Chapter 22

A Deal with the Devil

"I gotta make a break from here, find a way to disappear." - You Can't Take Me by Bryan Adam (Alternate Version)


The wooden floors of the small hut creaked every time the spur booted cowboy strode back and forth. It was quite evident that the young man was cross and growing rather impatient by the passing minute. His older, stout, short companion stood leaning against a small table, his hands clutching the long rifle as though his entire life depended on that man-killing weapon. Releasing a sharp, irritated breath from his lungs, the wrangler ceased his pacing and stood directly in front of a young, Native American captive, who was sitting on a chair in the middle of a stuffy old cabin, encircled by the two captors as predators often surround their prey. The cold, grey eyes of the displeased, white man pierced the glare of the stubborn Lakota as they came face to face.

Johnny grabbed a nearby stained, used towel and tossed it over to the Native American. "Press it on the wound, it'll heal faster."

Grunting at the sore, aching sensation that vibrated through his shoulder, Little Creek was glad to have something with which he could stop the bleeding.

"Listen," Johnny restarted his talk. This time, attempting to come off more diplomatic and polite in his approach. "I know you doubt us, but I ain't here to harm you. None of that stuff, right Gus?" Johnny smirked at his friend, who nodded with a malicious expression on his face. "We actually want your help."

"My help?" Little Creek stared at the man in surprise, almost ready to burst out into a mocking laughter of disbelief.

"Well, of course you stupid Indian!" Grumpy Gus exclaimed, unable to control his hot temper. "How else are we gonna catch the Ghost Horse?"

"Ghost horse?" The Lakota repeated in shock. "W-what?" He knew that the pale-faced were strange creatures, but he never realized that they could be this deluded.

"Calm down, Gus." Chimed in Johnny. "No need to get all riled up." He calmly instructed his friend and then shifted his cool gaze back on the Native American. "You see, we heard about how you and the wild Mustang flew over a canyon a while ago. In fact, the legend has it, that there was a certain wild stallion that jumped to his death to avoid capture. The horse you rode is special and you may not realize it, but I'm sure he's the same phantom I heard many cowboys talk about over the course of seven years. Ever since hearing these stories, I've grown determined to catch that devious ghost of an animal, but without much success. Now, I keep wondering how the hell did you manage to trap that demon and even went as far as to ride him?"

"Wait, what? A...G-ghost? As in Spirit?" Little Creek mumbled questionably. "He is no ghost."

"That I know quite well." Agreed Johnny. "The only reason some folks around here called him a Ghost was because of his tricky suicidal stunt. Didn't realize horses could be that smart, but apparently some are." Chuckled the young man as went on to continue. "You can call him whatever the heck you want, but tell me this...how on earth did you trap that devil of a Mustang? What kind of sorcery did you use? Come now, tell me."

Little Creek shook his head. "You shot me, forcefully captured my mare and now you're expecting me to ignore all that and give you answers? How dumb do you honestly think I am?" Scoffed the young Lakota, rolling his eyes in confusion. These pale-faces were absolutely ridiculous.

"For a dirty Injun, your English ain't so bad." Johnny commented light-heartily, paying no mind to what Little Creek had said to him. "I'll ask you once again, how did you trap that stallion?"

"I'm not telling you shit!" Cried Little Creek in anger. "He earned his freedom and deserves to remain free!"

"Why, you little savage–" Gus hissed through his teeth, as he made a furious advance towards the Lakota boy, but was instantly stopped in his tracks by Johnny.

"Okay. So let me get this straight." The composed wrangler spoke up, nudging the crabby Gus to stand behind him and relax. "It's alright for YOU to capture and ride that stallion, but no one else is allowed to achieve that? I don't like your flawed logic. You think you're a horse whisperer or something?" He spat in disgust.

Little Creek took a deep inhale, before exhaling with a heavy sigh. "I only rode him after getting his permission. It was an unusual circumstance...we were running away from the cavalry and there wasn't another option for me. The stallion let me ride him because I had earned his trust, and because I didn't seek to exploit him. You pale-faces always believe that you're entitled to everything that belongs to Mother Earth. You don't respect nature and its inhabitants. You don't understand that we're all connected to this Earth. All you want is to selfishly take...take and take, until there's nothing left for Mother Earth to give us."

