Arkell flew over the treetope, the wind ruffling his feathers. The young eagle landed next to his farther. The humans were driving forward their horses and train. Homeland was doomed. The two eagles flew off to find Spirit and Legend. The dun and palomino were standing with Essy (Esperanza), Halt and Rain. The eagle landed on Spirit's shoulder, "The men are even closer, they'll be here by morning and we'll all be caught." Legend looked at Spirit meaningfully and the dun sighed, "We have to leave." Essy gave a cry of despair, "When? Us old ones can't go as fast as the rest of the herd." Arkell flew down from his perch on a branch and landed on the grass. "We'll have to leave tonight."

Later that night the herd moved slowly to East to cross over the mountains. The young colt Spirited slept and didn't wake as the mares moved past him. The herd eventualy made it to the mountains and crossed over as the crisp wind blew. There was going to be a snow storm. The Cimarron herd and Halt/Legend's herd vanished into the mountain side like ghosts. Arkell flew over homeland one last time and saw a dun figure on the ground. The storm was getting closer at an alarming rate, "Come young colt we have to leave." The eagle said as he landed. Spirited looked up at him and snorted, "I will leave in the morning. I'll be fine until then." And with saying that Spirited put his head behind his body so the wind could not disturbe him while he slept. Arkell looked around nervously. He knew he couldn't leave the colt alone but it was dangerous here- not only because of the men but because of the snow storm thatwas coming. Oh why did this colt have to be so foolish! Arkell pulled on Spirited's mane and said, "At least come with me to find shelter." Spirited sighed and struggled to his feet.

Arkell led him to a large rock that was jutting out of a small hill. The colt sat down under the rock and went back to sleep immediatly.

Arkell kept glancing at the moon. His eyes could make out things that other animals could not see. What he could see told him that the storm was going to be huge. The rock wouldnt protect them from the weather. Arkell flew into the sky, flying against the strong, cold wind to find better shelter for the colt and himself. Soon Arkell found trees that were tightly packed together. The black shadow flew down to the trees and landed in the long grass beside a startled mouse. Arkell didn't have time to chase the mouse so he left it be. He hopped over to thick bushes and found a small opening. It was big enough for Spirited to hide in and if Arkell couldn't fit he could shelter in a branch. Arkell flew back to Spirited and pecked at him until he got up and ran after Arkell. After about thirty minutes of the duns fastes cantering and Arkell's easy pace the two companions arrived at the bushes, Spirited sweating and shivering and Arkell's feathers ruffled. Spirited shuffled into the bushes awkwardly and Arkell roosted in a tree.

Spirited huddeled in the bushes while the wind holed and shook his shelter. He would fight any stallion when his time came but this was the most fearful enemy a horse could have for one could not fight the wind. Well i fight Whirlwind and he is as swift as it. Spirited thought to himself. He started as a black shape hopped into his shelter. Then, realising it was only Arkell, he went back to thinking himself out of his fear.

Akell watched the colt with interest. He had never spoken to Spirited before he had just been there all the time. Often as a trouble maker. Arkell sensed the storm was in its final stages (by now it had been going for ages) so he flew back into the storm to try and find good grazing for the young stallion before the strom ended. He flew for some time in the harsh but dieing wind until he found a pasture in between two grea mountains. Arkell flew back tp Spirited to bring him to the pasture when the wind died.

Spirited plodded along tiredly. He was exhausted from his fear and the mountains were so far, "I need to rest bird." Arkell landed and looked at Spirited. Each animal was important in the world and had its own wisdom if rain had tought him this he would not be rude to another animal especialy not the wise, leadership prone eagle, "You need to come with me and find food, if you don't now you will find yourself too weak to go anywhere later. Trust me, im an eagle...... Horse." he had to add the horse because this little brat had infuriated him and Arkell had not quiet developed patience for young ones. Spirited layed down so Arkell hopped over to him and pulled on a piece of his mane. Spirited tried to nip him but otherwise did not move. Arkell bit him on the flank with his sharp beak, leving a small gash. Spirited tried to nip him again, this time successfully. Arkell kept biting and pulling on Spirited's mane until the colt finally gave up and shakily stood up. Arkell plunged into the air and gave a loud cry that meant, "Come! Follow me, it is this way!"

