Chapter 3: A Big Ruckus

Laddie, a female chestnut colored thorough-bred horse, was grazing in a forest on a mountain slope, the grass tasting sweet and bitter at the same time. It tasted amazing! She had stopped when she greeted a goat passing her by by shaking her head and mane, and with a "Hello!". Shortly after, she saw a red fox following the exact same steps the goat had stepped in. Laddie had run to a group of bushes for cover, and this made her think of an old memory.

She was escaping a mean old man's farm, and just as she was about to break the thin metal fence behind his house, she heard a stomp, stomp and a soft thud. The thud was from his cane. So she had galloped around the other side of the house to a cluster of bushes just like this one. When the old man had gone, she had broke the fence and started galloping as far away as she could, and she had found herself at the foot of a mountain.

Laddie shook her head and scared away a rabbit hiding in the bush. It was an old memory, but thats it. It was just a memory. Laddie tensed suddenly, as she peered through the leaves. The fox had started veering towards her. It seemed to be picking up her scent! Laddie was very brave and reckless, but she wasn't so stupid. She restrained her urges to go kick that fox in the face with her back hooves, and froze. It was the right choice too. The fox shook his head and continued back on the trail to the goat, carrying up the mountain.

Laddie trotted back to her spot and started munching the grass again when she heard cries of help! Laddie's first thought was to go help that thing in distress, whatever it was. But her next thought was that the fox was tricking her, so she dismissed it and carried on eating the yummy grass. Until, something interrupted her again. 

She heard arguing and the fox laughing in no humor. Laddie bared her teeth and raced up the mountain to the top. With her keen eyesight, she saw a female goat, a swan, and that fox. That dumb fox! Ruins everything. I can't even enjoy simple grass! 

Laddie eyed the rotten bridge. That fox probably made it, but that was easy for him! He was light, his soft paws made for even walking on fresh snow! But when she saw the swan and goat in despair, she had no second thought.

She sprinted down the tree bridges, them creaking and moaning, threatening to make her tumble to her death, or at least injuries. When she reached the commotion she yelled out, "EVERYBODY FREEZE!" In such a loud, southern accent, the swan woke up and all heads snapped to her.

"What is this big ruckus! I can't enjoy the best grass in the world up there, after a long run from my old home!" Laddie was sick of these loud people. They would be terrible neighbors.

"What's going on? Where am I? Who are all of you?" The swan looked very confused.

"Before you barrel down the questions! Everyone just stop, okay? Go your separate ways." Laddie yelled. The fox turned to her and started trotting towards her. Laddie made a big mistake. 

Cheve's head turned around to each one of them. The goat, the fox, the horse. When the fox trotted towards the horse, she turned around and gave him a kick with her rear hooves! But Cheve could see it was weaker than intended since the horse's front hooves slipped in the mud. THUD! He looked with wide eyes at the fox. The fox flew a short distance and landed in the river! Desperately, trying to fight the current, the fox started paddling furiously. The river pushed him every which way, till he was almost to the lake. A small wave pushed his body under the water even more, but the fox just did a flip and his head bobbed the surface again. He paddled a little slower now, knowing he was in calm water again. Or so he thought.

Bela looked with wide eyes, surveying the awful scene. "We have to help him! Look behind him, on the land!" The 3 looked closely, and the swan squawked in fear. "Alligator!" The swan shrieked. The horse narrowed her eyes. "No! Its a crocodile!" She said. "DOES IT MATTER! We have to save him! Come on!" Bela yelled. She raced over to the bank in front of the fox. The swan followed her, keeping up as best he could. The horse tried to make a decision and galloped to Bela, getting there before the swan. The crocodile or alligator was getting closer to the water.

"Fox!" Bela screamed. "Swim for your life! Don't look behind you!"

Scout was confused by his new orders. Don't look behind you? Swim for your life? But Scout trusted the goat, she was too kind to lie. Scout started swimming towards Bela. But not quickly enough, it seemed. The swan dove in the water and swam as fast as he could towards the fox. He grabbed Scout's ruff with his beak and pushed him, giving him a small boost of speed.

Then, the swan suddenly gave out a blood-curling scream and flew out of the water, flapping his wings wildly. Whatever it was behind him must've been terrifying! Scout paddled harder, if he could. He was panting and his floppy tongue was hanging out the side of his mouth. Scout looked above the horse's head and saw the swan circling above her head smoothly, before landing on her back. The horse and the goat looked helpless and guilty. Snap! Something bit the edge of his tail! A boost of adrenaline pumped through his veins, and he finally reached land. 

Scout scrambled up the lake bank and turned around next to the goat. It was a crocodile! And it was starting to climb up the bank! All 3 of them backed up a lot, the swan still on the horses's back.

"Come back here!" The croc yelled. The horse stepped forward, the swan flew off in fear. "NO! YOU get AWAY from my FRIENDS!" The horse yelled in a southern accent. The crocodile sneered and charged the horse. The horse reared, causing him to fall back a few steps, and then kicked him with her back legs. But this time with full force!