Chapter 31

Aranda

Two days had passed since my conversation with Silver Moon and since I had gotten better from my critical condition. Hours seemed to drag incredibly slowly. The snow continued to fall, the humans kept rebuilding the camp, and my shoulder was healing quite effectively. The nice woman that Little Creek instructed to care for me was always present and always kept her keen eye on me. Her younger sister came by every morning to hand me treats.

Winters were usually the time of peace and solitude. The villagers took it easy, they gathered around camp fire, prayed for their loved ones and narrated ancient stories. Luckily, they had lots of food and supplies for the season and weren't starving or freezing for that matter. However, their only concern were the horses. Humans were lacking their most important companions. Including me, Silver Moon, her colt, and the six newly added elder ones, all together, there were only nine horses in the camp.

What were they to do? The tribe needed strong, sturdy and reliable animals to transport and help them out during this rough time.

As mentioned before, the humans were lacking their own brave warriors too. Most of them had also been captured or died in battle. One of them was Singing Eagle, Dawn's owner and my Little Creek's friend. I was told that he was shot during the attack and later passed away because of severe blood loss. Long Knife, Great Conquest's rider had survived but he was still deeply wounded and was recovering in a tent.

I passed my time quietly, and kept hoping and praying for both Spirit and Little Creek's safety. Even though, Silver Moon always spoke positively and believed that everything would turn out okay, I still somehow felt anxious and sometimes, utterly alone.

If Spirit and Little Creek wouldn't return to me, I didn't know what I'd do without them. I'd probably die of longing and of a broken heart.

In late afternoon, the delicate, white, snow flurries started to descend on the ground, and I couldn't rip my gaze from the beautiful sight. There was something so calming about the snowflakes, I sighed heavily and breathed in the crispy, fresh air.

Exactly what I needed.

I lowered my head to slowly munch on the hay that the humans had brought forward to me. It's important to eat and keep yourself warm in the Winter time. I did grow a thick coat to protect my body from the harsh conditions, but nutrients were very needed as well especially, since I was still recovering and not fully healed yet.

I didn't realize anyone was approaching me, till I heard a low nicker coming from behind. I turned around, only to meet a strange, bay mare with a white star on her forehead. She was advanced in years and from the looks of it, she was one of those elderly horses that had joined us from other tribes.

"Hello." She greeted politely, as she stood next to me and we exchanged our breath.

I remembered now that all day, this mare had been staring and looking at me very oddly. Every time I passed by, she would perk her ears forward and observe me from the distance as if she knew exactly who I was.

"Hello." I returned the greeting warily, and raised my eyebrows questionably. I couldn't understand it. Who was she?

The elder mare smiled, small wrinkles appearing on the corners of her muzzle. "You're wondering who I am, aren't you?"

"Forgive me, I just don't ever recall knowing-"

"My name is Aranda, Rain."

I stared at her with wide eyes, completely shocked that she knew my calling.

"Do you know me?" I asked surprised.

"I know of you."

"What do you mean?" I was confused at this strange mare, whose name happened to be Aranda.

The bay horse kept looking at me with her dark eyes with so much affection. She smiled every time I spoke up. It was as if she had known me all my life.

"How do you know my name?" I questioned again.

"I was best friends with Bonita...your grandmother." She answered at last in a soft nicker.

"My who?" Looks like today was the day of shocking revelations.

The mare giggled at my bewildered expression and lowered her head slightly. "Will you allow me to start from the very beginning?"

I blinked in disbelief, slowly nodding my head as Aranda began to speak.

"Your grandmother, Bonita belonged to a Mexican heiress before a terrible fire and war broke out on the hacienda, and the mistress had no other choice but to release her. The brave, elegant young mare, who had been spoiled and pampered all her life had now only wild prairies for a home. And she was all alone."

Alright. I had to stop her right there.

"Wait, how do you know this Bonita is my grandmother? I was born here with the Lakota. I know nothing of pampered mistresses and fancy haciendas. I'm a mare of this tribe and proud of it. I think you're mistaking me for someone else." I lifted my chin and kept my head held high.

Aranda smiled again in a motherly fashion and stared deeply into my eyes. "Aren't you the daughter of the spirited, Sierra? And those sparkling eyes...they're the splitting image of your grandmother's."

"I inherited these eyes from my sire."