Once Spirited and Arkell had both eaten and Spirited and Arkell went to rest under some large snow covered trees. A few hourse later, Spirited, who had not doe as much as Arkell, woke and decided to look around the pasture. At the end of the pasture there was a small creek. Only a few trees dotted in the grass area. the mountaines on the sides would be good getaways if a human or predator tried to attack but Spirited was foolish and would never be smart enough to use this escape. He would remember this place, if he fought his father and lost he would create a herd and come back here. Spirited drank at the little creek then roamed around the grassy area. He stopped when he smelt another horse. Spirited arched his head and walked around some more acting as though he did not know anyone was there. When Spirited came close to a shadowed corner of the valley, black hooves struck out at him and Spirited turned and nipped savagly at his invisible attacker. Spirited backed up and a speckled, dark grey colt followed. The colt was not as handsom as Spirited or any of his family members with his white spots here and there, and his mostly white head. The grey screamed a challenge and Spirited reared in acceptance.

For about a minute the two colts circled one another. Spirited lost his patience and lunged at the grey who lept aside easily then jumped forward and bit SPirited savagly. Arkell who heard the screams came to watch the fight, although he rarely observed Spirited he knew that he never had had a serious fight. He watched the grey carefully and began to realise that the grey, although young, was an experianced fighter and was going to wear Spirited out. This didn't occur to the Spirited's foolish and cockey mind. The grey spun around and kicked at the surprised Spirited. Spirited stumbled and fell. The grey ran up to him and reared, Arkell flew down quickly and flapped around the greys head giving Spirited time to get up. The dun lept off the ground and bit at the grey, he turned and slammed his side against the greys. After sometime of the two horses gaining on one another then losing their advantage Spirited had somehow managed to wear out the slab shouldered grey. Spirited reared and nipped at the stallion who then bowed his head in submission. Spirited was practically jumping in pride and joy, "What's your name challenger?" He asked out of protocol. The grey replied, "Shrike-Thrush, named after the bird itself. What is your name..... champion?" He said the last word slowly and iwth injured pride. Spirited arched his neck, "Spirited. Do you have a herd?" Shrike-Thrush pinned his ears against his head, "Yes." Arkell flew down and said, "Spirited you cannot take a whole herd with you." Spirited thought for a moment then said to Shrike-Thrush, "I will take no mares today but one day i will return and if you are still the stallion of your herd then i will claim my prize."

After Shrike-Thrush agreed, Spirited and Arkell went on their way again. Arkell had only just realised how far they were from the mountains. It was only a small indent in the horizone and the two of them still had to find the herd when they crossed over them. Arkell landed on the colts back, obiously angering him, and said, "I need to teach you." Spirited looked at him, "No one needs to teach me anything." Arkell came as close to raising an eyebrow as an eagle could, "One, i need to teach you how to judge a good fighter, two i need to teach you to honour the rule of the world and three, i need to teach you to hold your own head and use the wisdom of the horse." Spirited snorted but didn't say anything more.

Arkell began teaching the colt straight away. The first lesson was to respect every animal for its charactaristics. Arkell spent days drilling this into Spirited's head, despite how extremely stubborn Spirited was. Arkell flew ahead again to find a place to rest and find food. He decided to just go deep into the forest with Spirited. He turned and went to retrieve the colt. Spirited was searching for some grass that wasn't dead when he heard a sharp cry. Recgonising the call Spirited threw up his head and strted trotting to where Arkell was circling. Once Spirited was beneath him, Arkell took off for the depths of the forest. Once the two of them reached a fairly grassy. Arkell went hunting and Spirited grazed.After about ten minutes Spirited heard a howl. The sound pierced the darkness and sent a shiver down Spirited's spine. The howl was echoes with another and another. Spirited began grazing again nervously until he looked up to find glowing eyes in the darkness. Spirited whinnied and one coyote jumped at him. Spirited lept aside