Chapter 14

Spirit Of The West

"They say the Mustang is the Spirit of the West"

Mustangs...we are what we are.

We are the Spirits of the West.

We are not the battle-tested cavalry horses or the celebrated, ribbon-adorned, competitive show breeds. We are not even the warrior horses of the fearless two-legged tribes, embellished with paintings, beads and feathers. We are Mustangs...countless generations evolved by the trials of nature, that must prove ourselves strong, sure-footed, regal, intelligent from the day we are born, in order to pave our way through our own wild society in the name and spirit of freedom. The tests of nature are harsh... and at times, can be rather challenging yet, there's no denying the racing beat of our hearts whenever we gallop freely on the vast territories of our home, for we are fully connected to it. Some might even say, we are nothing less than boundless power, beauty and glory, thriving on unforgiving lands.

The wind calls my name, the sun warms my soul, and the trees whisper a song of the wild just to the ears that have the ability to listen. All I stand for, all I'm made of...is here. Oh yes, it's here...this is where I belong.

No, we are not decorated with beads and feathers, we do not charge in wars for our humans' sake. Most of our kind have never been touched by a cold metal that digs in the flank or the bit that swells the tongue. True... I, myself, had the unfortunate opportunity to experience the cruelty of those man-made tools and learn from it. The memories are unpleasant, but I've learned to appreciate what has been given to me as a gift since the beginning of my life's journey now more than ever. I shall never take it for granted. So no, we are not furnished with fancy blankets and saddles and we do not carry humans on our backs with high-stepping gaits. What we are adorned with is mud, rain, snow, pride and wind-tailored manes, learning humility through our elders along with the rhythm of our society and the tune of the magical seasons.

It takes so much more than 'force' to conquer our spirits and our hearts. Often we, mostly the stallions, are covered in scars...I have even sported them myself on numerous occasions. But I will say it once and for all, scars don't matter to us, they are the marks of the battles we have won for ourselves. They tell our stories like no other.

As I stand here, contemplating on what is Mustang, my mind turns to the destiny that calls to me. The thrill of adventure in my heart that urges me to gallop so free upon the remotest desert and plain, mountain range or valley green. How unexplainable is the feeling I get whenever I race the limitless wide, open spaces alongside my herd. I believe the drumming of our hooves can be heard across the entire West, because our hearts are one. The wind is my friend, whipping through my mane and every time I look back, I see my mother, family and friends following me...the grey dust can just barely hide their gleaming coats. What else one could ask for? Under the starry skies, the Eagle cries of our friendship and the bellowing, trumpeting sound of the great bison reminds me that nothing should come between my homeland and I. Between my family and I.

Some may say I'm young, yet already a stallion in his prime. I have only seen six summers and perhaps, one more. I know that there's still a great deal to learn...I have yet to grow and truly face the future predestined for me.

But what is my destiny? Could it only be the misadventure I put myself through that one, fateful night where I disobeyed the sage warning of my mother and visited the two-legged camp? Indeed, after those events, my life changed forever. And through the hardship and struggle, I've learned what true friendship is about. What it's like to fall madly in love and what it's like to be truly free. At the end of my first adventure, I thought my life would get better. But that was a romantic notion that I needed to get rid of.

No! New complications and trials were thrown at me almost immediately. I've loved and I've lost. Have I gained anything from that bitter experience? For now, I can only say 'pain'. It seems to me that I am my own greatest enemy. I have yet to learn to reign in my temper...to learn to not let my emotions run high and think before I act. After all, these are my biggest flaws that continuously cause me nothing but trouble and sorrow. In many ways, the misadventures that befall on my head are my own foolish doings. I need to slowly let go of my impulsive and reckless nature and be the best leader I can be for the herd...especially for my mother, who steadfastly believes in me.

While I greatly treasure and value the life I have, the last couple of months have made me feel as though I have everything but at the same time, nothing at all. I cannot explain it...one has to undergo it to really understand my conflicted emotions. I am ashamed to admit that for quite some time now, I've been possessed with jealous thoughts, envying someone who should never been envied in the first place. A horse alone cannot exist. Yet, I've been yearning to be in the place of He-Who-Stands-Alone, also referred by most as the Lone Stallion. But then I only have to glance at my homeland and my herd once, and suddenly those shameful thoughts dissolve like snow in spring sunshine.

