Hello Spirit fans!
Thank you for your reviews so far! They have been very encouraging! I hope you enjoy this next addition to my short story, and I hope it's got enough action and intrege in it! I don't own Spirit, just my Oc's and this story line.

Thank you! Now read on...

Incessant heat was discouraging her body. The energy from her legs was abandoning her, causing her hooves to occasionally stumble and scuff into rocks or random bushes. Breeze's head was held low, and she blew long, heavy breaths through her nose. Soaked with a mixture of sweat and blood, and with the canyon beyond not seeming to come any closer with each step, the narrow gap that was Breeze's hope was steadily closing. Why had she made such a foolish decision in coming all the way out here and risking her hide for a stallion she couldn't depend on? And where was this stallion now? She had not a single idea! Now she was quite possibly going to die out here alone, far from her herd and adoringly familiar green pastures. Then... up ahead, a figure shimmered in the blurriness that was the tan rocks and landscape around her. Breeze lifted her head, focussing her eyes as best she could to perceive if what she'd thought she'd glimpsed was real, or some scheme of her imagination.

When the shimmer suddenly whinnied her way, Breeze knew she could not be lost in some day dream. The whinny had sounded very strange, and far more throaty and forced than the usual way, but her ears had heard the sound without a doubt. Weakly, she attempted a dry, desperate nicker back, only hoping she had been loud enough for this distant and strange creature to hear her and come to the rescue. She could faintly tell that whoever it was in the distance, was beginning to move closer. What a relief! She was saved! Breeze stood still, attempting to reserve the last bit of her strength by giving herself a short breather. Still tired and not wanting to move, Breeze resorted to lifting her nose and trying to smell the animal headed her way. But the hot air was perfectly still, as if it too were too tired to bother becoming wind. What a miserable place for any animal to want to live! Then, the creature coming to her rescue became near enough to distinguish. It was a horse!

Wait, no... not a horse... those were rather large ears! But it was big like a horse... just... with a stranger head... Goodness gracious what was it? It walked and moved like a horse, eventually even increasing its speed to get closer to Breeze in a shorter amount of time. Now Breeze was frightened! What was this animal coming closer? Was it dangerous?! Breeze whinnied in fear, jerking up her head and gathering the last bit of her courage to turn and run when the horse-like animal nickered a friendly nicker. Breeze paused her frantic need to escape and turned to face the stranger face on. Yes, it did have a face like a horse, just very large ears, and the hooves were somewhat tiny... Why, poor Breeze didn't know it, but this animal was in fact a mule, a combination of horse and donkey. Breeze was so puzzled that she didn't even notice the strange straps of leather around the mule's head. The mule bumped noses with Breeze to reassure the frightened mare that all was well and there was no need for worry.

After her nerves were appeased, Breeze breathed out a long sigh. The mule swished his tale, and it was a male (Breeze could smell that) came up beside her and gave her a gentle nudge of encouragement to continue walking. He seemed to know her hope was shallow and that her determination had wained. Breeze, not liking the way this strange horse mix was pestering her side, finally resorted to stepping forward and away. This was the only thing that made the mule stop bumping her, and so the process of him nudging her, and her wanting him to stop, helped get the pair the rest of the way across the desert valley. It was slow going, and Breeze threatened to kick once or twice but once she felt the sun's harsh rays suddenly cease, due to the shade that had suddenly stretched over her, she perked her ears and looked ahead. Finding herself now within the considerably cooler canyon, Breeze whinnied a whim of delight. The smell of water was intoxicating her nostrils now, and the desire to move on was even more strong now.

Breeze perked up to a trot, the shade withholding some of the sun's harsh repression off her back. The mule followed her. The canyon walls were tall and jaggedly shaped, with trees or bushes growing randomly in the gorge. It became very narrow at some points, making Breeze very uncomfortable but soon the sound of trickling water became irresistibly distinct! The glorious sound seemed to echo through the canyon, calling her very name. Breeze whinnied in delight, rounding the last corner only to stop dead in her tracks, her haunches buckling and a terrified expression on her face. What... was this?! There was the water hole, and the small trickling water fall that was spilling into it, perfectly situated but there was one problem. It was surrounded by other horse mixes, as well as two pure bread horses. They were all drinking and the moment Breeze showed up, all their heads went up in surprise. Each had weird smelling pieces of dead animal strapped to their backs and their faces, and it was after a moment of realization that Breeze comprehended they were all in fact tied to a large log.

A few of the mules nickered at her a friendly greeting. The two horses each exchanged a glance before better analyzing the evidently wild mare before them. They were common looking horses, both were red chestnuts, one slightly redder than the other, but they had expressive eyes. They looked like twins, which as a matter of fact, they were brothers, one being two years older than the other. Breeze snorted through her nose in displeasure, having hoped that upon coming into sight of the water, that she could rush in all the way up to her knees and drink until her belly was full. But intead, she had come upon what looked like a herd of vagabonds who all smelled extremely weird. Cautiously, Breeze took a few steps forward, her head low, not wanting to cause trouble, but plopping her lips together to show she was thirsty. The horses and mules all looked at her curiously, having no doubt smelled the blood on her hide as well as sweat. They moved for her to approach but right as Breeze was feeling hopeful, she heard the strangest of sounds. Rounding the corner, were two shadows. But these shadows were not of horses... they were of TWO leggeds!

AHHH! TWO leggeds! Heaven forbid! lol, check in again and I'll have the next chapter up soon! I promise! Meanwhile, a few reviews would be just wonderful! (hint hint) ;)

Preview: Esperenza is worried, for she has noticed Breeze has not yet returned to the herd since she left many hours ago. On top of this, her worries for Spirit are increasing. Will he ever make it back? Meanwhile, Breeze has stumbled into even deeper trouble! What will happen when a set of humans discover a new horse in their camp? Will Breeze escape or discover that these two leggeds aren't as bad as they first may seem?

-Stokin D Embers