Lady Djan
Part 1: not so close
Chapter  2

The Djan valley was a famed place, most well known for its sunny days, warm weather, cool breezes and all round perfect weather. One wonders how any plants ever flourished there, when rain was seldom seen, only once in a blue moon. It seems today, was that blue moon.
The rain poured down so heavily, the foals were scared to duck out from under their mother’s bellies. It teamed too hard, that the Indian huts were in trouble of caving in. It was so wet, and so ugly, that nothing could be done. No horses were used to the rain, and so none left the safety of the trees. No Indians were prepared for the rain, and so none left the safety of the caves, few of which were beginning to flood. The rain poured down so hard, that the mist that normally covered the mountains engulfed everything remotely seeable. Everything turned into a sort of blur past about 10 feet. And this made life annoying…    and unsafe…
“Nad!” cried Aschanta. “Nad’s where are you!?”
“I’m right here Asch, where are you!?”
“Beside the tree! I’m looking for you now!!” Aschanta took a few steps backward to try and see more.
“What side of the tree!?” replied Nadine.
“This side!!”
“Which side is tha-“ something bumped into Aschanta. She turned sharply and saw a mare with a lilac mane.
“Nadine!” She smiled. “Found yah!”
“I wasn’t lost.”
The two mares walked to the edge of the trees shade, were leaves dripped steady droplets of water onto their noses. The world had disappeared behind a wall of fog.
“It’s never rained this bad before…” wondered Aschanta, as she stared out into the haze.
“It probably has,” said Nadine, as she lay down next to the trunk of the old tree that sheltered them. “We just weren’t around back then.”
Aschanta joined her friend. The two kept close for warmth, but also so they didn’t have to go finding each other again. Aschanta rested her head on Nadine’s back.
“Make it stop… it’s noisy… make it go away…”
“It won’t stop.” The voice came from the other side of the tree. “It will only get worse…” The mares thought this was a foal putting on an old hag’s voice and playing a joke.
“Give it up.” Aschanta said.
“The rain will not stop until the storm has passed. The storm to stop all storms in their path. It will reap havoc among humans and horses alike.”
“Oh whatever...”
“No,” interrupted Nadine. “I think she may be right.” The rain was defiantly getting heavier. Not by much though, but it was increasing in strength, and to Aschanta, over all wetness.
“Do not toil with the forces of nature…” warned the voice, before disappearing into the sudden cold breeze.
“You don’t seriously believe her do you?”
“I never ignore a warning”

Meanwhile, back in the caves by the village…
“Trust me. He who seeks to toil with nature will find only natures destruction. We must move to higher ground.”
“Chief,” said an Indian man. “I’m sure the weather with ease up a bit, and then we can go and re-build our village! Moving up the mountains will only take time, and energy we don’t have. These women, and their children, they cannot bear the height of these mountainsides. We will have moved for nothing!”
“Samaru, trust me. I have spoken with the old ones, and they warn me of this danger. Are you disagreeing with your Chief?”
“Certainly not, I only suggest we wait for the appropriate time.”
“The time to do what?” answered Maqu, suddenly deciding to join the conversation. “If the Chief is right, we will only find worse weather ahead, we must move now!”
“Prepare the carts Samaru, we leave tomorrow. Maqu?”
“Yes Chief?”
“Find me 4 of the sturdiest horses in the herd. We travel light, 2 horses for the cart, 2 spares incase anything should happen.”
“Yes Chief…” Maqu backed away toward the cave exit.
“And Maqu?” He turned to face his chief. “Don’t bring Aschanta. She is much too precious to her Father to risk in such awful weather. I have another route that I will expect her to take with the herd.”
Maqu nodded and ran out of the cave, toward the trees that sheltered the herd.

Aschanta lifted her head to the sound of footsteps, to see her beloved Maqu running toward her. Aschanta often wondered how humans move on only two feet, but she was glad to see him none the less. She whinnied as he stroked her face, before turning to the other horses and leading 4 of them up the hill side.
“What’s he doing?” asked Nadine.
“I don’t know…”
Aschanta galloped over to Maqu and the horses, trying to engage his attention with flicks of her mane and light whinnies, but nothing worked. He still continued toward the caves. Asch turned on the herd, and trotted toward Garuden, her Father.
“Father, where is Maqu taking them? Why is he only taking 4? What’s happening!?”
“The Indian Chief is planning to take his people up the mountains. It appears they need 4 of us to lead the carts.”
“But why didn’t he take me? Is he taking his people to safety and leaving us behind? He can’t do that! He can’t-“
“Aschanta! Calm yourself! If there is one thing the people protect most it’s our herd! I will go to the Chief , he may tell me what’s happening.”
“Father you know perfectly well humans don’t understand us,  as much as we understand them, how is he going to know what you want?”
“I have my ways. I want you watching the foals while I’m gone, your mother will help.” And with that, Garuden galloped strongly up the hill toward the caves.
Aschanta tried to take a bite of grass, but the water soaked in from underneath giving a strong muddy taste that she didn’t like. So she gave up on that idea.
“I don’t like this.” Said Aschanta, feeling Nadine’s presence behind her.
“I don’t think anyone does…”

Far of in the distance, as night began to fall, there was a camp set and many humans gathered around an open fire. They looked like Indians, but they were obviously not in the same tribe…
“Eat! Drink! We must have full bellies for tomorrow night’s conquest! Does everyone know the plan?”
A rather small, ruddy man sitting beside the leader began to talk. “We sneak in while the Indians are gone, we surround the herd, and we snatch whatever we can find!”
“No!” interrupted the leader,” We snatch the strongest! I have my eye on that stallion, and he won’t come easily, but when he does, I will have the stead of kings! Those Indians will have wished they didn’t reject our offer.”
“What about that pretty mare with the reddish mane? I’m sure your daughter would like a pretty birthday present!”
“What an excellent idea Bran, you’re proving you worth even as we speak! She will be you’re to capture, and I will tell my daughter of your courage. Perhaps she will take a liking to you.”
The people chuckled, which turned into laughter, turning into a deep howl as they all continued to stuff their faces by fire light. None in the Djan valley could possibly be prepared for the following night.