Spirit's Herd Part III Fury scented the air, his nostrils flared wide. The wind blew across the wide grassy field in which he was standing. Fury caught the scent of humans quickly. The smell of fire and smoke came with it. Fury swiveled his ears around. Just because he smelled smoke, fire, and humans, didn't mean they were Lakotas. Fury cantered toward the smells cautiously. He stepped close to a small clearing. The sight that greted him was terrifying. The humans he had scented were wranglers. One was busy beating on his mount while four others were saddling their horses and preparing to ride out. The man who was beating his horse wore deep red boots and a black cowboy hat. Fury didn't like the looks of him. Slowly, so as not to be noticed, Fury crept away. He scented the air again, but it was blowing in the wrong direction. He shook his creamy white mane. "I'l never find them." he said sadly to himself. Suddenly, he heard horses. Looking up, he saw the herd behind him atop a low, grassy rise. Rain cantered downhill, her eyes full of worry. "What do you think you are doing?" she snorted angrily. MoonStar was beside herself. "Are you trying to be captured by the bluecoats?! Honestly! You can't just run off like that. You're not a little colt anymore, the herd expects more of you." said his mother. "That's right." said Rain, flicking her tail in wide arcs. Her ears were pinned back against her head in annoyance. Fury hung his head as the beautiful paint galloped downhill. "Spirit told me to find the Lakotas. He said they were Indians, and they could help Fire and him." said Fury. Rain's eyes widened. "You were going to look for them!" she said with a touch of relief and gratitude in her voice. "You were going the wrong direction. The Lakota village lies toward the East, not the West." she said. MoonStar stepped forward. "It was brave of you to try, Fury, but there is nothing we can do." she said. Fury snorted. "There IS something I can do. Fire and Spirit are my friends and herdmates, and I have to help them!" said Fury. "Now now, lets go back to the herd." said MoonStar as if speaking to a foal. "MOM! You said it yourself, I'm not a little colt anymore! I can save them, and I WILL no matter what.!" he shouted. With that Fury galloped off towards the East. MoonStar made to follow him, but she was hurt and could not. "Let him go." said Rain suddenly. MoonStar looked up at her. "Are you crazy? He'll be captured or killed." she snapped. Rain's aqua eyes remained passive. "Let him go. He will return safe and sound, with Fire and Spirit. I can see it in his eyes, he is stallion. He can care for himself." she said. MoonStar shook her mane with annoyance and fear. "May the Creator of horses be with him." she murmured. Rain lead the herd off with Esperanze by her side. Meanwhile, Fire and Spirit reahced the outskirts of the cavalry fort. The men were cruel, and they yanked the ropes constantly. Spirit fought them wildly, but eventually gave up. Fire fought too, but after a while she was too tired to go on. "Looks like these got dang nags of settled emselves." said one man. "Yep. These wild 'uns 'll bring in some good money I'll wager." said another. Fire kicked out at his mount who tripped. Spirit nipped her shoulder, reminding her not to hurt innocent horses. Fire rolled her eyes. She stepped back in fear as they approached the fort, and the doors swung open. Memories of how she had once pretended to be trapped in this place, just like her dad, and escaped, flooded her mind. The sharp, acrid odor of smoke filed her nostrils. Spirit snorted and pulled back, fighting with all his might. Fire bucked and kicked wildly, but it was no use. They were hauled into the fort. A tall young officer with a square jaw and well trimmed sideburns strode toward them. The men exchanged words, and a strange green paper. Fire wondered what the green paper was and why these two-legeds valued it so much. A sharp yank of the rope encircling her neck cut short her thoughts. "Here we go again." said Spirit angrily, his brown eyes flashing. A tall man, even taller than the young officer who had bought the two mustangs stepped forward. "Well well well. What have we here?" he said darkly. Fire squealed. "Two mustangs Colonel. Beauties to." said the officer. The colonel stroked his moustache. "Ah. There's something familiar about this one here." he said, eyeing Spirit. He lifted Spirit's mane with his riding crop. Spirit tried to snap it with his teeth. "AH HA! So, it's you again." said the colonel with nothing but malice in his voice. Spirit snorted. "Snake." he said to Fire. The colonel smirked. "I thought you were smarter than this mustang. When you made over that canyon, I thought I'd never see you again. You're stupider than you look mustang." the colonel laughed hideously. Fire squealed and snatched his crop, grinding it in her teeth. The colonel looked her over. He noticed the resemblance