A RENAGADE'S TALE

Written by: Renagade12

CHAPTER 1:

I stared at my father, with coldness in my eyes and heart. My eyes seemed to pierce right through his body, and as he looked at me and pleaded for me to release him, I simply ignored him. My anger and rage was boiling inside me as I remembered all the horrible things he had done to me.... It was my chance to get revenge. But my pain and anguish started a long time ago.... When I still lived in the Cimarron herd. The story I want to tell you is full of anger, pain, betrayal, adventure, and revenge. This is my story; this is... a Renagade's Tale.

My life began when I was born; I awoke cold and hungry on the wetted grass. I opened my eyes shyly to see my brother Zuren looking down at me, and then I saw a beautiful mare even bigger than the foal I had just seen! My brother had already learned to stand, as I was still beginning to well- understand where I was. My mother looked at me and smiled, I tried to smile back at her as she nuzzled me softly. Zuren was getting cocky and tried taking a step forward.  "Neee!" I whinnied out in pain as he stepped on me by accident. But it wasn't going to be the only time Zuren hurt me. "Come my sons! You must meet your father!" Ha! That was the biggest mistake my mother had ever made. Zuren happily bounded across the meadow, while I struggled to keep up. I was about to fall, but to my surprise, I was caught and pushed back up by my mother Rana. We made are way up the steep grassy hill, and as we did, the faint smell of other horses filled my nostrils. Soon I saw my brother puff up his chest and stand strait up tall. I heard a deep low voice speak out, and a dark shadow looming over me. "Rana my mate, we have done well!" Zuren was taller than me, and it made it difficult to see over his head. I tried standing tall and jumping up to get a glimpse of my father, but I soon realized I didn't need to see him, he had already seen me. My father looked at me coldly as he saw that behind my "oh so perfect brother" stood a shy helpless foal. His eyes grew wide and he looked angry and sad at the same time. He frightened me, and that was what started it all. He glared at me, turned, and then walked away. I looked at my mother confused, and she looked at me the same way.

Growing up with Zuren wasn't so bad at first, we acted like normal brothers, we looked like normal brothers, and we each suckle from the same mom. But we didn't play like real brothers. Every time I would play with my brother, he'd play too rough. He would tackle me down to the ground and hold me there against my own will. "Zuren! You’re playing to ruff!" I would scream out in pain. "No I'm not! Maybe you just don't play right!" He would answer before stomping all over me. My mother would come and see what he was doing and scold him.
"Zuren! I've told you many times not to play with your brother so roughly! He's smaller than you are and you could hurt him!" "Oh, but mama! He doesn't play right! And he's so.... Scrawny!" Zuren would complain. My father would come to see too, but he was more concerned for Zuren. He would only glare at me. But today he came and went straight up to Zuren and said "Son, I have watched you, and I think it is time for me to train you as a warrior." Immediately Zuren's eyes lit up. "Oh father, thank you! I promise I won't let you down!" Zuren pronounced proudly. My mother nudged me up and she could tell I was hurt. "Why didn't father offer me an apprenticeship momma?" I asked confused at my father's actions. But my mother wouldn't answer she only helped me up and said in a kind voice; “Ah... Come on my little Renagade, let's get you cleaned up." I would respect my mother and follow her to the meadow, where my Aunt Rain and her foals Geist and Storm were. Storm usually spent his time with his father Spirit, so Geist usually stayed with her mother. Geist was my only friend; she played with me and supported me no matter what. Rain's head pulled up at the sound of our hoof beats. She greeted my mother and Geist came running up to me. "Hi Ren! Wanna play?" She said excitedly. "Not right now Geist." I answered sluggishly. "Well, okay then...Maybe later?" "Sure." "Renagade! Come here please!" My mother called. "Coming mom!"  I called back. I sat in front of a small pool of water where my mother washed my face and combed my mane.  “Renagade, I don't want you to be upset about your brother becoming an apprentice. Your father only picked him because he was the stronger of you two. Remember what I told you?" She said comfortly. "Yes mama; if I believe in myself and trust my heart, I can accomplish anything." I responded sitting up tall and confident. “That’s my Renagade." She said then nudged me into the pool playfully. "Hey! Mom!" I got up and chased her around. I loved my mother more than anything. She was always there for me and stood up for me whenever Zuren was mean to me. After that day Zuren, my mother, my father, and I went to sleep in the highland meadow where the stars were crystal clear in the night sky. Once my mother and father had fallen asleep, Zuren rolled over next to me and started whispering things in my ear; "Today, dad taught me how to do a special fighting move," "Cool" I said sarcastically, rolling back over. "We had so much fun! Too bad you didn't get to come. It's probably because you’re too scrawny and weak to handle it." "Shut up Zuren!" I started to get angry. "C'mon Renagade, face it, dad didn't pick you because he doesn't like you!" Zuren said whispering closer into my ear. I sat up now, not looking at Zuren. "That's not true! Dad...doesn't.. Think that way..." "Oh, yes it is! And you know it!" I shut my eyes tightly, and tried to go back to sleep, but it was impossible.

