A/N: This chappie is dedicated (once again) to HorseSpirit! May her stories be blessed with BILLIONS of reviews! Unlike mine, but oh well!
SpitFire angrily lashed out his fore legs to a surprised Spark. Spark drew back in awe at SpitFire's courage. But then a look of defiance grew into his unforgiving eyes. He pierced the air with a war call and charged forward. But SpitFire, who had grown wiser by being a bachelor rather than a leader, simply stepped aside and Spark crashed into the canyon wall behind him. SpitFire heard Silk chuckle and back as the furious Spark glared at her. SpitFire felt anger surge; no one looked at her like that, NO ONE! He charged towards Spark, who was still glaring at Silk and paid no heed to the thundering of SpitFire as he raged fatally close. SpitFire flailed his hooves before Spark's head and crashed them down. Spark had grown weak and hadn't the patience to gain skills; he fell easily, failing his self-confidence. SpitFire hovered over the trembling Spark's body. Spark looked up, pathetic as a foal who had just been born and was gaping at a cougar. SpitFire absorbed the fear victoriously. Spark's sight filled him with happiness, triumph! He felt like racing to the top of the world just for the pure fun of it. He saw Silk's look. She almost looked scared. SpitFire let go of the moment by ending it. He killed his long time enemy of childhood. He saw the stallion's body quiver in a last failed attempt to live. That was what changed him forever. He was no longer the shy, resistant colt of his childhood. He grew up. He turned into a true stallion, with a true mare at his side.
SpitFire turned and gazed proudly at what he had gained. A whole herd, for him. There were only mares in the herd. SpitFire inspected each of the mares to find all but two were on foal. He sadly thought ahead to the future. He would have to slay any colts that were born. To avoid the threat of another Spark. He knew if he kept the fillies he could mate with them, as their father was not he. He could also keep them to trade with stallions for other mares. Yes, he knew a stallion, Blue Raven, who was a lone stallion who traveled the lands only by breeding stallion's mares for them so that the offspring, if a filly, could be kept in the herd for breeding purposes. He also knew that Blue Raven would normally take unwanted colts off a leader's hands and escort them to the lone mares, which enjoyed raising a colt, as stallions tried to avoid the group of lone mares who were supposedly bad for breeding. SpitFire wondered how they felt, being rejected by all only because of looks or parents.
The two mares who were not in foal backed away from SpitFire, weary of the new leader. SpitFire did his best to sound kindly, "Don't worry, I'm not like him. I'll treat you better." With that the two mares seemed to be comforted. They trotted off with the four mares that were in foal. Silk then made her way to SpitFire. She tossed her mane and looked admiringly into his eyes. "I've always wanted you to do that, back there with Spark. Now you have. You should've seen yourself. You looked so proud and happy. For once you looked satisfied." SpitFire shivered under his skin at the warmth of the compliment. His true love really did love him back. He had always dreamed she would reject him in the end, and leave for some snobby stallion who supposedly would sweep her off her hooves. Then he realized he was the stallion who swept her off her hooves. Silk took another step closer to him. "You know Spit; I'm still in heat…" She didn't need to continue. SpitFire got the message. He winked and the two trotted off somewhere private.
The next day SpitFire's first day of leadership began. First things first, get off the repulsive land of his enemy. He wanted his own herd, his own love, and his own land somewhere better than this. He walked forward so that all seven mares, including Silk, were before him. He began, "I am the new leader of…" He glanced down. What was this herd named? He decided to make a name since none of the mares filled in the blank. "…of Flame Herd. We shall leave here and find a better home." The mares cheered and neighed at the new name and leader. The four that were in foal gave eachother weary looks, knowing the journey could be hard for them and that if they had colts…the future didn't look too bright. SpitFire cats a look down at the four. The last thing he wanted was for them to dislike him. "If you four should have colts, I will not slay them, but give them to the lone stallion, Blue Raven. Then they will at least have a chance in life." That thought cheered the four mares. SpitFire felt reassured after a glance from Silk. He now knew it was time to start his life, as a Herd Leader!