between Spirit's muscle tone and body structure, and Fire's. He looked over her coloration carefully. "Well now, you're his foal, aren't you." he snarled. "Induct these animals officer. They'll make fine mounts for me." the colonel ordered. "Yes sir." replied the officer. Spirit was tied to a large iron stake in the ground while Fire was brought to Murphy. Fire fought the men off twice, but they wouldn't leave her alone. The soldiers tied her securely between four stout posts. Murphy grinned savagely. Fire snorted. "Bring it on." she said. Spirit fought the iron stake, but it held fast. Murphy reached into his side pocket and produced a pair of sharp scissors. He reacked over and began to slice off Fire's mane. Fire wasn't sure what was happening until she saw her golden mane falling to the earth. Murphy was up to her forelock now, but Fire bit his arm anyway. Murphy screamed. "AHH! You vermint!!" Spirit nickered. "That's my girl." Fire's muzzle was tied into a leather sack. She pulled at it, but the leather wouldn't budge. Murphy finished her mane and moved on to her tail. Fire kicked him in the stomach, hard. Murphy fell over, cussing a blue streak. Several soldiers helped him up. Then Fire's back legs were secured. Murphy chopped her tail short, and began the work of shoeing the mustang. Fire got several good kicks in on him before she was tied up again. Murphy grumbled and disapeared into his hut. He returned a moment later carrying a red hot iron. "Heh heh heh. Thought you won, didn't you mustang?" he laughed and moved toward Fire with the stick. Spirit squealed and leaped about wildly. Fire saw the look of panic in his eyes as he broke free and kicked Murphy into the dirt. The fort erupted into chaos, but Fire and Spirit failed to escape. The soldiers captured them, and Spirit was brought to Murphy. The scene repeated itself. Next, the colonel ordered the two mustangs to be broken. Spirit went first. A saddle was cinched painfully tight around his middle and a cold steel bar was forced into his mouth. A rider climbed onto his back, the shoot was opened, and Spirit flipped the man off. Again and again Spirit threw the soldiers. Not one could stay on the wild mustang's back. Spirit's eyes burned with anger. Finally, the colonel stepped forward. "Enough. We'll handle this one later. Right now lets take care of the mare." he growled. Fire did the same as her father, with a few twists of her own. It took a long time, but the colonel finally stepped forward again. "The post, four days. No food or water." he said coldly. "Yes sir." said a soldier. He hauled Fire along to the post. "Both mustangs." said the colonel. "Yes...sir." the same soldier said. He tied Spirit to a post nearby. "I'll break you yet, mustangs." the colonel smirked. Fury galloped off into the horizon. His hooves pounded over the turf and his legs pumped hard. He scented the air again a few miles after he reached the boundary of Spirit's territory. Nothing yet. Fury galloped on for hours. Soon it was dusk, and he was exhausted. Fury stopped by a small stream and drank deeply. Then he bent his head and snatched up mouthfuls of fresh green grass. Before he knew it, the young stallion was asleep. The next morning, he set off again. He scented the air, and caught the strong scents of smoke, men, deerskins, and horses. He smelled many animal hides as well. Slowly and carefully, Fury followed the scents to a small valley. Below him, sheltered by pines on all sides and outlined by a craggy ridge and a small river, sat a village. Indians went in and out, their small children following them closely. Many horses grazed nearby, and all the animals seemed content. Fury galloped down toward a deep bay horse. The bay looked up. "Who are you and what is your reason for coming to our village?" "My name is Fury, and I have come to bring an Indian named Little Creek to the aid of two captured mustangs." Fury replied. The bay snorted. "He's down there." Fury nodded in thanks and trotted down into the village. The Lakotas gazed at him in awe. He was truly a handsome and muscular young mustang. Little Creek stood talking with some of his friends. Fury walked over, unsure of how to approach the human. He nickered, and Little Creek turned. The boy gasped at Fury. So did hsi friends. "Oh great horse, what brings you to our village?" he asked. Fury nickered. Little Creek smiled and rwached out to touch the grand horse. Fury let himself be petted. Little Creek lead him to a well made corral. Fury stepped in, feeling unsure. The boy stepped forward holding a patterned blanket. The fabric flapped in the breeze. Little Creek spread the blanket over Fury's back. Then he climbed on. Fury didn't like having a human on his back, but he knew it was the only way to help Fire and Spirit. Fury took off like a bullet with Little Creek hanging onto his mane for dear life. The young stallion headed West, toward the dreaded cavalry fort.