Johnny and Gus glared at him as though he was speaking gibberish. They were both very close to exploding into a hysterical laughter, yet miraculously managed to pull themselves together. Clearing his throat, Johnny proceeded to talk. "Um...that's quite a story you got there. Very touching." He ridiculed sarcastically, earning a chortle of agreement from his companion. "I don't need your voodoo nonsense speech. Simply tell me, how did you trap and tame that horse?"

"I didn't tame him. I respected him for what he was and set him free!" Firmly insisted the annoyed Little Creek, becoming more and more outraged at the two men. "His spirit would not be broken, even the Colonel realized that and let him go."

"Well, I ain't no Colonel. His job is to watch over the army, my trade is in horses. I was born to wrangle these animals, no matter how tough, stubborn or cunning."

"Some legends can never be tamed." Little Creek stated, his words had a sense of finality to it. He was done listening to the ignorant pale-faces.

"Let me be the judge of that." Winked Johnny, an evil smirk spreading across his countenance. "How did you trap him? What tools or methods did you use?" He kept on questioning him relentlessly.

Little Creek gaped at the man in puzzlement. Unbelievable! He wasn't about to give up, was he? "Are you deaf? I ain't telling you shit!"

"That's a mighty big mistake, you dirty dog." Gus groaned, clenching his rifle so hard that it almost drew blood from his knuckles.

"Gus is right." Johnny said, his voice dropping in disappointment as a mocking pout appeared on his lips. He confidently walked over to the window and paused. "You think I don't have a plan B? You better answer me while I'm asking you nicely or else–" As Johnny was threatening Little Creek with these harsh words, his grey eyes were concentrated on the round yard where he had confined his trusty gelding and Rain inside. "...oh no. What's that?" Johnny muttered to himself, as soon as he spotted that the young, painted mare was lying on the ground and looked to be in great affliction. "What's up with your horse? ...Is that b-blood?" He gasped.

Little Creek flew up from his seat and ran over to the window, forgetting all about his own troubles and wounded shoulder. "Rain! No! She's in foal! Please, she might be having complications I have to–" The frantic boy didn't have a chance to finish his sentence, for he was promptly seized by the furious Gus, and vigorously thrown back on the small chair. "Sit your ass down!" He warned, aiming the rifle right at him.

"She may die! I have to help her!" Begged Little Creek in utter desperation.

"Shut up!" Gus ordered, not caring at all about 'stupid', 'dumb' animals. "Who gives a crap about your stupid filly? I'll blow her brains out if necessary."

An idea formed into contemplative Johnny's head as he observed the scene unfold before him, his eyes suddenly brightened in triumph. "Well, well...isn't this a nice turn of events?" He smiled, striding back towards the distressed Lakota boy. "You know, you might be right. It does look like she's miscarrying. I've seen plenty of mares in those unfortunate conditions and her situation appears to be quite similar."

"No, please! I can heal her just let me–"

"You wanna help her?" Johnny smirked malevolently. "The good news is...there's still time. I will let you save her and her unborn foal, if you tell me how you managed to snare that Mustang."

Little Creek's heart was ripping into pieces, his stomach flipped upside down. What nightmare was this? He had to make a choice between Spirit and Rain? His head was beginning to spin from all the stress and anxiety.

"Hello? You're running out of time...hey, it might be too late. She may just die or lose that foal." Johnny pressured the frustrated young Lakota. "Are you telling me or not?"

Little Creek was silent for a second, feeling so powerless, so incredibly sick with worry and at complete mercy of this cruel man.

"Your mare and the foal are dying!" Shouted Johnny, his patience reaching its limit. "For the last time, how did you manipulate that stallion?!"

"With her! I used her! I used Rain!" Exclaimed Little Creek in a crazed frenzy, breaking down at last, his mind only thinking about his precious paint friend, who desperately needed him in that very second. "Please now, allow me to save her!" He sprang up from his seat once more, restless and agitated as ever.

"Ahhh...just a minute." Johnny blocked his path, grinning from head to toe at the sudden revelation. "I'm gonna ask you to explain it more in detail. You used your mare, you say? How?"

