the me and Linx discussing your punishments. Understood?"

He was fuming. He knew that Ghost would do his best to ruin his life, and expose him. He knew about Denver's escape, about the plot, about everything. He just lacked evidence. It was unclear to Spuro who he could trust with information in the future. Even Leon, one of his closest friends from the day he arrived four years ago, had given away dangerous truths. It seemed that what he was most in need of was a friend.

He stood still once he realised he had been pacing. It was the middle of the night and the rest of the Band was asleep aside from the sentries. James and Nickle were on duty, and he was comfortable with talking to them. So he made his way across the grass and into the Centre, now void of activity aside from the wind through the grass, and continued up the slope and up to the planes.

He looked up and saw Shortie's piece of woodland. Maybe the wise old mustang could give him some advice, along the lines of keeping enemies at bay. He knew he had to shut out all thoughts of his past, otherwise the ancient horse might sense them. At least it was rumored that he could see into your mind, or maybe his story of the trials had got somehow muddled up with it.

He stood outside the ring of trees, gathering up his words, when he heard a rasping voice say, "Enter." He obeyed, now feeling the familiar sense of fear in his stomach as he neared the visionary. Shortie stood under the light of the moon, with no guards or means of protection. "You wanted to talk to me," he said, not asking, but stating.

Spuro nodded. "I fear for my safety, and of what an enemy might do to me if I am not careful."

"Why?"

Spudo was knocked off course. He hadn't expected to be asked why. "I know why," the white horse smiled, "you regret crossing him. Your life would have been simpler, and you would not have had to defeat him. The first time was hard enough, and a second battle would seem impossible to win."

"True, but I can take a fight, I don't mind being hurt. It's my honour at stake," Spuro replied.

"If you've done nothing wrong, he can't hurt you," Shortie answered simply. Then he grinned slyly. "But that depends the definition of wrong doing. What have you done wrong?"

Spuro knew he couldn't answer. He remembered what he had thought not long ago about who he could and couldn't trust. Would Shortie protect him, or ruin him? He knew that if his past was exposed, he would receive more than a test with Van. The entire Band would be set up him - maybe even Pirate himself - and he wouldn't stand a chance of surviving such an attack.

"Well?" Shortie asked.

Spuro shook his head. The old horse sighed and looked at the moon through blinded eyes. "The world needs balance. If you've done something wrong, then you must be punished, unless you do something right before others are hurt further."

"But what if I did something wrong when I was only trying to do something right?" Spuro pleaded. It was all he was trying to do - help them.

"Then you must decide whether it was worth it. If it wasn't, accept the punishment coming to you. If it was, be confident and loose your fears. And to be sure, commit a good deed." He looked back down at him and smiled gently. "A good place to start would be to trust someone for a change."

Spuro said goodbye and left the clearing in search of James and Nickle. He tried to make sense of the visionary's responce to his questions. He was scared of Ghost because of his determination and cruel nature, and he was terrified of the dun getting one over him. As hard as he tried, Spuro couldn't be angry with Leon, he must have been in so much pain because of that monster, no wonder he spilled - it had been a final, desparate attempt to save his life. And it had failed. But he was only scared of the Band finding out the truth - especially Pirate - because he knew what he had done had broken their laws.

And yet, was it the wrong thing to do at all? His parents had always told him to play by the rules (not that he had as a colt, but since he had joined this herd he had learned his place quickly), and so after swearing oaths and pledging loyalty to his leader, it seemed that he almost deserved the title of a traitor.

Almost, though, just almost. The Band surpressed many values of a true life - freedom, equality, non-violence were some of the few. What about the slaves who tended to the territory, who were worked to the ground before being turned over as cougar fodder? What about youngsters like Bramble and Denver, who, no matter how much they trained or tried, were no match in the arena? And what about the twisted system of leader, captains, officers and privates, one having the authority over the other? If anyone had done wrong, it was Pirate, for destroying the lives of hundreds of wild horses, making a mockery of what was known as the wild, where animals could be free. So Spuro's actions against the dictator were merely his punishment. One day, Pirate would feel the blow of justice. As the chestnut stallion approached his friends, he decided that time was running out, and if he didn't act soon, Pirate would give the word to attack herds in the valley. He couldn't let that happen.

"You want to do what?" James hissed, careful not to draw attention to themselves.

He, Nickle and Spuro were standing under the cover of darkness at their sentry post, with not another herdy in sight for miles. Spuro had made them give their word that they would not repeat what he was about to tell them, whether they agreed with him or not, and after they had sworn to secrecy, Spuro had told them his plans. Nickle had his eyes tightly shut and was very quiet, obviously thinking, but James was doing all he could from holding back from knocking some sense into the boy.

"You're out of your mind, Spuro, you're a Senior Captain, for goodness sake! Do you want to throw that away at the beginning of the year, with new officers ready to step up and take your place? Do you?" he whispered quickly.

"Look," Spuro reasoned, looking him in the eye, "I'm not planning on any action just yet, I just want the team to be prepared. Pirate won't wait long before he starts sending out scouts to find the first herd. We can't let that happen."

"Spuro," Nickle sighed, opening his eyes, "I know your reasoning, but the Band has gathered in great force over the last couple of years, every member would be executed immeadiately if they were found out, including us three. It only takes one horse to kill us all."

"Absolutely insane," James muttered to himself, turning away. Spuro moved infront of him, blocking his way.

"Fine, then this stays between us. That was just a warning that things might start up again, but we'll leave it until there are plans to attack, how about that?" The two other captains nodded in agreement. "But it won't be long, mark my words, Ghost will make sure of that."

Over the next few weeks it seemed that somebody in the three had let the word slip to another member of the group. Several times Spuro received a nod from a distance herdy, showing him they were prepared if he called on them. He suspected it was James, his mood must have gotten the best of him and he must have fumed to another horse.

But it was a tense time for the young captain, especially when it came to training his pupils. Muskrat and Dillion were starting to stick together more, leaving Zac out and alone to face Pride's skills in the lessons. Also, Spuro could relate Pride's overconfidence to that of Jupiter's. His friend had lost his mind and became obsessed with victory in battle. By betting his free time as his stakes in fights, and training up to compete stronger opponents, Spuro could see the same fate unfolding for the youngster.

Tay and Copper were coming along nicely, but that left a problem for Spuro - he would have to concentrate on one. Only one of the six could win their trials and make it to the rank of officer at the end of the year, and unless Pride managed to change his ways and make it to the end of the year, it meant that the two friends would have to face each other in an actual fight.

While he was observing the events of the Band, Spuro lifted the training slightly and decided to make sure his concerns were known. He started with Zac. The poor lad still had a chance in the trials, but he needed to let go. Spuro found him by the pond one break time and decided to take the oppotunity while he was alone.

"You know, they do say that three's a crowd," he said gently, making the youngster face him. "Butted out?"

He nodded. "It isn't personal, son, but I don't think you should waste another second on them. I'm not saying give them the silent treatment, but just let them kiss each other until they're sick of each other's company. When they come back begging for you, you can choose to welcome them back or to tell them where they can stick it."

The pinto laughed a little. "Do you think I could become a good fighter?" he asked, looking out across the grass.

"You're already a good fighter, that's why you're being tutored. You lack confidence, Zac, and Pride has too much of it. I don't want you two training together any more. Muskrat can work with him. Hopefully he'll learn to put in some effort or face the pain."

"Then what am I doing wrong?" he sighed.

"You've just been hanging around the wrong horses, Zac. If