A giddy neigh slipped through Gretchen’s lips as she remembered the exchange between her and her master (master’s son really) earlier this morning. The young boy had snuck into the stables and unlatched her stable doors. He had been planning to escape the village before the first ship left the docks for the day. Sade, Gretchen’s groomer, had been talking non stop about his desire to visit the capital and watch the princes coronation. But of course, in the days leading up to it the multiple arguments and fights that occurred in the stables proved that there was no way his parents would allow him to go.

While technically Sades father, Master Jonathon, was Gretchen’s true master, Gretchen had grown quite fond of his son, the stable boy, instead. It was Sade who would sneak into the stables at the middle of the night and give her apples, Sade who took her riding in her favourite pastures west of the river, and Sade who spent hours talking to her while the other horses neighed and brayed like brainless animals.

Sade was her true master, her best friend, and her confidant. Which is exactly why Gretchen would be doing him a massive favour tonight.

The young boy had come to greet her this morning and upon doing so, lifted the rusted latch of the stable door with a sly smile on his face.

“Okay, Gretch, listen up. I’m going to ‘accidentally’”- he had said, his fingers raised in mock quotation, “leave the stable door unlatched. It’s up to you what you do from here on out, but it would be super helpful and awfully noble of you as my trusty stead to escape and cause a distraction in the village so I can escape. But again, it’s up to you what you do with this information”, he finished. Though his words were carefully phrased, Gretchen had understood him completely. This was her chance to finally prove to him that she was just as good a friend to him as he was to her.

Sade wanted a distraction and Gretchen was prepared to give him just that.

Gretchen let out a loud bray, one filled with equal parts excitement and equal parts mischief. The minute Sade left the stables Gretchen dug her hooves into the ground, eager to sprint towards the market square.

3…..2…..1…

Then she was off, bounding towards the route she knew never to follow- the route that led to the village square bazaar.

The sweet scent of roasted nuts filled the air, accompanied by something that smelled a lot like… a lot like caramel apples! Gretchen’s stomach gave a lurch of excitement and she picked up her pace, hooves clicking as they hit the cobbled streets of the village. People lucky enough to spot her in time lunged out of her path, their bodies catching on those standing idly to the side. They lay in heaps, watching Gretchen with wide, fearful eyes. Gretchen’s mane, left unbound by Sade this morning, rippled in the wind, a streak of chocolate fire that followed her blazing path. She couldn’t care less that she was causing a ruckus, in fact, she almost enjoyed the attention.

Gretchen moved blindly, thrashing into carts filled with florals picked from the fields and knocking down tables piled high with colourful fabrics.

“What the-“

“Is that a horse?!”

“Somebody saddle that thing; it’s gone wild!”

Gretchen’s ears perked at the sounds of their complaints. Oh how she loved being the apple of everyone’s eyes.

Gretchen was on her way to the pottery vendor, intrigued by the colourful plates sitting on his table, when a new sensation filled her senses.

It was the caramel apples again! Their sweet, heady aroma filling her body with warmth and desire. Immediately, Gretchen abandoned her course, her attention now solely on those caramel apples. She turned towards the source of the scent, nostrils glaring in delight.

By now most of the villagers had congregated in the village centre to gawk at the escaped horse. Few of the village men stalked towards her, ropes in their hands as if they were ready to bridle her. But Gretchen was a smart and crafty horse, born from the bravest of stallions and the trickiest of mares. There was no way she was going to let those ropes anywhere near her. Gretchen dodged out of their way, crashing into crates that released plumes of powdery white flour into the air.

Gretchen glanced around the city with wide eyes, avoiding the terrified and irritated looks cast from the villagers. Finally, her eyes landed on the small wooden stall that housed the candy apple maker and his two kids. Gretchen gnashed her teeth hungrily and picked up her pace as she neared the stand.

The last thing she saw before she prepared to demolish the candy apple stand was Sade. He was crouched in the back of one of the wagons, hidden amongst the crates heading for the dock. The driver of the wagon worked hard to avoid Gretchen and head to the docks. He was eager to get his shipment, and unbeknownst to him, Sade, to the docks before the ship left.

Sade lifted a hand to his brow and saluted in Gretchen’s direction, an impish and proud smile on his face. Gretchen tossed her head in his direction, a signal for him to enjoy his adventure without her.

As the wagon found its way towards the main road Gretchen cast her eyes around the decimated village around her. She figured her job was done now, her distraction having served it’s purpose.

But that sticky caramel and fresh green apple scent still hung in the air. Gretchen decided that though her role was complete, there was no use wasting her first- and last- moment of freedom. With a newfound determination fuelling her hooves, Gretchen marched on towards the caramel apple stand, ignoring Master Jonathons commands hot on her heels.