I'VE [so] BECOME [numb]

[[esperanza]]

"Quite so... But... shouldn't his mother have that job?"

At those words Esperanza's ears went completely flat against her head. What right did this brute have to pry? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lightning's pained expression. That rogue was smiling now, smiling as if he enjoyed causing pain. It sickened Esperanza.

"I don't see why that's any of your business," she said icily. "You've had your drink. Now get off of this territory."

[[R].ebel]

'I don't see why that's any of your business. You've had your drink. Now get off of this territory.'

The black stallions' cold gaze fell over the mare, ears pricking to her words. He didn't seem at all phased by them, instead finding amusement at her orders. The stallion took a few defiant steps forward, eyes never leaving those of the palomino. With a snort, he replied to her.

'Make me...'

{I remember black skies}
{And lightning all around me}
{I remembered each flash}
{As time began to burn}
{Like a startling sign}
{The feint had finally found me}
{And your voice was all I heard}
{That I get what I deserve}

Lightning's ears pinned flat back on his head and teeth bared, the words of the stallion sending a burning anger through him, flooded with hate. The black colt snorted, and without warning bolted for the stallion. Even Demon himself was taken by surprise at the sudden attack from the colt. Lightning with teeth bared and ears pinned tore into Demon, who had tried to side-step the colt's attack with failure. The colt managed to sink his teeth onto the withers of the stallion, Lightning using his front hooves to kick at the stallion's legs as he whinnied in anger, trying to sidestep the colt's onsault of attacks.

What had happened during that short period between Demon's question and his reply had brought on a new part of Lightning. Having spoke of his mother, Lightning's memory vualt was suddenly opened and Lightning new exactly who this was; his uncle, his fathers' brother. Lightning remembered the fight between his father and this stallion now like it had just happened, and this stallion had injured his father, only to have the scales tipped when Lightning's mother helped with the fight, in which Demon had no choice but to flee. But he remembered being warned to watch out for Demon, and to never trust him. And though young Lightning didn't know what evils Demon had done or was to do, he knew there was no place in the Cimarron for him. And now, Lightning was fighting to get him away. There was no way in hell Lightning was to trust this stallion with anything and he would make a point of it.

{So give me reason}
{To prove me wrong}
{To wash this memory clean}
{Let the thoughts cross}
{The distance in your eyes}
{Give me reason}
{To fill this hole}
{Ignite the space between}
{Let it be enough to reach the truth and lies}
{Across this new divide}

Lightning, though large for an average colt of his age, was no match for the stallion once he got his bearings. Quickly, the stallion whipped his head around, knocking into the colt to make him lose his balance. Upon doing so, Lightning released his hold and soon felt the brunt kick of a back hoof into his ribs, hearing the crack of bone. A grunt-like neigh ripped from his muzzle in pain, but it was cut short as Lightning clenched his teeth to fight the pain. Demon trotted away from the two, coming to a stop pasturn deep in the river, spinning on his front hooves to face them. Blood was evident on his black pelt, dripping from a tear on his whithers where Lightning had made his mark. Even his leg was marked with scrapes from the colts hooves, but no pain showed in his red eyes... only a cold, heartless hate towards the colt.

Still standing, Lightning kept his ears pinned and teeth bared at the stallion, eyes burning with hate. He hid his pain well for a colt, but it was evident he was in pain, the black colt's shoulder and side trembling from the blow the stallion had given. But in a defiant and strong voice, resembling his father without him even knowing it, Lightning spoke.

"You don't belong here. Now leave."

Demon snorted, eyes unchanging, and as soon as the words left from the colt's mouth, the black stallion reared and charged for the colt, ears flat and heartless red eyes burning through him. Lightning stood stock still, his own gaze unchanged, awaiting the stallion's blow.

[[esperanza]]

"Make me..."

Why, that arrogant, brutish spawn of hell! If anything, he was sure testing Esperanza's patience. She stamped a forehoof angrily, and would have attacked him then and there if reason hadn't held her back. He was a stallion in his prime; she was an aging mare. If it came to a fight, he would win. Up until this day she hadn't been able to imagine a stallion that would willingly hurt foals and mares, but this sable stallion had changed her mind.

