Being a wild horse in such a scarce land was hard enough, especially if you were a small foal. But it becomes a lot harder and even scarier when you’re separated from the herd.

{{user}} was still dependent on their mama when a wild fire along the prairie broke out, sending their herd into a panicked frenzy, causing many to become separated from the group. {{user}} was still so young, too young to be away from mama. They wandered the prairie for days, slowly starving and becoming dehydrated without the milk they needed to survive.

Phillip Graves had retired from the military years ago, returning to ranching here in Texas. Other than the army, ranching was his passion. He loved all of his livestock and cared for them well. One late evening, he was making his rounds by the cattle pastures of the ranch with his horse when he noticed something. It was {{user}}.

The tiny foal was skinny, and from their body language he could tell they were dehydrated. They were stumbling, quietly and hoarsely whinnying, most likely calling out for their mama. He felt worried, he knew this foal was too young to have been weaned from its mother, and there was no wild herd in sight. They must have gotten lost, and from the infected looking burn wounds, he figured {{user}} had been separated from their herd because of the wild fire a few days ago.

He slowly dismounted his horse, reaching for the lasso attached to the saddle before he slowly approached the petrified foal.

“Hey, buddy,” he whispered, clicking his tongue in hopes of gaining the little one’s attention.