"Yes! Yes! I distracted him with my mare and over time, he grew fond of her and wasn't as desperate to escape. Now please, have a heart and let me get to her!" Implored the hopeless Little Creek.

"That is genius!" Johnny clapped his hands together, very entertained at the mere idea. "You used the oldest trick in the book. Enticement by an alluring female? Hmm, why didn't I think of that?" He turned to Gus, laughing with glee.

"Maybe you should've bought yourself a filly instead of that Arab stud?" The amused man responded.

"Will you let me help her now?!" Cried Little Creek, rushing towards the door.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go." As the Native American raced out of the cabin, the two white men followed after him with loaded guns. Johnny shifted his grey eyes on Gus, gleaming with victory. "Things just got a whole lot easier."


Cloud and his herd roamed peaceably in their large territories, enjoying the slow changes that were brought by the new season. Early Spring had arrived on the untamed lands once again with grey, quiet skies, and brown, quiet earth; leafless and sad and lonely enough out in the wilderness in the damp and silence, yet the band of mustangs felt the same old rapture of pure delight in the first breath of spring that they sensed every year. For most of the wild inhabitants of the western plains, the world was full of hope, beauty and love. Now if only the sweet sounds of rain could hurry up and nurture the rough country with its soft, warm showers, producing the fresh breath of life once more.

Cloud gently rested his head over Scarlet's withers, closing his eyes in tranquility, taking in the lovely scents of the early spring that swirled around him. The breeze was delightful, carrying the magic of the wild all across their lands. Cloud found himself drawn to the serenity and was determined to make the most of the charming season, before it got too hectic and busy with mares giving birth, with stallions courting fillies or fighting over them.

"I wish that rain would come sooner so that we could have sweet, new grass to graze." Whinnied Scarlet's almost two year old colt, Lucky. "I'm so bored of eating this dirt."

"I know, darling, but we have to be patient." The caring mother reminded him with a gentle nicker. "Do not complain and be grateful for what you have."

"Perhaps we could do a rain dance?" Jested Cloud, making the downcast colt laugh. "You aren't the only one who's hoping for spring showers, kiddo."

"Will the rain dance work though?" Doubtfully questioned Sky, Cloud's son from Wildflower.

"We could always try?" Lucky suggested, eagerly turning to his twin sister. At this point, he was willing to do anything for some fresh greenery.

Cloud shook his head in amusement. "Hah! That's the -"

"Spirit?!" Startled Wildflower, the lead mare of Cloud's band neighed, upon the unexpected arrival of the young stallion of the Cimarron. He stormed towards the restful group with so much turmoil and excitation that the horses leaped away from him in alarm.

"Cloud!" Burst Spirit, looking all flustered, distraught and utterly overwhelmed with frenzy. "I need you!" He panted, barely able to catch his breath. He had galloped full speed from his territory to Cloud's in matter of thirty minutes. "...Last Spring!...Rain...same day!..In the river...swimming and then...moonlight...two foals!...I can't breathe...need oxygen!" He gasped, exclaiming confusing fragments frantically, as the sweat he had worked up continued to drip from him. "Ouch...cramp...cramp!"

"Whoa, whoa...slow down." Cloud said, quite stumped at Spirit's aggravated state. "Calm yourself. I can't understand a thing you're saying."

"I think he's trying to tell us that rain's coming!" Happily cried out Lucky. "Hurrah!" He bucked joyfully.

"Yay! Look, the sky has darkened!" His twin, Charm shouted with equal glee.

"Could it be?" Wondered Scarlet, staring curiously at Wildflower.

"Hmm, yes...the weather is changing." Mused the lead mare, her eyes looking up at the gloomy sky.

"Rain!" The herd neighed in jubilation, excited at the prospect of the beautiful changes and all of them reared up simultaneously. "How wonderful!" They cheered, neighing in celebration.

"What? No, you idiots! He is clearly talking about his Rain and not real rain. Am I right, Spirit?" The very irritated Cloud corrected, staring at the breathless young stallion.

"Yes! I need your experience and expertise now more than ever!" Pleaded the desperate Spirit, attempting to regulate his racing heart and breathing. "I've been so stupid... blind!...I can't... I just can't...believe...this!..."

"What happened?" Cloud neared him, his gaze glued on the son of Esperanza. "Do you want to get a drink first and compose yourself?"