Then the unexpected happened.

Esperanza leaped back with surprise as Lightning--true to his name--bolted toward the dark stallion and managed to tear into his withers. The poor mare's mind was racing. What was that colt thinking? But he was brave, that couldn't be denied. She hesitated to jump into the fray, not wanting to harm Lightning in the blur of hooves and blood, but every molecule in her shivered with fury. And then she heard the gut-wrenching sound of cracking ribs.

The stallion trotted away, into the river, his wounds dripping. Esperanza watched as the crimson mingled with the once-pure water, contaminating it. The mare was sick with anger.

"You don't belong here. Now leave."

But instead of leaving, the dark stallion reared and charged. Esperanza threw reason to the wind. With a challenging squeal that vibrated with all the anger in her body, she leaped foreward and ran at a mad gallop for the stallion, teeth bared. She didn't care where she bit him as long as she could drive him out of the Cimarron lands. She wasn't going to let him contaminate her homeland. Not today.

[[R].ebel]

Blinded by rage, the black stallion did not hear the old mare's challenging squeal; a mistake Demon would never make again. The stallion was nearly on the colt when he felt the force and pain ripping into shoulder, throwing him off balance to the side. Had it only been that one attack, Demon would have most likely been able to regain himself and fight, but a surprise attack from a pinto stallion off the opposite side of him, forced him to quickly retreat. Demon bolted forward, a back hoof striking for the palomino as a final act. After putting a bit of distance between him and the Cimarron horses, Demon spun to face them. The pinto was an elder as well, poised and ready to fight. Demon was outnumbered, but only barely outmatched. Still, he was not one to weigh odds lightly. This was not over for sure, and now, Demon had a new motive to run on. With a cold, menacing glare at the black colt, a thin smile twitched on his muzzle.

"This isn't over... Its just beginning."

Rearing up, ignoring the pain in both his shoulders, the black stalliontossed his head and galloped away, leaving Lightning with a new focus in his life. Lightning snorted in disgust at his uncle, wincing from the pain erupting in his side from his injury. But then he remembered the stallion that had come to help, looking over his shoulder to see it was Chicko, another elder of the Cimarron. Chicko stood with quite a confused look, as well as concern for the two.

"Are you two okay?"

It had been a chance of fate that Chicko had come upon the fight and a split second decision to follow up Esperanza's attack. Chicko was just coming for a drink of water; what a odd turn of events. He didn't know the entire story, but Chicko had been on these lands for a long while and knew who was friend and foe. His elderly eyes searched over the two, seeing Lightning standing oddly. Lightning seemed to deep in thought to answer.

[[esperanza]]

Esperanza felt her teeth clamping down on the stallion's shoulder. Somewhere in the back of her mind she questioned herself: what in the world was she thinking? Usually horses could drive unwelcome visitors away with just a few nips, but she had a feeling that this stallion would rather fight back.

She was pleasantly surprised to see the pinto galloping toward them, but before she had time to process anything, she felt a sharp blow to her chest that caused to gasp for air and stumble backwards. Demon had hit his mark. By the time she could breathe steadily again, the stallion was already galloping off. She heard him say something, but didn't catch the words. She could only glower at him as his form faded into the distance.

"Are you two okay?"

Chicko's voice. Esperanza turned around and nodded her head at him in thanks. "I'll be fine, but..." her voice trailed off as she glanced at Lightning. He was standing at an awkward angle, no doubt, Esperanza thought, because of the broken ribs. Unfortunately there was nothing they could do to heal that besides rest and time. She gently nuzzled the foal, nickering, "You'll want to take it easy for a while."

[[R].ebel]

The old paint was releived to hear Esperanza was okay, although he knew she would probably be sore for a while. His old eyes followed her gaze as her voice trailed off, looking to the black colt. Chicko could tell by Lightning's leaned stance he was in pain. He hadn't been here to see what happened, but it was obviously something inside; most likey broken bones. The paint decided to let Esperanza handle this, as she seemed to know the colt better than he. Chicko had only see the colt around the Cimarron lands, but had never approached him or vice versa. The colt seemed withdrawn and numb to the world; lost in his thoughts, whatever they may be.

