The Dark Horse (Horse Vore Commission)

Summer. A time of freedom and prosperity. A time in which everything comes out. The sun, the birds, the bees, and most importantly, it was the time in which children could run outside and play.

But not for me.

Not for me. I was one of the unlucky ones. The Great Depression meant there was a huge shortage of workers, so the local ranches in my area had to employ children to do the work. Why? Because they're easy to boss around, they listen to what you say, and you don't have to pay them. It was how farmer's thought at the time, because they were so desperate to spend as little money as possible on their businesses during this time of financial meltdown. They could have had me working somewhere other than this place. But no. Every single day, were forced to wake up at the crack of dawn, work in the dry fields for six hours before finally stopping for lunch, a measly portion of, god, I don't even know what. Then it was another six hours before we left the fields, weak, hungry, tired and stinking like kippers. The farmer who ran the place only gave us enough food to keep us in good enough condition to undergone tedious labour.

It was like a hell on Earth.

But one boiling-hot day, in which the burning midday sun shined down upon us, I heard something which to me, was music to my ears.

"Joe!" One of the boss's men shouted, "Getcha' ass in the barn. The new horse needs her hoof fixin'!"

"Yes, Mr. Reeds…" I muttered and slowly skulked into the barn, but in reality, I was actually happy. The barn was the coolest place on the ranch, and we were only allowed in there to get our scraps for lunch or to tend to the livestock if needs be.

But what I was looking forward to the most was seeing the new horse. 

The ranch had recently bought a horse from the market. Not many of the kids on the ranch, including me, had seen the horse, but apparently, it was unlike any other horse. It was rumoured to be a HUGE Clynesdale, a mare, but no one had actually managed to confirm the breed, not even the supplier in which the ranch bought it from. She was only recently transferred, about three days ago, and was yet to start pulling carts and working the machines.

And I was the first kid to work with her.

I walked into the barn with a huge smile on my face. It was the first time I had even mustered a smile in a long time, because life on the ranch was so tough. I started to shake a little when I got closer to the horse's stable. One of my roommates, who had seen the horse being transferred into the stables, said that this mare was special. Very special, but I had no idea what he was jabbering on about.

And I was about to find out…

I grabbed the handle of the stable door and slowly pushed the door open with a shaking hand. "Why the hell are you getting so worked up?!" I whispered to myself in a frustrated tone, "It's only a… h-horse…?" At that moment, I got my first glimpse of her.

And I must admit, she was amazing.

My roommate wasn't a liar. She was enormous! I wasn't very tall for my age, so the big, black mare was literally towering over me. She had a jet black mane going down her neck, which shone like crystallised silk in the beams of light seeping in through the cracks in the old, wooden walls of the barn. Even her back was an inch taller than me. I was absolutely gobsmacked. 

How did horses even get this big? I shrugged to myself and giggled. "H-hey, girl…" I slowly approached her, "I-I'm just here to fix your hoof, alright." As expected, the horse just simply snorted and let me go about my business. I grabbed a head-sized horseshoe, a hammer, but then sighed. I had forgotten the nails. I grumbled to myself and rubbed the mare's snout. Her fur was glossy and silky to touch. I could have stroked her for a long time.

"I'll be back in a flash, ok?" I smiled and walked out the tiny stable, frantically searching for the box of nails that were usually left on top of the counter. I growled. Some other idiotic worker must have taken them.

"Hello, little one…? You seem a bit sad…" Said a sudden, sweet, feminine voice from behind me.

I instantly snapped my body around. "Who's there?" I saw no girl in sight.

I saw the mare behind me.

My eyes widened. I was a little surprised at how she had managed to escape. I sighed deeply, "Just stay there, girl. Ok? Gosh, this heat is really getting to my head…" I turned back around and continued searching for the nails. I smiled. Found them! They were tucked away under a rag under the work surface. I turned back to the mare and smiled warmly, "Alright, girl! Let's…!"

"Mind telling me what your name is?" The mare spoke! It bloody spoke!

I cried out in shock and fell onto my backside, nails spilling everywhere. How was that even possible?! It just opened it's mouth and spoke like a human being! The mare slowly trotted up to me, giggling and lowering her head to me. I stared at her in absolute shock, wide-eyed and sweating slightly. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." The mare spoke again and smiled slightly, "I just want to know your name, but how rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself…" She gently licked my cheek. Her tongue felt soft and warm, and left a small trail of warm saliva on my cheek, which I immediately wiped off, "… I'm Nico! It's nice to meet you!"

I continued to stare up at the mare in disbelief, before eventually stuttering, "I-I'm J-Joe…" Nico snorted and nuzzled my forehead, "Hehe, that's a cute name." I found myself confused, as I just got called cute by a horse.

