Loved by the sun | Wild Ballator Capture Attempt

The fresh new morning dawned upon the land like a newly washed blanket. The breeze carried the last remnants of a storm that had fed the ground the night before, leaving the grass coated in fine dew. The sun creeped across the horizon, showering the land in its rays and waking birds to contribute their melodies to the swelling song of life. Riley sipped at her coffee, steam slowly rising from the cup. Excitement sent her heart aflutter. She finished the last of her coffee and slipped back into the house, abandoning the porch she had been sitting on. She tracked down a mirror and bunched her dark brown hair up into a loose bun, stray strands falling to frame her face. She tracked down her boots and pulled them on while shrugging into a cardigan. On her way down the hall she almost ran over Uncle Tim. He grinned at the sight of her and chuckled, “Up already?” Riley returned the smile and nodded. “You know it. Rumours won’t prove themselves.” Uncle Tim turned and headed outside with Riley. “Ah, the golden horse last spotted within Regale’s Glade?” Riley nodded enthusiastically. Uncle Tim chuckled once more. “Best of luck, sprout.”

Riley chuckled softly and rolled her eyes as she followed the trail that led into the heart of the woods. She was now 25 years old and still Uncle Tim referred to her as sprout. It was endearing. Today she felt like a kid again, chasing fairy tales. She adjusted the length of rope slung over her shoulder and continued forward. A backpack with supplies was slung across her back, a small collection of everything she would need to catch the golden horse… if she could find it. Having grown up on a farm gave her some advantage. She knew the basics of tracking, how to remain unnoticed, as well as horse handling. It was a shame Uncle Tim had had to sell off all the horses that used to be on the farm. Riley shrugged off the frown that seemed to pull her eyebrows together. It was time to focus.

The clustering of trees grew denser as she waded deeper and deeper into the forest. The pathway she had known so well as a child was now overgrown, but still left traces underneath the vines and branches that bent over it. Riley climbed and clambered over roots and some fallen trees, feeling the sense of the wild creep into her heart like an old friend. She smiled, sucking in a deep breath as her mouth curved into a grin. She felt like a huntress, at one with the nature around her. It was almost as if she could hear the heartbeat of the forest around her. Birds fell silent as she passed, but in the distance they still sang their songs. The sun filtered through the canopy of leaves above, casting dancing spots of light on Riley’s skin. Up ahead the trees seemed to become sparse. Riley hesitated for a moment, hazel eyes scanning ahead. She was in the heart of the forest now and she knew the trees here were thickly entangled. Had she gotten lost? She continued forward, curiosity overwhelming her. Warm sunlight bathed the glade, illuminating the soft grass into an otherworldly glow. She carefully stepped into the glade, leaving the thick entanglement of trees behind, eyes gliding around the beautiful landscape with wonder. “Where am I?”

A soft rhythmic thudding brought her out of her dazed wonder as she slipped back into the cover of the trees into the shadow. Her heartbeat bubbled into her throat, her breathing coming in short little puffs. Something was there, she knew it. Anticipation filled her, setting a slight tremble to her hands. Fear was right on its heels. What if it was a mountain lion? Or a wolf? She suddenly regretted leaving her Uncle’s hunting rifle behind. Seconds creeped like years… and then as if conjured by the sunlight itself, a golden horse stepped into the clearing. Riley gasped inaudibly, her mouth dropping open at the sight of the magnificent creature. The sun itself seemed to embrace his coat, shimmering like liquid gold. It was almost as if the magnificent stallion knew exactly how beautiful he was. He moved with grace, pride laced into every step. For the time being Riley remained within her hiding spot, unmoving, eyes fixed upon the golden creature. A sense of awe held her captured, for though this creature was beauty itself, he was still dangerous. Ballators, especially wild ones, demanded respect. Riley shifted her weight in an attempt to relieve her now sleeping foot. A twig snapped beneath her, echoing through the forest as birds fell silent. Her eyes went wide.

The golden creature’s head snapped up, harks pricking at the sound as he swung his head, staring straight at her. Riley’s eyes locked with the mismatched eyes of the golden steed. There was no fear in his expression, merely curiosity. Riley slowly regained her balance, hands slipping into her backpack. The beautiful golden stallion seemed to grin at her, tail flicking before he bolted, powerful legs carrying him effortlessly and swiftly away from her before disappearing into the shadows of the forest. The pounding of his rhythmic hoofs faded into the sounds of the forest, slowly getting softer until it was no more. Riley growled at herself, pulling an offering from her backpack. She stepped into the glade once more, setting down a piece of dried meat. She sprinkled some essence onto it, seeping a lovely scent into the air. She then donned her backpack again and slipped into the darkness of the forest, pulling together a makeshift hideaway from where she could keep an eye on the glade as well as the meat she had left. This was now a game of patience, a game of will that went hand in hand with a lot of waiting. Riley settled herself for the long hours ahead, nibbling on some fruits she brought along.