Lightning couldn't remove his hardened eyes from where Demon had disappeared. His own uncle was willing to kill the young colt, and Lightning had the feeling that Demon wouldn't have a care in the world about it. 'You'll want to take it easy for a while.' The black colt felt her touch, and first instinct screamed to fight, but Lightning relaxed his body and allowed his head to rest on Esperanza. He was in pain; both physically and emotionally.

"I'll try."

In just a few short moments, Lightning had seemed to mature and grow with this encounter. There was a strength in his voice that wasn't there; a will and determination. Breaking away from Esperanza, Lightning took to a painful walk across the plains, not really sure where he was heading. The colt would make no promises of taking it easy; he was not the little colt who would go hiding behind the nearest member for protection anymore. If faced with Demon again, Lightning would fight, even if he was alone. Lightning was not afraid. With the black stallion who boar red eyes on his mind, Lightning threw up one thought.

'I'll try for you dad...'

"He's a bit of a strange one, Esperanza."

Chicko admitted quietly as he watched the colt leave. He never understood why a colt could be so different, although he knew there must be an underlying reason.

[[esperanza]]

"I'll try."

Esperanza fighted the urge to say something; she didn't want to smother this colt too much. Instead she satisfied herself with gently nipping at his forelock. The palomino mare missed being a mother, missed having a young foal to take care of. A random memory crossed her mind: that one winter when Spirit had gotten stuck to gigantic icecicle. She chuckled quietly to herself. Don't start telling stories now... What would Lightning think if she suddenly went off saying, You know, when Spirit was your age...?

Maybe it was a good thing she was a palomino. Gray hairs didn't show up very much against a flaxen mane, after all.

As Lightning walked away across the plains, more memories flashed through her mind, mostly fond ones. She was also thinking about the future, vague thoughts that wouldn't fit into words. It was Chicko who brought her back to reality.
"He's a bit of a strange one, Esperanza."

Her ears flicked to his voice, and she turned her head to glance at him. "Yes," she nodded. "I wish I knew where his parents were, or even if they were still alive. He seemed to know that fiendish rogue, but..." The mare snorted quietly, looking for the right words. "I just wish I could help, but I know there's nothing I can do."

[[R].ebel]

"Yes. I wish I knew where his parents were, or even if they were still alive. He seemed to know that fiendish rogue, but... I just wish I could help, but I know there's nothing I can do."

The old paint smiled softly, eyes looking back to where the colt had disappeared to; it appeared he was heading for the mountains. Old eyes looked back to the palomino, thinking on her words and what to say. It wasn't often Chicko didn't have a bit of knowledge to spread, but this time he was coming a bit short of what to say. Still, he thought in silence and the words just came.

"I think you already have done something, Esperanza... You've given him a mother; someone to watch out for him and care for him. You have helped him in ways no other Cimarron had even showed care to do. I believe you've done everything you can, Esperanza. I don't know him well, but I know enough to know that he has a special place in his heart for you that only a mother could have."

Looking back to where the black stallion rogue had disappeared to, Chicko's eyes narrowed. He had a feeling things would be stirring much in the Cimarron herd, but he laid no blame on Lightning. This was all that stallion... something was going to happen.

"We will have to be careful with that stallion. I feel trouble ahead, Esperanza, and it's not going to be anything easy..."

[[esperanza]]

"I think you already have done something, Esperanza... You've given him a mother; someone to watch out for him and care for him. You have helped him in ways no other Cimarron had even showed care to do. I believe you've done everything you can, Esperanza. I don't know him well, but I know enough to know that he has a special place in his heart for you that only a mother could have."

Esperanza considered his words. "I suppose you're right," she said with a faint smile.

"We will have to be careful with that stallion. I feel trouble ahead, Esperanza, and it's not going to be anything easy..."

So she wasn't the only one? The minute she had caught that stallion's scent, she had felt something in her heart like a cold disease spreading, a warning and a heaviness in her heart. She lifted her eyes to the sky; in the east dark clouds were gathering, promising rain later tonight. But rain could be good, she thought. What else would bring life?