After many sleepless nights, I've concluded that it's not the solitude I long for...it's freedom.

You may ask, "aren't you already free, silly son of Strider"? And you are right. Yes, I am physically free...I live the life on the wild prairies and the rugged mountains. However, make no mistake, that does not signify that I'm free to follow my heart's desires. Mustangs have a traditional, sophisticated way of life that has been passed down from generation to generation. We have complex dynamic...a social order and necessary rules that need to be followed, observed and executed. Anyone straying from that path, is considered either a recluse, living on the outskirts of our lands somewhere in the shadows, or an old horse whose life is coming to an end.

You see, not everything is as good as it sounds. My home may seem like a paradise, but it definitely isn't one when your heart and spirit aren't entirely free. I don't mean to bore you with my general analysis and deep contemplations anymore...some of them are still unclear to me as I try to make sense of it all and some are just better left unsaid.

I am inclined, however, to share the biggest, latest and the grandest news I've received and it's bound to change my life forever and navigate it in a completely different direction, opening up a whole new path for me. When I first heard it, I could scarcely believe it. A new, exciting responsibility has been placed on me... I am to be a father!

Yes! I can hear the triumphant exclamations all around me. Finally, Spirit...after six years of gallivanting about is going to be a sire of his very first offspring!

I'll be honest, this unexpected news took me by surprise and I needed couple of days to process all the information flung at me and start reasoning somewhat straight. It is quite the joyful event, but it did not fail to bring me a certain amount of heartache. Why is it that the ones we love and trust the most hurt us the most?

I'm sure you're all wondering how this happened. The truth is, I don't even know. In fact, I'm trying to suppress those disagreeable memories myself. And besides, I'm sure you're all familiar with the process. If not...educate yourself!

"When did this happen?" You might ask.

Sometime last mid-spring...or perhaps, early summer? I cannot remember exactly.

When did I find out? Well...it all started seven moons ago, one frustrating evening. I had once again messed up badly...very badly, might I add. Everything was a blur...until a new path - a new, life journey arrived, coming toward me with purpose. And so, in just one night, I truly became a different horse. Every ounce of selfishness, resentment, anger, had to disappear and be replaced by a new, unfamiliar responsibility that is known as fatherhood. The passage of my changed life commenced seven days ago...that's where the beginning of our story is.

Am I ready for this? I don't know...

One thing I do know, is that I will try to the utmost best of my abilities and be the worthy sire of the little one that is to join the Cimarron herd in four or five months. The anxiety and nervous excitement still rage in my core and by the passing hour, I'm growing more and more convinced that perhaps, my destiny is closer than I imagined.

So with all this being said, I shall return back to my first statement.

Mustangs...we are not the feral, vermin species that need to be hunted and used as slaves for the pleasure of the two-leggeds as most humans like to think. But we are not perfectly flawless either as some romantics claim. We are Mustangs...we are Spirits of the West. Not perfect, but not deficient either. We are somewhere in between, learning to pave the path for the new generation as the old generation did for us for many, many years.

We are Mustangs...we are what we are.

This is a short 'filler' type of chapter that I decided to write in honor of the protagonist of the movie, and one of my main characters, Spirit. I felt like he deserved to have his own narrative somewhere in the story and now was the best time for it. This small chapter also served as a preview of what is to be expected next. Yes, things are about to get super, duper exciting. Please, feel free to share your opinions as well as your ideas. I consider suggestions if they appeal to me. Also, I would like to know what everyone thinks of the character of 'Nova'. Bolder is loved by many, but Nova has received mixed reviews. I really want to know everyone's opinion on her. I'm kind of hard on my own OCs because I want them to be just right. Spirit, Rain, Little Creek and the rest of the movie characters are easier to control, I just mainly stick to their original personalities by expanding them.

Anyways, stay tuned for more!