Spirit nodded without saying anything and Cloud quickly led him down a small creek that ran alongside his territory. The young stallion dropped his head and slurped the water, thankful to finally satisfy his extreme thirst. He had been so carried away with his rushing thoughts and emotions that did not even realize just how dry his mouth had become. Slowly his pounding heart eased up, he was no longer sweating and he had returned to his collected state.

"Now that you've relaxed, explain to me once more what befall on your head this time." Cloud commenced in a fatherly fashion, when he noticed that Spirit appeared a lot calmer.

"How many foals are you expecting this spring and summer?" The young stallion blurted right away.

"Um..." Cloud was taken aback at this unforeseeable interrogation. "five...why?" He knitted his brows, looking lost and confused.

"And when were they begotten?"

"Aahh...about ten or nine months ago. Why are you asking me this?"

Spirit's eyes traveled towards the pregnant mares in Cloud's band and then he stared down at his hooves, contemplating deeply about something. "After you...well, you know?...did they all conceive?" He looked at Cloud again, sounding somewhat uncomfortable and disoriented.

"Of course! I know my job." Cloud answered, offended that Spirit would even imply such a thing. "I mean, there are instances where you can't predict the outcome, but if you know what you're doing and when you're doing it, it's mostly accurate. But again, why are you asking me all these weird questions? Are you alright?"

"No, not really." Spirit mumbled, looking considerably pale. "I think I'm gonna pass out."

"Seriously, Spirit, what's going on? You're worrying me." Cloud said, studying the sickly looking horse in front of him with fear in his eyes.

After what seemed like hours of dreadful silence, Spirit finally spoke.

"I think Rain's in foal."

"Rain...as in the filly that left you almost a year ago?"

"Yeah, who else?" Snapped Spirit. "Do you know any other Rains?"

"And why exactly are you convinced that she's carrying your foal? What makes you think that?" Questioned Cloud, disbelief written all over his skeptical face.

"Reproduction."

"Oh, right." Cloud coughed awkwardly, clearing his throat. "Are you sure though? How long has it been since then? Why is it that you just recently considered the possibility of it?"

Spirit sighed. "I'm not sure about anything, okay? That's why I came to you, hoping that due to your experience, at least you'd be able to give me some kind of an answer."

"How can I give you an answer? I wasn't the one frolicking." The older stallion joked, annoying the already frustrated Spirit even more.

"I know that." Spirit snorted angrily. "Look, I really don't have time to mess around. Either you help me or not...I can figure this out without you, but it might take me longer."

"Okay, I'm sorry. You're right." Cloud nodded in understanding. "This isn't funny. Tell me, did this happen before she left you or after, when you went to get her back?"

"Before...obviously."

"So late spring and not summer. See, there's your answer right there. If it happened before, then Rain would've told you about her pregnancy when you visited her."

"What if she didn't know either? Perhaps, I should be asking these questions to mares?" Wondered Spirit in desperation, glancing over his shoulder at the herd members that stood in the distance.

"No, no. You're with the right horse. We can figure this out." Cut in Cloud, eager to solve the puzzle himself. "She might've not known at that time, but like I said, there's no guarantee to anything. You have to have some bases to what you're claiming."

"It was springtime, we were trying to conceive." Spirit explained, his voice quivering in anger. Why was Cloud making everything even more difficult? "Isn't that enough for an evidence?"

"Okay, but how many times did that happen in the spring though?"

"Just once."

"Then you're safe." Cloud concluded, very pleased with his easy prognosis.

"Then how come Misty's pregnant?"

"Oh...that happened just once too?" Cloud asked hesitantly.

"Why on earth would I want to be with that thing more than once?"

"I don't know! Why would you even want to touch that shrew at all? I'm confused." Cloud retorted as he paused for a moment, trying to make sense of the complicated situation. "You know Spirit, some mares catch it and some don't. It's really a way of nature."

Spirit rolled his eyes. He wasn't getting anywhere with this...in fact, his anxiety was doubling, thanks to Cloud's foolish mutterings.

"I cannot give you a definite answer because I wasn't there. If anyone should have some understanding it's you and Rain. In truth, there's absolutely no way of knowing it for certain. Unless, maybe you tell me in detail about both encounters with Misty and with Rain, and I'll be able to assess it based on what I heard?"

