horses, Zac. If you're accepted, noticed and cared about - like proper friends should do - you'll feel better about yourself. You can train with me at break some time if you want, it'll give you a boost. I don't bite." He paused, then added, "Unless it's an actual battle." He winked, and headed off to graze.

Zac looked at his reflection in the water. His teacher was right - Muskrat and Dillon weren't the right people to befriend. He was tired of being pushed about by them. He was overweight and wimpy, but he would change that. By the end of the spring it would be impossible to tell what he looked like now. The scouting herdies were built to tackle all terrain and weather, their strength and stamina was incredible. Surely they would have tips on how to get into shape?

Spuro thought that Pride drained his confidence. In a few months they would be equals. It would be a lot of hard work, and he would have to train and focus almost constantly, but it would be worth it. If his captain believed he had the potential, he could do it.

"This time, Pride, you're going to spend your detention being lectured," Spuro said firmly, leading the roan away from the others. They lay down under the shade of a tree and chewed on the cool grass as they spoke.

"How many bets have you actually won, Pride?" he asked.

The youngster shrugged. "I dunno, ten? Twelve?"

"Out of how many, then?"

He paused, shifting nervously in his place. "About, fifty," he replied quietly, clearly embarrassed.

"Then why do you bother?" Spuro sighed, shaking his head. "You don't have to place stakes, lad. If you want to challenge higher opponents, wait for the full moon and enter in the games. Winners receive extra breaks, and you don't lose anything if you surrender.

"Look, I had a horse in my tutor group who was similar to you; strong, proud, magnificent fighter. But over the months he became obsessed with winning fights, and in the end it killed him. James killed him, when the foolish brute challenged the captain. You're a good asset to the Band, Pride, don't let it all go to your head. Keep your four feet firmly on the ground if you want to survive to the end of the year."Spuro got up and walked away, leaving his student to ponder over his words. He doubted that he would listen - but this was his last chance. Spuro wouldn't warn him again.

James and Spuro were grazing together in the Centre when Nickle approached them. There was a meeting on at the Counsil, which all captain had to attend. They trotted to the headquarters, Spuro hanging his head low all the way. No doubt that meant that Ghost would be there. The stubborn mule would no doubt try and ruin his reputation. James nudged him in the shoulder, reading his thoughts, to give him some encouragement.

Sure enough, Ghost was there, standing right next to Pirate and chatting nicely. Spuro rolled his eyes and approached the group of five stallions. The meeting started with a report on the Band's forces (lead by Ghost and the captains of each area), which Pirate already knew. Once the report was finished he took his usual place on his outcrop.

"So it is clear to you, now, that we have all we need to begin the preparations. Our scouting parties are highly trained, our defences are indestructable and our attack units are unstoppable. Ghost has been talking with me about how we are ready to take on an invasion,"

Spuro's mind zoned out for a moment. Pirate was planning to attack? And Ghost - that evil, scheming horse - had prompted it.

"and we have come up with a course of action. Shot, you are to take your finest scouters to the west of the planes. We located a herd there a few years back. The stallion was old and sick, and there were no batchelors to take over from him. By now an inexperienced youngster is likely to be the lead stallion of the herd. When you find their territory, head back to our grounds to report your findings, and leave two of your horses every few miles along the way to mark the path."

The Scouting Captain nodded.

"While the scouts are gone for roughly a month, Spuro, you are to pick out the thirty finest fighters of the Band, and Nickle, you do the same with the defences. You will both give their names to James, who will take them on in advanced training, while you two tutor his pupils for the time being. Ghost and Gorse will form an attack plan from the scout team's investigations, then Gorse, you will run through the plans with me and James.

"Once we know what we're doing, I'll speak to our Visionary Captain to try and predict any unfortunate events. Early the next morning the thirty fighters, thirty defenders, Captains of Attack, Deffecnce, Attack and Deffence, and Scouting will leave with me. While we are gone, Gorse will take charge of the Band, and all six-horse tutored members will receive time off."

"Which of us reckon that Pride will bet his leave as stakes?" Spuro joked aloud, causing the captains and the leader to laugh like the entire thing was just a game. It had been a test, which had payed off. Ghost had laughed, but only by forcing himself to. Now the dun was glaring at Spuro from across the circle.

"Quite," Pirate smiled. "Shot, prepare your trackers and head out at midnight. We want to keep this under wraps. You are not to tell any of the chosen units of the plan until intensive training begins - for security reasons. You're all dismissed."

Spuro and his friends wandered back to their quarters to discuss the meeting. Recently, captains had been given a small patch of land each that they could spend their breaks in if they wanted to relax and leave their students be. They stood under a large pine tree in James' land and whispered their thoughts to one another.

"Spuro, I get that you're worried about the safety of the herdies," Nickle reasoned, "but this is going to be a small attack. You heard Pirate, it's likely that a mere youngster is in charge of the West Plane Herd."

"But only likely," Spruo replied, shaking his head. He did that a lot nowadays - being a captain was so restless. "By now an inexperienced stallion could have produced several colts over the years, and he might be so inexperienced that he's let them stay with him."

"And do you really think that they will be a match for us, Spur?" James chuckled.

"It's not all about whether our horses will survive or not, James," he snapped, "It's about standards, rights and freedom. Why should our horses have to fight others, hm? Why should other herds suffer because of one stallion's selfishness?"

"And how do you suppose we stop the plans from going ahead, Spuro?" James retorted, pushing into his face.

"I told you that once Pirate made a move I would alert the others," Spuro whispered slyly, "and there are several scouting officers that are part of our group. I'll have a word with them before they leave tonight, see if they'll sabotage the search. In exchange for their risk, they can go free."

Spuro kept to his word and searched for the small group of scout herdies that night. Some of them had been officers long before he turned up in the Band, and the only reason that they hadn't been promoted to a captain status was because the current one jsut wouldn't die. Shot was the typical image of a wild, black stallion: muscular, unbroken, tall, fast. His relexes and senses were almost as strong as his loyalty to their beloved dictator.

He tip-toed through the centre and headed to the scout barracks, hoping that he wouldn't need an excuse to get in. Luck was on his side, as it seemed that the mustangs were waiting for him. "Are you going on the mission?" Spuro whispered.

"I am, so's Rodney," a bay replied. Their group was surprisingly large for a secret organisation, so the elder stallion's name escaped Spuro while they were talking. "But we've told the others. It isn't good, Spuro, it isn't good. Just a month to pick out the elite fighters before we return. For goodness sake - pick only those you trust."

Spuro agreed, seeing the logic in the bay's words. He told the duo about his plans on how to postpone the army reaching the herd. They were to volunteer to watch the herd until the other's returned, then warn off the herd as soon as they were positive of being alone and abandon the area in search of a new home. If they were'nt alone, kill the other guard and get rid of the body. If they could only act as a direction post on the way home, they were to leave once all other horses were out of sight and travel far away until the nightmare was over.

"And if we're caught?" Rodney said sadly, thinking of the ones they had lost in plans like those.

"We know what happens if we're caught," the bay snorted, looking down on his cowardly thoughts, "we beg to be killed, and don't say a word."

"Well, it doesn't have to be that drastic," Spuro replied, "just make sure it doesn't spill. The sooner you get away from the scene the better. Like I should do now before someone suspects us."

He turned to go, then said loudly, "So just call for me if there are any more signs of a second cougar. Van could do with a lady, but he doesn't want competition."

By the next morning the top scouters were gone, and the captians had to lie to the other herd members and say that they were searching for an outpost to carry over horses if the territory couldn't hold