Chapter 1
Rain
They say there's no other feeling as galloping in the meadows without a care in the world. Wild, free, untamed and feral. Most of the horses believe that they belong in the wilderness, where no one will ever tame them...they say they run with the wind, dance with river, and fly with the eagles. They are wild and free and there is no better home than what they already have. I, on the other hand, believed that such an existence was not comforting at all. I could never call an untamed, rugged country my home. I couldn't imagine my life with those feral horses. Never! My home sweet home was with the caring, domestic, and peaceful people of Lakota Village. Now that's the place I thoroughly believed was going to be my forever home. In some ways, it still is. Things seemed always simple and straightforward for me until the day I met a certain golden stallion, who made me question everything I came to love. He completely and utterly conflicted me and I was forced to choose between loyalty and friendship for my two-legged guardian and my love for the unbreakable stallion. Most of you might already know this story. But have you ever heard it from my perspective?
My tale starts with my mother, who belonged to a feral herd that had been rounded up by the two-leggeds. As the horses got captured and taken, some of the younger colts and mares managed to escape. My mother Sierra, happened to be one of them. She galloped away in hopes of starting a new life somewhere safe. Alas! She was all alone without a single protector from the predators and wild, aggressive stallions. Her life would've been very challenging had not my father found her wondering in the prairies all abandoned and lonely. My father, Storm, was a domestic stallion who aided Lakota warriors in wars against other tribes and cavalry soldiers. Brave and strong as he was, he also had a good heart. He took pity upon my mother and brought her to the village. Because of the growing admiration my parents began to have for one another, Sierra allowed herself to be tamed by humans, who in turn treated her with much kindness. She got comfortable and accepted this new way of life that differed so much from her old herd lifestyle. Both of my parents loved one another and naturally, it didn't take long for me to be conceived in my mother's womb.
Unfortunately, few months before my birth, the Lakota tribe's warriors went to war against other Indians and my father as always, was among the war ponies. Even though, the Lakota defeated their enemy and most of the warriors and horses remained unharmed, my father was not so fortunate. He fell in battle and died like a true hero. My mother, although initially devastated, regained her strength for my sakes. She was going to take good care of me no matter what.
My mother delivered me in mid June on a very rainy day. I was told that it wasn't too windy and unbearable ...in fact, no one had ever seen such a fine day during a pouring rain before. I don't remember much except for the fact that I was really warm and happy to be near my mother. The fallen warrior, who had passed away together with my father had a son named Little Creek. He was about sixteen years of age when I was born. I remember him stroking me affectionately and singing to me and my mother with his gentle voice.
"Rain." He said with a smile. "That's your name."
Rain
My mother loved it instantly and I, apparently joyfully splashed in puddles.
From that moment on, Little Creek and I had become inseparable. He was always there to help around whenever my mother and I had a difficulty among the village horses. He would always play and prance around with me as if he were a colt himself. And I in turn, really admired him. No other two-legged had caught my attention as Little Creek did.
My mother continued to educate me, love me, and guide me for few more months until she became very sick with fever one day and joined my father. I was only an 11 month old filly. My mother's death caused me to become moody, agitated, anxious and spooky. I felt empty and alone inside. But thank God for a friend like Little Creek! Once my poor mother was gone, the only one who ever cared for me with the exact same amount of love was Little Creek.
It took me some time, but I managed to let go of my sad past and focused on the positive. I had a most wonderful friend. Who cares if he was a two-legged? Our relationship grew and we bonded very deeply. I looked up to Little Creek as my guardian. He had become my father, mother, brother, and friend at the same time. He taught me tricks, voice cues, funny games, and I allowed him to hop on my back. He had this golden heart and undying kindness towards me and thus, I became attached to him. He and I had become one. Usually, I didn't need much explanation from him or he from me, we understood one another perfectly without extra words and motions. Together, we would run and gallop towards the high hills. Often, Little Creek would bring me delicious apples from my favorite apple tree and afterwards, we'd go out for a nice swim.
None of the other horses were as close to their human friends as I was to my Little Creek. I couldn't imagine life without him. It was just too impossible.
One day, he approached me with a coy smile, and presented an eagle's feather as a gift to me and placed it in my long flaxen mane.
"This is for you Rain, so that everyone might know that you belong here. This is your home." He said kindly and brushed my nose. I thanked him with a soft nicker and afterwards, we rode off together to seek out a shade from a very hot Summer's sun.