Wonder Light by R. R. Russell

“That’s not nice!”
    â€œDon’t be too hard on her,” Mr. Murley said. “She’s at the low end of the pecking order. She wants to show Wild Light her dominance, so she won’t be at the bottom anymore.”
    Regina’s forehead creased with a compassion Twig had never seen in her before, and she whispered reassurances to her pony.
    With an impish whinny, Wild Light hopped and grabbed Gadget’s tail, giving it a little yank-nip. Gadget whinnied his outrage and kicked at Wild Light, but the filly sprang back just in time, and Rain Cloud stepped forward once again to defend her.
    Janessa calmed her pony while Mr. Murley took Rain Cloud by the halter, and Twig fumbled in a vain attempt to get hold of Wild Light again.
    Wild Light scampered behind Rain Cloud, then peeked around him and gave Gadget what could only be a look of defiance. Ha! I can do whatever I want!
    But Rain Cloud gave the filly an admonishing nip, and Wild Light bent her head down apologetically. Relieved to have her still for a moment, Twig grasped Wild Light’s halter. Mr. Murley had her take the filly into the next paddock, where she could taunt the ponies through the fence instead.
    Twig leaned on the ponies’ side of the fence, watching the little bolt of white test her legs. Rain Cloud nuzzled up to Twig, and she scratched his head. “You’re a good boy,” she whispered. “I’m proud of you.”
    Mr. Murley came and stood next to Twig. “Well, it’s going to take a while, but I think she’ll find her place all right.”
    Twig caught a hint of uncertainty in Mr. Murley’s tone. He was watching Wild Light hop. Watching the way she held her head high. Her strange gait, so unlike a horse—like a creature meant for something other than a pasture, something wilder. She might find a way to get along while she was small. But she was growing and maturing so fast. And Twig had a feeling no alpha pony would be able to keep a grown Wild Light in line. No fence would keep her in.

May

Chapter 18
    Twig paused to straighten Rain Cloud’s nameplate. She’d painted his name in pale blue, cursive letters. She glanced at Wild Light’s stall. It still said “Caper.” Wild Light stuck her head over the stall door and watched Twig pour the feed into Rain Cloud’s bin, as she’d done every morning for nearly two months. Rain Cloud dug into his breakfast with his usual noisy appreciation.
    â€œTwig!” Janessa came jogging in. “Mrs. M needs you right away!”
    â€œOkay. Be right back, Rainy-boy. Hang on, Wild Light.”
    Wild Light whickered her protest, but Rain Cloud just rotated an ear toward her. The rest of him stayed focused on breakfast. He was a good pony. Now that Twig knew a thing or two about ponies, she realized just how easy he was.
    Twig jogged toward the front door. Mrs. Murley was standing on the porch, waving her in. It was Saturday morning, and she supposed Mrs. Murley wanted her help with breakfast. She’d gotten pretty good with the apple cider syrup.
    Mrs. Murley called to her again. “Hurry, Twig!”
    Twig hurried, imagining lumpy syrup or some other breakfast emergency. But Mrs. Murley steered her toward the office instead. Twig held back, confused. The girls weren’t allowed in there, not without special permission.
    â€œGo on, Twig, there’s someone here who wants to talk to you.”
    â€œHere?”
    â€œThere.” Mrs. Murley pointed to the laptop, sitting open on her desk.
    Twig’s heart stopped, then started again double time. A blurry image moved on the screen. A face. Daddy. Twig sank into the chair in front of the screen.
    â€œTwig,” Daddy said, “how are you doing, baby?”
    Oh, Daddy, you’re so far away . That was all Twig could think, but she couldn’t say it, or she’d cry. And she couldn’t cry or she’d never stop. She bolted up, sending