by Violet Inkpen, age 12

CHAPTER 1

The sun shone brightly on the meadow where the horse herd grazed. The small little foal raised her head. Her grey coat sparkled with health and her black mane blew in the breeze. Her mother, a black mare, was grazing near by. The filly’s name was Mirar Estrella, Gazing Stars, and she lived in the Mesteño herd, which was led by Renegade, the fierce stallion.

Estrella watched Renegade buck and rear, kicking at a two-year-old colt. Durango, the honey colored colt, was snorting in anger. “Get! Get!” said Renegade. “Every colt must leave his herd. Now GET!” he said, kicking at the colt’s nose.

“I’ll be back Renegade! I’ll take your herd and I’ll show you that kicking me out was wrong. I could have helped you leave this herd. You’ll be sorry.” Durango hissed over his shoulder. He galloped away from the valley, screaming in anger. Estrella flicked her tail in wonder. Durango seemed so strange and mysterious. He had always been different from other colts. He was picked on as a foal and he always said he’d get even.

“Mama, can’t we go too?” she asked, tugging her mother’s tail.

Her mother lifted her head. “No Estrella, Durango is now a rogue,” she said, returning to her grazing.

“What’s a rogue?” Estrella said.

Her mother smiled. “He’s on his own; we can’t see him anymore. Our leader is Renegade. Durango will have to find a herd of his own to lead.”

Estrella cocked her head to the side. This was all so strange. Why did Durango have to leave? “I’m a rogue too then! I want to lead a herd!” she said, wagging her tail and hopping around.

Estrella yelped. Her mother had nipped her ear. “No Estrella, we are mares. We are led by the leaders, we do not lead,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “The world is dangerous for mares; only a stallion has the strength to protect us. We cannot lead others if we cannot protect ourselves.” Estrella shook her mane at her mother’s scolding. The idea didn’t leave her, but she didn’t mention it again.

* * * * *

“Estrella! Estrella! Come play!” A chestnut filly came galloping up to her and reared, her legs dangling in the air. It was Astro, Estrella’s best friend.

Estrella laughed and charged her friend, knocking her over. “Let’s play wolf hunt!” Astro said, rolling onto her feet again.

Estrella shook her head. “No no, let’s play herd! I’ll be the leader! Let’s go get Comet. He might want to play!” She suggested.

Astro snorted. “Comet will have to be the leader; fillies don’t lead. But you can be lead mare.” she said, tipping her head to the side.

“Not in this game! In this game I’ll be leader. You can be a mountain lion trying to eat my herd,” Estrella said, rearing.

Astro crouched low. “Graaaa! Graawaaaw!” she growled, slowly shaking her head from side to side.

Estrella nickered a challenge and pranced in a line back and forth in front of Astro. Astor growled again and shot forward, leaping as Estrella’s shoulders. Estrella wheeled and kicked out with her hind legs, throwing Astro away. Estrella whinnied in a fierce sense of protection and surged forward, her head low. She came at Astro and nipped her shoulders, then came back for another pass. Astro got to her feet slowly. “Okay, you win. Let’s play Wolf hunt now,” she said, shaking grass from her mane.

CHAPTER 2

The storm surged around the herd. Estrella pressed closer to Astro. Renegade lifted his head towards the sky and called out, “Stay close to me!” The herd nickered their agreement and followed him as he galloped towards shelter.

Astro and Estrella followed. “I’m cold,” Estrella said, shaking.

“Me too.” Astro agreed. Estrella didn’t like the sucking and popping sound her hooves made when they lifted from the mud. She tried to slide them instead of lift them but she came falling down. Astro stopped. “Oh do hurry up Estrella, the herd is leaving!” She urged.

Estrella struggled in the mud, and finally got to her feet. She blinked rain and earth from her eyes and looked around. “Which way did they go?” she shouted over the thunder.

“I can’t hear them! I can’t smell them! I can’t see them!” Astro panicked. She reared and screamed.

“Okay, I’m leader now. Calm down,” Estrella said, giving Astro a friendly nudge.

Astro shivered, more in fear than in cold. Estrella pressed close to Astro and led her to the left. “I think there’s some shelter over here,” she said, pointing her nose at a dark patch.

Astro shuddered again. “It looks spooky,” she whispered.

“Nonsense, it’s perfect,” Estrella said, tossing her head. Estrella led Astro all night in circles, through rain and mud, trying to find shelter. Before they knew it everything went dark and neither of them knew anything anymore.