I was so confused. What was she trying tell me? Who was she? And this...grandmother of mine. I knew nothing about her.

"Maybe so." The elder mare said calmly. "But I remember the creamy mane of Bonita and let me tell you, it was same as yours along with the shape of your pretty eyes."

"I don't understand." I mumbled, my heart began to beat faster.

"Your grandmother endured many hardships along with way. She was captured and used for the war where she met me. We escaped together and we both found new life with the wild Mustang herd. She fell in love with a lead stallion and became a lead mare while I remained her close best friend. Her bravery always fascinated me. Years passed and our life of freedom continued. Bonita gave birth to a fiery little filly, whose splashy coat and independent personality resembled her sire's. Our life was filled with joy, as the wind blew in our manes, and we galloped wild and free throughout the high valleys."

I listened awe-struck as the elderly mare quietly narrated these unheard stories of my granddam, grandsire, and my dam. Her eyes were filled with tears as she recalled every single detail about their free way of life. Did I really have such interesting grandparents? Bonita sounded so fascinating. I was sort of beginning to feel proud that I happened to be her ganddaughter.

But everything has its end, dear Rain." Aranda sniffed sadly. "When your grandsire passed away, conflict fell on us as the young stallions from neighbouring herds struggled to claim our band. Unfortunately, none of them succeeded...we were all rounded up by men. Bonita and I were taken to the Crow tribe, where we were treated kindly but your grandmother died of grief for her lost daughter, Sierra. We knew not what had befallen her." The elderly horse strained her voice, trying her best to remain composed while I kept listening to her in utmost shock, several emotions racing back and forth in me.

"It was only years later I found out that Sierra was among the Lakota and had found love."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "Yes, with my father, Storm."

"He was a worthy stallion. I met him couple of times before he fell in battle." Aranda said, her eyes downcast as she remembered my brave sire.

"How is it that I've never known you?" I nickered softly, not wanting to concentrate on the sad parts.

"Well, dear, Rain." Began the wise Aranda. "I knew of Sierra being in foal but since I lived with the different tribe, I never had an opportunity to come and see you. Though, I had heard that she had delivered a healthy filly on one rainy day." She giggled at the last sentence, and playfully nibbled my withers.

"I don't know how much you've heard afterwards, but after my sire fell in battle, my sweet dam had passed away of high fever. "I explained, hating to be the bearer of such devastating news.

"I didn't know that until I came here few days ago." Aranda admitted, her voice soft and frail. "I had hoped to meet both Sierra and you. Turns out, I only met you...my best friend's beautiful granddaughter." She smiled and nuzzled me sweetly. "I was so scared to hear that you'd been wounded. You were the only thing left of my best friend...I prayed and hoped of your recovery."

Small tear rolled down the elder mare's cheek. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"And I'm so glad I found you, Aranda. You have no idea how lonely I am right now. I truly needed this." I told her in full honesty. "How is it that you have joined our tribe?"

"We were attacked as well, and some of us escaped to safety. I personally made sure to find you with the Lakota. I didn't want to leave this world without knowing you. I never had any foals...Sierra was like a daughter to me."

I smiled softly at that and gently offered the old mare to eat some of my hay. She gratefully accepted it and then, gazed back at me. "You've been raised by a human, correct?"

"Yes, his name is Little Creek. He was the son of my sire's owner." I explained, my heart instantly soaring. I missed him so much. What was he doing now? Where was he? I so hoped he was safe.

"Ahh yes, I had watched that young man care for you while you were gravely sick. Then one morning, he got up and left to find someone." Aranda said, as she slowly and lazily chewed on the bale of hay.

"Spirit...he went to find Spirit."

"You mean the stallion of the Cimarron?" Aranda gasped in surprise.

"You know him?" I asked in shock.

"I heard of him from escaped cavalry horses that joined our village back in Summer. They spoke admirably about young, noble, dashing and strong, golden stallion, who could not be broken by the harsh men of the wooden fort."

I was puzzled. So many new and impressive things I had learned today. It was almost too much. I didn't realize how wide spread Spirit's daring escape from the fortress had been. But then I remembered how many cavalry horses had escaped along with him. Of course, they'd talk about the young stallion's bravery.

"And you're acquainted with the wild Mustang, Rain?" Aranda raised her eyebrows curiously.

I blushed, sheepishly looking away. "Um...well, yes."

