walked out with a smile on his face. "Dust Stripe?" He nodded and I ran towards him with tears flowing down my cheeks. We hugged and I asked how he got here. "I was here the whole time. When you left I couldn't stay without my best friend and followed you. I was caught by the cavalry and the indians with you but you couldn't see me. I followed your training and was taught in your ways of feeling the earth." I cried and wondered how I didn't notice him. We got over some chats and Dust Stripe said something that completed my, our, destiny. "Let's start a herd. Here. I nodded and saw a loner at the edge of the woods. He spotted me and pricked his ears. "Excuse me!"he called, "Do you know where I can join a starter herd?" We were startled at the loners question but called him over. "We are starting a herd right here. Will you join? We can train you as an apprentice and you can soon be deputy." Dust Stripe said. The loner explained that his name was Kalipae. He was a young horse who was about a year and a half old. He gladly accepted and nickered into the woods. Two little fillies came out of the trees. Kalipae called them over and introduced us. The bigger of the two silver fillies was claimed to be Hisha and the smaller frail one was named Silverstream. I nuzzled them to not be shy, and they soon came out of their shells. Kalipae was dubbed an apprentice to me and we began training in a specialy picked area of our herd's territory. I first trained him how to feel the earth under his hooves, to hear the wind talking, and to sense his enimys and allies. He learned fast, and soon was feeling like a true warrior. His little sisters, Silverstream and Hisha, were un able to train until they were at least a year old. Hisha was 8 months and Silverstream was 5 months. With the months passing, Kalipae became a fine apprentice and the fillies soon followed. Finally, it was Kalipae's turn to become a full warrior. He had learned to forage, feel, fight, and most importantly, control his feeling and emotions. The day before the dubbing, a beautiful, dun coat and blue eyed mare, asked to join the herd. She was walking out into our territory when Kalipae saw her. He listened to the earth spirit and knew she was no harm. He walked calmly to her, and asked her if she needed any help. Her belly was swollen and she was very weak. She had an infected cut on her forelock and a violent battle scar on her left flank. Kalipae helped her up when she almost collapsed. "I need a herd for me and my child." She nuzzled her belly as she said,"child." We gladly sheltered her for her foaling. A single day passed and it was time for Kalipae's dubbing. We gathered under the high rock as i called, "Let all horses old enough to find their own food gather under highrock." We all gathered as I said, "Loyal Kalipae, you are to become a warrior. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code with your life and protect your herd loyally and and respectfully?" We all watched as he said a bold, "I do." I bowed my head an he did the same. "Kalipae you shall not only be a proud warrior, but you will become Dashear herd's first deputy. You alone will protect the herd tonight while the others rest. You will maintain your silent vigil until sunhigh tomorrow."  The whole herd put one knee down in order to bow to their new deputy. He turned and bowed back, accepting his role. He stood in the rightful place under highrock and began his vigil. The next day, at sunhigh, Kalipae was dismissed from the vigil by a silent nod. His sisters ran up to him and congratulated him. At the start of the day, Kalipae heard a scream of pain from the mare who's name was Dalshea. She was in foal when he arrived. As soon as the little palomino colt was born, it stood up. He was not frail and weak, but strong and sturdy. I saw and walked over, unable to close my jaws. He was remarkable. Dalshea saw this and said with her remaining energy, " Serin." I nodded at the name. "Our next warrior legend." I gave Kalipae I playfull shove when his face looked as if he was gonna burst. "Hey!" he said laughing. We all laughed, iincluding the colt. As he finally opened his eyes, they were closed for the time being, I noticed that he had odd eyes. One ice blue, the other, red amber. Red amber was a simble of great evil and rarely, hope. I would have to keep a close eye on him. Serin flashed me a look of confusion, and oddly, fear. I knew that if one strong colt is scared, protect the herd. The foals and elders always have the ability to sense the past and future. Some are even gifted in their adult-hood. This foal, you can see the visions passing in his eyes, is glimpsing an omen. He is a seer. A one gifted as a teller of ways, a priest, or an evenly challened darkling. A darkling is an evil spirit. It can be known as Ix:risor,gargoyle, or dragon, although not in phisical simularities. He is on the outside a horse. But on the inside, he will never be a pure-one. He will always belong with evil on one side. He must be trained well. If not, the entire species will be in danger. A small bit of me hopes he learns the ways of the teller, not the darkling that has taken half of his mind. During my thoughts, I noticed Kalipae talk to Dust Stripe. I heard the words, "Ix.........Seer.......Serin." Then everything was black. I awoke in my herd. My vision was blurred. I could hear them talking but couldn't see them. My herd. The same words were going through their minds. Serin knew nothing and was frolicking in a meadow in our territory. I also heard a new name. Asalipae. I saw Dust Stipe talking to a dark bay arabian. I ushered him over and he trotted over gracefully. "While you were asleep, Asalipae wandered by and joined." I stood up jerkily and almost yelled, "How long was I out!" He answered,"Three days. And although you were asleep, you've been gaining. I think you're in foal my love." I looked at my belly, now slightly swollen. I looked up, stunned. "Wonderfull!" I started running around in joy. I had always wanted a child. The They had learned quickly. I wanted a day to myself. I walked over to the shady creek near the treeline. I was exploring the small place when a small glint of light caught on an apple. When I reached the apple, another shined and so on. They led me to a most grassy spot, where it was dry and comfortable. I layed down and felt a hard kick in my swollen belly. It soon turned into so much pain. I called to Dust Stripe, my only devoted mate, and he ran to me through the dense tree line and grass. He was in time to see a small bay colt lay on the damp grass. I turned my head and stood up. I turned to Dust Stripe and said, "It's a colt." He was almost over joyed. He calmed himself and bowed to me. I nodded and he left me. I nuzzled my son up and went to the tree. "Come here Faroh." I said sweetly as not to startle him. He heard his name finally and walked over. And this is were I catch up to reality. Long before my precious daughter. The Chosen Foal.