Finding Yourself

Disclaimer: I do not own the story of Hidalgo. I only own the creation of characters that you do not recognize.

Chapter Thirteen: Traps!

A few days after the locusts, Frank and Kaitlin came across two other horses and riders. The Lady Anne's mare, Cameria, along with her rider and the Sheikh's stallion, Al-Hattal and his rider. They were ahead of them so Frank and Kaitlin decided to follow them, hoping that they would be able to get to the end by following the Arabs.

The Lady Anne's rider dropped back, which allowed Kaitlin, and later Frank, pass. Kaitlin was surprised but quickly cleared her mind of it and focused instead on finishing the race. But she didn't get much of a chance because raiders lay hidden in the rocks and on signal from the Lady Anne's rider, they fired shots near the hooves of Zodiac, Al-Hattal, and Hidalgo. Then raiders on horseback began to chase them.

Kaitlin quickly took off after Al-Hattal and his rider, trying to keep up. But she didn't get much of a chance to keep up and neither did Frank. And not too far along, Kaitlin and Zodiac fell into a trap set up the Lady Anne and her rider. Literally.

The sand held hidden pits that Kaitlin and Zodiac tumbled into during the mad dash from the raiders and after Al-Hattal. The raiders were trying to trap the Sheikh's horse but had also set traps for Kaitlin. Frank was a ways behind Kaitlin and saw Zodiac fall and heard Kaitlin's scream. He quickly rode up to them and tossed down his lasso to Kaitlin.

"Hurry and I can get you out," whispered Frank to Kaitlin who was shaken by the fall. "Put it on the saddle horn! Hurry!"

Kaitlin quickly took the lasso and put it on Zodiac's saddle horn as Frank tightened it. Zodiac luckily hadn't been hurt and neither had Kaitlin. But they did need the help in getting out of the trap before the raiders returned.

Frank backed Hidalgo, which helped Zodiac stay up and climb out, Kaitlin at his side. Just as Frank got them out of the trap, a group of raiders came riding up. Kaitlin quickly grabbed some poles out of the trap and together, her and Frank tossed them at the raiders, causing them to die. But then the sound of a gunshot made them both freeze. The shot had only been at Kaitlin's feet, but they both still froze and watched as a raider dismounted and walked over towards them, sword out.

Kaitlin looked at Frank who nodded and she ran quickly to the pit and grabbed two more poles, one for each of them. She then raced back and tossed one to Frank who hopped off Hidalgo. Frank went towards the man first, Kaitlin staying back just a bit.

Frank aimed the pole towards the man who was the leader's second in command and the sword slashing towards him. Frank blocked it with the pole and the pole broke but still Frank continued to use the pole as a block until it finally fell out of his hands. Then he jumped back and ducked out of the way of the blows.

Frank threw his dagger at the man, but it missed, hitting the ground behind the man, who growled and rushed towards Frank. Kaitlin quickly ran to pick up the fallen dagger and then raced back to where the two were fighting. Frank's Arab disguise was greatly hindering him but he couldn't take it off. He had no choice but to keep fighting in it.

Then Frank flipped the man over him and the sword was dropped. Both fell to the ground and hopped back onto their feet as fast as they could. Or at least the Arab did. Frank had hit his head and wasn't moving. Kaitlin quickly rushed in to take his place.

The Arab man laughed at first until Kaitlin tossed the pole at him. He reached towards his sword and then realized something. His sword was sinking into the sand, and it was reveled that he was standing on a trap. He froze, looking at his sword and then looking at her.

Kaitlin whistled and both Zodiac and Hidalgo trotted to her side. She took the lasso from Zodiac's saddle and then threw it on a reveled lever on the sand trap. She tightened the noose, ready to pull it.

"Nobody hurts my family," she said as she pulled the rope and the trap opened and the Arab man fell into it.

She then walked closer and saw the man's body impaled on the poles as she removed the lasso. Then she heard a groan and rushed towards Frank, who was trying to sit up. She dropped the lasso as she knelt down and helped Frank sit up.

"That hurt," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "What happened?"

"You fell and hit your head."

"What happened to the Arab?"

"He took a little fall on his own," replied Kaitlin, jerking her head in the direction of the trap that had killed the Arab.

"So he's dead?"

"Yes."

"Good," said Frank, standing up with Kaitlin's help.

"Here's your dagger," she said handing the weapon to him.

"Thanks," he said, putting it away as Kaitlin stuck his lasso back on Hidalgo's saddle. She then held the reins and helped him into the saddle.

"No problem."

Zodiac came over to Kaitlin and she hopped into the saddle. Then together, the weary pair continued moving on. They were nearing the end, this they knew. And it couldn't come quick enough for the both of them. They rode on and on as the heat worsened and both felt fatigued. Until, finally, Frank and Hidalgo collapsed on the ground. Hidalgo squealed as he went down, legs flailing until he stopped moving.

Kaitlin gasped, horrified. Then she dismounted and ran towards the fallen pair.

"Dad! Dad! Wake up! Dad, wake up! Dad!" cried Kaitlin, shaking her father but she got no reply.

"This is all my fault!" cried Kaitlin, turning towards Zodiac. "All my fault! If it wasn't for me, none of us would have even been here!"

Zodiac looked at Kaitlin as she began to sob.

Author's Notes:

Today was a double post! Yay! The next chapter will be about the end of the race and then the final chapter will be concerning the aftermath.