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Chapter Seven

Once I got Punch settled down enough, I hooked the lead to her halter. I started walking back towards the gate, but Punch had other ideas. She was trying to lead me away from the gate. I looked her over. She was tugging on the lead, trying to break free. I threw the lead over her neck, to make sure she didn't trip on it, before releasing her to go back to the main gate. I kept walking towards the back gate. The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. Something was definitely wrong.

"Classic! Classic!" I called out. No answer. My heart started racing even more. "CLASSIC!" I yelled. As I reached the back gate, I noticed that it was ajar just slightly. I pushed my way past it. A chill passed down my spine. I knew once I took a step outside this gate, I was no longer protected. I had to take that chance. I had to get Classic back.

I checked my pockets, searching for my pocket knife that I carried. It was pretty dull, probably couldn't cut anyone, but it would do the trick of poking someones eye out; I eventually found it in one of the several leg pockets I had. Wearing baggy clothes came in handy when working, but damn it when I say I wish there wasn't a shit ton of pockets on them. Taking a deep breath, stepping outside of the gate and into what was known as 'the wild', I stayed still for just a moment, straining to hear any sounds that Classic was alive and just running amuck somewhere. Much to my dismay, there was no such luck. I breathed out. I started walking slowly, watching my every surrounding. I jumped when I felt Punch nuzzle my back.

"Girl, don't scare me like that!" I held my hand over my chest, trying to settle my heart rate. She neighed in response. "Punch, you have to go back," I said, trying to grab her lead to lead her back to the gate. "I will find Classic, and I'll bring her back safely." I stared into her eyes, "I promise." She nuzzled me again, still persisting to go with.

Thank God I knew how to ride bareback. "Alright, if you're going to come with, then I'm riding you." I grabbed ahold of her mane, hoisting myself up on her back. It took me a minute to adjust myself, to keep my balance from falling. I grabbed ahold of her lead, wrapping it around the other side to use as a makeshift bridle. I gently kicked my heels into her side. "Move." I straightened myself, preparing my body to adjust to hers moving underneath me. It took me forever to learn how to ride bareback, but once I got the hang of it, it was easy.

Punch neighed, starting to walk slowly forward. I leaned to the right and left to help navigate where I needed her to go. Punch didn't get spooked easily, but if she did, that was going to hurt like a bitch. Falling off bareback hurt worse than anything else, especially when she stood at 18 hands.

Punch managed her way down a hill, sniffing the air around us. I strained again to hear for Classic. Silence. Punch started trotting, bracing herself before entering a wooded area. The chills running down my spine got worse. Punch started to hesitate and I felt her nervousness. I patted her neck and ran my fingers through her mane.

"It's alright girl, I won't let anything hurt you." I pushed her to continue. She broke out in a straight trot, picking up momentum as she made her way into the woods. That's when we heard it. Punch's ears perked up and I looked around to see if I could hear what she was hearing. I gasped. "Classic!"

I nudged Punch to go faster. "Come on girl. Let's go save your friend." I kicked harder into her side, forcing her into a full on canter. She cantered through the forest, dodging tree branches and jumping over roots. Her ears perked back. Something was definitely wrong. The cries and neighs of Classic becoming more and more clearer and louder.

Punch stopped dead in her tracks. Her ears perked back, her hooves tapping the ground beneath her. Standing in front of us were two werewolves crouched low, preparing to attack Classic. It was like they lured her out here. Classic bucked and neighed, her ears pinned down to show her annoyance. Fear radiating off her in waves, I slid off Punch's back, twirling Classic's lead in my hands.

"Hey!" I shouted. The adrenaline of facing two oversized werewolves threw every inch of fear from my body. Saving Classic was my top priority and I was going to do so if it meant costing my life. Even if I'm going to die here, you bet your ass I'm doing the heroic thing, saving my horses. "Get the fuck away from Classic!" I shot the lead at one of the werewolves, walking to the side of them to get between them and Classic. Their heads turned in my direction, adrenaline still coursing through me. They bared their teeth at me, growling.

I whipped at them again, their growls warning me to leave. "You will not touch my damn horse!" I whipped the lead again, this time hitting one of the werewolves in the face. The metal hit hard on its head, making it reel back, howling in pain. The other stared at me, its eyes slitted, baring its teeth at me. I pulled out the pocket knife and flipped it open.

Even if it was dull, it still was a weapon. I kept twirling the lead in my other hand. The werewolf that I hit crouched low, preparing to attack. I clicked my tongue, telling Punch and Classic to get ready to run. I clicked my tongue again. Their ears flickered in response. I whipped the lead at the other one, forcing a step forward as I did. It took a step back. I had my opening.

"Run Punch! Run Classic!" I hollered at them. Classic wasted no time. She rushed up next to me, allowing me to grab ahold of her mane, as I whipped the lead again at the one I had hit before. I held on for dear life as she jumped over the werewolves, neighing at Punch, who had already turned and was galloping ahead of us. Punch slowed down to where she was side by side with Classic.

I felt my grip slipping, trying to maintain my hold and pull myself up. I reached up, grabbing a fistful of Classic's mane, attempting to pull myself up onto her back. With as fast as they were galloping, I struggled to move my legs. My grip was steadily becoming slippery and before I could prepare myself to brace for impact, I felt Punch's face on my side, nudging me up on Classic's back with ease. Quickly I adjusted myself. I clicked my tongue again, and kicked Classic hard to speed both of them up.

I turned to look back and happened to see the werewolves not far behind us. Punch and Classic galloped as fast as they could to make it out of the woods. Punch, taking the lead, neighed to Classic. I looked in front of us to see where we were at.

"The gate!" I yelled. The gate wasn't open! I purposefully left it open, making sure that everything was avaible to us to make a quick entrance before I was able to shut the gate behind us. Someone came behind me and closed it! "Shit! We're not going to make it. They can't jump that gate." I mumbled to myself, trying to think of a way to save my girls. I felt so useless. I was able to get them this far, if it meant dying, I would protect them. I started to let go of Classic's mane, to allow myself to fall onto the werewolves to save the horses.

"If I'm going to die, I'll die protecting my girls!" I yelled out to Classic and Punch. They must have sensed what I was talking about, because both increased their speed. We were approaching the gate more quickly. "No! You guys can't jump it! You can't-" My words were cut off as I watched Punch gracefully leap into the air and over the gate.

I braced myself, grabbing a tighter hold onto Classic's mane. I had a feeling she was about to do the same thing. Sure enough, Classic leaped into the air, just barely grazing the gate with her back legs. She landed swiftly and gently onto the ground. I lifted my head to face the gate, watching as the werewolves stopped dead in their tracks.

A males voice shouted, "this isn't the end bitch! You don't want to fuck with us." He growled at me, lowering his gaze, the hatred of being hit in the face evident in his eyes.

"And you don't want to fuck with me. I protect my girls." I crossed the distance from Punch and Classic to the gate. "You had no right taking Classic. Watch your backs, because you fuck with my horses again," I held the lead up, "this lead won't be the only thing you'll have to worry about." I glared right back. The other werewolf laughed.

"She has guts, I'll give her that." A female? Why is there a female werewolf in this territory. "Listen girl, you don't know who you've just crossed. Maybe you should worry about your Council more than about us. Terrible things are coming. If you don't align yourself with the right people," she lowered her gaze to a glare, "then you will die." With that, she turned her back to me, motioning for the other to follow, and took off towards the woods.

"The Council?" I muttered to myself. "What does the Council have to do with anything?" I rubbed the back of my neck. That chill feeling returned again. This time, it felt like someone was watching me.

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