-Surrounded by living souls once again! In the pub, through crowded it was, jolly people gathered there to drink away their sorrows from the working hours. Even someone wretched as I could find comfort and a good time there.

Even though I loved a good crowd, I was usually off somewhere a little more- private. Presumable with a lady. However, this time, I was already done with her.

Still drunk, I stumbled over to the front of the pub where Thunder was parked. Unable to hold up my swaying body by myself, I leaned up against the wall. I found something, anything really, so hilarious. I had to stop to catch my breath, for it had been laughed out of my lungs.

I finally breathed a few paces and turned to Thunder, who was keeping a keen eye on me.

"Are ye ready, lass?" I giggled to her. "Let's take the fun road, tonight. Whaddya say~?"

Thunder replied with a mighty stomp of her hind leg.

"Have I any stains?"

Without hesitation, she licked my cheek, washing off some spilled blood.

"Thank you, sweetie." I thanked, patting her thick, strong neck.

I gave her a giggle and one last pat before hurrying over to her left. I hopped on her back, reined her around, and we were off. Through the barren village, we set out at a brisk canter.

Once out, Thunder kicked up and started to fly through the woods. The night air in the early spring nipped my lips, but I loved it all the same. Though it was dark out, and there wasn't a light out for a long while, we both knew exactly where to go. We knew our fun route very well.

Through the woods we galloped on the cobblestone, clacking all the way. Once the woods cleared to our right, we steered off that way into the meadow, headed for home. Ordinarily, we would've kept on going and turned off a sharp turn to our right onto the road that lead to the house. However we were both in high spirits that night.

Through the field we ran , no longer clacking up a storm. We reached a creek, and without any hesitating inklings, Thunder pressed through the knee high waters. Oh, how it splashed and threw itself in all directions upon our union. I lifted my head and let out a loud howl at the moon in the rush of it all.

Turning only a few degrees to the left, Thunder lead us to the long path. Before I knew it though, we were met with the path which was buried within the spruce trees.

That long path was always my favorite. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was because the straight line which was the path. Maybe it was the long length. Shade? I loved hearing the shoes on the dirt, too. I always had to work in the path in the ride somehow.

We fleeted down the path. Thunder still wasn't tired in the slightest. In fact, she was faster, being that she was on level ground.

Bada dum, bada dum, bada dum

Her long legs nearly made her hover above the ground. Her breathing was nearly a beat. We matched our breaths, breathing as one.

We ran down the path and took a left at the house. Even though it was only the wee hours of the morning, all the candles were lit. If we were human, I would've been worried, but we were all naturally nocturnal. I'd've been worried if they weren't on!

Around the house, we were met with the cow pasture. As we did many times before, Thunder leaped over the fence, amongst the cows. We did it so often, they barely paid us any mind.

We jumped over the fence, leaving the cows behind. Only, we entered the bull's pasture. I once saw him charge across the field in 10 seconds, but we could do it in 9. From across the pasture, he let out a roar and charged at us.

With him catching up to us, Thunder sped up even more, keeping a keen eye on the fence. She thrashed her head about, whipping her mane, and took a mighty leap over the fence. Always, it seemed like my heart stopped going over that fence. We both held our breaths for a split second which felt like a lifetime.

Thunder hit the ground with a thud and it was like we had an out of body experience and we had to return to our bodies. With the stable in sight, I let her slow down, for the trip was almost over. However, the light was on. The lights were never on in the stable at night. All the stable boys were asleep in the main house.

We slowed up to the stable.

Bada dum, bada dum

Ba da dum, ba da

Dum

Clip, clop, clip, clop, clip

Clop, di-clop, di-clop, di-dum

I hopped off of Thunder and opened up the stable.

They were waiting for me. My mother and father were waiting for me. I know this because I was met with their grim, sour faces. They stood still as corpses in the middle of the stable.

They waited for me to start conversation.

"Ah. Mother, father."

It was awkward, for they just glared back.

"...What brings you to the stables?"

"Tisn't a wonder why you're scarcely seen in the halls." my mother started.

Feeling as though they were subtly threatening me, I stiffened my posture and hardened my face.

"We kept you in the house to protect you." came from my father.

"Protect me!? You were just protecting yourself and your petty reputation! You banished me to that prison of a mansion! If I'd died, you wouldn't have held a funeral, you wouldn't have told anyone, you wouldn't have even cried! Your own son! And you wouldn't have cried!"

"You could never learn self control." grumbled my father. "For God's sake, man. Kill the maids! Not the guests!"

"Vigil, hand over the horse. We forbid that wretched beast and will dismiss the person who gave it to you."

I could hardly believe my own ears.

They never cared to step into my life, so why now of all times?!

I tightened my grip on Thunder's reins.

"Never! I'd rather die!!"

I heard hooves fast approaching. At the stable, they skidded to a stop on the gravel and 2 feet fell on the ground.

"Vigil!" The voice was Edmund's.

I kept my eyes keen on my parents, listening to him race over.

Edmund jumped in front of me, standing between my parents and I.

"I gave the horse to him! It was me!"

My mother's expression softened into one of shock. "Edmund!"

"Edmund, move."

"N-no! Please! Listen to me!"

My father drew out his pistol and aimed it at thunder, who stood fast and steady at the face of death. It was almost like she dared him.

Edmund gasped at my father. "Please, my Lord! Have you not seen how happy Vigil has been since Thunder's arrival?"

My father took his eyes off Thunder and locked with poor, panic stricken Edmund. "I should kill you first. That way, you can't get away and betray us again. Tis a pity, old friend."

Quick as a flash, my father aimed and Edmund, then Thunder, shooting both between the eyes. They both fell right where they stood. Both of them lied there with wide eyes of shock.

I looked up from the corpses to my parents.

"Father..."

His face was stone cold. He... didn't even care.

"Please go get a lamp for me. I'll burn them."

My mother nodded and left to take care of her duty casted onto her by my father.

Still I stood in complete and utter dumb finding shock.

My father took Edmund's wrist and Thunder's rein, dragging them to the middle of the gravel road. He dropped them and turned to my mother for the lamp. I tossed the lamp on the corpses. I was still frozen.

My father stomped over to me and snatched my arm, dragging me to the fire as well.

"No!!! No!!!!" I screamed a the top of my lungs and thrashed as hard as I could.

However, my father was a strong man and easily kept me in his arms. "You will watch them scorch. You will never go outside your room, either. This will be the last time you ever breathe in fresh air." he muttered harshly into my ear as tears rolled down my cheeks.

In the flames, though it was far too late to save her, Thunder let out a weak groan.

At the sight, my knees weakened. "She's still alive!!! How dare you!!! Thunder!!!"

"You'll get over it." my father said, letting go of me.

I slid to the ground.

Had I been paying attention, I'd've heard my parents leave me for the house. I was too busy crying, screaming, sobbing from the ground. Never had I cried. Not until then.

I mourned and mourned until the fire burned no more. Then, all that was left behind was ash. They couldn't have been called anything then. Had you not known them, you would've suspected me crying over a log fire.

I rose to my feet. I knew what I was to do. I set the house on fire. The whole place, including everyone in it. Then, I left. Plain and simple. I didn't even stay to watch it burn down. Though, I heard the cries all the way down the road. I didn't enjoy them.-

~You have loved~

~Love isn't just romance~

"Isn't he a catch?"