Estrella blinked. The sun was blinding. She turned her face away. “Mama, I’m hungry…” she almost let out a cry of fear. Her mom turned into a chestnut foal! “Mama! Mama! What happened to you?” she shouted.

The foal stirred. “Estrella?” she mumbled.

“Astro?” Estrella asked, looking around. “Where’s mama? Where’s Renegade?” she asked, holding back tears.

“Your herd isn’t here,” a deep voice said.

Estrella wheeled around. Right in front of them stood Durango, swishing his tail, his mane shining, his eyes curious and slightly suspicious. Astro squealed and crawled away. Estrella lifted her head in defiance. “Go ahead and try whatever you want but I’ll give it to you good! I’ll fight ya with only two hooves!” she shouted.

Astro closed her eyes. “Estrella, he’ll kill you!” she whispered.

“Estrella?” Durango asked, narrowing his eyes in thought. “You two are from Renegade’s herd,” he decided, his eyes growing round.

“Yeah, what’s it to ya?” Estrella snapped.

Durango laughed. “I’m Durango. I won’t hurt you.” Even though his words were reassuring, something in his eyes made Estrella wary. “Come, I know where there is some good grazing grass. You are about seven months aren’t you?” he asked.

“Eight!” Estrella shouted, highly offended.

Durango cocked his head to the side. “Okay then, eight months. Either way, you will eat grass will you not?” Estrella and Astro nodded.

Durango led them to a dark forest with plenty of grass and shade. Astro took to eating and Estrella ate a few bites but she kept her eyes on Durango. He watched them with a burning hunger. “Will you help us find our mommies?” Astro asked.

Durango shook his head. “Nope, you are part of my herd now,” he said proudly.

“I ain’t neither!” Estrella said, stamping a tiny hoof. “I’m going to have my own herd,” she added.

Durango shook his head. “Mares can’t have herds. Anyways, you have no choice. I know this forest left and right, the dangers too. You don’t.” He gave them a superior look.

Astro pinned her ears back in fear, but Estrella pinned hers in anger.

“Now get in here,” Durango said, gesturing to a small rock. There was an opening big enough for two foals to sit down.

“Why?” Estrella asked, anger in her voice.

“Because I have to go somewhere. I’ll be back, but there are wolves here and if you get in here they can’t get you,” he said dryly. Astro dashed in quicker than a bunny rabbit. Estrella shook her head, but Durango pushed her in. “Now stay there,” he ordered, before flicking his tail and vanishing.

Estrella snorted in defiance and anger.

“We should listen to him,” Astro whispered.

“Why?” Estrella shouted. “He won’t take us back to OUR herd.” Astro didn’t answer. “You really want to stay in this dark, dingy, dangerous forest? What about the meadow? And the herd? And our moms? Durango will get us killed in this shadow land,” Estrella said viciously.

“He is keeping us safe. Perhaps it won’t be so bad,” Astro said, shrugging.

Estrella narrowed her eyes. “I think we are prisoners, Astro. It is bad indeed.”

Durango returned an hour later with three bachelor stallions and one mare. “Estrella, Astro, this is Thunder, Thor, Fire Ring, and May. May is Thor’s herd. They are all joining me under one herd. May will look after you two,” he said, gesturing for them to come out.

“We want our mothers to look after us, not her,” Estrella said, growling. Astro nickered nervously. “I thought stallions didn’t join together in a herd when there’s a mare involved,” she said, remembering what her mom told her about bachelor bands.

“This is different,” Fire Ring said.

“We were all chased away from Renegade’s herd. Our families. We were chased from our moms, our sisters, and our home. It isn’t fair. Now you are outcasts like us,” Thor said.

“No we aren’t! Our herd wants us! We just got lost!” Estrella shouted.

“They left you! They knew you weren’t with them. They thought you were weird for wanting your own herd. Renegade hates any thought of freedom and you showed a great deal of defiance to him,” Durango said, calmly.

May looked at Thor, who nodded. She took a step forward. “Dears, your moms didn’t want foals that acted weird. They didn’t want to upset Renegade. They had to choose between you and banishment or Renegade and the herd. They lost you the first chance they got. Most mares would keep their foals beside them in storms. Yours didn’t,” she said softly.

Estrella couldn’t figure it out. She knew what they said wasn’t true, but for some reason they wanted the foals to believe they were unwanted. Astro believed it. “Mom did say that some horses didn’t belong in Renegade’s herd and that he once kicked a filly out because she had a hoof problem,” she said, uncertain what to think.

