A/N thank you dear reader who pointed out that chapter one had been posted twice as chapter 2. I fixed it. Now enjoy the story! Updates will try to come as I finish the next chapters but will only be posted when I come across wifi to use. Thank you all who love this story. Cloud Wild Stallion of the Rockies is my inspiration as well as Spirit. Check out the website, THECLOUDFUNDATION for more info on this amazing wild horse and his families who are threaten with removal from their wild home.

Chapter FOUR

The man looked at the helicopters engine, with pursed lips, his clean shaved, sharp jaw was clinched as he fiddled with something on the engine. "Why won't this thing work? I needed to be up an hour ago now the Boss will be mad that I did not start the round up at night not now in the sun! Oh well." Then the man had the helicopter fixed and was up in the air. "Soon I will get these horses off to the meat factories and then I will get a steak! A horse steak that is!" laughter filled the cabin, it was a harsh sound.

*****Legend***

I graze under the watchful eye of my lead mare Raven. It was a fun thing to see my filly fight an eight year old mare for top Lead mare place but she did. Raven said that if I am to gather up a herd then she must be the leader and I the protector and sire. My coat stings as I swish the flies from my wound that I got from fighting. Flicking my ears I look up to see Raven playing with the colt of Stream, I know that she wants a foal by me so that my bloodline will go on, but she is only two, is that too young to bare a foal? I shake my head to chase that thought away, when she is ready and the season is right we will try. For now I just enjoy her glorious black coat her sweet scent. Feeling play full I walk over to her with my neck arch, puffing out my chest I squealed and lashed out gently with my foreleg catching Raven in the lower leg. She squealed in return bolting off in the direction of the lake, kicking up her heels. Snorting I surge after her. My head lowered in the snake potion but I kept my ears pricked so she would know I was playing. Doing a flying change I swept into a canter almost passing her as we circled the lake. Passing Windshadow, I paused in my strides as he came forth snaking at Raven! Whirling around I snapped my teeth into his shoulder! Screaming Windshadow turned and lashed out with hind legs I pivoted to avoid a direct hit doing so I raked my teeth into his leg, he yanked his leg free ripping his flesh down the leg to the hoof, blood rushed down the leg. Stunned Windshadow backed away from the fight. BUT THEN another band stallion a dark dun named Contester surged forth at a gallop taking Raven as I reared to paw at Windshadow who came back at me. Screams filled the air as we fought.

As I reared again trying to drive off Windshadow I heard a noise over our screams look up after I came down I see a weird looking creature, it has one large eye with a two wings that are placed in a line, one large wing was turning in a circle in the middle of its back and a smaller on its tail also rotated. We all secede our fighting as that giant bug thing swooped down upon us! Scared I whistled for Raven who came galloping to my side, Stream and her colt went to Windshadow during our battle which is fine I will get her back after we deal with this bug. Contester whinnied, "It's a Round-Up! Run! Don't let them herd you into a round circle place! They mean to trap us! I lost my herd to that trick!" stunned I looked at Raven who smiled at me her amber eyes soft and warm. "I will follow you, you are my mate; the love of my life and I will never leave you," I feel pride at her words. "Let's go,"

With Raven by my side we surged with Contester and Windshadow and their herds away from this lake. What started out as trying to hide from the Bug became a fight for survival as the Bug would swoop down and turn us from one direction to another when we heard more hoofbeats, coming up behind us with two-legs on their back. Shocked, I slowed my strides and Raven slowed with me. The Twolegs on horseback surged around us as the rest of the wild horses got away. They surrounded us with their horses. I looked into the eyes of a brown horse and he tossed his head bowing it in sadness, he knew that I or Raven will be caught. I pleaded with my eyes for the horses to buck off their riders but they would not, in fact one flatted his ears and snapped his teeth at Raven causing her to back up into another horse who snapped at her leg. Angered I reared up to my full height and lashed out with my forelegs, screaming. The men backed their horses away from us leaving a small gap, with a lash of my tail I bolted forward with Raven hot on my back-hooves. As we ran the men gave a shout and some snake/vine things sailed through the air landed next to my galloping hooves; I jumped high into the air and when I came down my heart broke in two.

My mate, the love of my life lay on the ground, her neck curved to her chest. Standing stock still I sniffed her, her eye fluttered as she opened them, I saw anger in her eyes. "Raven get up! We have to run, to flee, to live," I whicker to her my face close to her muzzle as I kissed her, gently.

The men pulled on the rope around Raven's neck and foreleg, trying to get her up also but not for her freedom, for her death. Rearing up I jump in front of Raven slashing at the ropes but they are too strong for me to cut. I feel defeated. I stand with my head down as the men try to chase me off. I see as Raven gets to her hooves, defiance sparkling in her eyes. "Listen Raven, where ever you go I will find you and I will safe you! Remember I love you!" I screamed my final words as I turn to leave while the men were looking at Raven admiring her beauty. She looked at me with both defiance and love in her eyes. In that moment, with ropes around her neck, blood trickling down her chest where a rock cut her as she fell, I never loved her more that I do now. It is shattering my heart to see her bound like this. But her spirit shines free I can it in her body language, her head held high, tail raised proudly, nobly as I back away knowing I will track her down and free her but most of all I see her love for me shining brightly as the men turn and start to pull her away. I scream long and loud to her over and over until I could no longer hear her replies. Then when she had gone I fled. Back to lake back to the place of our love to rest and gather my strength for the journey on the morrow. (A/N on the morrow is old English for tomorrow)