Horseland Novels & Stories

Vuko POV We come out on the other side of the staticky, magic-drenched crossing that was once the looping highway around the city. I shake myself, relieved to be rid of the feeling of ants under my skin. Esme is staring ahead, her face grim. The Barren stretches out before us in early dawn light, no different than when I had first crossed it. Sand stretches as far as the horizon, a dull grey color more like ash than sand. Rocks and pebbles pock the surface of the arid land. Just looking at it makes my throat feel parched. There is no hint of movement or life.

Once Cash caught sight of her climbing in the truck loaded down with the horse trailer, he loped over. “Where you parkin’ that rig, eh?” “Over behind the other barn.” “Back ’er in and I’ll unhitch the trailer.” He frowned. “Why’d you drag that thing along to Buffalo? It’s empty, ain’t it?” “Yeah. I stopped at a ranch outside of Haroldsville to look at a couple of mares to breed. Decided not to take them, but I needed the trailer just in case.” Cash’s gaze narrowed. “What was wrong with ’em?”

The guard finally waves them in and the three flood inside. The outer village of the lord’s castle is named Sanctuary. This is the spot where the humble and the lower-class dwells. Buildings and houses are made up of oak and cedar wood which gives a scent that coats all who call this place home warm smell. That same lingering smell mixes with the fresh food that is made by the magnitude of vendors. Fresh bread, cooked meats, and raw meats just to name a few food stalls. Near the entrance of the village rest the stabiles that are nearly full of the dark seeded horses. There are only three spots remaining between the other beast that is there. Scar and his two followers dismount from their ho

With her on Pirate, a two-year-old gelding, and him on the new stallion, Brandy, they took off for Dead Man's Pass near the southern pasture. The twenty minute trek did wonders to clear her head and she relaxed into the gentle sway of her horse. The sun was lower in the sky, but still cast hot rays over the waist-high fields. They had another couple hours of lazy daylight before dusk would settle, and she breathed in the scents of soil and warm fur, cut grass and hay. Sounds of leaves crackling and the creek trickling were a light background to clomping hooves. They passed one herd of steer grazing in a pasture, and Nakos halted his horse. He dismounted, cooing platitudes to the stallion. "W

But they had made it this far and Lucas knew it was only a matter of time before he finally found his mate again. They had been tracking Rivers for most of the morning when they came across the grisly scene in a small clearing. The old hunting cabin had definitely seen better days and the empty beer bottles and smouldering fire pit gave away what the occupants had been doing right before they met their end. The scent of blood was hanging heavily in the air and almost masked the scent of burning wood. The snow around the fire pit was married with shoe prints and what appeared to be a scuffle.

All I was able to notice was, we went up the mountain path Kent had suggested. Max stopped only when we reached pebbled grounds. He got up, balancing on his two hind legs, dropping me on my back in the process. This caused me to look up at the gray and black castle that stood before me. It had countless steeples and each of them had a red flag with a black wolf stitched within it. From the windows I could see, I saw designs of red and green glass with a candle dancing right in the center. It looked majestic. “Took you both a while.” Kent was already here, wearing yet another fur coat, giving me a devilish smile.

He looked curiously over the open green hills that faded into a clean forest toward the edges and at the horses grazing contentedly in the fields. The horses were Marsh Tackies, a rare breed specific to Carolina, closely related to the Banker Horse of the Outer Banks, as they are also descendants of the Colonial Spanish horses brought to America. They were Mauricio’s pride, feeling a close connection to them as both of their roots were bound to Spain. Richard pulled into the circular driveway and entered through the front door, finding his Uncle Edward relaxing on the back lanai. Edward stood up and embraced him, then settled back into his chair as Richard took a seat on the love seat adjace

The late July sun hung low over the rolling fields of Willow Creek Farm, turning the tall grass gold and the air thick with the scent of cut hay, warm earth, and horse sweat. The day’s lessons were done; most of the boarders had already loaded their trailers and left. Only one horse remained in the outdoor arena—a big bay warmblood named Titan, still damp from his cooldown bath, ears flicking lazily as flies danced around him.

He tucked my hand in the crook of his arm and motioned for Ally to follow as he led us out toward a building next to a sandy paddock. “Good escape plan, my love.” he grinned down at me. “Mamaw is harmless but she likes to know everyone’s business.” He pushed open a large door to reveal an arena surrounded by horse stalls which opened into the arena. A chestnut coloured horse snorted at us as we entered and threw its head up in greeting. The rest seemed oblivious to our presence as they munched on their breakfast. “Okay. Now you must tell us everything that happened in the Darklands.” Morpheus demanded, sitting me down on a hay bail.

Wendy said, "That's impossible. We've been away from the Hughes clan for more than 20 years. Even if the horse were still alive, it would have turned old. "This horse looks young and strong. I heard it came from Mount Nix. He might be Ms. Frost's old horse's son or grandson." Victoria inched closer to the black horse. Suddenly, the horse stood up and shook its head. The horse grunted loudly. It felt like the horse was irritated and giving them a warning. The subordinates from the Chadler family were frightened. "Ms. Victoria, this horse is untamed. Be careful not to get hurt!" However, Victoria felt like the situation was quite interesting.