~ Minerva, My hopefully Cave Mustang!
Art; Me
Story;

When Minerva was born, she was born bringing disappointment. Her parents, although loving, desired deeply to bear a child worthy of becoming an Elder or Leader. But her golden dapple said otherwise-Minerva was to be a normal mare like the dozens of others in the herd-their sole purpose mainly to breed for future heirs and royalty.

As Minerva grew, so did her curiosity of the life outside their dwelling, Red Mountain. Mares rarely wandered about, viewing that as stallion work-so her mother strived her best to keep a very close eye on her active daughter. Her mother tried to get her interested in other activities such as learning healing techniques and dancing. But the sounds, the wind in her mane, and the scents of the great outdoors all kept calling to her. And one day when she was two, she dared to act out upon those feelings.

She waited until her parents were off doing something and were quite distracted, then snuck off to the bottom of the mountain. The feeling of field grass under her hooves was most delightful; and the wind seemed to just lead her along. Gaily she cantered with it, mane flying in the breeze. Adorable little bugs and creatures sprang at the sound of her powerful hooves. Why were such things discouraged?

However, she failed to think about the dangers of the wild. But they were thinking of her. Just up ahead in a nearby tree, a large cougar had noticed the carefree mare. He quickly noticed this one was different than the rest: others carried a certain air of diligent watching and carefulness. But oh no, not this one. Plus one so young would be quite tasty. His whiskers quivered with excitement as the mare cantered closer and closer to the tree.

When she was nearly there, he made his move. Swiftly he leapt off the branch and charged towards the frightened mare, claws fiercely tearing her right side. She screamed in terror and started to run as swiftly as her legs could go. But she knew she wouldn’t last long-she wasn’t the most enduring of the foals in her band.

A scout in the distance perked up his ears. He was certain he heard a scream. At first he dismissed it as the wind, but the shaking earth from hoofbeats made him change his mind. He raised a battle cry and started galloping towards where he heard the scream.

The cougar heard the stallion’s shout and growled. He was not ready to give up a meal so quickly, and he was willing to fight for it. He made another leap for Minerva’s back and missed. Tumbling to the ground, the next minute found himself being trampled fiercely by a raging stallion. “Get out of here, miss! Go back home, you’ll be lucky if you’re not punished.” He called out as he dodged the claws from the kicking cougar and continued his fight. Terrified, Minerva merely shook her head and slowly went home. She threw a glance at her aching side, and noticed the deep cuts that now lie there.

It took months for Minerva’s side to heal, but the ugly scar that remained reminded her of her adventure. And she rather enjoyed it, for it reminded her of the soft grass, the expanded blue sky, and the fresh wind whipping her tail. Now, rather than spending her time learning medicine she spent her time sparring with younger colts who didn’t mind it. And she worked on her speed and endurance, determining to be as strong as a scout-and perhaps become one. Mares generally were not made scouts, but she didn’t care. A scout saved her, and the best way to return the debt would be to become one herself.

When she was three, she did quite well in the Races. Her unusually strong performance caught the eyes of the elders and leader, although they did not say it. She was proud to be the fastest, strongest mare-her medicine and dancing may not be the most skilled, but she didn’t care.

Years have gone by, and every chance she gets to show off her strength, courage, and loyalty to the herd, she takes. She still hopes that the leader may consider her for a scout even though she isn’t a male. Single stallions have also been eyeing her, for any proud stallion would be most eager to have a muscular, self-defending mare by his side. Not that she notices, or cares. She just wants to pay back the debt she feels she owes-and perhaps seek revenge on the cougar that nearly took her own life.