As Strider, the black stallion was pulled away, trying to fight off the humans, Esperanza lay down on the floor in immense pain.
Strider realised that there was nothing he could do. He nuzzled Esperanza one last time with a tear rolling down his nose. Esperanza whinnied to him as he was dragged away again by the humans on horseback.
"Goodbye Esperanza, I love you!" Strider neighed.
The palomino mare's head fell to the grassy floor as a wave of pain flooded through her stomach.
Her two best friends, Cinnamon and Misty glanced at each other in sorrow, as Esperanza neighed in pain.
What was happening to her?
A few moments later, Esperanza neighed one last time, and a foal emerged.
Cinnamon and Misty whinnied excitedly to her, and Esperanza turned her head to say hello to her new son, a dun (buckskin) colt.
The colt shook his head and gazed at his mother, his eyes blurry.
Esperanza licked his head and the cheeky colt pulled a strand of Esperanza's mane.
The Mustang mare had never been so proud. She rose on all fours and walked forwards a few paces to eat some grass. Her new son tried to follow her, but tripped and fell.
Bravely, he rose to his feet again and pranced forwards to feed.
A few hours later, Esperanza lay down in the grass, her son beside her, surrounded by the herd.
"What will you call him, Esperanza?" Cinnamon asked quietly, as the dun colt slept soundly.
"I'm not sure, my friends." Esperanza sighed. "We will see what tomorrow brings, and hopefully we can gather ideas for the perfect name." The palomino mare smiled at her herdmates, before lowering her head and going to sleep herself.
The rest of the herd slept standing up in a ring around the mother and foal, so that they would be protected from any danger.
Esperanza woke late at night, the herd were soundly asleep. The foal had moved slightly, earlier on in the night, for he was now laying faced away from his mother.
Esperanza rose to her feet and walked up the rise.
She spotted her and Strider's favourite star, a large star that twinkled brighter than the others.
She knew that Strider could see it too.
"Strider, you have a new son. He hasn't been named yet. I know you can't hear me, but you can still see me. I am in our star. I hope I see you again." She said to the star.
It just twinkled even brighter, as though it was sending Strider the message.
Esperanza felt tears pricking her eyes, as she heard a distant neigh, one that she recognised.
Strider was calling to her, as if he had received the message.
Esperanza's tears began to pour out of her eyes as she turned back.
She heard the neigh again, it sounded as if it was saying "spirit".
Esperanza was confused and too upset to think any more of it. She walked sadly back to the herd and lay beside her son again. The little colt heard his mother return, and could sense her sadness. He awoke and nuzzled Esperanza's nose.
He stared at the star and let out a tiny whicker, he just knew that someone was out there keeping an eye on him. In his mind, he heard a voice: "Look after your mother and the herd son. You are strong at heart, I can sense it. You are Spirit, who will not be broken…"