"Oh, I see." Giggled the wise and experienced mare at my timid reaction. She had comprehended everything.

"I didn't realize he had settled in this village. From the words of the cavalry horses, the young stallion was very determined to get home...but I guess, love changes things." She smiled at the last word, sighing dreamily.

"I've never met anyone so determined, so brave, strong and yet so selfless as Spirit. He is...amazing and deserves to remain free as the wind." I began to speak gently, my heart aching as I recalled how he had saved Little Creek and me, then lay beside me when I was critically wounded, and how he was captured in front of my eyes.

"And your kind owner went to find him?"

I nodded slowly. "Spirit was finally released by my human right before we got attacked. He had been waiting for so long to run free but still he stayed and protected us from those ruthless men. He saved my human and jumped in the cold river to rescue me...I have never met anyone who put others needs before their own so often. I've never seen such courage, fire, strength, spirit. I love him so much. And it's not fair for him to stay here with me, just because I can't be parted with my human and my home. It's just not fair to him...so many times, he put all his wants aside because of me. He even tried to settle down here for he knew it would make me happy, but deep down...I know where he truly belongs. Now it's my turn to repay him. I refuse to remain selfish. And I pray for his safety and hope that he returns to his homeland."

As I poured out my deepest feelings and inner struggles, I didn't realize that I had started to cry. Hot tears were leaking from my eyes as Aranda listened silently, allowing me to express my emotions.

"It seems like you two are madly in love." She concluded, after I was done speaking. "In fact, I think it's a pity for you two to be parted. How can this young Spirit ever be happy if he doesn't have you by his side? Think about it, he put away his desires for you...meaning that he loves you more than anything in this world, including his freedom. How can you deprive him of that?"

I stared at her, blinking my blue eyes in slight confusion. "What else can I do?" I sniffed meekly.

"You can go with him, can you not?" Aranda exclaimed, surprised at my reaction. "I'm sure a lovesick, young stallion offered you a place in his wild herd more than once."

"Of course, he did." I agreed with an eager nicker. "But that's the problem. How can I leave my human and my home?"

"It's not going to be easy, young one." Aranda started gently. "But it will be worth it. Your grandmother grew up with a lovely mistress, she was so kind and sweet and provided her with comfortable home ...and yet, her destiny proved to be elsewhere. Maybe now, a time has come to choose your own path. Yes, your loyalty and friendship with the human remains strong and this tribe gave you home and shelter. But now you're no longer a filly...you are a young mare, and must decide what's best for you. You love this stallion with all your heart and therefore, you must be with him. Young fillies leave their sires when they grow up to join their beloved stallions. Think of it that way. Little Creek has provided the role of your sire...he was your guardian all these years, but now comes a time for you to leave your old foal days behind, and join your very own kind. You must learn what it's like to be truly free.

This Spirit sounds wonderful. And I'm sure my dear, you're going to be very happy with him." Aranda finished her speech and brushed my cheek as a dam would her little filly.

Her words of advice had touched me and they began to make me see things in a completely different light. I thought about my grandmother, my mother, father, this village, about Spirit and Little Creek. Everything in my head was spinning right now. Despite all these new found sensations and thoughts that kept racing in my mind, I remained quiet. Trying to think really hard and question my priorities once more. This wise mare made so much sense.

"Think about it, Rain. You still have time to make up your mind." Aranda encouraged me softly and calmly.

"For now, most important thing for me is to be sure that Spirit and Little Creek are both safe." I admitted at last. "I can't think about anything else right now."

As I said this, I heard hoof beats of galloping horses nearing our camp. I tensed, my ears perked forward. Immediately, I began to fear the worst. Then followed loud neighs and nickers of my own kind and afterwards, our humans began to cry out and cheer in excitement. I swiftly turned around to see what this whole commotion was all about.

I wasn't wrong when I said that this day was for shocking revelations. My eyes almost jumped from its shells when I noticed Great Conquest, Wind, Dawn, Blaze, Blossom, Midnight, River and many more of our village horses bolting towards us in the foggy, snow mist. Calling, whinying happily at their homeland.

Clanging sounds of a bizarre metal tack, attached to each of the horses, echoed throughout the territory as they neared us.

Instantly, me and Aranda both trotted forward to meet my lost friends who had returned to us so unexpectedly.

Unbelievable.

What a shocking day, indeed!