"Chicko, do you think he could be...I don't know...related to the Darksun? He didn't smell like a Darksun, but...I don't know." She sighed heavily.

[[R].ebel]

Chicko's eyes lifted to the sky, seeing a dark mass forming in the distance; the same mass of clouds Esperanza seemed to notice. The wind's shifted directions, blowing into Chicko's face, sending the clear scent of rain in thier direction. It was a welcoming scent, but Chickos' mind wasn't on the rain.

'Chicko, do you think he could be...I don't know...related to the Darksun? He didn't smell like a Darksun, but...I don't know.'

"I don't know... Like you, I didn't smell Darksun either, but that doesn't mean he's not a fresh member... I would hope not though, and it would seem very unlikely that he was a Darksun, as even now, the Darksun's have taken care not to trespass as we Cimarrons have. A Darksun on our lands would just be asking for trouble.... I shudder to think what Alasdi would do if he had such a member as that stallion..."

Just speaking of the black stallion made Chicko scan the surroundings to be sure he was gone. There was no doubt in Chicko's mind that trouble would follow where ever that stallion went, and he could only hope that the black stallion stayed as far away from here as possible. It was times like these that Chicko wished Spirit would return. He hadn't seen Spirit in a very unsettling while and it made Chicko feel quite uneasy. Not to mention, Rain was missing as well. Deep in his heart, the old paint hoped they were together where ever they were. Chicko was a bit afraid of bringing the matter up to Esperanza, but he tried his best to ask in the simpliest and easiest way.

"... have you heard from Spirit? Or Rain?"

[[esperanza]]

"I don't know... Like you, I didn't smell Darksun either, but that doesn't mean he's not a fresh member... I would hope not though, and it would seem very unlikely that he was a Darksun, as even now, the Darksun's have taken care not to trespass as we Cimarrons have. A Darksun on our lands would just be asking for trouble.... I shudder to think what Alasdi would do if he had such a member as that stallion..."

The mare nodded. She knew she was probably just being paranoid, but she couldn't help the feeling that strange things were afoot. Esperanza bent her head down to snatch up a clump of grass. She chewed on it slowly, thoughtfully. She had seen some Darksun stallions before, albeit from a distance, but it had made her wonder how much control Alasdi actually had over them. She wouldn't be surprised if one them double-crossed him one day.
"... have you heard from Spirit? Or Rain?"

Esperanza froze, not knowing how to respond, before hurriedly swallowing the grass she was chewing on. She glanced at Chicko, then back at the horizon. No, she hadn't heard from them, and she was beginning to worry. Where was her son? Had the other herd members noticed his absence?

...Was that the reason why that black stallion had been bold enough to trespass?

The palomino mare shuffled her feet, then dropped her head. "No, actually, I haven't," she whispered.

[[R].ebel]

'No, actually, I haven't'
Chicko sighed quietly, eyes lowering. He could see his question had been hard for Esperanza, and he couldn't blame her. Hearing her answer was difficult for Chicko to handle; the herd just didn't feel right without Spirit and Rain here. The old paint gentle nuzzled Esperanza's neck to comfort her.

"I'm sure they are alright where ever they are."

The elder was at a loss of words; he didn't know where they could be or even if they were alright, but such doubts he kept to himself. Looking to the sky, Chicko allowed his mind to wonder, thinking when the rain would be coming in. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"Perhaps, we should seek a bit of shelter. Before the storm comes, so we aren't caught out in the open."

[[esperanza]]

Esperanza could see that her answer wasn't the one Chicko had wanted to hear: the pinto lowered his eyes and sighed.

"I'm sure they are alright where ever they are."

"I know, but I still worry about the them..." she answered, nuzzling his shoulder in return.

The wind picked up, tossing her flaxen mane around, and bringing with it the distant scent of rain. The clouds on the horizon were blurred with it.

"Perhaps, we should seek a bit of shelter. Before the storm comes, so we aren't caught out in the open," Chicko was saying. Esperanza nodded, then turned, walking off to the line of trees that marked the forest.