Disclaimer: I do not own most of the characters in this story.
Alec and the Black had been walking for another long time, and the forest had been getting lighter. Alec thought he glimpsed a hole in the dense cluttering of trees up ahead. Daringly, he urged the Black into a slow canter.
Abruptly, the trees left off. Alec pulled up Black short and looked around.
Gently rolling, emerald green hills were sprawled out before him. A shimmering lake lay in the middle of them. A gentle breeze tugged playfully at Alec's hair, and tossed the Black's tangled mane to and fro. While he was searching for a path leading down into the pleasant valley, Alec spotted a fast moving band of...
"Horses?" Alec wondered aloud. He felt his muscles tighten, as did the Black's. He leaned forward, squinting in the bright glare of the sun, painfully making out around twenty-seven horses.
The Black sprang forward, apparently knowing the way down. Alec was thrown forward onto his stallion's neck, barely maintaining his balance.
"Whoa, boy! It's okay, easy!" Alec yelled- But his words were lost on the wind. He pleaded with the Black to slow, but it was useless. The Black's strides only lengthened, eating up the lengths like inches.
As they drew closer to the band of horses, the Black slowed. He checked his strides, settling down for a slow and easy gallop. Alec swung his body around the Black's neck to see clearly, hardly fifty yards away, the leader of the band of horses.
It was a mighty white horse, nearly as tall as the Black. He was muscular, but he had an ugly Roman-nose, and his legs were longer than average. They'll get in the way if he can't control them, Alec thought, but if he could... he'd be a whirlwind of speed! The white horse trotted forward, ears flicking back and forward.
The leader stopped ten feet away, his lopsided head raised up, his large nostrils inhaling deeply, his body trembling. Suddenly, the Black reared, screaming a challenging cry. The white horse reared and shrieked, not nearly as majestically as the Black's cry. The Black challenged his leadership! I've gotta get out of here! Alec realized frantically.
As soon as his hooves hit the dirt, Black charged. His small ears were pinned back flat to his head.The leader was charging moving ever closer. The two were about to clash... God, please help me... Alec prayed, clinging on for dear life.
The Black won with the first blow. His head snaked forward, snapping at his opponent's neck. The leader backed off, fear showing in his blue eyes, only to be pounced upon by the Black. The white horse shrieked, and fled. The Black watched triumphantly as the former leader galloped off into the distance.
The Black whistled softly to his band. His ears were pricked forward, and he pranced forward eagerly. A chestnut mare timidly walked up and touched noses with her newfound leader. When the rest of the horses saw her doing this, they slowly approached and surrounded the Black and Alec.
No horse had really seemed to pay attention to Alec. But they did when the Black craned his head around to nuzzle the boy's leg. They backed up in alarm, their wide eyes full of fear and confusion.
A young colt walked up. A deep black one. Warily, he stepped up next to Alec's leg. The colt sniffed it, then looked directly at Alec. Alec slowly extended his hand right above the colt's nose. The colt eyed it, then licked it approvingly. Alec smiled with relief.
The Black moved to get in front of the herd. His "subjects" moved and made a path. The Black joyfully broke into a gallop, followed by his herd. Where is the Black taking them? Alec wondered. He knows this territory no better than I. Oh well- it's not like I'm going anywhere. And with that concluding thought, Alec enjoyed the ride upon the Black, solely and completely, as he always did. He didn't care where they were headed- he was with his one true partner- that was all that mattered.