"Okay, that's disturbing." Spirit curled up his lip in abhorrence.

"Well, that's the way it is. I cannot help you if I don't know the details."

"You want a detail?" Spirit twitched his jaw in vexation, slowly losing his cool all over again. "Okay. Here's the only one I'll give you: Both of the encounters happened on the same fucking day!" He cried furiously.

"OH!" Cloud's eyes widened. "You should've started it with that."

"Another thing, Misty wasn't supposed to get pregnant."

"...while Rain was...hmm and if Misty did, why wouldn't Rain? I see, what you're saying." Cloud analyzed thoughtfully. "Yeah, well...that kinda seals the deal. Unless of course, there was something physically wrong with Rain."

"There's nothing wrong with Rain."

"Well, then...I'm afraid, there's only one thing that's left to say: Congratulations! Begetting two foals in one day? Even I couldn't do that." Cloud grinned, beaming with pride, as he proceeded to do a celebratory posturing.

That was the moment Spirit understood...he had wasted all his precious time for pointless investigation. He had gained absolutely nothing from this. Why did he even bother coming to Cloud when he could've chosen a wiser path? "I have to go." He swung promptly, and broke into a canter.

"Wait, where are you headed?" The light palomino stallion swiftly caught up to him, matching his stride.

"Where do you think? I can't bear this uncertainty! I will discover the truth from the source itself."

"You're going to find Rain?" Gasped the stunned Cloud. "Spirit, think about this for a moment. What if you go to her and she isn't in foal? Or maybe she is but from someone else? Do you have any idea how humiliating that will be for you? You'll feel like a complete idiot!"

"I already feel like an idiot for not realizing this sooner!" Spirit answered hurriedly, transitioning his canter into a rapid gallop. "Please, watch out for my band while I'm gone." He told Cloud and then faded from view.

"I will!" The stallion promised, too tired to argue with the strong-willed son of Strider. Snorting and shaking his head as he watched Spirit merge into the rugged landscape, Cloud trotted back to his herd, announcing loudly. "Alright everyone, get ready! We're heading out to the Cimarron valleys. Wildflower, you lead and I'll be in the back."

"Is everything alright with Spirit?" Scarlet inquired softly, as the horses around her moved about restlessly.

"Yeah...he sired not one but two foals, I think." Cloud answered, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "Son, remember..." He stared at his naive colt, warning him very meaningfully. "Stay away from domesticated fillies or you'll end up in a whirlwind just like Spirit."


Not even a minute had gone by since Bolder and Great Conquest's mutual agreement to get the assistance of the Lakota people, when the proud war stallion instantly turned on his heel, aborting the mission.

"On second thought, scratch that." He decided, trotting up to the departing Nova and Bolder. "I'm coming with you."

"What are you doing? I thought we agreed." The blood-bay stallion mumbled, blowing out sharp air from his nostrils. "You go to the village and I'll go find Rain and her human."

"Yeah, I don't think so." Great Conquest expressed firmly, his eyes coldly glaring at the perplexed horse before him. "I know nothing about you. I won't take such a risk as to trust some odd loner with Rain and Little Creek."

"Are you serious right now?" Declared the irked Nova.

"No one's talking to you, missy!" The war stallion snapped at her, pinning his ears in hostility. He didn't know why, but this filly was getting on his last nerves. And it didn't help that he found her really attractive.

"We don't have time for this." Bolder began calmly, trying to keep the tenseness as minimal as possible. "Why can't we put our personal feelings aside and focus on what's important?"

"I am focusing on what's important." Insisted Great Conquest. "I refuse to abandon Rain and Little Creek to bunch of strangers. Besides, last time Rain spoke of you, she was pretty damn pissed. So no, I'm coming and I'll rescue them myself." He snorted in resolution.

"You know Bolder," Nova nickered softly. "Perhaps he is right? I think it's a lot better to do this on our own without two-legged intervention. Those creatures cannot be trusted." She stated the last sentence rather nervously, a quick flashback of being chased and almost hunted by the humans made her entire body shake.

"You do have a point." Bolder nodded, reflecting on the matter once again.

