A/N: Finally! Another chappie for my lucky reviewers! I finally have time for this story. ;)

"Where are we?" Storm whinnied. Hidalgo looked at the vast, empty space before them. It was desolate and looked unforgiving. "I'm not sure…" He cautiously kept on moving forward, all his instincts alert and ready for anything to happen. Storm followed him, every bit as keen with her senses. She wasn't sure why, but she felt a lot safer with Hidalgo now than she had been the day before. He seemed more… "I know where we are." Hidalgo's grim whicker aroused Storm from her reverie.

Hidalgo wasn't sure why he couldn't remember before, but suddenly memories of the past rushed through his mind, and he realized where he was. "We're in a desert…" Storm sighed at the conformation. "That means there's no water near by…" Hidalgo nodded agreement. "I'm not sure if we should turn back or edge around the desert."

"Maybe we'll luck out and find an oasis." Storm suggested. Hidalgo shook his mane. "I don't scent any water very close though…but if we go around the desert there's a chance that there might be a pool." Storm's eyes darted to her right where a small mammal was dashing into the distance. An idea sparked, "Follow that animal! It'll lead us to water!" Hidalgo neighed agreement, "Good thinking!" then both horses took off after the small rabbit, who thought he was being chased and wasn't sure what was going on.

Storm's idea was correct. Eventually the rabbit led them around the desert and a large watering pool greeted them. Hidalgo sunk his muzzle deep into the coolness. Beside him Storm effortly lowered her neck and drank the refreshing gift. After a long drink Hidalgo finally raised his head and moved a few paces away. His stallion instincts told him to watch for a predator that could attack in Storm's vulnerable drinking position. Along the horizon he could see trees. It was the first vegetation he had since leaving the forest where the black stallion had met his doom.

He turned back around to see Storm raising her head in satisfaction, water drops dripping from her muzzle. He nickered to her. Storm shook her coat and then she waded out into the pool of water and lay down. Hidalgo watched amused. He was tempted to join her, but he had to watch for enemies. Finally he decided they were safe enough and trotted over into the water and pawed playfully at it. He lowered his heated body into the coolness and rolled. When he stepped out of the water he felt perfectly rejuvenated. Storm got up, shook the water for coat, and walked out of the pool as well.

"I think we should head for those trees." Hidalgo neighed. Storm looked over towards the trees and nodded, "Alright." Instead of taking the lead like she usually did, Storm stood and waited for Hidalgo to start. He was slightly surprised but did not hesitate to lead the way. Storm's attitude towards him had definitely changed since their first encounter. Hidalgo liked it.

By the time they made it to the trees, which happened to be a forest, the sun was sinking below the horizon and darkness was streaking across the sky. The shade of the forest was cool and inviting, providing shelter from the dangers of night. Hidalgo cautiously creeped into the forest, looking around for anything suspicious. He hadn't caught another horse's scent, so it seemed safe enough. Storm followed him, quite relaxed, and Hidalgo decided to deem the forest safe.

"This looks nice enough." Storm nodded and lay down on the grass covered forest ground. Hidalgo watched her, and then lowered his head so that he could assume his sleeping position. He didn't dream that night, but it was a peaceful sleep, the one he slept. When sunlight made his eyes flicker open Storm was gone. "Storm?" He gave a horse yawn and tossed his mane lazily. He walked through the part of the forest they had recently come through and back out into the openness. Storm was drinking from the watering pool.

Hidalgo sighed, relieved that nothing bad had happened. He started forward and then a strange scent entered his sensitive nostrils. He'd never smelt this scent before. But it seemed like he should know what it was naturally. He shifted through his instincts, trying to classify this scent as hard as he could. Storm looked over at, simply acknowledging that she noticed he was awake. Then it hit him. He suddenly knew what the scent was. It was coming from Storm; she was in heat.