It was a beautiful morning, the day the bitter blood-bay stallion was born. This is a story he does not like to speak of himself, but I will tell you the tale. The tale of heart-break and sorrow, but also joy. I shall tell you the tale of Judas. Settle down now, settle down, and I shall begin.

. . .

It began on a beautiful spring day. The flowers had bloomed and the birds sang. And the air was filled with the scent of newly sprung lavenders and lupins. Even the wild rabbits leaped through the tall, lush grasses. Spring was kind this year. A beautiful roan mare lay in the grass not too far from her herd, who were lazily grazing on the moist and lush grass, she had returned several hours ago after giving birth to her new foal. And now he lay beside her, sleeping away the beautiful day. 

The mare was a beautiful creature, with mane and tail as black as the starless night, and her coat resembled almost that of a newly feathered robin. Her foal on the other hand, a young colt, was different from his mother. But he shared her pitch black mane, but bold shoulder and hip stripes slashed through his coat like long claws. And when he opened his eyes they were as red as a polished ruby stone, and when the sun touched them at an angle, they glistened like the paint the indians of the plains used to decorate their horses.

Young Judas looked up into the glowing yellow eyes of his mother. There was a sweet smile on her face as she leaned forward and ruffled the small tuff of a mane on her colts head. The little horse whinnied, shying his head away before pushing himself to his feet and charging towards his mother, eventually tripping and falling against her stomach. Athena's eyes closed as she laughed, her mane bouncing as she did. 

     "Come now Judas." The mare nudged the young colt once more before pushing herself to her feet. She stood waiting as the little blood-bay found his feet and bounded excitedly towards her. 

Judas was too young at the time to care or understand why many of the horses in his herd stared at him in such an offending manner. Like he was a disgrace. But his mother Athena was a proud mare, and she could care less about what any other horse thought about her son. She walked with her head held high, her mane blowing in the wind, and her tail swishing behind her. She was a beautiful sight. 

     "Where are we going moma?" Judas piped up as he skipped along side her, his muzzle touching the bottom of her stomach every now and then. 

     "To meet some friends of mine." Athena replied, a kind smile on her face. "They have some foals you could play with." She lowered her head to meet eye-level with the little colt. "They'll be happy to meet you." She chuckled.

     "I bet I'll be the very, biggest, of, them, all!" Judas boasted, puffing out his fuzzy chest and strutting his legs, letting out an alarmed squeal as he almost tripped over them. 

Athena nudged his shoulder to keep him balanced and upright. "Oh I bet you will." Her heart swelled with pride at her sons spirit. He was full of fire and happiness. And she could only hope for a good and safe future ahead for him.

When they finally reached the river, the colts eyes were wide with wonder as the sound of rushing water reached his ears. He had never heard anything like it before! 

     "Moma! Moma!" He bounded forward, stopping only when he stood on the very edge of the bank. "What is it moma?" 

     "That's water, Judas." Athena replied, stopping beside her son and looking down at their reflection. "This is what we drink."

Judas's red eyes grew wide with wonder. But his face was distorted for a moment with a funny, puzzled expression. "Is is good?"

     "Why don't you try it for yourself?" His mother lowered her muzzle to the water and took a refreshing drink. Judas seemed a bit hesitant to touch the clear surface of what his mother had called 'water', but his mother said it was perfectly safe, so he lowered his head and touched his nose to the waters surface, creating ripples in the water that blurred his reflection.

     "Look moma!" 

At first Athena seemed alarm at his exclamation, but she followed Judas's gaze she realized he was now looking at the small group of mares and foals walking towards them. Her eyes lightened up and her ears flicked towards them. Judas weaved his way through his mothers legs and skipped over to the nearest foal who was a chesnut with a white splash on her head. 

    "This must be your little one." One of the mares crooned.

     "Well, well Athena, isn't he a handsome one!" 

     "He looks so much like him, Athena!"

Athena's ears flicked behind her head in embarassment at her friends compliments. "Now now let's not make such a fuss." Her eyes were all on Judas. He was the best thing that had happened to her, despite the sins of his father, she swore in her heart and mind that she would never let Judas tread the path that his father did. She was determined to raise her colt in the ways of good. But little did she know that she wouldn't be able to be there with him every step of the way.

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(( chapter 2 coming soon! ^_^ ))