Spirit's Herd PART: I
by Emily

     A long, wild squeal awoke the colonel. 
     "DAMN THAT MARE!"he said. It was 1:00 am. The colonel got up and dressed. 
The mare screamed again. 
     "Is it the foal?"asked the white stallion in the next stall. 
     "Yes, I think so."said the mare as she strained and tossed her head. She
squealed painfully. The white stallion, Phantom, poked his head into her
stall. 
     "Better be quiet. The colonel will be mad if you wake him up again."he
said. The dapple gray mare, Moonstar, winced and strained hard. The colonel
reached for his gun. "Time to end this once and for all!"he growled. Phantom
saw him. He reared and struck the air in warning. The colonel smirked and
walked forward. He aimed the gun carefully at Moonstar. 
     "Say good night, horsie."he laughed. At that very moment, a tiny foal was
born into the world. Phantom stared in awe at the newborn colt. Moonstar
gasped for air, then turned to her son. The colonel cursed the mare. Then a
malicious grin spread over his face. He walked away, leaving the horses to
their own devices. 
     "He'll make a fine cavalry animal."said the colonel. Phantom sighed with
relief as the man left. Moonstar licked her little colt clean and looked him
over. He was a steele gray color. His mane and tail were damp and white. His
eyes were a deep blue color. Phantom looked at the colt. 
     "Fury."he said. Moonstar smiled. 
     "Fury shall be his name."she said. Fury looked up at his mother and
licked her muzzle. She smiled at him and stood up. The colt watched her, then
did the same. He drank Moonstar's milk hungrily. Phantom grinned at his family.

     Meanwhile, a few days later, another birth took place. Spirit's first
foal, a tiny filly had been born to him and Rain. She was a beautiful. Her
coat was splashed with the color of Rain's mane. Her mane and tail were
golden. 
     "Fire will be her name."said Rain. Spirit nodded and smiled. The tiny
filly stod up and snorted. Rain atood up too. Esperanza nuzled Spirit and
Rain, then Fire. 
     "She is beautiful."she said.

     Fury grew muscular and intelligent. Phantom taught him many tricks and
told him stories. One day the colonel passed Moonstar's stall. He stopped next
to Phantom's. He hated Phantom. The white stallion caused many horses to
revolt. His behavior was wild and unruly. 
     "One of these days horse, you are gonna go too far."he said coldly. He
raised a whip. Phantom bit his hand. 
     "ARRRGH!"cried the colonel in rage. He stormed away. Moonstar laughed. So
did Fury.

     In the cimarron, Fire grew more beautiful with each day. She loved
playing with her father and learning all he had to teach her.

     "Daddy, pretend you’re the colonel and I'm me!"she said one day. 
     "I'm the colonel!"said Spirit in a funny voice. Fire tackled him and they
wrestled. "Oh! I can't fight any longer! I'm just a weak two-legged!"said
Spirit. Fire jumped up happily. 
     "YEAH! I beat the colonel!"she cried. Spirit stood up. Fire had his eyes.
She was adventurous too, but she had Rain's delicate beauty. Spirit smiled at
the filly. They raced across the valley. Rain and Esperanza joined them. Fire
galloped in front of them, her spirit wild and free. Spirit whinnied to the
sky. Fire laughed and reared up, striking the air just like her dad. She was
fast, faster than the yearlings. Spirit watched her race and beat them all.
One day, Spirit, Rain, and Fire stood high on the crest of a grassy hill.
Spirit watched his beloved herd. Rain nuzzled him. Fire gazed out over her
homeland. Then she stood up and rested her knees on Spirit's broad golden
chest. 
     "Daddy, will I lead the herd someday?"she asked. The great buckskin
stared down at his daughter. She was just like he had been as a colt. Already
Fire was eager to lead the Cimarron herd. Spirit grinned. 
     "Of course you will Fire."he said. Rain nuzzled her filly. Fire smiled 
and bucked, then pranced down to the river to play with the other foals. Her
gait was like Rain's, her body stance was Spirit's. But Fire had a spirit all
her own. Her mane and tail billowed out behind her like golden flames. Fire
leaped gracefully into the river and splashed the other foals. They splashed
back. Fire had started a splashing game which continued all night. At dusk,
Spirit whinnied to Fire. She cantered easily over to him and Rain. 
     "Time for bed."said Rain. "Awww come on mom!"said Fire. Esperanza stepped
forward. 
     "Good night young one."she said. She nuzzled the filly and stepped away. 
     "Come on, it's bed time."said Spirit, a little sternly. Fire laid down
beside Rain with a huff. 
     "Good night Fire."said Spirit. 
     "Good night honey."said Rain. Fire fell asleep.