The following morning our father had brought some berries and fresh morning dew grass, over to where Zuren and I were just waking up, I looked at the food my dad had brought and my mouth started watering. But once he came over, he dropped it in front of Zuren. "Father Do I get some too?" I asked looking up at him. "Of course not! This is Zuren's training food! It’s to keep him strong for his lesson! Weaker foals still suckle from their mothers." My father scolded me. Zuren sneered with a mouthful. Later on that day the mares and fillies, were preparing to go to the orchard fields to collect fruit for the herd. I sat on the hill watching them, when I heard hoof steps behind me. I turned around to see my aunt Rain approaching me. "You look kinda lonely up here by yourself, why don't you play with Storm, or your brother?" She suggested. "Because Storm is busy all week with Spirit and Zuren's off "training" with my father." I replied, as my head began to droop. “Oh, well then, perhaps you would like to accompany your mother and me on our trip?" My spirits immediately lifted up, as I reacted excitedly. "Really aunt Rain?! Ya mean it?" "Sure, Renagade! Geist always enjoys your company." "Thank you." With that, I followed Rain down the hill as we joined up with the other mares. "Ren!" Geist shouted as she ran up to me and gave me a huge hug. "I'm so glad you came! Now we can pick fruit together!" "Yeah! I've never been to the orchard before though, what's it like?" I asked full of excitement. "Oh my gosh Ren! You’ll love it! It full of beautiful trees and flowers, the sun hits it just right,..." Geist went on and on. My mother and Rain smiled at each other, as we walked on. It was a while before we actually made it to the orchard, but as my eyes fell upon it, I realized everything Geist had said about it was true. Geist and I chased each other through the fields of long golden grass, until we just couldn't take it anymore. Once we were finally done, and calmed down, we decided to settle down near the trees. "Geist, can I ask you something?" I asked her shyly. "Of course Ren. Shoot!" She replied with her usual up-beat attitude. "Do... you.. Ever.. Ya know... fight with Storm?" "Renagade, of course I do! He's my brother and I'm his sister! He can be a real pain. Daddy trains him every day, he says Storm will soon take his place as leader, and he can be a really stuck up about it. But there are days when we get along and play with each other, ha! One time, we were playing near some mud puddles, and Storm tripped and got his head stuck it one! I had to pull him out, and when we got back mama was so angry at him. But I felt bad for him, so I took the blame." "But why? Then you'd get in trouble." "I know Ren, but the point is that even though Storm and I don't get along sometimes, we always got each other's back." "Wow, I wish my brother was like that. He hates me. He's always pushing me down and telling me mean stuff." I said frowning at my feet. "Well Ren, maybe you should talk to Zuren. Maybe you can work things out." Geist responded positively. "Yeah right! Zuren won't listen to me he doesn’t even care!" It was at that point my mother began to listen to our conversation without being seen. "Well, have you tried talking to your dad? Isn’t he always with Zuren?" "No way! Dad would probably never cast a glance at me