Sky panted heavily; ducking under a flying branch as her horse raced up the hillside. Her brunet hair was a mess and her hat lay bouncing by the chin cord against her back, while the sun above drew sweat from her brow and sent it in little rivers down into her eyes.
Her horse wasn't in much better of shape.
Galloping back towards her home Sky was panicking that she wouldn't make it to the Vet Clinic on time for her shift. There was a scheduled surgery today for a patient with a tumor, and due to low staff she was needed to assist. She had to be there.
Suddenly, breaking through a tree line, her horse came to a sliding stop and let out a deep huff. Sky nearly rammed foreword over the saddle, but eyes going wide she realized where they were. A glance to her watch said she only had an hour to get ready and head to town.
Ahead was a large clearing, and in it were two large buildings. One, was a gigantic red barn surrounded by pasture. The other, was a large white three story farm house with the classic large front porch; the kind with an old bench swing. The shutters were painted a deep forest green.
Finally, she had made it home.
Nudging her mount foreword Sky sucked in a breath of stiff relief, then reached down and patted her horse gently, "Sorry girl."
The equine paid no attention to her, but rather lifted her head and let out a shrill neigh. The sound caught the attention of the horses over in the pasture, and each answered before running up to the fence.
After a quick rub down and removal of tack, Sky let her horse loose with the others and reached up to wipe the moisture from her cheeks and eyes. The salt burned, and she blinked a few times before running off in the direction of the farm house.
Crashing through the door she kicked her boots off and hung her hat on a nearby wall peg, then shouted out, "Mom! I'm home!"
Rising from down the hallway, from the family room, came the expected reply, "Sky? It's about time you got back! Do you have any idea what time it is!"
Huffing Sky nodded and moved to race up the nearby stairs towards her room, "I'm well aware! Sorry mother!"
"Yah well.....you'll have to apologize to Mr. Brenant when you get to work. He's already called."
This made her come to a stop and go wide eyed, "He what?"
"He called asking where you were, didn't seem very happy."
Great......this was all she needed. If she was to ever become a Veterinarian she needed to keep things well with the Doctor. He was training her, and the more training she received the more likely she was going to succeed at college when the time came.
Making the world record for fastest shower and changing of clothes, Sky donned a purple t-shirt and jeans. Braiding her long brown hair back she made sure to cover the small scratch on her forehead where she had run into a branch on the way home, then she rushed downstairs.
Wiping the dirt from her boots she pulled them on and snatched her truck's keys from the nearby key box. But, before she left she paused, and glanced down the hall that led deeper into the house, "Mother? Has anyone in town ever been attacked by a wolf?"
There was a moment of silence, then her mother's voice replied, "Not that I know of dear. Why?"
"No reason....."
Sky didn't want to tell anyone about what she saw at the camp. The kids had been attacked but didn't show any signs of injury.....who would believe her if she told them?
Shaking her head Sky stepped out the door and ran across the gravel driveway towards an old green pickup truck. Jumping into the seat she started the engine, then drove off down the road towards town. She still had 30 minutes.....
Pushing the speed limit, Sky soon pulled up into the outskirts of town. Just ahead was the vet clinic.
It was a medium sized brick building, with large windows and two swing doors entering the front room. Rushing in Sky was greeted by the sounds of dogs barking, cats occasionally meowing......and the frustrated voice of her employer; Dr. Brenant.
Sucking in a breath she looked over the front desk at the secretary, an older woman with greying hair and glasses. She nodded, "Hurry on and go in; the most you could do right now to calm him is to get to work."
Sky blinked, then turned and walked towards the door that would lead her into the back rooms, where the cages and the operation tables were located. The Dr.'s voice was getting louder.
Sky groaned, "Another fabulous day at work."
