A/N: Didn't think I'd update so soon? XD
-/-/-/-Hidalgo-/-/-/-
The stallion walked calmly over to the water pool and drank after dipping his muzzle in alertly. Storm eyed him as if expecting him to suddenly turn on her for no reason; but Hidalgo ignored that look. Instead he lifted his head after a well deserved drink and flared his nostrils. Another new scent was coming from the distance, and it was approaching quickly. The sound of pounding hoofbeats made the two horses flick their ears uneasily. Perhaps the other horses were just coming for a drink; Hidalgo was sure he couldn't catch a herd's scent when he and Storm found the pool.
Now Hidalgo could make out horses on the horizon. They were galloping full speed straight towards the water pool; but Hidalgo and Storm just stood still, ears pricked and eyes locked on the newcomers.
There were only five horses Hidalgo soon discovered, and they were all mares. He couldn't scent a stallion anywhere close; so what were a bunch of mares doing on the outskirts of a desert? Mares always had a stallion to protect them, no matter what. Hidalgo felt more confident knowing it was just a group of mares without a stallion. He neighed a greeting and pawed the ground beside the pool. One of the mares returned the greeting with a loud whinny that sounded welcoming. Storm uncomfortably stepped back as the five new mares finally made it to the water pool.
The mare who had replied to Hidalgo's greeting stepped forward. Hidalgo decided she was their lead mare most likely and nickered. The mare smiled, "What brings you to the Drinking Place?" Hidalgo thought the reason seemed pretty obvious. "My friend and I just traveled around the desert yesterday. We spent the night in the forest and now we're thirsty." The mare nodded and looked longingly at the water. Hidalgo wanted to ask one more question before allowing them to drink though.
"What are you mares doing without a stallion?" The mare lowered her gaze. "Our stallion was killed a few days ago. We had been traveling far so that we could drink. When he died I had to keep on leading the mares. Now we're here." Hidalgo glanced at Storm who faintly nodded and he stepped aside. The mares thankfully stepped closer to the pool and sipped the cool water. Hidalgo and Storm walked a few paces away to talk.
"Are you going to invite them to stay?" Storm asked quietly. Hidalgo replied, "Yes. It's dangerous for them to be out on their own without a stallion." Storm grumbled, "Never stopped me." Hidalgo rolled his eyes, "You had me, for however short the amount of time that was." Storm retorted quickly, "I didn't want you to join me." Hidalgo stepped closer and looked her straight in the eyes. "But you let me anyways." Storm starred back, trying to think of another retort, yet at the same time transfixed in Hidalgo's gaze.
"Um…" Hidalgo turned to see the lead mare walking towards him. "Yes?" The lead mare smiled wearily from her travel. "I was wondering if you might like to lead our herd…we have no where else to go and nothing to do with our lives." Hidalgo let a smile play at his muzzle, "I was about to ask you if you wanted to stay here. So sure, I'll lead your herd." The mare's smile grew wider in gratitude, "Thank you…uh, what's your name?" Hidalgo told her. The mare nodded, "I'm Shadow." Hidalgo thought it suited her dark colored coat. Shadow continued, "And the other mares are Petal, Sand, Willow, and Berry." Hidalgo noticed that Berry was a far amount younger than the other four mares. She was a red roan with a white blaze that made her eyes seem to glow happily despite the hardship her family had just gone through.
-/-/-/-Storm-/-/-/-
Each of the mares thanked Hidalgo for the hospitality and settled down inside the forest to graze. Hidalgo stayed out by the pool while they rested. Storm followed the mares somewhat miserably. She edged away from them and meagerly munched on bits of grass and underbrush. She felt her jealousy levels rising as the mares became more comfortable and started talking about the Drinking Place and the forest. Now she would have no chance to deepen her relationship with Hidalgo. He would become more interested in the more cooperative mares that had just arrived. He would probably make Shadow the lead mare because she already was the mares' lead mare and since Storm was injured. She sighed. Her injury was causing her more trouble than she ever knew it could.
After the sun had reached its highest point and started to lower again Storm decided to leave the forest and go to get a drink. Willow passed her on her way and gave her a smile. Storm ignored the gesture and kept on limping. Beside the pool she easily took a long drink and felt herself cool off.