A talking horse.

I started to whimper in confusement, "Th-this is dream… it's too w-weird to be real…" Nico grinned and snickered a little bit, "This is no dream, Joe… this is real." I just shook my head, refusing to believe her.

At that point, I started to cry.

Everything was getting to me. The heat of the summer sun, the incredibly itchy clothes on my back, but most importantly, the fact that there was a talking horse in front of me. It was very terrifying.

Nico's facial expression immediately changed, "Are you ok, little guy? Did I scare you? Aww, come here…" I stiffened as I felt something pull me in closer against her.

It was her hoof.

This was crazy. Part of me was refusing to accept that the whole situation was even real. Nico gently patted me on the back with her hoof and nuzzled me with her soft, silky snout. Although I was a little afraid of her, her consoling really did help to calm my shredded nerves. I gulped and slowly looked up at her.

"T-thank you…" I choked and managed a trembling smile. Nico giggled and licked my cheek in response.

"My pleasure, Joe. I really don't blame you for being afraid. I'm a big girl after all, and the fact that I can talk must be a shocker to you… but see? I'm not going to hurt you." Nico licked my face and giggled.

Her constant licking was causing me to blush. It felt so… soothing…

I smiled and gently rubbed her snout, "I-I guess you won't… but why? Why did you choose to talk to me?" She snorted.

"You looked down in the dumps. I just couldn't bear seeing you that way." This made butterflies fill my tummy. Yes, is was very weird to be talking to a horse, but Nico seemed really sweet. I hugged her large head and smiled.

"Aww, thank you so much!" The big, black mare giggled in response and nibbled my cheek playfully.

"Could you tell me why you're sad?" Nico pouted, her chestnut eyes going all big and soft. 

I sighed. I really didn't want to tell her… but those eyes… I just couldn't say no to them. Besides, it seemed nice to have someone to talk to about your problems…

I looked deep into her eyes, "Nico… I'm lonely…" Almost as soon as after I said that, Nico's face gained a deep expression of sympathy. She laid her snout on my shoulder and gently nuzzled it.

 "Do you have any friends?" 

I whimpered and slowly shook my head, "No…"

"Parents?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I looked down at the hay-covered ground, "N-no…"

Nico cooed softly as I started to cry, once again, patting my back with her hoof, "You know what…? I could change all that. I could become your friend… and your mother…" I looked up, my jaws hanging agape. I understood the concept of her being my friend, but my mother?! She was a horse! There was no way on earth that she could be my mother! I had no choice on this ranch. No options. No freedom. So what made Nico think she could be my mother? 

I slowly started to back away, "I-Impossible! You can't! Y-you're a horse! A-and we're both stuck on this ranch!" Nico snorted and smiled a little.

"That's why I have a plan. Now come over here so I can talk to you, Joe. I just want to help you…" Very hesitantly, I shuffled my way over to Nico, until I was standing directly in front of her snout. She slowly placed her lips next to my ears and whispered, "I know how I can get you out of here… forever…"

A way out! I smiled widely, eager for her to tell me. 

"H-how?" I looked into her eyes as I stroked her velvety cheek. She simply smiled, and what she said next shocked me to the core.

"I can hide you in my stomach. If you're gone for three days, the boss will assume you've disappeared…"

I cried out in shock and stared at Nico like she was insane.

"W-WHAT?!" How was that even possible?! The thought of being eaten by her made me shudder. Being the small kid I was, I could probably just about fit in that big belly of her's. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, it looked comfy…

I mentally punched myself in the face.  I growled at myself for even thinking about something like that. Nico nibbled my cheek.

"Don't be afraid. You wouldn't be hurt. I can only digest vegetation, so you'd be nothing but warm, comfortable… and safe." I started to breathe heavily and stare at her.

"B-but how could you even eat me…? Aren't I a bit large?" She shook her head. 

"I've eaten bigger things than you before. You'd fit in my belly easily, with extra room to spare! Besides, it's be with me, or be with that nasty farmer…"

I soon found myself considering this risk. Nico seemed genuine, kind and trustworthy, and I had never known a carnivorous horse. I gulped, took all the courage I had left and looked into her beautiful chestnut eyes.

"O-ok, Nico… I'll do it. E-eat me…" I couldn't believe what I was doing. I was literally serving myself up on a platter. To a horse…

Then, Nico whinnied happily before leaning over and planting a kiss on my cheek, causing me to turn as red as a tomato. She once again whispered into my ear.

"Listen, Joe. You don't have to be afraid anymore. All those years of misery, loneliness and neglect are over now. I'm here to take you away from this horrible place. To look after you, to care for you as if you were my own foal. You don't have to be afraid anymore, because I won't let anyone hurt you ever again. I'm not doing this because I'm hungry… I'm doing this because I love you…"

I burst into tears and hugged her snout tightly.

