He stands at the top of the cliff that overlooks his valley. His sleek body trembles as a blast of morning air brings the sweet scent of the river up to him. He looks down and sees the dew-covered grass winking at him in the morning sun.
His family dozes in the warm comfort of the sun. He sees even the occassional flick of a tail, for he must not miss anything. He studies the colors of his family, which range from black to white, with a variety of colors in between. But their protector does not care about colors. All that he knows is protection and survival.
He raises his eyes to look at the sun. He appreciates the sun, for it warms his black body. And the beauty of the rising and setting sun has always amazed him. The different hues of red, orange, pink and blue fill the morning sky as he watches over his family.
Suddenly he raises his finely chiseled head. The nostrils set in his delicate muzzle quiver and open wide and his small ears prick forward. There is a fire growing in his dark, expressive eyes. He knows something is wrong.
Quickly his eyes sweep the valley floor. He sees nothing amiss, but the scent of danger, brought to him on the morning breeze, is still heavy. Where is it coming from?
He glances at the entrance to the valley. There he finds the danger whose scent has caused such alarm. An intruder, another stallion, has entered his kingdom!
He wheels and charges down the twisting path that leads to the valley floor. The moment his hooves touch the valley floor, his trumpeting challenge rings through his kingsdom.
Now he gallops at full speed toward the intruder. The second ring of his challenge is now answered by the intruder's own challenge. This beautiful valley has become the battleground for its ownership.
The thundering hooves of both stallions race towards each other. The protector's family scatters into all directions, only to reaasemble into a protective circle at the end of the valley. Those who have a clear view watch as this territorial battle unfolds.
The only thought in each stallions' minds is simple: Fight and fight wholeheartedly. To lose could mean death. They know that the victor of this battle will claim this valley, and the family, as his own.
The stallions' bodies crash together. They bite and paw at each other. As they rise into the air on powerful hindlegs, the intruder deals a thunderous blow on the chest of the protector.
They break apart and fall to the ground. the sound of their hooves striking the earth is like thunder. The ground quakes as if it would break apart under the warring stallions' thundering blows.
The stallions rise into the air for the second time. Each is seeking the pulsing vein in the neck that holds the precious blood of life. The battering hooves pound each other, slicing open the skin of strongly muscled shoulders and chests. Many cuts and bruises already cover the bodies of both stallions.
The fall crashingly to the earth. The protector wheels and kicks. The force of the blow catches the intruder off-balance. He falls to the ground. Dust rises around him and hovers there, for a moment, like a deathcloud.
The intruder scrambles back onto his feet. With his head hung low, he admits his defeat. The protector watches as the intruder leaves the valley.
The protector turns to his family. His victory cry resounds off the vally walls. Altough he now has more scars to ass to those of old, he still remains
THE KING OF HIS WORLD.