Fury

[Fraroc]

Chapter 6




Later that same exact day, Mike had the duty of scattering hay around the paddock. He was indeed getting paid for his work at the stables, nothing extravagant. But it was enough for him to get by financially.




In the corner of his eye, he spotted something with four legs, a mane and a tail. His eyes didn't deceive him. It was indeed a horse. An impressive bright bay coat and a well muscled but yet lean and streamlined body, which lead Michael to believe that the animal may have at one point, been a racehorse.




Michael slowly approached the horse. The animal raised his head and whinnies, but Michael kept on approaching the horse in hopes to stroke him lightly, whispering in a low voice.

“Hey there, handsome.....don’t worry, I’m not gonna hurt you....”




Mike caresses the horse’s left flank gently, and then all hell broke loose. The stallion immediately spooks goes into a frenzy. Michael didn't even see the iron horseshoes reaching out about to smash into his face until it was too late....

(THWHACK) “AAAAARRGGGHHHH!!!”




“Wow. He gave you a pretty nice cut....I really should have warned you about that stallion.”
“Do I need stitches, or not?”
“No, It looks like it'll heal on it's own, but you should consider yourself lucky that you don’t have a concussion, or worse. Now, listen to me carefully. From now on, I want you to stay the HELL away from that stallion! He is a danger to himself and to others around him! Hell, after what he’s done in the past, you’re lucky you’re not dead!”




After Jack yelled the blatant warning at Michael....Mike gets the courage to speak up.

“I'm lucky I'm not DEAD?! Jack, there is something about that horse that you’re not telling me. What is it?”

“(sigh) If you really want to know, I'll tell you all of the information I have on that stallion. According to his pedigree, his original owners named him “Tornado” and he’s about nine years old so he's not that young and not that old either. And he's an Arabian horse.”
“Well Arab horses, as beautiful as they are, they’re very hot blooded horses that get scared and pissed off easily.”
“True, but not at this level though. The stallion was treated very roughly by his previous owner to the point that it was considered animal cruelty. He would scream obscenities at the horse and he apparently would not just whip- but FLOG the horse with a bullwhip. I'm guessing that one day, that horse just couldn't take the abuse anymore. The stallion trampled his abusive owner, and killed him right in the stall. The animal rescue group gave the horse to me because they thought I could successfully rehabilitate him. But....all of my methods to help this horse had failed. And I’m sorry to say this but.....he’s scheduled to be euthanized in about five days, as soon as Animal Control arrives.”
“Are you sure there isn't anything else you can do?”
“I....I honestly don’t know...For now, No. I'm afraid this stallion is just way too far gone.”
“God...It’s such a shame that he’s so beautiful...”
“I agree Mike......I agree....”




Now that he knew that his face would heal on its own, Michael walked back to the stable to complete his remaining duties....It is there where he runs into Karilla, who wanted to ask him something.

“Hey Mike!”
“Karilla, What’s up?”
“I wanted to ask you something...”
“Ok, I’m all ears.”
“Umm........Uuuuummmm....(Goddamn it, I can't do this!) Oh yeah...Can you take Raven out for me? You see, I’m going to be out all day today and I want to make sure Raven gets her exercise.”
“Sure thing.”




As per Karilla’s request (or excuse rather) he opened the massive barn door, mounted Raven and took her on a trail ride.

“Sh*t......that did not go as planned....”




Karilla noticed the cut on Mike’s face during their conversation (and her botched attempt to ask him if they could hang out together) and knew right away where that cut came from....At that same moment, she found Jennifer near the porch of the house.

“I was talking to Mike before, and I noticed he had a cut below his eye!”
“Ok...mabye he accidentally cut himself on something....”
“No...I think...that the Killer Stallion bucked at him...I didn't want to admit that you were right but I'm beginning to think so....Maybe...that poor horse is too far gone.....maybe putting him down is the best option.....”