"What? No, that's not the reason why I chose to remain here." Great Conquest spoke indignantly. "I'm here not because I don't trust my humans, I'm here because I don't trust you." He emphasized, glaring mistrustfully at Bolder.

"Fine, whatever. I'm sure we can handle this without the two-leggeds." Quickly said Bolder, desperate to end the futile arguments and continue searching for Rain. "Can we go now?"

"Yes, but remember, I'm keeping my eye on you." Great Conquest snorted, swishing his tail with an aggressive warning. Bolder was confused, he could not understand why the war stallion's demeanour had changed in regards to him. What did he do wrong? How could he have known that Great Conquest, unaware that Rain had long forgiven Bolder, still viewed him as a stallion that had hurt his good friend.

"I never wish to speak of those disgraceful horses." Recalled Great Conquest Rain's outraged exclamation about both Bolder and Spirit. And while he decided not to make any hasty assumptions about a stallion like Spirit, he did not hold back from passing judgements on the blood-bay horse, who had been irritating him since the first day Rain brought him in the Lakota settlement.

As the unlikely trio started to follow the obscure tracks, Bolder paved the way, certain that he knew where the two-leggeds had taken Rain and her human friend. Great Conquest silently trailed after him with Nova by his side, each one of them lost in deep thought. Bolder walked down, quietly, and keeping hidden in trees, but he strode with noble bearing, as befitted a young stallion who was beautiful, wild and clever. When the three horses reached the fringe of the trees, Bolder urged Nova and Great Conquest to not go into the clear country, but rather wandered round the edge of it, looking for any signs and listening. Then suddenly, as though out of nowhere, Bolder spotted Rain's hoofmark. The blood-bay stopped dead. He had not ever thought that the humans had come this way, after all, the location that he and Spirit had scouted out weeks ago lay in an opposite direction. Why was it that all the spoors and marks where indicating them to go up North?

"I was wrong." Spoke up Bolder, finally registering that the two-legged place he had snuck upon, had nothing to do with the current circumstances. "She isn't where Onyx and his band was taken. It's a completely different route."

"Meaning?" Great Conquest raised his brows questionably.

"Meaning that Nova was right. We have to go up North." Bolder responded, as Great Conquest eyed the filly with an impressed look. "I'm no longer sure whether these men are the same that chased Spirit and I. They could be a whole new threat." Bolder said anxiously, growing increasingly distressed.

"It's alright, we've got this." Great Conquest encouraged, slightly taken aback at the blood-bay's troubled state.

It took very little seeking for them to find a full set of hoofmarks – another and another – and thus learn the way the two-leggeds had gone. Scent still hung. It was not very long since Rain and her captors had headed upwards for the higher mountains. Night would come before the three horses would reach their destination, and though Bolder would be able to follow scent, tracking by night would not be so easy. Thus, the two stallions and one young mare kept going until dark, and then started off as moonlight sent cold fingers of light into the forest.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you that staring is impolite?" Great Conquest broke the cracking silence, smirking at Nova with an entertained expression. "Not to mention, creepy?" He added in a whisper, causing the filly to look away, utterly embarrassed. She silently cursed her own foolish self under her breath. How could she be so careless as to become so engrossed in observing his strange looking symbols that were painted on his body, and didn't even realize that she got caught?

"Erm...sorry, I was just...uh–"

"Wondering about my markings?" Great Conquest questioned knowingly, unable stop himself from grinning. "You know, you could just ask, right?"

"I've never seen anything like that." Admitted Nova with a timid gaze. "Why do humans decorate you in such a way?"

"It's a great honour. The warriors from our village paint their faces when going to battle and their horses are also adorned with similar symbols." Explained the grey stallion, part of him pleasantly surprised that a wild filly, especially one so beautiful as she, would care about the two-legged culture he belonged to. "My owner believes that these markings are for protection and a blessing from the Great Spirit."

"Great Spirit?"

"The Creator of the world."

"Oh..." Nova's soft eyes fell, her silver forelock covered half of her lovely face.

"So...what's the deal with you two?" Great Conquest said teasingly, gesturing towards the silent Bolder that was traveling in the front, paying no heed to what the two in the back were discussing. "Are you mates?"

"What? No!" Nova said dismissively, shocked at the mere idea. "We're just friends."

