h a t r e d

[S u N f r O s T ~]

A regular day in the barn, only today was meant to be different. I led Blue down the barn aisle, admiring his chestnut coat and sturdy muscles whenever we passed under a light. He walked behind me calmly, not in the least upset in his domain. He nickered a greeting as the sassy black filly Wildly Natural stuck her head through the stall rails. The filly responded with a loud bugle, reaching forward to touch noses with Blue. I didn't stop walking, however, and Blue was forced to follow me along the barn aisle again.

A screech of fury suddenly split the dawn. I halted Blue instantly and backed him as the usually emotionless Whip Up The Dancing threw himself at the stall door. Shocked, I watched as he calmed down enough to simply stand there and glare out of venom filled eyes at my colt. His teeth were bared and his eyes half crazed with hatred. Blue quickly responded to the challenge. He lunged out, mimicking Prancer's aggressive pose and attempting to bite the other colt's head off. I yanked sharply on the lead and rapidly led him up the aisle, past Prancer's stall. Once more, Prancer attacked, and this time his teeth scraped Blue's skin. Blue furiously neighed and bucked immediately. I once more yanked sharply on the lead rope and walked him out of the barn.

Hard morning with Limited Bluez and my Prancer? asked somebody concernedly. It was Krystal Yhate, Prancer's rider. I nodded. It's horrible Krystal. These two really hate each other. Do you think they could somehow settle their differences? Krystal appeared deep in thought for a moment, and then suddenly nodded. I think I know how to stop this!

---

It was later in the day now, about noon. Amber and I had discussed the plan for an hour before splitting up to work our mounts late. Some of them even got the day off. I now walked purposefully into the barn to meet my colt.

Prancer was not always aggressive. He was usually dead to the world, completely emotionless, only showing care when it came to his dominance. But when I'm around, he loosens his shell a bit and lets his emotions show. Right now he swung his head away from staring at the far end of the barn and looked at me with interested eyes. His sleek coat was unmarked from his earlier dispute with Limited Bluez, but he had managed to leave his mark on the other colt. I expected a heated response to our exercise this afternoon.

Hey Prancer I said softly. Other people said my voice sounded like the softest, most beautiful song when I talked to my horses. I wouldn't know, as I was completely wrapped up right now. I smiled tenderly and then grasped the lead rope in my hands. Let's go boy. You've got to stop your grudge baby. I clipped it on and led Prancer out. The first thing the colt did was survey what he viewed as his domain. Finding nothing out of place, he exhaled calmly and then flared his nostrils suddenly. The breeze was blowing; he must have picked up Blue's scent. I sighed to myself exasperatedly and led him out of the barn. His hooves crunched on the gravel path, and now he became more alert. He bumped my back gently as I led him along the path, curious as to what we were doing today.

I led him along the path for a minute before we reached a fork. I led him along the left one, and after half a minute we reached a simple stable complex. It was where we kept the western horses. Numerous neighs now welcomed us - and the unfamiliar scent, to them, of Prancer - to the stable yard. They weren't the reason I was there, though. There was a hitching rail there. This one was styled as a bar held up by a couple struts, with ties on either side. The plan was to tie Prancer and Blue on opposite sides and then hold them so they could stare each other down. Hopefully they might even resolve their differences, but I thought that was practically impossible. Both colts were just too dominant to allow that to happen.

I tied Prancer to the rail and tied him to it securely, now waiting for Blue and Amber. After about five minutes the chestnut colt and his rider appeared. Instantly the atmosphere changed. It became supercharged and fierce, challenging and aggressive, menacing and full of hatred. Prancer leaned forward over the rail, muscles tense, eyes watching each movement his rival made. Blue pulled at the shank, eager to answer the challenge Prancer was now bugling loudly for all to hear. The sun seemed to dim as Amber tied Blue to the rail with some difficulty and then took a secure hold on her colt. I took an equally secure one on mine, and then suddenly the stare-down began.

I first examined my Prancer's gaze. His was full of confidence and challenge. He was self assured of a victory in the only way meant to be able to duke it out. He didn't move, but his ears were flat, and a bit of the white in his eyes showed. He looked as though he'd love to snap the other colt's head off, though. Aggression was beginning to darken his chocolate eyes, and I took a firmer hold on my shank. I decided to quickly shift my gaze to Blue, looking for his reaction.

The other thoroughbred two year old's gaze was smug. His ears weren't flat, but he looked amused, as though Prancer was playing a child's game. This stemmed from a confidence I hadn't seen in him before. Curious, I flashed a glance at Amber. The owner of the stables saw it and mouthed The Devil's Touch. I nodded to her, satisfied. She had managed to get a workout in with the talented filly, and while Blue had lost he had shown a fierce personality change. Now on the track he ran even harder to prove he was best, and fierce determination glowed from his eyes each and every time a new challenge was presented to him. Now he looked like he could hold his own against the resident stable leader. Prancer was, no doubt, pissed off at this new development. I glanced back to see what the colt was doing now.

A bonfire blazed in the eyes of this colt. Determination was the source of this fire, and the ashes that burned were any traces of distrust in himself and uncertainty. He was going to maintain his title of most dominant, and now he flashed a fire-look at Blue. Blue's response was the same expression of calm assurance, which just infuriated Prancer all the more - yet he didn't break the glaring contest. They continued to stare into each other's eyes, neither reacting, both fiercely determined to win this battle. Half an hour passed, and then another, and they both still stared into each other's eyes tirelessly. Another hour later, I glanced at Amber and shrugged helplessly. Two hours of constant staring, and neither had backed down.

You're right conceded Amber vocally. They hate each other too much. They will never back down. On three.....one....two....three! I pulled Prancer's gaze away at the same time as Amber pulled Blue's. We should walk back together I muttered. The barn owner nodded, and then took up a safe distance away from us. We walked our mounts back to the stables, and then let them into their stalls. I spent some time in Prancer's, going over a few things.

Why Prancer? I know you like dominance, but why didn't you or Blue back down? Do you both have too much determination to succeed? Does your wishes to succeed quicken your strides and make you unstoppable? Will this experience help you in your next race? But now a new light hit me on the situation. What did it matter if neither backed down? That just proved something to us. You are full of courage Prancer. You are determination incarnate. When things don't go well for you you never loose your wonderful personality and you just keep trying, don't you? I scratched his forehead thoughtfully, and Prancer actually whinnied to me.

Then he resumed his staring at the far end of the stable, where Limited Bluez was stalled, hatred sparking his gaze forevermore as he continued the staring contest from before. Hatred fueled his courage. He would never back down.