A/N: Thanx for the reviews! Now, here is your reward, enjoy!
Hidalgo woke bright an early the next morning, but Storm was laying asleep peacefully. Hidalgo chuckled to himself; she needed more help than she could admit. To busy himself while Storm lay sleeping, Hidalgo decided to go and take a drink of water. Storm would be okay for a minute and besides, he could see her from the near-by pool. He strolled energetically to the pool and sunk his muzzle into the cool water. The sunlight shone down, making the water shimmer and sparkle. Hidalgo savored the sight for a moment before returning the now wakening Storm.
"Oh, so you just had to leave me, didn't you?" she said, back in her grumpy side. Hidalgo gave an apologetic neigh and changed the subject. "Well, the water is nice and cool, you should take a sip." Storm shook her mane. "I don't need you to tell me how to take care of myself." With that she tried very hard to walk, with out limping, towards the pool. Hidalgo sighed and followed her.
After a few minutes Storm was refreshed and the two travelers continued to, slowly, move on. Hidalgo took the rear while Storm led the way proudly. Hidalgo rolled his eyes teasingly at her confidence. She had so much spunk, and spirit, he just hoped it wouldn't betray her.
They moved through a field with very tall grass. The flies were almost unbearable. Hidalgo realized his rumbling stomach. He would have to get used to not being on a fixed feeding schedule now. Storm on the other hand gave him a weird look when she heard his stomach. Hidalgo turned to look at one of the surrounding mountain peaks in embarrassment. Storm sighed and shook her head and continued onwards.
Later they found and entered a forest. It was dark in places, but lighter where the treetops faded and let sunlight shine into the world of darkness. In one of the shady spots Hidalgo decided that Storm should lay down and rest for a while.
"No, I can keep going!" she protested. Hidalgo shook his head. "I know you can, but you don't need to. Your leg is still swollen-" Storm was annoyed and cut him off. "So what? I can go, I can be tough." Hidalgo knew he would have to be firm this time. "No. Stay and rest." Storm gave an irritated snort. "Stay while you do what?" Hidalgo glanced around at the darkness. "While I make sure it's safe." Storm snorted again but let herself fall slowly to the ground. Hidalgo took a victorious breath, as he had been holding it for the past minute or two, and turned. He galloped out of sight.
Storm grumbled irritably.
Then she heard rustling in the bushes behind her. She bolted up and turned around. A shiny black hoof stepped out, then another. Before she could move away, a jet black stallion stood in front of her.
"What's an injured ole mare like you doing in these parts?" He said threateningly. Storm let her grumpy tone get the best of her. "You better watch it bucko, I'm warning you…" She realized her mistake. He could easily take her on.
"Or you'll do what, huh? Bite me to death?" He laughed shrilly. "I don't think so." The stallion stepped towards her. Storm laid back her ears and tossed her head. "Go away!" Her neigh only pleased the eager stallion. "But that would take the fun out of this, wouldn't it?" An evil grin appeared on his face. The curls of his muzzle made Storm shudder. She thought about taking a step back, but stopped herself. That would only let the stallion know she was scared and threatened by him.
Just as the stallion was taking another step towards the mare, who seemed frozen in place, Hidalgo jumped through the underbrush. Before the stallion could comment Hidalgo pounded his fore-hooves into his side. The stallion cringed below him and fell to his knees in shock. Storm saw her chance and effortly moved out of the way before she was injured or worse. Hidalgo slammed his hooves again into the stallion's side. The blood that poured out from the gashes was thick and red. The stallion raised his black head defeated. But his mercy plea made Hidalgo madder. He slammed into him again and let out a shrill neigh. The stallion's head drooped down as he heaved and panted. His sides were bloody as they began to rise and fall slower and slower. Hidalgo could see his anger was overcoming the pathetic scrap below him. He glanced at Storm who nodded wearily. Hidalgo slammed his hooves once more into the stallion. The now even bloodier sides rose and fell, but then they did not rise again. The stallion's head fell to the ground with a treacherous thump. The sound echoed in Hidalgo's mind. He had just killed a horse.
He turned gravely back to Storm who seemed untouched by the scene. Hidalgo knew she'd been through a lot, but he just couldn't help but feel guilty. The two moved on through the forest before stopping again. Hidalgo felt like getting as far away from the stallion's body as possible. The sight of his bloody sides and his desperate face replayed again and again in his head. As he and Storm lay down Storm could sense his quietness.
"He got what was coming to him." She said rather coldly. Hidalgo assumed she was right. He pushed the thoughts away as best he could and rested his head on the sweet grass. Beside him he could hear Storm's peaceful breathing as she fell asleep. Why couldn't he just forget about the stallion like she could? He was getting very irritated with his mind. He sighed and snorted but nothing seemed to help. Finally he thought he figured out what might help.
Hidalgo got up and raced back towards the body. As he neared it a cold feeling took over his heart. He was cold even though he was sweating heavily by the time he reached the body. It was lying in the grass, like he had left it. The blood had long since dried and flies buzzed around it. Hidalgo ignored them and began pawing at the ground beside the bloody mass. He pawed and pawed for hours until the ground he had moved back was a hole. It was very deep and Hidalgo leapt out of the hole and admired his work. Cautiously he nudged the bloody body until it rolled into the dark interior of the hole. Hidalgo let out a sigh and began pushing all the dirt back over it. Once he had placed all the dirt back, he began his longer journey home.
By the time he got back he was so tired, but the sun was just starting to rise. He got a drink of water and walked towards the sleeping Storm. She hadn't moved much since he had left. Hidalgo looked at himself. He was covered in sweat, and dirt stuck to his skin where his sticky sweat coated him. He looked absolutely disgusting, so he plunged into the pool near-by until he was clean again. Then he wearily lay down beside Storm. Too bad for him, she was just waking up.