"Ah! I see," Great Conquest smirked, his eyes brightened with a mischievous gleam. "I too have many friends...and later end up in foal."

The outraged, scandalized gasp from Nova made the war stallion burst into a laughter. "Take it easy, I'm simply joking. Isn't that how you wild horses live, anyways?"

"Not everyone." Snorted Nova in disapproval. "And if you make a joke and no one laughs except you...hint: your joke isn't funny."

Great Conquest couldn't help but smile at the feisty filly in front of him. He never realized that wild, free roaming horses, without human care, could be so exquisite. Her coat was chocolatey dark, and her mane shone like silver with dark strands of hair running in the middle, the moon's glow caught it, making her appear as though she herself, was one of the gorgeous stars in the sky.

"Stop your blithering, you two!" Bolder hissed, swinging back to them in urgency. "We made it. Look!" He tossed his head towards the smoke that was coming out from a small hut's chimney.

"Is Rain there?" Great Conquest jumped forward.

"I can't see just yet, but for goodness sakes, hide in the bushes. Now!" Bolder instructed both Great Conquest and Nova sternly, and shoved them in the trees. "Stay quiet."

"Are you sure this is the place?" Argued back Great Conquest, hating how rudely the blood-bay stallion had pushed him. "What if you made a mistake again?"

"This is where the tracks led me. Now, I realize staying silent isn't something war horses like to do, but you don't have a choice. So please, shut it." Hurriedly ordered Bolder, his eyes scanning the small cabin ahead. There were two round yards, smaller than the ones he and Spirit had seen and in each one of them two horses were staying. Gasping in recognition, Bolder identified Rain trapped in a paddock, next to her stood a brown horse and...wait, was that her human in there too? And why was Rain lying down? Was she giving birth? Bolder's head started to whirl with racing, apprehensive thoughts. Two other men, whom Bolder assumed were the captors, seemed to be standing nearby the pen as well. What was happening?

"That's Rain!" Exclaimed Great Conquest, becoming jumpier and jumpier by the second.

"Shh...Be silent or they'll hear us." Nova entreated with a whispering nicker.

Before Great Conquest could make a reply, it was Bolder that spoke up. "She needs to know that the help has come."


Having her dear Little Creek by her side was somewhat heartening for the suffering mare, but the physical and emotional pain she was experiencing in that moment, was far too great to endure. She whinnied, straining her voice, feeling incredibly weak to support herself and stand up somehow. And so, there she helplessly lay as Little Creek remained beside her, gently stroking her stomach, whispering sweet words of comfort.

"What's up with her?" Johnny asked, sounding bored as he lit his cigarette. "Is she giving birth or miscarrying?"

"I don't know." Little Creek answered mournfully. "I don't have my medicine bag to heal her. I'm very worried."

"Well, that's no good." The cowboy said, suddenly becoming rather concerned. "I thought you had this under control."

"She's bleeding and I don't know why." Little Creek fretted fearfully, his hands trembling from stress. "We can't lose the foal..."

Despite all the supportive, caring words, Rain still sensed that her friend was quite disturbed about her current condition, and that made her even more anguished. She couldn't bear the thought of losing her baby...not after everything she went through to bring her darling foal to the world. Frankly, she would rather die than see her offspring meet that terrible fate. No! No! She sobbed silently, tears filling up her blue eyes. She was growing so incredibly frail, exhausted and incapacitated. No matter how hard she tried to remain strong, she grew weaker and weaker... it was too hard to be strong. She couldn't hold her own anymore. The torturing ache in her entire body was severe and more painful than anything she had ever experienced before, including the time she got shot. Regardless of the agonized mare's horrible state, her affliction doubled every time she thought of her unborn foal.

"We can help her still..." Stoically spoke Johnny. "But first, tell me, is she carrying that wild stallion's foal?"

"What difference does it make?"

"It makes plenty of difference to me. Spit it out!"

"Y-yes, I think she is." Confessed Little Creek quietly.

Johnny looked as though he had just heard that his late grandparents had left him millions of dollars for inheritance. "So here's what's gonna happen." He began with a triumphant smirk. "You're gonna help me catch the sire and I will help you deliver his foal. Deal?"

