{♦} NOTE- I know that I was originally going to have a contest for Silver's mate, but when I drew Tilikum I realized he was perfect for her :3 {♦}

 {♦} Some quick facts about him:

- paint markings exactly like a killer whale

-18 hands tall

- Silver's mate

- quite a comedian, very funny personality

- Classy, a gentleman

- very protective

Tilikum POV:

     Um....hi, Im Tilikum. Where do I start...okay, so I was born into a herd lead by a cruel stallion....more like a Tyrant really. I was the only male, besides my father of course. I remember when I first opened my eyes and saw him, it was like a cold chill ran down my spine. He was huge, 17 hands at least. There were violent scars all over him, the most notable one was across his right eye that rendered him half-blind.  The scars almost glowed against his midnight black coat, which was shimmery like most horses. No, it was coal black, like a shadow.
 
     When I was born, he came over to inspect me. the herd gathered all around and just stared at me....I was born with the exact markings of a killer whale. The eldest mare spoke up and said it was an omen, that I would either be very evil or a great leader. My mother looked at me in bewilderment. She was a bay pinto with warm, loving eyes. Even though she knew all the horrible things that my father was putting me up to, she never treated me with anything other than warmth and love.

     "Silence! My son carries no omen but power to the herd! I shall train him to be a fine, strong stallion! Ah yes...my strong young colt. He'll do just fine." He turned to me with that dead eye. "Son, your gonna grow up to be a fine little killer."  And that was a promise that he did certainly keep.

     Most colts are raised being taught how to protect and take care of their herd. My father had no such intention, he wanted to keep me around to do his dirty work. Everyday for hours on end he would train me to fight without mercy. And starting from when I was a yearling, the training sessions would get bloodier and more violent. He would build up my rage with bites and harsh neighs, fueling my will to gain his approval. By the time I was 2, I had the muscle of a mature band stallion. But it was never enough to gain approval in his dead eye.  
     Father always felt threatened by the other herds on the homeland.  He wanted to rule it all, and that meant no competition from other stallions. Now......understand that this is a part of my past that I don't like to talk about.....but I think its best that everyone knows.  So.....um...he would send me out to.....get rid of...so to speak, these other stallions. He would tell me where to go when night had settled, I would set out into the darkness in search of the target. I was trained to be "quick and undetected", but to this day I still will not tell how I accomplished these horrible tasks.

     When I was about 3, I realized I had grown to be taller and stronger than father.  At this age I was also aware that what he was forcing me to do was wrong.....well, I always knew, but I was questioning why I still stuck around.  One day when he was acted rather aggressively to my mother, I decided I'd had enough. I charged at him in a clash of hooves and teeth. He whirled around, but it was too late. I.......well like I said, I will never share how I could so easily take another life.  When his body hit the ground with a thud, I felt no guilt, but I did feel the honor that I now held within the herd. I had to protect them with my life, and make sure that they never faced such tyranny again.

     Several months passed, I was doing my best to run the herd best I could. But after a while I noticed that my family was afraid of me, and that they didn't treat  me the same as they once did. I knew they were anxious that I would become like my father and turn power hungry. I often would try to assure them that I would never hurt them like he did. No matter what, they were still afraid. 

     One day the elder mare came up to me and said "Tilikum my dear, I know its hard to prove your innocence, but you have to give them time."

     "But nan, its been several months, and I've worked very hard, but they still seem unhappy. I don't know what to do.....I need your guidance."

     There was a long pause. "Tilikum, I think its time that you go off and make your own herd. A fresh start will do you good, your father kept you under his power for too long. We'll be fine, all of us can fend for ourselves, you a handsome young stallion, and you deserve your own family."

     The wise mare made sense, and I found my sense of purpose again. So that night, I bid them farewell and set off in search of my new life.