Chapter 14

Impossible Not To Be Overcome

"All was well...until one night." As Spirit said this, he stopped his recital for a minute, his eyes were downcast and full of regret.

I stared at him, quite surprised at his sudden vulnerability. It was rare to see that in a proud stallion. With a heavy sigh, he looked up, meeting my gaze and continued. "That night, something strange came upon the land. There was this unfamiliar sound in the distance followed by a twinkling blaze of fire. I had never seen or heard anything like that before. My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to investigate. Even though, my mother was against me going there and yet foolish as I am, I believed that I was old enough to make my own decisions. After all, I was a fierce leader and no one challenged my authority...ever."

As he delivered those lines, I could tell just how distressed and repentant he was. It was actually really hard for me to believe that this wild, spirited, and at times rude stallion was so different from what I imagined.

"So thus my journey began." Spirit kept narrating calmly. "I set out at an easy lope towards the strangers only to encounter my own kind. I was shocked to see these horses so docile, so scared, and looking just plain miserable. I always believed that our kind were one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. Full of life and freedom...but these beings looked so different from me and my herd members. They had dead animal skins on their backs (at the time I didn't know that those things are called saddles) and tied with ropes. One of them noticed my presence and quietly but desperately asked me to leave...for my own good." Spirit paused and chuckled with a shake of his head.

"A wiser horse would've heeded their warning, but I wanted to know what strange creatures lay nearby."

"This was your first encounter with the humans?" I questioned with a gentle nicker.

Spirit nodded at me and carried on with his story. " Yes, that's why I was so curious. They were asleep at first, so I decided to wonder around some more and began poking about their strange belongings. At some point, I got too close to one of them and he started unconsciously putting his slimy mouth all over my mouth. Talk about disgusting." He remarked with a snort.

I couldn't help but giggle at his statement heartily. Spirit playfully rolled his eyes and continued. "All of a sudden, they awoke and began screaming and yelling loudly. Naturally, I got frightened and bolted as fast as I could. Climbing on the backs of those domestic horses, they chased me. I didn't really realize how dangerous the situation was. I was almost playing along and having fun in this chase and catch game. With my quick-witted tactics, not only did I outrun them by a mile but managed to bite and throw some of them from those horses. You should've seen how delighted my fellow creatures were at this. With the fastest gallop, I set off and they disappeared from my sight. Just like that, I triumphantly returned to my herd...very impressed with myself.

Everyone was overjoyed to see me intact especially, my dear mother. I calmed down, naively believing that my reckless, and yet fun adventure was in the past. Oh...how wrong I've been." Spirit stomped his foot and swished his tail in irritation. "They found me. Those two-leggeds, they were getting closer and closer. This time, I wasn't feeling so playful anymore. I began to understand just how bad this might've turned out for the herd. Without losing much time, I urged the herd to run as fast as possible while I turned towards the humans to distract their attention. After all, it was me they wanted.

Despite everything, I still believed that they wouldn't be able to take me down. I had the most advantages...I knew the territory better than any of them, I was much faster than their horses and I had a good strategy in my head." Spirit took a deep breath with a small pause. "I was wrong again...just when I thought that I had escaped them for good, a rope-or to be exact- a lasso came flying and caught my neck so hard, that I stumbled over, sliding from the canyon and fell down unexpectedly."

Even though, I knew that Spirit was narrating me mainly his capture story, I still couldn't help but gasp in shock at this. I had found myself so fully engrossed at every detail that for some reason, catching such a free-roaming spirit was an absurd. I couldn't believe it. I so wanted him to escape those mean men.

"I regained my composure and stared at the rope over my neck in puzzlement. How could this be? I was so close from getting away. There was a man right in front of me, mounted on a horse...he had been the one who caught me and I got this feeling that he was mocking me entirely. Enraged, I charged at him, only to be held back by more ropes that came flying from all directions. The two-leggeds whooped and whistled in excitement, while I began to feel terror and panic rising in me. I had lost. I couldn't move anymore. Everywhere I turned, I was surrounded with more ropes and the two-leggeds grabbed on real hard. Nothing could stop them now, my kicking was of no use...they had caught my legs too. Completely exhausted and horrified, I fell to the ground once more, neighing loudly for some help.

"In this hellish nightmare, I saw one ray of sunlight. My mother and the herd were watching this from the hill top. I looked up and begged them to go away. I was caught but I couldn't let them suffer the same fate. My poor mother was devastated. If it were up to her, she'd charge right at my rescue, yet it would've been of no use. I begged her to leave me and keep the herd safe. With a cry of utmost sadness, she reluctantly went away. I was left alone with these creatures. The domestic horses couldn't bear to watch my pitiful state. They had warned me...all of them: My mother, those horses, but I didn't listen. It was my fault. My own damn fault. For the first time in my life, I was scared and didn't know what was gonna happen to me. At least my mother and the herd were safe."

There was a small interval as Spirit silenced, remembering that horrible day was probably very painful for him. I had been listening to him so intensely, that tears began to fill my pretty, blue eyes. Just imagining that scene with his mother was truly heartbreaking. I couldn't understand why he chose to tell me his capture with so much details...so much emotions. He wasn't even afraid to hide the fact how panicked and scared he was. Most stallions wouldn't dare to mention such a thing to a mare. Spirit however, was honest to a fault. It was so refreshing.

