The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

Suddenly, there’s a loud sound and the colt jumps to one side. I lose hold of the reins, and before I can grab them again, the colt starts running. He’s galloping away from the noise at full speed across the open land.

My mind can only think about not falling. I cling to the colt’s mane with my eyes screwed shut. Then, from somewhere inside me, I tell myself to get ahold of myself. No one can stop the horse but me. I open my eyes and grit my teeth, and inch forward, just managing to grab the reins flapping loosely around the colt’s neck. Clinging with my legs, I lean back and pull the reins as hard as I can.

The colt slows down a little. I continue pulling back on the reins until the colt is walking again. Then, I hear a breathless voice calling out to me. Kaya, mounted on the gray horse, canters up next to me. She says she came to help, but it seems like I don’t need her help. I was very courageous.

We stop the horses and I slide off. I tell her I don’t feel courageous. I feel shaky. She says it takes great courage to stop a spooked horse. Maybe we shouldn’t have raced. I shake my head. She was challenging me. That’s what friends do. They encourage each other.

As we walk back to camp, my mind turns over what Kaya said. She said I have courage. I didn’t think I had any when this adventure began, but maybe I’m ready to face some new experiences at home. I tell Kaya that it’s time for me to go home. I remember where I was going when I fell in the river.

Kaya says she won’t forget me. I just need to remember that I am courageous. Strength is silent until I need it. I watch Kaya head back toward the sound of the drumming. When she’s gone, I melt into the shadows of the night and reach for my bracelet.