.American Beauty.

.I've been on this earth for three years. I've known death and new life, pain and kindness, friends and foes. There is only one thing I've never felt, nor even known existed until fairly recently. I've never seen real, uncensored, uncoditioned love. I don't even understand it. I slowly strike out into this new terrain, sparkling with autumn colors. I feel a strong burst of wind lift my cream-colored banner from my neck and toss my matching tassel behind me. I shake my delicately curved crown, as if I could rid the world of the wind. I look up to see some five or six small birds attempting to control their flying speed against the wind. It's going to fast for them. Poor things; they're so small and light, and their lives depend on something so unpredictable and uncontrolable as the wind. I survive on something much bigger then that. As the birds vanish behind me, I continue forward into the new lands in which I have never been. I see a mix of thousands of colors against the leaves, blowing off the ground which they had fallen on not long ago. I see a coats of whites and blacks and shades of grey, chestnuts, duns, and many bays. This is a surprise to me. Such versitility I have never seen. Where I come from, the palomino gene is comon, so a majority of us were golden coated with soft, cream colored mane and tail. I, of course, have seen such other colors, but in a world where one of the most uncomon hues is everywhere, average coats are rare. I begin to wonder whether such strangers would take be in. I am different--I see no others similar to me in the valley below. Perhaps they, too, would turn me away. As I took the shallow hill at a steady walk, I hoped they wouldn't.

Hidden Shadows

I scent the air sensing a new prescence. No one has been here. Not for a long while. I let out a call to the mare hoping she will come down. Slowly I trot up the hill towards her. I revel in her beauty. So wonderful. I am self conscious of my dark coat. Ebony hued as Aaka called me. I smile towards the mare and let out a whicker of greeting showing her only kindness. Thats all I am. I am a warrior down to the heart but kind and gentle towards others.

Silently I reach out and gently take in her scent. I am immediatly reminded of my home in spain before i was taken here. The desert heat the wonderful spices. I shut my eyes and smile. Just like home.