NOTE All of these characters are of my own creation. Except for Hidalgo. Hidalgo is not of my own creation.

The Stallion Comes Fourth

I became tired and settled between two tall trees for the night. I was then awakened the next morning by the sound of dry leaves and twigs crunching and crackling under the hoof of a strange lone stallion. He looked, walked, and smelled like those old stallions that they have been, stripped of their band by younger, stronger, braver and more athletic stallions. Like all stallions he did not leave his band without a proper fight. His mane was ratty and tangled, his shoulder raised from his body due to age and weight loss. He walked with stiff legs and dragged one behind. The smell of rotting flesh and blood was present and strong. But after the spurt of anger that my own father so willingly revealed to me. How was I to know if this stallion was friend or foe? Although he was across the river that lay several trees away from me I asked him who he was, and where he was from. He looked at me angrily, his eyes a soft red glow, but fading fast. He only gave one word: Ezhno, and continued his search for food. I did not totally understand what this word meant. (Pronounced Ex know)

I took a drink of water, and munched on grass for a wile before striking off for the day. I walked for what seemed like many hours. Stopping every so often for a drink and a bite to eat. It was getting to be late in the day when I reached the top of a hill and looked over to see what herds were where. Right below me was a band of mares they did not seem to have a lead stallion. I worked my way closer to the band. A black fellow stepped towards me. Head raised as high as the neck would allow ears pinned to the back of the head, and nostrils flaring. I stopped dead in my tracks, guessing this horse meant business! The black reared in a sign of aggression. Then it occurred to me that this was no overly protective mare but indeed a stallion, young and steadfast to defend his band.

I bowed to him and continued on my way over the hill in search of a weak stallion or one that seems most vulnerable, easy to attack and kill to take command over his band. I crossed streams, jumped ditches, avoided gofer holes, and swam rivers but there was no telling just how long I have been away from my home herd. I missed Dakota, and Luyu. I walked for a long while, when the sun was beginning to set, I stopped in a grove of trees devoured some grass and settled down for the night.

I awoke to the distant sound of hoof beats. I was not sure where this was coming from. I waited a while from the shelter of low tree limbs while a figure of a male horse drew nearer. His eyes were sunken to the back of his head with a glassy glow, his tail had been torn and only wisps of hair remained. His coat was thin, ribs were showing, he walked stiff, and gingerly through the brush, passed me. I could not believe he did not notice me. It was time. I reared in display of aggression, nostrils flaring, mouth open. He turned his head towards me as my hoof landed on his nose. He let out a loud cry of pain and despair. I struck repeatedly over his, thighs, hips; I kicked at his abdomen. I bit at his rump, tearing flesh and what muscle remained on his sad carcass. As I reared and struck his neck, he fell. Trying hard to regain his stability on those twigs for legs he had. I struck him, pinning him against a rock. I reared once more striking the middle of his face. He fell to the ground with a hard thump, never to get up.

I headed back to his band, which is now mine! FINALLY! I have my own band! I drove them away from the grazing spot that they just arrived at. Turning them on their heels, in confusion they ran in different directions. I began proudly circling them, snaking them together. I ran them from the open, to the shaded area where I had fought their last leader. I let them break, eat, drink were the foals can suckle from the mothers for food. I began checking my future mates. One mare in particular caught my attention. I went to her to get aquatinted. She pinned her ears back and flared her nostrils in aggression; I backed off and decided to let her settle for a while. After all I did just kill her father and if there was any way I had to gain her trust and respect I had to respect her.

I rose to the top of the nearest ridge and reared in defense and proudly neighing my claim of the world. As I descended down the hill to my band of mares I introduced my self again to the mare who had cast me away before.

"I know who you are" she stated.

"Well who am I?" I asked.

"You are the son of the great Hidalgo"

"Yeah so"

"Don't you know the greatness of your lineage?"

"Apparently not!" She grunted at me as she walked away.

I had to know. Here and now. How she knows my father. And how she was able to tell whom I was from.