Begone Sand

Dust rolled over the dusty grass less hills, sand filled pits all over, mud plots scattered throughout. How had this happened? He may have just been a few months old, Tori was quite sure it wasn’t this bad. The herd had to move out quick or… they may die; just how long will it take for this dusty dried out land to reach there little Vally. The herd was not Tori’s responsibility anymore…

He started a search for a good place to stay. He was now able to canter, trot, lope or gallop due to the open and free landscape. But there was no water anywhere near by for miles and miles, so he stuck to mostly walking.

After a few hours of walking he found a large pit, a pit of quick sand; which he did not find by stepping in it. Branches stuck up from random places in the thick sand, the occasional bubble popped sending sand flying a few inches.

Tori stared into the sand. The sand was stretched for a few miles but narrow. His options were to jump over or go around, going around would take hours and jumping was quick and easy.

Tori cantered up to the pit and gracefully leaped across the pit. While in mid air he felt something hit his hoof. Tori hit the ground with a thump. His legs had been dragged out from under him by a small stringy plant. He then could feel his feet under the sand as the plant drug him into it. Tori knew that the sand would suck him further in if he wiggled, so he played dead.

His legs were then buried in the thick deadly sand. The grains slid between his hairs making him want to wiggle. Tori let peace come over his mind, but that changed quickly when the sand didn’t stop pulling him in. Tori squirmed to get out. The pit pulled harder. Now the only part of him out was his neck and head, which it wouldn’t be long before that was gone too…

Tori flung his head and started making as much noise as possible. A strange sound approached as his head entered the dangerous liquid…

Another weed grabbed his neck and started pulling on him, it was like a game of tug of war! And in this case he was the rope. Tori’s nose was out of the sand in a few seconds…

Tori could breathe again! The sweet smell of dried out old stinky air, that wasn’t so pleasing.

The weed continued to pull, but what was pulling him? Tori’s eyes were full of sand as were his nostrils, and everything else. Tori’s front legs were now free. The weed still had its grasp upon his hind legs. Tori freed himself. The weed released pressure something approached him. Tori held his head high in fear.

“He boy, it’s ok.” A voice called Tori raised his head higher when he heard the man moving closer. Tori slapped his foot on the ground, hard. He then knew that it was not sand and bolted. The weed ran tight and Tori pulled it tight around his neck. His throat and neck began to burn and swell. Tori landed on the ground and let out a light whinny in pain. The man approached. Tori flinched once or twice then passed out, for that was an unforgettable day.

Tori had little to no good sense due to him being young and living in an extremely protected area almost all his life.

“Any sane horse wouldn’t make a jump like that.” A voice said

“Well he looks young, don’t he?” Another responded.

“Indeed.” The first man responded.

“Hey boy, you good?” The second man ask.

Tori was laying on some hard surface, his legs were bind together. His left eye hurt with a pain unexplainable. Tori opened one eye. Tori lifted his head to soak in what was happening. Two men stood before him one man put his hand on Tori.

“Hey buddy, how’s the eye?” The one man said. He had heard this voice before, the man from his fall in the sand.

“Who are you?” Tori ask. The man laughed,

“It’s ok boy.” He said patting Tori.

“I ask you a question, Mr.” Tori said with a loud snort.

“Good boy.” The man repeated.

Tori snorted again. Tori realized something… a pit sunk in his stomach, a deep, deep pit…