A coincidental meeting to a life-long bond

Eleanor is a kind person. She has a soft heart which easily melts at seeing others in pain or helplessness. Oh, and also cute things. She is a sucker for adorableness.

Since she grew up seeing her mother tend to the ill and injured, she aspired to grow up and do the same. So one day when she found a small fowl injured and bleeding in the forest, she had to help it. To be more precise, the baby horse was a skinny looking, albino colt. He looked frail and had a pale, ghost like glow as if he was nearing his last breath. Still his beauty captivated the young thirteen-year-old.

A horse, a rare albino at that, was an uncommon sight for the young teen who lived in the modern world where automobiles and engine vehicles were the trademark transports. It wouldn't be wrong to say that only the highest nobles, and the Royal family indulged in collecting exotic breeds of horses. The common folks had no money, time or place for them.

When the stunned teenager came out of her fascinated stupor, she neared the young colt with cautious steps. She was frightened, but he looked more scared than her. Though he tried to hide it behind his fierce facade. He stomped his hoof and snorted with his head held high.

The abrupt explosive noise that the colt made by his forced breath through the nose caught Eleanor off-guard.

She didn't speak, but only raised both her arms to show him she was not a threat. Traipsing steadily, making no sound, she advanced toward the colt and saw that he was injured. The male fowl was bleeding from one of his back legs and she noticed a sharp stone wedged deep inside his hoof. Just looking at the wound made her feel pain, making her wonder how much pain he was in. When her swept gaze took in the faint scars on his pallid, white coat, she thought if he was used to the feeling of pain. That thought instantly made her kind heart weep for the poor baby horse.

She looked him straight in the eyes. Dispelling any remnants of fear from inside her, she showered him with her warm and kind gaze. He was white and pale like the moon, but his eyes were dark as night. Inky black orbs met her unwavering gaze and as if an invisible bond got formed, the baby horse seemed to relax.

With her small, yet expert hands, Eleanor used the water from her bottle that she coincidentally had with her to clean the bloody wound. The horse neighed in protest when the pain increased, but she luckily escaped the kick that he sent her way and glared at him scarily. She didn't like anyone interrupting her when she was in her 'zone.'

The young fowl didn't dare to even lift his head after that. He simply closed his eyes and bore on as time passed swiftly. She fed him some herbs she had collected during her short walk. He didn't go against her, and simply swallowed whatever she fed him along with some water, which he was deeply grateful for. He was parched.

When Eleanor stood back up, she observed the clean wound. She didn't know yet how to treat it properly and hence had fed the horse some herbs she knew would be helpful in reducing the pain and giving him strength. She needed her mother to look after the colt's wound and treat it properly.

"Little friend," she whispered softly, sweetness dripping from her every syllable, making the baby fowl feel at ease. He slowly realized that she was not trying to harm him, but save him. This filled him with hope as his dark orbs looked at her small, kiddish and pretty face. Her hair was in a ponytail with a few rebellious wisps messing the hairstyle, and there was a bit of mud at the side of her face. She didn't seem to care about it though, her attention was on her 'patient.'

"I need you to bear with me for a while, ok?" She was hesitating yet had a look of urgency. She didn't want to leave the fowl for the long time that it would take for her to bring her mother to him. But she knew also that it would be painful for him to travel. She was in a dilemma.

When she looked at his skinny frame, though, it struck her. She should be able to carry him. "Don't worry, I will be careful. Just for a little while, Ok?"

The fowl couldn't tell her, even if he didn't understand or agree with her. It just continued to stare at her.

Eleanor wasn't the strongest twelve-year-old in physical strength, but she was not weak. Carefully, she lifted the colt. It was heavy for her, but not very much. Manageable should be the right word. With determination shining in her jade like eyes she ran as fast as she could with the weight in her hands, taking care not to irritate the wound at the same time.

When she reached home, her mother who had been waiting for her to return for lunch was surprised to say the least. But keeping her curiosity at bay, she tended to the baby horse and left it to rest before questioning her tired but happy daughter.

That was the day Eleanor met her trusty friend and since then, they have been inseparable.

Grace taught her daughter horse riding, seeing the bond between the two.

After seven years of being together, Eleanor and her partner were closer than ever. If her 'little friend'- though not so little anymore- was loyal to her, then so was Eleanor to him.

The ground shook as the thunderous sound of hooves hitting the Earth powerfully invaded the silence around Eleanor. The sight of her albino horse running towards her with dust flying behind him and his silky mane shining under the sun with the air breezing though it- brought a sense of ecstasy and calmness to her heart and mind.

She reminded herself to not care about those who left her, but to surround herself with those who didn't and will not do so.

"Aeris," Eleanor called out in a soft, loving tone as the tall horse came to a stop before her. Aeris had grown so well that it would be near impossible to believe his past, skinny self. Now he was taller than a very tall man, strong and swift. His soft white coat glowed brilliantly while the previous scars were either gone or faint. He looked elegant, as a horse fit for the royalty.

Eleanor didn't keep Aeris tied beside her. She had let him free when he was a young colt and his wound had healed. Yet, he refused to leave her side, something which she was grateful for. Aeris was a free spirit, much like her. He roamed around freely in the forest and never strayed away to the major roads or highways, especially near the town under her instructions.

It wasn't hard for Eleanor to guess that his previously malnourished and near to death situation was because of heartless and greedy humans. The forest was big, with some wide grasslands hidden deep inside. That was where Aeris rested and grazed unless Eleanor called him either for meals, grooming or simply to hang out and ride.

Aeris neighed happily at seeing his rider. He lifted his front two legs high in the air before bringing them back down with vigor. Eleanor chuckled as she neared the albino horse and patted him gently. She softly caressed his face with her fingers, staring in his dark orbs with a smile on her lips.

"You've been well, haven't you cloudy?" Little Eleanor had nicknamed Aeris as cloudy.

He neighed again and stomped his hoof.

Eleanor understood what he was implying and laughed merrily, throwing her head back with her lids closed. She looked at him with a smile in her eyes and brought out a few sugar cubes from her pocket. Aeris lunged at the tiny treats in her hands before she even brought them near his mouth. "Hey!" she scolded, looking at him who continued enjoying the treats in her palm. "I feel like I have spoiled you. Your teeth will rot if you eat so much sugar." Aeris paid no heed to her words.

Eleanor could only shake her head as she patted him with her other hand. It brushed against the tiny black star mark on his forehead, hidden under strands of his long, white mane.

When Aeris had finished devouring all the sugar cubes she had, Eleanor walked to his side and expertly jumped to sit on his bare back.

"Come on, Aeris, you know where to go." Eleanor had to check something she was curious about. She had to investigate about the incident at her 'paradise.' Those goons from before were not simple thugs or robbers. By the looks of it, they were assassins.

She knew it couldn't have been herself who was the target, so it could only be the man with her. But the question is why? Who is he? And why does someone want him dead?

Eleanor did not understand why she trusted that guy so easily and let herself get abandoned, again.

She gave a soft pat to his side and Aeris ran like the wind, leaving a trail of dust particles behind him.