"Deliver the foal? It's early!" Exclaimed the panicked Little Creek. "It's her first time, she shouldn't be giving birth now. If anything, the foal should arrive late."

"Ahh...so she is a maiden. Well, either way, you don't have a choice. The mare will miscarry if we don't interfere." Johnny explained rapidly, taking off his jacket and throwing away the cigarette from his hand. "Do we have a deal or not? Will you help me trap the Mustang if I help you save his foal?"

Little Creek felt paralyzed. Why was he forced to make such a terrible choice? He stared at his struggling, tormented mare in fear and then he stared up at the night's sky. He couldn't waste another moment when it came to Rain and the unborn foal, but he could delay the ensnarement of Spirit...after all, he wasn't even there to being with. What did he have to lose? It wasn't as though Spirit was being captured in that very second. The Lakota boy could win some time by playing along with these men, and then he'd have to find a way to break out of this damned place once and for all.

"Fine. We have a deal." Supposedly gave in Little Creek. "I'll help you trap the Mustang."

"No, Johnny, you don't need his help at all." Gus interfered out of nowhere, and to Little Creek's utter dismay. As if he had read the Native American's thoughts. "If you keep the mare, she'll bait the stallion. I mean, the Injun's trick is this mare, isn't it? Why do you need him at all? We only need his mare."

Looks like the grumpy old man wasn't as useless as Johnny originally believed.

"Now you're thinking." Nodded the cowboy. "As long as I have her, we'll always have an advantage."

Little Creek froze into an icicle, his heart stopped beating for a second as he comprehended that he was no longer an asset for the two villainous men. His life seemed to flash before him...the death was near. Dreadingly he realized that as soon as he told them about Rain's influence over Spirit, he had pretty much given away his own life. He was solely an obstacle in their way now. Nothing else. Little Creek's ultimate fear came true, when Johnny reached out and aimed the pistol right at him once again. "It was nice knowing you."

Rain let out a muffled squeal of utmost anguish, but for the life of her she couldn't stand up to save her human. She felt as though she was having an outer-body experience, where she could see the evil deeds happening around her and yet, was powerless to stop it...any of it. She was dying...her unborn foal was dying also, and now Little Creek was about to be murdered before her very own eyes. This endless nightmare couldn't get any worse!

"This is what happens when you make a deal with the devil." Little Creek told himself, bracing and shutting his eyes tight, ready to meet his end.

As though brought by the sudden stir of the wind, powerful cry of a stallion, filled with nothing but courage and bravery, echoed loudly and clearly across the land, making the two men instantly forget what they were doing and listen. Johnny's dog started barking hysterically, while Diablo, who had been confined in his yard, neighed an answering call, threatening the intruder to stay away.

"It's him!" Johnny exclaimed, lowering his pistol and forgetting about his former undertaking. He was suddenly overwhelmed with a thrilling sensation in his veins, as he squinted his eyes to make out a silhouette of the wild stallion.

"The Ghost?" The stupefied Gus muttered, his mouth almost hung open, eyes were wild with strange fear. "H-how did he...find us so soon?" His voice shook, he was absolutely petrified.

Even Little Creek became confused and stunned with shock. He stumbled back to his paint mare, feeling extremely dazed. Scratching his head in unsureness, he blinked, his gaze focusing on the surroundings. "Spirit?" How did he get there so soon and at such a perfect time? Was he truly some kind of an otherworldly horse that possessed magic?

Everything became dead quiet once more, and while the humans were debating whether the fabled Ghost had showed up or not, the fatigued, hopeless Rain had recognized the cry of the invisible stallion. Unlike the humans, she knew exactly who had arrived. It wasn't Spirit, it was Bolder! She lifted her head up feebly and straining her low voice, nickered to him.

That stallion had been her guardian angel since the day she joined the wild herd of Cimarron. He was always there when she needed him the most. Always silently watching out for her...how devoted he was to her. So perfect...so loyal, brave, true and most importantly, he loved her so much. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her and he was proving it with his every action. How miraculously he had come to her rescue even when all hope had been lost. He was the light of the moon that shone in her dark world, awakening her from the ghastly nightmare. Right then and there, Rain resolutely made up her mind.

"Oh Bolder...if you redeem us from this hell, I will be yours forever."