winter months passed peacefully in both the Cimmaron and the tribe, but as a warm spring day dawned, Esperanza felt the first twinges in her stomach. She layed down in the waving grass. She soon foaled a little buckskin colt, bringing back the memory of Wolf. This new son dulled the edge of her sadness, but she knew she would only feel truly happy if somehow Wolf had survived and he came home. She smiled sadly at the young stallion and got up.

Back at the tribe, Wolf and his many friends grew very close. He learned that MorningGlory, Lilly, and StrongHeart were the foals of Marrone and the mare called Flowers, and Burr and the twins were Burro and Lucy's foals. Marrone and Burro and their mares adopted him and taught him many things in the coming spring, and Wolf grew into a noble, strong, clever, and kind 3-year-old stallion. 

Wolf warily looked at the thing in Devvyn's arms. It was beaded like the reins she had taught him to wear, but was big and floppy. He approached Devvyn and she laid it on his back. She looked into his eyes as she slowly lifted herself onto his back. She sat up and beamed at Little Creek who was watching with pride from the fence. Devvyn grasped the reins and pulled at the bit. He turned, trying to stop that unpleasant tugging. Devvyn hugged him from behind, proud about something he did not know. "I wish every horse was as clever as LoyalHeart!" Said Little Creek from the fence. Devvyn beamed at him some more. She gently tapped his sides, and Wolf walked forward. She twirled him around and made him dash to the open gate. "Wait!" Little Creek yelled, jumping onto a young brown and white mare. They quickly caught up and Devvyn urged Wolf to go faster. Wolf lengthened his stride and left a stunned Little Creek in his dust. "Watch out!" Little Creek shouted from behind them. Wolf saw a huge cliff coming up, and he swerved to avoid it, nearly falling off. "Well that was a good first ride!" Exclaimed Devvyn sarcastically, smiling a bit. Little Creek led them back to the village. "Hello. My name's Rain. What's yours?" Said the the mare. "I'm Wolf. Nice to meet you, Rain." He replied with a friendly smile.

Three years later...

"Wolf!" Screamed Rain, galloping back from the desert. He raised his head from his late afternoon grazing. He pricked his ears and noted nervously that Little Creek was not with her. "The cavalry men got him! I tried to help, but he shouted for me to get the village!" She said breathlessly. She and Little Creek had been sent out to raid a supply train. Wolf stared wide eyed at Rain. "Then go and get them!" He replied quickly, galloping to the teepees. Soon the men realized that Little Creek had been caught. Some of them jumped onto horses, galloping away to help. Rain looked sadly at Wolf, her emotions revealed in her eyes. "Go with them Rain, and help get your human free." He told her. She smiled sadly at him and galloped after the men. He looked after her, and Devvyn ran up. "Brook is upset, Loyal. Go and help her." She whispered, putting a hawk feather behind his ear. He looked to the village, but Devvyn shook her head. "She went to the hideout." She said sadly. Wolf nickered and began to trot into the woods, towards the hidden waterfall. He waded into the shallow water and walked onto the other side of a fallen tree, sitting in the water. On a sturdy branch hidden from the other side sat Brook. Her eyes were closed, but Wolf saw the tear stains on her cheeks in the shadowy light. She was resting her head on her knees, her hand clutching a beautifully carved statue of a horse, most likely made by her father. He nickered softly and she looked up at him tearfully. "Hey, LoyalHeart." She said hoarsely. He sloshed forward and nuzzled her shoulder gently. She threw her arms tight around his neck and sobbed into him thick mane. As the sky above them began to darken, Brook snuffled and stood up. She lied on his back and Wolf began to walk slowly back to the quiet camp. Devvyn was on a log just inside the wood, appearing to have fallen asleep while waiting. Wolf passed over her and carried Brook to her teepee. She gave him a hug and went into the dark teepee. Wolf turned back to the woods just as the first stars winked into the sky. He gently nudged Devvyn's shoulder and she sat up, yawning. He walked with her to the teepee she slept in, then turned to walk to the pasture. He settled under the large apple tree and laid down. He saw Kendal hesitantly approach through sleep-blurred eyes. He smiled as she approached. "Long day?" She asked. "Yup." He wearily replied. "I thought you went to help Little Creek?" He said, a bit confused. "Yes, but my rider was sent back to fetch a knife. We'll throw it over the wall and Creek will cut himself loose. He should be back any moment." She explained to Wolf. He nodded. They heard a whistle from the camp, and Kendal pricked her ears. "I have to go. We should be back by moon high tommorow."She said, before running off. "Good luck!" Wolf called after her. He couldn't explain it, but he didn't know what he'd do if Kendal was caught. Since their differences when they met, they had bonded strongly. He put his head onto the grass and slipped into sleep.