"N-Nico! I-I'm scared!" She cooed softly, gently nibbling and kissing my cheek, causing me to blush even further.

"Shhh, don't cry, little one. You won't be hurt at all. It'll all be over soon. Are you ready?" I slowly looked back into her eyes again, which were also filled with tears, and nodded.

"I'm ready." She smiled and licked me.

"Trust me, I'll be gentle."

And that was the last thing she said before she opened her mouth very wide and slowly brought my head up into it.

The first thing that I thought was, "Wow… this is warm, like REALLY warm…" I could feel her Nico's breath on my face as she slowly moved her huge maw over me, gently working her way over my shoulders and chest. Her mouth was very long, and it's sides were lined with molars, which were suitable for the diet of herbivore. Nico then started to whinny happily and lick me all over with her soft, squishy tongue, coating me in her warm saliva as my head entered the dark, gaping hole known as her throat. Nico's throat gently pulled me into her body as she swallowed steadily, easily accommodating my small structure. The pinkish walls were slick with her saliva, which was a lot runnier and warmer than in her mouth. Eventually, Nico had me up to my knees in her mouth, with most of me travelling down her gullet at a moderate pace. She licked my feet before gulping them down, causing me to giggle as she tilted her head back and finally swallowed the last of me down into the fleshy, slimy sack which was her stomach. I smiled. That really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was warm in here, just the right temperature to make it cosy and snug. Even the gentle drumming of her heart felt and sounded soothing. Despite being slightly submerged in partially-digested hay and grass, it felt great!

I was honoured to be inside such a majestic creature as Nico.

I grinned as I heard Nico burp loudly and rub her slightly pudgy belly with a hoof, "Comfy in there, Joe?" I squealed and gratefully nuzzled the walls.

"Yes! I love it in here! It's so soft warm! I wish I knew it would be like this before… sorry for doubting you, Nico…" Nico whinnied and nuzzled her belly.

"Honestly, Joe, don't worry about it. I'm just so happy that you like it in there. Now, like I said before…"

"… we're leaving here… forever." 

I grinned and hugged the walls, "Yay! You're the best, Nico!" She giggled, "Alright, try to get some rest in there… I love you…" 

"I love you too!" I closed my eyes and snuggled up within the warm embrace of my new, equine friend's belly.

From that moment on, I knew that my life would never be the same again.

Later…

My eyelids slowly fluttered open to the feeling of repetitive, warm rushes of air blowing over my face. I looked up groggily to see Nico smiling down at me. 

"Morning, tasty!" She grinned. I laughed and sat up.

"Where are we, Nico?" She licked my cheek.

"As I said, we're away from the ranch now. About five miles to be exact." I looked around and gasped. I had barely been outside the ranch in my lifetime, so the outside world was not only beautiful to me.

But it was a brand new sight for me altogether.

Nico had brought me to a huge, vast lake, and both of us were lying down on the banks of it. The crystal clear body of water was surrounded by thick, green, luscious pine forest. The sweet sound of birdsong filled the air and the sun shone down upon us, but these was not the harsh, burning rays I was used to. This was gentle, slightly warming sunlight.

It felt heavenly upon my burnt, dry skin.

I was so amazed. It was as if everything was perfect now. It all seemed so surreal.

And it was all thanks to Nico.

"So? What do you think?" She said smiling softly, "Beautiful, ain't it?" In response, I flew at her, hugging her chest tightly and sobbing tears of joy into it, "Nico! Thank you so, so, SO much! This is so wonderful! I-I don't know what to say!" I whimpered happily as I looked up and rubbed her cheek. Nico giggled.

"N'aww! I'm glad that you're over the moon, my little boy!" She whinnied happily, swishing her tail and kissing my cheek, but this time, I didn't even blush. I quickly kissed her back on the snout, and Nico's black cheeks turned slightly red. I giggled and rubbed her belly.

"We're free now…" Nico smiled and nuzzled my shoulder gently, "… free from oppression. Free from loneliness. Free from the life of being told what to do by others." Tears dripped down my cheeks as I lay down against Nico's shiny, jet-black, velvety belly and nuzzled it, looking across the vast lake. I was thinking about all the possibilities and opportunities that were available to us now that we were living in the big, wide world. I smiled.

Life wasn't as bad as it seemed anymore.

I leaned up and wrapped my arms around Nico's neck, "I-I love you, Mom…" 

Nico simply snorted and smiled, before nuzzling my cheek and giving it a tentative kiss. 

"I love you too… my son…"

- The End