With another sigh, Spirit continued his tale. "With the biggest struggle, the two-leggeds led me towards the cavalry fort. I had spent two days fighting them every step of the way with no outcome. I heard my best friend, Bold Eagle lamenting my loss with a high pitched squeal. I looked up at him, realizing that my freedom was fading."

"Once I entered the fort, I was overwhelmed at how things ran there. Every two-legged looked the same as well as the horses. There was no individuality, all of my kind had the same haircut, same brand on the rump, same colors, same monotonic walks. They were dead inside...no soul. Nothing. It was downright frightening. They carried those cavalry men on their backs without a protest. Realizing, that humans were planning on transforming me into them... I ran, dragging the men with ropes behind me. A single gun shot was used to stop me. I froze, only to be met by the leading cavalry officer. Even though he was a two-legged, I still thought of him as a snake.

My day was miserable as they tried to cut my mane, put steeled things on my hooves and brand me."

My eyes darted at Spirit's thick, black mane that was already slowly growing. "Long story short, I didn't let that fat human brand me, I fought back till he dropped unconscious to the ground." Spirit stated with a sense of pride and dignity.

"Afterwards, they decided to ride me. And let me tell you, I gave them piece of my mind. I didn't want them near me, let alone on my back. That day, I sent many of the two-leggeds flying about. They began to dread and fear me, and I was gaining the upper hoof. Rearing, kicking, bucking, you name it...I gave them hell. They weren't gonna break me. Those cowards ran around all panicked. In just few hours I had become the ring leader. Oh yes, everything was going my way until I noticed that snake...he was not afraid of my outbursts. For three days, he had me starving with no food or water. And well, that's where your human came in the picture. He was being dragged forward by the soldiers and then tied to the opposite post. He seemed different than the rest. He was strange without doubt, but different."

At this, I pricked my ears even more attentively, knowing that Little Creek also became involved in his story. We were nearing the end. My questions were about to be answered fully.

"I spent all my nights, thinking back to my herd...wondering if they missed me as much as I had missed them." Spirit's gaze focused on the far off spaces in the distance. He really was yearning for his old life. After a short interval, he kept on. "That particular night, your friend was making strange noises and I was getting annoyed with him. Suddenly, a knife flew in out of nowhere. I was very confused."

As Spirit recited his experiences, I quickly recalled mine. How anxiously I was waiting for my owner that night, how worried sick and concerned I was. How Great Conquest and his human had threw him the knife in order to aid him. All of those memories came rushing back to my mind.

"That was us." I spoke up. "We had sent that weapon to help him." I informed Spirit softly.

"You were there?" He asked wide-eyed.

"Yes, me and his two friends, together with Dawn and Great Conquest were hiding in the nearby forest...waiting for him."

"Well, looks like after I finish my story, you have few things to share too." Spirit smirked and a mischivious smile appeared on his muzzle.

"Finish it then." I demanded confidently.

"So the next day, the leader...that snake man, decided to 'break' me. And honestly, I was so tired, hungry and exhausted that I almost gave in." Explained Spirit. "My knees began to shake, I was in a weak state. For few minutes, I actually thought about giving up. You should've seen how your precious human stared at me. As if he didn't expect me to lose my spirit. But I was just utterly exhausted. The leader began to boast among his men, while I walked him about the ring. His spurs were digging into my flanks. It was horrible. Military horses were also quite shocked at this. But then suddenly, I had a change in spirit...I thought that sometimes horse has simply gotta do what a horse has a gotta do. It was no time to give up and lose hope. I used the calm situation to my advantage. My brutal rider was too distracted, so taking the reins from his hands, I reared up. He lost all balance and was tackled over. With a one last look of resentment, I threw him up in the air and he fell on his rear end real hard." Spirit sneakered at his own comment and kept on.

"Because of this, all of the horses let out triumphant neighs and I was pleasantly surprised at their behavior. They respected me more than anyone. Just then, that snake yelled something and I was caught by the reins by some soldier while he approached me with a gun. I didn't have time to blink, when a shot was fired and I began galloping away with your human hanging onto my neck. How he go there? I know not. The cavalry men started chasing us, but your friend somehow managed to burst the door open and all the horses came rushing out of their stables. Just as we were exiting the fortress, the fat man from earlier, stood in the middle of the gate with a hostile attitude. He wasn't planning on moving out. It seems like after our first unpleasant encounter, he hit his head hard and lost all senses. I mean, who in their right mind stands in front of an escaping horse, an angry stallion at that? Without paying much attention to his caprice, I struck him with my front legs and left that damn fortress for good.

I looked back happily at the rest of the horses galloping in different directions. They were free! And as for me, I didn't know exactly what happened back there and I wasn't gonna stop and ask. All I knew that I was headed home. For some reason, I paid no mind to the fact that your scrawny human was hanging onto my neck all this time. He then whistled again...yeah, that same, old whistle that irritated me the night before. And then you appeared...out of nowhere. I stopped and just like that, was caught again with more ropes. You know the rest." Spirit finished and let out a deep breath.

To say that I was overcome with his story would be understatement. It opened my eyes and I actually started looking at things in a different light. Most importantly, I began looking at him in a different manner. Oh my stupid curiosity! Maybe if it weren't for this, I wouldn't be faced with the most difficult decision later on.

To Be Continued!

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