May nodded. “He kicked me out.” Anger flashed in her voice. “He took me from my humans then dumped me because I wasn’t used to the harsh life of the wild. One of my hooves cracked. It healed now, and Thor protected me. But Renegade is going to get it. My wrath.” She looked at Durango and he nodded eagerly.

Estrella looked at Fire Ring. He looked pleased with May’s words. “Right then, it’s a dangerous place here and you two foals need to know how to defend yourselves. You too, May. You’ll have to learn to fight like a stallion would,” he said.

Estrella gave him a suspicious glance. May grinned. “Great.”

Astro looked a little confused. “For your own safety.” Thor explained.

The two foals looked at each other and shrugged. Estrella didn’t like the looks of this. Bachelors joining together whom all hated Renegade, taking in foals they would normally kill and teaching MARES to fight? What was happening? Something strange and mysterious, that’s what.

CHAPTER 3

A year later Estrella was grazing by a river with Astro at her side. Since then, two colts had joined the small band; both were almost a year old and were taken from a human pasture. Durango was teaching them to fight. May usually took Astro away for a few hours and when she came back, she had a wild look in her eye. The stallions kept telling them how bad Renegade was and Astro believed them. But Estrella knew they were wrong. Renegade was just protecting his herd.

“It’s been a quiet day,” Estrella observed, looking at the beautiful sky and enjoying the sun.

“Yeah, it has,” Astro agreed.

“I wonder what my mom is doing?” Estrella added.

Astro shot her a look. “I don’t care. They left us remember? Ditched us!” She lowered her head and flashed her teeth.

Estrella gasped. “Don’t you remember what happened? I fell and got stuck in the mud and then we couldn’t find the herd,” she said, blinking in shock.

“No, our moms kicked up and knocked us down, then galloped away,” Astro shouted.

“You are wrong!” Estrella snorted.

Astro glanced over her shoulder. “Durango is going to lead us to kill Renegade. Give him what he deserves. He told our moms to leave us. They love us but they are loyal to him. Not for long. Not for long at all. In six more months we’ll all be ready to fight him. Then Durango will take over the herd and everything will be perfect. May will be lead mare and she’ll watch over us. And Durango promised that Silver Creek and I could be mates!” she added, casting a glance at the silver colt a few feet away, drinking from the creek.

“What? Kill Renegade?” Estrella backed away. “No! I won’t be apart of this! I’m leaving. I won’t fight against my father!” she said.

“He’s not my father,” Astro said. “My father is from another herd. Renegade took my mom from that herd. He thinks that I am his foal, but mom told me I wasn’t. I can kill him; he ruined my life by making my mom leave me.”

Estrella couldn’t believe her ears. What had happened to Astro? It was almost like she had been brainwashed! Estrella wheeled around and galloped deeper into the forest. She knew this place well now, and she knew the way out. She galloped as hard as she could, leaving behind her best friends. How could this happen?

Estrella was filled with grief as she made a mad gallop for freedom. She passed May, who was shouting for her to stop. She leaped over Fire Ring who was rolling in the dirt to scratch his back. She went in a wide circle around Thor and she pushed Durango out of the way. “Estrella! Estrella! Stop right now! Stop! I order you to stop! I didn’t authorize this!” Durango shouted.

Estrella shook her mane in response and galloped faster. “If you were a real leader you’d know how to control your herd. Renegade would chase after me. You, on the other hand, don’t want to dirty your hooves,” she mumbled. She looked over her shoulder and saw Durango rearing in anger. Thor, being wiser and older, started after her, but she was too far away by then.

Estrella didn’t know the way home but she had to leave that evil stallion band. She would travel to the ends of the earth to warn Renegade about the evil plot against his life. The gallop felt amazing to her! It had been so long! As soon as she left the forest, there was nothing but open sky and long patches of meadow. It had been a long time since she’d seen the open sky. No trees, no woods, no shadows. Freedom! It felt sweet! The sun warmed her back and the grass tickled her nose; she’d never seen grass so long! Behind her was the world she had been forced to live in; the life she had not enjoyed. It seemed as if it was a dream or something that happened to someone else. Estrella felt like she had no past and no set future. She was starting life over without anyone telling her what to do. She could start her own herd.

Estrella slid to a stop. She looked to her left. The mountains. Beyond those mountains lay a world she had never seen before. To her right would probably be the meadow where she grew up in. Should she go back? Renegade couldn’t fight that many stallions and colts by himself. But if she warned him what good could it do? He’d still have to fight by himself. The other mares couldn’t help. So even if she warned him it wouldn’t help. His fate would be the same. So should she return to a herd or live in the freedom she always dreamed of?

