Free Vacant Faith by Melody Hewson

Vacant Faith
    Written by Melody Hewson
    Copyright Melody Hewson 2015
    Smashwords Edition
    Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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    A young girl stretched out her legs to
balance herself as she reached for the last piece of fruit still
within reach of where she sat. The thick limb on which she perched
shook slightly with her movements, causing the leaves to whisper
among themselves. Scattered around the base of the tree lay more
fruit, most of which she had thrown down there herself. A large
palomino stallion placidly ate the best of her offerings, his
golden coat dappled by the shade of the tree and a riding blanket
resting across his back.
    The girl looked down at the horse as she took
a bite of her prize, chewing thoughtfully. “Daddy,” She finally
asked between bites. “Why are you a horse so much?”
    The stallion lifted his head to look up at
the girl as she spoke to him, ears twitching uncertainly. When
nothing further was said, the stallion turned his head to look
around him, as if to ensure the field was indeed empty of all but
the two of them before turning his attention back to the girl in
the tree. “What brought that up, Alina?” The horse called up to her
after a moment's hesitation, the words malformed as equine mouth
tried to form sounds it was not meant to make.
    Alina shrugged and swung her legs, taking
another bite of her fruit. “I 'unno.” She replied. “I was just
wondering. You always tell me not to change shape where someone
could see me.”
    The stallion tossed his head and snorted,
then looked back up at the little girl thoughtfully. “I tell you
that because you're still too young to take such dangerous chances.
When you get older and can hold your new form longer it will be
less of a problem. You know this, dear heart.”
    “Yeah, I know.” She replied in an exasperated
tone, aware that he was attempting to dodge her question. “But why
do you do it?”
    The stallion twitched his ears and turned
his head to take a long look at the fields surrounding them, as if
hoping for a distraction or interruption to make itself known. When
he found none, he finally looked back up at the small girl still
resting in the branch over his head. “Well, I suppose I choose to
be a horse because its what I am, so I find solace in it.”
    Alina scrunched up her face in concentration.
“Soh-, soh-, that word you just said. What does that mean?”
    “Solace.” The stallion replied, sounding the
word out slowly. “It means peace and comfort.” He lowered his head
to nibble at another of the dropped fruits.
    “What do you need soh-... Peace and comfort
for?” Alina asked, refusing to let the subject go so easily. “Did I
do something wrong again?"
    The stallion let out a whinny that sounded
like a laugh, but his eyes were serious when he looked up at the
small girl again. “Of course not, my dear one. You and your mother
have brought me only happiness every day you have been a part of my
life. But before either of you came there was a lot that went
wrong, and I don't know if you're old enough to hear that story
yet.”
    “Of course I am!” Alina insisted. “I'll be
six in a few more cycles. I'm old enough for anything!”
    The stallion let out another chuckling
nicker. “Goodness! So old already? Why, you're nearly an elder,
aren't you!” Not amused by his teasing, Alina stared down at the
stallion in childish anger. “Alright, dear heart, climb on down
from there and I'll tell you about my life before I met your
mother.”
    Alina dropped her half-eaten