least it smells nice, Meagan thought, breathing deeply. Maybe I could live off the land. Of course, she had not the slightest idea of how such a thing was done: she was the primitive here. Uneasiness hummed beneath her consciousness like a low bass note.

Meagan passed a mammoth stack of manure, a pyramid where generations of stallions had dropped to mark their presence. To her, horses had always been some kind of domesticated, almost manmade beings—beautiful, disciplined and familiar. But this pile was a clear warning, made by and for other wild animals.

At dusk, Meagan saw movement in the haze ahead. At first she stopped in fear—she did not want to meet any more horse-killers. But as she studied the haze, the patches resolved into silhouettes of grazing horses. A herd stood against the fading sunlight. She hurried after them…

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 93)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

#30- 20,000 years ago today

“I am sure you are very nice,” Meagan said tightly, “but you don’t have a shirt and, well, you are wearing blood. I will find Promise and then this can all go away. I really am sorry. It’s all my fault.” – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

Meagan simply had to find Promise and put things back…

“I’m sorry, but I need to go.” Meagan swallowed, seeing the girl’s lips moving in odd contortions as if mocking her. “I will find my horse before everyone wakes up. Thank you for not attacking me.” She stood and took a step toward the edge.

Without taking her eyes from Meagan, the girl laid a dark scrap on the rock between them.

It was a careful moment. Meagan picked up the strip with the ends of her fingers and held it out. “Burned horse meat … why, thank you.” She wanted to hurl the meat off the ledge, but politeness and precaution made her keep it instead. “I hope this won’t come in handy,” she said with forced cheerfulness.

Stepping to the edge, Meagan let herself over. She slid down and dropped to the top of the next boulder. Above her, the mute girl crawled up to the edge, preparing to follow. Meagan climbed down faster. “I don’t want to be rude,” she called over her shoulder, “but I’m trying to get away from you. It’s nice, but please don’t follow me.” She made the last feet in a jump. The girl landed a few moments later. “Thank you so much for cooperating,” Meagan said tightly. “Look, I am sure you are very nice, but you don’t have a shirt and, well, you are wearing blood. I will find Promise and then this can all go away. I really am sorry. It’s all my fault.”

A movement attracted Meagan’s eye and she looked past the girl. Several of the glutted clan of horse-killers were watching with unfocussed eyes. Meagan backed away and turned to the open field. She looked back only once. The girl was still staring.

Excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. (Hrdbk pg. 92)

Book II: The Golden Spark will be published Fall 2010.

Read the 1st Chapter online!

#29- A prehistoric encounter

A sudden thump on the rock announced one of the creatures, and Meagan was looking into the intense blue eyes of the staring girl. Meagan backed against the cliff wall. “Hello. Nice to see you again.” – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

Meagan sat up on the ledge, peering periodically over the side at the creatures laid out like slugs on a sidewalk. She shuddered each time and sat back. Of course, having an Angel for a horse makes something like this quite normal, she rationalized. The whole experience was like a … a gift. Yes! A not-very-good one. Maybe now was the time to find Promise, while the slugs were asleep.

“Oh!”

A sudden thump on the rock announced one of the creatures, and Meagan was looking into the intense blue eyes of the staring girl. Meagan backed against the cliff wall. “Hello. Nice to see you again.” She looked up. There were no heads, at least none visible. “Why aren’t you sleeping like the others?”

The girl stared back silently, but made no noise or motion.

I want to go home, Meagan thought desperately. She glanced cautiously over the edge. Only bones, ash and lingering smoke remained of the bonfire. Pecking birds scoured the rocks. Meagan turned back to the girl. “This is all my fault and I know you can’t understand, but I am very, very sorry … oh, please don’t be mad!”

The girl watched silently, moving her eyebrows to mimic Meagan’s.

“It won’t be hard to start over,” Meagan said reasonably. “The horses are still here … or, well, they were before you ate them. But you could find more and, and, build a corral. It’s simple once you know how. Horses are horses. Your family or whatever that is could do something with their lives instead of—” Her hand went to her mouth. “I sound just like my mother.”

The girl’s hand went to her own mouth, her eyes wide and unaccusing.

People would have to go through history all over again, Meagan thought dismally. No, she could never face the guilt—she simply had to find Promise and put things back.