Ghost Horse-Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron

Chapter 6-A Star

Desert grumbled and complained as the two young horses made their way through the forest. Eagle chuckled as she tripped, earning a face full of mud. She snorted at him with an infuriated squeal. "Don't laugh! It's not funny!" she growled, ears back and her low as the filly trampled over the dead leaves and gnarled tree roots.

Slowly, the trees thinned out and a hill came into view. It was more sand than grass,  but it was better than nothing. Eagle stopped on top of it, glancing back to see Desert half dragging herself up behind him. "Slow...Down...I can't...keep up..." she gasped, breathing heavily. Eagle rolled his eyes and looked forward again. He sent out a shrill whinny, echoing around the eerie plains. Desert stopped and glanced around. It was just slightly dry grass for ages on end, a fee trees gathered in clusters here and there, with some paths that led away. Out of one of these paths, came a mare. She looked about the same age as them, possibly slightly older. Her coat was liver chestnut, with a blaze separating her pretty features.

"This is Song Bird; or Bird." The white colt introduced. "Bird, this is Desert; she was at the hostel." Another two came from the opposite side, two colts. They, too, were just a bit older, maybe a few months. "Desert, the twins, Ash and Silver." He nodded over to them, pale silver with dapples and a creamy mane and tail, as well as soft brown eyes. Ash leapt forward ahead of Silver and grinned.

"Dibs!" he whinnied, galloping forward. with his brother on his tail.

"No way! I dibsed! Remember? You dibsed Sierra!" Silver squealed back, stepping between Desert and Ash. As if by magic, another filly came closer, with a shimmering white coat, chestnut sprinkled along her back, legs, belly and face. Her hooves were an oily black, and made a soft sound as she trotted nearer.

"No one dibsed me." Sierra sneered, flicking her tail at the twin's. Desert glanced between them. Eagle glanced towards her and shoved them all back. "Who's the new filly?" Sierra added in a calmer voice. She was more boisterous than Bird by far, anyone could tell by the way she messed with Ash and Silver.

"She's Desert." Eagle replied, standing tall next to her. Desert grinned and stamped the ground, letting out a loud whinny. "We're kind of like a little herd; but more of a band. Like a family." the white colt explained quietly.

"So, where are you taking her?" Bird asked sweetly, shooting a glance towards her.

"The Cimarron." the band stopped and gasped. Silver stepped forward and tilted his head.

"But that's ages and ages away! It's in the Western country for goodness' sake!"

"Probably take little over a month to get there... or less."

"Eagle, where did you say she was again?"

"In the hostel."

"Well, no surprise there."

"Not really, they'd go to the other side of the world for good horses!"

"Makes me sick."

"Okay, okay, calm down. I'm taking Desert there tomorrow at dawn; you may as well fill up now, it's getting dark." Eagle suggested. The others mumbled in agreement, heading out to the furthest path. "We'll show you the best places." Eagle murmured into Desert's ear. Bird and Sierra followed behind Ash and Silver, entering a cover of trees with a lake running through the middle. The sunlight dappled through the leaves, creating a comfortable environment. Desert drank thirstily at the bend in the water, dripping from her chin as she grabbed at the long grass. It reminded her of home; a sudden wave of misery came over her. She wouldn't see them for at least a year. Glancing up, Desert focused on one particular star; the biggest and brightest and just wished everything would turn out right.

~Audio-Sound the Bugle from the first movie :D

Spirit nuzzled Rain's cheek by the river. His mate's head was low, brushing the long grass beside the water, but not eating it. Her usually bright eyes were dull with the ache of losing her daughter. She let out a sigh. "It'll be okay. I've sent out another patrol for her, just in case she got lost if she escaped." The golden stallion reasurred, going to nuzzle her again. Rain pulled away, staring in her reflection.

"Spirit, how can it ever be okay again? I lost her..." she replied, turning away to stare at him sadly.

"I-er... I don't know. I'm sorry, Rain." Spirit whispered, letting the sadness engulf him. They stood side by side, staring up at the biggest star, glistening brighter than the others.

Red sighed and glanced across at Spirit and Rain. "I miss Desert." he whispered, looking down.

"We all do." Jig replied, her voice breaking. She looked back and then let her head droop back to the ground under the shade of the tree.

Desert lay her head down and closed her eyes, squeezing them tight. Images of Rain came into her head. Of when she was sad, the paint mare would always be right by her side. "Remember who you are, Desert." she would murmur softly just before the filly would fall asleep, just as she did now.