Prologue
220 Words
Prologue
A desolate wind rattled through the sunburned thistle as the small, white pony stood at the gate, searching the horizon for her little girl. Each day the land grew drier, the forage more sparse, and the dam dried down to a muddy trickle. The other horses wandered deeper into the Outback, but the white pony dared not go too far because, if she did, she would not be here when the little girl came back to ride her.
Before the horse trailer had dropped her off, the little girl came every afternoon to braid her mane and tail with pretty ribbons. Then they would ride with all the other pretty ponies until they were tired and happy and filled with laughter and whinnies. If she closed her eyes, she could still remember how good it felt when the girl gave her sweet, succulent carrots and curried her coat with a soft-bristled brush. Oh! How she missed the little girl! She couldn't understand why the family had sent her away.
Many seasons had passed since the last time she'd seen the little girl, but each afternoon, as soon as the sun began to dip towards the Never-Never, the white pony wobbled to the gate, now so emaciated and thin she could barely walk, and patiently waited for her little girl to take her home.
- Writer
