Chapter 2: The Moon and a stony Valley

Not so long ago, another foal was born. The mother, called Delara, a paint, was running from a panther. For being near foaling, she was still the fastest mare in her herd. As she was running, she was blinded by fear and she ran into a stony valley. It was also dark, and the moon was shining brightly. All animals stay away from this valley, but Delara was scared and didn't realize where she was. She got separated from her band. Her mate was running with her, but he stopped at the entrance of the valley. The panther stopped a while back, unable to catch the two horses, but they kept galloping. Delara stopped running when she realized where she was. She was about to turn back to see if Chaqua was alright. But then it happened………her foal was coming and she collapsed.

After all was done, Delara lays with her new filly. This valley has a special name and that's what this filly will be called. The stones in this valley glow when the moon shines full. They glow like newly polished diamonds, and that is why they are called Moonstones. This little filly was born in Moonstone Valley.

"Your name is Moonstone, and you are to be a beautiful mare one day." Delara says to her daughter.

Sunrise comes and Chaqua wakes, looking for his mate. He sees her coming out of the valley with a spunky filly at her side. Chaqua rears up with joy to see his mate and new daughter. Delara, Chaqua and Moonstone gallop back to the herd. The herd didn't get too far before the incident and the band stallion hated to leave ANY of his mares behind. Chaqua was his brother and he was allowed to stay with the herd. Chaqua was also allowed to have half his brother's mares. He chose his half and Delara was one of them. He loved Delara, and so she became his main mare. He loved her and she loved him.

Moonstone is 3 weeks old and she is almost like the leader of a foals band. Matako, the lead stallion, is always correcting her, saying that she is not lead mare. Then Matako would start rearing and scaring all the foals for no reason. Chaqua would gallop over and defend his daughter, then fight with his brother. Things have not been going well for the Rybona herd. Chaqua and Matako kept fighting and Chaqua seems to be the better of the two. But for being the younger brother, he shouldn't be fighting his older brother for control of the herd.

"How dare you!" yells an angry Matako. "Even after I let you stay and give you half my mares?!"

Chaqua replies "Look at this place….There is nothing left to eat and the herd is starving. We need to move!"

"We will NOT leave this territory that father gave me! This is where I was born and where I will stay!" Matako yells. "We will see who is the stronger of the two, I challenge you, Chaqua, to a fight!"

"I will not fight!" Chaqua says. "I would much rather take my mares and go to another land."

Matako rears up, then strikes Chaqua's shoulder with his hoof. A Fight begins, back and forth with flying hooves.

The two stallions battled it out until one stood strong. One laid on the ground, and the other stood, breathing heavily, in front of the herd. Chaqua was the new, and only, leader. Matako lays on the ground, bruised and hurt, but also very angry. His father gave HIM the land, but he also respected his brother's courage to take on his older brother. Slowly, Matako get up and bows his head to his brother. Chaqua nods and Matako walks away.

Chaqua turns again to his new herd, rears up then gallops to the lead. He is taking his band to a new land, a new home, where there will be water and grass. But, yet, he does not know that there will be another battle, and a new leader on the horizon.

Once on a small hill, watches over his herd. He watches Moonstone romp and play with the other foals. Chaqua smiles at his daughter as she stops to look at him. "Soon she will be full grown, and looking for a mate" Chaqua thinks. "She will be a great leader one day.

"You know, A great leader needs a great mate by his side" Delara says, walking up to Chaqua side that night. "Matako never had a faithful mate, and he became angry. It lead to his downfall as leader."

"I would be honored to have you by my side Delara. But I have a feeling that Matako isn't done. He's gonna come back and challenge me" Chaqua says.

"That's just nervousness. I know that you….."

"Daddy? I heard something. It scared me." Moonstone says, as she walks up to her father, scared. Chaqua nuzzles his daughter.

"I will go look. Go get some sleep" he says.

"Ok Daddy. Good night" replies Moonstone as Delara with her to get her back to a soft bed of grass. Chaqua is worried as he goes to where his daughter heard the sound. He smells the air, and then a raccoon shows up from the nearby woods. He stares at the raccoon, and then it walks away.

Chaqua is restless that night. He walks back and forth, thinking about the fight earlier that day. He thinks about his brother, wondering if he is alright. Chaqua then looks up to the sky and sees a shooting star. He knows Matako isn't done and he will wait until one of his foals are grown.