Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron 2 ~ The Story of Strider

Chapter 3 ~ Sunrise

Chapter 3 ~ Sunrise

I galloped aimlessly all that next day, awaiting the nighttime. My mind was full of thoughts of Esperanza. I’d never felt this way about any other mare before, especially after I had gone rogue.

I was in the little valley, looking over at the waterfall near here. I thought to myself how nice having a herd here would be as I nipped at the sweet grass with morning dew still on the long blades.

I pricked my ears as I heard a slip of hooves behind me and my eyes widened as I saw Esperanza galloping towards me. I dashed to her and was happy until I remembered her herd.

“Esperanza, what are you doing? Your herd, you just left them?”

“I couldn’t wait until tonight Strider.” She confesses and nuzzles my neck.

“Your head stallion, Phantom, he will be coming after you.”

“I know, but I want to stay with you, here in our little valley.”

I thought of the grand things we could do, finding other rogues and having our own herd here, she and I being the head stallion and lead mare. But I thought non-selfishly and I shook my head and I stomped a foot.

“Esperanza, you need to go back. Although I promise you I will return to you tonight. I shall scavenge for rogues like myself and start a herd. With you.”

Esperanza looked saddened at having to leave but perked up when she heard that. “Please be sure to come.” She nuzzles me and I nuzzle my sweet mare back.

“I promise.” I repeat.

I watch Esperanza trudge up the hill of the valley and rear up in goodbye before galloping away. I gaze at the same spot, long after she’s gone.

~~

I had been galloping nearly all day, the sun was touching the mountaintops in the west, soon I would have to turn away from my search for horses and return to Esperanza. Soon I turned around from my search until I heard groaning and stumbling on the hard forest floor.

I carefully and cautiously trotted over to the source of the suffering to see the saddest sight I’ve seen in quite a while. A dun splashed white mare was bleeding from claw marks on her back. She also had rips clearly seen poking out on her sides. I knew I should have killed that mountain lion; it looks like she’s another victim.

I nickered kindly to her and she lifted her head looking at me will fear obvious in her eyes.

“Do you have a herd?” I ask.

“No, they left me when I got attacked by the cougar.” She sounded faint.

“I am Strider, join my herd and I shall help you.”

“I am Sunrise. I was an Indian horse before I was taken by a herd. Please, help me.”

The sun was now halfway set over the mountain range when I herded the dun mare over to the river over by the valley, trying to hurry before I missed seeing Esperanza. I helped wash her wounds in the clear, cool running water and soon I left her in the valley, grazing to her hearts content, swearing I’d be back. Although she was scared about the cougar coming back I said she’d be fine. Then I took off to Esperanza.

~

At our meeting I told Esperanza about Sunrise and how she was attacked. My love was excited and couldn’t wait to meet her. She had talked to a few other horses in her herd who were getting tired of Phantom and his hard-hoof ruling and they would join us. Now our herd was of five horses including Esperanza and I. We were thrilled. Only a few more horses and Esperanza could leave her herd.

Our visit time was cut short when a colt awoke and almost saw us. I bid her goodbye and went back to Sunrise, we slept side by side keeping each other warm.

I only imagined how it would be when we had a whole herd down in the valley.