Fuji Attempt 2

Fuji stood calmly in the paddock, her hair flowing softly in the breeze. She stood in the taller grass, putting her head down every so often to graze before looking around once again.

She’d watch other horses run and frolic about, tossing their heads in a playful manner. As Fuji wondered if she should join, another cob that had been running around ran into her side. Even though she was smaller than the younger pony, she had kept her ground. The young cob backed away slightly, clacking apologetically. Fuji snorted, shaking her mane out calmly. Once the younger cob bolted off to play once more, she continued watching from afar. 

Fuji watched as other cobs, both young and slightly older, joined in the play that had begun once again. As she debated on joining once more, a soft whistle went through the air. She seemed to have been the only one to notice, her ears perking up as she turned to look to where the whistle had originated. With a final glance toward the other cobs, she fully turned and walked toward the whistle. When she arrived to where she went, she noticed that there were people all around the fence.

There was a small crowd near the fence. A woman was holding a small child from running into the paddock, while the child pointed excitedly at the pony they’d just spotted. Fuji carefully approached the fence, sticking her head down close to where the child was. An excited giggle left its small mouth, with tiny hands coming up to pet her soft nose. She stood still as the child gave her pets along her head. 

After a few minutes, she heard a familiar sound. A soft jingle of a bell. She’d seen a few cobs having a bell braided into their manes, and knew that they left the farm for good once they had it. Fuji watched as the woman handed the ribbon and bell to the small child, raising her head slightly. The child seemed almost sad at the action, their hands lowering while the bell jingled at the movement. As she watched the child’s mood change, Fuji made her decision quickly. In just a moment, she put her head back down, nudging the child gently. The child’s eyes widened happily, small hands fumbling to braid the ribbon in. 

After help from the woman, the bell was secured in a braid in Fuji’s mane. She shook her head slightly, listening to the soft jingle that resonated from the bell. As she walked back to where the other cobs were, she looked back at the child. Deep in her heart she was happy. She didn’t know what would come in the future, but the uncertainty finally seemed fun, not something that she’d believe to be terrifying anymore.