While she thought about it she grazed on the grass. It tasted so sweet compared to the cold, short grass from the forest. It always tasted like bark in the forest. This was sun-warmed grass with a sweet flavor that Estrella thoroughly enjoyed. When she was done she lifted her head to the mountains. Renegade would have to solve his own problems like everyone else. It was the life that stallions led. She had her own destiny to discover and no one would discover it for her!

CHAPTER 4

The air was bitter cold and the sound of the wind echoed off of the mountain walls as Estrella walked up the narrow path. In the distance she could hear an eagle screeching in search of prey. She shivered against the breeze and pushed on, trotting. Her eyes searched up and down, left and right, looking for any sign of danger. Her mother warned her about mountain lions. Suddenly a rock fell from above and her head snapped up. She gasped. Glowing yellow eyes peered at her from a high ledge. Estrella bolted. Running as fast as she could she tried to escape those awful eyes. She raced away from that dreadful spot, but she soon found trouble staring at her again. Right in front of her was a big gaping hole threatening to swallow her. She didn’t stop. Gathering up all her strength she sent herself flying over the gap, and landed on the other side with less than an inch to spare. She continued her mad gallop, desperation clawing at her.

When she finally stopped she was on the other side of the mountain. She was standing in a small ditch with water around her legs, cooling her down. She shook her bangs from her eyes. Hills and meadows with lush, green grass met her eyes. “Wow…this…this is….this is it! It’s mine!” she whispered. The whole world was in front of her, the dark past was behind her. This was a new life.

Forgetting her fear, Estrella galloped towards the meadows. Such lush grass waiting to be eaten. As she ran she chewed at the grass. It was even better than the grass she passed coming out of the forest! She slowed down and began walking, enjoying the sunny day. She watched butterflies fluttering about their business and she enjoyed kicking up her heels every now and then in a playful manner. As the day wore on she began to get very thirsty. She searched and searched for a brook or steam, but she didn’t find anything more than a small puddle. Sighing, she drank from the muddy water then settled herself in the grass. She didn’t stand to sleep like most horses; she felt safe surrounded by long grass. It hid her from sight and scent. Closing her eyes she smiled to herself. She would soon know every brook and every stream, every blade of grass, if she chose to stay here and make this place her home. But, since she was on her own, she could move anytime she wanted and find new places to live. She could travel the world!

Estella felt a soft nuzzle rub her flanks. “Few more minutes, mom,” she muttered. She had such an awful nightmare, but it ended pretty well. She dreamed she was captured by Durango, but then she escaped into a wonderland. Yawning she opened her eyes. Back to the unexciting world of herd life.

She looked around and saw no one. Looking over her shoulder she saw large, blue eyes staring at her. “Friend or foe?” A scratchy voice, deep with age, croaked.

It was a mare. She was a strawberry color with long, shaggy brown mane that hung in her face. Her coat was a mess and she looked like she had been dragged through the mud. “Friend. I’m a foal, only a year and eight months, so I don’t try to make too many foes,” she said, realizing that it was no dream.

The mare nodded. “Where’s your herd? Or human?” she asked, tossing her mane out of her eyes.

Estrella shrugged. “I was separated from my herd a year ago. It’s a long story. I’m Estrella by the way,” she said, getting to her feet. The mare didn’t offer her name.

“You get kicked out from some injury?” the mare asked. Estrella shook her head. The mare tilted her head to the side. “Well? Aren’t you answering any more questions?” she asked.

Estrella snorted. “I did answer!” she protested.

“I didn’t hear nothing.” the mare replied. “If you are going to speak then speak out loud.”

“I didn’t speak, I shook my head. Look at me, do I look injured?” Estrella snapped.

The mare backed down. “I’m sorry… I didn’t…”

Estrella looked at her eyes and bit her lip in shame. They were clouded and glazed; this mare was blind! “I got lost,” she whispered, trying to apologize to the old horse.

The mare sighed. “I got kicked out. My eyes… I couldn’t see. For a while our leader was helping me around, but he… a young colt beat him in battle after a mountain lion injured him and the colt made me leave. I’m on my own,” she said dryly.

“I’m very sorry about–”

The old horse cut her off. “I don’t need sorry nor do I want any. I survive on my own.”

