by Violet Inkpen, age 13

CHAPTER 10

Tess looked at Ebony, her eyes misty. “Thank you!” she breathed, touching noses with him. “You saved Star’s life! Wilderness would have crushed her…” She swallowed and blinked, trying to keep the tears from pouring out.

Ebony was tired. He lowered his head towards Patience and dislodged the stone in one quick movement. Then he looked at Tess again. “Will you accept me into your herd?” he asked.

Tess smiled. “It isn’t my herd, it is yours,” she said gently.

Ebony looked back at Wilderness who, like a defeated king, was limping away slowly with his head down. “Wilderness!” he called out.

The stallion turned his head, his eyes demanding why Ebony wanted to further his humiliation. Ebony swallowed his newfound pride. he didn’t know why he did this, but he figured everyone should have a happy ending. “I proved I could beat you,” he said slowly. “But I do not want you to be alone. Not like I was. It is too hard. Come with us, stay in the herd. You and me can protect the mares together. We can both father foals. We can both save the mares from danger, together!” he said, dipping his head in respect.

Wilderness raised his eyebrows. His pride still hurt and shame still burnt in his eyes. But a flicker, a flame, a small spark of hope burned in his heart.

“It is not the custom, you won the herd. You deserve your reward,” he said, dipping his head.

Ebony smiled. “I am not a selfish horse. I do not want to lead a herd. I just want a family, a place to belong where other horses love me and need me. If you stay by my side, if you’ll protect the family…” He paused, loving the word family. “If you’ll protect the family with me, then the herd will be safer than any! If another stallion challenges one of us, the other can insure no mares are stolen or harmed. If a lion attacks two are better than one. Come with us, come home.” He let the offer sink in.

Wilderness couldn’t speak. His emotion was deep. A stallion, a stallion without a home or herd for many years, was willing to give it up and share his newfound power? He was willing to live side by side with the very stallion that nearly killed him? He wanted to share the mares, the land, and the responsibility? He really wanted that? Wilderness was confused and didn’t know what to think or say. Should he really let this stallion give up the dream of every bachelor wandering lost and alone? Could he himself, a proud stallion and fierce leader, allow his pride to be hurt even more by taking this offer? By showing weakness, and that he couldn’t live by himself.

Wilderness glanced at Tess with a burning love. Tess blinked at him, then looked at Ebony. Wilderness saw his own love reflected in her eyes when she looked at the other stallion. He lowered his head. He’d rather live alone. He’d get another herd someday, he was sure. But for now he couldn’t face his mares and foals and tell them that he had been beat. That he was only there because of the charity of the black stallion, their new and well-deserved leader.

“I will not come, I have a new life now,” he said, turning his back.

Ebony was relieved. At any given time Wilderness could have turned on him and stolen the herd back. He was glad the other stallion didn’t come, and Wilderness knew it. The once mighty stallion turned his head to take one last look at his lead mare, his two daughters, and the new leader of HIS herd. “But don’t let down your guard. One day I will reclaim what was mine,” he growled.

Ebony dipped his head and smiled. If Wilderness tried to return and steal the herd, he’d be ready.

Tess watched Wilderness gallop away and she felt no sadness. He was a good friend, but she now knew true love. She looked into Ebony’s eyes and he looked back at her. They both smiled in joy.

* * * * * * * * * *

The herd lived on with the new leader and prospered. Many foals were born to the herd, but none as fine and powerful as the ones Tess gave birth to with Ebony. Star and Patience became friends and grew up together. Their foals were friends too. Ebony was fierce and proud, fighting many stallions and mountain lions through his rein. He always won and always walked away with more assurance that he was where he was meant to be.

Wilderness found himself a large herd where he easily beat the leader and took over. Three years after taking the new herd, which was a year after loosing his old one, he came back to try and steal one mare; Tess. he never succeeded because Ebony spotted him from far away and moved the herd, keeping careful eyes on Tess. Wilderness followed them and led his herd in a chase for two weeks before he gave up Tess to Ebony for good.

They all found happiness in a way they would never dream before. Tess herself was the most joyful! She and Ebony found a long and happy life together, as leader and lead mare of the herd. Herds often switch leaders and many times the children of the leader will leave the herd with a bachelor stallion and find new happiness as the lead mare of a small herd.

Herds grow, herds shrink, foals are born, foals die in sickness or from a mountain lion, horses are captured, horses drown, and horses grow old and die. But with each death there is the joy of new life and as nature takes its course in the life of each horse we realize how untamable the heart of a horse is, and how determined they are to survive!

THE END