     Fury had grown into a very handsome colt. All the soldiers agreed, he
would make a fine war horse. When he was old enough, the colonel ordered him
to be inducted. Murphy grinned. Fury fought the ropes that were tossed around
his neck, but it was no use. He was tied firmly to four stout posts. Murphy
strode toward him. 
     "Heh heh heh!"he laughed. He held a pair of sharp scissors in his hand.
He began to chop off Fury's glorious mane. The white mane had just begun to
come in fully. Fury turned on Murphy and bit his hand. 
     "That a boy!"called Phantom. Murphy cursed. 
     "You there, PRIVATE! Tie this animal properly! Lousy morons!"he said to a
soldier. Fury was tied tighter. Murphy finished his mane and moved on to his
tail. Fury kicked him in the stomach. The man staggered backwards. 
     "Why you little cuss!"he cried. Fury's legs were tied even tighter to the
posts. Murphy cut his tail. The fat blacksmith had quite a time getting horse 
shoes on the colt. Fury fought him hard. Finally, he managed to shoe the colt.
He disappeared into his hut for a moment, mumbling something. He returned with
a red hot stick in his hand. 
     "Now this is gonna hurt you, more than it’s gonna hurt me!"he laughed. At
that moment, Phantom and Moonstar broke free of their stalls! Murphy looked
over at them for an instant, and Fury bit his hand. 
     "YOU LITTLE....WAHHHHH! HELP MEEEEE!"cried Murphy as Phantom attacked
him. Moonstar cut her son’s ropes with her teeth. 
     "Come on Fury!"she said. Moonstar, Phantom, and Fury took off toward the
open gates. The colonel, who had been waxing his mustache, heard the commotion
and strode out. Before he did so, however, he picked up his Colt revolver and
loaded it. The minute he saw the three escaping horses, the colonel flew into
a rage. 
     "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"he roared. The colonel took aim. "I warned
you horse! I told you!"he yelled. Then he fired off a single shot. Moonstar
smiled as Phantom nuzzled her. They were going to make it-all of them.
Suddenly, as the shot was fired, Phantom fell. Moonstar stopped and dropped
down beside him. 
     "Phantom! Are you okay?!"she asked anxiously. 
     "GO ON!"he said. 
     "No! We can’t leave you here! Get up, I’ll help you! Come on."said
Moonstar. 
     "GO! THIS IS YOUR ONE CHANCE! GO NOW!"cried Phantom. 
     "But dad!"said Fury. The colonel had saddled a cavalry mount and was
heading toward them. 
     "GO!"yelled Phantom. Moonstar grasped Fury’s forelock and yanked him to
his feet. They took off. The colonel cried out in insane rage as Moonstar and
Fury escaped. Phantom lay quietly, his life pouring out bright red all around
him. Slowly, darkness enveloped the white stallion. Phantom died there, just a
few feet from freedom.

     The next morning, Fire and some of her friends played tag. They ran in
circles and laughed and wrestled. Suddenly, Esperanza cantered up to them. 
     "Go to your parents, ALL of you! There are strangers near-by!"she said.
All the young colts and fillies ran. Fire ran to Spirit. 
     "You stay here with your mother Fire, I’ll be right back."he said. Rain
stood protectively over her filly. Fire wanted to prove that she was as brave
as her father, so she took off after him. Spirit came up to the two horses. As
he did, he pranced and arched his neck with authority. "State your name and
purpose, both of you."he commanded. 
     "My name is Moonstar. My son, Fury and I have just escaped form the
cavalry fort. We are looking for a herd to stay in."said the grey mare. Rain
and Spirit scented the newcomers. "Welcome."said Rain. The horses began to
exchange stories and such, so Fury and Fire trotted off. Fire cantered over to
Fury. 
     "Hi! I’m Fire, who are you?"she asked. 
     "I’m Fury!"he said. 
     "Betcha can’t catch me!"cried Fire, and took off. To her surprise, Fury
was right alongside her. He was very fast. Most of the other foals were
pushovers, but not Fury. They played tag, hide and seek, and chasing games all
day. That night, under the stars, they went exploring. The two became fast
friends. Spirit smiled at the two playing foals. 
     "Fire and Fury."he murmured to himself.