The Negative Power of Abuse

Because of the abuse they have suffered in their pasts, both Fiery Girl and Velvet are jaded and stilted in their ability to show love. Velvet looks for love wherever she can find it while Fiery Girl runs everyone away from her with her hateful behavior. As the two develop a bond they begin to heal from their abuse but they still bear both physical and emotional scars.

When Velvet first sees Fiery Girl, the horse is in a stall by herself. A sign attached warns people not to try to touch her. Velvet’s attention is drawn to the horse because she hears the mare banging around in her stall and kicking the walls, making herself as unpleasant as possible. Pat, who owns Fiery Girl, warns Velvet that the mare has been abused as she points out the scars on her...