by Violet Inkpen, age 13

CHAPTER 8

Everyone’s heads turned to stare at Wilderness. With slow, majestic steps that commanded submission, he walked over to Ebony. Staring at him with cold hard eyes he snorted. “Step away,” he growled.

“Wilderness…” Tess began, but he silenced her with a flick of his tail.

Ebony pinned his ears back, resisting the stallion’s command. “She needs to get this stone out,” he protested, glancing at Patience’s pain filled eyes.

Wilderness tossed his head. “I can do it, not you! Get away!” he shouted, shoving Ebony aside and pushing him against the wall.

Ebony was outraged and angry. Humiliation burned in him. he was done taking orders from stallions because he feared them. If he didn’t fight now he may never have a herd, a family, horses that wanted him. And he wanted someone to love him, to need him, to enjoy being around him.

“No, I will not take orders from YOU,” he said, nipping Wilderness’ flanks.

Wilderness shot forward in surprise and wheeled around, narrowing his eyes in pure hate. Tess pushed Patience behind her with her nose, protecting her with her body. She wished Star would get up so she could move her to safety. The two stallions could trample her!

Wilderness pawed the ground, getting ready to fight. His pride was hurt badly. The black stallion shook his mane, bracing himself for the fight. Wilderness shot forward, pushing Ebony towards the wall. Ebony side stepped and dug his teeth into Wilderness’ passing flanks.

Wilderness spun and screamed his fury. He reared, pawing the air with his hooves and flashing his teeth. Ebony snorted, his nostrils flaring. Wilderness and Ebony circled each other, each trying to display aggression and scare the other into giving up the fight. Neither faltered; both wanted to help Tess and the foals too badly. Ebony faked a charge but at the last moment when Wilderness would have sidestepped he wheeled and kicked out with his back legs, giving Wilderness a hard shove in the chest and a kick in the chin. Wilderness backed up, blinking in pain. Blood trickled from his chest and mouth.

Ebony dipped his head, his mane rushing towards his face. He kept his head low, swinging it from side to side, taunting Wilderness with fake respect. Wilderness was enraged, and in anger he wasn’t fighting his best.

The two stallions both reared and met in the air, pushing against each other for the upper hand. With a hoof under his chin and one on his shoulder Ebony tried to bite into Wilderness, but he couldn’t get his nose close enough. Wilderness’ hoof was choking Ebony. Ebony threw a hoof at Wilderness’ nose and brought it down hard, hitting the other stallion and sending pain shooting to his face. Wilderness came down on all fours and shivered, his nose throbbing. Ebony brought his hooves down on Wilderness, making the other stallion fall toward Star.