At the Cimarron, eagle forlornly sat, silent, brooding. He had failed his best friend's final wish. He had taught Spirit, trained him, played with him, but when the cowboys came, he could not protect him. Esperanza was in tears. Her second son was gone, like her feisty little Wolf. 

Wolf awoke to Devvyn, sitting on his back, weaving a crown of meadow daisies. Pretending to be asleep, he looked at her mischievously from the corner of his eye. Suddenly, he rolled onto his side, sending Devvyn sprawling onto the grass. She shrieked as she went flying, and landed with a thud. She leapt up and pretended to swat at Wolf's muzzle angrily, but they both knew each other was laughing on the inside. "You bad little trickster!" She said with a fond smile. "We're going scouting on the plains!" She called as she skipped to the teepee where everyone stored tack. Devvyn came back with a blanket, simple saddle, and a strap-free bridle with beads and feathers. She quickly saddled him up quickly. MorningGlory and the gang trotted up. "Going on a long trip today?" She said, eyeing the saddle. "Scouting on the plains." He replied around a mouthful of grass. "Maybe you'll see some family out there." She said with a wink. Wolf rolled his eyes as Devvyn mounted. "See you later!" Everyone called as Wolf and Devvyn began to ride into the plains. 

"The plains are so empty...." Said Devvyn, peering around. Wolf snorted in agreement and looked into a sparse wood. A flash of tawny caught his eye and he froze. Devvyn leaned over his neck and peered at him, worried. "What's wrong? Do you see something?" Wolf cautiously began to creep closer to the woods. Wolf's mind was telling him to run, but his curiosity was stronger. He saw a flash of tawny again, and black and brown too. "What is that?!" Shrieked Devvyn, seeing the tawny. "It is too small to be a cougar....." Thought Wolf, flicking his ears uncertainly. "Hello? We won't hurt you...." He called into the copse of pines. "Who are you?" Someone called from the undergrowth. "I told you not to say anything!" Whispered another angry voice, the wind carrying their voices. Foals! "Come out! Where on earth are your parents?!" He called. "Should we?" Whispered another voice. "No!" Muttered the angry one. "Well, I'm going with or without you!" One muttered. He saw a bush shake and a young light gray filly emerged. "Wow..." Whispered Devvyn.  "Where are your parents?" He repeated as the filly slowly approached. "Our mother was killed by a cougar, and our dad is a cowboy horse." She stated. "And my two brothers are too prideful to accept help." She said loudly glaring at a bush. Two little colts emerged, grumbling angrily. One was tawny, the other coal  black. "Come on. Me and my human will bring you to the tribe." He said, flicking his tail. "How do we know if we can trust you?" The black one said suspiciously. "You don't. So make a choice, come with us or don't." Wolf turned away and began to walk away slowly. "I'm coming!" Yelled the filly. She caught up and walked beside him. "My name's Sugars." She said. The two colts sighed and galloped to catch up. "Nice to meet you Sugars. My name is Wolf." He replied, smiling at bold, little Sugars. "My prideful brothers here are Ferrari and Alamo." She said rolling her eyes as her brothers glared at her. Devvyn clicked her tongue and kicked Wolf. "Come on!" He said, beginning to gallop. The foals struggled to keep up, but soon they returned to the village.

Wolf and the foals stopped in the meadow and Devvyn dismounted. She unbuckled the saddle and dashed off to tell the others about the foals. "Is this your herd?" Ferrari, the black, asked. "Yes.... But we are a tribe, not a herd. We work with the humans, and protect each other." Said Wolf, leading them to the apple tree. "Wow!" Exclaimed Sugars, seeing MoringGlory approaching with the others. "What's this, Wolf? We leave you alone for a day and you find a bunch of foals! Trying build a herd, Wolfie?" She teased him, the twins peering suspiciously at his new arrivals. Wolf snorted. "No. They were lost in the plains-" Wolf began, but Ferrari cut in.