The beginning of a story Sasha wrote

[Esperanza/Spirit]

Snorting breath turned to mist in the cold winter air.A bugle sounded,and men upon horses assembled.One filly,a three year old,known only as brand number 3654,was the only one that fell into line completely silent.Other horses around her offered some resistance to the bits which held them in line.Some picked up their feet and stomped angrily.But she stood quiet and firm.As the men were given orders,which she did not understand,she thought back to her old life,of running through soft pasture grasses on warm nights.She was brought back from her daydream with a sudden jolt.Her rider wanted her to move on.They were going on patrol.Happily for number 3654,her friend,number 4612 was coming as well.It would give them plenty of opportunities to talk.4612 was older than she was,but was a dear friend all the same.As they moved out together, 3654 thought of her mistress,a little girl aged seven,with soft hands and sweet words.How she missed her.Oh,how her heart longed for love.Yet again she was jolted out of beautiful dreams by the clumsy person on her back tugging on her mouth to turn.She could not bring herself to throw him though he was hurting her.She was too well brought up for that.Her mother had been a purebred Arab mare.If she could only see her pride and joy now.3654's sire had been a racing thoroughbred.He had won many first,second, and third places in many races.3654 had once been called Aurora,because of how her blood colored coat shone.But now,her coat was dull and greasy.For though the humans here brushed them,they did not hose them down.3654 trotted neatly next to 4612,but wished with all her heart for nothing more than to run.After all,it was in her blood.But her reins were held tightly,as if she was going to run off at any second,and she had no chance of breaking away.About two hours later,She and 4612 returned to the base,exhausted and thirsty.Their riders told the stable boys to take them to the stable,remove their tack,water them,dry them,and then give them their rations.3654 picked at her hay and oats lightly,but did not eat.4612 blew onto her cheek through the bars of the stall.
"Feeling alright?You seemed awfully quiet today."She was saying in a motherly tone.3654 nickered softly to let her know she was fine.4612 shrugged before beginning to eat her rations.
3654 then asked,"Did you ever have a name,4612?"The older mare raised her head,a bit of hay sticking out of her mouth.She chewed for a minute before saying.
"A long time ago,yes.I was Gracie."
"Would you like me to call you that?"3654 asked her.
"I think that would be wonderful.What should I call you?"
"Aurora.I think that was my name."
"It's a lovely name,Aurora."Gracie rolled the name on her tongue like a particularly sweet sugar cube.Aurora smiled happily.
"I had a name once,too."Came another voice.Number 2678 poked her head over her stall door.
"Mine was Sweetie!"
"I was Gabriel!"
"I was Martini!"
"I was Flick!"Horses's voices shot out from all over the stables.Aurora and Gracie hushed them with twin whinnies.So all of them had had names,homes,families.Yet they had all been brought here.Why?Aurora wondered.
"Did we do something wrong?"A strawberry roan,recently number 7645,but now called Strawberry asked.
"I don't think so,"Aurora replied,"My family always mentioned the words 'money',and 'sell' and 'afford'."
"Perhaps it is because you were to expensive."Stuck up number 5678,now Milo said.
"Shut it,Milo!"Martini said sharply.Milo immediately was silent.Aurora then spoke again.
"I think our families gave us each up for their own reasons.Maybe some of us were expensive,others maybe were just needed here.Who knows?All I know is I'm sick of the same routine day in and day out.I'm getting out of here!"She finished dramatically.Several other horses whinnied their approval.Gracie silenced them.
"How?I know you cannot throw a man,no matter how clumsy."She said,calmly.
"We'll just have to work on it.But there is to be no hurting anyone.Does anyone have any ideas?"All the other horses stared.They expected her to lead them.
"Anyone?"Aurora pleaded.Previous number 9573,Charlie,spoke up.
"Well,the humans' ears are as blunt as steel.Perhaps we could attempt to break from our stalls at night?"The other horses groaned in disapproval.
"They'll still notice!"Milo snorted.Charlie shrank back.It was just a thought.
"Lay off,Milo!"Strawberry,Martini,Gabriel,and the others screamed.
"Well,let's all sleep.Perhaps ideas will come in dreams."Aurora said.All the horses then settled into their stalls.Sleep soon found them all.
That night,Aurora dreamy of no plans,but of her young mistress,who was riding her bareback through the fields,her hair and Aurora's mane flying in the wind.The girl laughed and Aurora whinnied to her.The girl ran towards her and hugged her long face,as Aurora blew softly into her face.The next morning,she was awoken by a gentle rub.Soft words were said to her as she stood,and a halter was placed over her face.She was lead outside,where the saddle was placed upon her and her heavy bit placed in her mouth.A person roughly mounted her.She saw Gracie,Strawberry,Martini,and unfortunately,Milo being saddled up as well.She sighed.Another day begins.This time,no one told them what they were doing.The five headed out.They traveled for hours,occasionally stopping for the men to give them a drink.They continued on until a foreign sound reached the horses' ears.A high pitched whistling sound like a bird.Seeing Aurora's confused look,Gracie said,
"That's a train."Aurora nodded.She wondered why were they so far from the base.The men dismounted in unison and removed the bridles,replacing them with halters.The saddles were also removed.The lead ropes were then grasped and the mares and gelding were lead into a horse car on the train.For once,Aurora resisted.She didn't want to go on this machine.But more men pushed her backside,and she went.There was straw and other needs for the horses.But it wasn't the barracks or home.