"Are you alright?" Storm sighed, again, when she heard Hidalgo's voice, somewhat concerned. "Never better." She replied. Hidalgo eyed her suspiciously. "I'm serious you know." Storm nodded. Hidalgo stepped closer, since he was a full three horse lengths away from her, and looked at her worriedly. "Something's bothering you." Storm rolled her eyes, "Possibly." Hidalgo sighed. "Come one Storm, you can tell me anything." Storm met his gaze for the first time since they had begun talking, yet no words came out of her mouth. Hidalgo thought for a minute. "If it's about those mares…" Storm quietly said, "Sort of…" Hidalgo smiled. "C'mon, they're just a bunch of mares. No one is going to…" he made sure she was actually listening before continuing, "…to come between us."
Storm was silently amazed at how smart Hidalgo was. He really understood what was on her mind. They had gotten closer than she realized during their journey. It was nice to know someone finally understood her, someone who she didn't mind being around at that. "Are you sure?" Hidalgo nodded. "Now come here!" She laughed as Hidalgo hugged her neck (horse style, XD).
-/-/-/-A Few Years Later-/-/-/-
Things were going smoothly with Hidalgo's new herd. Willow and Petal each had yearlings with them while Sand had a small foal and Berry was expecting along with Storm. Willow's yearling, Flame, was a colt who was already showing signs of dominance, and Petal's yearling was a filly, Breeze, who was shyer than her half brother, but very curious about her surroundings. Flame and Breeze usually hung out together by the Drinking Place and munched on small grasses while the mares were content with the shade of the forest. Sand's foal, Drift, who was a colt, stayed near his mother since he was only a few days old.
On this particular day Berry was returning from foaling and a small filly was at her side. Hidalgo appeared from out of the desert, where he usually patrolled for intruders or predators. He greeted Berry's filly excitedly and after an inspection he found that she wasn't sick or injured. Berry rejoined the mares with the filly and Hidalgo decided to check on Storm; she was due to foal any day now.
He walked over to Shadow who was busy making sure the mares were content. "Where's Storm?" He nickered. Shadow turned around and smiled. "She left last night." Hidalgo grinned, "So is she back yet?" Shadow shook her head. For an instance worry overtook Hidalgo, until he remembered how strong and outgoing Storm was and decided she was probably alright. Unless something happened to the foal…
Hidalgo wandered back to the water pool and decided to go and search for Storm; just to be on the safe side. He galloped out across the desert and stayed alert for her scent. Eventually he locked onto it and followed it. It led to the right of where the forest and the pool were, straight into the desert. Hidalgo recognized where he was from his many patrols, but he wondered how Storm knew where she was going. Then he remembered that there was an oasis not far off, and that was most likely where she had gone. He took off at an even faster pace than he'd used in the Ocean of Fire towards the oasis.
His hooves finally took him where he wanted to go and he realized that Storm's scent was stronger than ever. The oasis was rather empty. It was usually crawling with critters dying of thirst from being in the heat too long. Hidalgo took a sip of water just because it was available and followed Storm's scent. It stopped abruptly at the other side of the water. Hidalgo stopped, stumped. He turned around and looked for Storm but saw nothing.
"Well look who showed up for the party." Hidalgo jumped around and was relieved when it was only Storm. Better than that, it was Storm and her newborn. Hidalgo smiled excitedly. "I was just making sure you were okay." Storm sighed, thought not annoyed. "Always worrying." Hidalgo quickly pointed out, "Well you left last night and it's the middle of the day. I'd think you'd be home by now." Storm grinned. "Yeah…I got kinda sidetracked…this oasis is so nice and secluded." The foal whinnied in a high pitch squeal and pranced forward only to stop suddenly upon seeing Hidalgo and look on in wonder.
Hidalgo stepped closer and gave the foal a once-over. "She's a perfectly healthy filly." Storm rolled her eyes. "I would have never guessed." Hidalgo shrugged and Storm trotted on past him with the filly close behind. "Well, are you coming or not?" She neighed. Hidalgo laughed and galloped past her and the foal.
When the three made it back to herd Storm told Hidalgo what she had named the foal: Wave. Storm and Wave rejoined the mares after getting some water after their run, and Hidalgo took off into the desert, to run and be free just like Frank T. Hopkins had wanted when he set Hidalgo loose.
At that moment Hidalgo most likely could have never felt better. He had a family, a home, and most importantly, he was free. Free to live out his life however he pleased; and so far things had been going just about perfect.
