Alec glanced at his watch tiredly. 11:54, he thought. He finished organizing the halters and went to find Henry.
"Henry?" Alec called. He heard a muffled reply, and Henry poked his head around the doorway of the tack room.
"I'm going up to go on back to the house. Don't stay up too long." Alec told him. Henry nodded and vanished back into the tack room.
Alec jogged slowly towards his house. There wasn't a single light on in his entire home. Mom and Dad probably fell asleep hours ago, Alec thought. He twisted the old brass doorknob and silently slipped through the back door.
He padded up the stairs soundlessly, shutting his door carefully behind him. Alec sighed with relief that he hadn't woken up his parents. He slipped into his night pants and dropped onto his bed heavily. Alec was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Alec awoke to a shrill whistle. He sat up and found himself in the Black's paddock. How did I end up here? He thought. He stood up saw the Black standing stone still in the distance. He noticed the sky was a hazy – pink.
What's going on? Wait a second... I must be dreaming! Alec realized. Well, might as well enjoy it. The boy whistled sharply. He could barely make out the Black thundering towards him.
The Black pulled up sharply in front of the boy. His shining coat showed no trace of sweat. He whistled softly to Alec, and nudged his chest playfully. Alec laughed and rubbed the stallion's proud, arched crest lovingly. He murmured softly, stroking and caressing the monstrous black horse fondly.
Alec looked at the Black's muscular features. His small, elagant head with the small, pointed ears. The proud, arched crest with the silky black mane falling over it... The boy sighed, content just to be with this great, black speed demon.
An idea popped into Alec's head. The boy placed his hand on his stallion's neck and led him over to a nearby stump. Grasping a chunk of mane, he carefully swung himself up onto the Black's back. Settling down, he clucked to the black stallion, and the horse sprang into an easy, slow gallop.
Alec pumped his stallion along with his hands. He was crouched over the Black's withers, moving to and fro with his horse's movements. Nothing could stop the stallion and his boy.
The experienced jockey nudged his horse after veering around a bend. He awaited for the dynamite surge of power, which he recieved immediately.
The Black leapt into a fast sprint. The two whipped around a turn, speedily approaching a gigantic log. Alec felt the Black gather himself, and he clutched onto the handful of mane.
The Black jumped mightily, and cleared the log with room to spare. Alec whooped joyfully, full of life and vibrant with energy. They ripped across a field, and raced down to a forest.
Alec slowed his horse as they approached the edge of the clustered trees. He studied the forest warily.
The gigantic trees loomed up before them. They were foreboding, and full of... memories. They were of a dark black color. Green vines were entangled in masses on the trees, which were huddled close together. It was difficult to make out, but Alec thought he caught a quick glimpse of a trail, winding its way through the pines.
The Black tossed his head impatiently. He pawed the ground in angst, waiting for the boy upon his back to give him a signal. Alec wavered on decision. Well, what the heck. It's only a dream. Alec tapped the Black's sides lightly, and his horse walked smoothly into the old forest.
They walked for what seemed like an eternity. Small beams of warm sunlight that had managed to make it through the extremely thick foliage provided barely adequate light for Alec to see by. He thought he saw the blurry form of an animal's body once or twice, but he wasn't positive.
The Black stopped suddenly, his small ears erect and his large nostrils flared and quivering. He snorted, and backed a few uncertain steps. Alec tensed, knowing that the Black's senses were ten times better than his own.
"What is it, boy?" Alec whispered. The stallion's muscles were tensed, and he was pawing the dirt nervously. Alec ducked his head down and peered through his horse's mane, not knowing what to expect.
A low, snarling growl erupted behind them. The Black screamed, and twisted around on his hind legs, rearing. Alec's jaw hung loose at the sight of a jaguar hunched low to the ground, ready to pounce.
The Black screamed again, bringing his powerful forelegs down to earth. Alec felt a tremendous impact, and as he felt a wave of shock course through his entire body, he heard a sickening crunch.
The Black had stopped pounding his hooves into the dirt. The growling had been cut short. Alec dared to peer around his stallion's tangled mane. He saw a grotesque sight before him.
The Black killed the jaguar! Alec came upon the answer immediately. The very thought made his head whirl with disgust. The jaguar's bloody, disfigured body lay strewn across the forest floor. The head was nowhere to be seen. Blood was splattered everywhere. Alec silently thanked the Lord.
"Come on, Black. Let's explore." The event had made Alec feel somewhat braver and more adventurous. He turned the Black's head away gently, and the two of them walked courageously and eagerly into the black gloom.