The Wild Wolf Within

Morning at the Stables

The morning after the wild storm and dire wolves, (even before coffee) I grabbed the rifle and headed straight to the barn to check my horses.

Getting to the wooden doors, I glanced behind me where the red wolf had been. Nothing, which was a good sign. I let my eyes adjust to the dim light. I heard nickers go down the aisle, which told me all was well. Grabbing the hay cart I started in feeding. Opening their paddock doors so they could roam their pasture.

Coffee is what called me back to the house. I sat down on the back porch to look at the amazing view I had. Juniper and Pinion pine covered most of our area, snow capped mountains in the distance made it perfection. We had bought 120 acres of land that surrounded our living area of 40 acres. We wanted privacy and sanctuary.

Coffee done, I headed back to the barn to clean and work with the each equine. Most of the ones in my barn had found their way here because of their story. Abused, neglected and damaged. I took them so they could heal in their own time. Only one was not here to heal. That one had been with me the longest. He was the one I needed in my life even when I didn't know I needed him.

I walked up to him, smiled as I remembered the first time I met him. He was charging down the the alley way toward the trailer. I was in shock. The horse I had come to buy had been sold just before I got there. The people offered me this one at the same price. What I seen was, a gangly buckskin colt, a blaze of white that gave him the appearance of a mask, black legs and a coffee mixed with milk colored coat. His mane had a mixture of blonde and black in it. He stopped just at the trailer door to stare at me, like he was looking into my soul. Then he calmly walked into my trailer. That whole event would lead me down a path I never expected. Let alone owning a stallion.

Looking at him now, I seen a mature stallion with feathered feet and mane so long it brushed the ground while he ate. He had taught me so much over the course the last 12 years that I couldn't imagine how I would repay him.

The others, were ones who the universe had directed me to or that were brought to me. Here I would let them just be and allow the time and care they needed to heal. The mini mule I had mentioned before had been flipped on his side and beaten so often it had given him what they call String Halt. The tendons in his hindlegs were so damaged they clicked, while the nerve damage created more issues in walking. Pain sadly was a constant for him. CBD oil and various therapies where on his schedule. Others like the little 3 month old baby in with the old criollo mare, had been separated from his mother in horrible events. Each their own horror story that I willingly took on to help them heal. Once, they were better, I had a wait list for my horses to go. My friends and I would screen and rescreen the potential people, with contracts and other bits to know they would be in the correct home. Those people would be here on my ranch for a week to month in the guest house so they could see if they click. Or more to say so the horse in question could tell me yes or no. My gift of speech to animals. Also helped me place them with the proper people. The dogs and the horses could tell me how they felt about a person and what the horse wanted to do.

My phone rang just about the time I was about to head to the house for lunch. "Hello."

"Hey Lia its Stan." The voice on the other end said.

"What's up Stan?" I asked sitting down on a bale of hay.

"My wife went out early this morning. Both her and the mare we got not long ago, headed towards the Ant people ruins in the valley." His voice wavered. "I was calling to see if you could head that way? I am getting a few people together to go have a look." His words were heavy with worry.

"Yes of course, I will grab some things and saddle up." I thought to add, " I will bring Chief, see if he can wind something."

"Thank you Lia!" He had said just before hanging up.

I looked up at Warrior's stall. He was standing there looking at me. "Who is missing?" He asked.

"Mackie, Stan's wife." I spoke. "You ready for a hunt?"

"Always my friend. Adventure is my middle name." He chuckled.

I laughed out right at that. That was a very true statement. Adventure and trouble were both his middle names. "I need to go get the med kit and a pistol. Plus wake up Chief if he isn't already up."

I headed back to the house. There I picked up the medical kit, canteen, pistol, and the Pendleton blanket. Walking into the living room, I seen that Chief wasn't next to the fire. Looking around the room at the sparse colorfully done furniture. Going threw that room to the sliding glass door, on the back porch I looked to find him laying in the sun. "Whoop!" I yipped, it was my call for his attention. He lifted his head and sat up to look back at me.

"We got a job." I sent him the message.

"Ah, what are we doing?" He stretched both front and back legs.

"Mackie is missing. She went on a ride to the Ant people ruins." I spoke while I packed the things in the saddle bag.

Chief said no more. He walked in the house and waited for me to head to the barn. Throwing the saddle bag over my shoulder, I hooked the holster to my 9mm on my belt and added a few magazines. Chief looked at me then to add. "Your rifle too." He knew that my hubs had got me a case that hooks to the saddle for my birthday. We lived in the wild, kinda like living in Alaska. But instead of massive bears and animals that wanted to kill you, there were cats in various sizes, snakes, feral dog packs, wolves and so much more. Not to mention, the humans who had decided to try to kill and steal.

Grabbing the rifle and its case, Chief and I headed back to the barn. Saddling up Warrior, adding the saddle bag, blanket and the rifle. I swung a leg onto Warrior. "Alright guys, lets do this." I spoke to them both.

"Well at least you brought the rifle this time." The Livestock guardian dog said with sass.

I rolled my eyes, this dog so much like my man. "Great observation, keep an eye on the place. We will be back in a bit."

Warrior and I took off toward the gate that lead out to the ruins. Chief keeping step along side. Getting through the gate, we crested the top of the hill. "Chief go on ahead and see what your nose says."

Chief nodded "I will strike if I smell something."