A very awkward silence followed and Estrella didn’t know what to say. Finally the mare flicked her tail. “Anyway, you said yours was a long story. I got time, nothing to do but graze. It’s been so long since I’ve spoken to another horse…” she trailed off. Her throat sounded very sore and she sounded hoarse (no pun intended).

Estrella nodded and began telling her story while the mare grazed. When she was done, the mare looked up. “Well then, I guess we are both sort of alone. I’m Medusa, and I’ve seen enough hotheaded colts to tell that this Durango is too big for his boots. But if he’s gathering other horses to gang up on your leader…”

Estrella interrupted her. “Former leader.”

The mare nodded. “Of course, of course!” she said impatiently. “Then it would seem that he had a lot going for him. He may succeed in his scheme.” She looked at Estrella with her sightless eyes.

Estrella looked away. “I’m not going back to warn him. I want freedom from a herd,” she said.

The mare looked hurt. “I don’t think you should go back either. You couldn’t be much help. And I understand your thirst for freedom. Go where you want, do what you want. If I could see then I’d ask you if I could come too. But, being blind, I better stay here. I’d just be an unnecessary danger and I’d only slow you down.” She flicked her ears. “But a herd can also protect you, young one. There is safety in numbers. Many times I got attacked by wild beasts out here and almost died.”

Estrella looked at her hooves as she thought. She couldn’t leave Medusa! “Maybe…you could come with me? I wouldn’t mind caring for you! You could use…I could use the help,” she added, not wanting to offend the blind mare.

Medusa pricked her ears but she didn’t say what Estrella expected. “No! I didn’t say that for sympathy. I know I am of no use. Go, be free, find your freedom. Herds only hold you back,” she snorted.

Estrella reared. “Whether or not you like it, you are coming with me! You have to! I don’t want you to….uh…I mean…you are part of my herd. As leader I have to look after you.”

Estrella smiled. She hoped her commanding authority would make the mare feel like this wasn’t a favor to her. “Okay then ‘leader’, if you want to bother with an old bag of bones like me.” Medusa looked relieved.

Estrella smiled. “You’ll have to keep up. We move out now.”

Estrella moved beside Medusa and urged her on. Side by side they galloped deeper into the meadows and hills. Estrella used her body to move Medusa away from trees and rocks and to make sure she didn’t fall. It was great to have company!

CHAPTER 5

For the next few months Estrella and Medusa wandered the hills and meadows and found many caves and forests. But Estrella missed Astro and her mom and even though she enjoyed seeing and doing whatever she wanted she was worried about Renegade. So, in the end, she and Medusa headed for Estrella’s old home. It took five days of hard galloping but they finally arrived in the meadow. Estrella called out a greeting.

Renegade lifted his head from grazing. “Estrella?” he called.

Her mother lifted her head too. “ESTRELLA! I THOUGHT I LOST YOU!”

Then Estrella was surrounded by horses and greeted with affection and love. But her heart sank when Astro’s mother was crying. “Then Astro is gone?” she asked sadly.

Estrella shook her head. “No, she isn’t. She’s…” Before she could continue there was a challenging call and everyone turned to see Durango leading a band of seven horses. “RENEGADE! We come from the dark forest where we were forced to stay! Now we are taking what is ours. We are rejoining our herd as leaders!” Thor called.

Renegade swung his head around, his eyes narrowed in anger.

Before anyone knew what happened, Estrella shot forward and bit into Durango’s neck, kicked Thor’s shoulder, and pinned May to the ground. Everyone was in shock and the seven horses froze for two seconds. That gave Renegade time to act. He surged forward and took action, first taking Thor out, wounding him badly, then going for Fire Ring and Durango. The lead mare, sensing the danger her leader was in, joined the battle. But Durango and his colts and stallions were strong. They fought hard.

Mary kicked Estrella away and shot towards Renegade. Estrella tried to go after her but she found herself face to face with Astro. “Astro?” She gasped. Her friend reared and hit her nose.

Estrella shouted to the herd. “HELP US! We can drive them away! Work together!”

That day something happened that has never happened before. Mares and foals alike joined their leader in combat. It was a hard battle, but in the end the intruders were driven away and the herd succeeded. Astro stayed with the herd, realizing that everything she had believed were lies. Medusa was allowed to stay with Estrella and her herd and Renegade even made Estrella a second lead mare.

That day Estrella had saved them all from a life of pain and fear. That day a foal became a hero to the family she loved.

Mirar Estrella was different, she was strange, but she had saved the entire herd.