Landing on the ground with a thud, I rolled onto my back, my sword’s hilt sticking into my side.

In the moonlight, I made out the figure of Allan. My mouth turned into an ‘o’ shape. I struggled backwards, my back came up against the rocky cliff.

“No, I saw you in the market place…you can’t be here!” I looked upwards, seeing cracks and ledges I put my hands there, pulling myself upwards, making an attempt to escape Allan.

“Tori, please hear me out, I’ve made a huge mistake…” His voice was soft, a breeze blew against our bodies, I shivered and let go of the wall, falling about a metre then landing on my feet. I kept facing the rock cliff, my back to Allan.

“You have 30 seconds to explain before I climb this wall and find my horse…”

I felt him come up behind me.

“I’ve made a huge mistake, my parent’s influence on me, my friend’s influence on me…my brother’s influence on me. All they ever talked about was your family, how they were the worst in the country, that they betrayed the government. They didn’t stop talking rubbish. I guess they got to me…”

“How do you think I feel when I saw you with that whore? How do you think I felt when I saw you making her laugh, How do you think I feel when you kissed her?” Tears fell down my cheeks and I turned to face him, he lifted his hand to wipe them away.

“Don’t…” I said with as much venom as I possibly could. His hand lingered there wondering if he should continue to wipe it.

“I love you Tori, you’re the only girl for me. I’d do anything for you, you know that. I realized at the last second that true love shouldn’t be thrown away for what others think. I was put under pressure and you know what I’m like. I’m a shy person, when I’m in a crowd, I feel small. Like I don’t matter. You change that. Please Tori, forgive me.” His eyes bore into mine.

A small wind blew, sending shivers through my body. My emotional side was hanging on the edge.

Suddenly my body began to shake and not from the cold, tears were coming faster down my cheeks.

My barrier was let down, all dignity and pride left me as I stood there and cried. The clouds over head rumbled, my head snapped up, looking at the white puffs above that were rumbling, threatening to let the rain fall any minute.

Suddenly, I felt two arms and a warm body come against mine. My pride, which had just barely returned took over and made me shove him backwards. The rain started to fall, getting harder and harder.

“You have to do better than that” I looked through the rain and ran, running till my legs grew sore. I didn’t care about the two other males who were chasing me. I collapsed in the valley’s field…though the rain I saw a figure. Then another appeared, I quickly slunk back into the shadows, away from the site of the two men. I realized was I was cornered, thick scrub all around me, with only one escape route through the trees.

I felt someone come up behind me and crouched down to where I was hiding, slowly I turned around to face the person beside me. I gasped. There, crouched low beside me was Allan.

“What are you doing here?” I asked under my breath, adding a little venom to it.

“Saving your butt,” he replied. I replied a short nod, my eyes narrowing into slits.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked him, my eyes boring into the side of his head. He shrugged and looked at me with a lazy smirk.

“You’re on a rescue mission without a plan?” He nodded. I groaned and slapped my forehead with my palm. Males are such idiots. There was a rustling in the bushes that were near by as the men looked through them for me. Thunder and lightning cracked. The drunken men were slowly coming closer. I had to think fast. Looking around, I noticed Allan’s horse was ground tied and was a few metres away from Prancer, who was grazing about 30 meters away from where Allan and I were hiding. Putting together and a plan I squinted into the blinding rain.

I turned back to Allan who was watching me with curiosity.

“Ok. When I say now, you need to run and get onto your horse. Ride as fast as you can south, meet at the Mustang’s brook” I instructed before giving a shrill whistle to call Prancer over. The chestnut mare thrust her head into the air, her ears facing toward me before she began to head over at a choppy canter, throwing her head into the air.

“Now!” I yelled a second after whistling. Both Allen and I leaped from our hiding spots and over to our horses. I vaulted onto Prancer in one swift movement and, before I was even seated properly in her saddle, she felt my body tension and she took off, flying across the small field. I quickly straightened myself and crouched low over her withers, determined to remain on the slippery wet horse and get away from the men who were chasing me. I dared not turn around to see if Allan was behind me incase I fell off. I was used to riding without stirrups, but I knew from previous experiences that the second you stopped concentrating on the young horse you were riding, the animal would get an idea and will muck up.

Prancer, like many horses her age, would often take hold of any opportunities that may allow her to play around with her rider. I knew there wasn’t a chance that the drunken men would be behind me now, so I had to get Prancer to slow down, but still moving evenly enough to allow me to get my stirrups. She cantered slowly, her neck arching as if showing off, she waited for me to get settled. The rain, thunder and lightning were getting stronger, the storm was raving around us.

I shoved my feet into the stirrups and turned at the thundering of hooves through the rain. Allan was still on his way, with the two drunken men racing somehow soberly after him. I looked through the rain again and I tensed in the saddle; the men were very close to him. Sensing my tension, Prancer began to dance beneath me and I struggled slightly to hold her in. She danced on the spot, chomping the bit and throwing her head into the air, the young horse wanted to join the game of chase with the others. As Allan drew closer, I urged Prancer to go. With a playful buck, again she was off and running. Thunder clapped, causing Prancer to squeal in surprise…she reared. I counter balanced her and leaned against her neck. She pawed the air in fright.

“Easy girl, Easy, you’re with me, I won’t let anything hurt you. Those men are after me. It’s my turn to help Allan out. Let’s show him what us girl’s can do.” I whispered to Prancer, she shook her head in understanding, whinnying she pawed the muddied ground, rain trickled over our bodies. Through the blinding rain I saw Allan’s grey horse with two dark shadows trailing about 2 metres behind him. I squeezed my legs against Prancer’s side; she flew forward instantly, realizing this wasn’t a game.

I knew Allan’s horse was older and of a more solid, slower breed of horse. Prancer was young and well bred, quick on her feet. I raced in front of the three men, pulling Prancer to a sudden halt. I moved my left hand ever so slightly and she twisted around in a sharp ‘U’ turn and faced the men coming towards us girls. Thinking hard I knew the adults were drunk, and I hoped it would take only a quick turn to throw them off the horse. Or if I was lucky, maybe the horses they were riding might find it a game and let out a joyful buck.

I tapped Prancer’s side with my heels lightly; she sprung forward into a gallop. Her eyesight being better than mine, she guided us over the field. I squinted into the darkness, the rain hurting my eyes as it hit my face.

“Allan!” I shouted. “Ahead, 10 metres closing, attacking head on, move out of the way!” I shouted through the wind and rain, thunder clapped again making Prancer squeal again in fright. The two drunks, not understanding what was happing, split their horses infront of me as I raced straight at them. They turned quickly and followed. I slowed down so they were only a few meters behind me. One wrong move and I was a goner, so I waited as we galloped across the field, crouching over Prancer’s withers again.

“Now!” I shouted to myself and Prancer. A flick of the rein turned her right and we almost ran into the horse directly behind us. The other horse, knowing he was meant to be chasing Prancer, turned sharply to follow and the man on its back went flying through the air, his horse still thundering away, riderless. I snickered. One down, one to go. Suddenly Allan appeared in front of me. Prancer slammed on her brakes and skidded to a halt, nearly unseating me. I caught my balance (Just barely) again and looked up.

“They’re gone,” he said. “Lets head home.” And with that, he led the way back towards the town with me closely following, Prancer’s sides heaving as she breathed heavily.