Finding Yourself

Disclaimer: No I do not own Hidalgo!

Chapter Six: The Race Begins

Kaitlin woke early the next morning in preparation for the race. She would have a long journey ahead of her and no chance to make mistakes. Yeah it would be nice to have her father alongside her without really being there, but she'd still have to be careful. She couldn't risk giving her true identity away. It was bad enough that she was pretending to be a white man but if the other riders found out that she was a woman, things would really go downhill and fast.

She quickly gathered all of her belongings and saddled Zodiac. Zodiac didn't seem too impressed with Arabia. As a matter of fact, Zodiac acted like he really wanted to just go home. And Kaitlin couldn't blame him. She had only been in Arabia for a little while but already she wanted to go home. She missed her life, something that she never thought would happen. But it was too late to back out now.

Frank watched his daughter closely from his tent. Hidalgo too was staring in the same direction as Frank. Hidalgo finally snorted and lost interest and turned back towards some food. Frank turned his head to study his horse. Hidalgo avoided his eye.

"You want to leave already, little brother?" Frank asked.

Hidalgo snorted.

"Hey! I didn't get you into this, you got me into it!" protested Frank as Hidalgo nudged him.

Frank laughed slightly as he patted his horse and finished packing. The race would begin soon and he needed to be ready to leave. He couldn't afford to lose sight of his daughter during the race or at any point. God only knew what kind of trouble that Kaitlin could get herself in.

Finally everyone gathered at the starting line. Hundreds of the desert's best riders were lined up, horses pulling at the bit, raring to go. Everyone was anxious for the race to begin. Frank and Hidalgo along with Kaitlin and Zodiac were no exception. As a matter of fact, Zodiac and Kaitlin seemed more excited about the beginning of the race than most. Hidalgo seemed ready to run back to the ship. Apparently, horses don't forget anything and Hidalgo had not forgotten about the Ocean of Fire and wasn't happy to be back. And Frank didn't seem particularly thrilled either.

But the gun was fired and the riders took off, racing across the desert into the last corner of Arabia. Frank and Kaitlin trailed the pack. Once the crowd was out of sight, the riders slowed down.

"Some things never change, do they, little brother?" Frank asked Hidalgo with a chuckle as he remembered something about the Ocean of Fire.

Kaitlin was amazed at everything. But she still wasn't sure that she wanted to be in Arabia anymore. She didn't even remember why she had come there in the first place and she wasn't sure what she wanted. She knew that she was confused about her life but would the Ocean of Fire tell her what she wanted—no needed to know? Or would she be just as confused at the end of it all as she was now?

Would she be able to find herself or was that just a silly thought that she had inside her head?

The Ocean of Fire had only barely begun but the problems were already beginning to unfold for Kaitlin and Frank as they headed farther and farther into the last corner of Arabia…

Author's Notes:

I'm very sorry that it has taken me so long to update. School caught up to me and I had major writer's block on this story. But finally the ideas are coming back. I know I was updating my other story and not this one. I really meant to update this one but I couldn't get anything written. I'll try to update at least once a week from now on seeing as so many people are interested. And I promise that if I can, I will update. Next update (at the latest): Friday, October 29th.

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