Flash Fiction Friday: Across the Fence
I took an intro to creative writing class last semester and one of my favorite parts of the class was the biweekly writing prompt. The professor would give us a prompt of some kind and then we would have fifteen minutes to write whatever we thought of based on that prompt. Now that class is over, I want to keep it up and I thought posting those little bits here would be a good motivator.
The prompt for this one came from this blog (it's #732): “From across the fence, a love story.”
Hart gazed across the other side of the fence, his glossy black coat hot under the midday sun. He pranced as he watched a small trailer pull into the driveway on the other side. Finally, after months of loneliness, perhaps the other pasture would be filled again.
He watched as an older male human and a little female climbed out of the truck and walked to the back of the trailer, sliding open the bolt. The door opened and the male climbed inside, backing out the new arrival.
Hart raised his muzzle, sniffing at the wind to take in the new horse’s scent as he watched them lead her in circles. It was a gray mare with delicate features and a long mane and tail to rival his own.
“Get her settled in,” the male said as he handed the mare’s lead to the female.
“Come on, girl,” the female chirped to the mare and lead her over to the pasture next to Hart’s. As soon as she was free, the mare kicked up her heels and cantered over the grass. Her mane and tail streamed in the wind like silver banners and her powerful legs covered the ground in large strides. It seemed she would never tire, but finally she slowed to a walk and snuffed at the ground.
Hart couldn’t take it any longer. He stretched out his neck and whinnied to her.
She looked in his direction, ears pricked, and walked over to the fence. He stretched his neck over the boards and sniffed at her coat.
“What’s your name?” the mare asked, swinging her hindquarters away from his inquisitive muzzle. She could hardly stand still, dancing around at the other side of the fence and glancing back every few seconds in the direction of her watching humans.
“Hart,” he answered, leaning his chest against the fence to reach her better. The boards creaked under his weight, but held.
“Sorra,” the mare replied. “How long have you lived here?”
Hart pawed at the ground. “Since I was taken away from my mother. You’ll like it here, I think. The humans are nice enough.”
Sorra shook her coat. “As far as humans go.” She stood still long enough for Hart to reach over and nuzzle her coat. The scent of peppermint wafted across the wind towards them and both horses’ nostrils flared with the familiar smell.
“See you around, Hart.” Sorra whirled around and trotted off to where the female held out her hand.
Hart sighed, glancing back to the dark house where his humans lived. It had been too long since they’d taken a second to visit and give him a peppermint. He looked back to Sorra snuffling up her treat and pranced with suppressed joy. At least now he had a friend.
The prompt for this one came from this blog (it's #732): “From across the fence, a love story.”
Hart gazed across the other side of the fence, his glossy black coat hot under the midday sun. He pranced as he watched a small trailer pull into the driveway on the other side. Finally, after months of loneliness, perhaps the other pasture would be filled again.
He watched as an older male human and a little female climbed out of the truck and walked to the back of the trailer, sliding open the bolt. The door opened and the male climbed inside, backing out the new arrival.
Hart raised his muzzle, sniffing at the wind to take in the new horse’s scent as he watched them lead her in circles. It was a gray mare with delicate features and a long mane and tail to rival his own.
“Get her settled in,” the male said as he handed the mare’s lead to the female.
“Come on, girl,” the female chirped to the mare and lead her over to the pasture next to Hart’s. As soon as she was free, the mare kicked up her heels and cantered over the grass. Her mane and tail streamed in the wind like silver banners and her powerful legs covered the ground in large strides. It seemed she would never tire, but finally she slowed to a walk and snuffed at the ground.
Hart couldn’t take it any longer. He stretched out his neck and whinnied to her.
She looked in his direction, ears pricked, and walked over to the fence. He stretched his neck over the boards and sniffed at her coat.
“What’s your name?” the mare asked, swinging her hindquarters away from his inquisitive muzzle. She could hardly stand still, dancing around at the other side of the fence and glancing back every few seconds in the direction of her watching humans.
“Hart,” he answered, leaning his chest against the fence to reach her better. The boards creaked under his weight, but held.
“Sorra,” the mare replied. “How long have you lived here?”
Hart pawed at the ground. “Since I was taken away from my mother. You’ll like it here, I think. The humans are nice enough.”
Sorra shook her coat. “As far as humans go.” She stood still long enough for Hart to reach over and nuzzle her coat. The scent of peppermint wafted across the wind towards them and both horses’ nostrils flared with the familiar smell.
“See you around, Hart.” Sorra whirled around and trotted off to where the female held out her hand.
Hart sighed, glancing back to the dark house where his humans lived. It had been too long since they’d taken a second to visit and give him a peppermint. He looked back to Sorra snuffling up her treat and pranced with suppressed joy. At least now he had a friend.
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